I tense.
I’m fighting through a steel castle just to be welcomed into the Cobalt Empire, but the closer I am to them, the further I am from the Hales. Every time the three families have trivia nights, sandcastle competitions, relay races—I want to be on my girlfriend’s side. And it’ll be a feat to make it happen.
Team Cobalt.
Team Jane.
But I can’t stand hurting Xander.
I slowly screw the cap onto my water. “I wish you were my little brother, but you’re someone else’s.” It kills me to say that out loud. “Maximoff and even Farrow will be there for you for the rest of your life when I can’t be.”
He has to let me go.
I have to let him go. I shouldn’t be on his detail. It’s not good for either of us.
His eyes redden. “Yeah.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “I just wish I could have all of you. Moffy, Farrow, you, and Banks. I know it’s selfish.”
I rub my mouth, bruise and cut visible from O’Malley’s punch, and then I drop my arm. “I didn’t plan on loving Jane.”
I couldn’t stop it from happening. And now I’m doing everything I can to keep her in my arms.
“I know.” Xander shoots his empty can into a trash bin. “‘Love is the death of duty.’” He quotes Game of Thrones again. “I always figured you’d eventually break the rules for someone you love. I just thought it’d be for Banks.”
I take a tight breath.
I was never put in a position where I’d need to break rules for my brother, but I guess we’re breaking them together now.
“Just so you know,” Xander quickly adds, “I like that you and my cousin are together.” He picks at his fingernail nervously. “I was hard on Moffy and Farrow, and I hated that I was—and I don’t want to do that again. I know Jane looks happy. You seem happy too, and I can handle this.” He mutters under his breath to himself, “I can handle this.”
“You can,” I reinforce.
Xander nods more, then hops back on the skateboard. “Hey, can you not mention to Donnelly that I’m worried he thinks I’m boring?”
I hold back a small, fleeting smile. “Yeah.” Donnelly might actually be good for him. Even if Xander goes outside just to impress a bodyguard, it means he’s braving the world.
We chat more about the twin swap, and then Donnelly arrives with hot hoagies from Wawa.
For lunch, we stay professional and keep quiet near the desk. Xander slouches on a red beanbag, reading a fantasy paperback and biting into a meatball hoagie.
I peel the paper off mine. “Where’d you rack out last night?” I whisper to Donnelly. I heard Epsilon threw his luggage on the lawn, and ever since he hooked up with Luna, I feel accountable for what happens to them. Almost like a fucking accomplice, and I can’t report him to the Tri-Force.
I wouldn’t risk his career.
I just want to make sure they’re both safe in whatever they’re doing. Just like Jane does.
He sips a fountain drink. “Couch in security’s townhouse.”
“You can room with my brother.”
“Nah.” Donnelly picks up his hoagie. “He already offered, and Farrow even said I could crash in his room. But the couch is fire.” He takes a huge bite and mumbles, “Just like this hoagie.”
I lean on the desk and lower my voice. “So you didn’t sneak into Luna’s bed?”
He chokes a little, then shakes his head. “Nah, man.” He glances quickly at Xander, then back to me. “It was just that one time—”
His voice slices in half as boxing gloves topple off the desk. Probably from my weight against the wood, and as he picks them up, more shit starts falling. I set down my hoagie and crouch.
I start gathering items, and I move slower as I find a Celebrity Crush tabloid and three Famous Now magazines.
Donnelly frowns. “I thought he’s not supposed to read that.”
“He’s not.” I fan open a Famous Now, worried he’s hiding something. I land on the Alphas Like Us column series—the one that documents Maximoff and Farrow’s life.
Their couple pictures are haphazardly cut out. I don’t know what the hell he’s doing.
Donnelly flips through the Celebrity Crush, the tabloid also clipped and sheared. He pauses on an article.
The Hales, Meadows, and Cobalts—they’re like us! They read books. They love movies. They go shopping!
The title: Sexy Like Us
This photo isn’t missing. I’m with Jane. We’re leaving a cat shelter, and I’m putting my brown leather jacket on her shoulders.
She was cold.
I wish I could just drink in us, but my eyes instantly narrow on Tony. In the photo, he’s out in front with a shit-eating grin. He was an asshole that night.
It’s starting to become routine, and I don’t want to be desensitized to his bullshit. Because I don’t want him to stay her bodyguard.
Get your head on straight.
We sift through the other tabloids. Only pictures of Maximoff and Farrow are cut out.
“I can explain.”
Our heads swerve to our client.
Xander stands close, breathing hard. “Those aren’t mine. They’re Kinney’s—she had this great idea for Moffy and Farrow’s Christmas present this year. And it requires that.” He points at the tabloids.
I frown, confused as all hell.
Donnelly grins. “You’re making a collage?”
“Yeah.” Xander cringes. “I know, it’s dumb—”
“It’s dope, man.” Donnelly rises with me. “Farrow will love this shit.” He laughs.
“Oh…right. Awesome.” Xander starts to smile.
I stack the magazines back on his desk. “Why not just use personal photos?”
“Luna said we should branch out or whatever.” He shrugs. “My sisters just think it’ll be cool to use pictures they probably haven’t seen.”
They shoot the shit for a second, and I zero in on the cover of Celebrity Crush.
A tagline: read inside to find out which other Hales, Meadows, and Cobalts are dating their bodyguards!
Fuck.
My jaw tenses, and I flip to page twelve. I’m not aware of what the leads know anymore because Akara is sharing jack shit with me. I can only hope they’re on top of rumors.
Quickly, I read the article.
HOLY SECRETS, BATMAN!
Security Force Omega is a total sham. We’ve learned from a reliable source that the bodyguard hotties, hired to protect the famous families, are nothing more than a front hiding their real purpose.
Two bodyguards have already come clean, and we’re waiting for the rest—but it’s clear to Celebrity Crush and our source that every bodyguard is actually the boyfriend to who they protect.
The couples:
Sullivan Meadows & Akara Kitsuwon
Charlie Cobalt & Oscar Oliveira
Beckett Cobalt & Paul Donnelly
Luna Hale & Quinn Oliveira