Page 11

Stryker

“Hello, friends!”

Stryker turned from where he’d been leaning against the tree with Lawson and Sam. He loved getting to know the other men in the family. Even if Stryker’s new bestie and other troublemaking friend had been conveniently missing from family breakfast, Stryker wasn’t short of new friends.

“That’s Adam,” Lawson said nudging him.

“Adam? From hell?” Stryker asked.

“Technically, I was from here first. Well actually, I was from the fae realm, but I came here then went to hell.” Adam plopped down in front of him. “And I got a text message that I need to come meet my new minion.”

“Yes!” Stryker pumped his fist in the air. “I’m going to make the best minion ever!”

Adam grinned and nodded. “Dark forces tried to keep us away but alas I am here to claim you!”

“Dark forces?” Lawson repeated. “Are you talking about your mate?”

“Of course I am!” Adam said. “He distracted me with his sexiness! It was evil! Evil, I tell you!”

“I bet you enjoyed every second of it,” Sam accused.

“Well of course I did,” Adam admitted. “He is a master of everything he does.”

Stryker grinned. Oh! He had so many new besties! “This is awesome!”

Adam bounced. “It is! So here is the plan. I’m going to steal—”

“Borrow,” Stryker corrected. The s word should never be said.

“Okay, right. I’m going to borrow you and we’re going to take a little trip to hell. It is the most awesome place ever and you need to meet the other minions.”

“How many minions do you have now?” Sam asked.

“Not enough! My sexy beast of a mate is stubborn and keeps trying to tell me no. Me! Like he can really tell me no,” Adam said.

Stryker loved how over-the-top Adam was. “What about Gavin? He ran to town and said he’d be back in an hour or so.”

Adam beamed. “That’s where these two come in.”

Sam sighed. “How did I get roped into this again?”

“You ate the cheesecake that my Daddy made for me!” Lawson exclaimed.

“It was so good,” Sam whined.

“And now you owe me,” Lawson declared.

“Fine!”

Stryker leaned closer to Sam. “It was that good?”

“White chocolate raspberry,” Sam said with a nod. “It was that good.”

Lawson scowled. “Jerk.”

“I heard that Drake promised to make Tristan a pie when he and Jason got back from their little errand,” Adam said.

Sam grinned. “Really? I love pie!”

“Dessert thief!” Lawson accused.

“Guilty,” Sam singsonged.

“Anyway, Lawson and Sam will run interference if Gavin beats us back. We’re just going to pop down to hell and meet some new friends. I’ll have you back in a jiffy.”

“I’m totally in!” Stryker said.

“Take my hands,” Adam said as he held out his palms up.

Stryker placed his hands over Adam’s. Adam closed his fingers around Stryker’s then gave an exaggerated blink.

The ground disappeared under him and Stryker opened his mouth to scream before he landed on his feet in the middle of another world. They were on a hill overlooking what could be called a neighborhood. The streets were made of red dirt that glittered under the weird sky.

He blinked. “Hell?” he asked with excitement. While it didn’t exactly look like the hell from his imagination, it was hot, very hot.

“Welcome to my home!” Adam waved an arm around. “This is the core. One of the many planes of this realm. Seb and Ash and other friends live on another plane but this one is the best because it’s where I live with my sexy mate. Also, Lucifer has a private plane, but you must be invited to go there. Although Gage is trying to make it where we can visit whenever we want. There was a little issue with one of Lucifer’s brothers, so it hasn’t happened yet.”

Wow, Stryker was nearly speechless.

And Lucifer. Stryker had seen him on the cameras. He was hot. And his mates were adorable. Stryker hoped they liked him. He really didn’t want to end up in hell for accidently insulting him or something. Not that Stryker planned on being rude but sometimes he forgot to think before he spoke.

“Now, my very busy mate is at work, so we have just enough time to introduce you to my favorite minions. Hand.”

Adam grabbed his hand. He gave another exaggerated blink, and they stood in front of a large black stone home. The sand under his feet now was silver with white pavers. Tall wide green trees lined the property. The neighboring house was some distance away, but the trees helped to make the space even larger.

“This is gorgeous,” Stryker breathed out. He was in hell! Wow, his life had changed so much in the last year. He was surrounded by paranormal and fantasy. When he was younger, left and abandoned, he’d found books in the local library that held epic adventures with magical creatures.

Stryker’s escape had first come in the form of books, then he’d found his first laptop and joined the gaming community. He never stopped reading. Or looking for adventure.

Adam bounced at his side. “I love showing off my new home! Come on.” He dragged Stryker forward. He waved his hand, and the big heavy door opened. “I love being magical!”

Stryker snorted. He wouldn’t know. It was still pretty cool to be part of it though. And Gavin could fly! Stryker needed to remember to take him flying. Stryker had almost got his chance when they’d been in fae but Rainier had shown up to take them home before Stryker figured out how to ask.

“Minions!” Adam called.

Stryker stared at the massive but empty entry.

“Huh, where is everyone?” They stepped inside.

Immediately the difference in temperature was noticeable. Stryker expected the massive house of the most powerful demon in hell to be fancy and full of old expensive relics. Instead, Stryker loved how homey the place felt.

He turned in a circle to take in everything.

“Minions!” Adam hollered.

Wow, Adam was loud. Stryker didn’t know what he expected but it wasn’t the cute little bow tie-wearing demon that scurried in, holding a clipboard.

“Nasario! Where is everyone?”

The little demon looked up from his clipboard. “Adam! When did you get back? I thought you were returning to the human realm for the afternoon.”

Adam sighed. “I did. And I brought home a new minion!”

Nasario glanced at Stryker in confusion. “He’s human?” Nasario gasped. “Did you kidnap a demon? Master Mal is not going to like that. No, he won’t like that at all!” Nasario danced nervously in place. “This is bad.”

“I didn’t kidnap him!” Adam declared. “He came with me willingly.”

Now Stryker was getting nervous.

Nasario stilled. “Willingly?”

“Yes!” Adam stomped his foot. “And I don’t kidnap people.”

“Of course not.” Nasario snorted, releasing smoke from his nostrils. He scrunched up his nose, making the spikes across his forehead mor prominent. “You just call it adopting.”

Adam turned to him. “I’m the best at adopting! I promise to take very good care of you.”

Stryker rubbed the back of his neck. “You are planning on returning me to the human realm, right?”

Adam grinned. “Of course. Eventually.”

Maybe Stryker should have thought this through. “Gavin will be mad if I’m not back soon.”

That perked Nasario up. “You know the thunderbird?”

Stryker knew where his salvation lay. “He’s my mate. Or he will be my mate. It’s a long story.”

Nasario clapped. “We have another mated pair!”

Adam bounced. “Isn’t it exciting? Oh! We should throw a party!”

“A party?” Stryker repeated. “We haven’t mated yet!” This was getting out of hand. Gavin might have been right to have been concerned for Stryker. He did seem to find trouble.

Adam waved his hand. “It’s fine. I love parties. Where is Siezman?”

Nasario cleared his throat. “Furfell is on shift tonight. They’re…taking a break in the pool before Furfell has to leave.”

Adam leaned closer. “That means they’re having sex.”

Stryker snorted. “Yeah, man, I got that from the context clues.”

“Very loud sex,” Nasario added.

“Siezman is a screamer,” Adam added.

They were crazier than he was!

“What about Notel?” Adam asked.

“At the market,” Nasario replied.

“Gammer?” Adam questioned.

“He went to have lunch with his mate,” Nasario said.

“Loma? Luma?” Adam demanded.

“At the office.” Nasario was smirking now.

“But I want to have a party!” Adam shouted. “I need my minions!”

Stryker placed his hand on Adam’s shoulder. “It wouldn’t be much of a party without Gavin. Maybe we could set something up for another time.”

“Fine.” Adam’s shoulders slumped. “I guess I can show you around some.”

“I’d really like that,” Stryker responded with a smile. He was pretty sure that he’d just avoided something that would have gotten him in loads of trouble.

* * * * *

Gavin

Gavin knew when he was being given the runaround. And the boys weren’t even doing a good job of it. He stomped up the back steps and paused on the deck. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited.

From the top of the playset, Bryce, Nate, and Ansley were trying badly to peek down at him. Logan was asleep under his favorite tree, and Mason was chopping wood for the firepit as Levi drooled over him.

That left…and there they were now.

The back door opened and Lawson and Sam tiptoed out. Literally tried to tiptoe.

They froze as they spotted Gavin.

“Uh-oh.” Lawson tried to backstep.

“Shit! I mean—” Sam glanced around frantically.

“Hello, boys,” Gavin drawled. “Do you have something to tell me?”

“No!” Lawson and Sam said in unison.

“What’s going on?” Drake asked as he followed behind the boys. “Gavin?”

Gavin lifted a brow at the two troublemakers in front of him.

“Sam?” Shawn rose from the chair where he’d been talking with Axel and Trevor. “What’s going on?”

Sam started to squirm.

This was too easy.

Drake wrapped his hand around the back of Lawson’s neck. “What did you do, pup?”

“It wasn’t our fault!” Sam cried. “I love pie! Pie is my nemesis!” He turned and buried his face in Shawn’s chest.

Lawson shifted from foot to foot. “I made Sam help me. I’m sorry!”

“I have no idea what’s going on,” Shawn admitted.

Gavin nodded as Axel and Trevor joined them. “Where is my mate, boys?”

Sam and Lawson both dropped their gazes.

Axel growled. “You know how worried your Daddies would be if you were missing,” he reminded them.

Lawson’s eyes widened. “He’s safe! Adam wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”

Gavin sighed. He really should have expected this. “Adam took him to hell?”

“He wants to be a minion!” Lawson claimed. “And Adam was supposed to have him back by now!”

Axel shook his head before he gave a sharp whistle. “Family meeting now!”

Logan woke and rubbed his eyes. There was a mad dash from the top of playset. Axel glanced at Gavin. “Go get your mate. I need to talk to the boys and remind them how keeping secrets can be dangerous.”

Sam turned, his face red. “I’m sorry!”

Lawson bobbed his head. “Me too.”

“I know,” Axel said kindly. “Everyone inside.”

Gavin watched his family file into the house. Axel wasn’t really mad, but the boys did need the reminder that no one should be sneaking off. Especially not Stryker, who didn’t understand the full danger of living in their world. Stryker had only seen glimpses of the danger they lived in. Plus, Gavin was still worried about the federal agent and his detective that might be after his boy.

Stryker might think that the danger was over since they got rid of the RV, but Gavin knew better. He strode to the tree line where the hell portal was as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

He hit the contact he needed and brought the phone up to his ear.

As soon as his call was answered, Gavin spoke. “Your mate has kidnapped mine. I need you to come get me.”

Mal growled. “On my way.”

A second later, Mal stood in front of Gavin.

“Thanks for coming,” Gavin said sincerely. He would never admit it to anyone but he was a little in awe of Mal. The demon was powerful yet kind and loving. Gavin bet that Mal would never fail to protect his family.

Gavin shook that thought from his head. He had a wayward mate to collect.

“We really should have expected this,” Mal said, placing a hand on Gavin’s shoulder.

They really should have.

Gavin was transported into the middle of a…pool party?

“What the—” Mal glanced around. “How did Adam arrange a party so fast?”

There were tons of demons running around in the skimpiest bathing suits that Gavin had ever seen. Food had been spread out on tables under the canopy and music blared from hidden speakers.

Gavin searched the crowd for his mate but didn’t see him.

He turned to ask Mal if he could sense where Adam was when the sliding glass door opened. Stryker stumbled out as he laughed while talking to Adam and another demon that Gavin vaguely recognized.

Stryker spotted him and froze.

Gavin gave him a little finger wave.

“Hey!” Adam bumped into Stryker. “Why’d you stop—” His mouth formed an O before he grinned. “Hello, mate.”

Mal stalked forward. “You have some explaining to do, my mate.”

Gavin followed behind.

Stryker saw his approach and shoved the energy drink can into the demon’s hand before smiling sweetly.

He really wanted to laugh. Both Stryker and Adam totally knew they were busted but each tried to act innocent. Mal already had Adam up in his arms as Gavin reached Stryker.

“Hey, Papi! Funny running into you here,” Stryker said.

“Is it?” Gavin questioned.

“Yes?” Stryker asked. Not sounded as certain as he had just a moment before.

“But it’s not my fault!” Adam whined next to them. “The party just sort of happened. I planned on taking him back.”

Gavin shook his head. “Did you get your minion induction?”

Stryker shrugged. “We might have gotten distracted.”

“Really?” Gavin glanced around. “I wonder how that happened?”

Stryker wrapped an arm around his back. “Well see, Adam wanted to throw us a party but all his minions were busy, so he said he’d show me around. As he introduced me to the demons on this plane, we started to collect a few followers. The demons love to hear about the human realm and had all kinds of questions. And we got hungry. Notel had just returned from the market and said he would set up some food out here for us and my new demon friends. Then someone found the music and the dancing started. Of course, we had to take a dip in the pool when it got hot. Dancing is a very sweaty activity.

Gavin ran his hand down Stryker’s bare back to cup his perky ass in those tiny swim trunks.

Stryker laughed. “Siezman made them for me. Do you like them?”

“Siezman is notorious for that trick,” Gavin said. “He did the same to Levi.”

“Well Levi is an attractive man,” Stryker replied.

“I’ll show you attractive!” Gavin grasped Stryker’s other ass cheek and lifted the boy.

Stryker laughed while wrapping his arms and legs around Gavin. “I didn't say he was more attractive than you.”

“Remember what you told me when I was having lunch with Levi? He already has a mate,” Gavin said.

“Yes, he does.” Stryker leaned closer. “I missed you though. It’s strange. All these amazing things are happening, but I don’t really feel settled until I’m in your arms.” Stryker shook his head. “Ignore me. I don’t know why I’m being sappy.”

Gavin caught Mal’s eye and motioned he was taking Stryker inside.

Mal nodded back as he carried Adam closer to the pool.

The coolness of the interior was such a stark difference to the heat outside that Stryker shivered.

“Why did we leave the party? Are you really mad?”

“I’m not mad.” Gavin carried Stryker to the front room and sat on the couch. He pulled a blanket from the back and laid it over his barely clad boy. “I just want to talk to you.”

Stryker rolled his eyes. “I said ignore the sappiness. It won’t happen again.”

“I kind of hope it does,” Gavin admitted. “I liked hearing it.”

“Yeah?” Stryker smirked.

“I like seeing the real you. The one that no one else gets.”

Stryker bit his lip. “You know that I don’t feel like I deserve you. This.” Stryker waved his hand around. “Any of this.”

“You do though. The fates brought the two of us together for a reason.” Gavin picked up Stryker’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I am more sure of that than anything else in my life.”

“What if I fuck up?” Stryker asked.

“I would think you’d have realized by now that you're not the only troublemaker in this family.”

Stryker shook his head. “I’m not talking about fun pranks or sneaking off. I’ve done some shitty things in my life.”

“You’ve had to do a lot to survive,” Gavin said.

“I didn’t have to do everything I did.”

“Do you think I judge you?” Gavin questioned. “The man who admitted to hunting down humans?”

“They killed your family,” Stryker argued.

“Doesn’t mean I was right. There might have been another way.” It was a question that Gavin didn’t like thinking about.

“They killed your family,” Stryker repeated.

“You don’t talk about your family,” Gavin said gently.

“Yeah,” Stryker said. “Not much to say about them.”

“Parents?”

“Left me in a fire station when I was five. I don’t remember them,” Stryker said.

“Damn.”

“I was bounced from foster home to group homes to another foster until I turned eighteen and aged out of the system. I was never in any place for more than six months at a time,” Stryker shared.

“You never had a real home.” That explained so much.

“Even once I was on my own, I moved from place to place. Just staying long enough until someone became suspicious.”

“I’d imagine that you have stolen enough money to have a house of your own,” Gavin said. It was a question that Gavin had been curious about for some time now.

“I guess I never found anywhere I want to stay permanently.” Stryker shrugged. “Until now.”

Gavin smiled. “Until now. With me?”

“Yes, with you.”

Gavin drew Stryker down to kiss him. He pulled back and cupped Stryker’s cheek. “That makes me very happy.”

“Me too. Just one thing.” Stryker held up one finger.

“What’s that, my mate?” His mate. His boy. His special person.

“Adam is not in charge of our mating celebration. I have no idea how things got so out of hand. It’s like every demon we passed just turned direction and followed us home. Before I knew it, there were two dozen demons here and we were having a party. It was nuts.”

Gavin nodded. “I agree.”

“I mean I’m a little weird but Adam—”

“Is on a whole different level. And he has demon minions to do his bidding,” Gavin said.

“Yeah, it’s kind of scary.”

Gavin laughed. “We’ll keep our celebration to the bedroom.”

“Now that is a celebration that I can get behind, Papi.”

Gavin grabbed Stryker’s legs, forcing the boy to straddle him. “You like that plan?”

“I love that plan!”

Gavin kissed him but his cell ringing from his pocket had him drawing back.

“No!” Stryker whined. “We were having a moment!”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Let me check who it is. It might be Jason or Tristan. They should have dropped off the RV by now.”

“Fine.” Stryker leaned back, giving Gavin enough room to maneuver his cell from his pocket. Stryker didn’t stop touching him though. He stuffed his hands under Gavin’s T-shirt.

Axel’s name flashed over the screen.

“Hello?” he answered. He had to bite off the groan when Stryker pushed up Gavin’s shirt and kissed between his pecs.

“Gavin, we need you back at the house,” Axel said gruffly.

Gavin straightened. “What’s wrong?”

“We have visitors,” Axel informed him.

Gavin caught Stryker’s hands and squeezed. “Who?”

“Members of the paranormal council,” Axel said.

“What the fuck!”

“That’s what I’m wondering. Get here fast. They’re asking about your mate.”