One of the elderly women cat calls, “Oh, another one of them handsome, dangerous looking men visiting today.”
“Good morning,” I reply, though my brain snags on her comment. Who are the other dangerous men visiting residents? Kate is supposed to be here on watch. Did Cain send more than one person? I wouldn’t putit past him. He’s definitely the overprotective type, but I like it. I think I need it. No matter how hardcore I pretend to be, I’m weak on the inside.
“Why don’t you come sit and chat with us?” another resident asks.
I force a polite smile. “Oh, um… maybe after I check on my Jakey.”
I can’t squash the bubble of worry in my gut. Hurrying past the empty office, I’m eager to lay eyes on my friend. Why did I stay away so long? Why am I so fucking selfish?
I knock on his door at the end of the hall, but there’s no answer. When I peek over at the glass exit doors to my right, I notice the security pad is green instead of red. Splotches of blood decorate the sidewalk outside, disappearing around the corner.
I grab the handle to Jakey’s home and shove the door open. Dread takes me under, flipping the world around me when I find the interior dark. I stumble back and drop into a crouch in the middle of the hall as my lungs stretch and contract in desperate need of air.
Jakey normally has his lamp on and his TV blasting sports or music. He prefers the background noise.
God, if he’s not inside… or if he is, but he’s hurt…
I need to call for help. I need my gun. Why didn’t I bring my fucking gun?
I hold back the scream of rage building inside my lungs. I want to blame Cain for stealing Salem away from Jakey, but would she have been able to handle Gabriel’s men on her own?
Get it together, Ezra. Jakey needs you.
This is no different from a job. I’ve run through dozens of exercises just like this. I need to check that Jakey’s okay. Maybe he just forgot to lock his door and fell asleep or something.
I just need to breathe and movemy body.
Easing into the dark room, I don’t call out for Jakey. I don’t find anything close by to use as a weapon either. Good thing I’m decent with my fists.
Rev’s training has me dipping into the first doorway in Jakey’s home to clear it. But what I find has bile surging up my throat. I barely make it to the toilet before I get violently sick.
Someone dumped Kate’s lifeless body in the bathtub. She’d been taken to with a knife, I think. I don’t have the strength to check. Blood paints the walls in a scene that will forever be burned into my brain. Hand prints and streaks where fingers clawed at the tiles.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
This isn’t good.
A cold sweat overcomes me as I move into the living room on high alert. Immediately, I’m jumped by a large figure dressed in all black. He wraps an arm around my neck and snaps a rag to my mouth that smells like acetone.
I slam my elbow into his stomach, breaking his hold. Unleashing my rage, I flip his hefty body over my shoulder and onto the floor.
I don’t hesitate. I’m on top of him in seconds, slamming fists into his face until his nose crunches and blood splatters over the carpet and my throbbing knuckles.
Reaching for his gun, I rip it free and shove the barrel against his skull.
“Where’s Jakey?” I demand, madness creeping into my tone.
The guy moans and writhes beneath me, but I keep him pinned between my thighs. I smack him hard with the gun. “The old man! Where is he?”
“Crazy senile motherfucker?” He turns his head with a groan and spits blood. “Nearly bit off my thumb. I’m not fucking chasing him down.”
My head jerks toward the windows along the back wall overlooking the green space. Jakey escaped. He’s out there somewhere, probably lost and freaking the fuck out.
Focusing back on my target, I cock the gun. My hand shakes as I stare down into his wide eyes. He wouldn’t be the first person I’ve killed, but somehow doing it up close always hits a little different.
I reach into my pocket to grab my phone, prepared to call Rev, but something strikes me hard in the back of the head. The room fades to black as I slump forward.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
