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I didn’t have to worry about Sloane understanding why my grandfather couldn’t be anywhere near us or have any part in anyones’ lives. She just got it and never questioned it.
It made my heart ease more, knowing she did get it. Meanwhile, her brother didn’t look like he held a stitch of guilt in front of us.
“He wasn’t supposed to be,” he said, looking at my boys and me like we’d done something wrong. His sighed at Sloane. “I swear to God he wasn’t. Callum wanted to give me a gift after hearing about the party. He wanted to ship it, but the party was almost over. I figured it would be by the time he got here, but he came early.” His gaze took to the floor. “I was going to get him in and out. I fucking swear, Sloane, and no one was supposed to see him. Callum wouldn’t even have come at all had he known anyone was here. He left as soon as he ran into the guys.”
He had left, actually telling the truth.
“You know, I don’t get you, man.” Ares spoke before Sloane could. Before I could. His eyes blazed. “This party was for you. It was, and we are all legitimately trying here. I am, and you’re spitting all that in my fucking face.”
“Ares.” Sloane got in front of him, but he ignored her.
His nostrils flared. “You’re starting fires. I lied to you. D and the rest of the guys too, and I get that, but last I checked, my mom and dad haven’t.” He pointed at Sloane. “Who also happened to be her parents, and had D’s grandpa been even spotted by one of them or D’s folks, shit would have hit the fan.”
“Mine too,” Thatcher said, nodding. “And Wells’s.”
Because we were family, all of us, and he knew that.
“None of them did anything to you.” Wolf eased away from Sloane, angling in front of her. “So yeah, it feels like you’re just starting little fires and hurting people who don’t deserve to be hurt. People who were good to you when they’re going through just as much pain as the rest of us.”
I was sure Wolf hadn’t meant for his voice to break. He put his fist to his mouth, silence in the garage when he turned away.
Sloane’s head lowered, her eyes closed. “Bruno…”
“No, he’s right, Sloane.”
Her head lifted, and Wolf turned around.
Bru swallowed. “I mean, what else could explain it, right? And you’re correct in saying your parents have been nothing but good to me, Wolf. They’re great, and I’ve been an asshole.”
Sloane eased forward, but Bru backed off.
“I’ve been starting little fires,” he said, nodding like he was speaking the words to himself. He faced Sloane. “And none of you guys deserve that.”
Sloane cringed. “Bru—”
“You don’t, Sloane.” Bru blinked, rubbing his mouth. He pocketed a hand, his nose red, and I imagine from the cold. He had no coat out here like the rest of us. He lifted a hand toward Wolf. “Guy’s right. I’ve been selfish, and I won’t do that to you guys anymore. I’m sure Callum can put me up. He’s offered in the past if I needed it.”
The guy really had been talking to my grandfather.
And this… this new proposal was definitely not what Wolf meant to result from what he said. He started to come forward, but Sloane was quicker.
“You’re not serious,” she said, twitching. “You don’t need to leave.”
“Actually, I do.” Bru forced out a breath, his swallow shifting his throat. “This situation isn’t working for me. It’s making me not act like myself, and I really, truly don’t want to hurt anyone. Especially Wolf’s parents. Your parents.” He squeezed his eyes. “I can’t be here, but you need to.”
I didn’t know what to say, do. I just knew this wasn’t the answer, and if we had a conflict, we could work this out. I grabbed Sloane’s shoulders. “Bru…”
“No, Prinze.” He was shaking his head before I could even speak. He fingered his hair. “And I am sorry. I know seeing your grandfather was fucking hard, and I’m sorry.”
And then… he was moving away, leaving, away from all four of us. He had his keys, and he went to his Audi, the one my grandfather had given him.
He got inside with us all behind him, and Sloane looked horrified, Wolf too. He hadn’t meant this, his hands laced behind his neck, and none of us fucking had. The guy had been a little shit but shouldn’t be with my grandfather.
Sloane got his door before he could close it. “You can’t leave, and you can’t go over there,” she said, eyes red, lashes blinking rapidly. She fought off tears behind them. “I can’t follow you if you go stay with him, so I need you to get out of this fucking car now.”
Her voice radiated in the room, all of us frozen. I didn’t know whether to intervene or let him go, and I saw the same debate in Thatcher’s and Wolf’s eyes. Of course, we could stop him. We could physically pull him out of that fucking car, but what was keeping him from leaving anyway after we did? He could run anytime.
And that would make all of this that much worse.
