Emerson shook his head. “Sure thing, Papa.”
“Sorry. I didn’t call you to nag,” his papa said. “I’m just worried about you. Aren’t you lonely? You seem lonely to me.”
“I’mnotlonely.” He closed his eyes and let a familiar lie roll off his tongue. “I have plenty of omegas to keep me company.”
“But no one to keep and hold tight,” his papa said.
Emerson’s mind drifted to Dash. He was the one to keep and hold tight. “I prefer fast and loose,” he lied. “Always have.”
“You’re incorrigible.” His papa sighed. “Your father and I will see you soon. Love you, Em.”
“Love you, too.”
Emerson tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, but thoughts of Dash filled his head again.No one to keep and hold tight.He brought the cell back over and searched his email for the background check Randall had sent him months before. The one with Dash’s home address. After reading it over, he started the engine and drove across town.
He pulled up in front of a small family home with a well-tended lawn in a nice, older neighborhood. The house was a plain white box with basic gray shutters and a slate roof. There wasn’t a single flower or burst of color, just a few small, boxy shrubs that hadn’t yet filled out and taken up enough space. It was all drab. Nondescript. It reminded Emerson of that basic boxy sedan Dash drove.
Last night had proven Dash wasn’t drabnorbasic. He’d been full of fiery passion—once Emerson had pushed the right buttons. But he also understood hiding in plain sight. If that’s what Dash was trying to do, he was doing one helluva job of it.
Emerson sidled up the sidewalk and knocked, unsure if he was even home without a car in the driveway. Another call he should’ve made before just showing up—but he’d sensed hedefinitelywould’ve gotten a no from Dash.
The door opened, and Davis stood filling up the doorway. There were few men who were taller than Emerson, andnoneof those were betas. Davis was a freak of nature at a little over seven-feet-tall.
“Can I help you?” Davis asked, eyes narrowing. He was giving off the same vibes as Randall—and Emerson wasn’t in the mood for a round two.
“I was hoping to speak with Dash for a moment.”
“He’s not here.”
“He go to work?” Emerson asked.
“I don’t know where he is,” Davis said, crossing his arms over his barrel chest.
Emerson leveled his gaze at the beta, sensing the guy knew exactly where Dash had gone—and was refusing to tell him. “You live here, too?”
“No.”
“Do you often hang out at your boss’s house?”
“He’s mybusiness partner—and my best friend,” Davis spat. “I’m around on occasion.”
“And that’sallyou are, right?” Emerson asked, hackles rising. “His friend andbusinesspartner?”
“Tread carefully, alpha. Before you get yourself in trouble,” Davis growled.
Emerson growled right back, taking an aggressive step forward.
“I’m going to warn you. Once. Try me. You won’t like it.”
Emerson chuckled mirthlessly. “Nor would you.”
Davis snagged him by the neck and with one swift move had Emerson pinned to a wall inside Dash’s house. Emerson roaredand shoved Davis against the opposite wall, shoving his arm against the guy’s throat. Davis got a punch into Emerson’s gut but couldn’t move him.
Emerson leaned in close. “Did I tread carefully enough?”
Davis dropped his arms to his side and glared at Emerson. “I brought you inside versus having it out on the lawn for the whole neighborhood to hear.”
“Just what do you think they’re going to hear?”
