Page 34 of Run

“Gage’s father is going to want blood. Make him see reason,” Vincent said.

After Tony nodded, Vincent walked to me and grabbed my hand and then led me out of the apartment.

My mind was reeling.

I’d prepared myself as best I could for the violence I was expecting. But that encounter had been nothing of what I’d imagined. Vincent led me to the car, and I was still stunned. After he sat behind the wheel, he looked at me.

“What?” he said.

I flinched slightly, so caught up in my thoughts that his voice startled me. I looked at him warily, and then blew out a breath. “What was that?” I finally said.

“Business,” he replied.

I frowned. “I know that, Vincent. But what was that?” I repeated.

“Tony put Gage up to it. I needed him to know that wasn’t acceptable—that there is a price to pay for it,” he said.

I was quiet then, contemplating. A conversation, one that had involved no violence at all. My mind could hardly process it. For years I’d imagined Vincent doing unspeakable things, enjoying those things.

Had I been wrong?

“So just a simple conversation?” I said, not asking what I needed him to tell me. Not sure that I wanted to know if he was coming back for Tony later.

I’d looked at Vincent, saw the way his eyes darkened. “Yeah. Just a simple conversation. Sorry to disappoint you,” he said. Then he drove off.

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