Free Private Release by Amy Ruttan

before, but not with a chief.
    A chief knew his duty.
    What am I doing?
    Jared sat up and rubbed his head, where a pressure headache was starting to build. A chief knew his duty and his duty was to keep the line going. He had to marry Cassandra and he had to get an heir.
    There was no way he could put the burden of taking care of his clan on his future nephew.
    He’d only be taking the easy way out if he did. His father always nagged him about taking the easy way out, for being a slacker and not doing his duty as the chief’s son. As much as he wanted Adele and knew that he’d bonded with her, he couldn’t have her.
    Jared tucked another blanket around her, so she wouldn’t notice his absence and wake up. He pulled on his clothes and left her bedroom, closing the door behind him.
    “I was wondering why you weren’t answering your page.”
    Jared spun around and saw Étienne standing there, frowning. “Don’t you ever knock?”
    “Not when my chief’s life could possibly in danger.”
    “My life isn’t in danger.”
    “You weren’t answering my texts, bro.”
    Jared touched his pocket. “My phone isn’t in my pocket.”
    Étienne pulled it out of his pocket. “I know. I found it in your father’s receiving room.”
    Jared snatched his phone back.
    “The elders want to meet with you. They want to discuss the growing file of missing clanspeople, in particular the daughters. Also, your fiancée would like an audience.”
    Jared’s stomach sank down to the soles of his feet. For the missing people, though he didn’t particularly relish the thought of going to meet with Cassandra.
    “Let’s go.” Jared took a step forward but Étienne gently pushed him back.
    “I think you should shower first. I can smell her all over you and you wouldn’t want the elders or Cassandra to either.”
    “Tell them I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
    Étienne nodded and headed to the elevator. Jared cursed under his breath and headed straight for his shower. He liked having Adele’s scent on him and he wished he could bask in that forever, but he couldn’t.
    With a sigh of regret he turned on his shower. He pulled off his clothes and buried them deep in his hamper, just like he had to learn to bury his heart.

Chapter Eight
     
    He’s already bored.
    The doubt weasels kept Adele from thinking rationally, but since their night in the hot tub Jared had been scarce. Even though Adele tried to tell herself over and over again it was for the best. She’d tried to tell him that when they were last together, but it was hard to argue when he drove her to the most amazing climaxes ever, that and he was one sexy beast.
    He’s busy with work. At least that’s what Étienne had said about his absence the one time she’d been able to ask the head of security a question. Étienne kept his distance, which was fine by her. Jared’s trusted number two wasn’t exactly a friendly guy who you wanted to shoot the shit with. He was reserved, cold, and it seemed to her he was annoyed by her presence in Jared’s apartment.
    Plus those scars, his shaven head and those hard, dark eyes made her uneasy. As if he was assessing her, finding every weakness and flaw in her. As if he knew the best way to kill her. Adele couldn’t help but wonder where Étienne had gotten all those scars.
    Don’t think about it.
    Adele shuddered and turned back to her paperwork, back to the countless spreadsheets and income tax forms from Revenue Canada.
    She cocked an eyebrow as she studied them. Something was not right about the forms and she was surprised Revenue Canada hadn’t caught it. The difference was so subtle, but it was almost as if someone had been extorting from Beare Industries for some time.
    When she’d been in the RCMP she’d seen this before. It was how she’d managed to track down Vernon Jefferies, the man who ended her career. In fact, the way this refund read it was all too familiar. She saw the income tax document was filed by a Mr.