With full body shakes I drove Hazel to the garage, super-cautious, eyes checking mirrors, willing my ears to have powers beyond normal. I parked, secured the garage and then ran into the house even though I wanted to stop and kiss Vance’s Harley which was sitting outside my backdoor.
I flew into the kitchen and dumped my weapons and bag on the table. Then I locked the door and armed the alarm.
Boo sauntered in and looked at me. “Meow,” he said.
Obviously Vance had given him treats or pets because Boo was a f**k of a lot more calm than me.
I stared at my cat for a beat.
Then I screeched, “Crowe!”
I was standing and hyperventilating in my kitchen when Vance walked in. He took one look at me and came to a dead halt.
“I, you… we… oh my God,” I said.
“Jesus, Jules. Are you all right?”
I shook my head then I nodded it then I shook it again.
He started toward me. I took a step back and he stopped again, this time his brows came together. “You’re not gonna try and break up with me again, are you?”
This time I just shook my head.
His eyes narrowed under knitted brows. “Is Tex okay?”
I nodded.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head.
He came forward again and I didn’t retreat. “Are you hurt?”
“I just met Hector Chavez,” I announced.
Vance stopped again, in my space. I saw his eyes flash.
“What the f**k?” he murmured.
“Just now, he and a couple of his buddies fenced me and Hazel in, in the alley. He yanked me out of the car, warned me off the street. Told me Shard, Jermaine and Clarence were going to hurt me no matter what protection you’re offering.”
This didn’t make Vance look happy. “He say anything else?”
“Nothing I care repeating. Not on that subject anyway. He did say if I told anyone about our chat, I’d blow his cover which means he wouldn’t be breathing anymore… or something like that.”
Vance stared at me then he muttered, “Christ.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what I was feeling but I thought it might be fear.
A lot of fear.
I wasn’t going to admit to that out loud so I just took a deep breath to try and control it. That didn’t work so I leaned forward, head down, and collided with Crowe, forehead to his shoulder.
He took my weight without a word, his arms coming around me.
“You gotta get off the street,” he said softly.
“If I do, they win,” I said just as softly even though I agreed with him.