Page 25 of Chased

It didn’t matter. She could always buy new things, once she’d paid Sanchez back for all the money he’d given Samantha. At least she wasn’t going to have to pay to get the car fixed on top of it.

By the time she was done unpacking, her tablet had charged up enough that she could check her email. She hadn’t checked it the whole time she was driving across the country—she’d been too scared—but now she had to know if her family was trying to find her.

And what they were willing to do to get her back.

Her father’s email was short and to the point: Get back home, you ungrateful little bitch. Now.

Nice. Not that she’d ever expected better from him. She’d never been happier than when he’d been sent to head up the European division of the Fontaine businesses when she was thirteen.

Uncle François had quite a bit more to say:

Madison,

Your reckless, wanton and ill-conceived actions are an affront to our entire family. As a woman and a lapin, obviously you have no conception of the disastrous effect your disappearance at the start of the social season could have on House Fontaine—so I will spell it out for you.

Right. Because women were too stupid—and lapins too inferior—to understand anything business-related. Weird how fox penises supposedly conferred superior brains, even when they couldn’t manage to make little foxes anymore.

We have made certain business arrangements that require the financial remuneration we will receive from your mating contract. Without those, we will suffer severe reversals which will affect the entire family, not to mention the social embarrassment your selfishness has caused us.

Anger burned in her belly. They got to dictate her whole life for their benefit, and she was the selfish one? Fuck them and their fluffy fox tails.

Therefore, you will immediately cease your self-indulgent behavior and return to Shady Valley. Naturally you will wish to apologize to the entire family for your breathtaking self-centeredness, and accept your punishment with the humility befitting a lapin female, so that the community is reassured that you have recognized and accepted your place in it.

That chilled her anger. When he was really angry, her uncle’s punishments could be vicious and violent. Giving her a mating scar was her mate’s privilege—so he wouldn’t mark her face—but there were so many other things he could do…

You have no doubt already realized that your bank accounts and cards have been cut off, so if you are tempted to remain stubborn, you will soon see that you are unable to survive on your own.

Hah. It never even occurred to him she could find a job.

The state police have been given your description and that of the car you stole, and informed that your mental state is such that you are a danger to yourself, and you should be taken into custody.

She rechecked the date on the email. It was from three days ago. They must have waited a day or two to see if she’d turn up, and then started panicking. She’d been far away from Colorado by that time, so she didn’t care about the state police.

House Levesque is growing impatient. If you do not return before the mating ceremony, the Levesques will take steps to bring you back. It is within their rights to call a nationwide Hunt. We do not wish this to happen, as they would deduct the cost from your mating price.

That chilled her. A Hunt—only large-scale. She hadn’t even known that was possible.

She didn’t see how House Levesque could find her now, but maybe they could. They wouldn’t count the cost, if House Fontaine had to pay, and money meant private detectives. They might be able to track her.

Maybe she should ask Sanchez how people did that.

She hadn’t used a credit or debit card on the way here, and her license plate belonged to another car, so she hadn’t left a trail. But there still might be some way they could find her.

She just prayed they couldn’t get to her here.

Chapter 12

After he left the new girl at her cabin, Sanchez went back to his truck and drove it over to Switch and Breanna’s place, shoving the cookie ingredients randomly into their refrigerator.

Then he shut the fridge and leaned against the door, letting the metal cool his burning skin.

What the fuck was it about that Madison woman? She set off all his alarm bells, got his wolf all riled up, and kept making him want to help her.

He didn’t want to help her. He didn’t want to have anything to do with her. And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

That’s what he got for trying to rescue that kidnapped woman the other night. Now his wolf wanted to be a hero or some shit.

He and his wolf were not heroes. They were monsters. The ones who came out of the dark and took you down, just when you thought you were safe. The ones who would do anything for the mission.