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Ten
Tyler stared at his brother, sickness rising in his throat. “No more innocents. You promised.”
“No, I didn’t. You made a request, and I said I’d consider it.”
A request. So casual, like Tyler had asked for a steak and gotten a hamburger instead. When had his brother become this hateful creature? This heartless thing with a black soul, incapable of caring for anyone, except maybe Tyler? He doubted even that, at times.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Tyler said.
The other man chuckled. “Ever the peacemaker, aren’t you? It was the same when we were in that horrible place, taking all the abuse they dished out. Bound to their whims with no choice.”
“I think you just like making others suffer,” Tyler accused. “Bowman and his damn experiments only brought out the ugliness that was already lurking underneath the surface, as they were meant to do. You reveled in being taught to kill, as much as you like to blame him and Chase for what you are.”
“What I am,” Parker mused. Stepping closer to the bed, he laid a hand on Tyler’s leg, the cold clamminess of it seeping through the covers. “What I am? You lie here day after day, and you say nothing about me to anyone. And do you know why? Because you’re loyal to me. What does that make you?”
His stomach turned. “You’re my brother, but I’m nothing like you.”
“Aren’t you?” Parker laughed softly. “Blood is thicker than water, and I saved you. Remember that.”
No, the Alpha Pack had saved Tyler. But he wisely kept his mouth shut.
“I’ll see you later.” With a flutter of his coat, his brother was gone, passing the nurse who was on his way into the room.
Tyler tried not to tremble as Noah started checking his vitals. Tried to appear normal.
He was so afraid. Had no idea where to turn. The threat had been there, unspoken. But a threat all the same.
Brother or not, Parker would kill him for saying a word about his existence.
“Hey, did I hear you say that guy is your brother?” Noah asked, cutting Tyler a curious look as he checked his temperature. “I thought you told me he was a friend of yours.”
He fumbled for a way to cover his blunder. “Yes, but he’s like a brother. We call each other that, you know?”
“Hmm. Yeah, I guess I do.” Noah busied himself, but didn’t remark on Tyler’s visitor again.
Once the nurse was gone, Tyler slumped in his bed and agonized over what to do. If he warned someone, even anonymously, Parker would know it as him. Would the Pack be able to keep me safe?
He wasn’t sure. That troubling thought chased him into an uneasy sleep.
* * *
“Hey, Jacee?”
She looked up from wiping the bar as Jack approached. “Yeah, boss?”
“It’s dead today, so go on home if you want. I’ve got Tracy coming in to cover the evening shift.”
“You sure?”
“Yep, take off before I change my mind.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
Collecting her purse, she clocked out and left. She’d barely put in seven hours today, but it always felt longer when they weren’t busy. The time tended to drag unless the place was hopping with business.
Though she knew it was probably too early, she was hoping to see Micah’s motorcycle in the driveway when she got home. No such luck, though. She was more than a little bummed, but her mate had a job to do, same as she did. The bills didn’t stop coming just because you’d found your other half.
Climbing out of the car, she walked up to the porch, up the steps, and let herself in the front door. For a moment, she stood in the tiny foyer and daydreamed about the kind of house she and Micah might build. It didn’t have to be huge but definitely bigger. With a circular driveway in front. Maybe it would even lead around to a side garage and a more private entrance. Studying her small living room, she decided something more open and spacious would be nice. They could have friends over, barbecue, laze around, and not be sitting on top of one another.
