Insider by Micalea Smeltzer Read Free Book Online

droplets dripped down his bronze chest and disappeared into the band of the towel. I wanted to lick all those water droplets off of his delectable chest. But then my gaze ventured up from his stomach and chest to meet his eyes.
     
    “Caeden,” I said and worry coated my words. “What’s wrong?”
     
    He held his cellphone in one hand the look on his face could only be described as something between confusion and pain. In moments like this , his dimple completely disappeared.
     
    “Bentley and Logan just discovered Peter Grimm’s body,” he said.
     
    My mom made a strangled, half-painful, sound behind me. I could hear my dad coming out of his office.
     
    “His body? He’s dead?”
     
    “Murdered, apparently it’s pretty gruesome.”
     
    Mom made a choking, gasping, sound. I could hear my dad come into the kitchen and speak to my mom in soothing tones.
     
    “What does this mean?” I asked Caeden. I knew my eyes were wide with disbelief and my eyebrows had probably completely disappeared.
     
    “It means that Travis is n ow Alpha and we can expect war.”
     
    * * *
     
    After Caeden’s loaded statement we all just sort of stared at one another for a while.
     
    Finally I stood and said, “We need to go home.”
     
    “Yeah,” Caeden rubbed his face. “We do.”
     
    “Get dressed and I’ll start packing my stuff. Dad can you call the airport and try to get us a flight out? I know you have some major finagling abilities.”
     
    “Yeah, I can do that,” he said.
     
    “Mom, please don’t cry. I hate to see you cry,” I hugged her.
     
    She wiped her eyes and turned to my dad. “I’m fin e honey, really,” she patted his hand. “Call the airport and I’ll make some sandwiches for you to eat on the plane.”
     
    “Thanks mom,” I said and hugged her again. I wanted to argue with her on the whole sandwich making thing but I knew she just needed the distraction.
     
    I pulled away and headed down the hallway to the guest room across from Caeden’s. Even though we had been sleeping in the same room I had left my bags in the other one. I just hadn’t felt like moving them.
     
    I closed the door and quickly changed into regular clothes. Jeans and a white t-shirt. Archie was lying on the bed and snored softly. I swear that dog slept as often as a cat.
     
    “Come on bud we’re going home,” I nudged him. He instantly became alert. I stuffed the last of my items in the suitcase and zipped it closed. I trudged out into the hallway and left it by the door. Dad was on the phone arguing with the airport and mom was sliding sandwiches into Ziploc baggies . Her eyes were red and puffy and she kept rubbing incessantly at them.
     
    Archie scampered around my feet making yipping noises.
     
    I didn’t know what to say to comfort her so I just wrapped my arms around her and rested my head on her shoulder.
     
    Caeden came down the hallway with his bag and Murphy.
     
    “Did your dad get the airport?” he asked.
     
    I shrugged my shoulders and rubbed my mom’s back as she sobbed. Caeden picked up his bag and went in search of my dad. Murphy followed behind him like an overgrown shadow.
     
    “Mom,” I pulled away and took in her tear stained cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
     
    She wiped her face and moaned, “I’m a horrible person. I’m not crying because my brother’s dead I’m crying because I’m relieved. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
     
    I stood , flabbergasted , because what did one say to a comment like that a nd because Travis was just as much as a threat to us as Peter had been.
     
    Luckily , I was saved from making a comment , by my dad entering the kitchen . He leaned his hip against the counter and rubbed hi s face. He looked tired. “Your flight leaves in two hours. You’ll have to leave now to make it in time.”
     
    “Thank you daddy. I’m sorry that our time got cut short.” It suddenly hit me that I would be leaving my parents sooner than I had planned and tears