Page 89 of Winter's End

“Friends don’t need to thank each other, Winter. I enjoy being there for you.” Then, as if this level of vulnerability was too much for her, she cleared her throat and shot me a cheeky grin. “But you should absolutely always listen to my advice, and accept that in almost every instance, I’m right.”

I dropped her hands in mock disgust and rolled my eyes. “I take it back. You’re the worst.”

“You love me,” she said cheerily, standing from the couch and walking to my fridge, frowning at the dregs of the leftovers rotting inside.

“Put on some pants. We’re not eating here.”

I looked to the ceiling for strength from whichever deity in the universe who would take pity on me and my choice in friends.

I came out of the living room and peeked into the fridge. I could admit she had a point.

“All right,” I called after her as I did, indeed, search my room for a clean pair of pants. “But we’re not going to that gross Mongolian place again.”

“Nope!” she yelled back, her voice way too chipper to be kind. “We’re expanding your palate! There’s a new Somalian place I want to try!”

So much for my favorite standbys of french fries and pizza. Today I’d been gifted a house and a probable stomach ache.

Wooo.

CHAPTER 24

CAMERON

“Iwant you to wear a tracker.”

My brother’s authoritative voice crackled over the speaker of my burner phone as Travis and I sat in the safety of Pop’s Chevelle.

He had woken me up this morning with the shrill beeping of a message demanding an impromptu conference call to go over the details of the Gold Gala tomorrow night.

Both Carlos brothers were attending, and Kellan wanted Travis and me on high alert.

For what, I hadn’t known. I wasn’t going—men like me didn’t get invited to black-tie dinners that cost more than my rent. Kellan wanted me to linger around City Hall the night of the event, a dark spirit waiting in the wings in case I was ‘needed.’

His cryptic responses when I’d asked questions made me grind my teeth, but to spare us both the pain of putting my well-worn fist through his jaw, I had opted to keep quiet.

Until now.

Travis’s voice filled the cabin of my car before I could beat him to it. “We all need trackers. I want Winter and Logan to have the same safety that we’ll have.”

“What are you expecting, dear brother?” I intoned. “I thought this was a simple meet-and-greet for the rich,upstanding citizensof Sequoia County? Why the sudden need for ankle monitors?”

The silence on the other line hung over our shoulders like the heavy weight it was.

“Fine,” Kellan snapped, as if asking to protect our people was an inconvenience. “I’ll provide you all with trackers. You’ll have to meet me tomorrow morning to get them. I won’t have time tomorrow night.”

“You sound worried, Kell.” Travis’ voice held thick concern.

Apparently, my brother was on a nickname basis with the Viking spawn who had taken over our lives like a raging tsunami. I wouldn’t be making such an effort.

A burst of blown air blasted over the tinny line. “Georgio’s planned a big supply drop while most of the higher-ups are preoccupied with the event. My team is ready for the sting operation, but my double-life is going to be a challenge.”

Another brief silence.

He broke it again, his tone exuding careful control. “And Janet may be compromised. I’m working on an extraction plan, but I won’t be able to get her out until tomorrow.”

“Anything we can do?” Travis asked, naturally sliding into his savior auto-pilot. It was going to get him killed one day.

“Stay alert. Do what Georgio asks, so he doesn’t get suspicious. I’ll have eyes on you throughout the evening.”