“I signed a contract because they threatened my family.”
“The same criminals who destroyed Coach’s career?” Carter asks.
“Same ones.”
“And now he’s in surgery because he went back to them wearing a wire?”
I nod.
“It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” Keating says. “He could have gotten himself killed.”
“He did get shot,” I say. “And he was lucky he survived.”
“At least those fuckers are in jail.” Colby says. “Does that mean you’re off the hook?”
“Yes.” I drum my fingertips on the arms of the chair, looking up at the clock again.
“So what happens now?” Cam asks.
“Now we wait. And pray that he makes it through surgery.”
“And after that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you guys going to stay together?”
The question from Carter catches me off guard. “What?”
“You and Christensen. You going to stay together?”
“If he wants to. If he survives this.”
“Why wouldn’t he want to?” Carter asks.
“Because I told him I never wanted to see him again. Because I walked away from him when he was trying to protect me. Because I’m an asshole who doesn’t deserve someone who’s willing to die for me. There are plenty of reasons.”
“Bullshit,” Cam says.
“What?”
“I said bullshit. You think he did this because he felt guilty? You think he wore a wire into a meeting with criminals because of some misplaced sense of duty?”
“I don’t know why he did it.”
“He did it because he loves you, you dumbass. And people who love each other forgive stupid shit.”
“Even when the stupid shit almost gets people killed?”
“Especially then.”
Mark, who’s been quiet this whole time, speaks up. “Can I ask you guys something?”
“Sure,” Cam says.
“How long have you guys known? About Tate and Zane?”
The guys exchange looks. Jaren and Colby shrug.
