Page 50 of Darling Wildfire
“Nyx,” Theron said. “I need a clean up crew atPhox. Vetticus sent someone to rough her up—she’s not hurt—Wyatt is dead—yeah.” He hung up and gestured towards the door.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I’m not having this conversation here!” Theron snapped, part of his control slipping.
My mouth pressed into a thin line but I knew he was right and stormed my way past him out into the atrium. No one spoke as we made our way down to the garage. The men kept their guns out, on alert for any additional threats but we made it to the cars without issue.
“Get in,” Theron said, gesturing to his Aston Martin. When I didn’t move his jaw clenched. “That wasn’t a request.”
I looked over at Graham but he holstered his weapon and nodded to the Aston.
Big help he was.Traitor.
“Meet you back at Alpha One,” Theron said to Graham.
Graham held the door open for me as I sank into the passenger seat.
“I’m not staying at Alpha One,” I said petulantly.
His knuckles were white from how hard he was gripping the steering wheel but he didn’t speak. The next few minutes as the lull of the car began to smooth my anger, I became hyper aware of the fact I was covered in blood. My red stained fingers dug into my thighs to keep them from shaking and a wave of claustrophobia assaulted me.
My chest constricted and I was suddenly gasping in gulps of air, trying not to make it obvious I was having an anxiety attack. Except Theron was way too observant for his own good and the car whipped over to the side of the road. His hand snake its way around the back of my neck.
“Look at me,” he said firmly.
I turned my head but focused on his other hand resting on the middle console, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Breathe, darlin’,” he murmured.
A rogue tear slipped down my cheek as I took multiple shaky breaths and finally could inhale fully. Theron’s hand retreated, but not before he wiped the tear away and pulled the car back out onto the road. I looked out the window, not wanting to see the blood on me or look at him.
We drove the rest of the way in silence and when we pulled up to Alpha One, I shoved open the door before the car was even fully stopped. Graham arrived and stepped out of his car just as Nyx came down the steps with Atlas on his heels. Theron approached me, taking me by the arms to try and stop me from going inside. I jerked out of his grasp but he tried to grab me again.
“Kaelin—”
Before I could think through my actions, I slapped him across the face. Hard.
Theron froze and I watched him try to get his face under control. No one dared move. I heaved in breath after breath as I fought for control and steeledmyself as I waited for the retaliation I was sure to receive from him.
Except it never came.
I expected him to grab me. Shove me into the car at my back. Drag me into the house.
Something.
Instead he did…nothing. And for some reason that was so much worse.
He looked at me, nodded once and then turned and disappeared into the house.
23
GRAHAM
You could have heard a pin drop when Kaelin slapped North as we all waited for the retaliation.
Except it never came. Instead I watched him disappear into the house. Nyx immediately followed him while Atlas came down the steps and put his arm around Kaelin, talking to her quietly as he led her into the house.
