Private Release by Amy Ruttan

Where were they when Levi was pilfering my money and murdering innocents?”
    “Murder? This man who stole money from your company murdered people?”
    Jared paused, his back to her and it was straight, his shoulder blades tense. “Yes. Levi murdered many. Including my parents.”
    “You need to contact the RCMP. This is more than a case of swindling your company’s money. If he killed people he needs to be brought to justice.”
    “Levi is dead.” Jared raked his hands through his hair and then turned to face her. “That night we were together. Did you notice my scars?”
    “I did.”
    “Levi shot me. I almost died too, but Gordon saved me and my sister. In self-defense, Gordon killed Levi.”
    Adele glanced down at the spreadsheets. “This is going to be harder than I thought. Especially since Levi is dead. Did he have any accomplices?”
    “Étienne is tracking them down.”
    Adele pinched the bridge of her nose. “Again, he shouldn’t be acting as a vigilante. Your company can get in serious trouble. You need to inform the authorities. If you don’t, I will.”
    “You signed a confidentiality clause, Adele. I could sue you for breach of contract.” He moved toward her. “I don’t want to have to sue you.”
    “Then don’t. Do the right thing.”
    Jared shook his head. “You don’t understand the delicacies of the situation. Levi was family in a sense.”
    “You have to tell someone.”
    “Fine,” Jared said firmly. “I’ll have Étienne take care of it.”
    “Good.”
    His face was like thunder. “This is for me to report. Remember your contract. Do not call the RCMP.”
    “I won’t, as long as you will.”
    Jared scrubbed his hand over his face. “I told you Étienne will take care of it. I have to go. I’ll leave you to your work.”
    He turned on his heel and stormed away. She heard the echoing slam of his bedroom door and with its resounding thud her stomach dropped to her knees. Whoever this Levi guy was, it sounded as if he were a sick son of a bitch and next time she was talking to Gordon she was going to grill him. Something about Jared Stevens and Beare Enterprises seemed odd, not necessarily in a bad way, just different and Adele was going to find out what it was.
     
    The claws erupted from Jared’s hands. Long black claws that extended out of his nail bed. It wasn’t his argument with Adele, which wasn’t really an argument, just a difference of opinion. It was the idea that the man who hurt her, who tried to kill her, was on the loose.
    Jared didn’t believe for one second the man was fleeing to North Dakota. That’s what the guy would want the authorities to think. Adele had survived his attack, she could put him away. He would come for Adele.
    He took a deep breath and willed his shift from continuing, though it seemed to stall after the claws and no further. Which was fine by him. The last thing he needed to do was shift in front of Adele and scare the beejeebus out of her.
    The claws retracted, but his body still shook with rage. Whether she wanted him to or not, he was going to send Étienne and the other hunters out there to catch this motherfucker. As soon as he found out who. He needed a name.
    Adele had said her sister warned her about the escape. So, most likely the information would be on the news. Jared fired up his laptop and sure enough the top headlines for Winnipeg was the escape of a convict. A known mafia boss, Vernon Jeffries.
    When he clicked on the man’s name a picture of Adele in her RCMP dress uniform flashed up. It was an article about her shooting. Jared rolled his shoulders, trying to keep himself from getting too worked up.
    Easy.
    When he settled down enough he sent a text to Étienne and then paced until Étienne came to speak with him. You’re lying to her, his conscience said. Though it wasn’t exactly a lie. He wouldn’t have Étienne do anything to the man, but he’d keep tabs on Vernon Jefferies at the very least, to keep Adele