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“Nothing in particular,” I lied. “But Maddox is a protective fucker, and the last time we got locked up, he did something stupid. Just promise me that if it ever happens again, you’ll help Xavi keep a leash on him.”

Nate glared at me with worry in his eyes. He wanted to ask specifics, but he knew he wouldn’t get answers. Not yet. Not until I had to bring him in. “Yeah, whatever. I promise, but you know Madd isn’t gonna stay on any leash if you’re in trouble. You know that.”

I did know that, which was why I had to pull this thing off without a hitch.

“I love him, Nate. Fuck, I love him.”

“I know.”

I smiled at the water. “I never really thanked you for locking us at the gravel pits that night. If it weren’t for you guys, we’d probably still be beating one another just to burn off our feelings.”

Nate laughed. “You still do that.”

“Not every day, though,” I laughed. “Less frequent now.” I couldn’t wait to get back to that. I needed to end this bullshit with my dad, put Maddox at ease, and earn his trust back with fist fights and bickering.

“Whatever you’re doing, Dev, just be careful. Bring me in. Stop going at everything alone.”

Maybe. I’d bring Nate in if I had to, but he was high on my protection list, so I’d rather not.

I left the shop with some of my favourite Maddox memories on my mind, heading to my truck. The time had come to give my dad the documents I’d stolen for him. I had numerous copies of them hidden all over the place, and I’d even given one to the cop who had sort of agreed to hear me out.

Tonight, I’d give him the papers and the money for the boat, and hope to hell he’d spill the rest of his plan so I had a bit more to go on. Time to get rid of my dad.

15

-Maddox-

Whatsortofcruelfate had me falling in love with such a selfish, stupid, irritating asshole? Sure, I understood Devon’s logic about wanting to protect us from his dad, but how was he so blind to the fact that he was falling into a trap? His dad was manipulating him,again, and Devon fell for it,again, like the idiot he was.

Yeah, I made him sleep on the couch hoping it’d knock some sense into him, and I’d been ignoring him mostly, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t keeping an eye on him. I tried to stay a few steps ahead, and if Jim tried to frame Devon for something again, I had proof of Devon’s whereabouts. Tom had taught me how to track Devon’s phone, so even though it wasn’t concrete evidence, at least I had a time-stamped map of where he was at all times. Not to mention the peace of mind it gave me.

I didn't know if any of it would matter in the end, but having his back while giving him the silent treatment had gotten exhausting. Devon had given him the documents, though, and Jim had promised to be gone in three days, so I guessed we’d see if he followed through so I could get back to loving my idiot.

Even though my mood was terrible, it was Friday night and I’d made it to my mom’s for our regular dinner. Xavi sat next to me, and despite me not liking it, Dad sat at the head of the table. To sit around the table with my whole family felt weird as fuck; I couldn’t even remember a time when this happened. I hadn’t grown up in afamily dinnerkind of household.

The meal had been yet another terrible casserole made by Mom. This one included a bunch of different canned things thrown together with some cheese, but it wasn’t as bad as the tuna spaghetti.

Xavi spent dinner being protective of Mom, giving Dad snippy answers to any questions he asked. I stuck to my typical one word bullshit, and he didn’t push me for more. My eyes wandered to the water-stained ceiling, to the wine-stained carpet, and over to the bedroom doors that barely held onto their hinges. This place was a safety hazard, but it had been for years. Looking at it all was easier than looking at the hope in my mom’s eyes and the place my dad sat at the table. Didn’t know what to make of any of it, so I thought about Devon and all the ways I could protect him from himself.

Xavi helped Mom clean up, and my dad didn’t get the hint that I wanted to be alone when he followed me outside. I lit one of Mom’s smokes and ignored him as best as I could.

“What’s going on with you?” he asked.

“What makes you think you have the right to ask me that?”

“Maddox.”

“Nothing. Just butt out. I don’t even know why you’re here.” I inhaled, noticing the nicotine didn’t burn as badly as the words I held back.

Dad sighed. “I know you don’t have any reason to trust me, or even like me for that matter, but you’re still my son.”

I snorted. “Been your son all my life. What changed this time?”

Dad flipped a coin between his fingers and held it out to me. “I’m ninety days sober. Clean. That’s what changed.”

I looked at the sobriety chip, wondering if he’d stolen it from somewhere just to trick me. But seeing him lately, noticing he looked healthier, livelier, and better in general, had some unwanted emotion clogging up my airway. I chased it back down with smoke. Ninety days? Wow, I didn’t think he’d ever made it that long.

“I know you won’t believe it just because of this.” He held up the chip. “So if you want proof, you can meet my sponsor or come to a meeting with me at the community centre.”

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