The door swung open before Flix could reply, an angry Rexton standing there glaring. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”
“I invited him.” Aneski stepped past Flix and pushed his way into the house, jostling Rex pointedly. It wasn’t the nicest thing to do, but he had to establish himself here quickly in case there were other Shepards present within the home. His friends he could talk to and convince, but the rest of the gang would be more difficult.
Though they all knew in reality the Shepards were nothing compared to the major organization that the Brumal was, most of their members were university students who liked to joke about besting the Brumal in the streets. They certainly wouldn’t take learning about their leader leaving them to be with one of those members lightly.
A part of Ani felt a bit badly about that, but if he were being truthful, he’d never intended to stick with the Shepards for life anyway. This had been about avenging his brother and taking back what he’d viewed as stolen. He’d done that.
It was time to move on.
But…How to explain that to his friends and the rest in a way that would result in the least amount of fighting?
This was why he’d wanted to come alone. Flix was a distraction and a glaring red flag, even more so when he was standing in the center of the living room, acting like he didn’t notice the two guys warily eyeing him.
“I’m picking up some things,” Aneski said, breaking the silence. He smiled at Bridger, seated at the dining room table studying.
“You’re going back with him?” Rexton practically snarled. “You’re joking.”
“He isn’t,” Flix replied.
“Not helping.” Ani sent him a look that screamed please shut up, and then turned back to his friends, who were all closely watching the exchange. “We should probably talk.”
“Not with him,” Rex said.
Bridger cleared his throat and rose from the table, making his way over with his hands in his pockets. “Maybe we should take this upstairs.”
“Yeah,” Ani agreed, glancing at Flix. “My room is upstairs. Let me go pack and talk with them.”
“Alone.” Rexton shook Bridger off when he tried to calm him down.
Flix thought it over, and for a moment, Aneski feared he was going to say no and stick to him like glue after all, but in the end, he shrugged and lowered down onto the center of the faded leather couch. “Take your time. You don’t want to forget anything.”
“Thanks.” Aneski sighed in relief.
“Remember your toothbrush,” he called when Ani was halfway up the stairs. “You can’t keep using mine.”
“You’ve been sharing a toothbrush?” Rexton looked disgusted.
“Man, just go.” Bridger shoved him up the steps.
“What’s up?” Kage came out of his room when they made it to the top, peering down to the living room, though he couldn’t see Flix from that vantage.
“I’m here to get my things,” Ani said, walking down the hall, “and explain.”
“It’s going to take hours to do that,” Rexton insisted.
The four of them swarmed into Ani’s room, Bridger gently shutting the door at their backs as though to add a layer of protection between them and the Brumal member.
“Don’t worry,” Ani reassured, grabbing a duffle from the closet, “he isn’t going to eavesdrop.”
“How can you be so sure?” Rexton demanded to know.
“Because if he asks me what we spoke about, I’ll just tell him.” He shrugged.
“Damn,” Kage dropped into the seat at Ani’s desk. “Next, you’re going to tell us he’ll be bringing you to and from school.”
They hadn’t discussed it yet, but that was a fairly good assumption. Knowing Flix’s personality, that was most likely going to be one of the things Ani was going to have to agree to. And he would.
Getting chauffeured by a Brumal member? Not exactly a hardship.
