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“Okay, and then what?” Malakai challenged, still not convinced. He leaned forward in his seat, planting his elbows on his knees. “Say your group makes it to Roman’s house.” He pointed at Lacey. “Say Crazy Slade is there. Then you guys either a) get killed, worst case scenario. Or b) you need us to stage a rescue mission. There’s strength in numbers, and I’m not convinced splitting up is the right thing to do right now.”

“I think Travis and Kylar should be the ones to decide,” Ivy chimed in. “Pax and Eugene aretheirbrothers.”

Kylar’s gray eyes zeroed in on Travis, who looked a little more awake but no less distraught now that the topic had returned to his little brother. “What do you think?” Kylar asked him.

Travis thought it through. “I think we should wait,” he said, though the decision looked like it pained him. “As much as I want to find Pax, I think Malakai has a point.” Several pairs of eyebrows hit the ceiling, Malakai’s included. Jack let out a soft chuckle at Malakai’s baffled reaction. Travis went on, “We only have Darien’s truck, so whoever stays here will be stuck if the other group doesn’t come back.” Looking like he hated the idea of that, he added, echoing Malakai, “Worst case scenario.”

Malakai turned toward the rest of the group with still-raised brows, looking like someone had just told him they had discovered a cure for the Tricking.

“Space is a little tight, even with Darien’s truck,” Aspen said. “Whoever stays behind could always try and catch a lift from someone.”

The debate fell into a lull as multiple minds considered every pro and con.

Travis was the one who broke the silence. “The Shadowmasters already paid a visit to Roman’s,” he began. “According to what we heard, the only person at the house was Arthur. That makes me think—hope—that Dom and Blue were able to hide the boys. Maybe they’re not lost at all. Maybe they were just being hidden.”

The room once again settled into silent contemplation. As the minutes wore on, the group seemed to come to the same conclusion.

They were stuck here—for now, at least. And until they could get a better plan in place, it was better to stick together.

“Is there a Malakai Delaney here?” called a female voice.

Everyone sat up, their focus going to the doctor who’d entered the space.

Malakai’s face paled a shade as he got to his feet.

“Your sister is stable,” the doctor said. The room let out a collective sigh of relief. “You may see her now, if you’re ready.”

Malakai gestured for Loren to go with him. “Let’s go, Tiny Dog.”

“She can stay with us if she wants,” Aspen said. “There are enough of us here.”

“Yeah, but I made a deal—a stupid deal, but still. She goes where I go.” He waved again, chucking his crumpled-up chip bag into a garbage can as he edged around the desk. “Let’s go.”

Loren unfurled her legs, her bones howling in defiance, and stood, Ivy following.

The last to trail behind them was Travis.

The doctor began leading the way, but paused mid-turn, the silver of her swinging stethoscope winking like a star. “Immediate family only.”

“That’s these two,” Malakai lied smoothly, gesturing between Loren and Ivy. Of Travis, he said, “Not him—he’s not family.”

Travis stiffened.

Jack wheezed a laugh. “What a dick.”

“Very well,” the doctor sighed, though it was obvious that she didn’t believe him.

“That’s what you get for telling me to quit bitching,” Malakai said, not deigning to evenlookat Travis.

Travis didn’t argue, nor follow as the three of them tread on the heels of the doctor.

Loren tossed an apologetic glance over her shoulder, but Travis’s fuming, black-eyed stare was too fixated on the back of Malakai’s head to notice her.

They were halfway there when Travis’s self control broke. “Fuck you, Malakai!” Theclangof a chair being kicked onto its side was the last thing Loren heard before they turned the corner into Jewels’s room.

13

Emergency Department