The Sheik’s Vow (The Billionaire’s Club #13)

Chapter 12

“She’s no longer in Pitra, sir,” the private investigator stated.

“She is!” Ethan snarled, frustrated with the private investigator’s stupidity. “Kaia is in the palace! And if you don’t know how to lure her out of there so that I can transport her back to her parents’ home, then you’re useless to me.”

Ethan was pleased with the lie he’d come up with. The excuse of bringing Kaia back to her adoring parents was brilliant. Maybe he should add in something about a drug addiction. Yeah, that would definitely tug the heartstrings of the people he questioned about Kaia’s whereabouts.

But the investigator was shaking his head. “Sir, my sources assure me that Kaia Treon is not in the palace. In fact, she’s no longer in the country,” the man continued, with a touch more vehemence this time. Then he sat back in the plastic chair, a smug, triumphant expression on his face as he explained, “Your friend is now in Bidar.”

Ethan stared at the man for a long moment, stunned by this new piece of information. “Bidar?”

“Yes, sir.” The man sat behind his desk, obviously impatient for this conversation to be over now that the missing person was outside of his jurisdiction.

Forcing his muscles to relax, he pulled his lips into a semblance of a smile. When he had his mind wrapped around the reality that he’d have to travel to yet another country, he simply clapped his hands, rubbing his palms together. “Well then, let’s go to Bidar!”

The private investigator shook his head. “Tensions between Pitra and Bidar are bad, sir. I cannot go into that country. Nor does my private investigator’s license extend beyond the borders of Pitra.”

It took Ethan a moment to calm down. He absolutely despised anyone who told him no.

If this man were in his village….! Ethan inhaled deeply, glaring at the man as he imagined all the various ways he would punish him. Alas, Ethan didn’t have the power here in Pitra as he did back in Kentucky.

“What does that mean to me?” he snapped.

“It means that I cannot assist you further with your search for your missing…friend.”

Ethan ignored the insulting hesitation. He didn’t care if the pathetic excuse for a private investigator believed the story he’d made up. The only thing that mattered was finding additional sources of information that could help him find the missing bitch that had escaped him too many times over the years.

He wasn’t going to lose track of her this time. She would be coming home and he would discipline her appropriately. Kaia would be his shining example of how sinners were treated.

The investigator shifted, pulling out a drawer so that he could shuffle through some of the papers inside. “I will give you the contact information for someone in Bidar, sir,” the PI continued flatly. “She will take care of you from now on.”

“ She ?” Ethan spit out. Then he laughed, shaking his head at the thought of hiring a woman. “Women don’t have the intelligence to find anything beyond a needle and thread!”

The man froze. The look Ethan received was stunned surprise. Slowly, the man looked around at the other desks in the open office. Sure enough, several women were frozen in place as well, staring at him with unhidden fury.

Ethan turned away from the women, his hands itching to discipline those insolent females. Not only were they glaring at him instead of bowing their heads in submissive service, they were outside of the home instead of taking care of their families. Or bent over, servicing him!

Standing up, he shook his head. “I won’t need your contact in Bidar. I will find someone who has the intelligence to assist me and finish this mission.”

With that, Ethan stood up and left the office without a backward glance. He should probably demand a portion of his money back. After all, the contract was to find Kaia and the PI hadn’t done so.

But Ethan couldn’t stand to be around disobedient women. It was as if the women were tainted with their filth and if he went back inside, he would be contaminated.

He’d find a private investigator in Bidar in the same way that he found this one in Pitra. With his own intelligence and determination!