Page 76 of After All The Wreckage

“Morning,” she said, ruffling Ivy’s hair.

“Do you like pancakes?” Ivy asked.

“I do. One of my very favorite breakfast foods.”

Ivy jumped and spun in a circle full of an energy I hadn’t seen from her in days. Adding sugar to her already high-strung mood meant she was going to crash hard in a few hours. My eyes went back to Monte. Would he be able to handle it if I went into D.C. with Rory?

Guilt tore through me. But I was doing this for him. For us.

“Can I have some of that coffee?” Rory asked, tipping her head toward the pot.

“Please. Help yourself.”

She did, watching for a moment while Monte transferred a pancake from the pan onto a plate warming in the oven.

“Those look pretty good,” she said.

My brother beamed. I thought maybe he was falling in love with Rory as much as I was. My breath caught as that thought settled over me. I’d definitely wanted more than a one-night joyride with Rory. I’d wanted someone who could stick by us, but I hadn’t called it love. The idea was terrifying and intoxicating all at the same time.

I desperately wanted the joy Demi had once seen for me… not just for myself but for my siblings and for Rory. Calling it love was something altogether different. More.

After Rory had joined me at the table with her coffee cup and her computer, I announced, “Rory and I are heading into D.C. in a bit.”

Monte looked up from the pan, exchanging a look with me before returning to what he was doing. “Okay.”

“Do I need to ask River and Audrey to come by?” I asked.

Monte’s cheeks flushed. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

I almost snipped back something about him running off and being kidnapped proving otherwise, but I didn’t. It wouldn’t ease my guilt and wouldn’t make him feel any better.

“I promise I’m staying here,” he said in a softer tone as if reading my mind. “I’m sore as sh—heck. I think Ivy and I need aScoobymarathon. Right, Ives?”

“Yes!” She danced and wiggled and then stopped in her tracks. “I gotta pee.”

She ran down the hall at full speed.

“Is there something I can help with?” Rory asked Monte.

He shook his head, bringing the butter and syrup over to the table. He glanced at Rory’s computer as he went by and froze.

“What’s that?” he asked, a hint of panic in his tone that had me setting down my cup and pulling the laptop toward me just as Rory said, “It’s the logo for a company called Argento Skies. Why?”

Monte stood there staring at the screen. “I… I know it.”

“From your vision?” I asked, trying to stay calm as my brother put his hands into his hair and stepped back from the table.

“I… I don’t know.” His eyes closed.

I was at his side in a flash.

“It’s okay. Just breathe.”

The smell of burned batter filled the air, and Rory jumped up, headed to the stove, and removed the pan before coming back to stand by us.

“Do you think you saw it where you were held?” she asked.

Monte closed his eyes. “I really don’t know. I can sort of picture it on something. But I don’t know if it’s a wall… or a door… I don’t know if I saw it in person or in my dreams.” Frustration brewed in his voice.