Page 53 of There's Something About Dragons
He seems genuinely bewildered, but demons are great liars, so I don’t believe him for a second. “Nobody else has the resources to hack my account. Nobody else wants to keep me away from Cari. Only you.”
The instant the word are out of my mouth, I realize they’re not true. Thereissomeone else who fits both those descriptions. Someone who’salwaystried to keep Cari out of my life. Even back when he camped out with me all night in the woods so I could watch her bedroom window, he was also there, telling me she wasn’t worth it.
Someone who warned me not to visit her after the restraining order expired.
Someone who told me not to message her online.
Someone who lied that she was married so I wouldn’t contact her.
Someone who suddenly showed up in town once I had another shot with her.
Someone who told me fewer than twelve hours ago to forget her, even though she’s my fated mate.
Someone who literally has access to my unlocked laptop. He didn’t need to hack my account to send her my spreadsheet.
Fuck. It was Gabe. It’s been Gabe all along. He didn’t tag along with me back in high school because he wanted to hang out with me.He was stalking her, too.
“What?” Tristan asks. “What is it?”
“I think Cari’s in danger,” I say tightly.
I quickly explain everything to him: How my best friend and business partner is probably Cari’s longtime stalker. How I left her alone in her cottage when his hotel room is only a short walk away. How she texted me that she didn’t want to see me everagain after making me promise not to stay away more than an hour.
Tristan’s expression goes grim at last part. “I don’t think she sent you that text message. I think he did.”
“Even if it was her,” I say bleakly. “I’m not giving up. Do these open?” I motion to the floor-to-ceiling, plate-glass windows that line the wall.
“Why?”
“I’m going to fly.”
“For Seventh Circle’s sake, don’t shift in here,” he mutters, rising and gently placing his cat on a velvet sofa cushion. “I’ll take you to the roof.”
Of course, the rich bastard has a helipad up there, with a sleek, silver helicopter parked on it. He motions to it. “Get in. I’m flying, not you. I don’t trust you to carry me.”
I snort at his cowardice. “And I should trustyou? Do you even have a pilot’s license?” But I’m already getting into the passenger side, oddly grateful that he’s coming with me considering I just socked him in the jaw.
He tosses me a headset and we both buckle into our harnesses.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask as we lift off.
“She’s my friend,” he says through the headset as he deftly guides the helicopter above the downtown buildings. “I don’t want her mate getting arrested.”
He radios the police on our way and gives them the address. We land in the park in two minutes flat and abandon the helicopter as soon as we can rip our seatbelts open, both sprinting toward Cari’s cottage. On the porch, I swear I can smell Gabe inside. He’s here. I know it.
I’m not waiting for the cops to show up. Not when every minute counts.
“Should I knock first or just knock it down?” I ask Tristan.
“Dragons.” He rolls his eyes. “Stand back.”
I barely dodge aside in time before he aims a bolt of hellfire at the lock, melting it without singing the painted wood around it. He turns the knob, and the door falls open easily. “After you.”
I barrel inside, Tristan on my heels. I’m expecting the worse, but I’m still shocked when I find them. Cari is tied up in a kitchen chair, a collar around her neck. The end of the leash attached to it is in Gabe’s hand. Torn-up sunflowers litter the floor around them.
When I start to move toward them, Gabe yanks the leash, making her cough. He has a sick look of satisfaction when he sees me skid to a halt, fearful of him inflicting any more pain on her.
“She doesn’t want you anymore, bro,” he says. “We’re finally together.”
