So I leave for the garage, grab a toolbox, and Novak, Ben’s bodyguard, and I take the door off its hinges in a few minutes.
After all the kids leave and file out, I’m told that I’m “relieved” from my post. I’m back off-duty. Apparently Ryke and Rose are staying with Xander until his parents arrive. Lily and Lo will be with their son through the night, and so my job is done.
Just like that.
It’s hard to leave. But I have to trust that he’ll be fine, and I’ll see him tomorrow.
Epsilon and Alpha bodyguards pat my shoulders as I pass them out of the house. A small acknowledgement that, it’s okay. They don’t understand how difficult this night actually is for me.
They won’t.
Hell, I haven’t fully confronted what just happened.
And I know Thatcher will understand, but we have trouble surfacing some old history. I’m worried about my brother though. I don’t know how he’s dealing with this news from L.A.—and so I dial his number on my slow walk back to Epsilon’s mansion.
“I was just about to call you,” Thatcher tells me.
“He’s okay,” I say stiffly, my right hand cold. I only just now realize that I’m wearing one glove. I took the other off and ran to the Hale’s before I could put it back on.
Thatcher speaks under his breath. “Did he look upset?”
I bounce my head before saying, “Yeah.” I stare up at the falling snow. “He was sad.”
“Like last time?”
Yeah, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen him at a low and been there when he’s wanted to end his life…
I run my tongue over my molars, emotion balled up in my throat. “It wasn’t that bad,” I get out. “But I’m not saying it was good either—he’s okay.” I reinforce that. “How are you doing?”
“Fine. You?”
I rub my mouth. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He’s quiet.
I exhale the weight off my chest.
“Banks—”
“I don’t want to talk about him,” I say with more heat, breath visible in the cold. He knows I’m not referring to Xander.
I’m talking about our older brother who never lived past fifteen.
Thatcher pauses before saying, “I can fly back home.”
For me. “No,” I retort. “Don’t be a stunad, I’m fine.” I realize something fast though. “Unless you have to come home. You still have a job?”
“Still a strict-walking, no back-talking bodyguard, hell yeah.” Thatcher explains the new rules in order for Omega to keep their jobs after the video leak. One of which: they have to delete social media. I do too, but I’m only active on Facebook like Akara.
“Right on,” I say, and then we hang up.
On my walk to Epsilon’s mansion, my mind wanders. I run the back of my hand against my running nose while I remember him.
Skylar Moretti.
I remember that night he died.
The way my father yelled at Thatcher. We were just twelve. God, Thatcher rode a bike to catch up to Skylar at the quarry. He was too late.
Why did I have to ride a fucking bike tonight? Why was it even sitting against the mailbox? I reached Xander in time. But why was it me? Shouldn’t it have been Thatcher?
“Huh?” I look up at the sky, heat burning my lungs. “Why? This wasn’t my fucking redo.” I’m spiritual, maybe more so than my brother. And I’m superstitious.
It doesn’t make sense to me.
Why I had to be the one here tonight…
Why not give that absolution to my twin? That sense of accomplishment, of succeeding when you couldn’t the first time.
It stays with me the whole walk back. When I reach my residence, pain throbs my body again. Aches catching back up to me and amplified times ten, but I’m not ready to go inside.
I slip on the glove that I dropped and grab my shovel. Finishing the work that I started.
Thanks so much for reading this bonus scene! We can’t wait for you to read more about Banks, Sulli, and Akara in Fearless Like Us!
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MORE TO READ FROM KRISTA & BECCA
WHATEVER IT TAKES
New Adult Romance
She’s a shy wallflower who doesn’t like to be touched.
He’s the guy with the bad reputation who craves to touch her.
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Also by Krista & Becca
ADDICTED SERIES
Addicted to You
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Thrive
Addicted After All
The Addicted Series Box Set
BAD REPUTATION DUET
Whatever It Takes
Wherever You Are
CALLOWAY SISTERS SERIES
Kiss the Sky
Hothouse Flower
Fuel the Fire
Long Way Down
Some Kind of Perfect
LIKE US SERIES
Damaged Like Us
Lovers Like Us
Alphas Like Us
Tangled Like Us
Sinful Like Us
Headstrong Like Us
Charming Like Us
Wild Like Us
Fearless Like Us
Infamous Like Us
Misfits Like Us
Unlucky Like Us
STANDALONE ROMANCES
Amour Amour
Infini
About the Authors
ABOUT KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE
Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.
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