Page 29 of Deviant Bastards

“Like together-together?” she asks us, and we both nod. I watch as her pupils dilate, and she rubs her thighs together in anticipation. That small action has me chuckling. “Why would that bother me?” she asks as she twists in Gryffin’s lap to face me better.

“Well, we just wanted to make sure that you were okay with it, Pixie. Since we are... well, whatever the hell we are,” Gryffin says as his face gets a little red.

“Is this new... between you guys, or is it something that you have felt for a while?”

Gryffin looks at me for guidance on what to tell her. “I have known how I felt about Ric since the first time that I met him. However, I never acted on my feelings until the night that we dealt with the traitor.”

“Wait, what fucking traitor?” she asks vehemently.Shit!We are screwed. I forgot that we didn’t tell her about Aiden.

“Aiden, he was working with whoever tried to take you. Well, him and Carson and Cassandra.” I tell her because there’s no point in keeping secrets anymore, not if we want her to trust us. If we want us to work out. She looks at me as if she is waiting for me to continue. “We locked him up and got the information that we needed, and then we disposed of him.”

“You mean, you killed him,” she says impassively. She doesn’t seem affected by what we do or how we do it. I suppose that’s what happens when you grow up around death and violence. It becomes second nature to turn your emotions off.

“We had no choice, Pixie. You have to understand that.” Gryffin pleads with her because, even though he can see the same unaffected look on her face, I think that deep down, he fears that this will push her away, and she will be gone for good. I had no idea that taking her would lead to each of us falling hard for her.

ChapterNineteen

HARLEY

The fact that they killed someone doesn’t bother me at all. Especially if, as they say, Aiden was behind me, almost being kidnapped for a second time. I think the fact that I’m so unaffected by it all is what’s really pissing me off. I shouldn’t be this unaffected by the knowledge that the men I’m growing close to can kill without remorse. And yet here I am, completely turned on by the fact that they killed one of their own in order to stop anyone from trying to take me away from them.

It's funny how in the short time that I’ve been with them, I have gone from hating and despising these men to not being able to imagine a life without them. Gryffin tightens his hold on me, which snaps me out of my thoughts and brings me back to them.

“I get it. That’s not what I’m thinking about,” I tell them. I watch as they both pin me with their gazes. I could get lost in the intensity of their looks. “I need you guys to help me plan a way to get Ellie as far away from my father as possible.” It’s always been my plan to leave, but I have no idea how to ensure that my father never finds us again.

“That would be Dayton’s area of expertise,” Kendric says as he pulls out his phone, no doubt to get them both down here.

Dayton and Barker both enter the room at the same time and take seats on the two chairs opposite the couch. “So, what’s the plan, Little Brawler?” Barker chuckles as he sinks into his seat. I tell them that I need to get Ellie away from my father and hidden away so that she remains safe and free from his grasp.

“I have a best friend who could help get her out of the house, I think. But I have no doubt that my father will have tripled the guards around her since you guys took me.” My dad isn’t one to mess around when it comes to protecting his assets, and right now, Ellie is the most valuable person in the world to him.

“What about St James?” Dayton asks, making Kendric literally growl like an animal.

“What about Deacon?” I ask, confused.

“Can he be trusted, or is he in too deep with your father?” Dayton continues as Ric gets up and begins pacing the floor. He reminds me of the lions that we saw the day I took Ellie to the zoo. Caged animals just pacing around, waiting and biding their time, looking for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

“Ric, sit down, please,” I beseech. He says nothing, but he comes over and pulls me out of Gryffin’s hold before he sits back down on the couch with me firmly in his lap, straddling him. I wind my arms around his neck, keeping him grounded. His eyes have clouded over, and I feel the need to bring him back to us.

“I need your help, you have to come back to me,” I whisper in his ear as I trail kisses down his jaw. His hands tighten and then relax as he breathes deeply.

“We don’t trust Deacon, not yet. We need to find out where his loyalty lies.” I agree, despite Deacon being like a big brother to me. I’m not sure that he would willingly turn his back on my father. And right now, I need allies, not more enemies.

“Can you reach out to your friend?” Ric asks.

“Yes, I just need a phone and a place to meet her.”

“Here, Spitfire. You can use my phone, ask her to meet you at the coffee shop around the corner from Club Ivy,” Dayton says as he hands me his phone with a grin.

“Oh, you mean the one that you were trying to lure me to?” I ask with a chuckle, and he nods his head. I dial Kayla’s number and wait.

“Hello,” she answers.

“K, it’s me. Don’t say my name, I just need you to listen. I’m okay, but I need to meet you. Can you get away from your brothers and meet me at the little café around the corner from Ivy?” I ask, holding my breath while I wait for her answer.

“Yes, I’ll be there in an hour,” she hangs up the phone. I can’t help the feeling of foreboding that locks my stomach into knots. That was too easy.

“Bring extra guys, but keep them hidden,” I tell Ric as I spin in his lap and face the guys. “It was too easy. Normally Kayla would try and talk even though I told her not to.” I stand from Ric’s lap and make my way to my room to get ready.

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