“Or something,” Xavier said.
“I thought he was straight.”
Xavier just laughed, as though he had said something funny.
“But I’m glad he has someone, you know,” Shawn said. “I was worried about him. He was depressed after he got out of prison.”
“Really?” Xavier murmured.
“Yeah. I hope I’m wrong, but I think… I think someone did something to him in prison.”
“You’re not wrong: I did.”
Shawn opened his mouth and closed it without saying a word. He digested the information for a few moments. “You’re an ex-convict?”
“Yep.”
Great. He was in a rusty Ford Pinto, without a seatbelt on, and with an ex-convict at the wheel.
“What were you in prison for?”
“Killed eight people at a mall.”
Shawn snorted a laugh. “You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you?”
“Your cousin did, for a long time.”
Shawn smiled, shaking his head. Sage was a bit naive. Even though he was younger than his cousin, Shawn often felt like he was the older one. “So what did you really do?”
“Manslaughter. Got drunk, got into a bar fight, someone died.”
A shiver of unease ran down Shawn’s spine. He couldn’t imagine what this guy and Sage had in common, but his cousin was clearly happy. That was the important thing, wasn’t it?
They were quiet for the rest of the drive.
“Thanks,” Shawn said when the car finally stopped in front of his building. To his surprise, Xavier got out, as well. Shawn chuckled. “No one will attack me here. You don’t have to—”
“Sage told me to get you home. I’ll get you home.” Xavier was looking over Shawn’s shoulder. “Someone’s watching us. You know that guy?”
Shawn turned around and froze. Rutledge got out of his Mercedes and strode toward them.
“Yeah, I know him,” Shawn said.
“He looks pissed,” Xavier murmured.
Shawn let out a laugh. “He pretty much always looks pissed.” He cringed—it came out almost affectionate—and Xavier shot him a sharp, assessing look.
Rutledge came to a halt.
“Hey,” Shawn said, unsure.
Rutledge gave him the glare he’d been giving him the entire week before looking at Xavier with such a look of disdain that it would make anyone feel two inches tall. “Who is that?”
Xavier seemed unfazed, even amused.
“Xavier Otero,” he said with a nice smile, stepping closer to Shawn and putting a hand on his shoulder. “I was just giving Shawn a ride.” Shawn inhaled sharply at the dirty undertone in his voice.
Rutledge clearly didn’t miss it, either. His shoulders tensed up and his gaze raked over Shawn, as if looking for evidence, before shifting to Xavier’s car. A sneer twisted his lips. “I hope the ride was comfortable.”
