4. Grey

4

GREY

I dial Dutch's number, my brain kicking into gear in several directions. Lexi's idea is a good one. We'll need numbers if it comes to a war—though, hopefully, it won't. But I can't shake the feeling that there's more to it than that. She's hiding something. I just don't know what.

Dutch answers as I step into my bedroom and shut the door behind me.

"Yo," he says. "How was the big date?"

"It didn't happen."

"What?"

"She never showed."

"Shit. Is she okay? Did Franco hurt her?"

I stop cold, my gut twisting at his words. "Franco? What the fuck are you talking about?"

There's a long pause. "I'm talking about how Dom dragged her off the street and into the restaurant for some kind of conversation," he says as if this is information I should already have.

Blood pounds in my ears, my veins lacing with fury. Not just for what Franco might've done but the fact that I'm the last to fucking know about it.

"She didn't tell me," I say quietly, my body trembling as my control starts to slip. Inside, my wolf is straining to be freed, but I shove him back.

"She's probably afraid you'll do something stupid like walk in there and attack them—you know, like you already did." Dutch's attempt at a joke doesn't help, and he clearly realizes it. "Look, I got a call last night saying she was picked up. I only waited to talk to you because I figured Ramsey would've already filled you in."

The name is another jolt to my system. "Ramsey was there?"

"Yeah."

What the fuck?

"Wait. He didn't tell you either?"

I don't answer.

I can't.

My mind is going too fast and too fucking dark.

Dutch curses then goes silent. I can hear him rummaging.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Coming to you," he says.

"No," I say. "Don't."

"We need to talk about this."

With her.

He doesn't say it, but I know what he means. And despite my feelings for Lexi, he's not wrong. She needs to be called out on her lie.

"I agree. But we'll do it as a group."

"You sure that's wise—putting her on the spot?"

"I'm not sure of anything except that it's time to stop fucking around and start fighting back."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying, boss?"

For once, I don't correct him or cringe when he uses that blasphemous title. "My father has his plans. We need to make some of our own."

Dutch hoots, and I feel his enthusiasm like a burning in my blood. It calls for violence. It calls for an end to the lifetime of corruption and the monsters who inflict it.

Five years ago, I thought I could fix it. When it all went to shit, I told myself leaving was the only option. But I'm done running and hiding.

"I've waited way too long to hear you say that shit," Dutch says when he stops hollering like a fucking loon.

"It's past time," I agree.

"What do you want me to tell the others?"

"We're coming to you. Call them and tell them to meet us at your place."

"You got it. And Grey? I'm with you, man, all the way to the end."

"Thanks, Dutch. That means a lot, especially in this city."

I hang up but hesitate before going to her, debating how to handle this. She didn't tell me she spoke to Franco. She damn sure didn't tell me Dom put his hands on her. The second thought has me vibrating with fury. But it also has my chest aching.

She doesn't trust me.

Didn't Dutch already warn me of that?

So why does it hurt when I see the evidence?

Instead of rushing back to her, I march into my bathroom, turn the shower on, and kick the shit out of the trash can. It hits the wall and bounces off before rolling across the tile. With the water turned up to scalding, I step beneath the spray and let it wash away the rest of my burning ire.

I'm mostly angry with myself, anyway.

If anyone's to blame for Lexi's secrets, it's me.

I broke things between us before I knew I wanted them whole. And I'm the only one who can put us back together. In the meantime, I plan to do everything in my power to hit Franco and Dom where it hurts. I'll make them regret coming after Lexi if it's the last thing I do.

No one touches my mate and gets away with it.