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Farrow runs a finger over his lip piercing. “You said you’re going to protect him, Lo. So if your fucking plan is to send him back to South Philly to speak to his father, you better not hang him out to dry. Or else I’ll have a problem with you.” Dad wears another half-smile. “Spoken like a true brother.” “I’m serious.” “As am I.” He shifts his weight, his sarcasm replaced with real gravity. “I’m going to protect him. I promise you that.”
“It’s your lock screen?” Mom asks. “Yeah.” “Don’t delete it,” she says fast like I’m already on the verge, but I haven’t even unlocked the phone yet. “Just change the lock screen to something else while this thing is going on.”
Donnelly has made me feel like my galaxy is the happiest, most exhilarating place to be, even if I’m the only one there.” I drop my head and gaze back at our photo. “He treats me like I’m his moon. His stars. Like I’m the person who makes him glad it’s today and there’ll be a tomorrow, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been that for anyone who’s not my family.” I’m important to someone. I’m not a failure. I’m not a fuck-up or future screw-up to Donnelly. I’m someone worth something. And he’s worth everything to me.
Tears have flooded her reddened gaze. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, Luna.” She smiles tearfully over at me but quickly focuses on driving. “You know, it makes sense then.” She wipes at the corners of her eyes with her sleeve. “What does?” “Why he’s trying to protect his moon, his stars.” My heart fills, but it’s a little cracked, leaking. “I want to protect him too.”
Today’s Focus: show Luna I still love her, even if I can’t date her.
It’s not the question Farrow poses though. Instead, he asks, “You going to answer me or just breathe heavy on the phone?” “Must be getting me confused with Oliveira. He’s the mouth breather,” I whisper. “At least he answers my questions,” Farrow refutes. “You okay?” “Fine,” I lie. “How’s she?” “She’s not doing fine,”
“I’m not planning on leaving her or anything. We’re still friends.” “I know,” Farrow breathes out. “She knows that?” Maybe I need to reassure her more. Maybe I didn’t do a good job on the Hale’s roof. Can’t even remember all the things I said. Everything is a fucking blur. My vision gets hazy as tears invade, and I wipe them away roughly. “It wouldn’t hurt to tell her again,” Farrow says.
I say the first thing I think. “I ruined Hale Family Dinner.” “Loren ruined Hale Family Dinner,” Farrow refutes roughly. “Man, that’s not on you.”
As I reach the wide hallway, the front door not even in view, I skid to a sudden stop. Mostly because of my pole-vaulting pulse. I try to catch my breath, and I glance down. A tuxedo cat is blocking my next move. Toodles stares me down like we’re in a western.
Lol
“You gonna move?” I ask him. He doesn’t blink. “Shoo.” I swat a hand in the air. He doesn’t budge. “I’m just trying to get to the elevator.” I want to greet her as soon as she arrives, and if I’m honest with myself, I know it’s not Toodles the fucking chunk monster barring me from stepping forward. I could easily outmaneuver this pudgy cat.
He slowly extends a white paw, creeping towards me. “I’m not.” I’m not. He’s gonna pounce. I let out a gnarled groan. “You know, pussies and I have a longstanding history, and they usually love me.” My voice rises. He hisses. “What? You don’t like being called a pussy? It’s what you are, man. A pussy cat. Look in the mirror.”
Lol
Being on Lo’s shitlist, I can handle, but if I’m on Lily’s, I dunno…I think I’d still go fling myself off this planet and sob.
“I heard you were coming back,” I say. “Just wanted to wait up for you.”
“I won’t let anything hurt her.” I just say it. I believe it. I’d rather be bait and roadkill than let a single soul harm Luna Hale. And I plan to prove it. “Just don’t give up on each other,” Lily suddenly says, and I realize she’s gazing at the last sight of Luna too. “Even if it’s hard to wait it out. It’ll be worth it in the end.”
She’s quiet, and I try not to startle her. “Luna?” Her gaze descends to her feet. “Hi.” “Hey.” I walk farther inside and set the meatloaf and utensils on her dresser. “You wanna talk about it?” She tucks a strand of light brown hair behind her ear. “About us?” “About us and whatever’s bothering you…”
I instinctively clasp her hand, encasing mine around hers. “You were upset. Being emotional doesn’t mean you’re immature. I think you’re just not used to it.” “To what?” she murmurs. “Showing people your emotions. At least the sad and dark ones.” Luna responds so quietly that I almost mishear her say, “It’s been easier with you.”
I grip the edge of her desk where the fishbowl rests, steadying myself. “We’re not less,” I say. “We’ll never be less.” I’m not sure if it’s the truth or if I’m just hoping.
“We’re not more than friends.” Luna blinks, and her face cinches like she’s been stabbed. “Oh…” My throat swells. “Not yet,” I remind her. “We can be more than friends after I take care of my family situation. But I made a promise to your dad to wait for you, and I am very shit at keeping my promises to him. But this one, I want to keep. I need to keep.”
“I’m going to make it easy for you.” Don’t. My eyes burn. “Don’t make it easy.” “I don’t want to be a reason you break a promise,” she says more quietly. “You won’t be.” I skate a hand through my hair. “I just don’t want avoidance to be a thing here.” I don’t want to lose you, Luna. I don’t want her to fall in love with someone else. I don’t want her to leave me. She thinks. “Just friends?” “Friends,” I nod. “Only friends.”
She says, “And we’re the kind of friends that don’t fuck each other.” I laugh. “Girl, that’s ninety-nine percent of my friendships.” I tilt my head. “The one percent was always just you.” She was the only friend I’ve ever fucked.
“Nah, it’s gonna be very difficult to keep my hands off you, space babe.” She nods, like she gets it. “Same.” Same.
“I want to know more about you too,” I cement. “Whatever you want to give me, especially if it’s everything.” “Will you give me everything?” she asks. Yes, is the first gut reaction. I’ll give you my world. Except there are dark parts of my world that I’d rather she never really see. So I end up saying, “I’m gonna try.” “Same.”
She nods like she gets it. “Just friends.” “Only friends. Who happen to share a bathroom, but this isn’t to be used and abused for secret rendezvous and whatnot. Gotta keep it rated G for the lava lamp and company.”
“Yeah?” I ask. She has a hand on Orion’s furry belly, and she gives me the saddest smile I’ve ever seen. “I’m really glad we’re still friends.” I hate this so much. “Me too, sad alien.”
Important: make sure Luna knows she’s still loved. Try not to fuck your favorite friend. Don’t jump her bones (seriously).
Water: don’t be a thirsty bitch (except when it comes to your girl). Is she mine? Chug H20 all day.
Question of the Day: Can I take Luna to the Fanaticon Convention in December? Is a butterfly kiss considered a real kiss? Is Ryke Meadows’ secretly Loren Hale’s hit man?
Lol i love these questiobs
XANDER’S DAD
LMAO
As soon as I ask, a six-foot-seven Moretti arrives. Toothpick between his lips, gray sweatpants low on his waist, he whispers to Akara. That’s Banks. For me, it’s too easy to tell the Moretti brothers apart, especially with how Akara unwinds more around Banks, and those two interact like they share a secret world. They do share a wife, and I suppose they share each other too. I think they’re lucky to have found love that’s worth pushing through all havoc. Love that endures together is the toughest love. The strongest.
He bites on the toothpick. “You going to see Connor Cobalt like that?” Like a million bucks? I look classy. I’m wearing a black band tee and ripped jeans. I even put on a watch. “Papa Cobalt hates AC/DC or what?” I ask. Akara tells Banks, “I haven’t told him about the call yet.” “He looks fine.” Thatcher has arrived, dressed in his Sunday best: charcoal button-down, black slacks. It’s the fall. He should be popping out the flannels. “All your flannels in the wash?”
LMAO
He can’t come with me too. I don’t even want my boss as a tagalong, really. Thatcher curls a strand of longish hair behind his ear, just so he can fit in the comms piece. “I’m going to the Cobalt Estate with you.” No. “Again, I haven’t told him what’s going on,” Akara says, checking the time on his watch. “We need to head out. Where’s Farrow?” Farrow? Like demon magic, my best friend suddenly appears. He’s wearing his usual black V-neck tucked into belted black pants.
omg what's happening and why are they all dressed nice???
“Connor is going over the strategy for this afternoon,” Akara starts explaining to me. I’m looking between the four of them across the kitchen. “For this afternoon?” How much do they actually know? “You’re meeting with your dad,” Akara says. “For lunch,” Thatcher adds. What the fuck?!
Fuck Xander’s dad. For expanding this team-up to include not only his friend (Connor), but my friends too. We could’ve done this without anyone else knowing. Akara continues, “Connor wants to ensure we’re all on the same page. Especially if you need back-up.” “Nice and all, but I don’t need back-up.” I look straight at Farrow. He knows why. He’d ask for the same thing. He says nothing. Just holds my gaze.
“Then what’s Farrow doing here?” I gesture to my best friend. “I’m not leaving you, man.” His gaze drills into me with this familiarity. Years of being there. Of never truly leaving. And it’s a comfort that I shouldn’t need. I know I can survive without it. “I can do this myself,” I tell him. “I’m gonna do this myself.” I look between them. “Appreciation, really, but you all should kick back and have a happy Thursday. I’ll give you a detailed report on what went down. Cool?”
“No,” Akara says with crinkled brows, like I’ve hopped in Luna’s spaceship and flown away. I wish. “It’s not cool. It’s actually uncool.” “Akara—” “This isn’t up for debate. Connor called. He wants us there. We’re going. And just so you know, I would’ve fought to go if he said we couldn’t. You’re my man, Donnelly. I’m not letting you handle this alone.”
I run a hand down my face. “What’s wrong here?” Akara asks with genuine concern, pocketing his phone. “Help me out, because I don’t understand why you have a problem.” “This was supposed to be just me and Lo and maybe Connor. No one else.”
“You should’ve gone to Akara first,” Thatcher says like I broke a sacred rule, and I did jump the hierarchy. Just didn’t know it’d evolve into this. “Sorry, boss,” I tell Akara. “Next time I’ll write you a sympathy card.” Thatcher glares. Akara sighs. At least Banks is grinning. Farrow raises his brows at Thatcher and says, “You really want to smack him with the rulebook right now?” Thatcher lets out a rough, deep noise. “I’m not just saying it as his lead.” He turns to me. “Why trust Connor and Lo over us? Over Farrow and Oscar? Akara could’ve helped. I could’ve helped. We all could’ve helped
...more
I glance at the exit. “Can’t you take a backseat on this one though? You all need to take a backseat.” My heart rate is out of control, and I try to steady my breath. “Why?” Akara asks. “You’re all about to be dads!” I shout and look to Farrow. “Fuck, you’re about to have a second baby. Your job should be protecting clients and your newborns. Not me. I’ve got this covered, so just take a backseat. Please.” It’s my last solid plea.
Farrow breathes. “You can do this on your own. You can.” “Why didn’t you tell Akara that?” I ask quietly. He looks to the left, gathering his thoughts, then comes back to me. “We can do everything alone, you and me. Because we have done everything alone, Donnelly. See, I always thought our independence was a strength.” He pauses. “But it’s not always one. We’ve just learned how to live without the things we really need.”
Even trying to be with Luna has a lot of complications, but actually being with her could cause waves too, I know that. It’d mean that over 50% of Kitsuwon Securities 24/7 bodyguards are romantically involved with clients. A number that won’t be favorable to any of us, most especially Akara.
“Let’s clear the room,” Connor says to someone. “I only want Price, Akara, and our bodyguards present. The rest can wait in the library.” “Uh-uh, you’re not going anywhere,” Lo says to another person, and it takes me a second to find him in the crowd. He’s speaking to Farrow. “You. Stay.” Everyone begins to filter out of the office, but Connor also calls out, “Thatcher.” He motions the unshaven, stoic bodyguard to return to the room, and the door shuts. It’s clear they called back their sons-in-law.
This is my first time in his personal office. I know, it surprises me too, considering I used to be an honorary Cobalt. Self-proclaimed, but I figured I was meant for the lion’s den. Not whatever animal hidey-hole the Hales are living in. My feelings have shifted so much, I have vertigo—dizzy at the realization that I couldn’t care less about being here. I just wanna be with her. This is what it’s going to take. And I need to keep everyone safe. I have to.
“Whatever you need me to do,” I say, opening a floodgate I can’t close. “Before you go to lunch, we need to verify some of the information we have,” Connor says. Lo lowers the tablet. “When the hell did his family tree get updated? And why is it on an infinite scroll?”
Lmao
“The PIs missed two of his grandfather’s brothers,” Connor says. “They’ve been fired.” Damn. “You fired my uncles?” I joke. Connor skips over my weak shot at humor. Tough crowd. “You call them uncles?” I shift forward on the chair. It squeaks. “They’re my dad’s uncles.” “That’s not what I asked,” Connor says casually, calmly. I scan him, waiting for the dark signs of hatred to appear. “Uh, yeah. I call them my uncles.”
“Paddy, I think is still in prison. Raff, I dunno.” “He’s been recently let out,” Connor confirms. I stare off. “Yeah, I didn’t know that.” “What’s that look?” Lo asks me, his frown deepening. It causes bodyguards to step around my chair and examine my face. I can tell Thatcher follows Tony like he’s keeping a close eye on him. The only person behind me is Farrow. Heat gathers under my AC/DC shirt, but I force myself not to tug the collar. “I don’t like him.”
Wait did her assult him????
Gears click strangely in my head. “How’d you even miss Uncle Raff?” “Why do you ask?” Connor studies me. I’ve dreamed about Papa Cobalt looking me over like I’m a legend. Now I’m just associated with criminals. Now I’m just a rat. Loyalty has been a strength of mine, but to be loyal to the people I care about, I need to betray my whole family. A family who’d sell me out so fast—I’m more than aware of that.
“Ryan Donnelly, Patrick Donnelly—the ones with the restraining orders for trying to attack Beckett,” I say. “Those are Raff’s grandsons.” Lo slowly trains his glare at the ceiling. “Jesus Christ, how’d we screw up this jigsaw puzzle?” “I didn’t,” Connor says, his voice carrying little inflection. “My PI did.”
“These are your Uncle Finley’s grandsons?” Connor asks. “Nah, none of Uncle Finn’s kids have dark hair like that. Most are scrawny too. Those are definitely Raff’s grandkids.” Before he asks, I say, “I don’t know how many Patrick Donnellys and Ryan Donnellys there are. Probably a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another Paul.”
“Akara, email Donnelly the family tree,” Connor says, but to me, he adds, “in your free time, look through this and correct all inaccuracies. Fill in any blanks.” I nod a couple times.
“What about your mom’s family?” Price asks me now. “Um…” I go rigid and shake my head. “Never met them.” “Why not?” he wonders. “They sorta disowned my mom, from what my grandmom told me. My mom never liked talking about it.” I look to my right. Why do I wish Luna was here? “What’d your mom do wrong?” Tony asks. I rub the back of my skull. “She had me.” I drop my hand, then stand up. Needing air, needing…out?
