I went to the club only to find Dominique was not there. So I went home and went back the next night. When I found she still wasn't there, I knew for a fact that she had gone somewhere with those bags. So I texted her and told her I had gone by the club. I told her I hadn't seen her for the past two nights and asked if everything was okay. I know she needed space but did she actually have to leave to get it?
When she finally did respond to me, I was happy. At least I knew she was okay, but I wasn't thrilled with the rest of the message. She was going to be gone for two weeks! Finally, I was ready to tell her everything, and she left for two weeks. I had to pretend that I didn't know she had left her home and asked her if I could come to see her. I was hoping she was still in the city and had only left her house to ensure that Tim and I didn't come to see her.
I texted her back to let her know that I had been thinking everything over and that I didn't want to lose her. I was willing to answer any questions she had for me. When she texted me back saying she wasn't home, so I couldn't come to see her, I saw that as my opening to ask her where she was. She had said she would text me and let me know when she was home, but I didn't want to wait that long.
I texted her and asked her where she was, and she texted back that she had left to take some time off. She said she wouldn't tell anyone so they couldn't come after her. She asked me to respect her wishes for time and not to text her again. As much as I didn't want to leave her alone, I would. I texted her that I loved her and would respect her wishes not to be contacted again. I put my phone down and sighed. This was going to be a long wait.
*****
It had been several days since Dominique left, and I felt like I needed to get ahead of the situation with Jacob and his pack. I went to the club close to closing and waited for Tim. I needed to know for sure what was going on, and since he knew more about Jacob and what he was demanding than anyone else, he was going to tell me. I needed to know how to protect Dominique.
Once I saw everyone come out, I rolled my window down. I was sitting almost beside Tim's car, but I really didn't want anyone else to know I was there. He walked over to his car, but I knew he had scented me. He got in his car and waited until Melissa and Post left. Then, he walked over to my car and didn't look happy.
"What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk about Dominique and Jacob."
"There's nothing to talk about. I'm handling it."
"Tim, we are both just trying to protect Dominique. I could do that a lot better if I knew what the real situation was."
"I feel like a lot is going on, but Jacob is keeping me out of it. Probably because he doesn't trust me anymore. I told him I wasn't going to turn Dominique into a wolf which is what he wanted. He had originally given me until Roxy healed from Dominique shooting her to change her. He forced Roxy to heal human-slow. Well, Karina, Roxy's sister, went after Dominique. I killed her, and Jacob wound up killing Roxy. My time frame has been shortened since she is now dead. I haven't even been able to find Dominique to talk to her."
So, she hadn't told Tim she was leaving either. Melissa obviously knew about it because she was managing the club. So, it seemed that Dominique had indeed pushed us both away for a time. I needed to talk to her before anything else was said or done.
"I'm sure she'll talk to you eventually. So, what is going on with Jacob now? I need specifics."
"Jacob is werewolf business, my business. I will handle him. Don't worry."
"Tim, I am trying to help Dominique, not you. So I need to know what I should be looking out for."
"Fine," Tim said as he growled. "Jacob gave me a week to turn Dominique, or he is sending someone in to do it. He doesn't seem to believe me when I say that I have no idea where Dominique is. He was also very interested in you being around. Before he discovered I was interested in Dominique and everything happened with Roxy, he had a meeting. He wanted us all to watch you. I think he is threatened by you."
"Hmmm…if that is the case, then he may also be coming for Dominique because he wants to get to me. I will handle my end of things, Tim. Thank you for talking to me. I know it is hard for you to do where Dominique is concerned. I know you have not bowed out as you claimed. You love her too much for that."
Tim sighed as he said, "No. I bowed out, and I have been trying to stay out. It isn't as easy as I thought it was. I can't seem to stop myself from trying even though I know she wants you."
"I don't think Dominique knows what she wants. I have been trying not to push her because I see what she is doing with you. So we will just have to wait and see what she decides."
"She won't even answer my texts."
"Then stop texting her," I said.
"I can't. I have to know she is safe. Wherever she is, she isn't safe. Jacob is looking for her."
"She is safe, Tim. I can promise that. When she is ready to talk to us, she will. Just try to wait. She just wants time."
Tim rolled his eyes. I wasn't going to tell him that she told me she had left. Wherever she was, it wasn't here. Tim was pushing things by continuing to text Dominique. He wouldn't like it if she came back and chose me for that reason alone. I had promised to give her time, and I was going to do precisely that.
"You don't know that she's safe unless she is with you. Is that it? She's just staying with you and blowing me off?"
"I never said that. I simply said that she was safe. Just leave her be and let her make up her mind. I have to go, Tim. If anything else should arise with Jacob, please let me know. You may see me as your enemy, but I am not. We have the same interest in protecting Dominique."
I didn't wait for Tim to reply. I rolled my window up, and Tim walked away. I know he was mumbling to himself as he did, but I couldn't understand him. I drove back to my house. I needed to do some investigating of my own. Jacob was after me, and Dominique was a target because of me. It may be partly because of Tim, but obviously, Jacob had figured out how to hurt me. I wasn't about to let him hurt Dominique, but I couldn't fight the pack alone.
I began to look into hiring some help. Finally, I found someone who claimed to be the best private investigator there was. I called him and left a message. It surprised me that he called me back when it was so early in the morning. I could tell he had just woken up. I told him about my situation and that I needed help finding out about a gang.
He was curious about the hours, but I told him I could pay whatever amount he wanted. He agreed and said he would meet me whenever and wherever I wanted. I got him to meet me in the field in front of my house. It was far enough away to where he wouldn't see the house. When he got there, I could tell he was hesitant about getting out since I had no vehicle there. When I opened a briefcase with cash in it, he got out rather quickly. And thus, began the investigation.