Page 82 of Death and Donuts

When I left the bathroom, Cross handed me my phone. “You might want to respond to Vena before your phone explodes, or she does.”

Glancing at my phone, I saw there was a string of texts asking if I was okay.

“I assume she knows what happened.”

“Yes. I let her know not to worry.”

Vena wasn’t the only one who texted. My parents had sent a few pictures of them enjoying their vacation already this morning. Grandma’s joyful expression made me smile as I saved the pictures and checked my other messages.

I opened a group message with Shepard and Cross and saw the back-and-forth conversation between the pair. While I was passed out, they’d worked to piece together what had happened and coordinated a search. If I hadn’t known they had started as enemies, at least on Shepard’s side, I would have thoughtthey were…not friends but perhaps colleagues working together seamlessly.

“What’s this about the GPS locator?” I asked as I kept reading.

“Shepard found it on the underside of your car. We think that’s how Adriel found you outside the restaurant. It explains the crash as well.”

Frowning, I thought of my poor car that I’d paid off. “Other than a vampire trying to kill me, I now have to deal with insurance and finding a new car.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve already notified your insurance and have a solution to your car problem.”

“Do you ever sleep?”

“I don’t need sleep, remember?”

“I remember. Just doesn’t seem right that you’re active around the clock.”

“You’ll like me for that later.”

“I like you either way.” My phone buzzed again. “I’d better text Vena.”

“Let her know you’ll see her in a half hour. I’ll need to get you to Shepard’s so I can join the search.”

After I sent her a message, we headed to the hotel lobby and out the front door where a middle-aged man wearing a full bellhop uniform opened the door for us. A valet was waiting just outside the door and handed Cross a key.

“All ready for you, sir.”

Cross took the key and gave it to me.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“A key to the SUV.”

I looked from him to a shiny new and ridiculously expensive SUV sitting in front of us.

“Cross, is this the solution you mentioned?”

“Yes, but I didn’t buy it for you, so no scolding me about expensive purchases. I bought it for our business. You’ll need it once the bakery opens and you need to deliver desserts to Blur.”

“It’s a company car?” I asked, making sure I heard him right.

He nodded. “For our business.”

I felt like I was being played—that he’d purchased this SUV for me. But if I was really going to use it to haul around supplies and possibly catering orders, I knew I couldn’t turn it down. The business and I would need it then.

“Did you have to get the bright red color with polished chrome work?”

“I wanted it to be a safe vehicle. It comes fully loaded with all the extra safety features. The red will stand out in traffic.” He shrugged. “The chrome was a bonus.”

Ah. There it was—the reason behind the purchase. He wanted me to be safe.

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