Page 152 of A Matter of Time

I went downstairs and out through the front door. When I was across the street, I lifted my phone to take a picture. I heard the squeal of tires as soon as I finished sending the shot to Dane.

There were two black Hummers, and they spilled out people into the street. I walked backward as I watched the men take the stairs, kick open the front door, and pour inside. The screams were audible all the way out to the street as the music abruptly cut off. I heard firecrackers going off inside along with the lightning show. I sank down behind the Lexus beside me and called 911.

I told the operator that I was at the home of a police detective, Dominic Kairov, and I was clear and concise as I gave the address and read her off both license plates from each Hummer. They had left no one in either car, but there were keys in the one on the right, so I got in. Almost to the second, I heard someone scream Dominic’s name. No mistake about who they were there to see. At least I was outside where I could help.

All I could think about was saving Sam, even though I hated him. I hit the horn, and when three of the guys appeared at the bay window, I leaned out and waved. I locked the doors, started the Hummer H1 wagon, and was expecting a ferocious burst of speed but got only a slow crawl. Glass exploded around me as the windows were shot out and the car was strafed with bullets. Luckily, nothing hit me, and as I picked up speed traveling down the slight hill, I heard the wail of sirens. I managed to turn off the main road as a parade of police cars streaked by me. I counted ten in all and continued on, taking every side street I could find. Not that anyone was after me, but a bullet-riddled car would stand out. And I wondered at myself that I was more mad than scared. Flying lead should have been horrifying, but all I kept seeing, the thing that kept popping back into my head, was the way Sam had been looking at Maggie. I wanted him to look at me that way out in public.

But honestly, I was fooling myself. Again. And I understood why. I was head over heels in love with Sam Kage. I couldn’t help it. My heart was his and that was all there was to it, and no amount of logic was going to change that fact. Unfortunately, the same—so very obviously—could not be said for him. He only adored me behind closed doors where no one else could see how he felt, and that was simply not sustainable. I had to stand in the light with someone, and that could not be him. His life wasn’t set up to accommodate a man.

I drove to his apartment, parked the Hummer, put the keys in the glove box, then went upstairs and grabbed my stuff because I didn’t want to come between him and the promise of his happily ever after. He obviously found Maggie Dixon charming, and he deserved the chance to see where it would go without having to worry about me. She was probably the reason he had insisted on going to Dominic’s party in the first place. Sam wasn’t the type to do anything he didn’t want to, so going must have had more to do with her presence than anything else. Lost in my thoughts, when I finally looked at my phone I realized I had twenty missed calls. I hadn’t even heard the insistent ringing.

“Jory?” Sam said quickly, answering on the first ring. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.” I shivered, back out on the street, looking for a cab. “Are you okay? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

“No, I didn’t get hurt! Jesus Christ, what the hell were you doing with that fuckin’ stunt?”

“It got them out of the house, didn’t it?”

“Jory! Where the hell are you?”

“So you know, I parked the Hummer in front of your place, so you can send your guys to pick it up.”

“What the fuck are you⁠—”

“You know, Sam, I don’t think we’re a good idea. I went up to your apartment and got my stuff and⁠—”

“You what?”

“I think I made a mistake, and we both know you think you did.”

“I have no idea what you’re⁠—”

“Watching you flirt with Maggie Dixon all night doesn’t top my list of fun things to do.”

“Jory! God, nobody makes me as crazy as you! I have no idea how you’ve lived this long!”

I grunted, waving down a cab that then stopped for me. Once I was in the back, I gave the driver my address before returning to my conversation with Sam.

“Jory!” he immediately yelled.

“Listen, I think maybe I should just let you get on with your life and⁠—”

“Jory—Jory⁠—”

But then there was a new voice, calmer voice, a little deeper. “Jory.”

“Yes?”

“Jory, this is Dom. Where are you, buddy?”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Where are you?”

“Was anybody hurt?”

“Jory, you⁠—”