Bryson leaned into him, his breath close.
“You are looking at, Adria Federov, the newest member of the Triune,” Bryson nipped at Seth’s ear, and Seth shivered.
Seth’s eyes widened. “What? Fuck, Dri, that’s amazing.”
Adria blushed further. “I don’t know what to think about it, frankly. With Alessandro dead, and Callen dead, Sean got seat one, Helen bumped up to two. And that left me.”
Seth let out a soft whistle. “So, you are in the Triune. I’m in awe and terrified at the same time.”
Adria gave him a look that made the monitors start beeping again.
“Now who’s getting him going?” Kaydon said through a chuckle.
Seth let the news swirl around him, and a few things slowly clicked into place. “Wait, Callen’s gone?” he said, twisting to look at Bryson.
Bryson gave him a serious look. It wasn’t sad or angry. “I took care of him, Killer.”
“The evidence against him was pretty damning,” Kaydon said.
“Cole was even able to find some new stuff, between my mom and him,” Adria added.
Seth wanted to say that he understood. That Bryson was stronger than he was. But all Seth found he could do was pull Bryson’s forehead to his.
Bryson was able to do something Seth wasn’t. He knew what it was like to have a complicated relationship with his father. Ultimately, it was something that needed to be done, and as long as Seth knew Bryson, he always got things done.
As Bryson pulled away, his brown eyes sparkling, Seth said, “So what does that make your seat number?”
A huge grin broke out on Bryson’s face. “About that…”
“That honor belongs to me,” Elena’s voice said from the doorway.
She walked in with Eric, who used the door frame for support on his way in.
“Whiskey,” Seth said.
Eric scowled. “I’ll let you call me that, this one time, because you’re injured and I’m?—”
“Not even supposed to be out of bed,” Elena snapped. “The only reason you made it this far is because I helped.”
Eric shot her a side glance, and Elena rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I expected a thank you or anything.”
“Kaydon sent me a text that you were awake,” Eric said, like that explained everything.
Seth watched Eric take an inventory of him. There was something familiar in his gaze, and it took Seth a second to recognize it.
“Don’t tell me you were worried,” Seth said, surprised.
Adria moved to help support Eric into the room. He resisted at first, but eventually allowed his arm to be draped around her shoulder.
“Of course I care, kid,” Eric said, like it was the easiest thing to say.
Like it was normal to care about another person. Seth felt warmth spreading through his chest. Eric wanted him to live. Adria, Kaydon, and Bryson were sitting around him, watching him sleep.
Seth wiped at the sudden wetness on his face. “I guess I’m just not used to people caring about me in a hospital.”
Adria pinned him with a stern gaze. “Well, get used to it.”
“Not the hospital part,” Bryson added.
