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Game On

Page 167

by A. Winchester

“Come with me, please,” he ordered as soon as he was close enough. When Wyatt moved, he added, “Just Theo.”

Wyatt stopped short, as surprised by the request as I was.

“Okay,” Wyatt said. His voice hitched with a hint of hurt at being left out, but he said nothing more as he leaned back against the wall. Guilt tugged at me immediately. We did so much together that I couldn’t imagine why Jude would leave him out this time.

I offered Wyatt an apologetic smile and hurried after Jude, who had wasted no time in heading straight for the church doors. He didn’t say a word as I followed him outside. He walked straight for my car and didn’t stop until we were standing by the trunk.

“I need you to leave,” Jude said softly as he faced me, and I frowned. “I need you to go be with Rhodes.”

“Why would I—”

“I know you’re dating my brother,” Jude interrupted.

My heart damn near fell out of my chest.

He what?

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him. Every thought in my head seemed to collide at once—when had he figured it out, how long had he known, what exactly did he know, did Rhodes know that he knew? I opened my mouth to say something—to protest, maybe, or ask one of the hundred questions screaming for attention—but Jude shook his head before I managed to get anything out.

“I don’t want to get into it right now, Theo,” he continued, his voice tired. “I’m worried about him. I just don’t want him to be alone… he shouldn’t be alone right now.”

“He has Sariah,” I reminded him. I wasn’t sure why I was arguing this. Maybe the shock of finding out he knew was getting to me. Maybe some stupid part of my mind was still scrambling to maintain the rules Rhodes and I had lived by for a year. Whatever it was, my brain defaulted to arguing.

“You’re the only person I have left that I trust to take care of Rhodes,” he replied. That shut down every argument I might have made. “I need to know he’s got you there.”

“Okay,” I relented. “Will you be okay?”

“I have Wyatt,” Jude told me. “And I have a church full of people ready to help if I need it.”

“Okay.” I pulled my keys out of my pocket and turned them over awkwardly in my hand. A million and one questions tumbled through my head, but none of them felt important enough to ask right now. Whatever conversation the three of us would eventually have could wait.

I barely had time to decide what I was supposed to do or say next before Jude stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me. The hug caught me off guard, but I returned the gesture immediately, folding my arms around him as he held on tight.

“Take care of him, please,” Jude reiterated quietly in my ear.

“I will,” I promised. I meant that with everything I had.

When we finally pulled apart, Jude gave me one last look before heading back to the church. I watched him go, my mind reeling.

Jude knew about Rhodes and me.

How the hell did Jude know?

CHAPTER 78

Theo

Are you at his house?

SARIAH: I’ve got him.

That wasn’t what I asked.

SARIAH: Trust me, Theo, you don’t want to see him like this.

The first thing I heard when I opened the back door to Rhodes’ house was something shattering. I froze, one hand still wrapped around the knob, as I caught sight of Rhodes in the living room.

And holy shit.