Page 210 of King of Sin
"May I have the resident's name and authorization code?"
Vincent's fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
He had neither.
Seeing his silence, the guard shook his head apologetically.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't allow you inside without permission."
Vincent stared through the gates just in time to see the black car disappear farther into the private community.
The heavy gates slowly closed.
With a metallic clang, they shut directly in front of him.
Vincent's expression turned frighteningly ugly.
"Dammit!"
He slammed his fist against the steering wheel hard enough to make the horn blare.
Nolan flinched before rubbing his forehead tiredly.
"Vincent, let's just go home."
Vincent didn't respond. He remained sitting behind the wheel, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other tapped absently against it. His gaze stayed fixed on the imposing iron gates in front of them as if he could somehow see through them.
Nolan let out a long sigh and turned in his seat to face him.
"Think about this rationally," he said, his tone patient. "News about your canceled engagement is already spreading. The media is watching your every move right now. If paparazzi catch you lurking outside a private residential community in the middle of the night, especially after everything that's happened with Juliet, tomorrow's headlines will be a complete disaster."
Still, Vincent said nothing.
The only reaction Nolan received was the slight tightening of Vincent's jaw.
"You and Juliet have already argued in public several times," Nolan continued, trying a different approach. "If the mediastarts digging deeper into your relationship, things will only get messier."
For a long moment, Vincent remained silent, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he stared through the windshield.
Then, without warning, he started the engine.
Nolan immediately straightened. "What are you doing?"
Vincent shifted the car into drive.
"I'm taking a look around."
Before Nolan could protest, Vincent stepped on the accelerator and drove away from the entrance.
"Vincent—"
Ignoring him completely, Vincent guided the car onto the road that circled the residential community. The further they drove, the quieter it became. The bright lights surrounding the main entrance gradually faded behind them, replaced by long stretches of dimly lit roads lined with towering trees and high stone walls.
Nolan's uneasiness only grew.
"Vincent, this is private property," he warned, glancing nervously out the window. "People who live here don't exactly appreciate strangers snooping around."
Vincent remained unmoved.
