Page 97 of Five for Silver

“You have no idea how much that means tome.”

And Josh had no idea how muchhemeant to Chad, how much his last dregs of humanity relied on him,but as he hugged Josh back, he sunk his teeth into his sore cheekas reality caught up with him.

One day, Josh wouldn’t smile at him likethat anymore.

One day, he’d learn the truth.

Chad had always thought that day would beyears into the future, decades if he was lucky, but he’d beenwrong.

It was right on his doorstep.

****

Chad managed to keep the swirling pizza inhis stomach until Josh had left, then he sprinted upstairs withMerc on his heels. He ended up on his knees in front of the toilet,vomiting until his throat burned and his sides ached. Merc keptnudging Chad with his nose, but Chad was too preoccupied toreassure him.

“Mercutio,” Romeo said.

Chad closed his eyes and listened to theclick-clack of paws. Romeo stepped into the bathroom and shut Mercout. Merc whined and scratched the door, but one shout of ‘no’ fromRomeo and he fell silent.

Romeo sighed and rubbed between Chad’sshoulders. “That’s what you get for eating greasy pizza.”

“Romeo,” Chad shook his head. He pressed hismouth against his shoulder when he thought he might be sickagain.

Romeo crouched down beside him, and wrappeda warm hand around the back of Chad’s neck. “Get it all out andyou’ll feel better.”

“Josh knows.” Chad croaked.

“Know what?”

“He knows what our car looks like. He knowswhere I got it from. He knows that it’s involved in peopledisappearing.”

Panic clawed at Chad’s chest. He fisted hishand in his t-shirt again, panting until black dots danced in hisvison. Romeo pulled Chad away from the toilet and sat him on hislap. He wrapped his arms around Chad’s middle and rested his chinon Chad’s shoulder.

“Breathe, Chad.”

Chad pressed back into Romeo, shutting hiseyes. Romeo breathed by his ear. Chad turned his head towards him,copying his breaths.

“Nothing Josh knows leads him to us,” Romeosaid quietly.

“It’s only a matter of time. Once he goes tothe DI with this, everyone will be involved. What if we weren’tcareful enough? What if someone saw my face? Or yours?”

“Josh hasn’t gone to your DI with what heknows?”

“Not yet.”

“Who knows about the car?”

Chad eased out a slow breath. “Him, and adispatch controller called Angel.”

“Just them two…”

Chad stiffened at the wistful way Romeo spoke. As ifhe’d stumbled across the obvious answer. The panic Chad had managedto beat back flooded him once again, making his pulse pound in hisears. He struggled out of Romeo’s arms, then swiveled on his kneesuntil he faced Romeo.The monster. It lurked inRomeo’s green eyes, ready to be let loose.

“No.Thatisn’t an option.”

“It is.” The muscle in Romeo’s jaw jumped ashe clenched it, then he sighed. “But fine.”

Chad blinked back the sting in his eyes.

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