Free Doubly Protected [Werewolves of Hanson Mall 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Cara Adams Page B

stairwell of their floor. We’ll go up to the top floor and work our way down, locking the stairwell doors behind us as we go.”
    Fuck. Stairs. This was so not how I planned to spend tonight. Dylan picked up the bags of now cold and greasy food from Sophie’s desk and dropped them in the trash.
     
    * * * *
     
    Hawthorne and Maelor had been laughing and joking over the menu from The Dragon Palace when Dylan had called Maelor, and Maelor had raced her up to the tenth floor and almost thrown her into Willow’s arms. She understood his need to hurry to find out what had happened to Sophie, but didn’t see why she couldn’t stay in her own apartment. But it seemed no one was listening. Cadfael was just as adamant that Rhion stay to protect her and Willow as Maelor had been that she be watched over.
    “As if anything could happen to us here inside the professional suites,” Hawthorne complained to the shut door.
    “Rhion, we’ll be fine here together. You should go and help them look for Sophie. She might be hurt,” added Willow.
    “And Jackson Hamilton could be hiding in the stairwell waiting for me to go so he can attack both of you. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you,” said Rhion.
    Hawthorne still didn’t think his presence was necessary, but since it was obvious the men weren’t going to change their minds she said, “Well let’s eat then. I don’t imagine Dylan will be bringing our meal any time soon. What can we make?”
    Willow had been in the middle of preparing tacos, so they finished cooking, ate, and sat around talking and worrying about Sophie and about what could be happening. At one stage they heard people moving outside in the hallway but Rhion wouldn’t let the women anywhere near the door, and they thought it was their own people anyway. Cadfael texted them to say Sophie was safe, although she’d been bashed on the head. He also asked Willow to send a picture of Jackson Hamilton to Eilidh’s cell phone for Sophie to look at to see if he was the man who’d done it.
    “Facebook. I didn’t unfriend Bailey deliberately so I could know what he was doing and likely there’ll be a photograph of him on Facebook,” said Hawthorne.
    But there were no pictures of either Bailey or Jackson on their profile pages.
    “How about the well-being center’s website? Are there any pictures of him there?” asked Willow.
    But no, again there were a few pictures of the outside of the building, but nothing of the inside, and no picture of Jackson.
    “You know, that’s weird. Some people are careful about promotional pictures. They’d never have a picture of themselves in a T-shirt and shorts, but they’re usually happy to have a professional photograph online. Something where they’re wearing nice clothes they look all pretty,” said Willow.
    That reminded Hawthorne that they hadn’t gotten their hair color changed again although they’d meant to. Tomorrow. They must do that tomorrow.
    “Didn’t you find the information you needed last time by searching through friends of friends or something like that?” asked Rhion.
    “Yes. Here we go again,” groaned Hawthorne.
    Hours later they had half a dozen not very clear pictures of him, and one good one. They sent the good one to Cadfael and to Eilidh, asking the nurse if Sophie was feeling okay.
    Sophie herself rang back. “I’m fine. I mean, I won’t be brushing my hair tomorrow, but Tylenol is a wonderful thing. And that’s him. The rude man. It’s definitely him.”
    “I’m sorry he traced us back here and hurt you, Sophie,” said Willow.
    “I’m just glad he didn’t get what he wanted.”
    After Eilidh had taken the phone from Sophie, Hawthorne, Willow, and Rhion sat and stared at each other.
    “How did he track you down? Who did you give your address to?” asked Rhion.
    “Not the neighbors. We just checked they had our cell phone numbers,” said Willow.
    “I think only the realtor, in case he needed to send us more