Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 75~

~Emily~

The soft glow of the setting sun cast long shadows as we pulled into the parking lot of Tender Greens. As Colby opened my door, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement. Today was our one-year anniversary, and I was looking forward to a quiet, romantic dinner.

We were seated in a cozy booth, and as Colby reached across the table to hold my hand, I felt a surge of love and contentment.

But that feeling quickly dissipated when our waitress approached our table. She was a vision in a short and tight, low-cut dress, her makeup heavy and her hair styled in loose black waves. She flashed a flirtatious smile at Colby, her eyes lingering a bit too long.

"Well, well, well," she purred, her voice dripping with innuendo. "Look who we have here. Happy anniversary, lovebirds."

I forced a smile, but my heart sank. I could feel my blood pressure rising as she leaned in, her perfume filling the air, she was wearing Gucci flora, which was a great perfume.

However, she was wearing so much of it that she smelled like a chemical experiment gone wrong. I also smelled something else, she was a wolf so she could probably smell that I have vamp in me.

Great...just great...

"So, what can I get for you two lovebirds?" she asked, her voice soft and seductive.

"I'll have the salmon with a Caesar salad," I said, trying to keep my tone even.

"And for you, sir?" she asked, turning her attention to Colby.

"I'll have the filet mignon with asparagus," Colby replied, his voice steady.

As she scribbled down our order, she couldn't resist a suggestive glance at Colby. "I'll be right back with your drinks," she said, her hand brushing against his arm.

I watched in disbelief as she sauntered away, her hips swaying with every step. I couldn't believe how brazen she was, flirting with my husband right in front of me.

"She's a little too friendly, don't you think?" I muttered, my voice laced with irritation.

Colby chuckled nervously. "Oh Em, seriously worried about it? Don't let it get to you."

"Easy for you to say," I retorted. "You're the one she's flirting with."

I took a sip of water, trying to calm my nerves. As I lifted the glass to my lips, I couldn't help but notice how my engagement ring sparkled in the soft light. I smiled at Colby, a silent message of love and commitment.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Colby." I said. "I really appreciate it."

Colby squeezed my hand. "You're welcome, sweetheart. You deserve it." he lifted my left hand up kissing my knuckles.

A few minutes later, the waitress returned with our drinks. As she placed the glasses on the table, her hand grazed Colby's again. I could feel my patience wearing thin.

"Im sorry, but can you keep your hands to yourself?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

The waitress looked at me, her eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?" she said, her tone sharp.

"I said, keep your hands to yourself," I repeated, my voice rising.

"Oh, honey, you need to relax," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're being ridiculous."

I was furious. How dare she talk to me like that? I was about to unleash a torrent of verbal abuse, but Colby stopped me.

"Honey, that's enough," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Let's just enjoy our dinner."

I glared at the waitress, who was now smirking at me. I couldn't take it anymore. I was trying to be as classy as I could be, but I couldn't help but flash her my favorite finger. I stood up and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Colby to deal with the fallout.

I walked a few blocks, my anger fueling my steps. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I had been so excited to celebrate our anniversary, but now it had turned into a nightmare.

I stopped at a park bench and took a deep breath. The cool night air calmed my nerves, but my anger still simmered beneath the surface. I thought about what the waitress had said. "You're being ridiculous."

Was she right? Was I overreacting?

I shook my head. No, I wasn't being ridiculous. The waitress had been way out of line, and I had every right to be upset.

I pulled out my phone and texted Colby. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. I'll be back soon. I love you."

I waited a few minutes, but he didn't respond. I started to worry.

Had I gone too far? Had I ruined our anniversary?

Just as I was about to call him, I felt a hand grab my shoulder. I turned around, startled, and saw a man standing behind me. His face was obscured by a dark hoodie, and his eyes glinted menacingly in the dim light.

"Hey, you," he said, his voice low and gravelly.

Before I could react, he grabbed me and pulled me into the darkness. I struggled against his grip, but he was too strong. I kicked out, trying to hit him in the groin, but he dodged my attack. He punched me hard in the face, and I felt my vision blur. I tried to scream, but my voice was muffled.

The next thing I knew, I was unconscious.

~Colby~

I stepped out of the restaurant, my heart racing. The evening had started so perfectly, but now, Emily was nowhere to be seen. Her phone lay on the ground, its screen shattered. I picked it up, shouting her name into the dark, empty street.

"Emily! Emily!"

But there was no response. Panic surged through me. I could feel through our mate bond that something was terribly wrong. She was in pain, terrified, yet holding on with all her strength.

I knew who was behind this. My father. He had been a shadow over our lives for years, and now he had taken Emily... once again. I clenched my fists, a burning rage mixing with my fear. I had to get back to the house and tell the gang. They were babysitting the kids while we were supposed to be celebrating our anniversary. Now it had turned into a nightmare.

I burst through the front door of the trap house, my voice shaking as I called out, "Guys, Emily's missing!"

Sam, Jake, and Corey jumped up from the couch, their faces instantly serious. Katrina, Devyn, and Tara, who were playing with the kids, looked equally alarmed. Isa dropped the toy she was holding and rushed over to me.

"What happened?" Isa demanded, her eyes wide with fear.

"Her phone... it was on the ground, cracked. I couldn't find her anywhere," I said, my voice breaking. "It's him. It's my father. He's taken her."

Aspen and Blake, our kids, looked up at me with scared eyes. Aspen, our daughter, clung to Katrina, while Blake, hugged Devyn tightly. They were both terrified that their mom would never come back.

"We've dealt with him before, and we can deal with him again," I said, trying to sound confident. "We just need to find out where he's taken her and get her back."

Everyone gathered around, a mix of determination and fear on their faces. Katrina and Devyn held Aspen and Blake, reassuring them that their mom would be okay. I could see the worry in their eyes, but they tried to stay strong for the kids.

"I know we're she is and how to get there." Jake said, his voice steady. "But we need a plan to get in and rescue her."

"It's eight of us against his pack members," Corey added. "We can do this, but we need to be smart about it."

"We'll take a day or two to strategize," Sam suggested. "Figure out the best way to sneak in and get her out."

I nodded, my mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll do anything to get her back," I said firmly. "We'll get her back."

As we huddled together, planning our next move, I could feel the bond with Emily pulling at my heart. She was strong, and so was I. We would get through this, and I would bring her home.