again.
Over cereal, Winter was finally ready to make plans.
“I’m sorry,” Winter said softly. Those two words jerked Fox’s head up, and he looked over at the vampire seated with both hands on the steering wheel despite the fact that they were parked in a shadowy parking lot. “Do you understand that this isn’t about trust? Or me not believing you can do this?”
Actually, he didn’t know that. It had been the one thought plaguing him all through the previous night. He wanted to believe that Winter trusted him, but he had his own doubts as to whether he could pull this off. But he wanted to try for the Variks. He wanted to prove that he could help. He wanted to prove to Rafe that he could keep the smile on Winter’s lips.
Winter sighed. “I’m not used to doing things where someone else could get hurt. It’s usually just me out there. It’s…it’s easier that way.”
Fox reached across and placed his hand over Winter’s right wrist. “I understand, but this gives us a shot at getting some solid intel.”
“What if they take you back to Damon before I can get you free? What if they kill you before you can even tell them who you are?” Winter’s soft words sped up accompanied by an edge of panic. “I’ll try to be right beside you, but I can’t get in a car with you. If they lose me—”
Fox released Winter’s wrist and pressed his fingers to his lips, stopping his words. There were a lot of ways this plan could go wrong. “Please believe in me. I need you to believe in me. I’m a pretty smart guy. A fast talker when I need to be.”
Winter pressed a kiss to Fox’s fingertips and gently pulled his hand away. “I do believe in you. So much. I know you can do this. It’s the other vampires that scare the shit out of me where you’re concerned.”
Those desperate words strengthened Fox’s resolve. He was going to do this for Winter and his family. He was going to get the info they all needed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything to ruin my chances at more mind-blowing sex.”
“Good to know you’re coming back to me for my dick,” Winter muttered.
“And your video game selection. Let’s be realistic,” Fox teased, trying so damn hard to get some of the fear to leave Winter’s pale eyes.
“Be careful,” Winter replied.
Fox nodded and climbed out of the car. Winter left the driver’s side at the same time and walked around. The fear and worry had cleared from his eyes to be replaced by the same determined look Fox had first seen on Winter’s face when he stepped into the prison in Damon’s house. This was Winter’s game face, and it was a bit scary. All the tender concern and warmth were gone. Before him stood a man who would do whatever he must to protect his family.
“Do you remember the directions to Luke’s house?” Winter asked.
“Got it. About six blocks from here. Plenty of time for me to work up a proper sweat.”
“You know what you’re going to say?”
“You were holding me in an old garage downtown, but I escaped during the day. I’m searching for a way back to Damon. I’m the prophecy’s chosen one,” Fox repeated carefully, though he planned to put a lot more emotion in it later.
“Do you remember the location of the garage?”
Fox shook his head. “No. I don’t know Hartford. Been running all day.”
“Okay. You’ve got this. We’ve got this. I’ll be following you as close as I possibly can. Be careful.”
Fox bit his lip. Part of him was terrified of throwing himself into the view of other vampires. He wanted to stay safe with Winter. But he also wanted Winter to stay safe, and that meant protecting all of the Variks.
“Wait,” Fox said. He stopped and swallowed hard. This was almost as hard as leaving Winter. He didn’t want to ask this of Winter, not when the man had been so gentle with him. Winter treated him like fine china, and he was going to hate this. “You need to hit me.”
“What?” Winter lurched a step backward.
“No one is going to believe that you didn’t rough me up a little. I’m the key to destroying the Varik family. They’d expect your interrogation to get rough if you wanted information out of me.”
Fox didn’t think it was possible, but Winter actually paled before his eyes. The vampire shook his head