Page 64 of Don't Look Away

It’s Jackson. I drop the weights and turn to face him, the breath sawing from my lungs. Sweat drips off me in buckets, soaking through my tank top.

“What do you want?” I ask, running a hand through my wet hair. I’m still pissed at Jackson and the guys for what they pulled a couple of days ago with Lux, but the desire to rip their heads off has subsided a little.

“Any word from the lawyer yet?”

My phone is sitting on an empty bench, and I lean over to pick it up, glancing at the time. Court should have let out a half hour ago, but there’s been no phone call, nothing.

I put my phone back down, and pick up the weights. “Nothing yet. But no news is good news, right?”

Jackson shakes his head. “We’re climbing the walls upstairs, waiting for word. How are you so damn calm?”

“I’mnotcalm,” I say through gritted teeth. “That’s why I’m in the fucking gym.”

The call from James’ lawyer should be cominganyminute, and inside, I’m a mess of emotions. On one hand, my brother might be getting out of jail today, and entering a treatment facility. But once that call comes through from the lawyer—regardless of the outcome—my time with Lux is over. Unless I can find a way to prevent her from finding out the truth.

Jackson turns to leave but seems to remember something, and turns back to face me. “Just let us know when the call comes through. We’re all upstairs.”

“You said that already,” I bite back.

My cell phone rings.

Jackson straightens as I reach for the phone. It’s the lawyer. My heart thunders against my ribs as I swipe to answer. “What’s up?”

The lawyer’s voice comes over the receiver. “The judge accepted our proposal. James will be transferred to Lockly tomorrow morning.”

A flood of relief swamps me, and I release the breath I feel like I’ve been holding for almost a year. “Have you already spoken to my mother?”

“Not yet. You were my first call. I’ll let her know.”

“Thanks again,” I say hanging up.

Jackson looks nervous like he’s waiting for me to deliver bad news.

“We’re good. He’s being transferred to Lockly tomorrow,” I say.

Jackson visibly melts, releasing a long breath. “Thank-fucking-God.” Half-turning, he starts heading up the stairs, pausing halfway up. “You coming? The guys will want to hear it from you.”

I wave him off. “Nah, you tell them. I need a minute.”

“Roman, about the initiation—”

“I just need a minute,” I say again, cutting him off. I don’t need the whole spiel again, about how they had no choice but to protect the society, how it wasn’t personal, yadda, yadda.

Jackson nods sharply and continues up the stairs. As soon as he’s gone, I sink down onto one of the benches, head in my hands.

That’s it.

It’s done.

My brother will go to treatment, and I can go back to my life before all this happened. My empty, pointless life. Going to class, partying, fucking so many random girls, I couldn’t even conjure their faces in my mind’s eye if I wanted to…

Worthless coward.

After taking a shower, and changing my clothes, I find the rest of the guys in the study. Lucas’ consort, Ava, is straddling him, dry-humping him on the sofa. Jackson is scrolling on his phone, completely checked out as one of the Debs strokes his hair, and Christian is on the phone with someone.

They all turn to look at me as I walk in.

“Out,” I say to the girls with a flick of my chin. They pop up instantly and scurry out of the room, the door clicking shut behind them.

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