Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella
Chapter 43

"Speculating, Peelle?"

"Yeah, when the situation requires it. It's not like me, I know, but things aren't adding up. No ransom demand? That was our first clue. Matter of fact, that should have been the answer right there. Who would risk bringing down Scarlet's wrath on them just to play a game of 'will-l-or-won't-l' with us? If they captured Osborn for money, they're going to tell us right off the bat so they can finish it as soon as possible and get him back off their hands." "But they didn't." Evan leaned back in the sofa and glowered at the map. "No communication for twenty four hours."

"Exactly. Maybe they'll play that kind of game of suspense with smaller packs to toy with them, but they won't do that with us. Every hour they delay, that's more of a chance we'll find them before they can ever demand a ransom at all. Then they risk death for no reward, period. No. That's not what's happening here."

"How'd you find this map? This is Osborn's, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Kept it private in his office upstairs. You know how secretive he gets when he isn't sure of something, since he hates being wrong. But I dug around in his room to find out what he was up to since I thought it was better than rampaging through the whole city blind, and lo and behold, I found this folded up in his locked drawer. Broke it open yesterday since I couldn't find the key, and good thing I did."

"But you've already searched these areas. You wouldn't have waited this long and just sat on this information doing nothing."

"Relax, Evan. I did send out some men. Once the extras come in, we can cover all of the locations in question. We'll have to expand our perimeter a little since I bet Osborn snooped around liberally, not just in these blocks alone, but I think this is our first real clue. The rest, we're just searching blindly."

Micah cleared his throat. It was the first time he'd spoken since Peelle had come. I'd almost forgotten he was there. "The warehouses aren't on here. But he was asking about them before he disappeared, shouldn't we also focus our search there? It's the perfect place to arrange a k********g. Anyone attacked here, no one would report it. The area's sleazy and dangerous, and it's about as close to a criminal district as it gets."

"Then go and search it with your squad," said Peelle. "Evan, what do you think? The warehouses, or these locations? I'll be going here and here, and..." He moved his finger northward. "This place. These three spots are the most likely, I think. If you don't think my hunch is right, then the warehouses are still a fair guess."

"No. This map is good. But we'll split up. You go to that location, I'll take care of this one by the gardens. More likely for clues to be here. If Dark Moon sympathizers are involved, I'll..."

Peelle glanced at me. The look was furtive and quick enough that Evan failed to notice it, and my heart warmed when I realized: Peelle hadn't forgotten about me, nor had it been accidental when he distracted Evan on the way here. He'd meant for me to listen in and be clued in on what was going on with the Osborn disaster.

Oh, Peelle. What would I do without him? Even now he was worried that Evan's hostile threat against Dark Moon was bothering me. He hastily changed the subject.

"Let's get this handled first, then you'll dole out the punishments. I'm with you every step of the way, man. Want to take a squad with you, Evan?"

"No. Whatever excess forces we have, position them around this pack house, and keep Claudia..." Evan turned to me, gaze sharp. "... under guard at all times. If they know I'm out there, they'll be sure to try to attack the pack house itself. And they're watching closely, whoever they are. They probably already know I've brought Claudia with me."

"I'll be okay," I said. "Worry about the man actually in danger first. Osborn needs you."

His eyes softened as they so often did lately when he looked into mine. His hand slid onto my knee, and I rested my fingers over his. "You're too good," he murmured. "You need to take care of yourself before you worry about everyone else."

"If the whole world did that, we'd be a lot worse off. Anyway, I'll be okay. I'll even stay in my room if that's what you want... Even though I think I could be of help. Peelle, don't you think I'd be able to show you the places that don't appear on maps? There are lots of hidden pockets in this territory, you know that."

Peelle scratched the back of his head. "Actually... that's true. Dark Moon is a lot more disorganized than we are, which is part of the problem. There are entire streets and buildings no one knows about because they get built illegally overnight, and they come down just as fast. This map was sketched by someone last year and I'd guess twenty percent of it is already out of date, especially with how unpredictable the smuggling business here is. We're getting closer and closer to finding those narcotic stockpiles. Soon. We might even find some of them while hunting down those bastards who took Osborn."

"Two birds, one stone, then," Evan said roughly. "You know what to do. If you find anyone, drag them back here, and I'll deal with them personally."

I was getting accustomed to this bloodthirsty side of him. I didn't even flinch. What did that say about me, while I sat here in a pack house where Evan had executed almost everyone who had lived and breathed here?

And there would be more bloodshed yet. I lowered my head, hiding the emotion in my eyes.

I didn't have the right to ask him to slow down. This was about his pack subordinate, someone he had placed here so they could govern Dark Moon in his absence. Osborn was his responsibility, and nothing would stop Evan from taking care of it.

A call came for Evan just as we climbed the stairs to the second floor. He picked up, but instead of answering, immediately placed it on hold. His hand slid around my waist.

"I have to leave now," he said. "Claudia. Promise me you won't leave."

"I won't. I know it's dangerous right now, I wouldn't make you worry needlessly."

"I know you wouldn't, but I do know you would try if you thought you could be helpful. But don't make me worry."

I turned on the top step and placed my hands on his chest. "You're the one worrying me. Please be careful, Evan. I don't know what I'd do if..."

He kissed me. It started chaste and quick, just something to interrupt me so I couldn't finish the sentence, but when I gasped and melted into his arms, a familiar heat expanded under his skin as he dragged his hands up and down my sides. "Claudia..."

"W-wait, Evan, we-ah!"

He nipped me below the ear, and I half-yelped, half-moaned. The sound made him stiffen. "Don't make those sounds if you don't want me to take you right here, Claudia." "Evan! We're, we're in the hallway! Don't be crazy."

"I'm already crazy. I'm going crazy thinking about leaving you here. I just want to take you to bed and make you mine again. I could even do it right here on the floor. On the wall."

He devoured my lips once more, blocking any feeble attempt to protest. The sign of his rapid arousal was clear against my waist, hard and growing hot. My face must be as red as a tomato as I strained to look over his shoulder, checking to see no one was watching

us.

Luckily, there was no one there as Evan trailed his lips over the shell of my ear, so we had no witnesses as he pinned me to the wall, pure masculine need building up in his body. No, wait, Peelle's voice was getting closer and closer as he spoke with Micah. In a few seconds, they would round the corner and look up, and...

"Evan - later!" I pushed at his chest in a hurry, hair all askew. "Find Osborn first, then we celebrate later... or something."

"Celebrate?" He raised an eyebrow. "You're getting friskier each time. I like it."

"Evan!" I swatted at his arm and pushed away. "Go and take care of business first."

"All right." His mouth twisted into a hungry, almost sardonic grin. "Then I take care of business after I come back, too."

I ran to the closest bedroom and threw myself on the bed, too embarrassed and adrenaline-filled to even try to fire back a response.