AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Luisa leaned forward and kissed me. “If I was only allowed one wish for the year ahead, it would be that you’d let your guard down, lower your walls, lose your inhibitions”—she winked—“with me. Now, would you like to take a walk first or get right to work?”
30
LUISA
Press and I took a lovely stroll through the vineyards before we settled at our makeshift desks and got to work.
“What’s on your mind, pet,” he asked partway through our day.
“I still haven’t heard from Jada.” I’d been looking down at my phone, but when I looked up, Press was studying me.
“Would you like me to check with Zin?”
“Would it be weird if you did?” I asked.
“I don’t believe so,” he responded, winking.
“It just isn’t like her. You said you were sure she has the number, right?”
“I’m certain. Also, your message to her was marked delivered, was it not?”
I checked my phone, and he was right. Not that it made me feel any better.
“Zin is seeing if she’s at home,” he said.
Press’ phone buzzed, and I looked up. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“There seems to be some confusion. Apparently, Mrs. Yáñez thinks Jada is still at Butler Ranch.”
“That makes no sense. She went home three days ago.”
Press’ phone buzzed again but, this time, with a call. “It’s Zin.”
“Go ahead,” I said, motioning for him to answer.
“Luisa is here with me,” he stated before anything else.
“Hey, Luisa,” Zin said when Press propped the phone on the counter so we could both see him.
“Hi.” I gave him a quick wave.
Zin hung his head, then scrubbed his face. “Okay, so here’s the deal. When Jada left Butler Ranch the other night, she didn’t go straight home.”
“You left right after she did,” I mumbled, remembering that I’d watched him drive off.
“That’s right.”
“Where did you both go?” Press asked.
“My place. She was there when I arrived. She stayed until yesterday afternoon, which is why Mrs. Yáñez thought she was still at Butler Ranch. The only problem is, like I said, she leftyesterdayafternoon. I thought she was going home.”
“Youthoughtshe was going home?”
I put my hand on Press’ arm. He was agitated. However, Zin and Jada were adults in the same way we were. Them spending a couple of nights together wasn’t the issue. What worried me to the point where I felt a panic attack coming on was that she still wasn’t home.
“Where is she?” Press asked him.
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
