Austin was glad that West and Jonathan had insisted on being part of this.He would’ve done what he could if he’d been on his own, but it was a relief to know that Caleb would be protected, no matter what happened to Austin.
Not that he was planning on anything happening to him.He and West would stop Tate, one way or another.He wouldn’t have it any other way.He was done dealing with these fires, and it was time for Tate to pay.It was a miracle he hadn’t seriously hurt anyone yet, but something told Austin that he would eventually.
They wouldn’t let that happen.
“Is he leaving?”Caleb asked.
Austin could hear him move around the shop.He desperately wanted to go downstairs and grab his boyfriend, but Calebreallywould kick his ass if he ruined everything.
The lights turned off in the shop.Caleb was supposed to be closing, so it made sense.Austin couldn’t help but wonder what Tate would do.He was here for a reason.The flower shop was only one of the targets he’d circled on his map, and he wouldn’t be here tonight if he hadn’t chosen it as his next target.
“He’s not getting into his car,” West said.“He’s grabbing something from the trunk, though.”
“Accelerant?”Caleb asked.
“Possibly.I think you should leave the shop.”
“Give me a few minutes.”
Austin wanted to scream that he might not have a few minutes, but instead, he pressed his lips together.He needed to trust Caleb.Caleb didn’t want anything bad to happen any more than Austin did.
A tense silence fell on the room.They all listened to Caleb move around, and Austin resisted the urge to tell his boyfriend to get the fuck out of the shop.The night was dark, but something told him that if it was up to Tate, it wouldn’t stay that way for much longer.
“He’s moving toward the back alley,” West murmured.
They’d planned for this.They’d known there was a chance that was what Tate would do, and they’d wanted to be prepared.Austin was at the door in seconds, but he had to wait for West to say goodbye to Jonathan.They murmured a few words to each other, and Austin did his best not to listen to them and not to scream for West to be faster.Jonathan wasn’t going anywhere.He’d be safe here, but Caleb?Right now, he was anything but safe.
“Let’s go,” West murmured as he walked up to Austin.
They slipped out of the room and headed downstairs.Austin was almost vibrating with anxiousness, but he tried to stay calm.It felt impossible, but he couldn’t afford to focus on his boyfriend.He needed to get evidence of what Tate was about to do without getting Caleb in trouble or hurt and without Tate noticing them.
Piece of cake.
Austin and West were silent as they left the hotel.They had the advantage of being shifters while Tate was human, which meant they would hear and see him moving around while he couldn’t hear or see them.That didn’t mean he wouldn’t notice them, though.
They’d just reached the back alley when the sound of something metal falling to the ground made them jump.Austin plastered his back against the closest wall just for a cat to run past them.He almost laughed because his heart was racing because of acat, but he was reminded that Tate had to have heard the noise, too.Would it be enough to send him running?
Being a shifter also meant that Austin could see better in the darkness than any human.There was movement on the other side of the alley, so now, it looked like Tate hadn’t changed his mind.
Tate was moving toward the back door, but it swung open before he could reach it.Austin sucked in a breath at the sight of Caleb leaning out.They’d agreed he would leave through the front door because Jonathan would be able to see him.What was he doing in the alley?
Nothing good.Austin was going to strangle him when he got to him, but first, he had to make sure that Tate didn’t get there first.
“Is anyone there?”Caleb called out.He sounded scared—probably because hewasscared.He knew that Tate was lurking out here.He had to think that Tate had made the noise.
Austin stepped forward, but a hand on his arm stopped him.West looked at him and grimaced as he shook his head, making what he wanted Austin to do obvious.
He was right.Caleb would never forgive Austin if he stepped in too soon and interrupted whatever was about to happen.They needed strong evidence, not just Tate buying flowers for his wife or lurking around the back alley.Austin had no doubt that Tate would come up with a good excuse for his presence there if he was found now, which meant they needed more.They couldn’t afford for Tate to start another fire.The community center had been his last time.
Caleb shrugged and turned back into the shop.He was acting casual, but Austin could see he was tense.Hopefully, Tate wouldn’t.
Caleb didn’t close the door.He allowed it to close by itself, and it gently swung, moving too slowly for Austin’s taste.
Until Tate caught it with a hand.
Austin stopped breathing.He watched as Tate glanced around the alley, opened the door fully, and slipped into the flower shop.He didn’t let the door bang closed.Instead, he closed it softly, no doubt trying not to get Caleb’s attention.Well, he hadAustin’sattention, and Austin was ready to kick his ass.Right now, he didn’t even care that he wanted Tate handed over to the authorities.If the man touched as much as one hair on Caleb’s head, Austin would make sure he couldn’t breathe without a respirator ever again.He didn’t care if that made him a monster.After everything Tate had done, he didn’t feel like it did.
“Give it a few minutes,” West murmured.
