“How about ‘We’ll talk later’? Then we can take our time and really figure it out.”
Laddin blinked, then nodded. “I can do that.” He hesitated; then his voice rose in clear doubt. “Can you?”
“I can.” He hoped. He strongly suspected Laddin wanted to talk about feelings, and that really wasn’t his strong suit. But for Laddin, he’d try.
“Deal.” But Laddin didn’t move. “One more question before we go.”
“Yes?”
“Was it spectacular?”
“What?”
“You said that the fairy said that after you ate the apple….”
“That the sex would be off the charts?”
“Yeah.” Pause. “Was it?”
Bruce grinned. “And off the next chart after that.” He winked at Laddin. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” He paused at the door. “I’m going to want details, you know. Very clear, very specific details.”
Bruce chuckled as they went out into the hallway, but his laugh faded immediately. His brother and Nero stood waiting for them, both leaning against the wall, their arms folded and their expressions dour. It was disturbing how much their poses mirrored each other. Especially since Bruce could remember a time, before things went bad, when Josh used to echo Bruce’s poses.
Then Nero straightened and held up his car keys, but he didn’t hand them over. Instead, he spoke sternly, and Bruce listened closely, knowing that this was a mission briefing and people who enjoyed breathing really ought to pay attention.
“I texted the way to the lake to your phone. Don’t deviate from it, because there are crazies everywhere, as well as the press. Stratos and Wiz will meet you at the checkpoint. Get in, find the fucktard demon, then call me. Don’t engage. It’s dangerous and you’re not trained.”
“I know,” Laddin said. “Captain M already told me.”
“And did she tell you about the depression effect? It’s real—”
“Yes.” Laddin held out his hands for the keys. “We’re just there to look around.”
Nero grimaced. “I should go instead—”
“You’ve been there often enough,” Laddin interrupted. “You’re already growling at people, and you weren’t exactly Mr. Sunshine before.”
Nero accepted the statement with a grumpy kind of grace. Then he dropped the keys into Laddin’s hand. “Hold on to your sunshine.” He looked at Bruce. “And don’t eat any more fruit.”
Bruce nodded while Laddin headed into the kitchen. “No need,” he called. “I made sandwiches yesterday.”
Of course he had. Laddin was a planner, and that was always handy among first responders. And rare. Bruce grabbed the bag of food with a grin of thanks, only to be stopped by his brother.
Josh was suddenly standing between him and the exit. His expression was closed down, his arms still folded, and his mouth pressed into a tight, angry line. Bruce braced himself internally. He really didn’t want to take one of his brother’s verbal jabs right now, and he sure as hell didn’t need it as he headed into whatever was at Lake Wacka Wacka, but he didn’t appear to have a say in the matter. So he stood still and waited.
Eventually Laddin got impatient. “Josh, either spit it out or get out of our way.”
Josh’s gaze flicked briefly to Laddin, then back to Bruce. Then he spoke in a surly tone reminiscent of when he was twelve. “Don’t die. I’m not done with you yet.”
Wow. That was more of an admission of affection than he’d had from Josh in years, and it took him a moment to process it. And then, rather than respond with the grace of an adult, he, too, regressed to twelve-year-old communication. He grunted and shrugged. And then he stood there like an idiot trying to find a way to speak.
Again, it was Laddin who was too impatient to let them flounder. He grabbed Bruce’s arm and hauled him to the front door.
“Hug it out tomorrow. Let’s go save the world now, okay?”
Then Bruce and Josh responded in perfect stereo: “Okay.” The similarities in their voice and intonation made it sound like they were in perfect harmony, absolute accord.
It was weird and special, and for the first time in years, Bruce looked at his brother with real hope in his heart. Maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to being brothers again.
Then he turned and headed toward the barn. Meanwhile, Nero called out one last reminder. “If you find something, call me! Don’t engage on your own!”
Bruce held his tongue as they got into the car and reversed out of the barn. He waited in silence as Laddin pulled up the directions on his phone and passed it to him. Bruce had no problem playing navigator, but he was appalled by the length of time it would take to get to the lake, and that pushed him to voice his objection out loud.
“He’s being ridiculous if he thinks we have time to wait for him to get to us. It’ll take us an hour to get there.”
“I know,” Laddin said, his voice grim.
“If we have a chance to take out this demon, I’m taking it. We can’t afford to let it disappear again.”
“I know.”
“And if Nero is any type of leader, he would know that too.”
“He is.”
Bruce looked at Laddin, seeing the tight set to his shoulders and his hard grip on the steering wheel. WTF? “Care to explain what’s going on with you? The only time I’ve seen you this stressed was when your life was in danger. Or mine.”
Laddin cut a hard look at Bruce, then blew out a breath before focusing back on the road. “My guess is that he’s given Wiz detailed instructions on what to do. Wiz is the only werewolf who has magic, and he’s as experienced as Nero. Stratos is a newbie like me, but she’s got some special woo-woo of her own. Don’t ask me what, because I don’t know. Those two keep their secrets close to the chest.”
Okay, that made sense. He’d have to meet this Wiz and Stratos to judge
