Page 83 of Spilled Coffee

Alex…Devon stilled instantly. His hands froze, and for the first time since this madness began, hesitation flashed across his face.

He turned to the door, narrowing his eyes suspiciously even though Logan couldn’t see him. “You wouldn’t fuckin’ dare,” he growled, though there was a flicker of unease in his tone now.

“Don’t test me,” Logan shot back without missing a beat. “You’ve got exactly three seconds to open this door.” His voice was steady, like cold steel wrapped in fury, as he counted down. “One… two…”

Devon lunged for the door and yanked it open with enough force to make the hinges creak.

“Alright, stop!” he snapped, trying to take control of the situation even now. He stood only inches from Logan, their faces level as tension crackled between them like an electrical short-circuit. “You wouldn’t really make that call.”

Logan didn’t say a word, but as he slowly raised his phone Devon could see the illuminated screen where Alex’s name glowed bright and unmistakable.

“Oh,” he said, letting a dangerous smirk tug at one corner of his lips as his thumb hovered millimeters above the call button. “I would.”

His fist flew forward without warning. It was a furious blur of motion that connected squarely with Devon’s nose in a sickening crunch.

Blood sprayed, and Devon staggered back with a howl of pain. “Fuck you!” he spat, one hand clutching his face while glaring daggers at Logan through watery eyes. “What the hell was that for?”

Logan stepped into the room, shaking out his throbbing knuckles streaked with blood. “You know exactly what it was for,” he snarled through gritted teeth.

Devon let out an animalistic roar, then charged like a bull seeing red. He tackled Logan around the waist with enough force to send them both crashing to the floor in a chaotic tangle of limbs and fury.

They grappled violently, fists swinging as raw anger fueled every blow.

Logan landed another sickening punch on Devon’s jaw before Devon retaliated with equal force, a brutal crack that sent pain exploding across Logan’s cheek.

“Stop it!” Ethan’s voice rang out from somewhere above them, though neither man seemed capable of listening to reason as they rolled around on the hardwood.

A deafening crash, like a grenade exploding, shattered their fight, and both men stilled as shards of pottery rained down from the lamp Ethan smashed over Devon’s head.

“Fuck—” Devon groaned, then slumped sideways on the floor. Blood trickled not just from his nose but also from a gash on the back of his head where the lamp hit him.

Logan scrambled to his feet, one hand instinctively rubbing his jaw while the other reached for Ethan. His eyes scanned himover: disheveled hair sticking to sweat-dampened skin, jeans hanging loose around hips, bruises already forming on his cheek and arms.

“You alright?” he asked, stepping closer to steady Ethan’s trembling frame.

Despite looking far from okay, Ethan nodded. His breaths became increasingly uneven as adrenaline ebbed away and reality crashed back in like cold water dousing flames. “Yeah…” he whispered before clearing his throat and trying again. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

But even as he said it, his body betrayed just how far from ‘okay’ he really was.

Devon continued to groan from where he was slumped, but when he opened his mouth to speak, there was less defiance than before. “Guess it was Logan to the rescue this time… instead of Eddie.” The words dripped venom even though they lacked strength and yet they still managed to hit their target.

“Shut your damn mouth,” Logan snapped, his tone deadly despite still catching his breath. “You need to get the fuck out. Then make sure you stay away from him—from ALL of us—or next time… next time I will make that call. I was naïve.” He shot back, his hands clenched at his sides, fingers curling into tight fists as if he were trying to physically restrain himself. “The last time we talked, you said you had all this under control. You said you were better. Hell, I was dumb enough to believe you. I needed somewhere to be safe with him, and I thought…” His jaw tightened, a flicker of pain crossing his face as he spoke. “I shouldn’t have crossed the line, but don’t think for one second this was ever about you. It wasn’t.” He inhaled then exhaled sharply through his nose, stepping forward with a finality in his tone. “Now get the fuck out!”

Devon’s eyes flashed with rage, his lips curling into a sneer as he turned on Ethan. “You hearing this? I sure hope so. Trust me,he’ll hurt you, just like he did me. You think you’re something special? You’re not. He can’t give you what you want because he can’t even admit what he is.”

Logan’s head snapped up, his body going rigid, as if the words had struck him physically. His eyes darkened, narrowing into sharp slits as he took a step closer. “Yeah… just like you’ll never be what Alex wants. You need help,” he growled, pointing an accusatory finger. “Eddie was right about you—you’re an animal. And you shouldn’t be around people until you fix what’s going on in your head.” His voice rose slightly, trembling with anger but also regret as he glanced at Ethan again, taking in the bruises on his arms and the wrecked look on his face.

The sight of him twisted something deep inside his gut. “I’m to blame,” he admitted quietly. “I shouldn’t’ve brought you into Ethan’s life. I see that now. Do me a favor and go get yourself some help.”

For a fleeting moment, something raw and unguarded flickered in Devon’s expression before his smirk reasserted itself. He scoffed, rolling his eyes like Logan’s words were nothing more than an annoying buzz in his ear.

“You make me sick,” he spat, hostility radiating off him as he stormed to the door. He paused just long enough to throw one more poisoned dart over his shoulder. “And don’t talk about me needing help, you need to take a look at yourself.” Devon formed a gun with his hand, finger and thumb and angled in a threat at Logan before he stalked out.

“We’re done here, Devon.” Logan shook his head and barked with words that left no room for argument. “Stay away from Ethan or you’ll regret it.”

Devon paused in the hall and glanced back over his shoulder. “Oh, I’ll stay away,” he said mockingly before letting out a short laugh that carried no humor whatsoever. “He’s too damn needy for me—I thought for you too. Hell, you used to be more of aman, Logan.” He shook his head, then disappeared, his heavy footsteps echoing in the quiet until they faded completely.

Ethan let out a shaky breath and sank down in a squat near the edge of the couch. Burying his face in his hands, he tried to block out everything that had just happened. “Shit… shit… shit.” He dragged both hands down his face before looking up at Logan with red-rimmed eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head slowly, as if punishing himself. “I should’ve listened when you warned me.”

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