The Alpha - Joel Abernathy Page 0,31
a shake of his head seconds later. “No. Nothing important, they’re just being their usual clueless selves. It’s no big deal.”
“They love you,” Colt said carefully. “Whatever’s going on between me and them, I don’t want you to forget that, okay? My problems aren’t your problems.”
Ronnie gave him a half smile. “Yeah, I know. Except this problem. I’m kind of invested in making sure you get your boyfriend back. You’re way too clingy when you don’t have him to suffocate with your overprotectiveness.”
Colt ruffled his hair before stepping out of his apartment and into the hall. “More than enough of that to go around.”
Andrew was just getting off the phone when they reached him. “You guys all set?”
“I am,” Colt said pointedly. “Ronnie, you mind if I talk to Andrew alone for a second?”
Ronnie looked at him worriedly.
“Not about that,” Colt clarified.
“Whatever. I’ll be inside,” Ronnie said, going back into the apartment.
“What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” Colt said gruffly. “Nothing you need to worry about, at any rate.”
“Right.”
“There’s a favor I need to ask you.”
“Okay, so ask.”
“Keep Ronnie here. We both know you two coming along is only gonna make things worse.”
“I don’t know that we know that.”
“Look, whatever you’re trying to do, I appreciate it, but you’re still human. For all intents and purposes, so is Ronnie. The best way you can help me is to keep him here where he’s safe.”
Andrew cast a glance at the apartment door, frowning. “Say I did agree. How am I supposed to do that?”
“He’s not any stronger than a human right now. Lock him in the bathroom.”
“What is it with you and locking people in bathrooms?”
“It works, okay?” Colt muttered. “Just do this for me, and if I survive, I’ll owe you a solid.”
“You’re not the only one who cares about Jason, you know.”
“That’s part of why I’m asking you to stay. I know Jason better than anyone. Better than you. If he knew the shit that was going on, he wouldn’t want you out there getting yourself killed. If we both die, they’re just gonna fill your spot with another ghoul who’ll ask ‘how high’ when Evelyn says ‘jump.’”
Andrew searched Colt’s face. “You really aren’t one of them,” he murmured. “You’re not human, but you’re not one of them, either.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. Are you gonna stay, or do I have to worry about protecting your ass out there, too?”
“I’ll stay, but on one condition.”
“What?”
“When you save Jason and you bring him back, you tell him. He deserves to know the truth.”
Colt grunted. “I don’t suppose this has anything to do with you hoping he’ll run into your arms if he realizes he’s dating a monster?”
Andrew smirked. “I might have hoped for that in the beginning, and I wouldn’t complain,” he admitted. “But I’d be surprised if that ended up being the case. Either way, he needs to know.”
“We’re in agreement on that. I’ll tell him.”
“Then I’ll do what you’ve asked. You take care of Christopher, I’ll take care of Ronnie. But I have a better idea than locking him in the bathroom. You still have those pills?”
Colt nodded reluctantly, handing them to Andrew, then went back into the apartment and found Ronnie working on his laptop again.
Andrew disappeared into the kitchen and returned a minute later, carrying three glasses. He handed one to Ronnie, then another to Colt. “Figured we may as well have a toast to our insanity since we’re all about to go on a suicide mission.”
Colt nodded his thanks to Andrew and tipped his glass.
“To insanity,” Ronnie said, tapping his glass to Colt’s, then Andrew’s. He smiled at the DA. “And new frenemies.”
Andrew smiled in return before taking a drink. Ronnie followed his lead, and for a minute, nothing happened.
“So,” Ronnie said, wobbling a bit on his feet. “When are we gonna get this show… on the…”
Colt reached for Ronnie as his knees buckled, but Andrew caught him first, helping him onto the couch. Panic flashed across Ronnie’s face before realization set in, then betrayal. He looked at Colt, his glazed eyes narrow. “You drugged me?”
“Sorry, Ronnie. I told you I wasn’t going to risk losing you again.”
“You don’t understand,” Ronnie slurred. He tried to get up, but he just ended up falling back onto the couch. “The changeling, he’s…” He trailed off and seemed to zone out for a minute before blinking himself back to consciousness.
“Take care of him,” Colt said to Andrew.
“Take care of yourself,” Andrew replied.
“Wait,” Ronnie cried. When Colt looked back