Hold Me Down (Peterick) ➳ Book 3

Six

The journey to the rendezvous point gave Patrick enough time to formulate an explanation for what had happened over the past few months. After that it was all a blur until the car pulled up to the front door.

Pete wasn't there, but Josh was. His face was impassive, but Patrick could see the question in his eye.

Patrick gave him a smile as if it say "I know what I'm doing."

"Nice to have you home, Patrick."

"Thank you, Josh. Is Pete here?"

"He's with Ryan, but I can contact him if you'd like."

Patrick nodded. "I'd appreciate it."

Reaching their bedroom, Patrick was left alone, getting the opportunity to actually shower for the first time in what seemed like forever. They'd taken rationed showers at the base, and he'd rinsed off after the delivery, but after stepping out of the shower it had to be the cleanest he had felt in weeks.

He was smart to grab his clothes and bring them into the bathroom with him because Pete was sitting at the edge of the bed waiting for him when he walked out. Patrick discarded the dirty clothes in a corner and stood in the middle of the room waiting.

"Where's the baby?" Pete asked after a minute of silence.

"Safe. For now," Patrick replied.

Pete's eyes went wide. "For now?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure how long it'll take for someone to find them. But I couldn't bring them here. They wouldn't understand."

"They? You mean Brendon and the baby?"

"And others."

Pete stood up, making his way to Patrick. "What the hell happened to you?"

Patrick raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're different. You've changed."

"You can't expect me to be the same person I was, Pete. I've been through hell and back. I've seen parts of the universe I'd be happy not knowing. It's not safe anymore."

"Of course it is. The rebels—"

"You have no idea," Patrick whispered more to himself. "You haven't got a clue."

"Patrick."

"You know how Joe was human and then he was turned?"

"How do you know that? Were you at the base with Joe, Andy, and Gabe?"

"Brendon and I were there first," Patrick admitted. "But you're lucky they showed up because the humans at the base are using the serum to enhance themselves without turning. Last I heard they were trying it on the babies."

"No."

"She's fine. I promise."

"She?"

"Oh. Uh, yeah. The baby was a girl."

Patrick watched the tears form in Pete's eyes. He didn't let them fall, however, and rapidly blinked them away.

"Is she healthy?"

"As anything."

"Why didn't you bring her?"

"If the humans were to attack I didn't want her in the middle of it. I left her with someone I trust. Someone who has experience. And I may have told the Killjoys to keep an eye on them."

Pete smiled. He liked this Patrick.

"Is everyone else okay?"

"Yeah. They're good. So is Brendon's baby."

"Ryan will be happy to hear that."

Patrick refrained from saying anything; it wasn't his news to tell anyway. So he smiled softly and went through the motions of pretending to be happy he was back. Several people made comments about the baby, but they were quickly reassured that she was okay and staying with a friend to give Patrick some recovery time.

They ate dinner and ended up curled together in bed. As Patrick began to doze off Pete muttered something in his ear.

"What?"

"What's her name?"

"Who?"

"The baby."

Patrick should've known. "Astoria."

Pete hummed in what Patrick assumed was a pleased tone. "Bet she's beautiful."

"She looks like you."

He could fell Pete's smile on his neck. "But I hope she's like you."

*

As if they didn't have enough problems, Brendon decided to throw a fit regarding Patrick's disappearance. He said a lot of foul things he probably didn't mean, but as Taylor listened to him she began to fear for the safety of the rest of the group.

"That fucking traitor," Brendon seethed. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted him. Too fucking nice for his own good. And fucking leaves his kid?"

Taylor pulled Astoria closer to her as if she was expecting Brendon to attack.

"He said he had a plan," Andy reasoned.

"To do what? Send Pete and an army this way? I'm not going back there, so forgive me if I don't trust the little fucker anymore."

Dallon, Joe, and Gabe appeared in the door with a variety of supplies, effectively ending the conversation for the time being.

But Brendon didn't drop it. He spent a better part of the evening making snide comments about Patrick and sending Taylor nasty glared. Even Dallon couldn't get him to shut up.

"Want me to take her?"

Taylor looked over to see Gabe seated next to her.

"Oh, uh. . . ."

"I won't let anyone hurt her," he promised.

"I need to leave," she blurted. "He's crazy."

Gabe nodded. "I'll come with you."

"What?"

"You can't survive out there with a baby. Not by yourself anyway."

"Why do you really want to come?"

"I think Patrick knows what he's doing, and I trust him with my life, but I know eventually we're going to end up back there, and I don't want to go back."

"You're scared."

"No. I'm not needed there anymore. I know that."

Taylor smiled. "Okay." She held Astoria out to him and gently eased the baby into his arms.

"Everyone says she looked like Pete, but I can see Patrick in her," he noted.

Both of them looked up at the sound of Dallon clearing his throat. He was holding Milo, gently rocking him to sleep.

"Have room for another baby? You don't think I see where this is all headed?" he added at their stunned looks. "There's something more sinister going on that some petty power struggle between us and them, and I'm not having him in the middle of it. Just promise me you'll do everything to keep him safe."

"Of course," Taylor said.

"You'll leave in a few days. I'll get you some supplies the next run."