Page 45 of Defiance
Yeah.
He closed his eyes and willed himself to accept what Jacob was saying. “It’s a start, though.” Logan clung to that hope. He had to.
Jacob’s eyes softened as he met Logan’s gaze. “Yes, it is.”
Movement in the main office area caught Logan’s eye and he looked over as the last few pack members left for the night. Cracking his neck from side to side, Logan yawned, more than ready for this meeting to be over so he and Aaron could head home. The day had been a long one. “Is that all for now?”
“Almost.” Jacob stood, so they did too. “There’s one more thing I want you to start thinking about.” He met Logan’s gaze. “Michael’s been asking about Cole. He wants to observe him in training. And...” Logan knew what was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear. “He’s keen to give Cole his bite, sooner rather than later.” Walking around his desk, Jacob put his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “And he’s made an appointment with the pack’s tattoo artist for the day after tomorrow.” He pressed a card into Logan’s hand. “Make sure Cole doesn’t miss it.”
They left Jacob’s office in silence. The building might be nearly empty, but that didn’t mean it was safe to talk.
As soon as they were outside, Logan blew out a frustrated breath. It was later than he thought, the sun beginning to set, and the cooler evening breeze called to him. “Fuck. I could do with a run right now.”
Aaron grunted in agreement. He knocked his shoulder against Logan’s. “Six more days. We can manage that.”
Logan had his doubts, and when he glanced at Aaron, eyebrows raised, Aaron grinned back at him.
“I’ll rephrase. I can handle that. You...?” He shrugged and Logan rolled his eyes. Lowering his voice as they walked down the steps and headed to the car park, Aaron nudged him again. “You’ve been interrogated by Paul.” And Tim, but neither of them said that aloud. “You can wait six days to shift.”
“I know. And you’re right.” He glanced at Aaron and groaned. “I just really, really want to.”
“Yeah, me too.”
They walked the rest of the way in companionable silence, but as they neared the Jeep, Aaron put his hand on Logan’s arm. Voice soft, he asked, “Do you think my brother’s in Jersey?”
It was the last thing he’d expected Aaron to say, but it shouldn’t have been, and Logan cursed himself for not thinking about this sooner. Of course Aaron would be thinking about his brother.
Logan sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
Aaron blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair.
“How long have you been waiting to ask that?”
“Since Mothecombe.” He turned and leant against the car. “I know you can’t tell me—”
“Because I don’t know,” Logan said quickly. The last thing he wanted was for Aaron to think he wouldn’t tell him. “I never knew where any of them ended up before now. Not for certain, anyway.”
Aaron glanced up, expression worried. “I always thought he’d have been okay because at least he had you with him, but...”
Fuck.
Logan didn’t want to get into this now. They had so many other things to worry about. He didn’t want to add to it. But Aaron was his best friend, and this was his brother they were talking about. “Andrew was fearless, you know that.”
“He was.” Aaron laughed despite the tremor in his voice. “He was gentle and kind, and really fucking brave.” He sucked in a breath and Logan pulled him into a hug. “I miss him.”
“I know.”
“So fucking much.”
“Maybe,” Logan said softly, still holding him tight. “When this is all over, you might get to see him again.” It wouldn’t be anytime soon, but that had to be something they were working towards, right? Reconnecting all those families who’d been separated to avoid forced pack affiliation.
“Yeah.” Aaron wiped a hand across his eyes. “Maybe.” He gave Logan a squeeze, then stepped back, trying for a smile. “Let’s go feed that devil cat of yours and you can get me a beer.”
“She’s not adevilcat,” Logan muttered as he walked round to the driver’s side, but his lips curved up into a smile to match Aaron’s. “And she likes you.” As they got in the car and headed towards home, Logan glanced up at the moon and prayed Aaron would get to see his brother again.
And Cole his parents.
* * *
