Page 28 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“If you have a better idea, we’re all ears,” Aaron said.

My phone burned a hole in my pocket and suddenly felt heavier. No. It was a terrible option. We’d trusted The Legion. I’d spent all that time with Thane . . . and we were betrayed, and no matter how much logic they threw at this, it wouldn’t change that. We couldn’t risk it. I wanted to see my brothers again, but I couldn’t do that if they held us hostage, and if Aaron knew about the phone number, he’d never see it as a good option. When things with The Legion failed—and judging by the past, they would—I was holding the only known connection to mybrothers, and they’d take it from me like they’d taken and ruined everything else.

“Whatever.” I went for the door, suddenly hot all over. My chest thrummed, and I needed to not look at them anymore.

“Where are you going?” Aaron spat.

“Away from both of you. If you want to buddy up to the people that got us into this mess, then fine. But leave me out of it.”

“You’re not going to help?”

“Nope. You two have fun with your death mission.”

I flung the door open, and Aaron jumped to his feet.

“Let him go,” Kimberly said as I slammed the door shut.

As soon as I started walking, the anger left. Shit. Why did I just storm out of there like I was freakin’ Kylo Ren having a temper tantrum? I didn’t get angry. Yet, here I was, standing in the snow. Again.

I kicked a trash can.Very smart, Presley. Don’t help them. Litter instead.

It’s what Zach would do probably.

I picked up my mess and swallowed the guilt for slamming the door. I probably hurt Kimberly’s poor ears. Being a jerk to my brother was one thing, but Kimberly didn’t deserve it. I’d apologize later to her alone. She was trying her best, even if her best plan was terrible.

Not that I had a better one.

Okay, Aaron didn’t deserve it either, but I needed someone to be angry at, and it couldn’t be Mom or Kimberly.

I kept walking along the plowed road. The sun was out but did nothing to thaw the snow covering everything. I could have taken the car, but I just wanted to move. I didn’t know if it was me or Hell Bitch’s blood making me feel like that.

I’d never dramatically stormed out of anywhere in my life. Though in the moment it felt better, every step out into the cold left me feeling sick.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been sad. Briefly when we’d left Brooklyn, but that was nothing compared to how I felt now. My brothers were gone. It was like they’d died but almost worse because I didn’t know what was happening to them, and from what I knew about The Family, it wasn’t good. I wanted to sit alone in the snow and mope, but instead, I fished out my phone and stared at the missed call notifications. I didn’t call back, but I thought it over for a minute or two.

I finally reached the town after being offered a ride not once but twice. Probably because I was not wearing a jacket and everyone thought I would die. That, and I had to walk directly on the road because the snow berms were so high.

I snatched a coat out of the back seat of someone’s unlocked car so I could walk in peace. There were a lot of supply shops before I hit the main part of town with clothing stores and a few restaurants. It was like a cozier Blackheart with little to no people walking around. Only, everything was covered in snow, and instead of being on the mountain, there were a group of them in the distance. If I was in a better mood, I would have said it was beautiful, but I wasn’t, so it was ordinary and boring.

A small building with a large dog hand-painted on the window caught my attention. My first guess was a pet store, and I imagined getting lost in the store and holding fuzzy bunnies to make me feel better. Maybe they’d have an aquarium section I could ogle at.

A bell rang as I entered, and the strong scent of wet dog rushed my senses. Dogs barked somewhere in the back, and a large black husky came up to greet me at the door. It wasn’t a petstore, that was for sure. It looked more like a hospital lobby that needed upgrades.

“Hi, how can I help you?” A girl with dirty-blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail greeted me.

“What is this place?”

“We’re a sled dog rehabilitation center. We also do training and adoption. Are you looking to adopt?”

“No. I’m new in town, visiting my mom, and I was just looking for a place to distract me.”More like hide.

“Oh, who’s your mother? Maybe I know her.”

“Her name is Vera . . .” Did she give her last name? I wasn’t sure, so I avoided it.

She gasped. “You’re one of Vera’s sons? She never stops talking about you all. She must be so happy. I’ll have to bring you all some cookies later.”

“She’d probably like that. I’m Presley, the youngest.”