Chapter Five
Scott
Dressed at record speed, Scott left the remnants of his suit in a bag for disposal when he had more time. On the drive back to the office, he used the time to do something productive. He searched the internet for George Maybank, only to come up with bupkiss on anyone with that name.
How could the bear have no information on the internet? Everyone left a trace somewhere on the web. Frustration levels reached an all-time high for Scott, who, somewhere between his demon acting out and losing their blissful one, had found he wasn’t as calm and collected as he thought.
So, when he stepped into the elevator and encountered the dweeb Dervis from accounting, he struggled not to groan at his misfortune. The man didn’t get Scott wasn’t interested, and his tolerance for small talk was at an all-time low.
“Did you see the forecast for Demon’s Blessing? They are really going to boost the dividends this month.”
Scott nodded.
“The bonuses will surely help towards the last payment on my Bugatti.”
Did he think any of this conversation was scintillating? The guy had flirted with Scott once or twice at work functions. He smelled funky and had a habit of picking his teeth.
Who did that in public?
Scott gave another nod at the suitable time, or he thought he did. His mind was more occupied with what he wanted. George.
He needed to get out of this damn elevator and contact Dakata and Silas, maybe even Merihem, to figure out how to find George. Although, as Merihem had entrusted him to look after George’s needs, it wouldn’t do to say he’d left the hospital having not done that. He’d not even gone and paid the hospital bill, something he would need to rectify once he was in his office because he’d just remembered that.
Where had George gone? Had he gone willingly? Was he alright? Had he managed to shift and get the drugs out of his system?
More questions, all of which increased the need for his demon side, who wanted to veer towards starting a rampage to find their bear.
Behave. We have to figure this out sensibly.
What did that do for us the last time? Our bear is missing.
Do you need to fucking shout at me? I know he’s missing.
The doors opened, and Scott stepped out, not seeing the other guy staring open-mouthed from his rudeness. He strode with purpose into his office. The man in the elevator, not anywhere on his radar, when he placed his laptop bag down and headed back out into the corridor, walking straight to Dakata’s—Christa’s office.
He didn’t so much as hesitate to knock; he had no time to waste.
Christa glanced up, a frown tugging at her sculpted brows. “When did you ever enter an office without knocking? And why aren’t you at the hospital?”
The snap to her tone that could flay skin from bone, Scott didn’t notice. He jabbed a finger at her. “I went to the hospital, and the bear is gone. I need to find him!”
Christa lounged back in her seat. “I feel I’m missing something here?” Her expression revealed her interest.
“Does Dakata have the cab driver's contact information?” he asked, ignoring her inquiring stare.
“I have no idea.” Her perfect bow lips pulled into a thoughtful pout. “You’ll have to ask him yourself.” She tapped her painted nails on the arm of the chair. “In fact, why don’t we both take a trip to the forest to talk to Dakata in person ?”
“What? Why do you need to come?” Scott questioned, his scrambled thoughts giving him no clue as to why he’d need an escort. As far as Scott was aware, Christa didn’t like nature or going places with more foliage and fewer creature comforts. Scott was aware they were more alike that he would ever admit.
She rose and smoothed down her dress down over her sumptuous curves as she came towards him. “I’m your boss—”
“No, Merihem is my boss after Dakata. You are an employee, the same as me.” Scott had made this point before, Christa liked to quibble over such things.
Her laughter was bold as she slipped an arm through Scott’s and turned him towards the door he’d come through. “You are too easy, you know that? That snooty tone gets me every time.”
“I do not have a snooty tone,” he argued, blocking his demon, who laughed as hard as Christa.
“You do, and you love to use it when you’re annoyed. Like now.” Somehow, she guided him back out of the building sans his laptop bag, something he never left work without. Into the back of the car, with Christa giving directions to the driver.
“I need my laptop!” Scott declared, hand going to the door handle.
Christa reached for his hand, removing it from the handle as the car pulled from the curb, not allowing him a chance to argue. “Do you sleep with the damn thing?”
Scott eyed Christa with a look that spoke volumes to his pissedoffness as he shook off her touch. “Of course not.” He may have occasionally fallen asleep while working with the laptop on his lap. That did not count.
You keep believing that.
Give over, will you?
Whatever. Just find our bear, or I will.
You will not go on a rampage, do you hear me?
Play another demon tune, this one isn’t jibing for me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Christa tapped on Scott’s forearm, bringing his attention to her.
“Nothing,” he snapped back, then took a breath to calm himself. Today was not going according to any of his plans.
Our blissful one is not a plan, and you need to get your head out of your ass before we find him.
My head is most definitely not up my ass, Scott exclaimed, feeling affronted at the very thought.
See, this is what’s wrong with you. You need to let loose a little.
Scott blocked his demon, this time with more force, as he’d had enough.
“Your demon side giving you a hard time?”
Christa’s question was asked so quietly that Scott initially thought he had not heard her correctly. He met her gaze and something about her eyes suggested a sadness about her he’d never noticed before, so he answered honestly. “Yes.”
“I feel you.” Christa looked out the car window. “They don’t always see that life isn’t just black and white, that decisions come in an entire spectrum of colors that can make it hard to find the right one to fit.”
Scott stared at Christa and got the distinct impression she wasn’t actually talking to him at all. “Life can be more shades than we can fathom, yes.”
She didn’t turn to look at him as she nodded. “Absolutely true,” she murmured quietly. “Then why can’t others see that?”
Scott had no answer to that, so he reached into his suit jacket for his cell phone, only to come up empty-handed. His eyes widened. He never went anywhere without his phone! Never.
This is all your fault, he groused at his demon half.
Now you unblock me to bitch at me. Fuck you.
Well, I never!
I never… so get over yourself. You were as preoccupied as me, and with good reason.
When we find our bear you and I are going to have a serious conversation about your behavior.
The laughter was grating as the car slowed and they entered a rutted road that led to the drop-off place where Scott had traveled to see Dakata for work matters. He might not be so involved with everything, but that didn’t mean Dakata trusted Merihem or his family. Scott never mentioned the trips here. That was up to Dakata.
The engine died and Christa didn’t move from her position, giving Scott another feeling of disquiet that wasn’t connected to him or George. “Are you okay?” Scott wasn’t sure what compelled him to ask. Christa wasn’t one to talk about anything personal with him, or anyone he was aware of, with maybe the exception of Dakata.
She didn’t look at him as she reached for the door handle. “We’ll see.” On the cryptic note, she got out of the car. Shaking off his concern, Scott followed. He had bigger fish to fry.
Outside, his nose wrinkled as he inhaled, acclimatizing himself. Something he did every time because the smells were so different that he needed a moment to adjust. The familiar scents his nose filtered came with a surging demon, who roared, and Scott had no time to get hold of his demon half. Because even as he was cursing and worrying about another suit, it became just as torn as the one earlier. A pale blue demon, shredded clothes flapping around his body, his cock flapping about wildly, rampaged through the forest.
Creatures all scurried away as Scott’s demon called to their blissful one. “George, my honey bear, call to me if you can. I’m coming, and I’ll rip apart those who took you from us. I swear.”
Dear demon gods! Why did I get you?