He’ll know what to do.If I run, I can reach him in two minutes.Maybe three.
But I can’t leave Wolf alone like this.
I scan the bathroom and spot his pants crumpled in the corner.Scrambling for them, I dig through the pockets until my fingers close on his phone.
My breath rattles as I hold the screen to his face.Mercifully, the phone unlocks, and I’m in.
His contacts…Oh, God,what is this?My heart rate redoubles as I scroll through a very short, very strange list.
Bluebird
Captain Kai
Dr Freud
GI Joe Carl
GI Joe Jasper
Nurse Dorothy
Rich Daddy
Scarecrow
The Bear
The Lion
I go back toRich Daddy.That has to be Monty.
Stabbing my thumb against the nickname, I pressCall.
“Please, answer.”I stare at Wolf shivering on the tile, my throat closing around the helplessness.
“Wolf?”Monty’s stern voice pierces my ear.“Everything okay?”
“It’s Dove.He’s…” I swallow.“He needs you.”
With my back to the wall, I slide to the floor beside Wolf and grip my knees to stop myself from reaching for him again.
“You’re okay.I’m here.”My voice shreds.“I’m not touching you.See?Just breathing with you.Just breathing.”
But I’m not breathing.Panic scrapes my throat raw, every heartbeat a hammer against bone.He’s shaking so hard the tile rattles, eyes squeezed shut, arms locked over his head like he’s trying to disappear.
My chest aches with the need to hug him.But I can’t touch him.I can’t help him.I can’t—
Footsteps pound the stairs.Then Monty bursts into the room.Not frantic or disheveled.Never that.He’s out of breath, yes, but his suit is still crisp, his shirt perfectly white.
His eyes land on Wolf, and his features go dangerously sharp.“What happened?”
Jag.Me.The stain of the Rath siblings.That’s what happened.
Instead, I say, “I found him like this.”
He crouches next to Wolf, his gaze lowering, catching the scars.Dozens.Hundreds.His jaw saws, the muscle jumping like it might crack, like this is the first time seeing his son’s mutilated body.
“Goddammit, Wolf.”His composure falters, voice fracturing.“What did they do to you?”
