Page 76 of Point of No Return

The clerk tells me some number that’s outrageously high, and I rub my temples. I already knew that Aleks had gone out drinking with friends. When he came stumbling back home, I all but locked him in his room to sleep it off. But it seems like Aleks did a lot more damage than I originally thought.

“Cut him off. The next person that serves my brother a drink won’t have a job.” I also make a note to snatch his card when I get home. “Thanks,” I clip, and I’m down the hall and downstairs where a line is already forming to get inside.

I take the back exit toward the SUV. I dial Charlie, and the line rings before I’ve even gotten inside. Her voice is half-surprised when she answers after the third trill.

“Hello?”

“Charlie?” I can’t keep the worry from my voice. It only worsens when I hear something shatter in the background. “What the hell is going on?”

“Shit,” she curses, and I hear her shuffling around as if she’s locking herself somewhere more quiet. “That was me. I dropped a dish. Look, Skar… you need to come home.”

Home. She’s never called it home before.

“I’m already on my way back. Tell me what’s going on.”

She sighs, obviously frustrated. I can imagine she’s probably running a hand through her curls. “He needs you.” I know without her having to say that she’s talking about Aleks. “He’s hardly eating. He’s drinking- he pitched a fit when he realized I locked the bar cart. And- I don’t know what to do.”

Christ. She’s dealing with him alone.

“Is Crew there?”

Her voice is a soft exhale. “Yes.”

“Good. I’ll be there soon.”

“Skar…” she trails off, unsure.

“I know. I know, Charlie.” I scrub a hand down my face, letting the words fall from my mouth, “Pack a bag. We’ll be gone for a week.”

“We?” her voice raises a pitch.

“Aleks, you, and me.”

She’s quiet for a moment as if considering whether or not to ask more. “Do I need to pack you a bag?”

I wince at the thought of having to do it myself when I get back. That and dragging my brother along is already going to be a chore. “It would help…” I murmur, and I hear her snort a laugh.

“Scared I’ll find something in your underwear drawer?”

I smile despite myself, calming ever so slightly at her joke. “Twice now you’ve mentioned my underwear. Curious, Highness?”

I can hear the slight smile in her voice now, and part of me longs to see it in person. “I’m not interested in your drawers, Benenati. Hurry home,” she hangs up, and though hell is going to be waiting for me the moment I step foot inside, I can’t help the grin on my face.

“Are you sure about this?” Crew calls over the sound of the cabinetry rattling as Aleks stumbles into it.

The bar cart is locked just like Charlie said it would be, and when he sees he still can’t get in, he slams his hand against the panes. Cursing, yelling another foul string of language.

“Positive,” I say, shrugging off my jacket and laying it across the back of the chair.

“Don’t come near me!” Aleks growls as I approach, but when he stumbles forward and sees Crew with me, he knows it’s too late.

Crew grabs him by the shoulders, restraining him by banding his arms around Aleks. Before Aleks can thrash too much, I uncap the needle and sink it into his skin.

“Fuck… you,” he slurs, his muscles going limp one-by-one until finally, he collapses. Crew catches him, grunting from the effort of throwing him over his shoulder.

“Dear god,” I hear Charlie’s voice behind us. She’s shaking her head, dropping two bags at the foot of the stairs as she crosses toward Aleks. She gently cups his unconscious face before overlooking us. “You drugged your brother?”

Crew grins in answer. “I think he did a great job of doing that to himself. He needs to sleep it off.”

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