Page 31 of Working Out West

“Saint’s right,” I told him. “You could help us here. I’m sure there are people you could call. Clubs, casinos, put out a description in case he’s out with someone he knew partying and just forgot about us.”

“He wouldn’t,” Lucas whispered.

Wreck wrapped an arm around Lucas’s chest. “It’s worth a try, right?”

Lucas sighed but nodded.

“What do you say?” I asked Adrik.

“Fine. I will speak with my men, leave half here, the rest will follow. They will take orders from you,” he said to Death. Adrik turned and walked out of the house to speak with his men.

“Got it. Let’s hit the road.” Death started for the door. Saint stepped in front of me, and I could see Wreck saying goodbye to Lucas.

“Be fuckin’ safe, you ass,” I told him.

Saint chuckled, leaned in, and kissed my nose, then mouth. “You know I will. Can’t have you missin’ me.”

“Damn right.”

“Fuck me, I need to get a woman,” Death grumbled. “Come the fuck on,” he bit out before he left.

Saint and Wreck walked out after a final kiss, and Lucas and I moved over to the window.

“He cares,” Lucas said. “A lot.”

I nodded, knowing he was talking about Adrik. “He does. We need West back to see it.”

“We do.”

Fuck, I hoped wherever he was, he was okay.

Chapter Eight

West

Earlier

Walking from my final class for the day, I couldn’t help but smile. It was only days until exams, and I felt good about them. I’d studied hard and knew the information. Now it just had to stick with me on the day.

“West” was called. I glanced up and over to the right. My eyes widened, and shock settled in. I forced a smile at them and started toward my parents. Closer, I called, “Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?”

“We haven’t seen you in a while. We thought lunch would be nice,” Mom said without a smile, like usual.

“Um, I think… I mean—”

“Stop blabbering, stand up straight, and answer your mother,” Dad ordered.

Like always when he used that stern tone, I knew to listen. With gritted teeth at my weakness for not standing up for myself, I straightened my shoulders and replied, “Lunch would be good.” Then they could leave, and it would be another few months before I saw them again. If I did. Maybe this day would be the one I stood up for myself and told them I was gay. They’d disown me, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. I had my own little family with Lucas and Kylo. They cared. The people in front of me didn’t.

“I’ll follow you, if you have a place in mind,” I said.

“No. You’ll come in our car, and we’ll drop you off after,” Dad stated.

I breathed out a frustrated breath through my nose. “Of course.”

Mom turned. “This way.”

As soon as my dad followed her, I slouched, stuck up my middle finger, and regrettably went after them. One day I would stop acting like a scared child who got scolded over the littlest things and stand up for myself.

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