Page 117 of Wreck Me

“I see.”

He started applying the antiseptic and my dick jerked at the burning pain.

I shifted my weight, pushing my reaction down. Jeez.

He went on, which showed just how much it was bothering him. I was the one who needed to talk shit out when something was under my skin, but Bastian was usually the opposite, avoiding it or burying it down deep. “I mean, she doesn’t even know that we’re The Jackals yet. How’s she going to react to that?”

“Positively, I’d imagine. In Caspian’s research, it suggests that The Jackals were the initial inspiration behind Onyx.”

“That’s not confirmed, just a rumor. It wasn’t in the solid portion of the research, just the extras part. And then on top of that, actually recruiting her?”

“Again, a positive response is the most likely outcome. She’s excited about this upcoming fight, she’s in a better place with that side of herself thanks to our sessions. And by signing up for another fight, it shows that she’s recognizing that part of herself again, that it’s who she is and here to stay.”

“What about her thinking we were using her all along?”

“You know I already told her we wanted her for something. And in spite of that, she’s grown really close to you and let you in, and me along with you.”

“How about Jett then?” He secured a gauze pad to my shoulder, then packed up the kit. As he put it away, then disposed of the wrappers and shit, he cursed. “I mean, shit, Cal. That’s a big one.”

It was a lot worse than he knew.

I winced internally at the fact that he still didn’t know about all the rest yet.

“Cas wanted to interrogate her about it once she was locked into The Jackals with us with no way out, but I can’t let that happen now.”

Yeah, he was gonna implicate her as a Jackal and use it as leverage to get what he wanted out of her.

“He’s not gonna do that now. He knows she’s become important to you. Besides, he won’t even need to. She’s comfortable with us, she’ll probably just tell us freely if we give her a little push. I’d wager the reason she hasn’t on her own yet despite those texts still coming in from that fucker, is because she’s aware of who his brother is to us. She’s probably scared. Now she’s gotten close to us, she’s likely worried about it screwing with that if she tells us.”

When he went to speak again, I rose from the stool and walked to him, grasping his shoulder. “Bastian, this is your anxiety. Spiraling anxiety at that. You opened yourself up and so far it’s been all good things you’ve been feeling and immersed in, but here’s the other side of the coin now.”

He jerked from my grip. “These are legitimate concerns.”

“You know it’s more than that with you. All I’m saying is tread carefully. And focus on the good and the positive. It will help to offset the rest.”

He slammed his fist down on the counter. “Don’t try to shrink me!”

“Bastian—”

“I’m fine! I’m fucking fine! Just forget it. I won’t bring shit to you again if you’re gonna call my recovery into question! Just fucking make it clear to Caspian, because I won’t let him fuck things up with Sky! I won’t. If he fucking well tries—” He thrust his foot into the recycling can, denting it from his furor. And then he snarled at me and stormed out through the back door.

Off to throw his knives in all likelihood to get a handle on things.

Shit.

I needed to make damn sure nothing else triggered him in the meantime, or I feared all hell would break loose again.

And none of us wanted a repeat of that.

I pulled out my phone and fired off a text.

Caleb: We need to talk ASAP.

It took a few moments before he responded back.

Caspian: Rather ominous, lovely.

Caleb: Bastian and Skylar are together.

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