Page 223 of Wild Like Us
“Come on, dude!” Tom gapes at his bodyguard. “Let us through.”
“That’s our cousin!” Ben chimes in, trying to rush forward. His bodyguard restrains him too.
“It’s imperative!” Audrey shouts in panic.
Their bodyguards don’t relent, even as the kids protest more.
Strict orders have already come from the Alpha lead. We’re not supposed to let any of the kids into Xander’s room. The parents don’t want their children to see him. In case…
He’s fine.
I pinch my eyes once and shake it off.
Daisy is holding Kinney on the floor, soothing her, and I slip back into Xander’s room when the Alpha lead says Lo wants the hinges on Xander’s door removed.
I click my mic. “I’ll do it.”
He’s my client. And I need to physically do something right now. I don’t want to sit with my feelings. Plus, I like working with my hands. With tools. Usually on cars, but I’ll take anything.
So I leave for the garage, grab a toolbox, and Novak, Ben’s bodyguard, and I take the door off its hinges in a few minutes.
After all the kids leave and file out, I’m told that I’m “relieved” from my post. I’m back off-duty. Apparently Ryke and Rose are staying with Xander until his parents arrive. Lily and Lo will be with their son through the night, and so my job is done.
Just like that.
It’s hard to leave. But I have to trust that he’ll be fine, and I’ll see him tomorrow.
Epsilon and Alpha bodyguards pat my shoulders as I pass them out of the house. A small acknowledgement that,it’s okay.They don’t understand how difficult this night actually is for me.
They won’t.
Hell, I haven’t fully confronted whatjusthappened.
And I know Thatcher will understand, but we have trouble surfacing some old history. I’m worried about my brother though. I don’t know how he’s dealing with this news from L.A.—and so I dial his number on my slow walk back to Epsilon’s mansion.
“I was just about to call you,” Thatcher tells me.
“He’s okay,” I say stiffly, my right hand cold. I only just now realize that I’m wearing one glove. I took the other off and ran to the Hale’s before I could put it back on.
Thatcher speaks under his breath. “Did he look upset?”
I bounce my head before saying, “Yeah.” I stare up at the falling snow. “He was sad.”
“Like last time?”
Yeah, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen him at a low and been there when he’s wanted to end his life…
I run my tongue over my molars, emotion balled up in my throat. “It wasn’t that bad,” I get out. “But I’m not saying it was good either—he’s okay.” I reinforce that. “How are you doing?”
“Fine. You?”
I rub my mouth. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He’s quiet.
I exhale the weight off my chest.
“Banks—”
