Page 42 of Remington’s Mate

Her boss kept eyeing her with that ‘You put out for him, so why not me?’ look that entitled dickheads got, like women were packs of M&Ms and you were supposed to bring enough to share with the whole class.

He also kept making threats, which were dressed up as remarks about loyalty. Jaeda made sure she kept as many weapons on her as possible, at all times. Because Ethan Sutcliffe was starting to make the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

Even more so when Remy called her one night at home, to report what he’d found on Olivia Nardone.

“I found a hospital admission for an Olivia Ferrante the night of her last day at work,” he said. “Ferrante was her mother’s maiden name, and hospital security footage confirms it’s her.”

“Hospital?” Jaeda whispered. “What happened?”

There was a silence on the other end, and then Remy said, “Beaten. Badly.”

Oh, no. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know.” His voice was heavy. “She was there two days, and then all trace of her vanishes. No official discharge.”

“But no death record either?” Jaeda asked hopefully.

“No. Best case, she decided to disappear—and she maybe had help.”

Worst case, Sutcliffe found her and made her disappear. She didn’t say that; she knew Remy was thinking it too.

“Damn,” Jaeda said. “I vote for option number one.”

“So do I. Also, I’m coming over tomorrow night to install a security system in your apartment.”

She got a little fizz of excitement down her spine at seeing him again, which she ruthlessly thrust away. “Um, I appreciate the thought, but Sutcliffe is the threat, and he’s at work, not at home.”

“I know,” he said. “And even though he has his security team staking you out every night, I’m sure you’re fine because you’re badass as fuck. But Brandon said I have to install the system on account of he feels responsible for getting you involved, and I can’t go against my alpha’s orders. So I’m afraid you’re just going to have to go along with it.”

“I understand. You being such a submissive follower who always does what you’re told.” Hah.

“Exactly.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “Besides, we should probably keep our ‘relationship’ going, in case we need it as a cover.”

“You mean I wasn’t just a one-night fling for pretend-Colt? Be still my heart.”

“Nope, pretend-Colt is addicted. He needs another booty call.”

“As long as pretend-Colt remembers this is a pretend relationship.” She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince—him or herself.

Remy said wickedly, “The way you were groping pretend-Colt in his hotel room the other morning says different.”

“I told you, that was purely an accident.”

“You just don’t want me to think you’re a slut. I wouldn’t mind, though. You can be as slutty as you want.”

“You are a pig.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Remy tried to pretend that he wasn’t jonesing to see Jaeda again, and possibly ask her out. Maybe. After all, it was true that Brandon wanted ‘Colt’ to keep up the appearance of a relationship with Jaeda.

And Brandon had agreed to the extra security for her, so that wasn’t exactly a lie, although Remy was the one who’d actually suggested it.

He’d play it cool, though. Like he had so much to do, he was squeezing in this visit to put in her security system.

Sure.

He was at her door five minutes after she got home from work. He knew this because he’d staked out her place. He saw her arrive, as well as the tail assigned to her by Sutcliffe.