Page 75 of The Wolf and the Monarch

Andi looked over to Benji and flashed a small, sad smile. “Good,” she sighed and looked back at Sawyer. “He mentioned that one of the people who took him was–”

“My uncle, yeah,” he cut in. “I-I never…really got along with him. Never liked his practices. They never made much sense to me.”

“How long did you work for him?”

He puffed out a breath. “Long time. My parents used to run the business and when they died, he took over. I think I started doing actual labor when I was thirteen.”

“And your parents…?”

“They weren’t like him, not really. They weren't the best but they would have never done the shit that crossed his mind.”

Andi just nodded her head once and dragged her tongue across her bottom lip before she spoke again. “You helped Benji?”

Sawyer’s brown eyes moved from Andi and landed upon her brother. He returned his gaze with a soft flush to his pale cheeks. It was something Sawyer had come to expect and enjoy. “Uh…yeah, I did. I guess.”

“No, I guess,” Benji rolled his eyes. “He did.”

She laughed softly. “You two are just two peas in a modest pod, aren’t you?”

Sawyer smiled and shrugged. “I just…had a feeling about him, you know? Like I knew something wasn’t right deep in my gut, just didn’t know what. And when he told me that his name wasn’t Andi and it was really all a mistake, there was no going back.”

“You were helping me before that though.”

“Well,” Sawyer chuckled dryly, “I didn’t want you to die. I think most people would have helped.”

Benji shook his head. “I don’t think so. I was in enemy territory. You didn’t have to do anything you did.”

He supposed that Benji had a point. It just wasn’t in Sawyer’s nature to let people suffer. All the others he was tasked to watch over, he had tried his best to save them too but Milo didn’t put up with them for very long. He spent a lot of time washing their blood off the basement floor and walls. He was so happy it never came to that with Benji.

A smile was firmly planted on Andi’s lips as she looked back and forth between the two of them. “So, what’s the plan for you then, Sawyer?”

He shrugged. “I…I don’t really know. Benji said I could stay with him until I got back on my feet and got a job and what not,” he paused, “Which sounds impossible because I have no skills and barely got my GED.”

“I’m sure something will come along,” she said simply.

Footsteps were heard behind them and Sawyer shifted in his seat to see the two large men enter the room again. Spence and Travis, he just wasn’t sure which was which. It was hard to pinpoint what their exact expressions were at that moment. From what Sawyer had gathered, Benji’s dad was their brother, so they must be feeling a whirlwind of emotions. He sympathized with the whole family. It couldn’t be an easy situation to navigate.

The one in the sling approached Sawyer and immediately, he stood up so he could be eye to eye (almost) with him. “My name is Spence,” he offered and held out his hand, which he graciously accepted.

“Sawyer.”

The tattooed one joined them and also offered up his hand. “Travis.” Sawyer simply smiled and shook it as well.

“You’re a friend of Benji’s?” Spence asked while they both moved to sit down at the table as well. That was going to make the situation a lot easier. Sawyer wasn’t sure he could handle the interrogation standing up. They looked intimidating. Especially Travis.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Never seen you before,” Travis mentioned.

“Well, we just met.”

“When I was kidnapped.” Benji threw out there suddenly and both of his uncles shifted their gaze towards him. It was the first time those words had been said to the two of them.

“Kidnapped…” Spence repeated softly and shook his head. “Benji… Fucking hell. I didn’t know what happened to you. I got my ass beat and knocked out and when I came to, you were gone. I should have known. I should have looked for you.”

Benji shook his head. “There was nothing you could have done, Spence. Dad set it up that way. He didn’t want you involved. Not really. That’s why he sent me in alone.”

“Still, kid. I let you down.” Spence looked deflated when those words came out of his mouth.