Andrei
I sit in my office bored as fuck as I look over the business portfolios. I need to get into the city and check on things. Some of our pack businesses have taken a major hit recently. There is no explanation for it that I can find, yet the numbers are dropping rapidly.
When Zane walks in, I toss the file on my desk. “What’s up? Have you seen Sage?” I ask him.
I wonder what she is up to today and if she is planning to do anything later on. These days, she is always so busy with something or someone.
Since I barely see her, I admit I feel a bit suspicious of her recent increase in activities. Besides, far more times than I would like to admit, I struggle to find her.
Or when I do, she is always in the fields, helping our men with harvesting and gardening. Or sewing she spends a lot of time sewing now. Not that it bothers me, but it does make me wonder if she is planning to provide the entire pack with quilts. Judging by the amount of how many she has made so far, it sure does look like it.
“I think she is off with Vince and Casen in the fields,” Zane offers, but he doesn’t meet my eyes, which makes me suspicious. This little shit knows something I don’t.
I lean forward and brace my arms on my desk. I keep my gaze glued on my Beta, watching every single fucking movement he makes, and raise my eyebrow. “That didn’t sound like a very sure answer, Zane.”
Zane lets out a heavy sigh and runs his hand through his hair. “She was there when I last checked. I have been busy dealing with the Southern border. Sorry, I don’t know.”
“Another attempt?” I ask him, and he shrugs.
I know they aren’t telling me how bad the rogue situation is getting at the border. But I trust they will if I need to intervene. Just because I hold back from the topic and keep my distance from the rogues for Sage’s sake doesn’t mean I am not their Alpha anymore.
“So, why are you here?” I ask, turning back to the many documents causing me headaches. I seriously need a fucking distraction, and at this point, anything will do.
“I was checking the business reports earlier,” Zane announces. I hold them up. “You think it is odd too?” He arches an eyebrow, literally speaking my mind.
“Yes,” I agree. “Do you have any idea about what’s going on?” I press.
Zane steps closer and hums. “I talked with Derrick before he left. I think we need to change accountants,” he adds the last part with more confidence than he usually displays whenever we discuss anything money-related.
“That is also what I am thinking, the reports from the managers don’t match the accountants.”
“Want me to handle it?” Zane asks.
“You want to deal with it?” I ask him, almost allowing myself to feel the relief of getting this shit show off my shoulders.
“I can take Malik or wait for your father to return and take him. He is better with this stuff than me,” Zane admits.
He is right. Having my father here is a blessing and a torment at the same time. However, now that he has been gone for a few days, I have noticed his absence and how much he is helping us out.
“Yes, wait for Derrick to come back and let him handle it with you.” I nod.
Zane sighs and takes a seat across from me. The sun has dipped low across the horizon getting close to setting.
Somehow, the day has slipped by too quickly. I’m not sure if it is because of the time I lock myself in the office, but the days seem to blur past me these days. Like I am on autopilot most of the time.
I grab my coffee mug, head to the kitchen, and dump it in the sink. Zane follows me upstairs to the surveillance room.
“I can check them, why don’t you go shower and then find Sage?” He offers.
I don’t know what has been going on with him the last few days since my father left, but he has been up in my ass constantly like a bad wedgie, I can’t get rid of the guy. Wherever I go, he is there and won’t back off until I lose my goddamn patience.
“It’s fine, Zane. Please find Sage and tell her to come home for me.” I tell him as he looks at the surveillance cameras.
He is acting way weirder than before. He glances at the screens nervously. Why the fuck is he so anxious all of a sudden?
I cock my head to the side and observe him. He clearly is worried about something.
“Definitely. Why doesn’t he want us checking the cameras?” Donnie adds. He, too, thinks Zane has been behaving oddly for the last couple of days. Out of character, for sure.
I walk into the room and flick the screens on. I scan them, and at first, I don’t see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary.
Zane is lingering behind me, so I look over my shoulder, just to notice that he is mindlinking someone. I quickly turn my attention back to the screens, clearly looking for something that my Beta is trying to hide from me.
I spot movement, zooming in on the camera, I watch the figures freeze and I notice Sage somewhere she shouldn’t be. Vince and Casen are with her. They look back toward the house, and Zane takes in a sharp breath behind me.
My blood boils in my veins, there is no reason for Sage to be out that far, let alone so close to where I captured her. She knows that is out of bounds. I have already stripped shreds of both boys last time and she had been out that far.