Daring Devlin (Lost Boys #1) - Jessica Lemmon Page 0,65

street race,” I said, my voice bow-tight with anger.

“I did.” Sonny didn’t straighten out of his relaxed posture—legs out and crossed at the ankles—which pissed me off further. I didn’t know it was possible to literally see red until the color slashed across my field of vision.

“I swear to—” I lunged but was stopped by two very large, very dark brown hands on my upper arms.

A look over my shoulder at Nat, his face a pudgy still-life. His voice was even when he spoke. “Easy.”

I shook out of his meaty grip, but continued standing over Sonny. “You what, wanted him to bet on himself to pay Paul’s debt?”

“Devlin?” Rena appeared off to my left, her voice soft but worried.

I held out a hand for her to give me a minute. I wasn’t done with Sonny. “He came to pay you and you took advantage of him.”

He stayed silent. Nat folded his massive arms over an even more massive chest, his face blank.

“Does the money mean that much to you?” I leaned closer to Sonny and a shadow fell over the floor as Nat advanced on me. Before I wound up in a hospital bed next to Cade, Paul appeared, a nurse chasing behind him.

“Her.” Paul pointed to Tasha.

Tasha’s wide blue eyes blinked. “Me?”

Paul turned to the nurse. “They’re telling me some garbage about his speech. Something about motor delays.” His voice cracked on the word. His eyes went to Tasha. “You said you were a nurse.”

“Physical therapist.” Tasha glanced at Rena. “I was trying to comfort him before he went in to see Cade.”

“Immediate family only,” the nurse argued from behind Paul.

“If you do not let her in—” Paul started, his face going flame red.

“She’s Cade’s fiancée,” Sonny interrupted. He stood and smiled at the nurse. “Surely you can let her in since the wedding is in a few weeks. Bend the rules a little.”

Tasha was as surprised to hear this as the nurse, but pulled herself together quickly. “It’s only fair that I hear about Cade’s condition.”

The nurse didn’t believe a word of it. But judging by her frazzled brown hair and tired eyes, she was out of fight.

“She’s very good at what she does.” Rena’s loyal defense of her friend made me proud. I put a proprietary hand on her hip and pulled her flush against me.

The nurse shook her head at the gaggle of people clogging the waiting room, all of us here for Cade. “I suggest those of you who don’t need to be here leave immediately.” She shot an icy glare at me, then Tasha. “Come with me, future Mrs. Wilson.”

The nurse huffed off, Paul and Tasha in her wake. Sonny offered an outstretched hand to my girl.

“I’m Sonny.”

“Don’t talk to her,” I warned.

“You’re the reason he’s walking away,” he told her. “You keep him away, you hear me? Guys like us need a good woman.”

“Sorry?” she asked, confused.

I hadn’t told her I’d quit. Not yet.

“Figured it was because of a woman,” he told me.

“Stay away from her. And Tasha.” I turned to leave, but tacked on, “And Cade and Paul.”

“It was Tex,” Sonny said to my back.

I turned around. Slowly.

“Cade came to me to pay Paul’s debt. I said no. I’ve made enough sons pay for their fathers’ sins,” he added quietly.

Rena’s arms wrapped around my waist, her soft hug comforting.

“On his way out of my pizza place,” Sonny continued, “Cade mentioned he was going to try and make a deal with Tex. Tex would have skinned him alive. Tex knew Cade’s reputation for winning. What he didn’t know was that I’d backed Cade to throw the race. Once Cade had the cash, he could pay Tex off. Every dime Paul was in deep with. Every dime you tried to help Paul win.”

Sonny knew, I thought as chills streaked down my spine. He knew I’d ripped him off.

“I did it to help Cade.” Sonny pressed his lips together. “I’m too old to go down for murdering a rival bookie. I thought money would solve the problem for Cade and Paul. I figure you did what you did to help them out, too.”

I had.

“Proud of you,” he said.

I… didn’t know what to do with that. My cheeks warmed with embarrassment and my arms grew stiff. Rena must have noticed, she consoled me with another squeeze.

“At the end of the race, Cade tapped the brakes at the corner. He skidded out. Swear to God, kid, I never meant for him to get hurt. I called Paul.