Page 184 of Wreck Me

“We can manage the fallout, shift the narrative,” Cas told him. “It will take time, though. Something this big… I can’t alter public perception instantly.”

“So, until then, what? We’re just supposed to ignore it?”

“Yes,” Cas said.

Bastian slammed his fists into the couch cushions either side of him, then shot to his feet. He started pacing erratically. “I mean, that single photo would’ve been bad enough, but a whole fucking sex tape? Fucking shit! I promised her everything would be fine. She didn’t sign up for this, to be exposed in this kind of sick way, to the whole city, no less! Her life’s never gonna be the same now. There will be nowhere she can go in Rossun without—”

“You manage it,” Cas spoke.

Bastian stilled for a moment.

“You manage it, Bastian. Sure, we put certain protocols and precautions in place, but it’s doable nonetheless. You’re still able to have a life.”

“It’s limited, Cas. Really fucking limited. And she… Sky… she’s so free. She won’t be able to live like I do.”

“She was getting in deeper with us, it must have occurred to her. She would’ve been aware of the risks.”

“Fine, yeah, but there’s a big difference between that and then this happening.”

“It’s a hell of a violation,” I said.

“I don’t disagree,” Cas returned. “But what’s done is most definitely done.”

His hope that we could move toward focusing on handling the fallout, rather than focusing on the thing itself was dashed in the next moment, as Bastian asked, “How did it even happen? You had eyes on that photo Sky first showed us several weeks back. How did it get out and a whole fucking video to boot?”

“Damien was clearly working with Jett. It wasn’t just the two individuals from the fight club who Luke was able to identify. Damien was his fallback when Jett discovered I was on to the other two.” Cas scrubbed his hand over his face. “Damien was the missing link in all of this.” He looked at Bastian. “And, you’re right, I should’ve seen it. I should’ve been able to anticipate this exposure also.”

“How? How, Cas?” I said, stepping up to him. “No one could’ve seen this coming. It was literally out of the blue and as underhanded as hell—just like both Damien and Jett’s personalities combined.”

“I’m not just anyone. My ability to see things others can’t is one of the reasons King is so successful, that I’m at the fucking top while only in my twenties. But lately…” He sighed. “Lately, I’ve been spread too thin.”

“What’s going on?” Bastian asked.

“What isn’t?” I grimaced at the distress all over Cas. It wasn’t usual to see him like this. He could roll with pretty much anything and just keep going. The sight of it was even cutting into Bastian’s rage and upset. Cas tugged at his long hair, and he caught my eye.

I tensed. I could see it then, his intent to tell Bastian about Elijah Bane being responsible for their parents’ deaths. No. Now was absolutely not the time. Not with Bastian this worked up. Not with all of us worked up. Not with Skylar in clear distress too. So much so that she wasn’t even here now with us. She’d had Bastian drop her off at her home before Caspian’s people had located his Lexus and then escorted him to King Manor, having to ward off the paparazzi for a good portion of the way. They were at mine and Bastian’s place right now trying to ward another load of them off in a much more peaceful and diplomatic way than Caspian’s men were known for doing, because of the chances of anything more being caught on camera and impacting King in the process.

Cas caught the discreet shake of my head, then sucked in a breath and answered Bastian, “Warding off Elijah’s interference with King which has only been escalating over the last few months, trying to keep the three of us from being driven apart now that we’re no longer under one roof, running constant interference with the media for you, sweetheart, even before this shitshow earlier today, everything with Skylar coming into our lives, reeling in Damien, trying to counter Jett’s antics, re-launching The Jackals, finding out you’re using again and trying to combat that, Caleb keeping secrets and now him telling me he’s leaving us… the list is endless.”

I eyed Bastian. “You’re using again?”

“You’re leaving?”

Cas held up his hands, one to each of us. “Stop!”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a step back. Fuck.

I couldn’t stop staring at Bastian, though.

Had he really gone back to all of that? After what it had cost him last time? After the fight of his life to claw his way out of that shit?

He caught me looking and averted his gaze.

That was confirmation right there knowing him as well as I did.

He’d hidden it so well that it was disturbing.

He’d hidden it behind her, his affinity and obsession with Skylar. All of that had provided a reason for his odd behavior that I’d noticed of late.

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