CHAPTER 18
Wraith
Waiting for Bouche—no,Pax—has my nerves frayed. I have to tell Shadow what’s going on and I’m not at all sure how he’s going to take it. It doesn’t help that he’s been holed up in his office most of the day with Stealth. I hope spending time with our returned brother improves his mood.
“What’s going on with you, Wraith?” Carnage asks, bumping my arm as he passes me in the rec room. “Want to play some pool?”
“Can’t. I’m waiting for someone.”
He turns to look at me, raising an eyebrow. “Waiting for someone? To come here?”
“Yep.”
“For what?”
“To talk.”
He stares at me in confusion. Rightfully so. I’m not making any sense.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes.”
His expression darkens and he slams his fist into his palm. “Who do I have to hurt?”
“No one. Not yet.” I plop down into one of the armchairs,thankful the other guys are out doing jobs or whatever. “Have you ever had to tell Shadow something potentially upsetting?”
“Potentially upsetting?” He kneels next to me. “Like?”
“Like you can’t follow through on a job because of some information you got?”
His eyes widen. “Dude.”
“No, then?”
“No. Fuck no. What’s going on?” He squeezes my knee. “You can tell me.”
“I know, but—” My phone buzzes in my pocket and I tense. “He’s here.”
“Who?”
“Pax. Hockey player.”
“Paxon Bouchard?”
“That’s the one.”
“I have questions.”
“I’m sure you do, but now isn’t the time.” I get to my feet and head for the front door.
Pax is pulling up in front of the house on the circular drive just as I’m opening the door. He steps out of the car looking delicious as always in jeans and a t-shirt, but his face is taut with worry and stress.
“Hi,” he says, sliding his hands into the pockets of his charcoal gray coat.
“Come on in.”
I step to the side, letting him pass me, and offer to take his coat. As he shrugs it off, he takes in the space around us.
