“Dammit,” I whispered, and felt my eyes prickle. I wanted Dante back. I wanted him to be with me, on the side of the rogues and away from Talon. Talon was using him, like they did everyone in the organization. I wished I could tell him, right now. All Talon’s dirty laundry, all their secrets, the true price of staying with the organization. Dante needed to hear it. If he only knew the truth, he would never stay with them.

Maybe I could tell him, somehow.

Hope flickered, and I paused to think. I didn’t dare call him; if Talon was looking for us, they’d be watching my brother closely, maybe even tapping his phone. The same went for texting and email. The organization had eyes everywhere; normal methods of reaching my brother could put us all in danger. Me, Garret, Riley and all the rogues under his watch. I wasn’t going to risk that.

But, there was someone who was an expert at getting past Talon’s radar unseen.

I crossed my room and opened the door a crack, peeking out. The long corridor was empty. I was probably being overcautious; Riley had said this hotel was safe enough, from Talon at least. But if there were strange humans wandering about who looked like they might be armed, I wanted to see them before they saw me.

Slipping out, I took three steps across the green-and-gold carpet and knocked on the door across from mine.

A moment later, it swung back, revealing Wes’s haggard, unkempt face. His shaggy hazel bangs hung in his eyes, and his jaw and mouth were lined with stubble. He scowled when he saw me, clearly expecting someone else—probably Riley.

“Oh, it’s you.” His gaze flicked up and down the hall before returning to me. “What do you want?”

“Hey, Wes. I have a question.” I offered a smile, making an attempt to be friendly. I knew Wes didn’t like me, but maybe I could change his opinion. He just stared blankly, and I sighed. “Can I come in? I don’t want to talk out in the open.”

“Bloody hell,” Wes muttered, but he stepped back, letting me cross the threshold into his room. It was much like mine, gold curtains, queen bed, pictures of Greek people in compromising positions on the wall. His bag had been tossed on the bed and forgotten about, but his computer sat open and glowing on the desktop.

Wes shut the door and turned to watch me with wary eyes. “Well?” he demanded as I hesitated, wondering how to convince him. “Whatever this is, can you make it quick? I really don’t have time to faff around with hatchlings right now.”

“Faff around?”

“What’s the bloody emergency?” Wes snapped. I took a deep breath, wondering how best to put it, then decided on the direct approach.

“I want to get a message to my brother.”