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Me: What else have you been doing while I’ve been busting my ass?
Arsehole: Dealing with a run-in with Tamsin. Kinsey was in an altercation, but she’s fine.
I growl and throw my phone, watching it hit the chair in the study. Kinsey was in a fight under his watch? He’s in so much damn trouble. If he thinks I was busting my ass here, he better brace himself. I’m going to whoop him like our dad used to do to us when we were teens.
My phone dings several more times as I compose myself, doing my best not to shove my father’s casket off its rollers and onto the floor. It would serve him right. I don’t even want him in here, but it is what it is. The study is open for those closest to him to view and visit until the celebration tomorrow.
Snatching my phone up, I glance at the screen.
Arsehole: Enzo, don’t be mad at Arsenio. You should’ve seen me. I stabbed her.
Arsehole: She had to beg for my forgiveness.
Arsehole: Mr. Donahue sees her for the pathetic alpha she is.
Arsehole: Holly was so brave too. You’d be proud.
I can only imagine what kind of trouble the two of them got into together. They like to test the boundaries. Kinsey would’ve never let Holly participate in a drug deal alone. I know her well enough to know that she would’ve protected her.
Me: I’m so proud of you, baby, but I also want to bend you over my knee and smack that ass of yours. You could’ve gotten seriously hurt. If anything ever happened to you, I would never survive it.
Arsehole: Don’t talk like that. I’m a little badass. I’ll only get stronger. You’re going to ensure it.
A smile crosses my face, and I squeeze my phone as if I can squeeze Kinsey in a hug. I hadn’t realized how much I really missed her and how much I hate being apart even if it was just for the night.
Me: Damn straight, I will. Now hurry your ass home. I’ve been forced to plan this funeral bullshit on my own, and I could really use your smile.
Arsehole: Oh, Enzo. I’d have helped had I known.
Me: I wouldn’t have let you. This isn’t your burden. I would never allow you to help me carry this shit. You can just make me feel better after. I can’t wait for our night.
Arsehole: The wait will be worth it.
Me: I know.
I tuck my phone away and stroll toward the study door, making my way to the library where Desmond and Wilder hunch forward in their chairs, staring at the papers spread out across the coffee table.
I swallow my jealousy, knowing that Wilder is discussing plans for Platinum Shores with Desmond. He knew I wanted that territory. It would’ve been tough to constantly have to move back and forth to see Kinsey, but I’d have done it. It’s just that I’ve always been last as the youngest. I know Desmond can handle it, but...I’m an asshole.
I knock my knuckles on the doorframe, grabbing their attention. “Did you guys know Arsenio kept Kinsey and Holly out all night? They’re on their way back now.”
Wilder flicks his attention to me and nods. “Did you ignore the group text?”
I scrunch my nose and pull up my phone, noticing unread text messages from five different packs, along with the group chat I have with my brothers and Holly. I probably just saw Wilder’s name flash across my screen and ignored him, knowing he’d come to me if he really needed something.
I scratch my neck. “I’ve been busy. It seems like I missed a lot of bullshit.”
“It’s better that way, Enzo. You have a lot to deal with. I know this can’t be easy on you.” Desmond gets to his feet and saunters to my side, draping his arm over my shoulders. “We all know he was a dick, but you were his favorite, and he wasn’t—”
“I hope he rots in hell,” I say, growling as I step away from his attempt to console me as if I’m grieving instead of pissed the fuck off that our father ever put us in this position to begin with. “I’d much rather just dump him somewhere.”
Wilder sighs and straightens his back. “We’d all like that, but this is protocol. We have to show respect in front of the other leaders of the Pack Regimes. They can’t know the changes we are planning. Naming Desmond as the leader was tricky enough.”
I remain expressionless. I have to remind myself that Desmond is worthy of being the face of a new territory connected with ours. Our ability to work together and see each other as equal is what will help progress our desires. Not many other packs work like a democracy. Many of them have their leader who makes all the decisions on everyone’s behalf. Mostly, they make their choices based on what suits them best without consideration for anyone else.
“Fine. We’ll go through with the ceremonial pyre and be done with it.” I hang my head, staring at the floor. The last funeral I attended was Holly’s, and before that, my mom’s. But this is unlike theirs. For one, Holly’s was for show. I was too young to even really process my mother’s.
Because I pulled the trigger on my father, I’ll be the one standing before our people. I need to ensure that they truly know my act was justified. I cannot have anyone question it.
