Page 56

Story: Darkness Echoes

“Aw, Baby, you jealous?” Jay croons.

The big alpha really should have considered that Gideon has never once, ever cared about what other people thought about him or his relationships, because in the next instant, he’s got a mouthful of Gideon’s tongue and his hand around Jay’s neck in possession.

It’s hella gratifying when Gideon hears Jenny squeak.

“Guys. She’s gone,” Leo says.

Landing three final rough kisses to Jay’s lips before sucking his plush bottom in and pulling off with it caught between his sharp teeth, he mutters, “You should think harder about how you get what you want, Jaybird.”

Jay’s jaw drops open, and he falls back on the couch. “What is with everyone right now? Hot damn.”

That’s a fucking good question, and unfortunately, Gideon hasn’t any suitable answers.

“Damned if I know. What did she say?”

“I asked if there was a pay phone nearby because my phone was acting up and I didn’t have a replacement yet, and she offered me this.”

Thisis a phone card for the “house phone” in the corner of the room.

“Can you get your mom on the phone, Leo?”

Unsurprisingly, just as Nix had predicted, Leo did not know his mother’scell phone number, although he apparently has had their landline number embedded in his brain since the first grade.

“Better than nothing. Let’s go,” Jay says.

The house phone in the lobby had an archaic, coiled cord attaching the handset to the base, and when he picks it up, there is a steady hum indicating the open line.

Jay shows him the directions on the back of the card, and it isn’t long before the phone is ringing.

“Hello?”

“Mama! It’s Leo. I can’t talk for long. Is Mom home?”

Gideon and Jay have no problem hearing Frankie, even when they’re not listening directly through the handset.

“Boo-Boo. Are you okay? Where’s your cell phone? Aren’t you in Florida? How is the weather?”

Jay taps his wrist, reminding him they have a few minutes to figure out what’s going on before the card’s minutes run out—and even less if they consider Finn and the others.

“Can you please put Mom on the phone?”

“She’s out at a meeting for a new movie, I think, very hush-hush. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was back in the game.”

She says the last part under her breath, but seems to realize her mistake and rushes to correct it.

“I mean, back into acting full time.”

Back in the game?Like the spy game?

Taking the phone and moving out of range, Jay pats Leo’s shoulder.

The beta is sitting on a chair, his head hung between his shoulders in what looks like defeat.

“Frankie, it’s Jay. Oh, he’s fine. Just feeling a bit tired. When will Lauren be home?”

Running a hand through his messy, curly locks, Leo lets Gideon soothe him again while he leans against the wall beside him.

They’re both facing the bank of windows across the front of the lobby when a black SUV and a tall black Mercedes Sprinter van drive up.