Page 9 of Run

I couldn’t show a man like Gage any kind of fear, even if the reason was not at all what he’d think it was.

When I finally got back behind the bar, I waited, curious, wondering when Vincent would come over.

Because he would.

He wouldn’t be able to not, especially after what he had just seen.

So I took the seconds between the time when I knew he would arrive to breathe deep, prepare myself as best I could, though would there ever be such a thing with Vincent?

When my heart slowed to a gallop and not a race, I exhaled, figuring that I was as ready as I ever would be.

And then I waited.

A minute ticked by, another one, but Vincent didn’t show up.

After a second, I finally looked to the place where he had been sitting.

It was empty.