Page 53 of Unravel Me

Ennio, Jared, and Luca get into the SUV. Then, unexpectedly, Ennio removes the camera from his cuff, and… the feed cuts to black.

Fuck!

No!

Why did he do it? I needed to see the moment he gives Jared the pendant!

The turbulent emotions stir me so much that my head starts buzzing, and I know I'll soon lose consciousness.

But it's not over, I whisper to myself as my knees buckle. I'm not giving up. Hell, no. He and I… I know this wasn't a coincidence.

There’s this strange certainty in me, this peculiar, powerful pull that pushes me forward.

I have to try. I have to.

I'm going to give both of us a chance to meet again.

CHAPTER 9: JARED

Present day

When I hear the name, I can hardly believe it. I know it.

Veyron… that's the former detective's assistant Storm wanted to set me up with as a companion for this trip.

So Alex and Storm got worried about me and sent him out to find me?

"Veyron?!" I blurt out, barely getting the word past my lips, but it's enough. As an alpha, Veyron hears me even from that distance.

A second later, I hear hurried footsteps; apparently, the new guest slips inside without waiting for Emilio to invite him in. Then he's suddenly in the living room, a very tall dude, with a red-auburn mop of hair and a handsome, youthful face.

"Jared? I've been looking all over town for you since yesterday! What the hell happened to you? Did these people kidna—" He cuts himself off, his eyes darting warily around everyone in the room.

"No, they didn't kidnap me," I assure him, swallowing hard, painfully aware of just how worried poor Alex must've been. And the fact that Veyron came all the way here only proves how badly I screwed up by staying in that cabin instead of leaving sooner.

"I literally got here just a few minutes before you. I came to ask if I could borrow a phone. Other than that, everything's okay. I spent the last three days in a little cabin out in the forest because…" I clear my throat. "…I went into heat."

Veyron blinks, and silence settles over the room.

That's when I notice something strange. Renato's ridiculously hot nephew is glaring at innocent Veyron with open hostility, radiating the classic territorial alpha energy. I have no idea how I know it, but I'm absolutely certain he doesn't want Veyron anywhere near this house. And especially not around me.

Naturally, Veyron turns toward him at once. Every alpha is tuned in to that kind of combative energy.

A low, warning AO growl rumbles out of Mauro's chest, the one that says, Stay away.

Veyron, however, doesn't look the least bit intimidated. He tilts his head slightly, and a cocky little smile curls across his lips.

"Well… this is quite the atmosphere you've got going here. Jared, I think it'd be safer if we got out of here. Alex's been waiting for the update on your whereabouts. Impatiently, may I add!"

A strange wave of panic seizes me at the thought of leaving already.

"It's okay, Veyron. I only asked these kind people if I could use a phone to call Alex, but then I got dizzy. Mauro helped me get to the couch. I'm in heat recovery right now, and I can barely walk."

The older beta turns toward Veyron, introduces himself, and asks, "Mr. Nolan, am I correct in assuming you're Jared's partner?"

"No! No, we don't even know each other." Veyron waves both hands immediately. "I'm Bay's cousin. Bay used to date Alex, who's Jared's cousin." He stops halfway through and makes a helpless gesture. "Never mind. It's complicated. I used to work as a detective's assistant, though, so friends and relatives sometimes ask me to use my contacts to help them take care of… certain situations." He lets out an awkward chuckle.

"I understand. Even so, I'd like to assure you that Jared is perfectly safe here," Renato says. "And in his current condition, he shouldn't be traveling. Heat recovery requires rest and as little stress as possible. I would strongly recommend that Jared stay here for the next three days before making any decisions."