Chapter 36
I tensed up, irritation prickling under my skin, but kept my voice steady.
“Why lock the door? Is my question…”
I paused, scanning their faces. “…that sensitive?”
Walter let out a nervous laugh.
“No, no, Vivian, don’t overthink it. Just keeping this hush-hush, that’s all.”
“Oh, so there’s a story.”
He nodded.
“Hank Miller and Tanya Brooks-they were founding workers here, bonded. Got hurt in an accident, left
unable to work. To avoid chaos, we struck a deal: compensation, but they wanted pay spread over years
instead of a lump sum.”
Nice try, but that tale’s full of holes.
I pressed my lips together, feigning concern.
“Why not report it to pack?”
Walter sighed.
“Office types don’t get factory life. We didn’t want folks losing jobs over it. And really-lump sum or spread out, what’s the difference?”
“Personally, I get it,” I said,
“but professionally, it’s off the books. Plus, your workers think the place is haunted.”
“You’re right, it’s not proper,” Walter said.
“But Vivian, let it slide. Don’t bother Alpha Gideon with this-he’s got a pack to run.”
I pretended to weigh it.
“Fine. But I need to meet them, verify. Then I’ll drop it.”
Walter blinked, then smiled. “Sure thing.”
Six p.m.
Alpha Gideon wrapped the summit, sat through the host’s dinner, and was back at the hotel.
He was settling in for a video call when Elliot burst in.
“Vivian’s still missing. Her phone’s dead.”
Alpha Gideon froze, hand hovering over his laptop.
“No word all day?”
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“She said she’d call if needed. I thought she was back.”
“Call the factory. Find out.”
Elliot dialed, then turned, grim.
“They say she left at one. Should’ve been back hours ago.”
Alpha Gideon’s jaw tightened.
He canceled the call, summoned Martin Keane-the deputy overseeing the factory-to meet at the site, and
ordered a search of the area.
Camilla insisted on tagging along.
As we left the hotel, a wolf in a navy shirt charged toward us, flanked by a small group, his face dark with rage. Alpha Gideon, checking his watch, didn’t notice.
Elliot stepped in front.
“Alpha Gideon!”
He looked up. Their eyes clashed in the dim light.
“Where’s my mate?”
Alpha Adrian’s muscles coiled, aggression radiating like heat.
“She’s missing.”
Alpha Gideon’s voice was calm, eyes cool, as if sizing up a stray.
“Missing?”
Alpha Adrian’s fists clenched, knuckles popping.
Elliot stepped between them.
“Vivian’s Alpha Gideon’s chief secretary. She went to the factory this morning-no word since, phone off.
We’re heading there now.”
Secretary? Alpha Gideon’s personal secretary?
Alpha Adrian’s blood boiled.
Add her disappearance, and he looked ready to snap.
Alpha Gideon’s car waited.
He ignored Adrian, climbing in.
Adrian’s car tailed.
Elliot glanced back.
“How’d he find her?”
“Those who want to, will,” Alpha Gideon said, unconcerned.
“What exactly did she find yesterday?”
Elliot spilled about the headcount discrepancy.
Alpha Gideon’s jaw tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell me? You think they’d let her walk after she caught on?”
“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Elliot stammered.
“She went as an inspector. They wouldn’t… detain her, right?”
“What if she pushed too hard? She’s got a backbone.”
He rubbed his temple.
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“Tell the branch: if we don’t find her in an hour, every manager’s fired.”
Elliot’s eyes widened.
“They’ll protest-no proof she’s in trouble there.”
“I trust my gut.”
She came with me. I’ll keep her safe.
I groaned, consciousness seeping back.
My hands were tied behind a chair, tape over my mouth, a blindfold blocking the light.
Waves crashed nearby, the air reeking of mildew and rot.
That afternoon, Walter said the “couple” was at a diner.
I went-broad daylight, people around, what could happen?
Then, in an alley, something hit me from behind.
I woke here.
Time dragged. Then the door creaked.
A sliver of moonlight slipped in, revealing a smirk.
Martin, the branch’s deputy general manager.
I never pegged Martin as the mole.
“Rough treatment, tying up a she-wolf like you,” he said, voice dripping with fake sympathy.
He sauntered in, shut the door, and flicked on a grimy lamp-its light thin, barely cutting the dark.
In the dim glow, I took in the room: a decaving parlor with a rickety table sagging couch and a rusted TV
Chapter 30
My gaze locked on Martin.
“Whoa, that stare could cut glass,” he taunted, reaching for my face.
I jerked back, revulsion prickling my skin.
He rubbed his fingers, as if savoring the memory of my touch, then smirked.
“Divine. Dumping a beauty like you in the cove? What a waste.”
My eyes flickered.
Old fear surged, squeezing my chest. But this time, I was wide awake.
I thrashed against the ropes.
The rotting chair leg snapped, and I crashed to the floor, dust billowing up.
I tried to cough, but the tape muffled it, my face flushing as tears stung.
Martin crouched, grinning.
“Ready to make it easy? Just lie back.”
His hand slid up my calf, creeping higher-drinking in my struggle, my fear, my tears.
The more I broke, the more he wanted to shatter me.
“Change of plans,” he said.
“No cove. I’ll keep you here, play when I want. See what Alpha Gideon’s been enjoying.”
I glared, fire in my eyes.
“Don’t be cruel,” he mocked.
“Just serving a wolf. I’m no Alpha Gideon, but you’ll live. That’s all that matters, right?”
Disgusting filth-trying to break me.
But I stilled, letting my eyes drop, feigning surrender.
Seconds later, I met his gaze, misty and compliant, and nodded.
Martin’s hand paused at my waist.
“You in?”
I nodded again, like survival was all that mattered.
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I tilted my head toward the stairs behind me, then glanced at the floor, shaking my head-pleading.
“Smart girl. This floor’s too gross anyway,” he said, lust fogging his sense.
He untied my feet, then my hands-but his phone buzzed.
He swatted it away.
Once free, he looped the rope around my neck, a leash.
Just in case I ran.
“Upstairs we go.”
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VICTIO
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