“I just texted you,” he said.
She held up her phone.“I just got it.Payton called and asked me to check if Esmeralda was in the diner.”
“Yeah, apparently the lights were on all night.”
“I don’t like this, Jericho.Please stay here while I check inside.”
“I should—”
She placed a hand on his arm.“No.Listen to me.I know you’re the alpha and have a need to protect your pack, but if I find inside what I think I’m going to find, then you need to protect yourself.”
After a moment, he nodded and stepped back.Savannah gave him a grateful look and headed toward the door, stepping carefully inside.Jericho folded his arms over his chest, waiting.A few minutes she came back out then pulled out a vial to anoint the door.When she turned to look at him, his stomach sank.
He didn’t need to hear the confirmation that Esmeralda was dead, because it was written all over her face, but steeled himself anyway.
‘No, she’s not in there, Jericho,” she said.
He relaxed for only a moment, but that relief disappeared an instant later.“Who?”
“It’s Wayne,” she said sadly, maintaining a distance between them.
“Fuck.”He glanced toward the sky and then focused back on her.“I guess we need to check Esmeralda’s house.”
Savannah nodded her understanding.“I placed a sealant on the door so no one can go in until Niall can create a barrier around it.I don’t think there’s any saving the building.The red death could be everywhere in there.I’ll drive out to check on Esmeralda and will call you.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Jericho stood there for a moment, staring at the diner.It wasn’t a person, but this was going to break Payton’s heart.He pulled out his cell and called his mate.
“Jericho, she’s fine!”Payton let out a heavy sigh of relief.“She just called me.Her phone died and she didn’t know until she went to call for an update.”
“Payton,” he started, not sure how to word what he needed said.
“What?”A gasp came through the line.“Something else is wrong, isn’t it?”
“It’s Wayne.”
“What?No.Please, no.”
“I’m so sorry, baby.The diner has to be, um, it has to be closed down.”
“For how long?”
“Savannah said it can’t be reopened.”
“No,” she whisper-cried.“Oh, no.”
He let her cry.That was all the comfort he could give her until this mess was taken care of.
