Page 10 of Escape into the Night

“Hm?” Elias’ frosty silver blue eyes popped up with a curious quirk of the brow. “What do you mean by situation?”

“Sooo, don't shoot the messenger. Messengers. Theo’s coming over with some paperwork. And… he's not happy.”

Elias slowly straightened behind the desk. “What is it, Cay?”

Right. Brace for impact. “There was a security breach at Amarat. Specifically their personnel files. Addresses, schedules, phone numbers… anyway.”

Elias’ brow scrunched in confusion.

“Including ours. We’re on file there.”

“Shit,” Elias swore. His hand lifted to pinch the space between his eyes.

“Yeah, that's where it gets squirrelly.”

“Caleb, spit it out.”

“Theo maybe sorta possibly definitely knows about our plans. About running for the nomination.” Caleb’s spine stiffened.

“God damn it, no.” Elias’ shoulders hunched as his chin fell to his chest. “Fuck.”

“Also a reminder he is on his way here. Now.” Caleb shifted further into the office to stand across from Elias.

“How? How did he find out, Cay?”

“Taz did. On the computer. Don't ask me how, because we really couldn't discuss the details, but he found out, and then Theo found out—”

The doorbell had never sounded so chipperly ominous. Caleb and Elias made eye contact over the desk before Elias dipped his chin with a resolute nod and a firm set to his jaw. He was in motion, lean legs eating up the distance, before Caleb couldrespond, leaving him to scramble behind his husband like a nosy puppy.

His artificial smile was instantaneous as Elias swung the door open to reveal a very closed off, curly haired Theo in a baggy crop top and tight jeans. He shifted his sunglasses to rest atop his head before jerking his hand forward to slap a folder against Elias’ chest. Caleb eased in beside Elias, his smile stretching the limits of believability as he greeted the surly emo boy he’d come to love.

“Afternoon, sunshine—”

“Not now, Caleb.” Theo's eyes darted toward Caleb for a fraction of a second, apology hidden among the fiery anger clearly written over his expression. His gaze darted back toward Elias as his tongue slipped out to lick his lips. Caleb pressed a discreet palm to Elias’ lower back, if only to offer what silent support he could.

“Theo, look—”

“You should have told me. You should have told me as soon as you had the thought. Instead, I had to find out after rifling through a goddamn data breach with our names written all over it.” Theo’s hands clenched. It didn't take crazy observational skills to see how hard they were trembling.

Caleb turned his attention over Theo's shoulder and wasn't at all surprised to find Connor playing guard dog from where he leaned against the front of the SUV on the curb, his arms crossed over his broad chest with a scowl twisting his features. He still wore sunglasses, but Caleb knew without a doubt that if he could see the pissed off blond’s eyes, they’d be promising all sorts of hellfire. Yeah, this was not at all good.

“Theo, I wanted to wait until we were sure. I wasn't hiding it from you. I just wanted to be sure.”

“But you are sure, aren't you?” Theo challenged, his weight shifting between his feet as he eyed Elias through narrowed lids.

Caleb felt the deflation in Elias’ body. “Yes.”

“Wow.” Theo’s curls bounced as he shook his head and scoffed. “I can't believe this.”

“Theo, it's not going to be like it was for you. I'm not her.” Elias reached across the distance, but Theo was too tightly wound for that. He stepped back as if afraid to get burned. Honestly, Cay didn't blame him one bit. The guy had been through hell and then some. Understatement of the year, frankly. Swearing in his mind, Cay regretted not forging a closer relationship with Elias’ surrogate nephew-slash-son sooner. They were close, but not nearly close enough for him to do anything helpful in this tightrope dance.

“I know you aren't her! But this is… this is ridiculous. This is so fucking dangerous, Eli! Haven't we been through enough?! Hasn’tParkerbeen through enough?!” Theo took another step backward and stumbled down the steps of the front porch, his head still shaking back and forth in a way that looked more like a nervous tic than anything else.

“Don’t. Don’t you dare act like my son isn't my first concern.”

Oh, snap. Do something. Do anything.Caleb pivoted and brought his palm to rest on Elias’ racing heart. “El, baby.”

“Not now, Cay.” Elias’ eyes narrowed as he squared his shoulders. “I thought you knew me better than that, Theodore.”

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