Page 35 of Rehabilitated

I shake my head. Not with Ever asleep upstairs. We need to get rid of them. Then we can figure out a plan to deal with them.

My bear isn’t happy as I step outside, keeping my body between them and the cabin.

“Can I help you?”

The woman’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Hi. My name is Margaret, and this is my husband, Thomas. Sorry to call so early, but it’s an emergency. We’re looking for our daughter.”

I glance down as she holds up the photgraph. My teeth grind together as I stare at a younger version of Ever. She looks like a hostage in the picture, smiling awkwardly. She looks tired. Exhausted. I want to tear their heads off as I spot a faint bruise peeking out from under her shirt sleeve.

Do it! my bear urges.

I clear my throat, shaking my head. “Sorry, I’ve never seen her.”

Thomas’s eyes sweep over my shoulder. “Mind if we come in?”

“Yeah, I do,” I answer flatly.

“I wasn’t asking,” he says, his voice dripping with malice.

My bear growls low inside me.

“You need to leave,” I tell them, the warning clear in my tone.

“Our daughter is mentally unstable,” Margaret says smoothly. “She wandered away from home.”

“I said”—I step closer—“leave.”

Thomas’s jaw flexes, and his beady eyes narrow on me. “We were told that a man matching your description was seen shopping with her.”

“Then whoever told you that was mistaken.”

Silence stretches between us.

“What a shame.” Margaret sighs dramatically and turns away.

Good. Just leave. I’ll call Ansel the second they drive away. If they go to his cabin next looking for my mate, I can have him stall them. I’ll kill them there.

My bear paces inside me, a ball of murderous rage. He’s ready to be let out. I’m ready to let him out. I just need them to get far enough away from my Ever.

I start to close the door when I hear footsteps upstairs. Light. Quick. Happy.

Oh shit.

I freeze, half-turned in the entryway. My eyes lock onto Ever as she comes into view at the top of the stairs.

“Russo?” Ever calls. “Did you burn breakfast?”

My blood runs cold.

No.

The front door swings wider before I can stop it, and I see the second that Ever spots them.

Her smile drops, and every ounce of color vanishes from her face. Her breath hitches audibly as she freezes at the top of the stairs.

“No,” she whispers, tears filling her eyes.

I take a step toward her, and her gaze flies to me, full of fear and panic.