Chapter 22 Wraith
Wraith
“There are towels in the bathroom if you want to shower.”
Boone glances around the guest room. “This is nice. Better than my apartment. Thanks, man.”
“Not a problem.”
“He’ll get there.” Boone bounces on the edge of the bed. “He’s in his head about shit, but I know my brother and I know he’s in love with you.”
“I’m in love with him too,” I admit, leaning against the dresser. “But that doesn’t change how fucked-up this situation is. We met while I was stalking you. He’s not out. I kill people for a living.”
“He’s managed to hide my existence from the world his entire career.”
“I don’t want him to have to hide me. I want him to be proud of who he loves. Mostly, I want him to feel good about it.”
“Your other brother has a man. How did that happen?”
“Colson is… unique. He sees the world through his own lens. What he and Specter have is undeniable.” I shrug. “So they figured it out.”
“And you don’t see the parallels?”
“It’s not up to me, Boone. It’s up to Pax. If he wants me, I’m not going anywhere, but if he can’t, then I have to walk away. Because that’s what you do when you love someone, even if it destroys you.”
Boone nods, studying me. “I stand by what I said. He’ll get there.”
“I hope you’re right. Just text Pax if you need anything.”
“I want to help if I can.”
“I know.”
After leaving his room, I head to my own. Pax is sitting on the bed staring straight ahead. He startles when I walk in, turning to face me.
“I’m sorry, Wraith.”
“For what?”
“Anything I said that hurt you when we were talking to Boone.”
“You didn’t hurt me.” I keep my distance, even though all I want to do is climb onto that bed with him and hold him close.
“I’m so glad he’s okay.”
“Me too. He seems like a good guy.”
“He is.” Pax exhales slowly. “The drugs fucked him up for a while, but I think he’s gonna pull through. He just needs some stability.”
“He loves you, Pax.”
“I know.”
I don’t know what to say or do, so I just linger.
“He’s right, you know,” Pax says. “About the way love works.”
Nodding, I mumble my agreement.
“You don’t get to turn it off and on when you want to.
If I could, I would’ve turned it off for him a long time ago.
At the height of his addiction, it was rough.
Every day was filled with fear and stress and anger.
That’s when I became known as The Bouche.
I had nowhere for the pain to go so I let it out on the ice.
I talked shit and provoked fights, racked up penalties, and slammed players into the boards like it was required.
It helped, but only temporarily. I’d go home and sit in my dark apartment waiting for the news that he was dead or in jail.
Weeks would go by and I’d have no idea where he was.
Sometimes I just drove around downtown looking for any sign of him. ”
“Addiction is torture for everyone affected.”
“It is. I even went to therapy, but that didn’t help. Nothing helped.” He looks down at his hands for a moment then back up at me. “So yeah, if I could stop loving him I would’ve done that by now just to save myself some heartache.”
I nod, remaining quiet.
“He was right about something else, too. I’ve spent my entire life living it for other people.
My team, my mom, Boone. I know it’s time for me to retire, but I’ve been too afraid of what’s on the other side of that.
I never built a life for myself outside of hockey.
I don’t have any friends who aren’t other hockey players.
I don’t have hobbies or interests. I don’t have people. ”
“Pax—”
He raises a hand to stop me. “But I have you, don’t I?”
I perk up at that. “Yes. You have me.”
“Not gonna lie, I don’t know how to reconcile what I know about you with what you do, but maybe it doesn’t matter? Because the idea of walking away from you kills me, and I don’t want to hurt anymore. I want to see what we can be together. I’m fucking scared, Wraith, but in a good way.”
“Do you mean it? You want to try this with me?”
“I’m already doing it. Snuck the fuck up on me.”
We both laugh and I take a cautious step forward. “I can make you happy. With me, you can do anything. You can find all those hobbies and interests and people you didn’t have time for before. You’re safe with me.”
He nods. “The way you are with Boone says a lot about who you are at your core. Maybe you have this other side I’ve never seen, but I’ve seen the good parts. I get the good parts.”
Unable to resist anymore, I close the distance between us, drop to my knees between his legs, and cup his face. “You are the good parts.”
I bring our mouths together, exhaling with relief as he melts into me, but the kiss is interrupted when my phone buzzes several times. Briefly, I press our foreheads together.
“I need to see what’s going on.”
“Of course.”
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I smile at him before forcing myself to look at the screen. The Murder Buddies chat is on fire right now. I swipe quickly to open the app.
Shadow: Joey Biggs got back to me. It’s bad. Need everyone available downstairs in twenty or less. Wraith, come alone. It happens tonight.
There are a bunch of comments from my brothers, and I add mine to the mix.
Me: What about Pax’s game tonight? He needs coverage.
Shadow: They aren’t after Pax. They want Boone and he’s with us. Trust me.
Me: Always. I’ll be down soon.
Looking up at a curious Pax, I force a smile to my face.
“We’ve got news and we’re moving tonight. You and Boone will be safe.”
“Will you be safe?”
“Hell yes. I’ll be with all my brothers.” I grab his hand and squeeze it. “By morning, this will be over.”
“Really?”
“Really. This is what we do. Not usually on this level, but that’s why we’re all going. Do you feel comfortable going to the game tonight?”
His brow crinkles. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Uh, because there are some bad guys tracking your brother.”
“But not me, and Boone won’t be there. We’ve got mad security.”
“I got close to you once.”
“You were stopped, and if I hadn’t walked out at that moment you wouldn’t have even seen me.”
“Just don’t be anywhere alone, okay? Just in case they know what’s up and decide to come after you. I want to go with you, but…” My words trail off. “Shadow thinks you’re safe, so he must know something.”
“I’ll be okay.” He cups my chin. “I’m the motherfucking Bouche, man.”
“Yes, you are.” Searching his eyes, I let the hope bloom in my chest freely. “I love you so fucking much. I want you to know that no matter what happens next, you have my heart.”
“What happens next is you come home in one piece and we get a chance at a future together. After all this, I deserve that. Okay?”
“Okay.” I lean in and kiss him again. It’s too brief, but I’ve got work to do so we can get to that hopeful future we both want. “I need to change clothes.”
Ten minutes later, I’m dressed in my ubiquitous work outfit: black jeans, black t-shirt, black boots. Hair in a messy ponytail, holster on.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Can I come back here after the game?”
“You better.”
I head downstairs, where I’m quickly joined by my brothers except Nimble. Shadow is the last to enter, his face set with tension. We fall silent, waiting for the boss to speak.
“Joey is in the hospital,” Shadow says, his tone dark. “Apparently he’s been working as an informant for the DEA, but the traffickers got suspicious and beat the fuck out of him. He says he didn’t know about the kids, and I believe him.”
“So the cops are involved already?” Specter asks.
“Not as much as they should be. Joey said he feels like he was left out to dry. They haven’t contacted him while he’s been in the hospital at all and his contact won’t return his calls.”
“Figures,” Ghost huffs.
“Here’s what we know,” Shadow says. “The main guy is named Blackhawk. No one knows his first or actual name. He’s actively involved, not some dude sitting behind a desk somewhere barking out orders.
He’s got problems in his ranks. Lots of guys side hustling, trying to break off and do their own thing. He’s grown paranoid and unpredictable.”
“Is Blackhawk Boone’s former boss?” I ask.
“No.” Shadow shakes his head. “That guy is Phil Connelly. He runs Connelly Construction and he’s in deep with Blackhawk.”
Oh, right. That name sounds familiar from the files Boone had.
“Phil dies tonight. He’ll be at the docks waiting for a shipment. Then they’ll all be in the old warehouse district. Apparently they time their human shipments with Magnets games because the whole city is distracted.”
“That’s how they fucking figured out where to find Boone,” I grumble.
“Probably, yes,” Shadow says. “We’re gonna split up.
Some of you will be at the dock, others at the warehouse, and the rest of us will get the kids to safety.
No one walks away alive unless I’m given a damn good reason, and by the time the sun rises, I want Connelly and Blackhawk’s bodies at my feet. ”
“And Mike Connelly.” We all turn to see Boone standing in the entrance to the rec room. “He’s Phil’s brother and he’s a piece of shit. I’d bet it was his idea to kill me.”
“You shouldn’t be listening,” Shadow says.
He shrugs. “It’s about me. Pax told me you had news so I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to help.”
Shadow clenches his jaw but he nods. “Mike Connelly too, huh?”
“Hothead, definitely the stronger personality. Phil is a dick but he’s influenced by his brother. He’d definitely try to pick up where Phil left off.”
“You heard him,” Shadow says. “Anything else we should know?”
“They bring muscle with them. Guys with guns. From what I’ve seen, they’ve never had to use them. No cops show up or anything.”
“They probably have some dirty cops on the payroll,” Phantom says.
“Can we go now?” Carnage asks, slapping his fist into his palm. “I’m so fucking ready.”
“Carnage, Stealth, and Wraith will go to the warehouses,” Shadow says. “Specter, Ghost, and Phantom will be at the docks. I’ll be with Whisper to get the kids to safety.”
“Can I go?” Boone asks, getting all of us to look at him.
Shadow scoffs. “No civilians. Sorry.”
“But I’ve spent months trying to take him down. I risked my own life. I just want to see it happen. I want to know it’s done.”
“It’ll be done,” Shadow says dismissively, his eyes narrowed. “Kind of what we do.”
“Please.” Boone persists. “I won’t be in the way.”
Shadow looks annoyed but he doesn’t say anything else.
“I’ll go anyway,” Boone says defiantly. “I’ll follow. Wouldn’t it be better to keep an eye on me then let me go rogue?”
Shadow looks at me like I should do something, but I’m barely holding back laughter.
“Let him come,” Specter says. “We can handle it.”
“Boone, Pax will kill me,” I say, finding my voice of reason. “I can’t risk it.”
“It’s not up to you or Pax. It’s up to your boss. Or I can do things on my own.”
A smirk pulls at Shadow’s lips. He’s impressed. “Fine. Wraith, he’s your responsibility.”
Boone grins at me, bouncing on his toes. Fuck, Pax really is going to kill me.
“If I may,” Whisper says, raising his hand. “I propose that Boone comes with me and Shadow. We don’t know how many kids are gonna need our help and he can best be used there without too much personal risk.”
Boone’s face lights up. “Really? I’d… Yeah, I’d like to do that. Shadow?”
He nods tersely. “That’s fine. Good call, Whisper.”
The news settles my concerns a little, but it’s still dangerous. My phone buzzes at the same time Boone’s does, and we both must be reading a message from the same person.
Bouche: Where the fuck is Boone? He’s not in his room.
Boone types on his screen quickly, and before I can answer Pax, another message comes through.
Bouche: He just messaged me. Sorry.
Yeah he’s gonna kill me when he finds out what’s going down tonight.