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“Sure, but I’m not even at work,” Orion said.
“That doesn’t matter,” he replied. “I just need my brother to think I’m at work so…” Santee stopped himself before he accidently told Orion what kind of monster Marvell truly was.
“Your brother doesn’t flip out,” Orion finished for him. “Don’t sweat it, Santee. I know your brother is a dick. If he wasn’t, you wouldn’t have to sneak around. I got your back.”
Santee didn’t want anyone to know how his very own brother treated him. He felt shame that he stayed, though Santee had nowhere to go even if he wanted to leave.
He did now. His mate. But Santee didn’t even want Beckett to know how bad things were. They were just starting out. He knew how precious a mate was and that Beckett would more than likely want to kill Marvell for what he’d done to Santee, but deep down, Santee didn’t want it to come to that.
“Thanks. Call now. I think Marvell is in the kitchen.” He didn’t comment on Orion’s observation. Santee didn’t want to talk about it.
“Where’re you going when you leave?” Orion asked. “I’m just curious.”
“There’s someone I have to meet up with.”
“And the plot thickens.” There was a smile in Orion’s voice. “Just call me when you get where you’re going, Santee. You completely ignored the fact that I know what’s going on with your brother, but I want to make sure you make it to whoever’s house safely.”
“I promise.” Santee hung up.
He sat on his bed, still in pajama pants and T-shirt. When he heard the landline ring, Santee’s heart skipped a beat. He set his phone on his nightstand, crawled back under the covers, and pretended to be asleep when Marvell banged on his bedroom door.
Honestly, Santee was surprised his brother gave him enough courtesy to knock. But he didn’t wait for Santee to answer. Marvell barged right in.
“Wake the fuck up.” Marvell yanked the covers back. “Your job called. They need you to work today.”
Santee’s eyelids fluttered open, still acting as if he’d been asleep. He yawned, stretched, and groaned. “Did they say why?”
“Do I look like your damn secretary? Get your ass up.” He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t make this a habit. You know I don’t want you working full time.”
If this had been real, how was Santee supposed to stop his job from calling for him? Marvell was a real dick. “Okay.”
As soon as Marvell stormed out, Santee jumped up and got dressed. Too bad he had to put on his work uniform for the ruse to work. Santee didn’t want to wear it to Beckett’s house, so he shoved his street clothes into a plastic grocery bag and dropped it out of his window.
Thankfully his window faced the backyard.
He waited fifteen minutes before he went downstairs. Marvell was on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Santee didn’t bother asking for a ride. Most of the time Marvell told him to walk. It was only when it was raining or too cold outside that his brother found a heart somewhere and would give Santee a ride.
After Santee left the house and a walked a little way down the street, he backtracked through his neighbors’ backyards and retrieved the bag.
Then he hauled butt toward the forest. When he was almost to Beckett’s, Santee stopped and changed his clothes, leaving his work uniform in the bag by where the snare had caught him the day before.
That way he remembered where he’d hidden it.
Now that he was dressed in street clothes, Santee walked the rest of the way to Beckett’s backyard, circling around to the front so he could ring the doorbell, his nerves a chaotic mess.
Chapter Four
“Just remember, take it slow and let him set the pace,” Bran said as the doorbell rang.
Beckett frowned. “I know how to date someone, Bran. Three therapy sessions and now you think you’re some love advice doctor.”
Bran smiled. “That’s not what I go to therapy for.”
Beckett knew why Bran went, and every time he thought about what the guy’s stepfather had done to him, Beckett wanted to dig up the bastard’s grave and kill him all over again.
The doorbell rang again.
“Go find something to do,” Beckett said to Bran as he approached the front door. “And no spying on us.”
