Fox released Winter’s wrist and pressed his fingers to his lips, stopping his words. There were a lot of ways this plan could go wrong. “Please believe in me. I need you to believe in me. I’m a pretty smart guy. A fast talker when I need to be.”
Winter pressed a kiss to Fox’s fingertips and gently pulled his hand away. “I do believe in you. So much. I know you can do this. It’s the other vampires that scare the shit out of me where you’re concerned.”
Those desperate words strengthened Fox’s resolve. He was going to do this for Winter and his family. He was going to get the info they all needed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything to ruin my chances at more mind-blowing sex.”
“Good to know you’re coming back to me for my dick,” Winter muttered.
“And your video game selection. Let’s be realistic,” Fox teased, trying so damn hard to get some of the fear to leave Winter’s pale eyes.
“Be careful,” Winter replied.
Fox nodded and climbed out of the car. Winter left the driver’s side at the same time and walked around. The fear and worry had cleared from his eyes to be replaced by the same determined look Fox had first seen on Winter’s face when he stepped into the prison in Damon’s house. This was Winter’s game face, and it was a bit scary. All the tender concern and warmth were gone. Before him stood a man who would do whatever he must to protect his family.
“Do you remember the directions to Luke’s house?” Winter asked.
“Got it. About six blocks from here. Plenty of time for me to work up a proper sweat.”
“You know what you’re going to say?”
“You were holding me in an old garage downtown, but I escaped during the day. I’m searching for a way back to Damon. I’m the prophecy’s chosen one,” Fox repeated carefully, though he planned to put a lot more emotion in it later.
“Do you remember the location of the garage?”
Fox shook his head. “No. I don’t know Hartford. Been running all day.”
“Okay. You’ve got this. We’ve got this. I’ll be following you as close as I possibly can. Be careful.”
Fox bit his lip. Part of him was terrified of throwing himself into the view of other vampires. He wanted to stay safe with Winter. But he also wanted Winter to stay safe, and that meant protecting all of the Variks.
“Wait,” Fox said. He stopped and swallowed hard. This was almost as hard as leaving Winter. He didn’t want to ask this of Winter, not when the man had been so gentle with him. Winter treated him like fine china, and he was going to hate this. “You need to hit me.”
“What?” Winter lurched a step backward.
“No one is going to believe that you didn’t rough me up a little. I’m the key to destroying the Varik family. They’d expect your interrogation to get rough if you wanted information out of me.”
Fox didn’t think it was possible, but Winter actually paled before his eyes. The vampire shook his head and took another step away. Fox closed the distance between them, not letting Winter escape.
“They were happy to tell me horror stories about you. Winter, the Varik executioner. Winter Varik is death. Winter the cruel murderer.”
“You knew?” Winter’s voice cracked.
Fox’s heart broke at Winter’s surprise. Had he thought he was keeping some great secret from Fox? He could see Winter’s shame over the names. It was clear that this was not who Winter wanted to be.
But Fox needed to use it now. If this was going to work, they had to sell it completely. He’d never find his way to Winter’s arms again if Paavo’s man didn’t believe he’d escaped.
“You gonna go spineless on me now? Over a witch? You’re going to choose a worthless witch over your family?” Fox snarled. “You’re supposed to be this heartless killer. I thought all the vampires feared you. But you’re nothing. You’re going to let your entire family down, let them die—”
Winter’s hand was a blur, the back slamming into Fox’s cheek and jaw with enough force to stagger him into the warm hood of the SUV. Pain exploded across his face and it felt like his damn brain had been rattled. Fox moaned and slowly flexed his jaw, just making sure everything was still connected.
The vampire was at his side in a heartbeat. Fox blinked and could see Winter’s hands hover just inches away from him, as if he were afraid to touch the witch. Fox couldn’t imagine a time when he wouldn’t want to feel Winter’s reassuring hands holding him tight.
Fox stepped right into Winter’s open arms, pressing his uninjured cheek to Winter’s shoulder. “I’m okay. I swear.”
Winter’s arms closed around Fox, still holding him as if he were made of glass. “Please don’t ask me to do that again,” he whispered. He sounded so broken on the inside, as if Fox were in danger of pushing him too far.