Page 44 of The Sound of Him

“You tell me.”

He sighs. “Fine. Yeah. Go ahead and tell him he can go. But tell him he better fucking see it as closure. And he can’t die.”

“I will.”

“And tell me when you send them out, alright? Message both phones in case I’m in a stupid fucking meeting or something.”

I smirk. “Okay.”

“And stop smirking.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

He scoffs and hangs up.

I let myself keep smirking for a few more seconds as I tap my screen to pull up Keaton’s number, hovering my thumb over the green icon to make the call.

And it’s then that I realize that I was kind of relying on Kellan to say no.

On top of everything else, I didn’t want to worry about Keaton too. He could get hurt. Or killed. Travis could tell him things that send him spinning worse than he already is. He could come home with a whole new pile of self-hatred and guilt. He could find out things about Bryce that break him.

He could let something slip that betrays who I am and all the lies I’ve told.

He could get to the end of the op and realize there’s no way in hell he can let these men go.

He could get closure, maybe, but… I don’t think he will.

Fuck, I really don’t think he will.

It’s too late now.

My computer monitor has a pop-up announcing a positive match.

I found Mica.

Despite the late hour, the guys are wide-awake and buzzing with anticipation as I give them the details of what I’ve been able to find.

Maison slips right into boss mode, hands on his hips as he makes decisions and gives orders. It was already decided before that Travis will go, mostly because he feels personally responsible for Mica, but Maison also wanted to get him the hell away from Carter for a while. He was obvious about it then, and he isn’t any more subtle now.

Travis is well aware of those feelings, if the way he keeps his head down and just says, “Yes, sir,” over and over is any indication.

It’s definitely a good thing Maison is injured because if he was capable of going with Travis himself, I’m not entirely sure they’d both make it back. If they’re going to have a heart-to-heart, oreven an all-out brawl, I’d prefer it happen here versus on an op in butt-fuck Mexico.

Maybe while Keaton works on Travis, I should try to talk to Maison. My to-do list is overflowing at the moment, and I can’t actually remember the last time I slept, but I owe Maison that. Not just as one of the men behind the decision to put his brother through hell, either. He’s my friend. He’s like a brother. I want him to be okay again.

Besides, there’s no way I’ll get much rest while Keaton and Travis are active. Not only because I love both of them, but also because Kellan would murder me.

“Jake?” Maison says, pulling me out of my worry-spiral. “You good to go?”

“I’d prefer Jake to stay here,” I lie. Or maybe it isn’t that much of a lie. I really could use the help here. Maison is trying his best, but he’s clearly about to hit a wall - and hit it hard. Jake doesn’t seem to mind, if the relief he’s currently trying to hide is any indication.

Travis is a little more apprehensive. “Uh - so me and Maison, then?”

“I need Maison to stay here to help me out with Jake. Plus, he’s injured. Just because he’s pretending he’s not doesn’t erase that,” I explain for Travis. When Maison bristles, I shoot him a look and a raised eyebrow. “Don’t even try it.”

“Fine,” Maison grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. The attitude would be more convincing if he didn’t immediately wince at the movement. “So, who? Hyde? Cash?”

I blink once, a normal blink, keeping my face and tone completely neutral. He knows Keaton - well, he knows him as Keats, the semi-retired operative. He’s worked with him on some side jobs, even. He likes him. Me suggesting him isn’t going to be strange. “Keats is available.”