Page 69 of The Devil’s Escape (The Devil’s Soldiers #7)
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
AVERY
He is a good man.
“Why are men so gross?” Isla gags as she gingerly peels the sheets off one of the beds in the Prospect quarters.
Exactly where the Misfits had been staying, and they certainly hadn’t been keeping the rooms clean.
I’ve seen it all and clean people’s asses for a living, and even this is kind of making me squeamish.
“We should just burn it all,” I agree, grabbing what I can only assume are piss jugs and tossing them in the trash. The nurse in me knows I should be disposing of it properly, but fuck that. We just need to get it all out as fast as we can so that everyone has a clean space to sleep.
“If anything alive crawls out of anywhere, you’re on your own,” Isla warns. “Then I’m pulling Sawyer away from Rose and Thea to help you. Crush or not, he’ll have to get over it.”
“I’ll be running with you.” Blood and bodily fluids, no problem.
Creepy crawlies or anything that jumps out at me, hell no.
I draw the line. So far, though, it’s mostly just men being disgusting.
We’re tossing everything we can, and also making sure to keep an eye out for anything that might be important.
Who knows what they’ve all hidden in these rooms?
We work in silence for a little longer until Isla suddenly asks, “So are you and Hulk an item now?”
I glance at her, but her head is down and she’s worrying her lip, one of her tells that she’s worried about something.
For all her bravado, Isla is a sensitive girl, she’s just very good at hiding it.
“That’s the plan. Is that going to be okay with you?
” I already know Sawyer is all for it, since it means he’s going to be close to the club and able to ask questions, but I'm still unsure where Isla stands on the matter. She could go either way. She might be having fun now, but once we’re back in the real world again, things might change.
“I like him,” Isla answers hesitantly. “But I see it all the time where kids in my school have parents that split up and then one or both the parents get new partners and the new people are good to the kids for a bit and then they become assholes. Cutting the kids out or treating them less than when they have their own kids.”
“And you’re worried Hulk’s only being nice to you right now because of the circumstances?
” I’m careful to keep my tone casual and inquisitive.
I want her to keep talking so I can find out where this is coming from.
I know in my heart that Hulk isn’t going to be like one of those people, but Isla won’t be convinced easily.
“I mean, I get it, he’s forced to spend time with us here, but he doesn’t really know us,” Isla admits.
“I’m just worried that he’s got it in his head that he’s getting you, and we’ll be gone in a few years, and he won’t have to worry about us.
You and he can have your own life and make babies and all that, and we’ll just be the siblings that show up on holidays or need something.
” She glances at me and then quickly looks away, her shoulders hunching.
“I also don’t want to get in the way of that, because you’re my sister and you deserve to be happy too, and you and Hulk fit together. I can see it, and so can Sawyer.”
“Does Sawyer feel the same way?” I ask curiously. Maybe I’ve just assumed to know Sawyer’s thoughts on the subject.
“No, he likes Hulk, and he likes the rest of the guys, but I figured that would happen. He only sees the chance for him to possibly get an in to be a Prospect with the club or something, or for them to help him get a leg up if he wants to become a mechanic or something. And maybe he and Hulk would get along anyway with all the stuff they have in common.”
“And that leaves you on the outside,” I finish knowingly. I straighten and turn to face her when she gives a small nod, vulnerability on her face clear.
“I’m loud and I don’t have a filter,” Isla blurts out, staring at me.
“I’m going to say or do something to piss him off.
He’s been good about it, but that’s probably to impress you and because he doesn’t really have a choice.
I’m not going to treat him as a dad, I’ve had one, and he was a really good dad.
So if he tries to boss me around, I’m not going to be okay with that.
” That last part comes off a bit defensive, but I let it slide.
I nod, understanding. I really do. I didn’t have a dad, and while their father wasn’t my father, he was a good man and had accepted me well enough, but he was never a father figure to me.
I suppose because I was already an adult and grown.
I wouldn’t have handled that kind of situation well either, even though he had never been the type to yell.
He just had a quiet disappointment that spoke far louder than a yell ever could.
“I would never want to take the place of your dad, Isla,” Hulk’s deep voice suddenly says calmly, making both of us turn to see him standing in the doorway, Sawyer slightly behind him with an unreadable expression on his face.
Hulk looks at Isla as he walks in, and I can see the concern in his eyes.
I glance at Isla, whose face has gone red, but she valiantly holds his gaze.
. “I also don’t see you in the daughter role, more like a little sister who’s going to have an amazing future ahead of her because she’s full of guts and strength that most don’t have now.
I know that a lot of things have happened in just a short time, and you really don’t know me or my personality.
Which is why I plan on us taking things slow for a bit.
Your sister and I, we’ve got something I want to build on, because we fit, but part of us fitting is that I like you and Sawyer.
Both of you have guts, don’t crumble under pressure, and you make me laugh.
Even if there was nothing between Avery and me, I’d still like you just as you are.
” He looks over at Sawyer. “Both of you.”
Isla says nothing for a moment, like she’s digesting his words. Finally, she asks, “Is that why you said we belonged to you earlier?”
Hulk nods. “Your sister and I being together means in the eyes of the club, she’s mine.
She’s under my protection. I’m also extending that to you and Sawyer.
I’m telling my club and any other club that if they try to mess with either of you, they’ll have to deal with me, and by extension, the rest of my club.
We don’t make those kinds of claims lightly, either, and we don’t do it for just anyone.
We do it for the people we care the most about and are willing to put our lives on the line for. ”
“But are you doing that just because of Avery?” Isla pushes. “I mean, sure, claim us as part of your protection, but if it had been any other situation, would you have stood up for me earlier? Claimed me then? Or would you have waited and hoped someone else stood up to do it?”
Isla isn’t pulling any punches. I want to reassure her, but if Hulk wants her respect, then he needs to be able to handle it on his own.
I glance at Sawyer and see his eyes have sharpened, and he hasn’t thought of that question before.
Isla might be the vocal one, but Sawyer is the one who listens and dissects.
He’ll know if Hulk is lying, even if he manages to get it past Isla.
Hulk smiles, and a small chuckle rumbles from his chest. “Isla, I’d have been fighting with every brother and Rose in there.
Rose especially would have fought hard. The only reason they didn’t was that I was directly asked, and I’d have said yes whether your sister and I were a thing or not.
I don’t think you realize just how much you’ve impressed everyone here on your own.
Not just because of your sister, but because of your resilience and quick wit.
You fit here. Rose wants to adopt you, and she’ll probably be insisting that you spend time with her on your own, not just with the rest of the women when they all return.
” He winks at her. “I think you remind her of her when she was young. You’re worried that I can’t handle your filter?
I’ve lived in this clubhouse with Rose for years, and the shit that comes out of that woman’s mouth is legendary, so nothing you say or do will phase me.
Rose is one of my favorite people, so it only stands to reason that you’ll be too, right? ”
“Maybe,” Isla hedges, but I can see the hope in her eyes.
I look at Hulk and see the softness on his face and the affection.
Alright, that may be falling in love is getting far closer.
This is a man who’s going to treat her and Sawyer right.
He actually cares what happens to them and wants to build something with them that has nothing to do with me.
He’s handling her concerns, but also not dismissing them either.