Evangeline still couldn''t get in touch with Glenn. The only thing she could do was send him a text, telling him to be safe. Glenn was stubborn; once he made up his mind, nothing anyone said could change it. If he had chosen to buy them some time, she had to make the most of it.


    But the idea that he was being held up by Victor was still just a theory.


    After some thought, Evangeline tried calling Finn. Strangely, he didn''t pick up either.


    She didn''t dwell on it, putting her phone away and heading back to her apartmentplex. Just as she parked her car and started walking toward the building, she saw him.


    Finn was standing there, his head bowed as he stared intently at his phone.


    She raised her hand to greet him, but seeing how focused he was, she swallowed her words. Tiptoeing, she approached him from behind. But when she was still several feet away, hiszy voice drifted toward her.


    "You''re back."


    He casually slipped his phone into his pocket and turned to face her with a smile. But there was a chilly edge to it, something almost sharp.


    Evangeline thought he might be annoyed that she''d hung up on him earlier. She gave a sheepish "Mm-hmm."


    "Were you at the hospital?" he asked.


    She frowned in confusion. "How did you know?" Then it dawned on her. News of Mrs. Fawkes''s illness must have gotten out. Finn knew about her rtionship with the old woman, so it wasn''t a stretch for him to guess she''d paid a visit.


    She expected him to ask about Mrs. Fawkes''s condition, but instead, he closed the distance between them and leaned in slightly. The sudden proximity made Evangeline stiffen, a faint heat rising to her cheeks. She instinctively tried to step back, but Finn, anticipating her move, wrapped an arm around her waist. The warmth of his hand seeped through the thin fabric of her shirt. With a gentle tug, he pulled her off-bnce and into his chest.


    Her face flushed a deeper red.


    "You went to see Soren, didn''t you?" Finn murmured into her ear, his voice low and dangerously alluring.


    A jolt went through her. "Yes, but I-"


    Before she could finish, his lips were on hers, Unlike before, this kiss was fierce and possessive. The arm around her waist tightened, and she could feel a raw anger in his touch.


    It felt like an eternity before he finally pulled away, leaving her lips feeling raw and swollen. She thought it was over but he tilted his head and bit down gently or the side of her neck.


    "Hiss."


    The sharp sting on her sensitive skin made her gasp.


    Finn was acting strangely today. What she couldn''t understand was why he was so angry. He knew her history with Soren; why would a meeting between them provoke such a reaction?


    Unsure what to do, she decided silence was her best strategy.


    Sure enough, a few momentster, Finn seemed to return to his usual elegant self. "Go on inside. Get some rest," he said warmly, his eyes regaining their familiar tenderness.


    Even so, Evangeline sensed a subtle tension stillingering beneath the surface and didn''t dare ask him about Victor. It was the first time since she''d met him that she had ever seen him lose hisposure like that. After saying goodnight she headed into her vi.


    ***