Page 55 of Forever Midnight

He nods. “Let’s do this.”

We walk back to the SUV in silence. Tru leans against me for support, and I become aware of the rage building inside me. Finding Vinni has to happen, and it needs to happen soon. He’s ruining my kitten’s happiness, and I won’t have it.

I’m going to enjoy ripping his throat out while Tru watches. Then I’ll tell him what I am and hope to Hades he still accepts me. I have no idea how I’ll survive if he doesn’t.

ChapterTwenty-Four

TRU

What the fuck is wrong with me? Everything around me is hazy, like I somehow disconnected from reality. I cling to Midnight, almost afraid to let go.

We return home in silence, but my thoughts are anything but quiet. What if Vinni gets away? What if he gets desperate for more money and goes straight to my dad this time? What if—

“Hey.” Midnight brushes his lips against the top of my head. “You’re not alone, remember? We’re here to help. We’re very good at what we do. We’ll find Vinni.”

“How did you know what I was thinking?”

“How could you be thinking of anything else?”

I nod, practically curling up next to him in the car. “I just want this to be over with. I want to move on, you know?”

“I do.” Midnight tightens his arm around me. “Trust me, it’s what I want too. It kills me knowing how it hurts you.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and when I pull it out and see my mom’s name on the screen, I panic. “Oh god. What if something’s wrong? What if they found out about Lucia? What if…” I blow out a breath. “I have to answer it, don’t I?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, I answer, doing my best to sound normal. “Hey, Ma.”

“Oh, you are alive. I was beginning to wonder.”

I relax immediately when I hear her tone. If something was wrong, she wouldn’t tease me.

“Alive and well. What’s going on?”

“Just wondering if we should have your things sent somewhere or if you’re ever planning to show up at home again.”

“Come on, Ma. I’m a grown man and I told you where I was.”

“For two days? Almost three?” She sighs. “I know I need to give you your freedom, but with Lucia away and Pilar in school…”

She doesn’t finish her guilt trip. She doesn’t have to.

“I’ll be home in the morning, okay?”

“Really? We can have brunch?”

“Yeah, brunch sounds nice.”

“You could always bring this friend of yours so I can meet them.”

I immediately tense up. Could she tell from looking at us together that we’re so much more than friends? “I’ll ask. Why are you up so late, anyway?”

“I was playing bunco with the girls. The house is so quiet I guess I started pining for my children.”

“Where’s Dad?”

“Asleep. He has to leave for a business trip tomorrow morning. He’s closing that deal he’s been working on for three months.”

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