Page 13 of Back to You
Ronan sucked in a breath and nodded.He wasn’t looking at Vincent, and while Vincent wanted him to, he was also relieved.He didn’t think he was ready for whatever he’d see in Ronan’s eyes if he looked up.
“We need to talk,” Ronan said as he stepped away.
Vincent dropped Ronan’s hand, even though he didn’t want to.If anything, he wanted to pull Ronan closer and hug him.It had been too long since they’d last been together.They hadn’t touched since Ronan had vanished from Vincent’s life, and it had always felt like Vincent was missing part of himself.That part was back, but he wasn’t allowed to touch it.
“We do,” he confirmed.“But not now.”
“This isn’t the right moment, and Cam wants to talk to you.”
Vincent snorted.“I’m not sure why, but I’m here, so I might as well talk to your alpha.”
“Cam is a good man.”
“I’m sure he is.”That was what Fulton did—he hurt good people.“Do you have your phone on you?”
Ronan frowned but took it out of his jeans pocket and held it out.Vincent’s hands shook when he took it, but he ignored it as he entered his number.“Call me anytime.We can set up a time and place we can meet and talk about this.”
Ronan stared at the phone for a moment before taking it back from Vincent.He slid it into his pocket, and for a second, the two of them stared at each other.
Ronan had thought that Vincent was dead.That was why he’d never come home.Vincent was aware that he only had part of the story, and he was sure that the rest of it would hurt him as much as this part had, but maybe there was an explanation for what had happened after all.If he believed that Vincent was dead, why would he have come home?There had been nothing left for him there.
Or at least, that was what he’d thought.
Vincent didn’t know the details yet, but his father had something to do with it.Knowing that made him want to find where Fulton was buried, dig him up, and kick him in the balls.He wouldn’t feel it, but it would be incredibly satisfying for Vincent.If he’d been cremated, Vincent could use him as cat litter.He didn’t have a cat, but he was willing to get one just so he could get revenge.
He needed to know what had happened, and while he prayed that this had been his father’s fault, he couldn’t ignore the niggle of doubt at the back of his mind.If Ronan had thought he was dead, he’d probably built himself a new life.Vincent was sure that Ronan would have grieved for him for a long time, but it looked like he was settled here.The pack was his home, and it was clear he was close to the man he’d been talking to earlier.Was that Ronan’s new partner?Had he replaced Vincent?
Vincent couldn’t blame him if he had.Ronan had thought Vincent was dead, and Vincent wouldn’t have wanted Ronan to be alone for the rest of his life if he had been.
But hewasn’tdead.They’d lost years in which they could’ve been together, and Vincent might have lost his mate entirely.If Ronan was with someone else, what could Vincent do?He might never get Ronan back, even though he knew where to find him now.That was even worse than not knowing what had happened or where Ronan was.
Vincent wished he could go back in time.At the same time, he was happy and relieved to know that Ronan hadn’t just woken up one day and decided he didn’t want to be with him anymore.He didn’t know where that left him, but he would find out.
He had to.
Chapter Three
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RONAN HADN’T BEEN ABLEto sleep most of the night.He hadn’t been able to do anything but think about Vincent, to the point where he wanted to scream.
It had been like that before, too, but those had been happy circumstances.When he’d met Vincent, he’d thought he’d found his future.He’d been ready to spend the rest of his life with Vincent, and he would have if Vincent’s father hadn’t intervened.
If Fulton wasn’t dead already, Ronan would find a way to kill him.
Fulton had hurt so many people, including Ronan, but Ronan could never forgive him for hurting Vincent.He suspected that he knew what had happened, even though he and Vincent still needed to talk.Ronan wished they could do it today, but Vincent had left the pack late last night, and before they saw each other again, there was something Ronan needed to do.
That was why he was standing in front of Cam’s house.He should knock, go inside, and tell Cam about Vincent and the past they shared, but every time he thought about doing it, he found it hard to breathe.What if Cam decided to kick him out for this?After all, his mate was Fulton’s son.Ronan had trusted Vincent with his life once, but he didn’t know what to think anymore.
There was no proof that Vincent had anything to do with what his father had done, but Ronan was wary anyway.He would be even if Vincent wasn’t related to Fulton, but he was, and that made everything worse.
The front door opened, and Cam appeared, carrying two cups of coffee.He held one up, silently offering it to Ronan.Right now, Ronan kind of wished that Cam cared less about his people, but it was a good thing.No matter how hard this was for Ronan, the truth needed to come out.
Unfortunately, Ronan only had part of the truth.He’d hopefully find out the rest soon, but Cam deserved to know everything Ronan knew.He needed all the information available to protect his people, and his people were Ronan’s people now.Ronan wasn’t an alpha, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to protect the pack.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come in,” Cam said as Ronan climbed the porch steps.
“I was tempted not to,” Ronan admitted.“It’s complicated.”
