Page 9 of The Devastation You Reap

Ellis and I nod at each other. We've met before, but not officially, and he wasn't one of the Harrises who jumped at the chance to help us deal with Brett and his little bitch Julian last week. Devin and Ellis's twin, Ezra, and their older brother Reid were more than up for the challenge when Kane put in the call for backup.

"You kids have fun. I'm going to wash this chick off my cock."

Ellis looks at his older brother like he's some alien creature. I get it, Devin is… unique.

We're both silent as he takes his coffee and disappears.

"Is he always so…"

"Weird? Yeah. I would say that you'll get used to him but I'm not sure it's possible."

"Right."

"So what do you need?"

3

Macie

Ilove Monday nights. It's my favorite part of my week getting to spend time with a group of kids who more than deserve a little one-on-one attention and someone who'll listen to whatever they've got to say. I always leave with a massive smile on my face knowing that I made even the tiniest bit of difference to a young person's life.

And on top of that, I get to stop in the sandwich shop that I found down the street which has the best meatball sub and homemade cookies in the entire state.

My stomach is growling long before I even approach the shop just knowing what's going to be waiting for me.

"Macie," Paulo says the second I step into the shop. "You're late tonight, darling."

"I know, I had to let one of the boys beat me at pool."

He smiles at me and shakes his head.

I don’t have any grandparents. I met the ones on my dad’s side as a baby apparently but I was too young to remember. Hell, I barely even remember having parents. But I like to think that my Monday night visits to Paulo, no matter how short, is something akin to spending time with a grandfather.

"You're a good girl, Macie," he says, reaching for a pair of gloves so he can prepare my sandwich for me. "The usual?"

"Of course."

"One of these days, you're going to come in here and demand something else."

"Never," I say with a laugh as I watch him make my order without having to ask me a single question about my preferences. It's a certain sign that I eat too many of Paulo's meatball subs, but I really don't care. We're all allowed a couple of vices in life, right?

Charlie's is sex. Jace's is vodka. Nathan's is basketball, and mine is… sandwiches.

Maybe Charlie has a point about my boring life.

"Well, would you look at that," Paulo says, dragging me from the depressing thoughts. "I've got two cookies left tonight."

"Ah, must be my lucky day," I joke as he places them into a bag for me.

After tapping my cell to pay for my dinner, I wish Paulo a good night before spinning on my heels and heading for the door, only I don't get that far because before I look where I'm going, I slam into what feels like a brick wall.

Warm hands land on my upper arms sending warmth surging through my body as his manly scent fills my nose.

I know that smell. I remember it from… I lift my head and lock onto a familiar set of eyes.

Holy shit.

I swallow nervously as the green twinkles with amusement.