Page 44 of Silas's Sweetheart

The trip to Ziggy’s office after he’d caught some of what was on Wilder’s iPad had found Frey there and back were the damn insecurities around his trust issues. What did Frey have that Silas did not?

Had Silas seen Ziggy since then? No. Ziggy had miraculously evaded him, which only made matters worse with the clusterfuck going on inside his head. His whole fucking life felt like it was in turmoil. First his parents deciding to retire, him being the figurehead, then the shit happening with Booker and him, add in whatever was going on with Frey and Ziggy, Silas’s life was a shit storm. Was he going to catch a fucking break?

You’re acting like a sullen teenager, no wonder Ziggy isn’t interested in you. There is also the fact you said you were gonna talk about Frey, then became too scaredy cat and never answered his questions. Instead, you flicked him off, like he wasn’t important. That his feelings didn’t matter to us.

I’m not doing this again with you!

Silas slumped in his seat at the kitchen counter, doing his best to act like nothing was wrong for family night that he, along with the others, had been hijacked into the second they had stepped through the front door. Popi had been waiting for him and his brothers. The only one escaping was Taylin because he was at Hollis’s. He noted Booker wasn’t home yet, but he wouldn’t escape.

All corralled into the kitchen, the pizza oven was on, giving out delicious smells of cheese, tomato, and spices. Silas’s stomach snarled in hunger and for the first time all week, he felt some of his inner tension ease being amongst his family.

He took a sip from the beer Dad had given him before he’d sat at the long counter next to Kari, who was on his phone, his eyes not leaving the screen for a second.

“What’s holding all your attention?” Silas nudged closer when Kari moved the phone out of his line of sight.

“Work stuff,” Kari muttered, then pressed the edge of the phone, making the screen go black, before tucking it into his suit trousers.

“Didn’t look like work stuff,” Silas teased, when he was sure he saw pictures of children's toys.

Kari didn’t answer and picked up his own beer. “I’ve gotta say, I’m glad it’s Friday. It’s been a long fucking week.”

“I feel you,” Silas replied, clinking his beer bottle against Kari’s, though for Silas it wasn’t because of work, but having no opportunity to catch Ziggy. Two whole days off. What would Ziggy be doing with his time?

Booker wore the same resigned expression as everyone else when he walked into the kitchen, only it quickly reverted to grumpiness when his gaze swept the packed kitchen.

Silas grinned for the first time all day as Laken glowered at Booker before he’d taken two steps towards the empty seat next to him.

“About time you dragged your sorry ass home,” Laken snapped, his upper lip curling into a sneer. “Popi’s tortured us with divine smelling pizza for the last half-hour, waiting for you to get your hairy self home.”

Laken, for the most part, had sat quietly, nursing his beer until he’d seen Booker. Whatever had pissed off Laken, it most definitely got thrown at Booker.

Silas eyed his brother. “Who chewed on your ass?” Silas took a sip of beer, his gaze moving between the two men.

“Don’t ask me. I’ve seen no fucker this week, been too busy,” Booker ground out, temper sparking in his eyes.

“Don’t I fucking know it. You held Monty hostage while my work has been piling up,” Rue stated, sounding as pissed as Laken.

Silas actually sucked his inner cheek to keep his laughter in check. All week he’d found nothing to be amused about. Family night looked like it would have its perks after all, especially when Booker eyed the empty seat between Rue and Laken like it would attack him.

“Boys, behave. I want a nice family evening.” Popi’s reprimand came with a stern look before he went to the large pizza oven he’d gotten especially for pizza nights. “I want there to be no talk about work tonight.”

Popi established this rule years ago when they’d all started working for the company and gotten into too many fights at the dinner table.

Dad rolled his eyes at them all and Silas was back to chewing the inside of his cheek, while Dad said, “Listen to your Popi.”

Jupiter rested his elbows on the countertop, a sly look appearing that caused Silas to raise his bottle to take a large mouthful of beer, knowing Jupiter would have some comeback that could require alcohol.

“Then what are we gonna talk about? Sex?”

Beer snorted out of Silas’s nose as he coughed out what he had drunk.Mother-fucking-asshole!He spluttered and wiped his chin, glaring at an unrepentant Jupiter with little heat, accepting he was the dick for taking a swig in the first place. Silas acknowledged that after Jupiter’s reaction to the news about what Booker had found in Drinkwater with the omegas, it was good to see him acting like his usual self.

“We can, you know that no subject is taboo.” Popi gave them all a glowing smile, one that made Silas wince. No way in hell was he talking about sex.

“Let’s go with baseball,” Laken said quickly, a stain of color appearing over the bridge of his nose.

“Like that’s much better,” Kodi exclaimed, reaching out to nab a slice of pizza before anyone else as Popi placed a large silver tray in the middle of the counter.

“Only ‘cause you support the banana’s baseball team,” Kari answered, chuckling and blatantly ignoring the dirty glare he got from his twin as he also grabbed a slice.

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