Page 60 of Never Dance with the Devils (Never Say Never #6)
Cole puts his hands over baby Emmett’s ears and hisses at Chance, “She doesn’t give a one fuck, two fuck, red fuck, blue fuck what you think about this, so let it go.
You’re the bad guy here, on an island by your damn self.
That should tell you something, considering the company.
” He releases the baby’s ears, running a finger over each one like he’s checking that the gentle covering might’ve hurt the baby.
Janey grins at him like he’s the cutest, sweetest thing she’s ever seen.
Cole, I mean, not the baby, who is also cute and probably sweet.
Samantha is having a conversation with her husband that consists of eye twitches and twists of her lips while he looks completely confused about how he became the villain in our story.
“I just don’t understand,” he argues weakly.
Kayla huffs out in annoyance, but Samantha is the one who answers him.
“It’s not for you to understand. It may look different from the norm—whatever that is—or what you’ve been taught to expect, but that doesn’t mean it’s not what Kayla wants.
And when you are truly ready to understand and not judge, then it’s their choice on whether they want to educate you or not.
” She pauses to let that sink in, then hits him even harder. “Do you understand Cole?”
Chance glances at his brother and shakes his head. Instead of being offended, Cole gives him an evil smirk, and I finally see the monster Kayla talks about as he somehow moves even closer to Janey, who is already nearly plastered against his side.
“Or any of your brothers, for that matter? Do you think they understand us?” Chance looks at Samantha meaningfully, and I wonder what happens behind their closed doors. What secrets is Mr. Boy Scout hiding? “Our relationship is personal and unique, the same as each of theirs. ”
“Sounds complicated.”
Samantha is obviously losing patience and her voice takes on a teacher-like tone as she explains, “It’s like when we use a toy—two penises, multiple holes, all pleasurable when utilized safely and correctly.
” Samantha glances at Kayla apologetically.
“Not that I’m assuming your activities one way or another. ”
“Samantha!” Chance hisses.
Why the hell is he so damn distressed at his sex life being the topic of conversation when ours is all he wants to talk about?
“What?” she answers, nonplussed by his dramatics. “You’re the only one making this about sex. Look at them. Look at Kayla. Do you see how happy she is? How could that be wrong?”
His fight is fading, and when he looks at Kayla again, she doesn’t flinch, staring right back at the brother she’s been through so much with.
“This is what I want. I’m lucky they went through the trouble to find me again.”
Maddox and I have been silently watching their family battle play out, supporting but not interfering, but at that, we both chuckle.
“It was no trouble,” Maddox argues. “Trouble would’ve been living with this guy, all mopey and heartbroken for a love story that ended before it could even start.
” He points at me. “He was a mess without you, nearly killed us both benching too much weight.”
Not appreciating the callout, I shrug. “I knew we were meant to be more.” When Kayla looks at me doubtfully, I admit, “Okay, I hoped.”
She turns back to Chance but squeezes our thighs as she says, “Riggs and Maddox are important to me. To the point that I can’t imagine my life without them. I certainly won’t live without them to satisfy someone else’s expectations of me. I’m done doing that.”
Kyle leans toward me and quietly asks, “How much were you lifting?”
“405.”
He whistles low and long, nodding in approval.
When he holds out a fist, I bump it immediately.
He’s okay. Hell, we might actually end up as friends through all this.
I’m still not sure that’ll ever be the case with Chance.
Kayla may forgive him, but I’m not the forgiving type and to me, he will always be the one who tried to fuck this up for us, not for any good reason but because of his own selfish rigidity.
Charles, who has been leaning back in his chair shrewdly watching things play out, now sits forward.
“Son,” he says, getting Chance’s attention.
“You can no more control the tide than a woman, especially your sister.” He gives her a pride-filled look.
“Whether Kayla dates Riggs and Maddox or not isn’t your decision.
The only choice you have to make is, will you support her?
As you decide on your answer, I hope you recognize that ‘family first’ is more than a clichéd phrase we throw around.
” He takes Miranda’s hand again, the two of them a force to be reckoned with.
“I hope we’ve instilled in each of you what that actually means. ”
Chance takes a slow, steady breath and then exhales heavily.
“You don’t let people in very often or easily, so this is …
” He looks at the three of us like he doesn’t understand us at all.
“I don’t want you to be hurt,” he finally admits, and I think it’s the most honestly revealing thing he’s said this entire time.
It changes the tone between them entirely, from adversarial to caring.
“The only person hurting me right now is you.” Kayla’s voice is quiet but certain as her cold, powerful Ice Queen persona drops away.
For the first time in this conversation, or hell, maybe ever with her family, she’s putting her heart on her sleeve, returning Chance’s realness with her own and hoping he won’t take advantage of the moment of vulnerability.
Fidgeting with her ring, her eyes fill with fear and hope, and her breath catches in her chest. This is the moment she is at her strongest—the woman beneath the defense mechanisms and facade, the tender heart beneath the hard protective shell. This is the woman I love—the real Kayla.
I press a kiss to her temple, needing to touch her, wanting to support her, and thankfully, she leans into the affection. I don’t know her family’s rules about that, but we’re breaking all the other ones, so what’s one more? What’re they gonna do? Be pissed? That’s already happened, so fuck it.
Chance watches the display between us, gritting his teeth like he’s trying to stop the words from coming.
Or maybe he has more choice things to add to his already unsuccessful argument.
“I saw what people were calling you.” His eyes harden, his jaw setting with restrained fury.
He glares at Maddox and me as if that’s our fault, and I guess in a way, it is.
We’re the ones with the history that’s sullying the relationship we’re now building.
He’s angry and acting out in defense of his sister.
The realization hits me like a bomb, reframing everything he’s said and done.
I have a sister too, and I don’t know what I’d do if I thought she was making a choice that would ultimately destroy everything she’s worked for—her reputation, her career, her heart and soul.
Pushing her to step away from the danger would be the least of it, I know that much.
A seed of respect for the brother who’s causing all the drama tries to take root.
A tiny one, but it’s there. I can understand a man who would burn the world for those he loves.
I’m that type of man too. I would do it with violence while Chance is doing it with words, but we are maybe a bit more alike that I first thought.
Kayla, though, is tougher than any of Chance’s worries.
“People have always called me names. They’ve watched me, eagerly anticipating my failures and getting off on seeing me fall on my face when I make a mistake, all the while trying to make me feel small and weak so they could feel better about themselves.
I have lived my entire life with more naysayers than cheerleaders, and if I were to let them determine how I live my life, I wouldn’t be half the woman I am today.
” She gives Chance a long, even look, and I’m now more curious than ever to hear what exactly has transpired between the Harrington siblings.
“I don’t care what they’re saying about me.
They can rot in their jealousy, gossiping about me while living their own sad, unfulfilled lives.
I do care about you and I hope you’ll come to see that this is the right choice for me.
But even if you don’t, I’m going to live my best life on my own terms, with the two men I love and who love me. ”
The three of us stare down Chance as a singular unit, challenging him, not to argue further, but to accept this. For his own good. The alternative is potentially losing his sister.
“Damn, Kayla,” Cameron mutters proudly, nodding in approval.
Kayla gives him a quick glance but keeps her attention focused on Chance. He frowns, still thinking despite the full-blown love declaration. “You’re sure?” he asks.
Kayla barks back, “In my entire life, have I ever done a single thing I didn’t analyze, calculate, list out the pros and cons of, and obsess over?
You want to review the spreadsheet I made?
” Chance seems on the verge of saying yes, and Kayla quickly shuts him down.
“No. It’s none of your business. Trust me to know that I’m making the right decision for myself. ”
Kyle holds up a hand, telling Chance, “Gonna say, you probably don’t want to see the whole list. I definitely saw at least two entries in that spreadsheet firsthand, and my ego still hasn’t recovered.
I have nightmares.” He eyes go vacant, like he’s remembering his time in the war, the he shivers dramatically, his gaze clearing.
When Kayla glares at him, Kyle mimes locking his lips and throwing away the key. I get a picture of what their lives must’ve been like growing up all together, five boys and one girl who ruled them all.
“Okay.” Chance’s entire argument ends with one little word.
“Okay?”
“I trust you,” he declares. “Them? No. The world at large? Definitely not. But you? Always.”
And somehow, that’s it. Kayla smiles at him and he smiles at her, and they reset their positions to the same side of the war. Them against the world, with us being accepted into their fold at Kayla’s side.
I’m still not counting him as an ally. More of a non-enemy, which is a start, I guess.
“Shall we move to the dining room?” Miranda suggests. As she turns, I see her wiping at her eyes, and Charles rubs her back, following her closely and whispering to her privately.
I can see how Kayla became the woman she is—strong, confident, independent, hard-working. And also caring, kind, and full of love to give… if you’re worthy.
Luckily, I am.