Chapter 16

Theo

I've made a lot of fucked-up decisions in my life. I felt like I lost my family after my mom died, so when I was in college, I made a new one. Granted, my blood doesn't agree with my new brothers. At least Uncle Dan doesn ' t.

That ' s because he ' s scared.

Sure, Uncle Dan heads the CIA, but in the dark corners of the world, there are groups of people who don ' t have to follow the rules or laws of governments. Uncle Dan knows this. He's not one of those men; he's trapped following the rules.

I ' m a part of something Uncle Dan can ' t save me from. That ' s why he's disappointed, but he ' s also smart. He knows I ' m protected. Safe.

My brother isn ' t.

Julian's fucking putting his toes into waters filled with sharks, and since this involves Poppy, that means I have no choice but to intervene and tell my new brothers. I just need to do it carefully. I didn ' t mean to betray Julian. I was looking out and paying back a debt for a friend, a new brother. That debt involved watching Poppy. My friend's worry that Poppy needed to be watched is now completely justified.

The first thing I want to do is pick up my phone and call him.

I don ' t. I need to make Julian understand I can help in ways Uncle Dan can ' t.