Carver gives him a narrow look, jaw tight. There has to be discipline. There have to be rules or else the world just doesn’t make sense.

Then he exhales and nods.

“You’ll stay with me,” Carver agrees. Quietly, he’s afraid to let Bossie out of his sight. “I got you, little brother.”

He won’t let Pope burn him again. This time, Carver won’t freeze. He’ll get between them, he’ll run interference like he should’ve from the start.