Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
No.
“Again, I haven’t told him what’s going on,” Akara says, checking the time on his watch. “We need to head out. Where’s Farrow?”
Farrow?
Like demon magic, my best friend suddenly appears. He’s wearing his usual black V-neck tucked into belted black pants. His hair is cut short, and the color is ash brown, his natural hue. The dyed strands were fried, so he’s starting anew.
Shouldn’t be fixated on his hair, but I’m not too happy right now. It’s the only thing cooling me down.
“Connor is going over the strategy for this afternoon,” Akara starts explaining to me.
I’m looking between the four of them across the kitchen. “For this afternoon?” How much do they actually know?
“You’re meeting with your dad,” Akara says.
“For lunch,” Thatcher adds.
What the fuck?!
I scrape a hand through my hair, avoiding their gazes. It’s dawning on me just how involved they’re getting, and I don’t just dislike it.
I hate it.
Fuck Xander’s dad. For expanding this team-up to include not only his friend (Connor), but my friends too. We could’ve done this without anyone else knowing.
Akara continues, “Connor wants to ensure we’re all on the same page. Especially if you need back-up.”
“Nice and all, but I don’t need back-up.” I look straight at Farrow. He knows why. He’d ask for the same thing.
He says nothing. Just holds my gaze.
“Your family has become a security issue,” Thatcher forces, his voice ten times more severe than Akara’s friendly business tone. “If you’re a part of an op, your lead and your boss need to be completely informed.”
An op?
I thought I was just getting more info out of my dad. Lo said he wanted “leverage” to hold over my family, but then again, he’s probably been talking to Connor, lawyers, and private investigators more than he’s talking to me.
“Then what’s Farrow doing here?” I gesture to my best friend.
“I’m not leaving you, man.” His gaze drills into me with this familiarity. Years of being there. Of never truly leaving. And it’s a comfort that I shouldn’t need.
I know I can survive without it.
“I can do this myself,” I tell him. “I’m gonna do this myself.” I look between them. “Appreciation, really, but you all should kick back and have a happy Thursday. I’ll give you a detailed report on what went down. Cool?”
“No,” Akara says with crinkled brows, like I’ve hopped in Luna’s spaceship and flown away. I wish. “It’s not cool. It’s actually uncool.”
“Akara—”
“This isn’t up for debate. Connor called. He wants us there. We’re going. And just so you know, I would’ve fought to go if he said we couldn’t. You’re my man, Donnelly. I’m not letting you handle this alone.”
It sinks in slowly.
Feels good to be protected, to have some line of defense behind me, but just talking about my family with Lo has been a challenge—doing that in front of SFO isn’t something I’d volunteer to do unless it was completely necessary.
But most importantly, they’re in a different stage of their lives. I’m over here fighting for the opportunity to even have a girlfriend. They have more to lose if they’re twisted in this shit. And they. Weren’t. Supposed. To. Be. Pulled. In.
I run a hand down my face.
“What’s wrong here?” Akara asks with genuine concern, pocketing his phone. “Help me out, because I don’t understand why you have a problem.”
“This was supposed to be just me and Lo and maybe Connor. No one else.”
“You should’ve gone to Akara first,” Thatcher says like I broke a sacred rule, and I did jump the hierarchy. Just didn’t know it’d evolve into this.
“Sorry, boss,” I tell Akara. “Next time I’ll write you a sympathy card.”
Thatcher glares.
Akara sighs.
At least Banks is grinning.
Farrow raises his brows at Thatcher and says, “You really want to smack him with the rulebook right now?”
Thatcher lets out a rough, deep noise. “I’m not just saying it as his lead.” He turns to me. “Why trust Connor and Lo over us? Over Farrow and Oscar? Akara could’ve helped. I could’ve helped. We all could’ve helped sooner. Involving the parents first complicates everything.”
“You would’ve just gone to them yourself,” I refute.
“Hey, you don’t know that,” Akara says with a frown. “We’ve all been through crap together that they won’t ever understand. SFO is my family. My priority.”
He’s building another family. He’s got Sulli and Banks and a baby on board.
But SFO is my only family, and maybe I should’ve gone to them first like Thatcher is saying. Maybe it wouldn’t be this messy or tense.
Except it doesn’t change what I did. And I think I’d do it the same way again.
I glance at the exit. “Can’t you take a backseat on this one though? You all need to take a backseat.” My heart rate is out of control, and I try to steady my breath.
“Why?” Akara asks.
“You’re all about to be dads!” I shout and look to Farrow. “Fuck, you’re about to have a second baby. Your job should be protecting clients and your newborns. Not me. I’ve got this covered, so just take a backseat. Please.”