Page 1 of Unmatched Devil

Chapter One

Therewereafewunspoken rules of war. One of the biggest wasknow thy enemy. As Rian stared across the coffee shop at the man standing at the counter, he realized he might have slipped a little on that one. Kylian Long was the son of a businessman Rian had been tormenting for a while. His efforts had been unsuccessful. Bryson Long didn’t fold to personal threats, so Rian had kidnapped his son and scared him a little. The move had been just for effect. He had no quarrel with the twenty-year-old college student. In fact, if things were different, Rian might pursue Kylian harder than anyone ever had. The guy was flawless.

Blond hair and blue eyes were such a typical combo. Yet there was nothing mundane about Kylian. Intelligence, confidence, and vitality bled from him. Rian loved men who brought sunshine wherever they went. His life was the opposite in every way. Looking at Kylian made him smile.

As the son of Conor McKinley—the once great leader of the Irish mafia—running New York with an iron fist had always been his legacy. Rian didn’t get to be soft. He couldn’t, nor was he particularly interested in showing an ounce of kindness. But Kylian, he had a spark. Rian didn’t want to kill him. Unfortunately, they were in the same place at the same time… again. For the third time this week, to be exact. That didn’t feel like a coincidence, especially since they were in New York. Kylian’s dad lived in Massachusetts and Kylian went to Princeton, where he had a home nearby. There was zero chance they should cross paths. Yet here they were.

“What do you want me to do about the kid?”

Rian kept his gaze locked on Kylian at Warden’s comment. Warden had been with him for years. He knew how Rian thought. Rian snorted. “I don’t want you to do anything. If I remember correctly, the last time you tried handling that kid, he kicked your ass.”

Warden muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

Rian’s gaze swung Warden’s way. The man Rian considered the muscle of his ragtag group looked a step beyond mulish. Rian didn’t let it go. “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that.”

Dark green eyes focused on him. Warden was never one to back down from an open challenge. “I said I didn’t expect such a tiny guy to put up such a fight.”

It took everything Rian had not to laugh. Warden had been the one to snatch Kylian for him. He had come home with two black eyes, a broken nose, and a chunk missing from his palm.

Rian’s gaze moved back toward the counter. Kylian didn’t look his way. He acted as if he didn’t know Rian was there. So much so, Rian questioned his sanity. What would be the point of this game? Kylian couldn’t beat him. This could only end with Kylian in a shallow grave.

“Black coffee for Rian.” Rian’s gaze moved toward the barista. He held up two cups, obviously trying to read the names. “And a double espresso for Kylian.” He pronounced both their names wrong. Rian rolled his eyes. Surely, it wasn’t that damn hard.

Warden stood as the barista set the two cups on the counter, blocking Rian’s view for half a second. When he moved, Kylian was gone, along with one cup. Rian’s head whipped toward the door. He caught the final wisps of Kylian leaving. Rian shook his head. The boy confused him.

When Warden returned with his coffee, Rian stood. Between Warden ordering some complicated drink and wanting pastries too, they had lingered too long. Plus, Rian hoped he could catch another glimpse of Kylian. They headed out to the waiting car. On the sly, Rian looked in both directions, trying to see which way Kylian had gone. There was no sign of him. He let things go for now. Rian had a meeting with investors this morning. He didn’t have time for whatever childish game Kylian played.

Traffic was terrible, as always. The stop and go gave Rian’s coffee time to cool. He touched the cup to his lips and sipped, trying not to scald his mouth. Rian winced at the bitter taste. “Damn. They made this shit strong today.”

Warden glanced his way. “Do I need to stop somewhere else and get you a different cup?”

“Not necessary.” Rian took another sip. “It’s not bad. Just stronger than usual. That’s probably a good thing this morning.”

Warden nodded. “These damn investment meetings are boring as fuck.”

Rian had to agree. “Unfortunately, I have to keep up appearances. It doesn’t matter what people think they know. It’s only important they can’t prove it.” Rian gulped down the rest of his coffee as the office building they were trying to reach came into view. Traffic stopped again. Two minutes passed. Rian’s stomach rumbled. Sweat broke out across his skin. A wave of nausea overcame him. He took a slow, steady breath through his nose. The nausea intensified.

“Pull over.”

Warden shot him a questioning look.

Rian turned desperate. “Pull over.” Panic hit. He wouldn’t make it. Rian threw open the car door and vomited as Warden tried making it to the shoulder. Not just a little. It was violent. Projectile. The severity hurt his chest. He pulled a muscle in his neck. Rian couldn’t stop.

“Holy shit, Rian. Hold on.” Warden made his way to the side of the street while Rian held open the door and did his best not to puke all over everything. The smell was putrid and made the vomiting worse. He couldn’t stop. Rian threw up things he thought about eating two weeks ago. Finally, his stomach calmed. He leaned back against the seat and tried to catch his breath.

Warden handed him a paper towel from the glove box. Concern etched his features. “Damn, Rian. Are you okay? Should I call and cancel the meeting? Do I need to call a doctor or take you to the ER?”

Rian didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure yet. His insides were on fire. Rian picked up his coffee, wishing he had left at least a little to get the taste of vomit out of his mouth. The writing on the cup caught his eye:Kylian. “What the fuck?” He turned the cup, inspecting it closer. In scrawled, obviously quickly written words on the other side, there was a note in ink. It looked as if the pen had been running dry, but Rian could still read it.

I can get to you too.

A chill ran down Rian’s spine. That little fucker had poisoned him.

There was an extra pep in Kylian’s step as he made his way back to his hotel. No doubt, by now—as long as Rian didn’t see his note too soon—Rian would have the day he deserved. Kylian had only injected enough ipecac syrup in the espresso to ruin his day. It wouldn’t harm him otherwise. Kylian had injected his drink and then swapped them just in case he got busted before making it out the door. He only wanted to make a point. Not land a charge. Kylian needed Rian to know he wasn’t invincible. He wasn’t untouchable. Most of all, he wanted Rian to know he had fucked up when he had mistaken Kylian as a victim.

Kylian had survived an abusive mother. She had tortured him in ways he had never confessed to a soul. If Rian thought he could torment Kylian, he had picked the wrong one. He would not be the bigger person. Rian was in the find out stage. Six months ago, Kylian had been innocently walking to his car, readying for a trip home from college for Christmas break. That was it. Rian’s behemoth of a friend had grabbed Kylian from his driveway and drugged him. He had bound Kylian’s wrists and ankles before delivering him to Rian. Rian had wanted Kylian to deliver a message to his father. A warning about working with Archer on a building project. Kylian hadn’t delivered that message. He never would. Kylian wasn’t anyone’s victim. Never again. Rian had made a huge error in judgement. He would learn.

An evil smile tugged at Kylian’s lips as he headed for the elevator inside the Mandarin. He would leave tonight and head back to Massachusetts. For now, it wasn’t safe to stay at his house off campus. No doubt, he had started a war, but Kylian intended to finish it if Rian wanted to rumble. Kylian hadn’t thrown the first stone, though. Rian needed to remember that.

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