The Protector by Sara Anderson Page B

chest.
    “Shit,
she actually ran?” Michael’s face showed his shock.
    Cole his hands through his hair in frustration. “I
just went to her house, and she is gone. No one knows where she is. Mandy is
helping her hide.”
    Michael’s
face darkened. “I will have a talk with Mandy and make sure this is dealt
with.” Michael stared at the ceiling for a moment .“ Blair
called wanting out of the judgment I gave her. I told her no, but it isn’t a
punishment. I didn’t think she would run, or I would have sent someone to watch
her. Both of you need to resolve this once and for all. I believe you two love
each other, but you are both too stubborn to admit it.”
    Cole
looked down at his hands. He knew this was entirely his fault. He had let Blair
down and caused all this. Michael stopped talking making Cole look up.
    Michael
was staring at Cole like he did when he was questioning someone and trying to
ascertain the truth. “Whatever mistakes you made, you are a good wolf.” He
placed his hands on his desk. “Blair wanted to see Cassie, so perhaps she is
there. I will talk to Mandy, and she will tell me what she knows.”
    Cole
put his hand over his eyes. He didn’t want Mandy dragged into this, but then
she did that to herself when she didn’t cooperate with him. “No, Blair isn’t there.
Doctor Trask said she came by, but Cassie was sleeping, so he didn’t let her
in.” He looked out the window. “Mandy knows, but she won’t tell me.”
    Michael
shook his head. “I envy your truth sensing. I can truth sense, but not near as
easily as you can.”
    Cole
shrugged. “One of the perks of being a wolf and Kelach . I would not make a very good Kelach if I never knew when someone was lying to me.”
    “Thank
you for coming and talking to me. I will deal with Mandy.” Michael’s stare
turned a little icy. “She will tell me what she knows.” Michael gave Cole a
deadpan stare. “I have told you how to deal with Blair, and arranged for you
and Blair to have this time. I spoke to the Guardian in France to make sure my
assumptions about her were correct. She hasn’t changed in the years she was
there.”
    Cole
held up his hands defensively. “Thanks, but really, I can handle it. I don’t
need your Guardian mojo.” He appreciated Michael’s concern, but he really
didn’t need help in dealing with his mate, and she was his. She could deny it,
run away, and even sneak out of bed before the sun rose. It didn’t change the
fact that she was his.
    “I
thought you came for my Guardian mojo as well as my knowledge?” Michael looked
at him with a smile and one eyebrow raised.
    Cole
let out an exasperated breath. “I did. Fuck, I’m just stressed.”
    Michael
nodded. “I will talk to Mandy and hold Blair if I see her.”
    ****
    Blair
found the key over his door just where he always left the thing. Some things
never changed. She kicked off her shoes, picked them up and inserted the key in
the lock. She opened the door and stepped inside. The wooden floors were smooth
on her bare feet. She had been in here just last night, but she hadn’t taken
the time to look around at all. Nothing had changed in the years since they had
broken up.
    She
heard a car pull up and glanced out the window. One of the deputies, Harley,
was putting his patrol car in park. He was talking on his cell phone as he
stepped out of the car. He jogged to the door.
    Blair
ducked into the closet and watched as Harley opened the front door. “Tell the
boss I am at his house getting the pizza.” Harley walked straight to the
kitchen and opened the fridge. “Goddess, Ash, I love Cole’s kitchen.”
    Blair
could hear Harley hitting the buttons on the oven. She rolled her eyes. Is Harley really going to reheat that pizza
here? If I’d known Harley was coming by, I would have waited.
    Harley
sighed. “Fine. I will bring it back to the office. I know, you like cold pizza. I am on my way now, baby. I
love you, too. I will be there in a minute.” He