Page 93 of The Tracker's Secret

“Yes, the paramedics started healing him right away. He’s a tough sucker. He’ll probably be back on his feet by tomorrow. Lucky bastard. My leg still feels weird sometimes.” He rubbed it under his desk. The donut explosion had taken it right off, and the healers and doctors had reattached it, though it hadn’t been an easy recovery for him.

I stood, my shoulders heavy with exhaustion. “It would take a huge wolf to do that to Jake,” I said. “Just think about that.”

He rubbed his goatee, pondering. “Yeah, for sure. We’ll catch him, whoever he is.”

“ItwasBlake, Tom. You have to believe me.”

“We’re still keeping an eye out for him, so if he is out there, someone’s gonna spot him, and we’ll bring him in.”

“You from Missouri, Tom?” I gave him a raised eyebrow.

“Something like that,” he chuckled. “Besides, something’s up with you, little lady. You’re not telling me the whole truth.”

I put on an injured expression. “Why would you say that?”

Tom crossed his arms and huffed. “Your clothes look like they went through an industrial shredder. And there’s barely any blood on them. Something doesn’t add up. I’m no fool.” He tapped his nose.

Rubbing my neck, I exhaled in resignation. “You’re right. You’re right.”

I had no reason to hide the truth from Tom. I was only doing it because I’d gotten caught up in all the lies, but it would actually be a relief to be able to tell someone other than Rosalina. “How about some coffee one day this week? I’ll tell you all about it.”

“Sign me up, then maybe I can start believing everything else.”

Chapter 32

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LATER THAT MORNING, as soon as I woke up, I called Jake’s cell but got no answer. I tried the hospital next, but they said he’d already been discharged. Tom had been right about Jake recovering quickly. His injuries had been major, and he must have required both doctors and healers to work on him to stitch him up, but his shifter healing powers had surely done most of the heavy lifting.

Not knowing what else to do, I sent Jake a text, asking if I could come and see him, wherever he was. I waited for an answer, sitting on my bed, but none came.

Rubbing my eyes, I got out of bed and went into the shower, grateful I didn’t have an appointment with Eric since it was Saturday. There was no way I could’ve made it there by 4 AM.

Rosalina’s bedroom door was still closed, and I hoped she was snoozing away placidly and would doze until noon. Last night, she hadn’t slept from the moment Jake and I left to go find Blake. Instead, she’d paced up and down the apartment, nervously eating potato chips like there was no tomorrow.

“Two bags, Toni. I ate two damn bags!” she’d said, holding two fingers up to my nose. “If my clothes stop fitting, it will be your fault.”