Page 7 of When We Fall: Part One

“Fuck.” I took the joint and inhaled deeply, irritated out of my mind. I let out a ring of smoke and hissed. “Fuck.Nothing?”

“Dead ends all around. No one has heard shit.”

I took another drag, my anger growing. It was unbelievable to me that no one had heard anything. Sighing, I continued to smoke until Ryder grunted at me to pass it back. I did, the high taking over and calming me a bit.

I stared into the night sky in the alley where we stood, wondering what the next option would be. I pulled my phone out and hit the speed dial for Trent’s name. We’d agreed to break contact while he hid from the kings because of all the shit going on with Bianca and them. I worried about him, but he was a smart guy. It was his idea to break the contact, which was hard for me to do, but I knew he had his reasons, even if he didn’t share them with me.

But to hell with it.

“Hey,” he answered gruffly on the fifth ring.

“I need help.”

“Me too,” he muttered.

“What’s going on?” I demanded, immediately bristling at his words.

“Anson, you know what the fuck is going on. They think I kidnapped Bianca De Santis. My dick is on the line right now. I’m in too deep. Now I’m hiding from the kings and dealing with fucking Hail Ivanov. I know I said to break contact, but fuck, man. I was thinking about calling you.”

I frowned at his words, irritated at myself for agreeing with no contact to begin with. “Where are you?” I asked. I glanced at Ryder, who blew out more smoke and raised his brows at me.

“I’m hiding in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city. It’s fucking cold, and I’m hungry.”

“Is Hail with you?” Getting that little weasel might be a good way to keep Enzo happy and earn some points with him. Turning over Hail Ivanov to Enzo, who would turn him over to the kings, could be something to really help my damn cause.

“No. I haven’t seen him much. He used to call and have me meet him randomly, but he’s suspicious of me. He doesn’t share fuck all for information with me. Vasiliev and Petrov made him leery of shit. In fact, I haven’t seen him in forever.”

I rubbed my eyes. “What do you need?”

“Maybe some fucking blankets and a sandwich.”

I was quiet for a moment. “Come home, Trent.”

“I can’t?—”

“You can. Come stay at my place.”

“I’m not fucking shit up for you. I know how close you are to the horsemen. The last thing you need is alorddarkening your doorstep,” he muttered bitterly.

“Fine. Ryder.” I looked at my best friend.

He pushed off the wall and blew out a final cloud of smoke. “What’s up?”

“Can Trent stay with you? He needs a place to hide out.”

“Sure. I have that extra bedroom he can crash in. As long as I don’t have to kill anyone, he’s welcome.”

“You know I can’t guarantee that,” I said, giving him a pointed look.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I get bored anyway.” He waved me off. “I’m down. He can stay.”

“Directions, Trent. I’m coming to get you.”

He was quiet for a moment before he rattled off directions.

“Anson, just don’t… don’t tell anyone, OK?”

“Why the fuck would I rat out my brother?” I snarled into the phone, noting he was growing paranoid since he’d gone on the run. I hated myself for putting him in that position and not reaching out sooner.