Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“I would’ve gotten those,” Dev said. “Give me a minute before you clean up after me. I’ve been tryin’.” The barked directive sounded gruff and irritated yet also pleased and appreciative of Cash’s efforts. How did he convey so much in a simple tone?
“I know you’d get them in the basket.” Cash allowed the lie to tumble from his lips.
Maybe Dev’s messes were more contained these days but never fully remedied. He stuffed his hands in Dev’s pants pockets and came up empty-handed. Now that was new. Suspicion had him doing the action again, maybe he missed something. Dev always had a mishmash of items inside his pockets—all the pockets.
“Where’s your wallet and cell phone?”
Dev didn’t make eye contact as he pulled his boxers on. He also didn’t respond. Cash dumped the clothes in the basket and moved around Dev, back into the bedroom.
“Where are they? What’re you not telling me?” Cash asked, taking a glance around the bedroom.
“Stop frettin’. The phone’s on the charger on my side of the bed, and the wallet and keys in the dresser. I’m tryin’ to do better.” To prove his point, he opened the top drawer of the dresser for Cash to see his wallet and keys.
No, seeing them tucked away didn’t appease him. His suspicions escalated.
“I feel like there’s more to the story today. You know something that you’re not sharing. Your entire demeanor changed after you talked to your mother,” Cash said carefully, not a hundred percent sure how hard to push.
Dev left the drawer for him to close and dropped down on the bed, reaching for his phone. “I told you what she said. My old man worked for the government, and she was scared that the people who killed him might think she was involved.”
“She didn’t know anything more? Only that your father worked for the government?” Cash asked just like he had earlier, going to the end of the bed, watching for any sign of a lie from Dev.
“No. Why would I be keepin’ secrets now?” Dev asked absently, flipping through his phone. “I got a million texts from my brothers all over the country. Everybody’s freaked the fuck out. Do you think Shanna can handle the funeral arrangements before I have the meetin’ in the mornin’? I think I should get donuts delivered for everyone.” Dev lifted his gaze to Cash, asking his opinion. “Everybody likes donuts. We have plots at Little Bethel Cemetery. When will they release the bodies? Shit, that’s gonna be a process, isn’t it?”
Cash only stared at him, taken off guard by the litany of questions, wondering which one to answer first.
“What? Do you have the authority to release the bodies?” Dev shook his head, seemingly answering his own question, and tossed his cell phone on the bed beside him. “I don’t wanna talk about any of this right now. Will you help handle it in the mornin’? And get in bed. Why’re you standin’ there lookin’ at me? Tell me some happy things. I don’t see anything good comin’ my way.” Dev patted the side of the bed. “Except you comin’ at me. Talk to me about your life outside the job. I need the mental break.”
Dev’s eyes narrowed as he angled his body under the blanket and rolled to his side, tucking the pillow under his head. “I’m talkin’ too much right now, aren’t I? What do you think that means?”
“I want you to carry a weapon at all times,” Cash said, dodging every answer, clearly understanding Dev’s rambling meant he needed a mental break. “Don’t be afraid to use it.”
Plus, if Cash gave Dev an opportunity to talk freely, he might accidentally let the secrets spill. The way Dev patted the bed harder, urging him in, and exaggeratedly waggled his eyebrows at Cash, made him laugh.
“What do you want to know?” Cash asked, going to the light switch on the wall, plunging the bedroom into darkness. Dev’s lamp flipped on, giving him enough light to make it back to his side of the bed, making sure his cell phone was still charging there before climbing in.
“You haven’t shared your roster. I don’t really know anything about your family. What was it like after your attack? When did life get back to normal for you?” Dev asked, scooting to the center of the mattress. The pillow came with him.
“Roster?” Cash asked, confused. Dev rolled his eyes in the dramatic way he had. “Your sex roster. Mine’s undefinable, but I bet you know or knew all the people you fucked. That seems like a normal guy thing to know. You make me feel like it’s more than just sex when we’re together. Do you do that all the time?”
Cash turned on his side, face to face with Dev. He never spoke about himself or his background to protect his parents. Did he really want to start now?