Page 77 of The Last Morgan

Barnaby, sensing the storm about to break, scooped up the last bite of his sandwich, grabbed his bubble tea under one arm, and practically sprinted for the door.

"Solve that mystery yourselves," he called gleefully over his shoulder. "I’ll have the coordinates ready for you when you’re done fighting about it."

He vanished down the hallway like a man escaping certain death.

A heavy silence dropped over the room.

Damien coughed awkwardly, trying not to laugh, and stood up.

"Think I’ll go...uh, check on the security team." he said with a smirk, picking up his plate and leaving the room quickly.

Leaving Lucy.

Byron.

And Corey.

Alone.

Corey slowly put down his fork, stared across the table at Byron — who was still eating like nothing happened — and said:

"You’re fired."

Lucy gasped.

Byron smirked, unfazed.

He took another casual bite of his food, chewing slowly before answering.

"Doesn't matter if you fire me." Byron said easily. "I'm not leaving her."

The air practically crackled between them.

Corey pushed his chair back roughly, ready to lunge across the table, but Lucy jumped up first.

"Are you insane?" she yelled at him, hands thrown in the air.

"You're like a brother to me, Corey! But that doesn't mean you get to decide who I'm with!"

Corey's face twisted in frustration.

"I am your brother, Lucy”. He said in a corrective tone “The last thing I want to hear is that you're being touched by the guy who's supposed to be protecting you!"

Lucy threw her hands up again.

"Well I touched him first if that helps you feel any better!"

"OH GOD NO, THAT DOESN'T HELP," Corey shouted, dramatically covering his ears.

Byron leaned back in his chair, smug as hell, arms folded over his chest. He looked like he was enjoying this.

Lucy crossed her arms stubbornly, cheeks burning but refusing to back down.

Corey glared between the two of them, pure protective rage burning in his chest. His little sister — practically his blood — and the most emotionally shut-off Dove in history?

Nope.

Nope.