Cooper and Laken weave their way over. No sooner does Laken say hello than she heads over to Rory. A natural move, and I’m thankful she’s so willing to play along.
Coop nods to Gage. “Did you enjoy the show?”
Wesley crops up. “Brother.” He sheds an easy smile, and it almost feels genuine. Makes me wonder if Wes, Gage, and Rory are all playing us. But then I remember Laken. Thank God for Laken. She’s the only honest barometer of Wesley’s intentions because his dick compass is always set to her.
Gage twitches his lips at Wes. “Good show. She’ll regret the move. But she’s a novice. She wouldn’t realize that even if you warned her. I’m guessing this was a surprise to you as well.”
Cooper shoots Rory a quizzical look. “It seems like a good thing.”
“It’s not,” Wes is quick to answer. “I talked to Ezrina.” His anger only seems to grow with his brother. “Don’t worry, Gage. She didn’t spill your magical beans. But she did put me on alert. You are up to something, and it’s big. Bigger than you, that’s for sure. Ezrina told me whatever it is you found, it once belonged to me.”
Gage nods. “It belongs to me now. Just the way all of these people will—forever.” He ducks out of the hall and into the night, evaporating into the thick Paragon fog like the ghost I wish he had become.
Brody and Skyla join us.
She nods my way. “She’s out of control. She needs to be stopped.”
Brody purses his lips. “The irony here is that we should be the happiest people in the room.”
Cooper exhales as he casts a glance toward Rory. “We will be. She’s merely ensuring Celestra topples the Fems once and for all. Her mother won’t speak to her. She’s pulling out all the celestial stops to make this happen.”
Brody shakes his head. “What about Gage? One brilliant move will screw us.”
Cooper glances to the floor a moment as if he were considering it.
“What is it?” Wes growls it out curt. “When the hell do you know, and when are you going to spit it out? I don’t get to keep secrets, and neither do you, Flanders. Laken still doesn’t know, does she?”
Cooper’s eyes widen a notch.
Checkmate. Wesley has him by the balls.
“No,” Wes says. “She doesn’t.” A silent laugh pumps from him. “Speak now or forever lose Laken. Rules are rules. You and I don’t get to make them; we simply have to abide.”
Laken comes back and wraps her arms around Coop.
“The sitter just called. She can’t get little Wes to calm down. I think we’d better go.” She looks to Wes. “He’ll be fine within five minutes of me holding him. I’ll text you.”
“Sounds good,” Wes says, and we watch them flee the building as if it were on fire.
Cooper Flanders is breaking the rules of engagement with Laken, with Celestra.
With me.
I’ve seen the damage secrets can do.
I’ve seen them set the entire world on fire. Hell, they’ve landed my feet right where they’re standing.
Why do I get the feeling Cooper’s secret has the power to unravel the universe?
10
Wesley
Cooper Flanders is a scammer.
A lying piece of shit.
An asshole.
