Page 90 of Embracing Sky
He disappeared into the office. I went back to cooking, winking at Josie when she came through to grab a few orders. The shiny new “Assistant Manager” badge adorned her apron, even though she still ran tables on busier nights.
“You’re doing amazing, Jose. Just wanted you to know that. The new position suits you well.”
She bit her lip to hide her smile, but it was too radiant to stifle. She ended up beaming. “Thanks, boss. It’s a lot of extra work, but I can’t say I’m hating the bump in my pay.” She laughed. “I hope you guys will be back sooner rather than later, though. This is your last shift, right?”
“Yes. Paternity leave, as per management.” I chuckled. “AKA me. Sky is going to need us. He?—”
“ADAMMM!” Fletcher’s scream shrilled from across the restaurant, making my heart leap into my throat.
Josie and I exchanged a look. “Excuse me, I need to go see what’s going on,” I said, then hurried towards the office just as Fletcher came crashing out the door. I caught him by the shoulders. “Fletcher?”
He was white as a ghost. His eyes were wide and filled with fear as he thrust his phone out towards me. “Adam! It’s Sky!”
“Shh,” I hushed him, glancing behind us at the full restaurant of people enjoying their dinners, oblivious to whatever had just happened. I guided Fletcher back inside the office and closed the door behind us. “What happened?”
He began to sob. “H-He called while my phone was on the charger,” he uttered. “They took him, Adam! That monster took him!”
The words were a punch to the gut. “What?” I knew I’d heard him correctly, but it was the only word I could eke out. Taken? Sky?
“Listen!” Sinking down in the office chair, Fletcher waved me closer and set his phone down on the desk. With shaking fingers, he pushed “play” on the voicemail, and Sky’s voice came clearly over the line.
I listened to Sky whimper pleas to his captor, listened to them argue and shout, listened to the man strike him and threaten him. My gut sank with each whimper my frightened Omega made.
“No…” He sounded terrified, begging Dr. Thompson to leave him alone.
As the call ended in silence, and then cut off, Fletcher covered his mouth, his eyes filled with tears. I stood there, in a state of shock, my entire body feeling like I’d just been doused with ice water. I was cold to the bone.
“We promised him we’d protect him and now he’s gone. He’s gone, Adam! HE’S GONE!” Fletcher cried, his voice cracking.
“Fletcher, please, baby! Please, you need to calm down.” I grabbed my mate by the shoulders and gave him a small shake, then pressed my lips to his forehead. “We have to stay calm. We’ll find him.”
Fletcher burst into tears. “He’s going to hurt the baby. Sky will never recover. He’ll be broken forever and it’s my fault, I should’ve told him not to take a walk and?—”
“No. It isnotyour fault; do not take that on. Sky’s an adult. He’s a grown man. We’re gonna find him before it’s too late. Clock out. We’re leaving and I’m calling Gracie.”
“Gracie won’t help us!” Fletcher hissed at me, but I spun on him, jabbing my finger into his chest. It startled him into silence, his eyes going wide.
“One of her pack members, whether she likes him or not, just got abducted onherterritory. And from what it sounds like? River’s next. That’s Xan’s mate. Her grandson’s father. She’ll help us.”
“No. Not Gracie,” Fletcher said softly, realizing something. “River. River will help us. He’s the only one who knows where the facility even is.”
I paused. He had a point. Riverdidknow where Thompson took Sky—and we were going to find out exactly where that was.
“Let’s go. Grab your coat.”
We drove in tense silence to the Howell pack-house and knocked on the door.
Xan answered with a sunny smile, wearing yoga pants and a hoodie. He took one look at our faces and his smile faded. “Shit, did someone die?”
“We need to talk to River,” I said, straight to the point. “Is he home? It’s urgent.”
“Yeah, he just got home from work, like, twenty minutes ago. He’s in the shower,” he said, glancing between us. “What happened?”
“Sky was abducted, and River might be the only one who knows where he is,” Fletcher said.
“Shit… Come in.” Xan ushered us inside, bringing us to the large dining room table adorned with a basket of polished wooden fruit.
When he returned, not only was River in tow, but Gracie was as well. They both sat down. River glared at me, but I gritted my teeth and tried to be the bigger person.
