Chapter 7: Satiate at length and heightened as with wine. – IX, 792-793

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Dude, just tell me.”

“Get bent, Sutherland.”

“Now, is that any way to speak to your boss?”

“I work for your brother. You, I tolerate.” Rhys deadpans, glaring at Hayley, who looks far too amused for his liking.

“I don’t know why you can’t just tell me. I’m being your jack. At least help me while away the time faster,” she presses.

“My social life isn’t up for discussion or amusement. If you don’t wanna be my jack, go back to your office and play solitaire on the computer. I’m sure Damien would love to hear about how much of a slacker his little sister is,” Rhys volleys.

The Sutherlands are Pine Grove’s oldest supernatural family. Damien and Hayley’s mother, Simone, is known far and wide as one of the most powerful werewolves in recorded history. 

She’d been a formidable Alpha, up until being taken out by Gabriel Laube and about a hundred of his hunters. Damien had gone a little dark, then, and his and Hayley’s uncle, Patrick (Simone’s brother) had always been the black sheep of the family. 

Now, the Sutherlands have a reputation and have to conduct their business, no matter how innocent and above board, outside town limits. 

“God, you’re dramatic. I’m trying to be your friend, loser. This is something friends discuss. I’m not here to spread your, probably dull, secrets all over town. You know, the one I’m not even allowed in.” 

Switching arms, Hayley manages to keep the car perfectly level. Rhys envies her precision, but he’d sooner die than tell her that.

He does, however, know there’s no way she’s going to stop asking. So, with a very big internal sigh, he chooses his words carefully.

“We fought Gabriel’s people together. I’m… He says I’m his anchor. And I’ve never actually been… chosen?” He sighs out loud, then. “I’m not explaining this right.”

“No, no. I get it,” Hayley says. Now, she sounds like she’s mulling over her words. “I saw the look on you when you first started here. You’ve been alone a long time. So, he makes you feel like you mean something. You care about him.”

Honestly, Rhys had expected this to be way harder than it is. Hayley’s a good listener.

“I do,” he says, then.

“Well, from what I’ve seen, he cares about you, too. A lot,” she replies.

At that last part, Rhys tries to jerk upright to look her in the eye, completely forgetting where he is and almost knocking himself out cold against the underside of a car. Hayley cracks up then and he can’t even blame her. Splitting head pain aside, he laughs, too.

“This sounds fun. What are we laughing about?” 

At that, Rhys slides himself out from under the car to find Damien staring down at him, eyebrows raised. 

“My tragic love life?” Rhys offers.

“God, tell me about it,” Damien sighs.

“You’re both pathetic. Boohoo, we’re not getting laid, boohoohoo. Listen, if you two wanna get it on in the office, I can take off for the rest of the day? Just let me know.” 

Hayley puts the car down and leaves them both out in the shop. A minute later, they hear her start the coffee machine.

“I’m sorry about her,” Damien says, then. “She’s from a broken home…”

“I think she and I are gonna be friends,” Rhys decides. He stares at the door she left through for another moment before turning back to Damien. “Speaking of friends, you know Joel Curtis is missing, right?”

“I heard,” Damien says, folding his arms across his broad chest.

“So, why aren’t you helping to look for him?” Rhys asks.

“Usually, I would be, but it’s not that easy anymore. Gotta leave it to the professionals now.” Damien claps him on the shoulder before heading off, after his sister. 

“I’m sorry, but that sounds like crap to me. A frickin Banshee screams in the woods and you and Hayley just, what? Conscientiously object? There are bodies dropping all over town and all you’re going to do is come into the office like it’s just another Tuesday? Okay, Nihira’s not here anymore. That means we have to step up. We have to take care of things here––”

“Rhys… Rhys,” Damien stops him. “Listen to me: I agree with you, and I want to help, but I can’t. Not without being formally requested by the police. The Sutherlands… We’ve caused too much damage already. So, Williamson’s deal is we stay out of town until we’re formally requested by the police. I want to help,” he says again, “but I can’t.”

“Actually, you can.”

Coming up behind Damien is the sheriff himself. Worry is etched into every line in his face. Rhys can smell the anxiety rolling off him. 

So, things have gotten worse, have they?

“Damien, no one tracks like you. Curtis is gone and we’ve looked everywhere. I need you on this.” Williamson pleads with his eyes.

“Then, you have me,” Damien says, simply. “Rhys, we’re closed for the rest of the day. Go home and stay safe. I’ll get Hayley. Go! Get out of here.”

He doesn’t wait to be told twice. The tires on his truck squeal on the loose gravel. He’s getting out of here, alright, but he has no intention of going home.

At Pine Grove Tech, it’s business as usual when Rhys races up the stairs to the door. Luckily for him, though, it’s lunch time. 

Packed campus notwithstanding, he finds them easily, huddling with their heads together around a  table in the student quad. All of them look up to stare at him, but there’s only one pair of eyes he seeks out.

“Curtis is officially missing. Williamson just came to get Damien to help them track him. I just, um… I thought you should know.” 

Suddenly, Rhys has no idea why he’s here and not out there, helping the police look. These people have class. A  future. The safest place for them is here. 

“I can help,” Lissie offers, standing up. “We’re kin. If anyone can find him, it’s me.”

“Lissie…” Holland protests, but the other girl looks determined.

“Take me with you,” Lissie says, eyes on Rhys.

He nods. 

“Rhys.” 

And, just like that, he’s ready to stay right here if that’s what Sawyer wants. Rhys honestly doesn’t know how much more of Sawyer’s care and concern he can take before spilling his guts and potentially scaring off the only person besides Rhyleigh who ever wanted him around. 

“I know I can’t make you stay,” Sawyer says quietly between them. 

He’s come to stand close enough that Rhys can feel his body heat, “but, please, be careful. Let me know you’re safe. Don’t choose now to be a hero. Please?”

“Not my style,” he smirks, looking braver than he feels. “Also, maybe Mommy should start taking shopping advice from me. My jacket looks so much better on you.”

With a last wink at Sawyer, Rhys and Lissie are off. His own fear of rejection aside, Rhys doesn’t miss the way Miles practically beams at a gawking Holland and Kisho.