“I’ve been thinking,” Bryce said, his voice low, “about Jax’s team. How people can go from serving with honor to executing civilians.” He swallowed. “They can’t all have been like him, not at the start. Something twisted them, and for the life of me, I can’t understand it.”
Tom sighed. “I’m guessing they wanted power. Or maybe it was money, or loyalty to the wrong people.”
Bryce sat with that in silence for a few moments before glancing over again. “You think Steadman will make it to trial?”
“No.” The word was soft, final, and free from regret. “Once shifters hear what she did, that she hadArgentskilled, the fury will be beyond reckoning. You know how special they were. Hell, look at how everyone’s hanging off Jesse’s every word.” He drew in a breath. “Only way she makes it to trial is if she’s guarded by non-shifters.”
“And that’s not going to happen,” Bryce said. Then he glanced sideways at Tom. “So what does all this mean for your job? Your career?”
Tom shook his head, and strangely, he looked rueful rather than devastated. “I’ll let you know once I figure it out.”
His eyes rested on the screen, where Jesse had been, proud and defiant. “But one thing I know, it won’t be in her shadow.”
Chapter Thirty-three
TOM
Tom hadn’t eaten all day, but it wasn’t until halfway through the pad Thai that he realized how hungry he was.
He glanced over to where Bryce was sitting cross-legged on the other end of the couch, slurping noodles like it was a competitive sport. This wasn’t glamorous—no black tie, no candlelight. But it felt right, like the way things were supposed to be.
“Damn it,” Bryce complained, eyeing a spreading sauce stain on his shirt with mild frustration. “Well, that’s never coming out.”
Tom snorted into his beer. “It’s borrowed. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“That’s not how shirts work, Tom.”
“That’s exactly how shirts work.”
Bryce laughed, and Tom watched the last few tight lines around his eyes ease. For a moment, nothing else registered.Just them, safe and together. The news played silently on the TV in the background, but neither of them paid attention.
Bryce set down his plate. “I was going to suggest I take you somewhere fancy,” he said. “But honestly, I think this beats it.”
Tom arched an eyebrow. “You’re trying to seduce me by complimenting my noodles?”
“Is it working?”
A smile tugged Tom’s lips unbidden. “Unfortunately, yeah.”
Bryce’s eyes stayed on his, the corner of his mouth curving just slightly. “You look better like this,” he said quietly.
“Like what?”
“Like yourself. Like you’ve stopped carrying the weight of the world for a second.” He hesitated. “Like you’re home.”
The words hit something deep in Tom. He set down his beer, pulse beating faster. The couch suddenly felt too narrow, the space between them too wide.
“Come here,” he said softly.
Bryce didn’t ask questions. He crossed the small distance and met Tom in the middle. Their mouths brushed, slow and sure, and it was exactly what Tom needed—a center of gravity.
And then Bryce kissed him properly. His hand came up to cup Tom’s jaw, his fingers warm against skin that had felt cold for hours. Bryce’s hand slid under Tom’s shirt, and he made a sound that went straight to Tom’s gut.
“First date,” Tom said against his mouth. “You’re supposed to keep your hands to yourself.”
“Wasn’t me. You started it.”
“Pretty sure I saidcome here. Notmolest me on the couch.”
