Page 123 of Somebody's Watching Me
The lobster frowned, just as confused. “What?”
The voice coming from her earpiece chuckled. “It’s not the lobster talking, gorgeous.”
Michael.
Spinning around, she searched for Liam, but the crowd had thickened between them.
“Liam?”
“He can’t respond, but he can listen,” Michael replied. “So, while I have everyone’s attention, let me ask, did you tell him why yet?”
She paled, and the lobster’s confusion turned to concern. “Honey, are you okay?”
Through the breaking crowd, she spotted the top of Liam’s head moving in her direction, and she pushed her way through a batch of witches to get to him.
“Did you tell him why you didn’t call?” Michael pressed. “Didn’t text? Didn’t try to get him to come hom—“
“Shut the hell up, you prick,” Rowan snarled in her ear. “I knocked him out of the feed. He’s somewhere within a hundred miles.”
Jamison didn’t respond, too desperate to get to Liam. She was crying by the time they met in the crush of people, launching herself at him as lightning split the sky and a thunderous boom ushered in the fall of heavy rain.
The partygoers screamed and ran, darting into the shops or under any available cover. Burying her face in Liam’s neck, she held on while struggling to regain control.
“You’re okay,” He shouted over the chaos, his arms wrapping around her. “Sinclair caught you off guard, but you’re fine.”
She wasn’t fine. Liam had heard what Michael said. “I can’t breathe.”
Lifting her in his arms, he hustled through the rain and across the promenade to a small alcove that connected to one of the many public gardens designed by Abe.
“I’ve got you.” He set her to stand. “He’s gone.”
Out of the storm, he pulled her into a hug, and they stood holding each other while the party broke up for good. Over Liam’s shoulder, she saw Rowan usher Annabeth off in the direction of the bookstore.
“Annabeth?”
“She’s okay,” Rowan assured her through the earpiece. “We’re going to hang in the bookshop until the storm passes. Izzy got Abe into the winery, and your dad is in there with them.”
“We’re good in here,” Izzy said next. “Don’t worry, Jamison. I calmed your dad down. He freaked when he couldn’t find you.”
Their voices were causing her head to spin, and unable to stand having the earpiece in for another second, Jamison dug the thing out. “I can’t. I can’t have that in my ear.”
Liam snatched the device before she could send it hurtling out into the rain.
“Jan and Eddie,” she said, struggling to catch her breath. “They didn’t say anything outright, but I got a weird feeling, and they wanted me to leave with them.”
Liam offered her a tight smile and nodded. “I’m having Hollingsdale PD tail them. Hopefully, it’s nothing but Jan running her mouth.”
He wasn’t meeting her gaze, and alarm bells went off like a code red nuclear detonation was imminent. “Liam?”
“But we need to get back to the house.”
“Liam?”
Turning away, he shot off orders to Izzy, telling her to prepare everyone to leave. “I’ll have to walk,” she said when he finished. “I can’t run, especially in the rain.”
“I’ll carry you.”
“What theory?” she blurted out before he could swoop her into his arms again. “What was Rowan talking about?”
