Page 56 of Demon
“Anyway, when we were looking into who was behind the orders on her, that led us to your dad.”He focused on his hands, where he slowly spun the coffee cup between the two of them while he spoke.“We found that your dad is in deep to the Diablos.”
“I know all that.We talked about it when we decided to make sure she stays out of the line of fire and how to go about taking them down.”Gavin’s impatient tone made Demon look up at him.
“I know, but I didn’t tell you everything we uncovered.”He looked away again, wishing he knew a way to make this easier, both for him and for the man on the other side of the counter.
“What didn’t you tell us?”
Demon glanced toward the bedroom, hoping Ronnie was still asleep, or that the walls were thick enough she wouldn’t overhear him.
“It was discovered that Ronnie wasn’t the first time he’d given a woman to the Diablos to pay off his debt to them.”He kept his voice soft, his gaze still on the mug in his hands, he didn’t need to see the other man’s pain.Overhearing it from around the corner wasn’t the way he wanted Ronnie to find this out.
Several seconds passed and when Gavin still hadn’t spoken and had barely moved, Demon looked at him.
“When?”Gavin’s voice was barely more than a whisper.He’d come to the same suspicion that Demon had, and it hadn’t taken him nearly as long.Of course, Demon hadn’t known that their mother had disappeared, so he’d been working with a handicap.
“I don’t know.I don’t know how many, only that my source found that this wasn’t the only time he’d given them a person, or people, to pay off a debt.They were going to keep looking into the situation, but I haven’t heard anything more.”
“When’s the last time you checked in?”
“Couple of days ago.I’ll reach out and see if there are any more details yet.Don’t hold your breath, though.People don’t keep records on shit like this, so we’re dealing with memories and hearsay.”
A small squeak of the hinges let Demon know that Ronnie was up and on her way.
“Ronnie,” he whispered, letting Gavin know what he’d heard.
“I don’t want her knowing about that part, not until we know for sure.”His voice was just as soft as he hurried to get the words out before she reached the room.
Demon nodded.He didn’t want to be the one to have to tell her.At least not until they knew for sure.Then he’d do everything he could to hold her up if the knowledge broke her.
“Hey.You’re back.”Ronnie stopped as she spotted her brother.She blinked a couple of times, as if she hadn’t been expecting him and didn’t know how to act.
Demon wasn’t so conflicted.He lifted one arm in a silent invitation.She seemed to know just what he was offering because she stepped in until her body rested against him, and he could drop his arm across her shoulders.He held her there, enjoying the warmth and softness as she pressed into his side, her arms going around his waist.
“How did your visit with Dad go?”She turned to look at Gavin even as she relaxed against Demon.
Gavin’s gaze flicked between the two of them for a moment, but when he spoke, it wasn’t to say anything about it.
“I didn’t go see Dad, Ronnie.I went on a raid.”
“What?”Her back straightened and she pulled away from Demon slightly, not stepping away but not soft and pliant against him anymore.He knew this had to happen, she needed to know, but he hated that she’d had any excuse to pull away from him.He’d liked her there, under his arm.It felt like she belonged there.
30
“Whodidyouraid?”Ronnie narrowed her eyes at her brother.She’d been enjoying the lazy morning, Demon’s arm around her as she snuggled into him, not to be told her brother had lied to her when he’d convinced her to stay home this morning.
Gavin closed his eyes and sighed.She wanted to reach across the bar and slap him until he told her what she wanted to know.But that wouldn’t get her anywhere, and would likely only start a wrestling match between the two of them.And of all the people she might want to wrestle with, her brother was nowhere near the top of that list.
“Can I finish eating, get another cup of coffee and then we can sit down and talk about this?I’ll tell you everything I can.”
She narrowed her eyes and pinned him with a glare.“I’ll wait, but you’re not going to get away with telling me bits and pieces anymore.I want to know all of it.”
He met her gaze for several seconds then he took another deep breath and held it as he tilted his head back and rolled his eyes upward, as if he was looking for some kind of divine help.She could have told him it wasn’t coming, and that there was no getting away from her, but she held her tongue.She wanted to see what he decided before she resorted to threats.
Since he’d brought it up, she decided she could use a cup of coffee, so she disentangled herself from around Demon, and went to make it.
The silence in the room was only broken by the clink of dishes and their clothes rustling as they moved, sending Ronnie’s anxiety about what Gavin had to tell her, and what he might be trying to hide from her, skyrocketing.
By the time her coffee was done brewing she wanted nothing more than to sit down and zone out, but that wouldn’t be happening.Maybe she would get some answers though.Taking her cup to the bar, she went to her stool and was about to climb up and have a seat when Demon stood.He eased the coffee out of her hand and set it on the counter.Then he tugged her into his arms, pulling her close until her face pressed into his chest.
