Page 56 of Wicked Devotion
“No. I told him to get lost, over and over. But guess what? He always comes crawling back because he fuckingneedsme. So if I say he’s not going anywhere, he’s not going anywhere. It’s not his decision to make, and certainly not yours.”
In the doorway, someone coughs. All four of us turn our heads to see Max leaning against the wall, looking tired and incredibly pissed.
“I’m not going where?”
21
MAX
Funny how it never stops hurting.
To get the undeniable confirmation that I’m, once again, infantilized. That I’m still Max, who doesn’t know a thing. Who is incompetent, too naive, and trusting for his own good.
And maybe they are right because it was gullible and terribly dumb of me to think I have a place at their table.
I’m so fucking tired of everyone ignoring my skills and qualifications just because I am the way I am.
“Can I be part of the discussion about me, or do you assholes want to continue going over my head? Wanna start deciding when I’m allowed to take a shit too, or are my career and my private life enough?”
“Tone it down a little,” Logan says, giving me a look that makes me want to rip everyone’s head off until this building is nothing more than a fancy graveyard.
“Fuck you,” I hiss, swatting his hand away when he tries to put it on my arm.
“Max, let me explain. Screaming insults at each otherwon’t get us anywhere,” Rockwell says, and after taking a deep breath, I turn around to face him.
“And fuck you, too.”
His and Sam’s eyes widen in shock, but Rockwell’s expression quickly turns into anger. Too bad I won’t let him voice it.
“I’m so close to being done with all of you. Congratulations, really. Takes a fuckin’ lot. One last time: I am an adult. If I want to fuck around with Cabrera, then I’m going to do it. My personal decisions don’t impact my ability to perform on the battlefield in any way, shape, or form, so I would appreciate it if you guys keep your goddamn noses out of my business. Thank you.”
Upon seeing a half-empty bottle of beer standing on the balcony railing, I walk out there and down it in one go. Yelling always makes my throat scratchy, which isn’t optimal because I’ve got plenty more to say. Unfortunately, the other men took my short break as an invitation to open their damn mouths.
“Shut up,” I say, stalking back inside Red’s office. “I’m talking, and you’re going to listen. Since we’re already at it, why not air all our dirty laundry at once? Stop excluding me.”
“We’re not excluding you, Max. Some things are just—“ Sam tries to reason but stops himself to glance over at Rockwell in search of approval.
“Oh, you fucking do. What’s with that secret club of yours? You, Rockwell, and Charlie. Did you find a new shared hobby or something? I doubt you guys are planning a surprise birthday party for me because my birthday was a month ago, and who would have thought, you assholes forgot it.”
“I didn’t,” Logan mumbles next to me.
“Sergeant Vaughn, you need to shut your trap for a second to let me explain,” Rockwell barks. “And if you refuse, I’ll have the others restrain you. I’m too old for this shit.”
Somehow, his tone of voice is enough to make me follow his command.
Rockwell pulls out a chair, running his fingers through his beard once he sits down. Just as he opens his mouth to start talking, his phone rings, and his brows furrow.
“You’re on speaker, Charlie. What is it?”
I don’t need to hear a word from Hunter to know it’s bad.
“You have to come back— fuck, Logan’s going to kill me,” Charlie mutters, the connection breaking every few syllables.
“Sanders caught Lily. Down by the cells.”
Moments later, all of us are screaming into the phone as if we could change anything by being loud enough.
“Where is she now?” Logan says after snatching the phone out of Rockwell’s hand.
