Page 5 of Nugget

“Coming right up,” their waitress, Sally, said before hurrying off.

“So, what’s on your mind?” Levi asked.

“Nothing much,” Gavin replied easily.

Levi snorted. “It sure has been raining a lot at night. Mason says that the state park hasn’t been this green and healthy in years.”

Gavin sighed. “I’ve just been stretching my wings.”

“Every night? For two weeks?” Levi questioned.

“Yes.” Gavin didn’t really feel like explaining himself, but he owed Levi something. Levi was one of his best friends and if he was worried, so were the rest of the family.

“Just tell me that you’re okay,” Levi pleaded softly.

Gavin smiled at his friend. “I’m okay. Dealing with the coven and all the talk about the hunt brought back some memories.” He ran a hand roughly down his face. “The nightmares came back.”

“Fuck, man,” Levi spat. “What can I do?”

“I’m dealing with it,” Gavin responded.

“Let us help you,” Levi begged.

Shit! Gavin hated this. He despised being weak. The nightmares were some bullshit trauma he should have outgrown years ago. He wasn’t the only being who’d suffered during thehunt. Many species had been wiped out, not just his own family. “I don’t know how anyone can help.”

“I get it,” Levi said quietly. “But if there’s something—”

“I’ll let you know,” Gavin promised. He wasn’t being completely honest with his friend. One thing helped. The masked troublemaker that constantly watched him at least took Gavin’s mind away from his past.

“Here you go, boys,” Sally said, dropping off their drinks. “Your food will be out soon.”

“Thanks,” he and Levi said in unison.

Gavin’s phone chimed and he dug into his pocket to pull out the sleek device. A text message waited, and he thumbed it open.

What’s for lunch, Papi?

So the boy was watching. Gavin quickly responded before setting his phone face down on the table.

Me, if you ever get off your ass and come find me.

That should force Stryker to make a move. Gavin was becoming impatient with their game. Or lack of movement. He expected more from Stryker. Hadn’t Gavin enticed the boy enough to come out in the open? The boy had disappeared from the small apartment he’d been staying in after Dean and Noah had rescued him.

It had taken just one late-night flight to track down where the boy had been. That was why Gavin suspected that Stryker was close.

His phone chimed but Gavin ignored it as he caught up with Levi. Levi entertained him with stories of his mate’s twin brotherwho’d mated to a demon. Gavin wanted to check his messages, but he resisted. It would drive Stryker crazy knowing that he was purposely being ignored.

When his phone chimed three more times in a row, Levi lifted a brow.

“Ignore it,” Gavin demanded.

“Stryker?” Levi asked.

Gavin narrowed his eyes.

“Do you really think that we don’t know he’s stalking you?” Levi questioned.

“How?”

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