AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why didn’t you tell her that?” Dahlia fired back with uncharacteristic spunk.
She reminded me of Bianca for a moment.
“Maybe because I was worried she would do something stupid. Like take off in the dead of night without warning,” I retorted. “What time did you last see her?”
Dahlia pursed her lips, trying to remember.
“We got home around… nine?” she offered. “Maybe ten? I don’t know, Atlas. Time has meant nothing to me in weeks.”
I couldn’t begrudge her that.
“Go back to your room,” I ordered her.
“No! I want to help look for my sister.”
“Don’t be foolish,” I countered. “Someone is apt to mistake you for Bianca—or kidnap you and bring you back to Jesse.”
“Not if I stay with you.”
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want the responsibility of babysitting Dahlia, but when she wanted to be, the girl could be insistent.
“You stay at my side, don’t argue, and don’t cause a fuss,” I instructed her. “If you give me any problems, I’ll lock you in your room.”
She balked at the threat but read the sincerity in my eyes.
“Okay,” she whispered. “I just want Bee back safe.”
“So do I,” I growled. “And we’ll get her back.”
* * *
Sage didn’t wantto help, claiming that she had too many other matters to handle.
“There’s too much going on with the casinos, Atlas. Choose your battles.”
“This is the battle I’m choosing,” I snarled defensively. “I need to find her. She could be in serious danger.”
“You need to think sensibly, Atlas, and I’m trying to do that for you,” Sage told me sadly. “Search for the girl if you want, but I have to clean up this mess with the business.”
“She’s out there, Sage, and Jesse will no doubt have scouts looking for her.”
“You have your own scouts,” she reminded me. “Or at least you did. Do you still?”
The question bothered me. With all that had been happening with my businesses, many of my pack members had jumped ship.
So much for that loyalty I had thought they had.
Petyr reluctantly showed up with Virgil, neither appearing happy to be searching for Bianca again.
Vivian was her usual peppy, fighting self, though she also had reservations about going after Bianca.
“She’s gone on her own, Atlas,” the fox shifter mumbled. “I don’t feel right about hunting down a willing runner.”
The statement made me bristle.
“Even if that means she’s about to be recaptured by Jesse?” I demanded. In the end, it was that which brought her on board.
“Gather up all of our resources, all of our people,” I told Virgil. “Eyes, ears, and snouts to the ground. If anyone has so much as seen a blonde between the ages of eighteen and forty in the past twelve hours, I want someone to check it out. Is that clear?”
