“It’s all right. I get it. You’ve got a bundle of joy that you didn’t expect, dropped off on your doorstep. You’re excited, and you should be.” My stomach clenches because I can’t imagine what Candace was thinking, toying with everyone’s emotions this way. “Skyla and I are moving to my mom’s until the house is ready. Why don’t you come, too? You’ll be close to Angel, and I know Skyla would appreciateit.”
Logan looks up at me with that stillness he usually gets just before the disappointment sets in. I can’t live at Whitehorse without having my balls shrivel. Hell, I’d rather live with Tad, and Ihave.
“I get it,” he whispers. “I’ll think aboutit.”
A small crowd strides by, three men, three women—paired off two by two, but these aren’t your average partygoers. These aren’t your average strippers either. They’re all too uptight, far too invested in playing the part to relax. It’s the G-man brigade trying to cash in on whatever they can to net moreprospects.
“They’re here,” Logan says as they make their wayinside.
“And they are never going toleave.”
We follow them inside, and Lexy attacks Logan as soon as we walk through the door. I spot Michelle dry-humping Liam, and he gives a casual wave as if it’s an everyday occurrence, and knowing the two of them it is. But it’s the dark-haired, pale-skinned sulker standing with his enormous arms crossed while looking down at everyone in the vicinity that has myattention.
I walk over and slap my brother, the brooder, over the shoulder. “Smile, would you? It’s a good look on both ofus.”
“I have little to smile about these days.” He scowls out at the crowd, and I follow his incendiary glare to Skyla and Chloe. Shit. “And neither do you.” He lifts his drink as if he’s toasting the fact. “Your wife is more trouble than she’sworth.”
“So is yours.” I step into his view. The last thing I’m going to stand for is Wesley demeaning my wife while staring her down. “What’s with Laken’s double? Is she still in theTransfer?”
“Safe andsound.”
Wes told me he was housing her and assured me he would not let her run amuck onParagon.
“I don’t want to talk about her.” His shoulders slump as he cranes his neck past me a moment. “My wife left me, and I want to knowwhy.”
I glance back to Skyla and Chloe. Bree has joined them and is in the process of strangling them both in an awkward embrace. “Chloe left you?” A dull laugh thumps through me. “I’ll take a wild stab at it. Maybe the fact you’re fucking this new girl in her bed had something to do with it. Chloe is a complicated creature, but she is pretty practical when it comes to being number two to anyone. You of all people should know that. She’s you in femaleskin.”
He shakes his head wistfully as the music picks up in both volume and rhythm. “That must be what did us in. We were too muchalike.”
“That and the fact you’re obsessed with fucking Cooper Flanders’wife.”
“As she is with Skyla Messenger’shusband.”
“Touché.”
Wes nods me over to the kitchen where the roar from the speakers is slightly subdued. “Who are these people Skyla has manipulated into giving themselves up to the feds? She’s royally fucking up my plans.” He lets out a greedy grin as if she’s doing just the opposite and fitting into them quite nicely. And for the love of God, that’s exactly what I’m afraidof.
“None of your business. How are things going with the volunteers?” My heart throttles into my skull and starts vibrating right along with the rhythm Ellis has cursed us with. I don’t want anyone to suffer. But the assholes Wes wrangled up to wet the feds’ appetites for the Nephilim have really pissed meoff.
“They’ve recanted. As soon as one escaped captivity, he warned the rest not to do it. They dropped off like flies.” He shakes his head with the beginnings of an incredulous laugh. “They actually believe that Skyla can protect them. That her Retribution League is about to take down all of my efforts and appease the federal government—and that their paranormal works department will be more than satisfied. But you and I know it can neverhappen.”
“If they get enough people, it will. They may be casting a wide net, but in no way are they equipped to take on the numbers they’d need to. They’re going to be satiated andsoon.”
“Maybe.” He cups his hand over his chin. “Skyla is setting Chloe up for something. It’s Chloe that’s going out and reporting these idiots while Skyla sits back and reaps therewards.”
“A strategy you’re familiar with, I takeit?”
“A strategy I invented,” he smarts. “And before you say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, let me make it clear that if done incorrectly, it will cost you your life. If your wife needs a few lessons, send her my way. A few good tips might just save both your necks.” He looks to the door before doing a double take as Laken and Coop make their wayover.
“Look who’s here.” Laken’s wide, sarcastic smile sets the tone. “I hear you’ve been enjoying my company.” She frowns at Wes and lets all of her disappointment bleed through. That look right there is enough to cut a man’s balls off and stuff them into his mouth. “And I see Skyla is losing her sanity again with Chloe by her side.” Now it’s me she’s frowning at. “I’d better go sayhello.”
Cooper waits until she’s out of earshot before stepping into Wes, and I can feel the fistfight coming before he ever throws a swing. Honest to God, I don’t know what the hell’s taken solong.
“Wes.” Coop closes his eyes a moment. “I know you’re desperate. I know you love her, or at least you think you do—but you don’t. If you really loved Laken, you would still haveher.”
My stomach tenses in a knot, because if Coop didn’t throw the first punch, it just increased the odds that Wesleymight.
But, instead, my brother closes his eyes and acquiesces to Coop’s logic. “I know. If I followed her lead, and gave up my standing, then I would have Laken safe in my arms.” He glances to me as if I might have something toadd.
