“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?”
