Chapter Thirteen
Payton disconnected her call and frowned at her phone. This was the third time she tried to reach Esmeralda without success, and she was starting to worry.
“What’s wrong?” Kinleigh asked.
“I’ve not been able to get in touch with Esmeralda,” she admitted to her cousin. “She was devastated when she found out about Elder Agnes.”
“She still loved her?”
Payton nodded. “Love like that doesn’t die. I just hope she’s not being reckless.”
“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation,” Kinleigh said. “Perhaps she’s at the diner. I bet she’s taking advantage of the place being empty so she can scrub it clean. Keeping busy would take her mind off her broken heart.”
“You’re probably right,” Payton said, relenting. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost Jericho, especially to some magical bioweapon. I can’t imagine how Esmeralda has felt all these years, not being with the person she loved. And then to lose her in such a horrible way ... it’s unreal.”
“Maybe you should ask Jericho to check in on her.”
Payton thought for a moment, then shook her head. “He’s susceptible to the red plague.”
“Then... Hey, call Savannah,” Kinleigh urged. “I’m sure she’ll help.”
“That’s a great idea.” She pulled out her cell phone from her pocket and placed the call. “Savannah?”
“Hello, Luna.”
“Payton, please. No honorifics between us. I haven’t heard from Esmeralda and I’m worried about her. Could you check if she’s at the diner?”
“Of course. How are you holding up?”
“I’m worried,” Payton whispered, emotions just under the surface trying to find an out. “I’m going to be bringing a pup into this world, and I don’t even know if our world will still be here.”
“It will be here, Payton. I promise. I’ll do everything I can to ensure that. You and Kinleigh stay safe, and I’ll have Esmeralda call you.”
“Okay.” The call ended and she turned toward her cousin. “She’ll check in on her.”
Kinleigh hugged her. “Everything will be okay.”
Payton sighed, wanting so much to believe her. But something told her it wasn’t going to be okay.
****
Jericho disconnected the call and frowned.
That had been Mitchell Bly, the realtor for Sheridan, and he called concerned about the lights in the diner being on all night.
Rising, he texted a quick message to Savannah then headed out the door and walked toward the diner.
When he got there, he saw the Enchantress frowning at the building.
“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.