#Chapter 11 – Warning
Abby

Karl hands me the report, his expression unreadable. I can feel his gaze on me as I pick up the stack of

papers and scan the first page.

“That’s everything my people could find,” he says.

I look up at him and nod.

It took an hour to get the report, and we spent most of it in tense silence. His staff brought in tea, which

we both drank quietly, his with Kahlua, mine black. Then he had to take a few calls while I sat and

pretended not to listen. The worst, though, was when he ran out of things to do, and we just stared at

each other across the desk for ten minutes.

I could tell, with every passing minute, that he wanted to bring up what he said about reconciling.

Thankfully, he didn’t. He could probably pick up on the fact that I wasn’t in the most receptive mood. I’m

more than happy to put that conversation off for as long as possible. Even with all that quiet time to

think, I still don’t know how I feel about it. About him.

He falls silent as I read, and I can feel him looking at me. I do my best to ignore the weight of his gaze,

but it makes me shift a bit in my seat. Even now, the full intensity of his attention makes me want to

squirm. He’s always had that effect on people, but it’s been a while since I’ve been on the receiving

end.

When I’m done reading, I look up at him. “So, it wasn’t you.”

“It wasn’t me.”

Even though he probably deserves an apology, I can’t seem to bring myself to give him one. Sure, I

might have come storming in here with zero evidence and a bit of a vendetta, but we haven’t been on

the best of terms for a while now. He can’t really blame me for thinking it was him. Wouldn’t he suspect

me too if something like this happened to him?

“I can’t believe this,” I say, dropping the report back down on the desk when I’m done reading. The

moment to sink in. “Another restaurant complained about

He nods.

desk, running

about me? I’ve never had any

it,” he says. He watches me pace back and forth across the room,

a bunch of regulators. It wasn’t easy

what happened.”

are good at what

says, pride slipping into his voice. I can’t help but think the

them. He takes genuine pride in what his people

was good at his job before, but I can see

going to do?” I stop in front of his

targeting the same customers.”

conflict of interest, there’s a

“I’ll go after them.”

stands from his chair. He rounds the desk and stops

to look into his eyes. He’s so

barely reaches his chin.

say, a

for you.” He places his hand on my shoulder and gives

me demands that I shake off his arm.

can’t do it. I don’t want to. It

to have someone

I nod. “Alright.”

to promise we’ll have a serious conversation. The minute this is all figured

not a conversation I’m keen on having, but if he’s

is the least I can do

no?” I ask, just to test the waters. “What if I don’t need your help?

as an Alpha, but still true. Theoretically, I could figure

him.

get it done in 30 minutes,” he says. “You’ll be able

reservation.”

sure I’d be out of

it impossible to refuse his

you have a

to a house across town. It’s nowhere near

the owner does well for himself. The neighborhood is nice, lined with towering oaks and

black Jag parked out front of the townhouse when he

pounds on the door, and a few minutes later it opens. The man has a bewildered look on his face

shove his way

“You

the house where it opens into a well-lit seating area. He

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