Page 156 of Unhinged
I laugh hard.
“Come visit. Please. Bring Jackie. I want you to meet my alphas properly. On my terms.”
“Okay, kid. We can do that. Just tell me when.”
“I need to get Judge home first. Then I’ll call.”
“Sounds good, Brydge.”
“I love you, Ike.”
“I love you too, Brydge. You and that boy are the best damn thing that’s ever happened to us.”
“Same,” I whisper.
“Bye, kid.”
“Bye.”
Gears hangs up and immediately dials Nitro next.
“All clear. You can head back,” he says. “Be home tomorrow morning.”
Then he calls his mom.
“Is Judge near you?” he asks.
“Of course,” she says, voice firm. “I haven’t let him out of my sight.”
“Put him on speaker,” Gears says.
“You’re live,” she answers.
“Judge, baby?” I say, voice cracking with how badly I miss him.
“Mom!” he shouts. “You’re okay?”
“I’m okay, baby. They got to me in time.”
“Bettie said your heat started. Are you okay? You’ve blocked it for a long time.”
I laugh, wiping at my eyes. “You’re too damn smart for your own good.”
“I gotta take care of you.”
“Not anymore, Judge. You’re a kid. That’s your job now. I’ve got something to tell you.”
“What?”
“I bonded Gears, Acid, and Arrow.”
“You did?!” He sounds excited.
“You okay with that?” I ask.
“Can I call Bettie grandma and Dillon aunt?”
“Yeah, honey. You can call me Grandma,” Bettie says. “Raiden? Orion? Titus?”
