“No,” Everett said. “Not even to check up on how Reese is doing.”
That wasn’t like Vincent at all. My throat felt tight as I managed to say, “I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Everett said, though I could hear the worry in his voice. “Hey, listen, I have to go but I’ll check in with you soon, okay?”
“What?” I asked distractedly. “Um, yeah, of course.”
Everett hung up, leaving me to stare at the phone. I didn’t even have Vincent’s number to check on him myself. Not that he’d answer or return my calls.
Fuck, what if something had happened to him?
My thoughts drifted to that damn house of his and all the protective measures it had. What if something had failed and he was in trouble? What if…fuck, what if his body…
“Um, sir,” I said to the cabbie. “I need you to take me someplace else.”
“Sure. Where to?”
“West Virginia.”
Fearshimmied through me as I approached the first gate. What if my watch didn’t work? I’d have no way of getting into the house. I’d already sent the cab away after charging the obscenelyhigh fare to my credit card, along with a generous tip. I had my phone so I could always call for help.
I held my breath as I put my watch against the keypad next to the gate. Relief flooded my nerve endings when it opened, but the feeling was temporary as I hurried through the second gate and then ran to the front door. Blessedly, it too opened.
“Vincent!” I called the second I was inside. The house wasn’t in lockdown mode, so that had to be a good sign, right?
I ran past the garage and into the kitchen, which was empty. There was no sign of Mickey or Minnie as I darted up the stairs. “Vincent!” I shouted again, and just as I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, I slammed against a hard body. I sagged in relief as familiar hands came up to grab my arms.
“Nathan, what the hell-”
I cut him off with a hard kiss. “Thank you, God,” I whispered just before I kissed him again. Vincent kissed me back, and then he was pressing me back against the wall as he consumed my mouth.
“Fuck, no time for this,” he said as he grabbed my hand. I saw him snag a black duffle bag off the floor. He dragged me down the stairs. “Is your car in the driveway?” he asked impatiently.
“What?”
“Your car?” he repeated.
“I didn’t drive. I took a cab.”
“Good,” was all he said, and then he was leading me to the garage. “Get in,” he said as he motioned to his car.
“Vincent-”
“There’s no time. In the car.” His eyes caught mine briefly as he went to the trunk. “Please, Nate.”
I held my tongue and climbed into the front passenger seat. I was immediately greeted with two distinct meows, and I turned to see Mickey and Minnie watching me from separate pet carriers in the back seat. The trunk slammed closed and then Vincent was climbing into the front seat. He hit the garage door opener as he started the car up. It took less than a minute to get out of the driveway. Vincent pulled the car to a stop by the end of the curving roadleading to his driveway. As far as I knew, it was the only one in or out. I watched as he glanced at his watch.
“What…what are we doing?” I asked in confusion as we sat there.
“Need to make sure no one comes up the road,” Vincent murmured.
“Why-”
That was all I got out before I heard a huge booming sound. I jerked my attention to the right and saw a black plume of smoke along with a huge fireball shoot into the air.
In the same direction where Vincent’s house was.
“Oh my God,” I said. “Was that your house?”
