Page 191 of Wicked Brutal

Nobody laughs at that. Kaiden’s hand stills on Cat’s thigh. Xander looks down at Penny. Danny’s thumb moves over Becca’s knuckles. Because every guy sitting here understands exactly what she meant.

“She said everybody’s controlling something right now. Roman decides where she goes. Victor decides what she’s supposed to become. Her teachers are watching her. Daniel watches her. And then I decide what she can handle because I’m scared.”

Cat’s expression softens. “That probably hurt.””

Penny nods slowly. “What did you say?”

“That I’m fucking terrified.”

Iz’s eyebrows shoot up. “Whoa.”

“Don’t.”

“No, I’m enjoying this.”

“I’ll throw you over the wall.”

He holds up his hands. “Continue your emotional development.”

I flip him off. I look down at the table. “I told her I’m trying to control too many variables because I can’t control the one thing that actually matters.”

“Her,” Cat says.

“Yeah. And the baby. And Tobias. All of it. I can find people. Track shit. Build timelines. Arthur can file things. Walter can call people. We can plan twenty different exits. None of it changes the fact that Roman could decide tomorrow he’s done waiting.”

Kaiden nods. “And Ally can’t control that either.”

“Exactly.”

“So you yelled at each other?” Danny asks.

I laugh once. “Oh, we fucking yelled.”

“How bad?” Xander asks.

“She shoved me.”

Cat’s eyes light up. “Good.”

“Twice.”

“Better.” She catches my look. “Because yesterday you threw her notebook on the floor.”

“I remember what I did.”

Penny points at Cat. “I would’ve gone for the balls.”

“See?” Cat says. “Ally showed restraint.”

Becca laughs. “She really is growing.”

I shake my head. “Anyway, eventually we stopped yelling.”

There’s a beat. Kaiden looks at me. Xander looks at me. Danny looks at me.

Then Iz looks at all four of us. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

I take a drink. “What?”