Page 78 of Into the Light

He swallowed hard. “I promised him.”

I was certain he’d said that, but before I could respond, he abruptly left the booth, shoved his hands in his pockets, and exited the restaurant.

“Fuck,” I screamed as I grabbed the gun and shoved it in my pocket before throwing a couple twenties on the table for Sue.

As I stormed out of the restaurant, Pico pulled me aside before I jumped onto the bike.

“You good?” he asked. “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted me in your spot?”

He looked pissed, but I just didn’t have the fight in me left.

“Because you deserve it. Come on, you see how I can barely control the Den for our meetings or I pass them along to you. Hell, you know how to manage Mr. Ortiz better than I do. It’s something you’re good at, and from what I gather, you fucking like it.”

He nodded. “I do . . . like it.” I offered him a tight-lipped smile.

“Listen, for what it’s worth, I won’t let him down.”

“I know you won’t. That’s why I think you’re perfect for this.” I paused. “Walsh didn’t shoot Ash. He told me so much tonight, but he also admitted he knew something. I am fucking pissed and exhausted, so I am taking Ember to the lodge tonight if you need me.”

“Cool.” He winked at me before he turned away laughing. “Use a condom.”

He was shouting so everyone in the deserted parking lot could hear him. I revved the bike, trying to drown his shouts.

“Be safe.”

“Remember you can’t spell class without some ass.”

“What the fuck?” I shouted, and both of us broke into a fit of laughter before I headed toward her apartment.

“We are finally getting out of here.” I was laughing as we started to pack our clothes into bags, separating whose was whose in Ash’s room.

I turned over to look at him, and his tone didn’t match the same excitement as mine. No, he was much more somber and sadder.

“What’s up with you?” I asked, shoving him a little, but he looked up with me in the same face.

“Dad wants me to take over as leader junior year, which means the spring bonfire,. I’ll be a target starting next year.”

“Damn,” I commented. Mr. Ortiz sat both of us down to explain the bonfire earlier this year. It was the most dumb and chauvinistic use of force that I’d heard in a long time, but the fear in Ash’s face was intense.

“I got your back, though,” I told him, grabbing the shirt from his hands and folding it, forcing him to sit on the bed.

“I know, but you won’t always be here for me, Rain. You’ve done so much for me, and I feel really fucking guilty.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Ash, that’s what brothers do for each other. We weren’t born brothers, but you’re the closest thing to me. You are my family.” Ash feigned a smile before he laid back onto the bed.

“We aren’t going to let anyone get in between us. No pussy, no beer, no fucking dads,” I added, which only produced a little chuckle from Ash.

“Like you and I would ever go for the same girl, anyway. You like them quiet and meek.” I rolled my eyes, throwing a pair of socks in his face while he laughed.

I was worried about him. He’d battled with his mental health for so long that I could only hope that going to Isles would help him and give him some separation between his dad and the life he had here.

“It’ll all be okay in the end,” I whispered to myself, hoping that he didn’t hear me.

“In the end . . . I’ll always take care of you too, Rain. Love you, brother.”

Chapter twenty-six

For the past month, we had spent every single night together, but it didn’t have a label. I was okay with it just being . . . us. The thought of having to put a name on whatever we were, terrified me.

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