Chapter 25 Dex - Past
twenty-five
Dex - Past
DEVIL OR COYOTE?
I’d expected to find Archer at the Strays’ house, but when I arrived it was Henrik who was waiting for me.
Archer had been around less and less lately.
I didn’t even know where he lived. The bastard was almost as private and guarded as his twin.
Whenever we met up for Strays-related business and other business, it was here.
I’m pretty sure Archer didn’t want anyone to know he was gay. In contrast, I didn’t give a fuck who knew about my sexuality. I might never have known, or cared, about who he was into if he hadn’t suggested our arrangement.
There were never any emotions involved between us.
I respected the man, but I didn’t have an ounce of romantic feelings for him, just as he didn’t for me.
It was just physical between us, and it was very limited, because he preferred not to bottom and I refused to even try.
Mostly it was blow jobs and hand jobs, just a way to let off some steam.
He hadn’t particularly cared when I told him it was over.
Just said “fine” and then tasked me with retrieving the money someone owed him but swore they couldn’t pay.
Surprise, surprise, when I’d paid them a visit, that money had magically appeared.
“Get it?” Henrik asked, straight to business as I expected.
“Most of it,” I answered, pulling out the envelope of cash and tossing it over to him.
He pocketed it. I wasn’t concerned. Archer ran this thing, but Henrik was his twin and far closer to the man than I ever cared to be. I trusted he’d give it to his brother.
“How’s your hunting going?” Henrik asked me, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. I knew little about the man, who he was into beyond the occasional times I’d seen him flirting with Becca. Didn’t really care. Becca seemed smart enough not to get seriously involved with him.
“Very successful,” I told him. “I’ve caught myself a rabbit.”
“Congratulations.” Henrik smiled, and it seemed genuine, but he was always a tough one to read. “Will your rabbit be joining us?”
“No,” I answered quickly. I wanted Jonah to be close to me at all times, but not here. It wasn’t safe. I wouldn’t let him be tainted by this part of my life.
“Pity, he’s a pretty one. Wouldn’t mind seeing his face around some more.” So it seemed Henrik liked men too. That was fine, except that was my man he was talking about.
“I don’t share, Hound,” I told him, a warning in my eyes as I stepped forward, and he raised his hands in placation.
“Calm down, Devil. I’m not going to take him from you. I’m just saying he’s pretty. He seems feisty. Maybe he would do well here.”
“No,” I told him again. It didn’t escape me that he’d called me Devil.
We all had names here, ways we referred to each other through messages and when we weren’t sure who was listening.
Archer had given them to us: Wolf, Hound, Fox, Jackal, Raven, Bull, Cupid, Snake, Reaper, Ghost, Halo, Knives… the list went on. I was Coyote.
“Where did you hear that name?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “A birdy told me.”
“Birdy…” I made a pensive sound. “Or a Bee?”
Henrik smiled. “So… you don’t trust him, or you don’t trust the others?”
I trusted no one. Not ever. “He’s not one of us.”
“Hmm. Maybe. Maybe you would feel differently if you were the one running things. You could use them to keep him safe. To keep him yours.”
I didn’t know what to make of that. The direction this conversation was heading in felt dangerous, completely uncharted and forbidden territory. “But I’m not the one running things.”
“No. Not now. But what do you think is stronger, a wolf… or the devil?”
“You’re implying I what? Take over the Strays? Usurp Archer?”
Henrik shrugged one shoulder, as if this entire conversation wasn’t a betrayal of his twin brother. “Just something to think about. When you’re tired of being a little coyote in the shadow of the wolf, you call me.”
“And Archer?”
“You let me worry about him.”
I’d never felt any particular need for power.
Sure, maybe I’d do things a little differently to Archer, but he’d brought me in, he’d seen a kid who was lost and without a purpose and given him one.
It was the only purpose I’d had until now, until Jonah.
I knew I should dismiss Henrik. How could I trust someone who’d betray his own twin?
A couple of months ago I would have dismissed him outright and probably brought this whole thing to Archer’s attention. Now, though?
I didn’t need help keeping Jonah safe, or keeping him mine, but the thought scratched its way into my mind like a parasite. Too fast and too deep to squish like the insignificant bug it should have been.
“I have to go,” I said to Henrik instead of responding. He nodded simply and watched me leave in silence, but his words followed me, like a toxin in my system. A poison in my blood I couldn’t purge.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, pig,” I told Toby as he attempted to speak around a mouthful of fries. He scowled at me, continuing to chew before swallowing and starting again.
“I said the Drakes should be at the pier tomorrow night. Archer wants us all there,” Toby repeated, more comprehensible this time.
I huffed. “I’ll be there.” I was always there, unlike Toby who thought he could pick and choose what Strays business he’d participate in.
I had nowhere else to be, not until recently, and for the first time I found the thought of going to the fight night at the pier annoying.
It was time I could spend with Jonah instead.
Bryce was quiet beside his moronic best friend.
He’d been quiet a lot lately, and while he hadn’t missed any more shifts at the shop, something about him still seemed off.
Snatching the basket of fries from in front of Toby, who scowled at me, I slid it in front of Bryce, who seemed to be off in his own world and not paying any attention to us.
He looked down at it in surprise, his face doing something complicated for a moment before he slid it back to Toby. “I’m not hungry.”
I moved it back in front of him. “I didn’t ask.”
Bryce scowled at me, and that was new too. They said ignorance was bliss, and Bryce was the most ignorant person I knew, so he should have the most bliss. He had sunshine beaming out of his annoying ass at any point in time. He didn’t scowl. Except he was. It didn’t suit him.
“I’m really fine, Dex. I don’t want to eat.”
“I said I’m not asking, dickface. Just do it.”
“No.”
“Eat, or I’ll make you.”
“Jesus, why are you so pissed off all the fucking time?” he snapped. Beside him, Toby’s eyes widened in surprise. “Give me a fucking break. Shouldn’t you be happy now you’ve made Jonah yours? You got what you wanted, is that still not enough?”
The outburst was certainly unexpected, but I hadn’t told Bryce that Jonah was mine. Hadn’t told any of the Strays but Henrik, and he didn’t seem the type to gossip. “What do you know about that?”
Bryce shrugged. “He was wearing your jacket at Maxxxine’s.”
There was a bit to unpack there. First, Jonah was actually wearing my jacket.
I hadn’t seen it since the day we’d traded clothing.
It made me wonder how often he wore it when he thought I wouldn’t know about it.
Second, Jonah had been at a sex shop. What could my rabbit possibly want from there?
I found the idea offensive, that he’d need anything apart from me to satisfy him.
My issues with Bryce were immediately shoved to the back of my mind as I retrieved my phone from my pocket, my fingers clicking over the buttons rapidly, my messages barely coherent in my haste.
my place. now. bring wat u bought @ maxxxines.
I grabbed my keys and helmet as I got up from the booth. “Gotta run.”
Jonah’s response came as I reached my bike.
Rabbit
Fucking Bryce.
if ur not there in 30 ill find u. bring everything. ill no if u dont.
Truthfully, I’d have no idea if he brought everything or not, but he didn’t need to know that. I thought for a moment before adding another message, then I yanked on my helmet and sped off to where Jonah would join me very soon. If he didn’t, I’d hunt him down and drag him home myself.
u better still b wearing my jacket.