Page 26 of Private Exhibit (Gentleman Hackers #4)

ANDY SET his car to autopilot, freeing himself up to look at Devon.

The boy sat in the passenger seat, gazing out the window.

He had a serene smile on his face, his skin still slightly flushed and glowing from their second round in bed.

Gods . Devon was so needy and responsive.

The boy had come in a matter of minutes.

Whether it was from an attack—his nerve endings not disconnected but running on overdrive—or from sheer touch starvation, Andy wasn't sure.

But he'd spent the next hour teasing and touching Devon, getting him worked up all over again so he could make them come together.

Devon's smile slipped, and he started rocking slightly in his seat.

“Baby?” Andy asked. “What's wrong?”

“I'm hungry,” Devon mumbled.

“I'm sorry. We should have done breakfast first.”

Devon shook his head. “I finally know what I've been missing all my life,” he said quietly, a blush slowly coming back to his cheeks.

Andy grinned. “Well, next time, I'm going to make sure you eat first. Gotta keep up your strength.”

Devon's eyes flashed. “Next time?”

“Oh yeah.”

Devon smiled shyly and looked away.

Gods . The boy was simply too precious.

“We're almost there,” Andy pointed out. “A few more minutes, and then you can eat. Do you want me to come back and pick you up when it's over?”

Devon's smile fell again. “You don't want to stay? Or do you have plans?”

Andy inwardly cursed. He wanted to stay.

A part of him never wanted to let Devon out of his sight.

But he also desperately wanted to get to the hospital so he could do some research.

It was going to wreck him, setting foot inside his old office again, but he didn't have a choice.

He couldn't fathom life without Devon. Losing Junior had been hard enough.

He couldn't go through that again, even knowing Devon's soul would endure.

Devon needed to live. Needed to experience all the things that life had to offer.

Even though Andy knew a part of himself would die if he managed to help Devon where he couldn't help his own son.

Then again, how he was going to find a solution now—after trying and failing for years—was beyond him.

“I wasn't invited,” he pointed out, answering the boy's question.

“Oh. Right. Sorry. I didn't even think about that.” Devon grimaced. “I'm not very good at social conduct sometimes.”

“Neither am I,” Andy said with a laugh. “At least you've got a good excuse. With the sensory overwhelm, I mean,” he rushed to add, not wanting Devon to think he was talking about his condition, then shrugged. “Me? I'm just an asshole.”

One corner of Devon's mouth curved up. “I don't think you're an asshole,” he murmured.

Andy's heart clenched, and he couldn't help the grin that took over his face.

The car came to a stop in front of a particularly stunning high-rise. A valet approached and tipped his hat. Andy glanced at Devon, then held up a finger, silently asking the valet to wait.

“You want me to walk you in?” Andy asked.

Devon shyly nodded.

“Alright.” Andy left the car in idle mode, then got out and walked around to the passenger side. He opened Devon's door and helped the boy to his feet before passing the valet a tip.

“Thank you, sir,” the valet said with a polite nod before rushing off to move the car.

Andy took Devon's hand. “You ready?”

Devon eyed the building.

“We can turn right back around and I'll take you home if you want.”

Devon looked like he was considering it. “No. I mean, yeah, I wanna go home, but…I also never get invited anywhere, so…”

Andy gave his hand a squeeze and led the way inside.

A doorman rushed to open the door for them, giving them a smile and a nod as they passed. As soon as they entered the lobby, a concierge strode up to them with a welcoming smile.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” the man greeted them. “Welcome to The Spire. How might I be of assistance?”

Andy looked at Devon, who shyly ducked his head. “We're here to see Thomas Pennington,” Andy replied for him.

“And you are…?”

Andy gestured at Devon. “Devon Campbell.”

“Very good, sir. I just needed to make sure you were on the guest list. Right this way.”

They followed the man to the elevators. Once inside, the concierge had to enter an override to allow the car to travel to the penthouse floor.

The elevator rose smoothly and swiftly, then opened onto a short hallway off of which was only one door. Andy led Devon to the door and knocked.

A pair of chipper voices sounded on the other side. When the door opened, Andy saw Hayden—the stunning boy from the club—as well as the pretty, young man who'd interviewed with him right before Devon. Hovering close behind the two boys was Thomas Pennington himself.

“You made it!” Hayden exclaimed, throwing his arms around Devon. “Oh, I'm so glad.”

Devon looked startled, his eyes wide, but then he sank into the embrace, closing his eyes, his face pinched like he was on the verge of joyful tears.

Andy's heart clenched. He silently thanked the gods for getting to witness this moment. Devon's happiness—and at something as simple as being included—was an incredibly beautiful thing.

Hayden pulled back, beaming at Devon, then turned to give Andy a thorough once-over. “And I see you brought some hunky eye-candy with you.”

Thomas Pennington growled softly.

“Oh, hush, Daddy,” Hayden said with a laugh, then turned back to Andy and Devon. “He's so possessive,” the boy told them. “I love it.” He shot out a hand. “Hayden Pennington. Gods, I love saying that. I'm all official now.”

Andy shook the boy's hand. “Andy Gerard.” He shook hands with Thomas next.

“And this is Maddie,” Hayden went on, gesturing at the boy beside him. “Sorry, we were just finishing up. Ran a little late. Maddie's helping me with my magic since I can't go to Jadu'n right now.”

“Oh, we've met,” Maddie said with a laugh, then turned and gave Hayden a hug. “See you soon.” He stepped back and gave Thomas a smile. “Thanks, Mister Pennington.”

Thomas gave him a single, tight nod in return.

“You sure you can't stay?” Hayden asked. “You're more than welcome to join us for brunch. Gods know we'll have plenty of food. And then you can meet my other friends.”

The boy looked like he was tempted but he ultimately shook his head. “I was up all night at work. If I don't get home and get some sleep, I'll wind up on his slab,” he said with a laugh, hooking a thumb in Andy's direction.

“Say what now?” Hayden asked.

“He's a doctor,” Maddie replied. “Works in the morgue at U.H.”

“Creepy,” Hayden said, sounding more fascinated than anything. “Are you staying for brunch?”

“I'm just dropping Devon off–” Andy began.

Maddie nudged Hayden in the ribs with his elbow, then gave Andy and Devon a pointed look before turning to Hayden with a smirk.

“Oh,” Hayden gasped. “Damn. Yeah. I see it, too.” He grinned up at Andy. “You're definitely staying. You were at the club last weekend, weren't you? I think I saw you there in the crowd.” He looked at Devon. “Now I know why you never made it upstairs to celebrate with us.”

Devon turned bright red.

Maddie laughed, then covered a yawn. “Father's love. Sorry. I should get going. See you soon,” he repeated, then raised a hand, starting to make a flourishing gesture.

“Wait,” Andy blurted out. He looked from Maddie to Hayden and back. “You're both magi?”

“Obviously,” Hayden said with a smirk.

“Do either of you know a mage with long, dark hair?”

The two boys shared a look. “Is this like one of those all-gay-people-know-each-other thing?” Hayden asked. “You think it's like that with the magi?”

“What? No. I just–”

Hayden laughed. “I'm fucking with you. But, no. Not that I can think of,” he added, and Maddie shook his head in agreement. “Why?”

“There was one in the morgue the other day,” Andy explained. “He said something cryptic about a body and then vanished. I just can't figure out who he is or what he was doing there.” Andy paused. “I think he was at the club last weekend, too.”

Hayden stilled, his gaze flicking side to side.

“Oh. Wait. Long, dark hair…” He took a deep breath like he was gearing up to say something, but got interrupted when the elevator doors opened again.

Hayden let out a squeal of excitement and made a beeline past Andy, throwing himself into the arms of a boy who looked just like him.

The embrace was so palpable that everyone fell silent, watching it happen. The twins held on as though they wanted to become part of one another's skin. It almost looked like they were never going to let go.

Devon looked down and shuffled back a step.

“Dev?” Andy asked.

“That's Levi,” Devon whispered. “Hayden's twin. He and I were in the same orphanage for a while when we were babies. And that's Nash,” the boy went on before Andy could get a word in, pointing at a big, muscular man standing just behind the twins. “Levi's husband. He owns Turner Security–”

“Hey,” Andy gently interrupted him as he pulled the boy aside. “Everything alright? You look tense. If it's too many people–”

Before Devon could answer, the elevator arrived once more, and three more people joined the group crowding the hallway just outside the apartment.

They were now nearly the whole party that had been at the club last weekend.

Noise erupted again as hugs, handshakes, and introductions were shared all around.

Andy turned back to check on Devon.

Doctor Gerard!

Andy barely got a second to glance at his boy when someone collided with him. He looked down to see a ghost, Frankie, giving him an enthusiastic embrace before stepping back with a grin.

“Hey, kid!” Andy replied. “How've you been?”

Great! the ghost exclaimed, then turned and grabbed the hand of a bearded man around Andy's age. Doc, you remember Bren?

“Brendan Shyth,” the man introduced himself. He shook Andy's hand with a puzzled frown. “I'm sorry. Have we met?”

Doctor Gerard did my autopsy , Frankie responded before Andy could do so. You met him when you went to claim my body.

“Oh.” Brendan winced and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I'm sorry. I think I was pretty drunk that day. I don't remember too much.”

Andy gave Brendan a nod. Pretty drunk was an understatement. The poor man had been slurring his words and stumbling all over the place, as Andy recalled, completely drowning in both alcohol and grief.

And this is Connor , Frankie went on, introducing the other boy with them.

Andy shook Connor's hand, then looked at Brendan again. The man was almost unrecognizable now, compared to the way he'd looked the day he came to the morgue. He'd been a red-faced, haggard mess back then. But now?

Brendan practically radiated joy.

Andy glanced at Devon. He couldn't help picturing the boy as a ghost, perpetually stuck in his current form.

Never able to age. Never again able to truly feel or taste or smell.

It might be years before Andy could touch him again, and then he wouldn't feel the same.

Not really. Andy was grateful beyond words that he could touch Junior, but the sensation was different. It wasn't right .

Gods damn it all . He needed to get out of there. Needed to get back to the hospital and throw himself back into his work. He had to find a cure.

Hayden ushered the whole party inside the apartment, crowding Andy away from the door. Maddie had disappeared at some point, but everyone else followed as Hayden took his twin by the hand and led the way to the dining room.

Andy hung back with Devon, taking up the rear. “We can go if it's too much,” he murmured, running his fingers through Devon's hair. Please say it's too much , he thought. If Devon wanted to go, he'd rush the boy right out of there and take him home, then head straight to the hospital.

Devon hesitated, then finally sighed. “No. I wanna stay.” He winced. “It's loud but…I don't want to miss this.”

Shit , Andy inwardly cursed. But he put on a smile all the same and squeezed Devon's hand. “Whatever you want.”

Devon gave him a sweet smile, then took a deep breath, drew himself up, and followed after the crowd.

So Andy joined him, knowing that, if they left right then, and Devon died that night, the boy would regret missing out on this opportunity. And Andy would regret taking it away from him.

But a part of him couldn't wait to get out of there.