"And he hangs up on us. Again." Torey glowers at the laptop before slamming it shut.

It's become a recurring theme with Tristan so I really didn't think the action odd or something to put much weight on. Tristan and Torey can't stand each other, and that's putting it mildly. It was the way Dani had jumped to her feet after we'd made eye contact that has concern and unease filling my gut.

Guilt had riddled me throughout our entire conversation, exceptionally so when she'd zero'd in on my neck. Because I remember that initial feeling when Dani had gotten together with Torey. It fucking hurt. Until it turned into something else. But when they'd left me back in New York, to go into what they thought was witness protection together, the abandonment I'd felt was something I couldn't help.

The hurt look on her face before she abruptly left the conversation has me venturing to say she's dealing with similar feelings. Since I've met Dani, she's had this uncanny ability to fall into bouts of melancholy and depression, letting her thoughts consume her in an unhealthy manner. It's next to impossible for her to climb out of it herself. The only thing that pulled her out of it before was me, and, if anything, Daniela is a creature of habit. That puts Tristan in a very unique position, one of being her source of comfort, and that could turn into something else entirely. Just as it had for me and her.

"You're quiet," Torey's voice pulls me out of my head.

"So are you."

"Just ready to get this shit show on the road!" He stands up with a stretch of his back. "Ready to get my son back so I can finally be a father to him." That's an understatement. I know how much it truly irks Torey that Tristan is playing the part he should be. And I'm starting to realize it irks me just about as much that he's most likely playing my part in her life as well. "I am also ready to go full-fucking BTK killer on Dedaj." That has me letting out a little chuckle which has a brow of his arching. "Is something about that amusing?"

"That's my Harvey Watch name which, indeed, everyone always did find amusing."

"You named yourself after the BTK killer? A little dark, but I'm here for it."

"No, my parents did."

"Uh, I beg your fucking pardon. Why the fuck would they do that?"

I give him a roll of the eye, "Does is look like my name is Dennis Rader?"

"Hell, it could be. Wouldn't be the first time the name you're using isn't your real name."

"No, yah idiot, The Harvey Watch allows you entrance based off the initials of your birth-given name and the code number they assign you. Brooks Tucker Kuraly— BTK. Yah get it?"

"Are you trying to tell me this because you've got some crazy kink you'd like to explore? Some kind of rope fetish or something?"

"No. You're the one who brought him up, yah sadist."

"Speaking of that, I am exceptionally good at tying people up. Unless you're the one who wants to do the tying. Just to be honest, though, I don't think I'd be down for that. Yeah, no. I'd have to be the one to do the tying." Torey ponders for a moment, head going side to side. "I've never really been into the bondage thing in the bedroom. Like yeah, I'm dominant and everything, enjoy being the one in control. So... maybe it's something I could get into it? I mean, you know, if that's a thing that you're into." He gestures towards me in question but before I can even answer he starts back up. "Maybe we could give it a go? Try a little top bottom play? I'm not really sure about the weird bondage clothes though. That's like a whole fucking lifestyle, right? All that leather and pleather. I like designer suits too much."

"Are you done?"

He shrugs.

"You know," Luke rounds the doorframe, entering the room with, "you can still wear designer suits and be into the lifestyle."

"You'd know all about that," Denver adds, directly on his heel. "He's not really into the leather shit either. Only on occasion, as it brings back certain un-fond memories."

"Well, I think it's time for a stroll," I say, not wanting to be a part of this particular family chat. Denver, Luke and Malyssa were far too open about their sex-life. "Torey can fill you in on our catch-up with Dani and Tristan tonight."

"Where's Braxton?" Luke looks about the room.

"That's a great question." Especially considering he almost always insisted on being part of these conversations, even if it meant just standing in the corner rolling his eyes at Torey. "You know what, I'll go check in on him." I give them all one last look before leaving the room, grateful for the distraction they provided. Now I can be alone with my thoughts and not have Torey reading me the entire fucking time. He didn't need to be privy to my previous thought process involving Dani.

I take a tour of the house, passing by each room on my hunt for Braxton. He's seemingly no where to be found. A certain fiery hellcat comes to mind which has me going to her room, not that if he was with her would I really want to walk in on whatever is going down between them. Because, the way I see it, there's only two options— fighting or fucking.

Upon arrival to Adri's room I'm met with quiet. There's a guard standing outside her door which tells me she's inside. I ask him, "is Braxton in there?" He gives me a shake of the head. "Any idea where he's at?"

"He was here about a half-hour ago trying to talk to this one," he nods his head at the door behind him, "but she wasn't having any of it. Told him to fuck off."

Yeah, that sounds like Adri.

"Which way did he head?"

"Toward the staircase that goes to the main entrance."

"Thanks."

I head in the direction I'd been given on my search for Braxton, taking the stairs two at a time. When I reach the bottom I cock my head to the side, listening to see if I can pick up his voice. I'm met with quietness. That's the thing about gigantic fucking houses— they're extremely fucking quiet. The sound of a phone ringing has me meandering off in its' direction.

"Hey, sorry I wasn't there for the— Jesus Christ, Tris, calm the fuck down. Slow down. Tell me what's happened." At those words I pick up my pace. "You what?!? You and her... fucking hell!" That has me freezing in my spot right outside the piano room. "A MISTAKE?!?" He lowers his tone to a whisper-shout, "a mistake is the understatement of the century! You do realize you've just signed your death warrant, right? I told you— I do not care about the fucking circumstances, Tristan. I told you not to touch her let alone— Unprotected? Are you fucking insane?"

Unprotected. This whole conversation better not be what I think it's about. God, for the love of all that is holy, please do not let this be about what I think it's about.

"I understand that, Tristan. I get that you think you're in love but— Okay, okay, you are. But for fuck's sake." Braxton blows out an extremely agitated breath before whispering so low I can barely hear, "what if you got Dani pregnant?"

I feel like I'm going to throw up.

"Well, that's good, but not a guarantee. Where is she now?"

Feeling like I'm about to regurgitate I go to brace myself against the wall. I hadn't realized I was next to a painting and end up knocking into it. Braxton immediately goes dead quiet. I hear him give a quick goodbye before he steps out into the hallway.

"From the look on your face I'm going to assume you heard that conversation." He thumbs to the room behind him.

I nod.

"Fuck."

My mind automatically goes to what Torey's reaction will be and I respond, "fuck is right. As in your brother is royally fucked if Torey ever finds out."

"You're not going to tell him?"

"Are you out of your fucking mind? Telling Torey that now would send everything straight into the shitter. He will lose any sense he has left. It'll ruin everything and most certainly ensure that your brother loses his head— and not just the one on top of his fucking shoulders." And I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to cut his brother's dick off and feed it to him too. Hell, after everything is said and done, I just might. "Does your brother have no self-fucking-restraint, or what?"

Braxton throws his hands up haphazardly with, "he thinks he's in love with her." I clench my teeth so hard they could break. "Dani is his type."

"Yeah, Dani is a lot of peoples' type. She's absolutely gorgeous."

He shakes his head, "it's not just her looks. It's the whole damsel in distress thing she's got going on."

Ah, he's got a savior complex, likes a fixer-upper. This would explain why he threw caution to the wind, not even caring about his own self-preservation. White Knight Syndrome. I've come to find I may have that same inclination. It would appear Dani also has a type.

But that doesn't explain why he called in a panic.

"So, why the phone call?" Braxton's features turn guarded. "Listen, it doesn't get much worse than finding out the woman you're in love with just fucked another dude." It wouldn't be the first time either, but I'm not going there. The mark on my neck speaks for itself on that.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, uh," he cups the back of his neck uneasily, "Dani freaked out afterward from the sound of it. She's locked herself in the bathroom."

"Having unprotected sex, with a guy you barely know, no less, will do that to a person." My tone is more bitter than I ever remember hearing it. "Tell me he didn't, do that, in—" I let my words hang in the air, desperately not wanting to say the rest out loud.

"No."

The pull and pray method. Fan-fucking-tastic.

"He can't know," I reiterate. "Not a single fucking word breathed about it after this. Torey cannot find out."

"I can't find out what, exactly?" Torey's voice coming from behind me has me immediately shutting my eyes and cringing. "Brooks?"

"It's nothing to worry about," I say as I turn around and take him in.

"His fucking face tells me it's not nothing." He points behind me at Braxton. "What the fuck is going on?"

A/N:
I've posted a new story; The Fragments That Flicker. If you're familiar with Rhys from The Dark and Light Series it's a spin-off about his life post-divorce. It takes place between the end of book 2 and book 4. It can also be read as a standalone. It's in my stories on my profile if you'd like to check it out!