Walter grinned at Calvin. "You''ve been MIA for ages. Everyone''s been freaking out. Come on back with me."


    Calvin leaned back in his chair, smirking with his hands behind his head. "Freaking out about what? That I might actually be dead?"


    Walter shot back, "We were seriously worried. If Zeke knew you were holed up in this dump, he''d lose it."


    His words had a hidden edge. If Calvin didn''te back, Zeke would find out he was hanging with Alexander. And that could spell trouble. Plus, there were folks out there who wanted Calvin gone. If they found out where he was, it could get ugly real fast.


    Calvin''s smirk faded, and his eyes darkened as he stared at Walter.


    If it weren''t for Walter, Calvin wouldn''t be stuck here in Arcturus.


    Alexander chimed in, "Since Mr. Smith is so worried about you, maybe you should go back with him."


    Calvin shot him a dirty look.


    Alexander gave him a calm-down nce, and Calvin huffed, getting up from his chair. The chair scraped loudly against the floor.


    Walter''s smile stayed put as he gestured for Calvin to go first. "Let''s roll, Calvin."


    Calvin stormed out, clearly pissed. After resting up for days, his injuries were mostly healed, and he moved quickly, no sign of being hurt. Walter nced at Alexander.


    Their eyes met, and the tension was thick.


    Walter said, "Mr. Kennedy, must be nice to ditch the family ande here to y games."


    Alexander replied, "I''ve got time to kill. Gotta find ways to keep busy."


    Walter chuckled.


    Alexander''s words were full of crap, and Walter knew it. He didn''t bother saying more and walked past him out the door.


    After they left, Sean came over, looking worried. "Is Calvin gonna be alright?"


    Alexander''s smile faded. "If something was gonna happen, it would''ve already. Calvin''s not a threat to Walter right now; he''s not at the point where he has to take him out." Sean sighed in relief. "That''s good."


    But no one waspletely at ease. Just because Walter wouldn''t kill Calvin didn''t mean others wouldn''t.


    Alexander asked, "What''s Kyle up to?"


    Sean shook his head, looking a bit annoyed. "No clue. He doesn''t report to me." He had no idea what Kyle was doing.novelbin


    But Kyle knew everything Sean did. Sean was open with Kyle, but Kyle kept him in the dark.


    Alexander raised an eyebrow and pulled out his phone to call Kyle.


    Meanwhile, when Calvin got back, Zeke pulled him aside, checking him over and asking if he was hurt.


    Calvin brushed him off. "I''m not dead. I''m fine."


    Zeke''s face tightened for a second, then he smiled. "d you''re okay. You have no idea how worried I''ve been."


    Calvin shot back, "Worried? Didn''t see you looking for me."


    Zeke said, "Just ''cause you didn''t see us doesn''t mean we weren''t looking. Have you been cooped up too long? Your temper''s getting worse."


    Calvin was so mad he could almost hear his teeth grinding. His fists clenched, making a cracking sound, and he forced a smile. "Oh, you know that? So when can I get out of here?"


    Zeke replied, "No rush, man. It''s too risky right now. People were after you even back home. If you step out now, who knows what kind of trouble you''ll find."


    He patted Calvin''s shoulder. "I think you shouldy low for a bit."


    Calvin asked, "What do you mean? I can''t even leave the house now?"


    Zeke said, "It''s for your own good."


    Calvinughed bitterly. "Fine, whatever. I''ll just stay home and wait to die."


    Then, he stormed off.


    Zeke watched him go and sighed.


    Quinn had been waiting for a month, but there was still no sign of Alexandering back.


    During this time, Quinn hadn''t been sitting idle. She was searching everywhere for Getty. But Getty had vanishedpletely, like she disappeared into thin air after leaving. Quinn couldn''t find her. It seemed she was really gone.


    No one knew what Getty had gone through in prison, but she was different after getting out.


    Maybe she hade to terms with reality, or maybe it was something else.


    Unable to find Getty, Quinn decided to stop looking. She went back to her daily routine of taking care of the kids and waiting for Alexander to return.


    In the past, Abigail would sometimese by to keep herpany. But now, Abigail had run off with Landon, leaving Quinn all alone.


    Quinn tried calling Abigail, but the call wouldn''t go through.


    She then called Oliver to see if he had heard from Abigail.


    "Nope. Still no idea where she went," Oliver sighed, sounding worried.


    With Abigail missing and her fate unknown, it was hard not to worry.


    Quinn tried tofort him, "Don''t worry. She''ll be fine."


    Oliver said, "I hope so. Has Alexandere back yet?"


    Quinn replied, "No, but I can still reach him."


    They were silent for a bit, then, having nothing more to say, they hung up.


    Quinn sent Abigail a message, asking her to reply when she saw it.


    Then, she put down her phone and leaned back on the couch, feeling bored. Sprout was toddling around nearby, holding onto the couch. Sprout could now walk a few steps without a walker. As long as he had something to hold onto, he could move around on his own. Watching him grow day by day, Quinn realized how quickly time was flying.


    At first, Sprout could only lie in bed babbling, then he started crawling, and now he could walk and had even grown teeth.


    "Mommy." Sprout wobbled over to Quinn from the other end of the couch, holding onto her leg and looking up at her with big eyes. Quinn smiled, picked him up, and put him on herp. "What''s up? Hungry?"


    "Hungry," Sprout said, patting his belly.


    Quinn''s heart melted, and she put him back on the couch. "I''ll go make you some form."


    Hearing "form," Sprout started shaking his head, babbling words that no one else could understand.


    But Quinn got it. Sprout was saying he didn''t want form.