Page 35 of Cover Up

Dei had wanted to see him in his room for so long now, but this wasn’t what he envisioned. Felix didn’t look wild and worked up with need. He looked like he was on the verge of shaking apart.

“I know you said you don’t wanna talk about it, but I don’t know if that’s doin’ you any good, sugar.”

Felix rolled his eyes up toward the ceiling and let out a slow breath. “Paris was with me the last time I talked to my mom.” He swallowed heavily, then flopped backward and landed with a dull thud on a pile of Dei’s blankets. “When she was threatening to have me put under conservatorship.”

Dei’s chest burned with anger all over again. “Mhm.”

“I talked to the guys about it tonight. I know it’s totally irrational. I mean, I’m kind of…brain damaged or whatever. I know I am. But I’m not incapable of taking care of myself.”

“I think your time here has proven that,” Dei said. He walked over and sat down, giving them only a few inches of space. “You worried she’s gonna try it when you get there?”

“I’m worried that she’s got the ball rolling already,” Felix admitted quietly.

Dei dropped back on the bed, regretting immediately that Felix was on the side of his stump instead of his arm because he wanted to hold him, but maybe it was better that way. He needed to figure out how to keep some distance between them until he knew for sure whether or not the line was worth crossing.

“This guy at the tattoo shop in Denver—he’s married to a lawyer,” Felix said. “I…sorry, my head is a mess, and I can’t think of their names right now.”

“It’s okay,” Dei assured him quietly.

“It’s not, but…whatever. He was so nice to me. He said my mom can’t just decide I’m incompetent, and I haven’t done anything that would suggest she has a case. He said any lawyer worth anything wouldn’t take her on as a client.”

“Sounds like he knows what he’s talking about,” Dei said.

Felix laughed, then rolled onto his side and propped his head up on his elbow, looking down at Dei. “I hope so. I know this is totally irrational, but I’m terrified. I can’t…I can’t let her keep me there. I won’t survive it.”

Dei reached for him and cupped Felix’s cheek. “That won’t happen. If some shit goes down, we run.”

Felix’s eyes widened. “We run?”

Dei nodded sternly. “We steal away into the night and get the fuck out. Then we hire the best goddamn lawyer money can buy and get her off your back for good.”

Felix let out a slow breath, turning his face to nuzzle into Dei’s palm. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”

“Darlin’, you’re anything but. Now, go ahead and get yourself comfy. I’ve got sweats and T-shirts—whatever you want. I’m gonna get us a couple drinks and maybe a snack, then I’ll be in to help you unwind.” Dei didn’t mean it like that, but he enjoyed the way it affected Felix. Especially the way his cheek went all pink at being given orders.

And if he were a weaker man, or if he liked Felix any less, he might have given in to his desires.

But he wasn’t, and he didn’t, so he was going to do his damn best to behave himself. Even if it made him want to give up everything he owned for a chance to make what they had something lasting and something real.

11

Felix wasn’t overly fond of flying. He hadn’t gotten on a plane since before the Incident, and he was a trembling mess as Max dropped them off at the airport. Instead of staying in the car, Max got out to help them unload their bags, and he took Felix by the shoulders, holding him tight.

“If any shit goes down—and I mean any shit—you call me. Got it? The entire goddamn shop will fly our asses up there to take care of your bitch mom.”

Felix ducked his head and laughed. If this had been two years ago, he might have tripped over himself in an attempt to defend her. He used to tell others and himself that she only acted the way she did because she loved him. It wasn’t until he got enough distance that he realized just how toxic she was.

“I’ll see you soon,” Felix promised.

He let go of Max and found Dei by the glint of his prosthetic—not to mention the way he towered over everyone. But the rest of the crowd was a buzzing sea of strangers, like bees in a hive. His brain couldn’t process their faces individually, so they faded into a blur, and he felt panic rising in his gut.

“Hey,” Felix said, hoping Dei could hear him. “I don’t feel so well.”

Dei let go of the bag handle and pressed his massive palm to the side of Felix’s neck. “What can I do?”

“Get me out of this crowd,” Felix said, his voice trembling.

“That might be tricky, sugar. It’s busy inside too. But I can get us through the line quicker if you can be patient with me for a few minutes.”

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