Kasey gave a guilty smile. “Yes, sorry, I was lost in my thoughts.”

Toni grinned and patted her arm. “You did amazing. Everything looks wonderful. Thank you for stepping up so much lately. We don’t know what we’d have done without you.”

“It was my pleasure. Luna was a big help, too. She deserves a lot of the credit,” Kasey said with a wink. “Now, come on, let’s get this party started.”

The next couple hours flew by for Kasey as she played host. Everyone laughed and ate and made fun of the guys as they were exposed to some of the oldest baby shower games. It only got scary once when the men were told to cut a length of string that would fit around Toni’s belly.

Their expressions all at once paled and they started to refuse, which only made the women laugh harder. At least they had some common sense. They finally gave in and participated. Poor Chris blushed when it was discovered he’d come closer than anyone man or woman.

“What happened to Caelan?” Brannon called out as he walked around picking up discarded plates and cups left around the room.

“He said something came up, but that he’d see everyone later,” Luke replied from his spot on the floor beside his daughter.

“Layla, thank you for all your help today. I feel so bad. You just met us all today and we put you to work,” Kira said as she walked to the woman and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so glad Kasey has you, maybe now she won’t look so sad all the time.”

“I don’t look sad,” Kasey interjected, but she was quickly shut up as all heads in the room nodded in agreement with Kira.

“Like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Jeff supplied. “We saw it even from a distance.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that. Maybe she had looked like that. It wasn’t a surprise considering she was lying to every person in her life in one way or another. Logically, one of these days, things were going to catch up to her. She knew that, but not today. She’d had enough shocks for the week, and if karma or fate didn’t back off, she’d show them she was the biggest bitch.

“Layla, tell us about yourself. We haven’t had a chance to get to know you at all,” Brannon said, interrupting Kasey’s thoughts. She could see the fear that manifested in her cousin's eyes, but she wasn’t sure how to help yet.

“There’s not much to tell. I just moved here. I have no job yet. I moved in with Kasey today actually.”

The room fell silent as Layla trailed off with a shrug. Kasey wanted to fill the silence, but her mind had gone blank on her. She frantically searched the room for something to fill the void.

“You move here alone?” Luke questioned.

“No. My father and stepmom came, too,” Layla replied with a quick glance to Kasey. “We moved to be closer to Kasey and her family.”

“You’ve got family here, Kasey?” Bastien asked in surprise. “You’ve never mentioned that before.”

Thankfully before she could reply, Luke’s phone rang. He pulled it out and frowned. “It’s Caelan.”

Within seconds of answering, all eyes were glued on Luke as he paled and hung up. “There’s a problem on the mountain. The teenagers. We gotta go, now.”

Kasey saw Layla shoot her a worried glance, but she didn’t dare react. Brannon was watching her too closely for her to let anything slip. The alphas kissed their mates, said their goodbyes, and were out the door moments later with Jeff and Chris trailing behind.

Only then did she look to Layla and shake her head slightly. This was not the time to freak out about something they couldn’t have prevented.

As the rest of the group began to talk amongst themselves about what the latest incident could be, Kasey and Layla began to clean up again. They didn’t want to get dragged into a conversation that could become very difficult for them.

It was true they didn’t know exactly what was going on, but they knew more than their friends. But that information would cost the two girls in ways they were afraid to even think about.

As soon as they could do it without arousing suspicion, they said their goodbyes and headed to the safety of their apartment. Neither said a word for the longest time. Finally, Layla broke the silence.

“I really like your friends. They seem like amazing people.”

Kasey scoffed. “They are. That’s why this is so much worse. I hate not being open and honest with them. I’m not my father and I don’t have anything to do with his business. But people don’t care. It’s why I took my mom’s name. To give me a bit of separation from him and the cartel.”

“What are we going to do?”

“We? This isn’t your problem. You don’t have to do anything.”

“We’re family. That makes it mine, too. Besides I was there today with you. I could have said something, and I didn’t. That makes me just as culpable.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that. Things are getting to me, I guess.”

Layla smiled sadly. “I know. We’ll figure something out. I have faith in us.”