in the alley. Milo looked upset, but then he went to leave. I thought that was it. But then some other dude stepped out in front of him, blocking his path. Told Milo that he had to come with him. Said he was part of the senator’s security detail and that there had been a threat toward the senator, and Milo would be safe as long as he came with him.”
I rocked back on my heels, floored. That information was huge. Not quite enough to go to the press, but it went a long way to confirming some of my suspicions. If Milo had left with someone who he trusted, someone connected to his stepfather… Well, there was a good chance the senator had orchestrated the whole thing.
I raked a hand over my face, processing everything and figuring out my next steps. I looked back at the kid, wanting to thank him and also let him know that if he needed any help, he could come to me—but he was gone. I glanced around the area, but there was no trace. What the hell? The kid had disappeared, almost like a ghost.
I almost called out to him, but I didn’t think there was any point. Hopefully, he’d get in contact with me again, and I could offer him some kind of reward if Milo was located safe and sound.
So I went back to my car and drove straight back to the office, making a few phone calls on the way to corroborate the kid’s story as best I could. As soon as I was back in my office, I called Kevin, knowing he needed to have this info immediately.
“You’re never going to believe what I just found out,” I said, and then I relayed all the information from my meeting with the kid.
“What the hell, East? Do you have any idea how stupid that was to go alone? It could have been a setup.”
I bristled. “But it wasn’t. I know the risks. It’s part and parcel of my profession, and I can handle myself.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, thoroughly pissed off. “You have to think about—”
My office door flew open, startling me.
Percy.
And if I thought Kevin was pissed, he had nothing on my mate.
“Look, Kevin, I’m going to have to call you back. I’ll email you the rest of the details, and I’ll check in later.”
Percy growled, his eyes flashing as he realized who I was talking to, and then he stormed into the office, slamming the door behind him. I hung up, not even hearing what Kevin said, not actually caring when my mate was staring down at me like he wanted to throttle me.
“What. The. Fuck.” His voice was low, shaking, and I could tell he was barely hanging on to his temper. In fact, he looked ready to explode.
I held my hands up, standing from my chair, ready to explain, but he pinned me with his stare.
“Do you often put yourself in danger for the sake of a case?”
I opened my mouth, but he wasn’t done.
“I went to the location you texted. You weren’t there. And you didn’t answer your phone when I tried to call you. Multiple times. So again, I ask you, what the fuck, Easton? Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?”
My pulse was pounding, roaring in my ears, but my heart did a little flip at the admission. He was worried. Which meant he cared.
“I’m sorry, Percy. It wasn’t my intention to scare you. And I’m sorry I didn’t answer. I was making some calls about the case, trying to see if anyone from the surrounding businesses had any footage they’d previously overlook—”
My words died in my throat as Percy rounded the desk and yanked me toward him.
Then he crushed his mouth to mine, bruising, fierce and aggressive as if he were desperate to have me in his arms, to know I was really okay. I melted into him, clinging to his shoulders as he kissed me stupid until I couldn’t think past the feel of him, and every other thought had fled my mind.
“Do you have any idea how crazy you’re making me?” he asked, growling against my mouth before nipping my lips with his teeth. A mixture of pleasure and pain flooded me at the claiming gesture. And my knees turned to jelly at his purely primal expression.
“I don’t know what to do with this, Easton,” he said, his voice rough. “You scared the shit out of me.