Under Control by Em Petrova Page B

whereabouts and who was going to go retrace her steps, until Gabriel was called to an accident.
    Leaning against the bar, Joey texted Jayla for the dozenth time. Where r u? His fingertip hovered over the send button, but he didn’t press it. She hadn’t replied to any of the others—why would she now?
    “Can I get two Jack and Cokes?” the waitress asked.
    He looked up, trying to keep the agitation off his face. A few days ago he’d only had Gabriel to worry over, and now the situation was double bad.
    He tapped the send button and set down his phone so he could pour some drinks. After that, the band took a break and required a round of beers to quench their thirsts. By the time he picked up his phone again, he was as tense as hell.
    The band struck up the beat again and Joey glanced at his cell. His heart somersaulted. Every ounce of air left his lungs as he saw who the text was from.
    I’m safe.
    “Thank God,” he murmured and shot off an immediate text. Location?
    No response.
    Sweets, where r u? He waited and waited. Then a group of guys came in following a bowling tournament and long minutes passed before he was able to check for Jayla’s message.
    But his screen was blank. His chest still burned, but she’d told him all he needed to know.
    She was safe.
    He threw himself into work, restocking the bar and sending the waitresses out with last rounds. When his phone vibrated with a message, he jerked it from his pocket like a gunslinger in the Old West.
    I’m safe.
    This time from Gabriel. All the adrenaline pounding through Joey’s system for the past few hours seemed to vanish all at once. His shoulders slumped, and he leaned heavily against the bar.
    “You okay, Joe?” one of the waitresses called as she bounced by.
    He threw her a wave. This caring about people was a huge burden, but one he didn’t want to lose. Months ago he’d stood in this same spot and wished for someone important in his life. Now he had two someones. If he ever got Jayla in his arms again, he wouldn’t let her go so easily.
     

Chapter Five
    “The four fires in the past twenty-four hours can’t be connected to the arsonist—yet. They’re still looking for concrete evidence. Damn authorities and their concrete evidence.” Gabriel collapsed on the leather sofa with the entire bottle of vodka in his fist. Joey settled next to him, his body heat beckoning him.
    Gabriel was too bone-tired to move. Between his bleary eyes and the fatigue stealing over him, he wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep.
    Having Joey and Jayla pressed against each side of him would make him sleep like the dead.
    But that won’t happen.
    He kept telling himself that at least Jayla was safe. Even if she never came back to them, she was safe.
    Joey covered Gabriel’s fingers where they encircled the bottleneck and gently removed the vodka from his hand. Gabriel expected him to get up and pour two glasses like a civilized man but when he brought the bottle to his lips and swigged, a grim smile tugged at Gabriel’s mouth.
    Joey took several swallows before passing him the bottle. “Tell me again why the arson investigator can’t connect this guy with the fires? He used the same damn chemicals.”
    “He might be a copycat.” Gabriel tipped the vodka into his mouth. It blazed a path all the way to his stomach before spreading through his limbs.
    “I wish to hell Jayla hadn’t disabled her tracker. I’d get in the truck and go get her.”
    Gabriel took another huge swallow before handing the bottle to Joey. Though they were evenly matched in size, Joey could handle his liquor slightly better. Maybe it was years of drinking games or watching what he mixed to avoid getting too drunk and hung over.
    Shifting his shoulders, Gabriel relaxed against the cushions. “Tell me the story of you trying to drink the Irishmen under the table again.”
    A dark chuckle escaped Joey as he brought the bottle to his lips. The bob of his Adam’s apple was