Wild Like Us (Like Us 8)

Price thinks it’s Donnelly’s fault, and if the Alpha lead hadn’t been there, I doubt this would even be a fucking issue.

Over the phone, Price is still fuming. “Paul Donnelly isn’t being paid to interfere with their personal lives. That’s not how we do things, Akara. That wasn’t his job, and it’s an abuse of a bodyguard’s power—”

“An abuse of power?” I cringe and speak hushed. “Come on, Price, that’s an over-dramatization of the situation and you know it.” I lean back against the boulder but turn my head around the rock. I have a partial view of Team Apex in the growing dark. And while Banks has binoculars loose in his clutch, a cigarette burning between his lips, Sulli is between us on the phone too.

“Nona, slow down,” Sulli tries to whisper, a finger to her ear. Even though it’s not that loud in the woods. “You what? He what?”

Banks’ eyes dart from her to Team Apex.

Currently, the rock climbers are chatting and throwing wood on a fire. The cricket prank in Montana is happening alongside major high school drama back in Philly. Xander Hale is the only minor who agreed to be a client in my firm, and I didn’t think it’d be a point of contention until now.

“Ben’s bodyguard wasn’t there,” Price emphasizes to me again. “They’re teenagers. It shouldn’t have been Xander’s bodyguard versus Ben.”

My nose flares. He’s acting like Donnelly purposefully pushed Ben Cobalt into the pool. From the way he rehashed the details, it sounded like an accident, and I need Donnelly to recount the story himself.

Price hasn’t told me why Ben and Xander were arguing or whether Ben is upset with Donnelly. He hasn’t even brought up the parents’ reactions. He’s just fixated on the fact that Donnelly butted into family drama.

I lower my heated voice. “Have you talked to any of the parents?”

“No, not in length, but if Ben were my son, I’d want Donnelly fired today. I don’t want him near my bodyguards or the minors. Put him somewhere he’s not around Epsilon. Because the longer he’s on Xander’s detail, the more contact he has with SFE and the kids.”

My jaw tics. Laughter from Team Apex cuts my gaze back to their campfire. They still haven’t crept into their cricket-infested tents.

“You can’t tell me?” Sulli says into her phone, looking horrified. “Is it fucking bad? Alright, I know…I know.”

Banks reaches over Sulli and flashes me a text on his phone.

Banks. Thatcher. PLEASE don’t let Donnelly get fired. It’s not his fault!! – Xander

That’s a better indication that Xander still wants Donnelly to be his bodyguard. I nod to Banks while I tell Price, “It’s not your decision on what happens to my men. It’s going to come down to the clients. It always does, and if Xander wants—”

“What about his father?” Price interjects. “You really think Loren Hale will want Donnelly on his detail after tonight?”

“I’m not going to assume shit, Price. You haven’t talked to Loren. I haven’t talked to Loren. And if your men can’t be professional with Donnelly and my bodyguards, then that’s on you.” I’m boiling, but I keep my voice leveled, and before he tries to interject, I add, “I have calls to make. You need something, contact Thatcher.”

I hang up and dial a new number.

Sorry, Thatcher.

But I have to delegate, and Price’s venting is a waste of my time. It’s also a waste of Thatcher’s, but his single-word responses will have Price clicking end call faster than if he were talking to me.

Sulli slumps down against the boulder. No longer watching Team Apex as she listens to her sister rehash the drama. How is Winona even involved?

Confusion grows on my end. As I put my phone back to my ear, I peer over the rock again. No new movement.

Banks blows smoke behind his shoulder, then keeps hawk-eyed on our rivalry with the other climbers.

The line clicks. “What’s up, boss?” I hear whassup. Not only is his South Philly accent thicker than Banks’, but he sounds in a rush right now.

“Hey, Donnelly. We need to talk about what happened quickly. Are you still at the Hale house?” I look more at Sulli than Team Apex since Banks has eyes on them.

She whispers, “But you’re alright, squirt?”

Donnelly says hurried, “No, I’m off-duty. Already told Thatcher. I left the gated neighborhood about fifteen minutes ago. Is this about Price? I dunno what his beef is, boss, but he looked at me like I committed murder.”

“What happened?”

“I was on-duty, you know. Just protecting Xander at the Hale house.” No other client really requests bodyguards to go on-duty in the gated neighborhood, except Xander. I listen as Donnelly continues, “And he’d been outside near the pool talking to Ben.” Talking sounds like tawking. “They were arguing because Xander wants to enroll in Dalton Academy after Christmas break, and Ben thinks it’s a bad idea.”