I didn’t like this. Not one bit.
“Thanks.” I shoved off the stool, my pace quickening along with my heart rate as I pushed through the crowd to get to my car.
My mind narrowed to a singular focus: get to Gemma.
Panic had taken over on the drive to Gemma’s place, and by the time I reached her townhouse, I was bordering on frantic.
Not caring that it was practically the middle of the night, I banged my fist on the door. “Gemma! Open the door!”
I half expected her to throw open the door, berating me for waking up the whole damn neighborhood with my shouting, but the only reply was the sound of a light scratching low and accompanying whines.
Cannoli.
Fuck, something was really wrong. I could feel it.
Crouching down, I spoke to the dog through the door. “Hey, bud. Where’s your mom?”
He let out a high-pitched bark, the scratching getting louder as he tried to get to me. Helplessness crashed over me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my forehead to the freezing wood.
Why didn’t I have a fucking key? That would change the minute I got inside.
My pulse ratcheted up, and I rose to my feet. “Gemma!” I roared, desperation clawing up my throat as I pounded against the barrier keeping me from my girl.
I jolted when my phone vibrated in my pocket, pausing my assault on the door to check the message.
Gemma:Go home, Sasha.
Was she serious right now? There was no way in hell I was walking away from this house until I confirmed she was all right.
I went to the bar, but you weren’t there. They told me you called off.
Gemma:*Rolling eye emoji* Wow, great detective work.
I frowned at my phone. She hadn’t been snarky with me in a while. And while I loved that side of her personality, right now, I wasn’t in the mood to verbally spar with her.
Switching tactics, I typed out a new text.
Cannoli is whining by the door. He sounds freaked out.
Gemma:Shit. He probably needs to be let out.
I need you to talk to me, Gemma. Why haven’t you taken him out, and why weren’t you at work?
Gemma:Because I don’t feel well, okay? Can we leave it at that? I appreciate your concern, but I’m not in any shape for visitors tonight, especially you.
What did that mean? Especially me? I should be the one inside the house taking care of her. It was clear that whatever was going on was bad enough that she couldn’t even take care of the dog.
I need you to open the door.
Gemma:No. I’m not getting out of bed. Come back in a couple of days.
As I read those words, a disbelieving huff flew past my lips. A couple of days? Nope, that wasn’t gonna work for me.
You either open the door, or I call the fire department with some line about smelling gas coming from inside and have them break it down. Your choice.
Pacing the front porch, I decided to give her exactly five minutes before I made good on my threat to have men wielding axes break down her door.
The deadbolt turned, and the relief that surged through my veins had me throwing a hand against the doorframe to keep myknees from buckling with the force of it. That was, until I laid eyes on Gemma, standing on the other side of the open door.
