He deserves loyalty from every single one of us.
Including Wylder.
“Send for me the second he’s awake,” I growl at the doctor before striding from the room.
I’m barely eight feet down the corridor before Neo steps into view. “How is he? Is he awake?”
My ire softens at the fear on Neo’s face. I’m not the only one who loves Ansel, and I’m surprisingly okay with that. He deserves all the love in the world. Not the same kind I give him, but this platonic love?
I want it all for him. I truly do.
“He’s injured but okay.” I pat Neo’s arm. “Feel free to go and sitwith him for a while. Don’t ask questions though, or the doctor will kick you out.”
Neo clicks his tongue. “Like Wylder just did. Apparently, only family members are allowed to know official Firm business.”
It’s strange knowing we don’t have to hide ourselves around Neo now. Not that I spent much time with him before, but he’s going to be a big part of our lives going forward, with how close he is to Ansel. “Don’t be offended. It’s just how it is.”
“Whatever.” Neo scuffs his sneaker against the rug. It’s an antique, bought by Wylder at some fancy-ass auction. I smirk at how he’d react if he could see the way Neo is abusing it. “It’s not like you’ve got any secrets from me. I protected them for you, remember?”
“Yes, and I’m sure Wylder’s grateful for it.”
Neo rubs his upper arm and scowls. “Wylder would be grateful for my absence and that’s about it.”
I don’t think that’s as true as Neo believes it to be. Nor Wylder, for that matter. “Why do you care? Wylder’s straight, and don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah.” His sneaker goes back to snagging the rug. “Guess he is, and guess I do. Don’t know why I’m letting him get under my skin so much.”
Interesting.I don’t think Wylder’s ever gotten under a woman’s skin before. I know for certain that no woman has ever got under his. Certainly not fucking Candace, who he still needs to officially ditch.
Maybe Wylder’s been looking in all the wrong places.
I keep that crackpot theory to myself. If this is gonna implode over us all, it’ll be better to just sit back and watch. And so much more fun.
“Go sit with Ansel. And remember, no questions.”
“I’m not very good at that.”
That draws a chuckle from me. “Me neither. But that’s why I’m out here and not in there, so learn from my mistakes.”
I take a few steps away before Neo calls out, “Hey, Cade?”
I turn to him questioningly.
“Don’t let Ansel out of your sight,” Neo says. “I mean it. He needs to be at your side at all times. I need him safe.”
“Me too. Trust me. That’s exactly where I plan on keeping him.”
I’m the last of my brothers to arrive. Wyatt is also present…as is Jackson.
I raise a brow as I take my place around the conference table. “So Neo’s not allowed to sit in, but Jackson is?”
“Jackson’s family,” Dalton says gruffly before Wyatt has a chance to do more than open his mouth. “He has every right to be here.”
“Thanks.” Jackson’s grin is something to behold. As is the adoring way he’s staring at Dalton.
I’m not the only one who notices. Samson winces alongside me. Matthias’s eyes narrow as Wyatt’s lips purse. All of us know that Dalton will never go for Jackson. Even in a few years’ time, when he’s well into adulthood, it’s unlikely Dalton will ever see him in that way.
This road is going to lead to resentment and broken hearts. Problem is, Dalton doesn’t seem to know it. Hell, he doesn’t even realize he’s in the car with Jackson, thundering along the highway to the inevitable crash at the end.
