28. Devon

Chapter twenty-eight

Devon

L eaving Jaxcen to finish up in the shower is a form of fucking torture. I didn’t want to leave her wet body, or the opportunity to make sure my cum stays inside her, but when the boys in blue come knocking, it’s best not to keep them waiting too long.

“What’s up?” Finn asks as we walk silently to the gate.

I glance at him realising I’m lost in my head, thoughts of leaving Jaxcen naked not the only thing plaguing me.

“Why are you so nosey?”

“Because I’m in love with you, why else.” He mocks and I roll my eyes.

“Shut up.”

He snickers, and I sigh, once again knowing if I don’t spill now, he’ll just bug me about it later until I do.

“If you must know, I’m feeling…” I trail off. What the fuck is this feeling?

“What? Happy?” Finn teases and I glare at him.

“No. I feel naked.”

His brows shoot up, making the scar above his eyebrow crease and sink in, reminding me of the day he fell off the motorbike and needed stitches. Fucker didn’t even cry.

“Dude, you have clothes on. You’re not naked.”

“Not that sort of naked,” I mutter, dropping my gaze to the gravel road as we walk.

“Oh you mean the kind of naked when you open up to someone,” he says with yet another teasing tone .

“I guess,” I admit.

“You told her how much you love me, didn’t you?” He laughs, but I don’t.

“Well, yeah.”

His brows hitch again.

“She needed to know who my family was,” I explain and Finn smirks and shoulder bumps me.

“So what’s the real reason for your nakedness? Because it’s not you admitting to her that you have a man crush on me.”

“She asked about my parents.”

“And you told her?” Finn asks with a little surprise in his tone.

“Kinda.” I shrug. “I gave her the basic run down. She doesn’t need to know everything.”

“But she knows enough?” Finn asks as he kicks a stone out of his path.

“Yes.”

“Huh. You never tell people.”

Fucker. Way to call me out.

“I know.” I eye him, and his thoughtful expression meets mine.

“Have you decided to keep her?”

Fuck. My heart sinks as I shake my head.

“I can’t.”

“I think you can. I just think you’re scared.” Again Finn calls me out.

Why is he my mate again?

“What the fuck am I scared of?” I snap.

“Of letting yourself be happy.”

“Fuck off.” I shoulder him this time, and he doesn’t laugh. He remains serious.

“It’s true man.”

“I’m happy,” I lie and he shoots me a ‘really’ look, brows high and eyes disbelieving.

“Are you though?”

“Are you?” I snap, wanting the attention off me.

He shrugs. “Maybe I’ll find me a Jaxcen of my own. ”

I scoff. “Not while you have that crazy chick in your house.”

He rolls his eyes at me, and as we round the bend in the road, we both eye the town entrance ahead, and the police cruiser sitting on the other side of the closed gates.

“How’s that going anyway?” I keep the subject off me, and he happily obliges.

“Well, she’s awake. And only tried to kill me twice, so I think that’s progress.”

Fucking hell. He insisted on taking the crazy chick we rescued from the facility back to his house, determined not to show her the inside of another prison. His words, not mine.

“You’re not equipped for the level of care that woman needs, man. Just let me take her to get proper care.”

“No,” he barks quickly as we descend the hill. “Not yet. Just give me time.”

I roll my eyes at my best mate, certain he’s already in over his head.

“Fine, but the second you need help, you fucking tell me.” I point sternly at him.

“Cross my heart and hope to die.” He grins, drawing a cross over his chest with his finger.

Sighing, I turn my sights on the two police officers stepping away from their car to approach the gate.

“Well, let’s see who’s getting arrested today.”

Finn chuckles quietly at my remark, and as we approach my men on this side of the gate, they step aside to allow the officer to see me better.

“Officer Zimora. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”

“Sorry for the unannounced visit,” Jason Zimora, one of the local cops we have on our payroll peers at me through the gates, “but I’ve been asked by a Metro department to do a welfare check on a woman. Jaxcen Summers. Her father is claiming that she’s been kidnapped.”

“Is he? How is Mr Summers?” I smirk, and Jason does too, which his partner, watching on a few metres behind him, can’t see .

“It seems he’s recovering in hospital. Got his fingers caught in a garbage disposal.”

“Is that so?” I ask, feigning surprise.

“Yeah. Know anything about that?” Jason shifts to widen his stance, resting one hand on his belt as he fights a grin.

“What I know is you really shouldn’t put your hand in a garbage disposal.”

He nods. “No, seems like a bad idea if you want to keep your fingers.”

I nod, and lift my brows, waiting for him to get to the point.

“So, can I come in and search for Miss Summers?”

“No need.” I take out my phone and call Miles, hearing it ring twice before he answers.

“Boss?”

“Can you please ask Miss Summers to join us at the front gate?”

“Yep. Be down with her soon.” Miles grunts and hangs up.

“So she’s here?” the second officer asks from behind Jason.

“Yes.”

“Of her own volition?” The other officer moves closer and I nod.

“Yes.”

“And she’ll agree to that freely, will she?”

“Of course.” I nod to the other officer before turning my sights to Jason. “You know what I do, Jason. I’m not in the business of forcing women.”

“Funny. There’s CCTV footage of you chasing her out of St Catherine’s Church on Tuesday night.” The other officer says smugly, and fuck, I want him to move closer to the gates, so I can reach through and slam his head into the bars. “The part of you throwing her over your shoulder and the way she was punching you didn’t appear consensual.”

I grit my teeth, slowly taking a calming breath in so I don’t lose my shit and kill a cop so close to Christmas.

“You know me, Jas.” I smile, directing my response to the copper I know instead of the newbie, obviously not familiar with the way things are done in Timber Valley. “I like it a little rough.”

The other officer scoffs, and Jason turns back to him, gesturing for him to join him back over at the cruiser, chatting quietly.

“You confident she won’t throw you under the bus?” Finn asks quietly, stepping up to my side and I nod.

“Yep.”

“You sure?”

“I said yes, didn’t I?” I snap, glaring at my best mate, and he holds his hands up in surrender as the low hum of a golf cart draws our attention.

Turning to look over my shoulder, I watch the cart descend the hill down to the front gate, Miles’ hulking form behind the wheel, and Jaxcen’s blonde hair blowing from the speed of it as they approach.

“Remain where you are,” the other officer orders me, and I see Jason roll his eyes from behind him as they approach the gate again. “Don’t say anything to her. Let me do the talking.”

This time I roll my eyes and nod, about ready to off this fucker as I turn my back on Jaxcen as she gets out of the cart and moves our way.

“Are you Jaxcen Summers?” the other officer asks, and she nods, coming to stand next to me.

“Yes, I’m Jaxcen.”

“Please approach the gate,” the officer demands and Jaxcen glances up at me for approval.

Fuck. I like that.

I like that she seeks her approval from me.

Nodding, I watch as she moves closer to the closed gates, glad they are shut so he can’t grab her and snatch her away.

“Is there a problem?” she asks, confidence in her tone.

“Please confirm your full name,” the officer asks, and I want to punch the fucker for not answering her question.

“Jaxcen Isabelle Summers,” she offers.

“The names of your parents and any siblings,” he demands, and I ball my fists.

“Remain calm man,” Finn mutters quietly next to me.

“My father is John Summers. My mum Isabelle Summers, and I have one sister. Presley Summers,” Jaxcen says clearly.

“Are you aware your father is in hospital?” the officer asks, and fuck, I have no idea how she’s going to handle this.

Maybe I shouldn’t have allowed this questioning, but this guy is new, and it would have ended badly.

For him.

“Yes. I’m aware.”

“Do you know why?” the officer asks, and she nods.

“He had an accident.”

I bite back my smirk at her vagueness. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know how much she can admit to.

“What sort of accident?” the officer pries for more information.

“With a garbage disposal.” She shrugs, like it’s no big deal.

“You don’t seem concerned.” The officer points out and Jaxcen shakes her head.

“Honestly, I’m not. We’ve had a falling out. If he’s going to do something as stupid as put his hands in a garbage disposal, then that’s his problem.”

Jason smirks behind his officer, who only looks angrier by Jaxcen’s response.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m here with my friends for Christmas.”

Atta girl.

“And who are you friends?”

“Devon and Finn.” She turns and gestures to us, and the officer’s eyes darken with anger, clearly not happy that he won’t get to arrest anyone today.

As Jaxcen turns back to the officers, I sneak a glance at Finn and he smiles like he’s proud she included him on her friends list.

“So you’re here of your own free will?” the officer asks and again, Jaxcen nods.

“Yes, I am. ”

“Can you explain why there is CCTV footage of Mr Marx chasing you out of the St Catherine’s Church in the city on Tuesday night?”

Jaxcen’s shoulders tense just a fraction. I don’t think the officer noticed it, but I did, yet when she speaks, it’s with clear confidence, and mockery.

“Well, if you know Devon, you know his cockiness can get a little too much at times.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “So I stormed out, annoyed by his attitude.” The little minx dares to grin over her shoulder at me before turning back to the police.

“And he chased me because,” she air quotes, “‘I’m his.’ I swear he’s so dramatic.”

Little brat. We’ll see who the dramatic one is later.

“And how about the part when he threw you over his shoulder and you were punching his back? That didn’t look like you were having fun, Miss Summers.”

“Oh, that was foreplay.” She waves a dismissive hand at him, giggling.

Fuck, my little mouse is a good fucking liar.

“Did he do that to you?” the officer asks, not giving up to try and prove something as he points to her neck.

The fucking hickeys I left on her neck.

“Sometimes, he likes to role-play that he’s a vampire.” She leans closer to the gate, conspiratorially. “It gets him off really fast.”

“Okay, that’s enough out of you,” I growl as my men chuckle and Jason smirks, while the other officer just blinks, dumbfounded.

“Alright, I guess everything seems above board here,” the officer says, frowning, his critical gaze scanning over us again.

He spins to walk back towards Jason and the cruiser, but stops quickly, and turns back.

“Oh just one more thing. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the Holly River Estate burning to the ground earlier this morning, would you? ”

And that’s the moment Jaxcen gives us away, her gasp and wide eyes darting over her shoulder to me, while Jason’s partner draws his gun.