If Wes doesn’t drag Gage from the pit of hell to see me, I just might try Tenebrous to see what the fool is up to. Gage couldn’t have done it, could he? But after having both Skyla and Marshall verify the fact Gage indeed married Chloe, it’s hard for me to give him the benefit of the doubt. In fact, he lost that privilege the day he usurped Skyla as the Faction leader. His stock has gone to dust entirely with me, and yet there’s a tugging in my heart because I still love him deeply. It looks like I’m the fool, after all.
Laken startles from the sofa, a sweet baby girl suckling at her breast. “Wes?” she calls out in a panic and the baby’s arms extend with a shock of her own. “We’ve got company.” Her hand moves protectively to the back of the baby’s head. “Coop? What’s going on?”
“Logan is looking for Gage.”
Ellis thumps his chest. “We’re going to kick some Oliver ass.” His gaze shifts to the back. “Dude, you’ve got an open bar?” He heads over and pours himself a finger’s worth of whiskey.
“What the hell?” a groggy voice grumbles from behind and we find Wes still buttoning his jeans, a flannel hanging by his shoulders, barefoot.
I could catch him off guard right now if I wanted. Pick him up and toss him into the fireplace. The world would be down one wicked idiot, but I’ve got bigger Fems to fry.
“Get your brother here. I need to talk to him.”
“My brother?” His chest bucks as he lets an incredulous laugh fly. “He’s a bit indisposed at the moment.”
Coop gives a dark chuckle. “So you’ve heard the good news?”
I filled Coop in on the way over and he’s in just as much disbelief as I am.
Wes looks to Laken and his brows lift.
Her mouth opens as she shakes her head at her bedraggled hubby. “What news, Wes?” She looks up at the man who should be her husband. “Cooper?”
“I’ll tell you.” Wes grinds a palm into his eye, still struggling to wake from his slumber. “Gage married Chloe last night in the dominion my father gifted him.”
“Oh my God,” Laken’s voice riots through the room and the baby nestled in her lap shudders. “Is that what you went for?”
“Yes.” He nods at the fact as if he were stunned. “It was supposed to be Skyla. She was there. He chose Chloe. It was a fucking mess.”
I glance to Coop when Wes lets the expletive fly. It’s almost as if he wants us to believe he didn’t approve, but I don’t buy it.
“Get him here,” I growl to Wes. “I want to hear it from his own mouth.”
Wes shakes his head at me, no words.
Laken rises and traipses over to Wes as he extends an arm to her, cradling her and the baby in his wing. It looked so natural—no, harmonious. It must kill Coop all over, every time he witnesses it.
“Look”—Wes glares at the fire a moment—“I see that you’re pissed, but I can’t help you. I can’t even help myself.” He glowers back at that fireplace before pulling Laken in tight. “Now, if you will all please leave. My family would like some peace.” There’s a heaviness in his tone, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think it sounds as if he’s grieving.
The baby rouses and looks around at our motley crew—that fair hair, those large expressive eyes, she’s Cooper Flanders’ kid through and through, and as soon as she spots her Pops, she squirms as if trying to inch her way to him.
“Come here.” Cooper gently extricates her from Laken, and neither she nor Wes puts up a fight. Ironic since Wes made sure that paternity test ended up in his favor. I don’t believe it. I don’t care if Ezrina did administer it herself. She’s as good as on a leash around Wes. Chloe and Wes share a baby girl themselves, and since Chloe gave birth in her Ezrina-issued body, Ezrina feels a very real biological connection to October,Tobie, Edinger.
“Charlie adores you.” Laken steps over and coos at the babe in Cooper’s arms. But Wes looks as if he’s about to kill or die. Maybe both in that order.
I step over and drag Wes toward the mouth of the entry. “What’s going on? You look like you ate a shit pie and I’m not talking about your reaction to Coop holding his kid.” I blink a smile as if to let him know I’m in on it. Hell, we all are, with the exception of Laken.
His jaw squares out. His eyes fill with venom. “Like I said, I cannot summon Gage for you. I cannot controlGage. Gage is off the fucking chain, and you better believe you haven’t seen the start of this shit show.” The veins in his neck distend, and his voice is raw with rage.
I shake my head. “My God, he’s done something to piss you off, hasn’t he? He really is on a roll.”
“I am,” a deep voice reverberates from the foyer and both Wes and I freeze.
Here he is, Gage Oliver in that all too familiar body, those expressive eyes—and by his side stands Chloe Bishop—ChloeOliver.
After all we’ve been through with her. After allSkylahas been through with her. This is a nightmare we never saw coming.
It’s as if the entire damn house collapses on itself, time rolls up like a scroll, and the stars extinguish themselves as I walk over with tunnel vision, on a mission to strangle the hell out of this piece of shit I don’t even know anymore.
