He reached the end of the hall, exhaled sharply, and thumbed through his contacts. With a decisive swipe, he called his brother.
It rang only once before the line picked up.
"Ian," he said, voice low but urgent. "Help me, please. Just tell me what you want me to do in return and I'll provide it. Right now!"
There was a moment of silence, then his brother's voice came through with calm but steel-lined disapproval.
"All I want from you is to stop trying to kill yourself at every twist and turn of your life. And that's why I won't be helping you."
Orion scoffed. "You really are a whack brother."
"Maybe. I don't care," Ian replied bluntly. "But stay away from Arch's wife. He'll kill both of us if you keep pushing this."
"I'm not making advances anymore," Orion replied flatly. "We made a deal. I'll just be her safe space. Someone she can come to… if she needs protection."