Jesus…
I squeeze his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, man. That’s fucked.”
“I’m sure they’re okay,” Dash tries a shot at optimism, but it’s not really working.
These guys are going through it, and it really sucks to witness. Jasper and Hancock have had this palpable tension for as long as I can remember, but there were a lot of layers to it. Joy told me they finally hooked up last year—in front of everyone, apparently.Typical Ivory Mansion mayhem.
But apparently, it stuck because Jasper is freaking out the way I would be if something happened to Dash, and I’m seeing the same thing on Peters. I’d also heard he and Alex Carson from the control room started hooking up. I didn’t know it was serious… But then, I’ve been gone a while.
A lot can happen here in a few months.
“Lem is over there too,” Felix tries consoling Jasper. “I’m scared shitless.”
This gets Jasper to stop pacing. He looks up, chest heaving. As if maybe these words are getting through to him; the fact thatThe Carveris scared too.
“Lem betrayed The Ivory by siding with Velle,” Felix murmurs in between chewing on his bottom lip. “I’m sure he’s not… taking that lightly.”
Dash is dripping with empathy so thick, I can feel it. He pulls me off to the side and whispers, “We have to do something…”
“Like what?” I ask, watching my friends.
“I think we’re gonna have to go to the mansion,” he says softly. “I have to…”
“Why you??”
“I mean, if we’re talking about leverage…” His voice trails, and I shake my head.
“No. Baby,nofucking way.” I’m stiff as he pouts at me. “I won’t have you turning yourself over to The Ivory as bait.”
“Notbait,” he grumbles. “A distraction.”
“What do you think bait is??”
Our argument is cut off at the sound of another whistle. Peters goes for the door this time, and when he opens it, I feel relief hit me like a wave.
Joy. Joy’s here.
Somehow everything feels okay again. Or at least significantly better. I just missed seeing her face so damn much. More than I think I even knew until right now.
Joy strides inside, patting Peters on the back. “Rook’s right behind me, so Velle needs you on point.”
Peters nods, turning to me. “Good to have you back, brother.”
I sense that he wants to smile at me, but it doesn’t work. Nodding in response, I watch him go, holding my breath.
Fuck, just let him be okay.
I need them all to be okay.
We need to fix this.
The obsessing is shoved aside when Joy jumps on me. Literallyleapsinto my arms, clinging to my body, laughing and shaking while I hold on to her with all my strength.
“What the fuck, Kel…” She whimpers. The mere fact that she’s breaking down is threatening to unravel me.
She’s such a stone; probably more than all of us combined.
I can only imagine what she’s been through since I left.
