Page 68 of Alpha Brock
Theo swivels back to me, arching a brow. “Oh yeah? It’s like that?”
I shoot him a glare, signaling for him to drop it. “Yeah.”
Reid helpfully changes the subject to who’s driving and who’s riding with who when it’s our turn to go to Denver, and before long, squad members are filing out of the building with their duffel bags, ready to head out.
I barely even notice when Jax and Quinn approach us, reeking of sex. Real subtle, those two.
“Where the hell have you been?” Reid teases when he sees Jax, his lips curling into a smirk. He’s definitely picked up on what they’ve been up to. “You know the plan was for all of us to be here to send off the rest of the squad.”
Jax rolls his eyes folding his arms over his chest. “I’m here now, aren’t I?” he says defensively, glancing around. “Where’s Gray?”
“He’s meeting with IT,” Theo supplies. “Getting an updated timeline.”
Jax nods slowly. “Do we know what that looks like yet?”
“Do any of us look like Gray?” I snap irritably. If Jax had just been here this morning like he was supposed to be, we wouldn’t have to be filling him in right now.
Jax’s eyes widen. “Damn, what’s got you in such a cheerful mood today?”
Reid chuckles, clapping me on the shoulder and trying to make light of the situation. “His houseguest is still driving him crazy.”
I grunt, staring down at the ground and kicking the dirt again. I swear, if Jax starts asking me about Astrid next, I’m going to…
“There’s Gray,” Theo says, and I look up to see him nodding his head toward the doors of the complex.
I follow his gaze to see Gray stalking toward us, his expression sullen. This…doesn’t look good. I start to get irritable again, itchy with anticipation as he draws closer.
“So, what’s the word?” Reid asks once Gray’s within earshot. “How many days do we have?”
“We don’t,” Gray grits out. He comes up beside Theo, his jaw clenching. “It’s time.”
I just stare at him, forgetting to breathe for a second. I think my heart actually stops beating in my chest as I process his words.
“But I thought we had a few more days,” Theo murmurs, his trademark smirk gone from his face.
Gray frowns. “We all did. But IT got some new information yesterday, now it appears that the attack may be coming as soon as tomorrow night.”
“So we’ll see these guys off, then hit the road?” Reid asks, looking around at all of us. “Everybody have a bag packed?”
I nod quickly. I’ve had my duffel in the trunk of the Escalade for a few days now. Along with one of Astrid’s suitcases.
Theo scrubs a hand over his face. “I’ve gotta go see Brooke…”
Gray gives a little shake of his head. “Let’s see these guys off first, then you can go take care of what you need to before we leave.”
Theo presses his lips into a tight line, nodding. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the guy look so serious. He’s not the only one- the gravity of the situation is hitting all of us like a brick fucking wall right about now.
The buses pull in a few minutes later and Gray gives a little motivational speech before the squad members start piling onto them to leave. I’m still numb. First everything with Astrid, and now this? I can’t catch a fucking break.
After the buses leave, I hang out on the field while the others go to grab their bags or say their goodbyes or whatever the fuck it is they have to do. It isn’t long before we’re all circled up again with the addition of Quinn, Fallon, and Astrid, and we’re finally ready to hit the road.
I’m still in a state of disbelief that this is happening right now. I mean, we knew it was coming, but now that we’re actually leaving it feels incredibly surreal. Like I’m in a bad dream that I’m struggling to wake from.
We all head out to the parking lot, splitting off to separate into two vehicles. Gray and Fallon will be riding in Jax’s truck with him and Quinn, while Theo and Reid will be riding with me in the Escalade. As we split off, though, Astrid stops, standing there awkwardly. I guess she wasn’t actually assigned a vehicle.
As Quinn’s reaching for the passenger door handle of Jax’s pickup truck, she notices that Astrid’s standing on her own and throws her a bone.
“Do you want to ride with us?” Quinn calls out to her.