Well, another obvious answer smacked him in the face. Women weren’t his thing these days.
Could he name the last time he had sex with anything more than his fist?
The date didn’t come easy, which meant Dev was really having a life-disrupting moment. He liked to fuck just to fuck. He liked to watch people fuck. He’d always tossed himself in if given a chance. Sex had defined many of his adult years. He loved ass play too. Any ass really. Rubbing against his prostate gave him the best orgasms.
Why wasn’t he missing sex more?Shit.
Nervous energy had his leg bouncing as he expertly popped the battery into the burner phone. The comforting familiarity of the movement brought his focus back to the here and now. He powered up the cell and pushed in the number displayed on the computer screen, then pressed call.
“Yo. Parker,” the leader of the San Diego club answered.
“Devilman.” All the introduction he ever needed. “I got somethin’ for you.”
“Yup.” Communication like this was all the entire club needed. No unnecessary words.
“Bama plate comin’ to your backyard. Dude’s name is Micah Abbott if the intel is to be believed. Tag ’em. Next, Julian Cullen, Coronado. Sounds easy enough to track. He doesn’t know what’s comin’ for him. Watch his six.”
“Done.” The phone went dead.
Dev used the burner to send the license plate number he’d captured earlier. Then sent a description of the car and the guy. He watched the screen until he saw the “text read” notification from the other end.
He had no doubt in the end result. Dev removed the battery and snapped the phone in two. The tension of the last few minutes dissipated. His stomach rumbled with hunger as he got to his feet.
“Wanna grab a bite?” Dev asked his mom, who sat there staring at him, her work in front of her completely ignored.
“Do I wanna know what just happened?”
“You got it figured out, I’m sure. Want some grub?” he asked, getting a better look at her. She didn’t look like she was eating much these days, as thin as she was. “You’re awfully skinny.”
“I’m on a special diet. I have a procedure tomorrow—” She started to explain but he cut her off with a raised hand.
“Mom. Seriously. You look fuckin’ great.” All his concern poured out through his harshly barked words, wanting her to finally hear him.
She lifted a hand, stopping him from saying anything more, and she was right. They were having a useless conversation. He’d tried to make her see herself more clearly for years.
“I’m doing a breast lift tomorrow, then I’ll be done for a while. Call Keyes. Your father says Keyes went over and saw Smoke. It didn’t go well. Smoke’s not expected to live through the week. Sounds like Keyes could use a friend.” His mom used the perfect diversion.
“Stupid motherfucker,” Dev murmured about Smoke. He stood, grabbing the pieces of the burner phone. He’d toss those as he rode out. “I hate that fuckin’ cunt bastard. He can’t die fast enough for me. Why’d Keyes even go over there?”
“Language, Dev. I’m still your mother.”
He rolled his eyes like he always did when she got on to him about his colorful language. He’d talked this way since he was a toddler. Eventually she’d have to get over it.
“Be careful tomorrow.” He opened the office door. “If you need a ride, call Millie,” he tossed over his shoulder, teasingly. When he hadn’t offered himself as her driver, she gave a huff. The joke hit its mark.
He met his father halfway up the stairs leading to the office that he took down two at a time.
“We have a run tonight,” Fox said, his voice gruff and stern.
Where his mother searched for her youth, his old man had years of worry written in every sun and wind damaged line of his face. He had fifteen years on his mother. Old man was really beginning to take on a new meaning.
Dev nodded. The stealthy, secret drug runs were an adrenaline rush. Exactly what he needed to help tamp down this excessive energy pulsing through him. Only he, Keyes, and Mack, another club brother, went on these side hustles that his father had brokered years ago. They were designated as the muscle of the operation. A show of force against those who purchased from them.
They were lucrative and low risk. The club acted as the middleman in the transaction. They made loads of money with minimal effort, and that only came in the manner of brute force, making sure shit didn’t go sideways.
“Keyes?” Dev asked. The single name was enough of a question as to whether he should say anything to Keyes about tonight.
“Can you?” his old man asked over his shoulder at the top of the stairs.
