Nightfall (Devil's Night 4)

Slowly…

Clicking the key fob, I saw the taillights of a black Porsche Panamera light up, and the three of us climbed in, my body tingling at the feel of a car.

God, it had been so long. The leather seats grinded under my weight, and I inhaled the scent of the new vehicle, instant euphoria calming my brain.

Fuck, this felt good.

Starting it up, I hit the clutch, turned up the radio as some new song from Thousand Foot Krutch started playing, and punched the shift into reverse, hitting the gas.

We peeled out of the parking lot, the speed and music taking over as Rory let his head fall back and his eyes close, exhaling for the first time since I’d met him. Micah sat in the passenger seat next to me, his head tipped out the open window, smiling and sighing at the same time as the wind blew over his face.

How we’d missed the simple pleasures of speed and wind and freedom.

I just needed a decent cheeseburger now, and I was home.

We raced into town, past the Cove, past Cold Point, and through the neighborhoods, a For Sale sign sitting on the lawn of Emmy’s old house. The yard looked like shit, and I knew Martin Scott was spending more of his time in Meridian City as he moved up the ranks of public service, but I did a double take, not expecting to see that. Did Emmy know the house was for sale?

How long had it been on the market? It was a great house in a quaint, little neighborhood. There would be interest soon, if not already.

Turning right, we passed the village and the cathedral, turning left up into the hills and past my old high school as we headed up to my parents’ house.

I kind of wished I could put this off a while longer, especially since I wouldn’t get out of there easily with my mom whining about how worried she’d been, and my dad grilling me about every detail until he was good and satisfied. But if they found out I was in town and hadn’t touched base, it would be worse.

I wasn’t sure why I’d brought Micah and Rory with me. Maybe I wanted them to see my life here. Or maybe it aggravated me they’d taken her side yesterday, and I wanted some time with them myself. I’d worked too long and too hard on them to lose them to my little usurper.

I did kind of appreciate their loyalty to her, though. That might be useful.

Climbing out of the car, we jogged up the steps of my house. Everything looked exactly the same as when I’d left more than a year ago. I had no idea where my keys or clothes were at this point, but I guessed the crew had kept my apartment at Delcour, so I should have a good supply of things still there.

I squeezed the handle, the door opening immediately, and I smiled smelling the fresh flowers my mom always kept in the house as I stepped inside.

The foyer was grand and white, like Blackchurch, but my mom was a far better decorator. It was light and airy, and I smiled as the guys followed me, looking around themselves.

“Hello?” I heard Meredith’s voice. “Who is that?”

The head housekeeper rounded the corner, drying her hands on a towel with her hair pulled back in a ponytail so tight her eyebrows nearly reached her hairline.

She smiled, seeing me. “Will!”

“Hey.” I leaned in, giving her a peck on the cheek. “Any of my family home?”

I didn’t want to give her a chance to ask questions.

She shook her head. “No. Your parents are in California for the week on business, and there’s no one else here. Should I call Mr. and Mrs. Grayson?”

“No,” I blurted out.

This was actually perfect. I missed them, but I had more pressing matters right now that were better dealt with them out of the way.

“I’ll surprise them,” I told her.

She looked at Micah and Rory, and I could see she wanted to talk more, but knew it wasn’t a good time for a chat. “Well, it’s good to see you.”

“Yeah, you, too.”

“Do you want something to eat?”

“No,” I lied, remembering how I loved her breakfast casseroles. “But I’ll be back in the next few days. Just pass on the message to my parents when they get home that I’m in town, and I’m not going anywhere.”