To Claim His Mate by Serena Pettus Read Free Book Online

that’s all right.”
    “Just make sure you tell me when, so I’ll be nearby to keep these two under wraps.” He gestured to the furry pair now passed out behind the couch.

 
    Chapter Five
     
     
     
    The following day, Adam headed into town to meet with Gus. Evangeline had seemed okay during dinner the night before as they’d enjoyed their meal and spoken of the building plans for the tree house. However, with his superior senses, he’d heard her muffled sobs later that night. Adam had lain in his bed, struggling with wanting to go to her and knowing she needed to mourn in her own way. He also knew she didn’t wish to do so in front of him.
    “Hey, Gus, anything to report?” Adam asked as he settled in the seat opposite the scowling officer. “That good, huh?”
    The diner where they sat was about half full, many of the customers enjoying a late breakfast and indulging in idle chatter.
    Gus leaned in and spoke low. “We can’t find them.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Shane and the other village idiots. They’re gone. I need her to stay hidden until they come back.” Gus sighed and raked his fingers through his graying hair. “His landlady was told he was going to visit his mom for a few days. He informed her the morning all of this happened. It appears that the whole thing with the house was planned. Hell, he may have even planned on her being there.”
    “I doubt that because he was at the store. But, that may be why the house was demolished—because she wasn’t home. Perhaps, they had destroyed the place before they ran into her.”
    “I’m concerned that he may try to kill her, Adam. The boy is in some big-time trouble with some not-so-nice debt collectors, if you catch my drift. I had some of the guys dig up anything they could, hoping to find where he may be hiding, and they discovered some serious gambling debts.”
    Adam nodded, a crease forming between his brows as he thought on Gus’ statement.
    “She’s extremely well off, though you’d never know it,” Gus continued. “Always lives modestly, isn’t stuck up—hell, the flashiest thing she owned was her car!”
    “I’m beginning to understand that about her. Eva can stay with me for as long as needed.”
    Gus winced and slumped in his chair with a miserable look on his face.
    “What is it?” Adam already knew that he wouldn’t like it.
    “She’ll need to stay with you for quite awhile then, because she was right about what she told you in her room. They burned the house down.”
    Adam slammed his fist down on the table, startling several of the surrounding customers.
    “The patrols driving the neighborhood didn’t see anyone, but the fire department said that the culprits had to have used an accelerant to get the place to go up like that. It was old and solid wood. Like striking a match and setting it to dry tinder.”
    “She’s going to be devastated. I don’t know how I’m going to break this to her, Gus. She cried most of the night after she went to bed because of what happened yesterday.” Adam knew this because he was beginning experience part of the bonding with her. He could feel her emotions, though just barely. She was strong, but her defenses were weakening. Shane had taken so much from her already, and now this. “I can’t even hold off on telling her because I promised to bring her by the place so we could start cleaning.”
    “I saw the way that you two eyed each other. Use that attraction to distract her from the situation.”
    Adam shot him a startled look before glowering.
    Gus just shrugged. “You’re a great guy, Adam, and she’s a sweet girl. You both enjoy privacy and crave a family of your own, so who knows? Maybe, the two of you will hit it off.”
    “But that is not the way for me to win her over. She’s not stupid. She’ll know what I’m trying to do. Hell, at the rate I’m going, she’ll have to file a restraining order to keep me away as it is.”
    “Like a dog after a juicy bone, huh?” Gus