Chapter Twenty-Two #2
Brad stepped forward, and the clerk’s eyes widened. My bear was big, and feral in all the ways that counted, and right now, he was all business. “Who’s been asking?”
She shrugged and stepped back. “People. I don’t really know. I’m sorry, there’s a line behind you. We’ll bring your order to your table when it’s ready.”
The clerk scurried like a mouse, but Brad didn’t move right away.
“Let’s sit,” I urged.
He nodded and followed me to the table. It was between morning coffee rush and lunch, so we had our pick of places to sit. Brad shook his head at my first choice and led me to the corner, away from anyone else.
Another clerk brought us our coffees and treats almost immediately and made a fast exit.
I forced myself to take a sip of coffee, and my hands shook as I placed the mug on the table. “Brad, something’s really wrong.”
He simply nodded and took a bite of the tart, moaning softly as the taste hit his tongue.
“This is Jen’s happy place. She’s credited those mochas as being the only thing that keeps her sane.
” And right now, I was trying not to spiral, but it was impossible.
I leaned forward and continued in a whisper, “And they know her. She buys the baristas Christmas presents. She’s like a rock star here. ”
“Kinda weird she didn’t recognize you, either.”
“I don’t come as often as she does.”
Bellamy took the seat beside me, and Barrett slipped into the fourth position at the table. I hadn’t even seen them come in, and having them join us wasn’t part of the original plan.
“You’re all over the news as a missing person.”
“Twenty somethings don’t watch the news,” I reminded him.
“Social media too,” Barrett added. “My daughter asked me about you, if we’d help find you. Of course, I didn’t tell her we’re already working with you. It's only a matter of time before someone recognizes you.”
“No shit. I need to find Jen. I’m telling you, this isn’t normal.”
“Is there anywhere else she frequents? We’ve been watching her phone and internet activity, and it got quiet.” Bellamy held up his hand in anticipation of my impending freakout. “I assumed that whoever had hijacked it moved the signal. Today I’m close enough to get the accurate information--”
“We need to go to her house. Now.” My hands were on the table. I was about to shift into full bear in the middle of this cute coffee shop. “Her not showing up here isn’t normal. And people are asking about her. I’m scared.”
Brad rose from the table. “Let’s go.” But then he held his hand out to Barrett and Bellamy. “Synamon and I have this. You two should stay here. Do a little eavesdropping. Two women are missing—that we know of. Keep an ear out for any interesting business propositions while you’re at it.”
Barrett nodded. “We’ll swing by Jen’s neighborhood later to give Bellamy a chance to pick up a clean online footprint.”
I couldn’t even feel my body as we headed back to the SUV.
“Brad.” The word was thin, and he looked over at me as he snapped his seatbelt into place. “What if they did something to Jen to get to me?”
A soft growl rumbled through his body.
“You can’t possibly still think she’s in on this.” It was my turn to growl. “Why would she have called you in the first place if she wanted to hurt me?”
“Maybe she’s a little jealous, that’s all.” He put the SUV into reverse and the GPS chirped out the first turn on the way to Jen’s house.
We didn’t need that fucking thing. I wanted to scream. I could get to Jen’s house blindfolded.
“No, that’s never occurred to me. She's my best friend, what does she have to be jealous of?”
“Everything.” He glanced at me. “You have, or had, a successful career—one you didn’t even want. Power comes with that. Then you have men eating out of your hand when you go on camera as your secret alter ego—the ultimate escape—and you don’t have to give them anything in return.”
This bear was dangerously close to not getting anything in return.
“She has things I don’t. A family, a husband, the ability to go spend hours in this coffee shop and read smut while she drinks her mocha because everything is taken care of for her.
” I groaned. “Why am I even defending this ridiculous theory? We need to find her. I have a really bad feeling about this, Brad. And I have a worse feeling the guys are missing something.”
“They know what they’re doing.”
“I never said they didn’t. And I’m proud of you for taking charge back there. What I am saying is there could be a detail that looks perfectly normal that isn’t.” I stopped for a moment. “Are you afraid that breaking rank is gonna cost you your job?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid you’re about to uncover something that will break your heart.”
The gravity of that statement felt like a boulder in my belly. “If you’re right, you can’t protect me from this.”
Ugh—I didn’t even want to think about the consequences if he was right. I just wanted everything to go back to normal--
But did I? Did I want to cosplay Ellie every single day, in these awful pants, and not have a bear like Brad in my life?
No. I wanted my friend to be safe. And I wanted to be confident in being my true self.
It shouldn’t have been too much to ask.
Heat flashed through my body as we turned onto Jen’s street. I stared at my fingers, expecting them to turn to claws. Waiting for the first blossom of fur to crack through my skin.
But all that changed when I saw her SUV was in her driveway. The flood of relief almost hurt as it flowed through my body. I barely let Brad come to a stop before I opened the door.
He called after me, but there was no stopping me until I hugged my bestie.
I knocked on the door, which felt kinda ridiculous, because if she was expecting me I’d walk right in and immediately get tackle hugged by my honorary nieces and nephews.
Waiting for an answer felt worse.
Her husband opened the door. He looked he’d seen a ghost. Understandable.
“Hey Nick,” I said as brightly as I could manage, but I went from bear to feeling so, so Ellie. “I know this is a surprise, but—”
“What the fuck are you doing here?”