Page 34 of The Kings of Kearny

Just like the first time, it went to voice mail. I didn’t bother leaving another message.

I dropped my phone back in my handbag and faced Jakob, knowing he wasn’t going to like what I was about to say. “Stay out here, and let me see if I can find anything out.”

“You’re not going in there alone,” he said.

I bristled. “Reminder: you’re not the boss of me.”

His jaw flexed, and his nostrils flared like he was pissed, but he seemed to realize he couldn’t bully me and dropped the tone of command from his voice. “I don’t think it’s smart for you to go in there alone right now. This is sketchy as fuck.”

“I’m not going to argue with you about that, but my grandmother is in there, and if something sketchy is going on, she’s more vulnerable than anyone. For all we know, she’s completely forgotten our discussion from yesterday and doesn’t even know she needs to be careful.”

“Fine,” he bit out. “But you call me the second something feels like it’s off.”

I let out an exasperated breath. “What are you going to do, storm the gates?”

His eyes darkened ominously. “Yes.”

“Someone could get hurt, Jakob.”

He stepped closer. “Then you better pray that nothing happens to you inside.”

I didn’t know whether I should be pissed or touched by this level of concern for my welfare. As it stood, I was too worried about Gran to decide.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and went back in.

The new guard detached himself from the wall and followed after me as if he thought I posed a danger to the residents. I figured people would treat me differently after I told them I was dating a King, but I hadn’t anticipated this extreme response, and it grated on me.

I finally found a familiar face behind the front desk. Annie was working it again. Her gaze flashed to the guard and then to me, and the look in her eyes almost brought me up short. She didn’t like this guy for some reason, or she distrusted him. It was clear from the way she studiously ignored him as I approached, her eyes boring into mine as if she was trying to warn me.

What the hell was going on inside this place today?

I stepped up to the desk. “I’m here to see my gran.”

Annie nodded and passed me a sign-in sheet, uncharacteristically quiet.

“Have you seen Dr. Perez?” I asked, picking a pen up.

“Not for a few hours. Want me to call her office?”

“Please,” I said. I finished signing in and waited while she dialed.

“Hi,” she said a moment later. “This is Annie downstairs. Is Dr. Perez in?” She frowned in response to whatever the person on the other end of the line was saying. “When did she leave?” Her gaze shifted to me. “Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay, thanks.” She hung up.

“She’s not here?” I said.

Annie shook her head. “She took her lunch break early and hasn’t come back from it.”

I glanced at a nearby wall clock. Thanks to my delayed entry, it was now 12:15. “What time did she leave?”

“Ten,” she said.

My stomach knotted with unease. “Does she usually take long lunches?”

“Forty-five minutes, tops,” Annie said.

The guard stepped up beside me. “That’s enough questions. You’re holding up the line.”

I looked behind us to see an older couple waiting. As I turned back toward Annie, I glanced at the guard’s chest, where his name tag should have been. He wasn’t wearing one. The unease in my stomach turned to dread.

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