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Sylvia made a little noise and then stood too, crossing all of her arms. Alex looked at her, and then me, his brows drawing together.
I knew he didn’t like being cornered or told what to do, but this was getting ridiculous.
“Also, how fucking dare you pull the boss card right now,” I snapped.
Inferna, Art, and Calen sipped their coffee, watching the three of us go back and forth silently.
Alex took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling for a moment to collect himself. I could feel the storm raging inside of him, and knew he could feel the one brewing in me. In Sylvia.
“No one has survived any of this by doing it alone,” I said.
“True,” Inferna echoed. “I think I have a plan, if you’d like to take a seat instead of being a jackass.”
“We need to go now to make sure they’re okay,” Alex said.
“Well, first, I need to get dressed. Art and Calen too. Then we will make sure Cinder, Mich, and Lora aren’t still home and that Alfred isn’t lying. We’ll give the three of you a couple minutes alone.”
I watched as the three of them got up and went to a bedroom at the end of the hall, the door slamming shut.
The tension between the three of us was thick enough to cut with a knife. Sylvia was the one to break it first, touching Alex’s shoulder with one of her hands.
He almost immediately relaxed, releasing a deep breath.
“I’m scared,” he whispered.
I went to the two of them, looking up at him. Sylvia’s hand slid into mine, giving me a soft squeeze.
“Alex,” I whispered. “I have known you for months. I have been working with you for months. I have been through several dire situations with you where lives have been at stake. Where people have been hurt. I have seen you lie and be vague and be an ass. I’ve seen all of these things, but I still accepted this relationship because I believe in the good that is in you. I believe that we don’t have to be alone anymore.”
He swallowed hard, his cheeks flushing for a moment. Sylvia gave my hand another squeeze, her breath hitching.
“I haven’t known you for long yet,” she said. “But I know how it feels to think you have to be the one to do everything, but turning yourself into a martyr will make everyone lose except him. We love you, Alex. Let us help.”
Alex was silent for a moment and then both of his arms circled us, pulling us close. Even though I was still a little angry, I still found myself pressing my face against his chest and Basking in the warmth of him. Breathing in his scent, the one that comforted me.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m stubborn. And I have my faults. I’m scared right now and I don’t want to lose anyone else. Cinder, Mich, and Lora could be in danger right now because of me, and the thought of them being hurt makes me feel so many different things.”
“We’re going to save them,” I said. “We’re going to save them and put an end to this. It’s going to be okay.”
Alex nodded and kissed the top of my forehead and then Sylvia’s.
We’d make it to the fucking weekend, even if it was the last thing I saw through.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
out of office
SYLVIA
We had a plan.It was a bad plan, a risky one, but a plan nonetheless.
Ember, Lea, and Minni had checked the house for Cinder, Mich, and Lora— and it was true. The three of them were gone. There had been signs of fighting, and Cinder had left a sign for Ember that was one they had made in case there was danger.
Ember stood next to me, the two of us watching the entrance to the building from across the street.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered.
“We’re going to have to play rock paper scissors over who gets to murder Alfred first,” she said, glaring.
