over the edge. Jackson’s thrusts fell off kilter, and his body shuddered before he gave one last deep thrust inside Day, grinding his hips in aborted little thrusts as he emptied himself. He then collapsed on top of him, breathing heavy against his ear.
Day laughed, pushing at Jackson’s shoulder. “You weigh a ton. You’re crushing me.”
“Deal with it,” Jackson said, burying his face against Day’s neck and holding him tight.
Day ran a hand over Jackson’s bald head and down his back, not willing to fight Jackson when the truth was, he was more than comfortable beneath the heavy weight of his frame, even if the man was a furnace. The truth of the matter was that Day would happily spend the rest of his nights like this, and that scared the shit out of him.
“Jackson—”
Whatever Day was going to say was interrupted by the shrill scream of the alarm system going off, sending his heartbeat into the stratosphere.
Jackson slipped free of Day’s body and rolled into a sitting position in one smooth move. “Get in the bathroom and lock the door,” he said.
Day sat up. “Jackson, wait.”
“Now, Dayton.”
Jackson grabbed the gun from his drawer and thumbed off the safety, chambering a round, as he made his way out through the bedroom door, scanning the floor below for any sign of the invader. He could see the front door sat askew but there was no movement below. He crept down the stairs, his gaze sweeping the open space as he went. It was part of the reason he’d picked this apartment, aside from the twenty-four hour security downstairs and the alarm systems in each room. It was an open concept, giving Jackson a view of the whole apartment with nowhere for any assailant to hide.
Once Jackson realized there was nobody inside, he walked to the front door, keying in the code to turn off the screeching of the alarm just as his landline rang. He opened the door and stuck his head out, cognizant of the fact that he was still naked. His neighbors were in the hallway in various states of undress, glaring at him as if he had attempted to break into his own apartment. “Sorry, folks.”
Jackson closed the door but stopped short, realizing there was an envelope on the ground. Jackson picked it up, locking the door before answering the phone.
“Hey, boss, it’s Webster. The security company called. The alarm was triggered. You good?”
“Yeah, but somebody managed to break in. Call downstairs and have them get you the security footage. If they give you a hard time, you know what to do.”
“I’m on it.”
Jackson frowned as he opened the envelope and something fell out. He felt it bounce off his foot with a slight metallic clink, but he ignored it, focusing on the neatly folded piece of paper still inside. He flipped on the kitchen light and snagged the thin disposable gloves the housekeeper kept under the sink before pulling it free and opening it up.
I found you. Did you think you could just take him from me without a fight? You took something I love, and you better give him back before I return for something you love. Here kitty, kitty.
Jackson’s heart hammered against his ribcage as he leaned down to pick up the object that had fallen out of the envelope. It was a cat collar. Kevin’s cat collar. It was bloody.
“Kevin?” Jackson called, his voice taking on a slight panicked sound. “Here, boy.”
“Jackson?” Day called, standing at the top of the stairs in a t-shirt and a pair of threadbare shorts. “What’s wrong?”
Jackson wanted to yell at Day for not listening to him but he had bigger things to worry about. Besides, the immediate danger to Day had passed. “We need to find Kevin.”
“Why? Do you think he got out?” Day asked, closing the distance between them. “Did you hurt yourself? Why are you wearing bloody gloves? Did he hurt Kevin?” With each question, Day’s voice became more frantic.
“I don’t know,” Jackson barked. At Day’s shocked look, Jackson softened his voice. “I don’t know. Let’s just search the house. Can you just look and see if he’s hiding under one of the beds upstairs? And maybe throw me down my gym shorts?”
Day nodded, turning to do what Jackson asked, even though it was clear he didn’t understand what was happening. Jackson stripped off the gloves and slid them inside the envelope. Could this fucking prick have gotten to Kevin? Did he have enough time after