Phoenix nodded and rose to his feet.
I’d made him a promise. Funny thing was, I had totally forgotten about the promise and now that Phoenix had reminded me, I knew I couldn’t go back, not on a blood oath, no matter how old I was when I made it.
I sent a quick text to Chase.
BATCAVE
He replied right away.
OMW
The only good part about my day was that I was going to see Trace again, but technically that could be defined as bad, considering I’d pushed her almost-naked form away from me this morning.
Shit, she’d looked good.
Damn.
Hell.
There weren’t enough curse words in the world to describe how irritated I was with my decision to push her into Chase’s arms. But really, what choice did I have?
I needed her alive more than I needed my next breath. Even if it meant she would never be mine. I needed her to be okay.
I went into the Elect hangout and rummaged around in the fridge for a sandwich.
Giggling interrupted my hunt. What the hell?
Whispers and then more giggling.
I shut the fridge and walked over to the spare bedroom and opened the door.
“Tex?”
Tex tumbled out of the bed, using the sheet to cover his body. I rolled my eyes and was briefly traumatized over the fact I was about to see my sister naked, when… my eyes saw blond hair, not brown.
“Son of a bitch,” I yelled and lunged for Tex. His eyes widened briefly before he backed up.
“Wait!” He put his hands up. “I can explain.”
“Make it fast.” I clenched my teeth and leaned in. “Because I’m about five seconds away from murdering you!”
“Mo knows!” Tex held up his one hand in front of himself. “We broke up! Okay?”
“So if I call her right now, and ask her if you guys are dating, she’ll say no?”
“No.” Tex cursed. “Because we decided this family had enough drama going on, without us adding to it.”
“I still don’t believe you.” I crossed my arms. “You’ve been sneaking in and kissing and—”
“Wow, you really don’t know your sister as good as you think you do.”
“I have a gun,” I pointed out. “Don’t piss me off.”
“Go away!” Tex yelled at the girl in the bed. She grabbed her clothes and scurried out of the room as fast as her bare legs could take her. Tex sat on the bed and cursed. “She’s scared shitless, man.”
“Who is?”
“Mo!” Tex yelled. “See? This is what I mean! Everyone’s so damn worried about Trace and her grandfather and Luca, but shit, Nixon! Your sister just lost her father a few months ago. You’re all she has and you aren’t making it better by acting like you’re five seconds away from losing it whenever we’re all together.”
“I don’t know what you mean—”
“Shut the hell up,” Tex snorted. “I’ve known you since we were three and were forced to play in the same sandbox. You’re freaking out over Trace and I bet you aren’t sleeping, not with Chase in the same room as she is.”
Damn him for knowing that.
“Everything’s under control,” I snapped.
“It’s not!” Tex sighed. “Shit, I’m like one day away from stealing pot from one of my dad’s men just so I can get high and pretend I don’t have something stuck up my ass.”
“Good plan.” I sat on the bed and faced him.
“Clearly, I haven’t thought it through,” Tex grumbled. “The point is, I stay with Mo every night because she has nightmares. She’s scared, Nixon. We all are. It’s not just about you and Trace. It’s about all of us. Someone’s leaking information and until we find out who betrayed whom and who’s talking… we’re all on the chopping block.”
“He’s right,” Chase said from the doorway. Trace was standing behind him, a confused look on her face.
“He’s naked.” Trace pointed at Tex as he covered himself with a sheet and cursed.
“Shit man,” Chase chuckled. “Didn’t know you’d be desperate enough to switch teams since you can’t have a girlfriend anymore.”
“Shut up,” Tex and I said in unison.
Still laughing, Chase nodded to Tex. “I take it you and Mo aren’t an item anymore?”
“Who says ‘item’?” Trace nudged him from behind and rolled her eyes. “And no, they aren’t an item, weirdo. They’re on a much-needed break.”
“Thanks,” Tex interjected. “I knew Mo would tell you.”
“I know all.” Trace sighed.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and looked at all the expectant faces. Even though Trace wasn’t technically part of the Elect, anything that happened with Phoenix directly affected her.
I walked to the door and shut it, cloaking all of us in silence as I ran my fingers through my hair and cursed. “Phoenix wants me to kill him.”
“Do it,” Chase snorted. “No, actually, allow me.”
“That sly son of a bitch,” Tex snorted. “He’s calling up the oath we made that night, isn’t he?”
“Yup.” I bit down on my lip ring and glanced quickly at Trace. It was impossible to read her expression, but if I was a betting man, I’d say she was pissed.
“We made that damn oath when we were fifteen.” Chase moved to stand in front of me. “No way in hell am I being that kind to him, not after what he did.”
“We”—I enunciated my words carefully—“made an oath. Regardless of age, we keep our promises. He wants us to return tomorrow. He’s going to die either way.”
“What?” Trace pushed Chase out of the way and approached me. Was it my fault that the minute she stepped within arm’s length it took every ounce of willpower I had not to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless? Damn, I missed her touch. I missed just being by her. It was killing me slowly from the inside out. “Why would he die either way?”
“Someone has something over him,” I answered honestly. “The way he tells it, he found out some information he should have never known and because of the knowledge he has, he’ll die either way. He’s afraid that if it gets into the wrong hands it won’t end well for any of us.”
“Well, great.” Trace put her hands on her hips. “So what do we do?”
Shit. I hated bringing her into my world, into my darkness. “We do what he asks. We kill him.”
“Tomorrow,” Tex agreed. “After our afternoon classes?”
Trace sighed. “You guys talk about death like it’s a doctor’s appointment or something.”
“Death always is,” I mumbled. “An appointment, I mean. We all have our time. Sometimes it’s not up to us to schedule it, sometimes we miss it, and other times…”
“Someone carries it out for you,” Chase finished.
Our gazes met.
Shit, as if I didn’t have enough stress in my life, he was looking almost… happy. There would be only one reason he was happy. Trace.
I looked between the two of them. Trace leaned her head on Chase’s shoulder and I had to look away. If I continued to stay focused on them then I wouldn’t be helping my family. I’d be useless.
“I need to go look over the accounts again for the De Langes. I still feel like I’m missing something.” I scratched my head and bit down on my lip. “I’ll see you guys back at the house tonight.”
I walked out of the room as fast as I could.
“Nixon,” Trace called from behind me. So close.
“What’s up?” I turned around and tried to smile, tried to look happy and indifferent when really my heart was slamming so hard against my chest that I was afraid she could hear it.
“Thank you…” She swallowed.
“For what?”
“For stopping at nothing to protect me.” She laughed awkwardly and looked behind her. “But mainly, for loving me.” Her eyes welled with tears. “So damn much.”