3. Anson
THREE
ANSON
“ W hat do you have for me?” I stalked toward Ryder, a man on a mission.
He held out the joint he was smoking. “Nothing.”
“Fuck.” I took the joint and inhaled deeply, irritated out of my mind. I let out a ring of smoke and hissed. “ Fuck. Nothing?”
“Dead ends all around. No one has heard shit.”
I took another drag, my anger growing. It was unbelievable to me that no one had heard anything. Sighing, I continued to smoke until Ryder grunted at me to pass it back. I did, the high taking over and calming me a bit.
I stared into the night sky in the alley where we stood, wondering what the next option would be.
I pulled my phone out and hit the speed dial for Trent’s name.
We’d agreed to break contact while he hid from the kings because of all the shit going on with Bianca and them.
I worried about him, but he was a smart guy.
It was his idea to break the contact, which was hard for me to do, but I knew he had his reasons, even if he didn’t share them with me.
But to hell with it.
“Hey,” he answered gruffly on the fifth ring.
“I need help.”
“Me too,” he muttered.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, immediately bristling at his words.
“Anson, you know what the fuck is going on. They think I kidnapped Bianca De Santis. My dick is on the line right now. I’m in too deep. Now I’m hiding from the kings and dealing with fucking Hail Ivanov. I know I said to break contact, but fuck, man. I was thinking about calling you.”
I frowned at his words, irritated at myself for agreeing with no contact to begin with. “Where are you?” I asked. I glanced at Ryder, who blew out more smoke and raised his brows at me.
“I’m hiding in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city. It’s fucking cold, and I’m hungry.”
“Is Hail with you?” Getting that little weasel might be a good way to keep Enzo happy and earn some points with him. Turning over Hail Ivanov to Enzo, who would turn him over to the kings, could be something to really help my damn cause.
“No. I haven’t seen him much. He used to call and have me meet him randomly, but he’s suspicious of me. He doesn’t share fuck all for information with me. Vasiliev and Petrov made him leery of shit. In fact, I haven’t seen him in forever.”
I rubbed my eyes. “What do you need?”
“Maybe some fucking blankets and a sandwich.”
I was quiet for a moment. “Come home, Trent.”
“I can’t?—”
“You can. Come stay at my place.”
“I’m not fucking shit up for you. I know how close you are to the horsemen. The last thing you need is a lord darkening your doorstep,” he muttered bitterly.
“Fine. Ryder.” I looked at my best friend.
He pushed off the wall and blew out a final cloud of smoke. “What’s up?”
“Can Trent stay with you? He needs a place to hide out.”
“Sure. I have that extra bedroom he can crash in. As long as I don’t have to kill anyone, he’s welcome.”
“You know I can’t guarantee that,” I said, giving him a pointed look.
“Yeah, that’s fine. I get bored anyway.” He waved me off. “I’m down. He can stay.”
“Directions, Trent. I’m coming to get you.”
He was quiet for a moment before he rattled off directions.
“Anson, just don’t… don’t tell anyone, OK?”
“Why the fuck would I rat out my brother?” I snarled into the phone, noting he was growing paranoid since he’d gone on the run. I hated myself for putting him in that position and not reaching out sooner.
“I-I know. I just…”
“I’m coming to get you. I’m not going to fuck anything up. Stay alive. I’ll be there soon.”
“OK. I’m sorry. This shit just sucks.”
“I know. I’m coming.”
“OK. See you soon.”
The line disconnected, and I looked at Ryder.
“Care to go on an adventure?”
He grinned. “About time we do something aside from getting high in dark alleys.”
I rolled my eyes and gestured for him to follow me to my car. He had a point, though. I should have been working harder instead of getting high.
Fuck it.
Everyone needed a break sometimes.
I dragged Trent into my arms and hugged him for everything I was worth. He let out a soft sob at my hold, his face buried in my neck.
“Thank you,” he whispered, sniffling. “I was going nuts here.”
“You should have called me sooner. Fuck. I should have called you. I’m sorry. We have so much we need to discuss.”
He nodded as he pulled away and wiped at his eyes. “OK. No sense in crying like a couple of bitches out here.”
“Right.” I smiled at my little brother, taking in his messy hair and dirty clothes. He’d definitely been roughing it. It was all my damn fault, too. I wasn’t taking very good care of him. Agreeing to his demands had been stupid.
“Come on,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder and leading him from the old warehouse to where Ryder waited for us in my car.
Trent climbed into the backseat and settled in while I got behind the wheel. Ryder lit up more weed and handed it back to Trent, who took it and dragged in a deep hit before letting out a cough.
I eyed him in the rearview mirror, my heart hurting for how I’d fucked up.
“I’m fine,” he said, catching my eye and handing the weed back to Ryder.
“Do you need anything?” I asked.
“I could use a change of clothes. Something to eat.”
I nodded tightly. “I’ll get some clothes over to you tomorrow. We can stop and grab some food.”
He gave me a quick smile and looked out the window, silence blanketing us for a brief moment.
“How’s Rosalie?” Trent finally called out.
Ryder looked at me, his brows raised. He knew I was in a hell of a situation.
He was doing what he could to get the information I needed so I could join the horsemen.
I’d even told him about the night with Fox and her.
He sighed, shook his head at me, and asked if I remembered the conversation we’d had in high school about sharing a girl.
I’d told him back then that I’d have to really love someone.
Well, here we were.
He’d given me the sympathy shoulder clap and told me he’d do what he could to help.
“She’s doing well, or as well as can be expected given the circumstances,” I muttered.
“So you’ve still got it bad, huh?” Trent caught my eye again in the rearview mirror.
I let out a sigh and nodded. There was no sense denying it.
“If he gets Enzo the information he needs on whether or not Bianca is still alive, preferably alive and well, Enzo will let him join them.” Ryder looked over his shoulder at Trent. “So imagine how hard this fucker is working lately.”
Trent gave a low whistle. “Are you sure that’s what you want, man? To share your girl? Doesn’t seem like… you.”
“It is when it comes to her,” I said, turning into the parking lot of a twenty-four-hour diner and grabbing a spot near the door. I put the car into park and rested my head against my headrest, my breath whooshing out of me in frustration.
Ryder handed me what was left of the joint. I took it from him and sucked in a deep hit before blowing it out.
“For what it’s worth, I think she’s worth it,” Trent said. “I like her. As for Bianca, I have no idea if she’s alive or dead. I’m useless in that department.”
I smiled at his talk on Rosalie. My mom and sister would have liked her too.
The sadness blanketed me as I considered they’d never get to know her.
This wasn’t how my life was supposed to be.
My mom and sister were supposed to be here.
Trent wasn’t supposed to be risking his life.
I wasn’t supposed to be doing all the shit I was doing or had done.
And Bianca should be alive.
I slammed my hands on the steering wheel and shook it roughly, letting some of the frustration out.
The guys didn’t say anything. They let me have my moment.
Trent’s phone buzzed, and he chuckled softly, breaking the tension in the car.
“What?” Ryder asked.
“This girl I know. She’s wild.”
“What’s her name?” I grunted out, hoping his love life was better than mine.
“Cady,” he answered. “I’ve known her for a long time, but we’ve only recently started talking more. She’s a riot. Completely gorgeous, but has this wild streak.”
I looked at him through the rearview mirror, watching him smile as he thumbed a message out to her.
I wanted that for him.
Fuck, I wanted it for me.
I pulled my phone out and looked down at Rosalie’s name before I typed a message to her.
I love you. I’m coming to see you.
I stared at the message briefly before Ryder’s soft words broke me from my thoughts.
“Not yet,” he said gently. “Just… hold off, man.”
I nodded, my throat tight, and deleted the message.
As much as I hated it, he was right.
“What else can I do?” I looked over at Ryder as Trent continued to text Cady.
Ryder was quiet for a beat before he exhaled. “Maybe you need to talk to your old man.”
I stared out the windshield, knowing what sort of fire that would start, but desperate to join Rosalie.
“Maybe it is time,” I murmured.
Fuck it.