Chapter 25 Aiden #2
“Who the fuck is Devlin?” I ask.
“He stayed with us when we were teenagers, after he got out of prison. It’s a whole thing. Lia gave him a place to stay and get back on his feet.” Hunter shrugs. “He’s a good guy.”
“And he fucking hates me.” Jamie glares.
“He doesn’t hate you,” Hunter says, and Jamie’s brows climb. “Okay, well, in his defense you were an asshole to all of us for a while. Devlin’s just protective. Especially of Lia after everything she did for him.”
“Your mom housed a freshly released felon?” What is wrong with this family?
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Hunter says. “It’s a long story.”
Jamie takes a breath. “I need to leave. Change my name. Start a new life.”
“Or” Hunter slaps Jamie’s arm. “We ask him to help us!”
“No fucking way.” Jamie’s jaw clenches.
“This is exactly who we need to help us.” Hunter argues.
“Be serious,” Jamie snaps. “He’s not going to help me!”
“But he might help me,” Hunter says, then he looks at me. “I’m getting my friend back, whether he helps or not. I am getting Sawyer back.” He glares at me. “No matter what it takes.”
I don’t know who the hell Devlin is. I just know that Hunter and I are in agreement. No matter the cost, I will save Sawyer and Katya from this.
I follow everyone back into the house. “Food’s almost ready,” Noah says beside Lia, helping her butter bread as we pass them in the kitchen.
“We’ll be right back,” Jamie says.
We walk into the living room and see Xavi talking to a White man.
A giant man. Jesus. His long brown hair is pulled into a ponytail and his muscles have fucking muscles.
I’m nearly six foot tall and this man looks like he towers over all of us.
His black tank top is tight over his chest, and his jeans are tight around a tapered waist.
“Are you going to gawk at me or say hi?” His eyes pass over all of us.
Jamie rolls his eyes. “He’s not going to help,” he hisses at Hunter.
Hunter walks up to the behemoth of a man and gets swallowed in a hug.
“Long time no see, eh? You look good. Still with the blackmailer?”
“Uh, yes.” He turns to Mark. “Still together.”
“For now.” Mark rolls his eyes pulling away. “Just ask him.”
“Ask me what?” Devlin’s eyes pass over all of us. “What?”
Hunter looks at Jamie then me. “We um, we need help . . . with something.”
The man’s unnerving blue eyes pass over us. “What kind of something?”
Hunter rocks back on his heels. “We kind of need help breaking into a house with a potentially dangerous man to get my best friend who’s been abducted.”
His mouth opens but I cut him off quickly, explaining the situation. I don’t know this man, but he looks like he could bulldoze an entire house with his fists, so it’s worth a shot.
Devlin’s scowl grows deeper with every word. “And you want me to what? Break in there and risk my life for some asshole I don’t know?” He laughs. “You’re out of your fucking mind.”
“Told you he wouldn’t help us?” Jamie snaps. “All muscle. No brain.”
Devlin cocks his brow at Jamie then gives a slow smirk that frightens me. “If you’re so fucking smart, why don’t you help them break in?” He laughs. “Probably throw out your back sneaking through a window.”
“Fuck you.”
Devlin ignores Jamie, grinning at Hunter. “Remember the time he snuck out of the house to meet up with his girlfriend?” He grins. “I locked his window so he couldn’t sneak back in, and he was stuck on the roof crying for someone to help him.”
“That was you?! I was grounded for two months!” Jamie glares. “This is pointless. I told you he wouldn’t help us.”
“I’m sorry, do you still need a big strong man to fight your battles for you?” Devlin asks Jamie.
“They wanted to ask. I’d be happy never seeing you again.” He folds his arms over his chest.
Hunter sighs. “Devlin please, we—”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I haven’t seen you in a year and this is the first thing you ask me?
A death sentence? If your friend’s with the kind of people this man associates with, they’re already dead.
No amount of pleading, begging, or even money would make me that fucking stupid. And that’s final, I’m—”
“Dinner’s done—oh, hello.” Noah steps into the living room. “What’s up with the Mountain Daddy?”
“Uh . . .” Hunter looks between Noah and the big man who’s now staring at Noah. “This is Devlin. We were asking him if he’d help us get Sawyer back.”
Devlin pushes out of the circle we’ve made around him and steps up to Noah. “And what’s your name, beautiful creature?” He takes Noah’s hand gently and kisses the top.
“Um, what the fuck?” Jamie glares.
Noah tucks a strand of hair behind his ear. “My name’s Noah.” He preens.
“Noah.” Devlin rolls his name over his tongue like he’s tasting it. “Beautiful boy with a beautiful name.”
“We asked him to help get Sawyer back.” Jamie walks up, stepping between them and attempting to move Devlin away. He doesn’t budge an inch. “He isn’t going to help us.” He strains, then gives up.
“Oh.” Noah pouts. “That’s too bad. Could really use your help.”
“I’ll help you.” Devlin’s eyes are still locked on Noah. “Whatever you need. I’ll help you.”
“Oh.” Noah says. “Great. Thank you.”
He bows at the waist with his hand on his wide chest. “You thank me with your existence.”
“I don’t like this,” Jamie whispers.
“Come on, guys, dinner. Oh.” Lia beams. “Hi, honey.” Lia gathers him in a hug, and the small woman practically disappears in his arms. “So glad you could make it. Let’s go, boys.”
Jamie puts his arm around Noah, looking back to glare at Devlin. We start to follow, but Devlin holds Hunter and me back. “Who is that?”
“Noah?” Devlin nods. “That’s Jamie’s fiancé.”
His eyes narrow to slits. “Is he blackmailing him? Threatening his life? Is it an arranged relationship?”
“Jamie? Blackmailing Noah? Uh . . .” Hunter laughs. “No, not at all.”
“So Noah is willingly dating him? Like on purpose?” Hunter nods. Devlin thinks for a moment. “Is it serious?”
Hunter’s lips purse. “Is it serious? With his fiancé?” Devlin nods. “I have a feeling it might be.”
Devlin nods. “How long have they been together?”
Hunter shrugs. “They met last August.”
“So not too serious, then.” Devlin nods to himself, thinking.
He pulls out a little pad of paper, and a pen from the spiral bind, opening it and writing something down.
“Have dinner with Lia. Check. Remind Jamie of how pathetic he is. In progress.” He licks the tip of the pen.
“Make Noah mine. Priority.” He tucks the pad back into his jeans pocket.
“Alright. Let’s go have dinner and make a plan.
Then I’ll take Noah far away from this place. ”
“Noah won’t—” Hunter covers Mark’s mouth.
I can’t believe this. I didn’t think there was any way he would help, but this man is built like a tank. It’s the best shot we have. I want Sawyer back. I need to know he’s okay. That Katya’s okay. “Wait. You’re going to help us?” I’m almost too afraid to trust it.
“I’ll go to the ends of the earth to help Noah.”
Hunter shrugs. “Whatever. I’ll take it.”