Page 89 of Baxter's Right-Hand Man

“Yes. And here’s the photo. It’s just like you said—you’re both so handsome.”

The old man studied the picture with shaky hands until a single tear slid down his cheek. He wiped it away quickly. “Thank you.”

Fuck. Nowmyeyes were burning.

I pulled up the chair next to Lo’s and traced small circles along his spine. “We didn’t find the photos my mom sent, but that’s okay. They’ll turn up someday.”

He gasped for air. I could tell he had more to say but lacked the lung capacity necessary. He was also ghostly white now. “Yes. Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

Lo smiled gently. “I’ll come later this week if that’s okay.”

Jasper nodded.

The nurse hovered as Jasper’s breathing slipped into a Darth-Vader-esque tone. We didn’t linger. There wasn’t much more to say.

We werequiet on the way to Lo’s apartment. He navigated midafternoon traffic as if on autopilot, watching the road while I watched him. He was so focused on his routine that he turned into the lot behind his apartment, frowning at the motorcycle in his space.

“That’s me. I’ll move it in front of that planter. My helmet’s upstairs. I’ll help you unload the car, then grab it.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

We moved in slow motion. Every task seemed to take twenty minutes. Moving the motorcycle, parking the car, schlepping the cooler. Lo followed me downstairs to retrieve his bag and stood next to me, twisting his key ring while I fiddled with the strap on my helmet. I finally set it on his trunk and opened my arms.

“C’mere.”

We swayed and held each other tight, forgetting we were supposed to be vampires.

Lo swiped at his eyes. “I wish we were still in Carmel. Or somewhere on the road. Real life sucks.”

“Sometimes…yeah.” I caressed his chin soothingly. “But sometimes, it’s not so bad.”

He tugged my neck and pulled me to his height, sealing his lips over mine.

Minutes passed, maybe quite a few minutes. Everything about the moment felt raw and real—like life and death, beginnings and endings. Holding him close was my best bet.

He was my safe harbor and I was his.

If only for now.

16

LORENZO

Someone was following me. I could feel it. At first, I thought I was being paranoid, but I’d learned the hard way to listen to my instincts.

I left my apartment at 7 a.m. and dragged my ass to the gym.Ew, I know. But my membership was about to expire and I hadn’t set foot in that sweaty dungeon in months. I decided a spin on a stationary bike would ease my guilty conscience about wasting money. Better yet, I hoped it would clear my head.

Part of me was still on cloud nine after a fabulous beach weekend getaway with a handsome, sexy, fun man. The other part of me was crushed that he was leaving next week. I wasn’t sure what that meant for us. Probably nothing good.

I looked up to the heavens and sent a quick prayer that—

What was that?

I stopped in my tracks at the sound of rustling in the bushes next to my carport.

Someone was there. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could feel a presence. Okay, maybe not someone, maybe somethinglike a family of ducks or a raccoon. But on the off chance there was a murderer on the loose, I tossed my bag onto the front seat, hopped in, and sped away.

I was jumpy all morning and I couldn’t shake the eerie sensation I wasn’t alone.