Page 51 of Nugget

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Gavin

Shaking his head, Gavin was even more certain he should have kept Stryker away from Jason and Tristan. Tristan was licking the plate of brownies that Drake had whipped up for them, but Jason and Stryker were too excited, discussing someof Stryker’s more risky jobs. And hell. Why was Stryker so interested in hell?

“The big question is, how do I become a hell minion?” Stryker asked Jason.

Jason cackled.

“No!” Gavin said immediately.

Both Stryker and Jason looked at him in surprise like they’d forgotten he was there.

Gavin gave them a finger wave. “Sitting right here.”

“Of course, Papi!” Stryker smirked. “I would never try to become a hell minion.”

“I heard you,” Gavin reminded him. This boy. He wanted to laugh. Stryker was going to keep Gavin on his toes. The years of loneliness seemed to have disappeared, and he hadn’t even mated with Stryker yet.

Gavin had always known that he wouldn’t be happy with a sweet and compliant partner. He needed to be challenged. Stryker was perfect for him. Gavin had spent so long cursing the fates and now he had to admit that they knew exactly what they were doing.

It was a good thing that Gavin was fully prepared for the trouble that Stryker would bring his way.

He sent his text message.

“I think you need to check your hearing, old man,” Stryker quipped. “I obviously asked how to avoid becoming a hell minion.”

“And,” Jason added, “I obviously did not text Adam to tell him that he had a new minion to introduce into the family.”

Gavin set his phone on top of the table. “And I didn’t just text Mal to have him keep Adam busy. We both know how distractible that boy is. Especially when it comes to his Daddy.”

“Damn it!” Jason laughed.

Stryker pushed out his bottom lip. “I don’t get to become a minion?”

“I also messaged Ash and Atom to loop them in. There will be no sneaking off to the hell realm,” Gavin told them. He was not a novice to the antics of the boys in this family.

Jason shrugged at Stryker. “I tried.”

Stryker huffed.

Gavin was feeling pretty smug.

“Although,” Jason said, “Levi does go to hell a few times a week to help train the demons. Maybe I could—”

“Already let Mason know. Your brother promised to thwart any plans that you all come up with,” Gavin replied. Yeah, he was good.

“Mason is such a goody-goody,” Jason said in disgust.

“Levi will never go against his mate’s wishes. You won’t find any help there,” Tristan said as he glanced around the kitchen. “Is there pie?”

“Oh! I almost forgot. Mason wants you to bring back some jerky from the place by the river that you stopped by last timewhere you found that jelly you liked so much. He said you’d know what he meant,” Gavin said.

“Yes!” Tristan danced in his chair. “They had the best jelly. Like forty different types. There was fruity, and spicy, and—”

Jason groaned. “Damn it! I spent like three hundred dollars last time because Tris wanted everything.”

“It was so good!” Tristan exclaimed.

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