Chapter 2

“Okay.” Wren nodded to Noah, turning to the table, where there was a notepad stuffed by the soundboard. The door clicked shut, signalling his Dom’s depart. Flipping through the notepad, past several song ideas both Jamie and Danny had jotted down, Wren found an empty page and carefully tore it out. Page on the closed notepad he balanced on his knee, he took a pen from his breast pocket and started a list.

Reasons why I should not go on a road trip:

1.

“What are you doing?” Danny sat up a bit, pushing the hood off his face. His eyes widened. “But Noah said you can’t talk your way out of it.”

Wren inclined his head. “I’m not. But a well worded list of reasons is perfectly acceptable. I’m sure that’s what he meant. He’s a very busy man, this is faster than debating the issue. The list needs to be very thorough.” And not sound like he didn’t want to be there with Noah. Or...be there for Reed. He inhaled slowly. “I’ve never been on a road trip. My lack of experience will only slow them down.”

Forearm on Wren’s knee, chin rested on it, Danny gazed up at him. “The car won’t go any slower because you’ve never done this before, Wren.”

“You’re not being very helpful.” Wren scratched out the first line. This list was going to be messy. He’d need to make a rough draft, then a good one. Maybe he should just do it on his phone, except...he’d given it to Noah, too tempted to use it to make Paris’s life a living hell. “You should be telling me how common car accidents are. Or the dangers of the wildlife we might come across. Or how poor the water quality is in different areas.”

Danny gave him a sympathetic look. “I would, but I think you should go.”

Still not helpful. Wren shook his head, bringing his attention to the paper.

Reasons why I should not go on a road trip:

̶1̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶p̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶s̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶.̶

1. A smaller vehicle would require less fuel and be better for the environment.

2. I can’t...

Banging at the door broke through the silence that had been very useful in keeping his focus where it needed to be. Of course, the dance club shouldn’t be silent right now, while people were trying to move to the nonexistent music.

Glancing at the soundboard made it obvious the playlist had ended. Wren shot whoever was at the door an apologetic smile and began a new one. Things would be winding down soon, but the fast tempo seemed to satisfy the members. He got a vague thumbs up before the tall, lanky sub rushed back to the dance floor.

Much better.

Now, where was I?

Absently looking toward the bar, Wren frowned as he saw Reed filling several shots. Five lines up in front of him, five lines up in front of Tay. Visibly counting down, Reed took the first shot in time with Tay. Then the next. And the one after that.

Standing a few feet away, Sin watched them with his arms folded over his chest.

When Reed refilled the shot glasses, he stepped forward.

Oh, this isn’t good.

“Stay.” Wren stood, patting Danny’s head, sure he’d be okay for a bit in here since everything was set up. A real dog wouldn’t be, but Danny was good as a puppy. And when he wasn’t a puppy.

Reed, however?

Sometimes, he wasn’t so good.

The taunting smile Reed gave Sin made it clear he wasn’t in a submissive mindset. And that beating the Dom hadn’t been enough for him. Ever since Sin’s casual relationship with Garet had come between Garet and Reed’s brother, Reed had been determined to make the Dom pay. Garet had decided to remove himself from the entire situation and focus on getting his certifications in auto mechanics, likely tired of the low pay and horrible treatment at the auto shop where he’d been working under-the-table—which Lawson had been trying to talk him out of for a long time.