Page 19 of Wild Devil

She shrugs. “Well, the dog would have picked up on that, wouldn’t it?”

“Where?” I ask, fighting to keep my tone in check. “Just tell me you rented a storage shed someplace, and you weren’t naïve enough to store whatever the fuck it is in your house.”

She rolls her eyes in exasperation. “This is fucking rich. You think you have any right to give me the safety speech?”

“Where, Lyra?”

She inclines her head toward the window again. “I didn’t let him store it in the house per se. It’s out there in the garage, but it’s always locked, and Sam knows better than to play around there. Besides, like I said, I doubt Silas even remembers it’s there. It’s been years since he left it there and he hasn’t asked about it since. He just made me promise to never touch it or even look in the boxes without his permission. They’re locked anyway, so it’s not like I could have. I’m sure it’s probably paperwork. He said they were an insurance policy?—”

“And you believed him? Fuck, for all you know, there could be a bomb hidden out there!”

“Well, after the stunt he pulled, I don’t feel obligated to protect him anymore, do I?” She narrows her eyes. “You can have whatever the fuck it is. I don’t care.”

“You can’t stay here. You pack your shit, and you come with me. I’ll put you up for a few days.”

“And what about Sammy? You think he can just hide in a bunker and miss school for however long your little pissing contest goes on for?”

“I don’t plan on it taking very long at all,” I mutter.

“Daze. Tell me you aren’t planning to do what I think you are. Please. Silas is a dick, but think about Sam. He wouldn’t want you doing anything that could jeopardize your freedom?—”

“Go pack your stuff, and I’ll handle whatever the hell it is you have in the garage. But I mean it, Lyra. From now on, you have to trust me. I care about Sam more than anyone—even you,” I add before she can argue. “He’s all I have left, and I’ll be damned if I let Silas rope him into some dangerous bullshit. Just trust me.”

“Fine, but I’m sure he has people watching the house. They probably already know you’re here. I’ll go pack up Sammy and the van. Then I’ll get you the boxes from the garage. You think I hate you, but I don’t Daze. I have always looked out for you from day one, but it’s been nearly impossible to trust you. Don’t let me down.”

“I won’t. You get your stuff, and I’ll get Sam’s.”

I find him in the living room, watching a cartoon on low volume. He beams when he sees me and throws his arms around my waist. Then he scans the room as if hunting for someone else. “Where is Ms. Lady?” he asks. “I wanted to show her my room. Can she come and play?”

“Not right now, buddy.” I crouch to his level and smooth the hair back from his face. I’ll never get over just how much he looks like Renna. He may have my eyes, sure, but the innocence in his expression is all her. That enduring hope in whoever they look at, as if you’re the most important fucking person in the universe, and they have no doubt about that. They’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if they have to. Their love is just that fucking pure.

“Where is she?” he asks. “I want to play.”

“She’s… Away for a little while. You and I are gonna help get her back.”

“Okay!”

“To do that, we’re going to need to go on a little adventure. Would you like that?”

He nods.

“Good. Let’s go pack your favorite clothes and toys.”

“Okay, Daddy!” He takes my hand and leads me upstairs. I haven’t been in this house in a long damn time, but his room is the largest, decorated in his favorite colors with more toys than most stores have stocked. Lyra may be a hard-ass, but I don’t question for a second just how much she loves my kid. He’s as much hers as he is mine, and I can’t blame her for wanting the best for him.

Or at least that’s what I tell myself as I shove Sam’s prized belongings in a tiny suitcase and carry it out to the van. She’s already waiting there, arguing with someone else who arrived just in time.

“What is this Daze?” Lyra snaps. “You think I need a fucking escort? I can drive myself.”

“Ben will get you where you need to go,” I say. “And he’ll make sure that nothing happens along the way. Now show me where you’ve kept those boxes.”

She heads into the backyard while I follow. I have no doubt that her suspicion is probably correct. Silas must have someone watching the house, but if one of his boys hasn’t shown up yet, it could only mean one of two things.

Either what’s in those boxes isn’t important enough for him to give a shit about.

Or it’s extremely important, enough that he needs more than one man to protect it. He needs backup.

“It’s in there,” Lyra says. “But I’m counting on you, Daze. Silas loves Sam, but I’m not as stupid as you think. I know what going against him means. Just make sure I don’t regret it.”

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