“Yes, sir.” Kumar hung up, and, his heart racing, Des dialed up Alistair’s favorite restaurant.
“Luigi’s.”
“May I speak to Luigi, please. This is Desmond DeBeque.”
“Of course. One moment.”
There were some advantages to being him.
“Mr. DeBeque. What can I do for you?” Luigi was a Marscian brown bear shifter, and a very gruff, kind man.
“I’m wondering when my mate left after lunch today.”
There was a sharp, indrawn breath. “He never arrived, sir. Miss Lila waited some time.”
“And have you seen his car?” Kevin generally parked in the alley now that Alistair was pregnant, he knew.
“It is not in the back, no.”
Dammit all. “Thank you, Luigi. I’ll speak to Lila.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
He hung up, then scrolled through his contacts to find Lila Handscome. He called, and she picked up right away. “Alistair? Is that you?”
“It’s Des, Lila.”
“Oh, dammit. I was hoping Alistair was using your phone.”
“When did you make your lunch plans?”
“I emailed him last night. He answered this morning in a text. I can send it to you.”
Shit. Where are you, Alistair?“Any information would be helpful.”
“Of course. I went out back to look for him, too, but there was no car in the alley. I should have called you, but honestly, I assumed if he was going to stand me up it would be because you came home for lunch.”
“I had a work meeting.” Panic started to fill his chest, and Des tamped it down ruthlessly. He had to think, and panic would not fix that.
“Ah. Well, if I hear from him?—”
“Thank you.” He hung up, then immediately called the damn lawyer he’d met with earlier in the day.
“Brandise and Lawrence.”
“Where is he?” He roared it like the alpha dragon he was. They had taken his fucking mate.
“I beg your pardon?”
“What the fuck have you done with my mate? I know you have him.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Alpha DeBeque. I was in meetings with you all morning.” But he could hear the worry in the guy’s tone.
“You get on the damn phone, and you find him, and you tell them if he isn’t returned to me now, today, I will burn you to the ground. Literally.”
“Of course, Lord DeBeque. If my people have erroneously taken your mate, you will have him back today.”
“Immediately. I’ll be awaiting your call.” He would be, although he would hardly be sitting around waiting for it. No, he was going to Luigi’s to see if he could track his mate from there. He tried to find Alistair’s mental signature, but he couldn’t.
