Page 145 of Covenant

Unless he’s doing The Firm’s work. Then it becomes very useful.

A fist hammers on the door. “Hurry up, Matty. We’re going to be late.”

“Go fuck yourselves,” I say, but I open the door anyway as I’ve delayed as much as I can. My brows shoot up as I take in the room behind Cade. “Did you make my bed?”

“Nah, Dalton did.” Cade grabs my shoulder in a tight grip and steers me into the room. “Figured you’d want clean sheets when you get home.”

“Don’t really care,” I say, coming to a stop as I spy my tux laid out on the bed. “I said no.”

“And I said yes.”

I stiffen at Wylder’s voice before glaring at both Cade and Dalton. “Really? You called Wylder?”

“They did.” Wylder strides into the room, plucking my shirt from the bed. “Apparently, you were being uncooperative.”

I glare at him but don’t say anything. As the eldest, he’s inherited the Buckingham estate and all the responsibilities of running The Firm alongside it.

My silence isn’t out of fear, however. It’s out of respect. Love. Wylder has pulled me out of too many bars and fights to count. I went off the rails for a while after my initiation to The Firm. I had nothing to lose and Wylder was there to pull me from the darkness.

It was because of Wylder that I got back on track. He refused to let me throw my life away.

“Attendance tonight is mandatory,” Wylder says, opening a shirt and nodding for me to turn around so he can put it on. “You either get in the town car that’s waiting downstairs, or the three of us will put you in it.”

I turn mutely, allowing him to help me shrug the shirt on. “Fine. But this is the last one I’m doing for at least six months. And you’re not helping me put on my underwear.”

Wylder’s laugh has us all pausing. He does it so rarely that it always catches us off-guard. “Believe me, none of us are willing to do that. The plan was to send you commando.”

“Still think that’s a good option,” Dalton says, wiggling his hips and brows at the same time. “Much more freedom down there.”

The three of us all wince at the same time, but it’s Cade who speaks. “Way too much fucking information.”

“We’re family. There’s no such thing,” Dalton replies.

The three of them leave me to dress. I pull on each item slowly, trying desperately not to think of the last time I wore them. How I’d fixed Wyatt’s tie.

How we’d kissed properly for the first time.

Enough,I tell myself as I fasten my cufflinks with trembling hands.Focus on getting through tonight. You’re not going to think about Wy anymore.

I laugh bitterly. Yeah. I don’t believe that.

* * *

The drive to the gala and the first hour pass in a blur of smiling faces. I’m sure I smile back, shake hands, place air kisses on ancient cheeks. I must talk a little.

But I pay no attention to any of it.

Ever since we pulled up outside the building, I’ve been in a free fall. It’s the same venue as last time—the floor I danced with Wyatt on, the patio we escaped to.

I keep thinking I glimpse him in the crowd, but each time, I’m left disappointed.

Cade and Dalton stick close to my side. I’m not sure if it’s Wylder’s orders or their concern about me, but I don’t care. I’m just counting down the seconds until I can leave.

Some old buffoon is droning on in my ear when I glimpse another Wyatt lookalike. This one has his curls and his shining blue eyes.

The stubborn set on his lips that I’m so familiar with.

Fuck. He doesn’t just look like Wyatt.

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