Page 82 of Another Man’s Treasure

“Is he with you?”

Bluebell’s silent for a moment. “Oz? Of course not, I left him with you.”

Sucking at my teeth, I release a growl of frustration. “Fuck, okay. If you see him, can you just let me know he’s alright? He left our dinner really upset, and I couldn’t catch him before he took off. He’s hurting, and I have to fix it, Bluebell. I have to, do you understand?”

She’s silent for a moment. “Did you hurt him?”

“We got found out,” I admit. “Saint caused a big scene in front of the Sandovals. They know everything, and they know I love him for real. But he left before we resolved it, and I’m worried about him. He matters to me more than this deal ever could.”

Emmer Sandoval glances away, although the ghost of a smile tips his lips.

“I’ll comm him,” she offers, “and if I can find him, I’ll let him know you called.”

“Please.” I’m not above begging at this point. “Please just let me know he’s okay.” My voice cracks at the request.

“Don’t worry,” she says finally. “As long as you’re not the one hurting him, we’re on the same side, Wilder.”

“I just want to love him,” I whisper. “Fully. All day. Every day.”

“He deserves that,” she says. “I’m Team Oz and Ginger Happiness all day long.”

I drop my wrist, staring at Emmer. “Me too, Bluebell. Me too.”

She hangs up, and I look at Emmer. “Lead the way, friend, and I hope this is good.”

Wilder

I can’t get Oz off my mind as I follow Emmer Sandoval up the street. Monsters pass by in pairs and throuples, waving at us and greeting him. We don’t pass anyone I recognize, but I’m only looking for Oz, anyhow.

As snow begins to fall from the sky, Emmer slows to walk next to me. “Have you gone through the welcome book yet?”

I shake my head. “I’ve got one and looked through, but I haven’t completed the scavenger hunt.”

“You’re missing out,” he says as we mount the steps through the mansion gates. “Do it with Oz, once you find him. He’ll be a great tour guide.”

“Do you even know him? I thought he’d only lived here six or eight months, and you moved long ago, right?”

“We’ve never met,” he says, “but the Gulch keeps up with Father and me, and so we know him, in a way.”

“Could you be more cryptic?” I grumble, looking up at the sky as if I might find Oz hovering above us.

Emmer says nothing else as we go into the mansion, up the stairs and down the clock hole into Sipan’s lair. Artur Sandoval sits in one of the big leather chairs with Willa standing next to it.

“Ah, I’m thankful Emmer was able to convince you to come, and sorry for Saint’s mistreatment of your mate.”

Growling, I cross the room and drop to both knees in front of him. “If you’d gotten rid of that asshole like I requested, tonight wouldn’t have happened.”

“You’re right about that,” Artur says, his smile falling. “I couldn’t be sorrier for that. We tried to keep him out of your way, but unfortunately that didn’t work out so well tonight. If I see your mate, I will apologize personally for what he experienced.”

He waves at Willa. “That’s not why we asked you to come here, however. You asked about a key, and it is hidden here, in this very room. We believe it’s time to pass the key along to you and your sister, and your mate too, of course.”

I’m about to remind Artur that this hardly feels important right now when Oz is out there somewhere hurting.

“I promised him something he can use to get back in his mate’s good graces, Father,” Emmer says with a little smile. “Perhaps we should move this along a little faster.”

Artur chuckles and rises with the help of my sister, who holds his elbow steady. He pats her thankfully on the hand. “Ah, to be young and in love, mmm? I remember when I met my mate…”

“Wouldn’t know,” Willa says with a soft smile. “Wilder’s the lucky first Lane to fall in love.”