Page 33 of Run

I walked beside Vincent, knowing I projected an outward calm.

What would I have given to have the calm I conveyed on the outside inside? Everything.

Inside, I was reeling. Every furtive glance I threw at Vincent only intensified the feeling.

I glanced at him again as we walked, and again saw the anger that animated him. Which confused me. I kept reminding myself that I didn’t know Vincent as he was now, but I couldn’t help but rely on how I’d known him before, and that was leaving me confused. Before, when Vincent was angry like this, it was almost always an attempt to cover some hurt, usually a hurt that I’d carelessly, usually unknowingly inflicted.

But it couldn’t mean the same thing now, could it? And if it did, I had no idea what I could have done to upset him so deeply.

I glanced at him again, but this time, I saw that he’d put his emotionless mask firmly in place. Now he gave off an icy distance that told me it was time for business. So, at least for the moment, I tried to match my demeanor to his as we walked inside an apartment building.

It was one I didn’t recognize, but I looked around surreptitiously, searching for anything familiar. I found nothing, but Vincent seemed to know exactly where he was going. He marched to the elevators, pushed the button six, and then stood still and stony silent through the entire ride. I again tried to match my expression to his as we got off the elevator and went down the hall.

My confusion only intensified when Vincent stopped at one of the doors and knocked. He’d said this was business, yet he’d knocked? My mind was busy trying to process those two seemingly incompatible pieces of information when the door opened.

It was Tony, looking chagrined but not at all surprised.

Vincent walked in, and after a quick look around, gestured for me to do the same.

“You knew I was coming?” Vincent asked.

“I heard what had happened. Figured I’d get a visit from someone,” Tony said.

He was shirtless and wearing jeans that were zipped but not buttoned, trying to give off a vibe of surprise. It wasn’t working. No matter what he’d been told, this kind of visit deserved something more than his mild reaction. That he wasn’t surprised made me suspicious. Vincent too, I’d bet.

“Funny that your boss got himself into that mess while you weren’t around,” Vincent said mildly, as sure a tipoff as any that he was not pleased with Tony.

“Gage was…spirited,” Tony said with a shrug, “I couldn’t control him.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Tony,” Vincent said.

He shifted then, far enough away from Tony that this conversation still had the veneer of friendliness, but the way he held his body leaving no doubt that could change in a heartbeat.

“What do you mean?” Tony asked, going for curious, and again failing.

“I mean I wasn’t there, but I can see it so clearly in my mind. You come across me and Kelly talking. You don’t know who I am, but you see a way out of your current predicament. Gage is on top, and as long as his father is boss, you’re never moving up. But if you could convince him to do something stupid…”

“That wasn’t so hard,” Tony interjected, blanching when he seemed to realize he had spoken out of turn.

“I don’t imagine so. Which means you put him up to it, had him convinced that he needed to figure out who I was, use my friend Kelly here to do it,” Vincent said, his voice a sharp whisper by the time he finished speaking.

“That wasn’t intended. I apologize, Kelly,” Tony said.

I didn’t do or say anything, but Vincent, who’d been so calm before, now stared Tony down, the rage clear on his face. “Do you know what I should do to you?” Vincent asked.

Inside, my muscles were tense, my blood racing through my veins. I’d allowed myself to hope that this would turn out okay, that I wouldn’t have to see the Vincent my father had made. The bar had been necessary, but whatever happened here would be solely for Vincent’s pleasure. One I could accept, but the other…

My shoulders slumped with despair. Everything I had feared for Vincent had come true, and now I would watch as he killed again, and this time not for our protection but because he wanted to.

I wanted to say something, do something, but instead I looked to where Vincent stood glaring down at Tony, my breath frozen in my chest as I waited.

“I know, but I mean it. There was no harm intended. I saw an opportunity and I took it. I didn’t consider Kelly, but it was never my aim to see her hurt,” Tony said.

He sounded sincere, but Vincent’s glare wouldn’t allow for anything else.

“I should kill you for that, but instead I’ll have you do me a favor,” Vincent said.

“Okay,” Tony stammered.