Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
LYLE
Troy’s smile comes easier as he eats and chats with us. I admit he has a good argument for not getting involved with us, but we’ve waited years for him.
We’re sure.
My cock is so hard it’s difficult for me to focus, and Silas’ hand squeezes it through my pants while he carries the conversation with Easton. Fuck. The man can have the sweetest smile on his face while doing wicked fucking things.
I’ve seen the same smile while he has carved someone’s heart out. It’s sincere, but it’s not necessarily an admission of innocence.
I keep my breaths even and my poker face in place.
“If you’re looking for distractions, Savannah can give you everything you need,” Easton teases Troy with a smirk. The blush on Troy’s cheeks is adorable, and it makes me even more excited to peel back more of the hard exterior he’s been hiding behind.
If Ella didn’t have a young child, I would find a way for her to pay for what she did to Troy. She tried to ruin his life in the divorce. The bitch took him to the cleaners and he just accepted it, too distraught to fight back.
His lawyer was a dipshit who didn’t know his mouth from his asshole. My hand clenches under the table as I think about spanking his ass for not asking for help. I could have found him someone better to defend his assets, but I don’t think he cared by that point.
I force my face to remain playful as we discuss things to do in Savannah, and that we want to do with him, however, my mind is moving a thousand miles a minute.
I need Easton to look into his financial situation.
Troy joked about living in his apartment because it was the easiest option for him, but what if it’s because he doesn’t have the money for anything better?
Troy works his ass off, I’ll be pissed if he just let her walk away with fucking everything.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” he sighs, pushing his empty plate away. “This was really good.”
“You know we’re going to lecture you about eating better.” My eyes crawl up his arms as I speak to him, greedily enjoying the view of his ink across his corded muscles.
“I need to find a service to meal prep for me. I don’t have the energy to do it,” he admits.
“Have you thought about talking to someone?” Easton asks. “Don’t give me that look. Lyle is already thinking about spanking you for not taking care of yourself.”
Busted.
“I hate you,” I mutter to Easton. He merely grins, knowing his lips will be wrapped around my throbbing dick later. “There’s no shame in talking to a therapist, Troy. We can find someone who can help you come to terms with what happened.”
“I went to one,” Troy says, his eyes on the table as his hair flops across his forehead. Silas is right. He definitely needs a haircut.
“And?” I ask, grunting as Silas’ hand tightens around my cock like a vise. I love when he’s rough, but this is definitely a warning that I’m pushing too hard. Leaning back, I give Silas full rein as I gaze at Troy almost lazily.
“She sold me out to the media,” Troy replies. My vision goes red as I growl, and he simply shrugs. There is so much damned sadness in his eyes, and Easton makes a dangerous sound as he processes Troy’s words.
Easton will track down this cunt and I’ll enjoy getting her license to practice pulled. Silas’ hand moves to my knee and his thumb rubs it as I fume. I can smell his anger. The scent of lightning before it strikes is strong in the air, but his face doesn’t show how much he’s struggling.
“There are other therapists,” Silas breathes. Sometimes, when he’s really fucking mad, his voice lowers. If he ever whispers, it’s time to duck and cover.
“I’ll think about it,” Troy promises, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard. “I need to wait for my first paycheck of the season before I can do anything.”
Ding ding ding. Goddamn it, Ella. You’re a fucking cunt. Troy has always been careful with money, but Ella enjoys fancy cars and home remodels. She definitely took him for everything he was worth.
“Send me the nutrition list of what you’re supposed to eat and I’ll sort out your meals,” Silas says finally.
“I— what?” Troy looks like his brain is short circuiting and Roy drops off our receipt. We have an open tab here, and whenever we come by, they just charge the card on file.
“You heard him just fine,” Easton murmurs, tapping his shoulder. “Get up, we’re walking you home.”
“I can walk just fine,” Troy mumbles, getting out of the booth.
We follow him out from behind the table, and I shake my head. “We’ve been having some trouble lately with our city and people being… Let’s wait till we’re outside to have this conversation.”
Troy’s gaze is troubled as he walks out with us, and my mind spins as I attempt to figure out how to explain the insanity that’s been our lives for the past year. Fuck. Maybe I’ll stick to the cliff notes.
“What’s going on?” he asks quietly.
“What direction are we going in?” Easton asks instead.
“It’s off of Briar Street,” Troy grunts.
“That’s not a great area,” Easton sighs, though we begin walking toward the street.
“It’s fine for now,” he says helplessly. “What—”
“Human trafficking is making inroads here in Savannah,” I interrupt.
“It’s omegas and alphas. They use betas to hunt them down and focus on people traveling alone or who are homeless.
I know your apartment isn’t far from the practice rink, but it would be better if you didn’t stay out late on the ice anymore. ”
It’s after eleven at night now, and the sun has long left the sky. We’ve been hanging out for hours and I’m sad we need to say good night.
“We haven’t heard of them taking anyone who is high profile, but it could be accidental. You’re a little scruffy at the moment. You also need to shave,” Easton says, attempting to keep it light.
“I like my facial hair like this. Don’t change the subject. Why isn’t any of this in the news reports?” Troy asks, confused.
“It’s bad for tourism,” Silas admits. “Notice how there aren’t any unhoused people in the streets?
The mayor and police commissioner are very adamant about beautifying the city with clear streets and good press.
No one is talking about what’s happening here.
Three of our friends were taken at an outdoor play last month.
Auctions are being held in Savannah, Troy. ”
The truth is that we’ve done our best as a pack to clear our city of human traffickers, but I know this is going to be an uphill battle. When one auction owner falls, another is sure to pop up. I don’t trust anything at this point.
“I’m not going to play the big, bad hockey player card because I know how easy it is to be overpowered,” Troy mutters.
I feel sick. I hate that we’re reminding him of the night he was raped, but this conversation has to happen.
“All we’re asking for is that you play it smart. Stick to well lit paths, don’t come home drunk or stay out late unless you’re with other people. That’s it.”
It takes a lot for me to push those words out without my voice cracking, and I pull in oxygen to help with how rigid my body feels.
“I don’t like that this is happening in the city I live in,” he grunts.
“We’re working on it,” I promise without thinking. His eyes hood as they cut toward me and I shrug. “As you said, it’s our city and people I know are being hurt. I’m not going to sit and look pretty while it’s happening, Troy.”
“You’re not superheroes,” he grumbles.
“Is this your way of telling us to be careful?” I ask, chuckling. At his droll gaze, I blow out a breath. “The three of us are all wearing guns and knives hidden under our clothing. We are very cognizant of the dangers around us. None of us are important enough to kidnap either. We’re old alphas.”
“You get better with age, but none of you are old,” Troy snorts. “I’m sure you’re hit on just as often as I am.”
“You’d be wrong. We’ve attempted to date, but nothing romantic has come from it. I also work too much to be randomly hit on,” I say. “Easton is on the phone for work, and Silas is the perfectly bitchy queen in our social circles. People think he’s sweet and funny while he’s blessing their hearts.”
“Gossip is always best at parties and social gatherings,” Silas says unrepentantly. “If someone killed their husband or is money laundering, it’s the easiest way for me to give them Lyle’s business card. Information is readily available when doors open at your presence.”
“The three of you always seem to be well taken care of wherever you go,” Troy says, his voice heating. “I’m not surprised you have this city by the balls.”
“I prefer the short and curlies, but balls work just as well,” Easton chuckles.
“This is home for now.” My lips part as I stare at the building, and my heart drops into my asshole.
“Troy. Absolutely not.”
“It’s not that terrible,” he mutters. “It doesn’t smell like mold, and it’s structurally sound. I’ll survive for now.”
My eyes close as I struggle not to kidnap his ass and tie him to my bed. I am the pillar of a law abiding citizen on the outside, but my morals are very gray at best.
Silas knows I’m close to the edge and steps in for me.
“What’s your apartment number?” he asks.
“I… Why?” Troy asks back. I swear, we’re breaking this man’s brain.
“We’re feeding you,” I growl, forcing my eyes open. “Be a good boy and give Silas your apartment number and key code.”
“There’s…ah, the front door’s lock is broken,” he says, stumbling. “I don’t understand. Why are you feeding me?”
“Because you admitted that you can’t do it yourself,” Silas replies. “You have my number, use it and text me the guidelines for what you need to eat. I’m cooking, prepping, and delivering your food to you. I need a key to your apartment so I can do that.”
Troy blinks at us as he pulls out his key ring and pulls off a key to hand it to him. I can see an identical key on the ring, and he appears a little lost as he stands there. We’re a lot.
We know this, but it’s not something we can help. We’ve given him a ton of space.
“What time is practice?” I ask, pulling his attention back to me.