mission? Where to?”
“To the city. Something to do with Ruari’s father. I don’t know the details, but he’s also going to see Dane.”
Ah. That explained the worry lines. “Are you more worried about Bray’s safety or about Dane?”
This time, Lucan’s smile was real. “I love that you ask those questions.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Most people just assume, but you always ask, and I like that.”
“Oh. You’re welcome, I guess?”
Lucan grew serious again. “It’s a toss-up. I know Bray can handle himself, but the reports coming from the city aren’t good. And it’s only him and Adar, I think. Or Isam. Either way, just the two of them. And Dane…isn’t doing well. He’s declining fast, and there’s nothing they can do. My father and I wanted to go and visit, but Bray was concerned about our safety, so we’re waiting to hear what he thinks when he comes back.”
Sando put his sandwich down. “I’m so sorry, Lucan. That’s so sad.” He wanted to ask more but held back. Would it be okay to ask that, or was it insensitive? But Lucan had just said he loved that Sando asked questions, so he took the jump. “Why isn’t he living here?”
“Dane? We can’t give him the care he needs. He was home when he was smaller, but when he turned twelve, it became too much for us to handle, even with nurses and home care. He’s in a long-term care facility with twenty-four-seven monitoring. He needs help with everything, and they offer the best care money can buy. But we visited him as often as we could…”
“You sound defensive.”
Lucan sighed. “I guess I am out of habit. Dad’s taken a lot of flak for his decision, but he was right. It wasn’t fair to me and Bray either, since we had to spend hours taking care of Dane. Bray especially struggled with it. The older I get, the more I realize that my dad made the right call, but I don’t envy anyone having to make that decision.”
Sando wanted to say something when Lucan’s phone rang. “It’s Palani.” Lucan paled as he picked up.
Sando couldn’t hear what Palani said, but Lucan’s face became even more ashen. Then he reached blindly for Sando’s hand. “Is…is it Bray?…Okay, I’m on my way.”
He ended the call. “I have to go. Palani asked me to come over, said there’s news.”
“Bad news?”
“I don’t know. It didn’t sound good, but he said Bray was safe.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Sando, you don’t have to…”
“I’ll go with you.” He got up, still holding on to Lucan’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Lucan didn’t respond, but he shot Sando a grateful look. They hurried to Jawon’s House, where Palani stood waiting for them at the door. “We’re in the kitchen,” he said. He didn’t say a word about Sando showing up as well.
Lucan’s father sat at the kitchen table, crying, flanked by both his boys. As soon as he saw him, Lucan let go of Sando and hurried over. “Dad?” He kneeled at his feet. “Dad, what happened?”
Sando hesitantly found a spot against the wall so he wouldn’t be in anyone’s way. He didn’t want to intrude on a private moment, but he couldn’t leave before he knew that Lucan would be okay.
“Lucan.” Grayson got up and put his hands on Lucan’s shoulders. “Dane passed away…”
His voice broke, and Sando’s throat got tight.
“Dad…” Lucan whispered.
“He wasn’t alone. Bray was with him and held him as my sweet boy took his last breath. He wasn’t alone, kiddo…”
A raw sob tore from Lucan’s throat, and Grayson pulled him into his arms. “I know, kiddo. I know.”
Sando dug out his phone but could barely see his screen through his tears. After a few attempts, he managed to find Maz’s number. “Lucan needs you,” he texted, then added, “Dane died.” Now Maz would know what was going on.
Sando wasn’t the right person to console Lucan right now. He wouldn’t know what to say, what to do, and the last thing he wanted was to make things worse. Lucan needed Maz. Maz always knew the right words, and he’d be able to be the rock Lucan needed to lean on.
Maz texted back quickly. “On my way.”
And so Sando stayed in the background as Lucan and his dad sought comfort with each other. Palani called up the pack and asked them to line up in front of Jawon’s House. Sando followed everyone outside, fighting against the tears when Bray carried the body of his brother out of the car and handed it to