Huffing in annoyance, I throw the phone down. He’s definitely holding out on me. I haven’t heard Ax that animated in years.
Nate comes tumbling down the stairs leading off my office to the apartment, throwing out words at a hundred miles an hour. I grab him as he moves to shoulder past me.
“She disappeared,” I tell him firmly. “And you need to get to work.” His eyes round as he starts to protest, but I hold firm.
“You’ve got a job. Car’s on its way.”
Grabbing the phone off him, I push him back towards the stairs. “Dress. Now, Nate.”
He growls, but takes the stairs two at a time as I lift the phone to my ear.
“I’m not sure about this,” Cade worries. “He’s already really attached to this omega and he met her for thirty seconds. Sheran awayfrom him, me, and now Ax too? Maybe we’re doing the wrong thing, trying to track her down.”
I start to gather up paperwork, Nate’s phone cradled between my shoulder and ear.
“No harm in making sure she’s safe,” I reason. “She slept in a damn doorway last night, Cade. That doesn’t exactly scream safe and secure to me.”
I can hear him stressing.
“Calm down,” I chide him. “Stop panicking. See if your guy digs anything up, and we’ll all keep an eye out in case she reappears.”
“Agreed.”
And I get my second hang-up in the space of five minutes.
Stomping footsteps announce Nate’s reappearance, and he scowls at me as he sweeps into the kitchen, ready to work in a pair of faded denims and a loose white shirt.
“I don’t want to work today,” he grumbles. “Might call in sick.”
“You will not.” I point a spatula at him threateningly. “You’ve been excited about this one for three months. Get your ass into the car. It’s outside.”
He bares his teeth at me in annoyance. “I hate it when you get all responsible.”
“One of us has to be.” Hustling him out, I wait with folded arms until he slides into the car, the window winding down as he leans out.
“I want regular updates,” he demands. “Regular, Hudson. Let me know as soon as you hear something.”
I wave exaggeratedly. “Bye,Nathaniel. See you later.”
The car pulls off with Nate’s protests still ringing in the air.
ChapterEleven
Gabrielle
My feet throb inside my battered sneakers as I collapse onto the bench. The evening sky has turned from a dusky rose to solid black. The statues and trees lining the park, welcoming and bright in the daylight, stretch out in menacing shadows.
Ireallydon’t want to spend the night here.
Biting my lip, I glance up at the deserted path, considering my options.
I could find another doorway. But my body aches, hours of remaining on alert catching up to me. My heart flips over at the idea of seeing Axel again, but I dismiss the idea of going to the gym. He might call someone. He might call the Center.
My chest shrivels at the thought.
They can’t force me to do anything. The law has changed.
But it’s hard to break the habit of mistrusting a system that hasn’t been kind to me in the past.
