Page 25 of For Wrath and Redemption
“Was this in LA?”
She laughs awkwardly. “That’s the one.”
I have to bite my tongue on the impulse to saydamnagain. That accident made national news, but it was across the country, and I hadn’t paid much attention to it. I do remember that there were several fatalities, though. She truly is lucky to be alive.
I tilt my head slightly and hold her eye contact. Her eyes are light green. My old best friend has hazel eyes with swirls of green the same color as Callie’s. It makes my stomach twist and my heart ache.
“I’m glad you survived, Callie,” I say honestly, and she smiles.
“Thanks, Claire. Me too.”
The door to the dressing room opens, interrupting us, and a sweaty, shirtless Torren walks in. Callie jumps up from her seat and is immediately wrapped up in his tattooed arms. When he kisses her, I look away.
I glance toward the door and expect to see Jonah, but he’s not there. I wait a while longer for it to swing open and reveal him, but after a few minutes, I start to worry. I turn to Torren and Callie and clear my throat.
“Where is Jonah?”
They break apart and look at me. Callie is blushing again, but Torren is completely unbothered.
“He probably went to smoke.”
I sigh. “Where would that be?”
“End of the hallway, there’s a door that leads outside. He’s probably there.”
“Thanks.” I look at Callie and give her a small nod. “See you later.”
Once in the hallway, I follow the EXIT signs to a large set of double doors. I push them open, letting in the night air, and step outside.
No cigarette smoke. No Jonah Hendrix.
“Goddamn it.”
I groan and take out my phone, dial his number and wait while it rings and rings and rings. A voicemail doesn’t even pick up. Of course this prick wouldn’t have voicemail.
I dial again, each unanswered ring stoking my irritation as I storm back into the building. I open the door to the dressing room and check inside, even though I know he won’t be there. He’s not. I knock on the door to the girls’ dressing room and then pop my head inside. He’s not there, either.
“Have you seen Jonah?”
“Probably smoking,” Sav says, and I shake my head.
“I checked.”
Her eyebrows scrunch with concern, and when I glance at Mabel, her expression is similar.
“No worries,” I lie. “He’s just...testing me. I’ve got it under control.”
I smile, wave goodbye, and escape back into the hallway.
“Goddamn it,” I groan to myself. First full day on the job and I’ve fucking lost my charge. This is the last thing I need. “I’ll kill him.”
I have two options. The first is I can call Wade Hammond and ask for help, but this mistake will probably get reported back to Conrad. I’d look like I can’t handle the job, and that’s not acceptable. No. I have to go with option two, which is to find the fucker myself, then shove my foot up his ass.
I’m not worried about Jonah Hendrix. I know it’s a challenge. He’s feeling me out. Looking for boundaries he can toe. I just have to be firm. He’ll see that I mean business.
I pull out my phone and send him a text.
Me
