Devil You Know(Lost Boys Book 1)(6)

“My friends and I are taking a poll on what mystery meat was served today. I think it was chicken but the color seemed off. It was pinker than chicken ought to be. Maybe it was something concocted in the biolab, an experiment to lower costs by creating a new meat-like substance that’s a fraction of the cost of real meat. Either way, covered in the flavorless gravy and runny mashed potatoes, it was a culinary disaster. Bright side, now I have room for seconds at dinner. I wonder what Mom is making tonight? And will there be dessert? I love dessert; a meal is not a meal without dessert. Don’t you agree?”

I looked up at him, but his expression gave nothing away.

“You should have seen my floor exercise in gymnastics today. The Olympic committee will be calling. I nailed it. No one can do a forward roll like me, my skill and artistry left my gym teacher speechless.”

I got no reaction at all from Damian. My shoulders slumped as I stared down at the ground and muttered what I really wanted to say. “If you ever want to talk, I’m a great listener.”

Silence followed for a beat or two before Damian said, “I didn’t get the mystery meat for lunch. I’ve made it a rule that if I can’t identify the substance, I don’t eat it.”

My head jerked up to find him looking at me. “And it has been a long time since I watched skill and artistry that left me speechless. I’m sorry I missed your floor routine.”

“You’ll see it when I claim the gold.”

He gave me a little smile in reply.

My smile wasn’t little, it went from ear to ear because the coldness of his expression was gone and I had been the one to make it go.



I was in my room working on a sketch for art class. It was supposed to depict some church in Florence, but I had sketched Damian from the other day in that fight, the coldness of his eyes and the harsh lines of his face. I didn’t know much about his home life except that he lived with his mother and we never went to his house to hang out. I didn’t want to step over the line and invade his privacy, but I worried about him and suspected he had no one in his life looking out for him. I went in search of Dad. He was working from home today.

He was behind his desk when I entered his study. “Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.”

I settled across from him.

“What’s on your mind, kiddo?”

“Can we keep this between us?”

He leaned back in his chair, but he was giving me the serious Dad face. “Okay.”

“Damian was in a fight the other day and I know kids fight, but this was different. And the fact that Cam and I have never been to his house...”

“You think there’s abuse at home.”

My eyes burned thinking about it. “He is too big and strong so it’s not likely he is physically abused now, but as a little boy. And you know there are other forms of abuse. You should have seen him at that fight. He was so cold Dad, so angry, but you’ve seen him here. He’s quiet, but he is polite and respectful; he’s kind.”

“I have seen that. He’s a good kid.” He rubbed the back of his neck but I saw the anger. “Damian isn’t the kind of guy who wants people messing in his business.”

“I know, but I think it would mean a lot to him to know he has more than just Cam and me.”

“What are you asking me to do?”

“Talk to him. He doesn’t have a father figure and I’m guessing he doesn’t even have a mother figure even with her living under the same roof.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because if Cam or I spent as much time at a friend’s house as Damian does here, you and Mom would have introduced yourselves to his or her parents. If for no other reason than to know where we were spending our time.”

“Good point.”

“Cam and I take it for granted how awesome you and Mom are. Damian doesn’t have that.”

He studied me for a minute. “Okay.” Then he smiled. “You’re a good person, Thea, and a good friend. Your old man is damn proud of you.”





Thea was baking something, but the puff of smoke that came out of the oven was not a good sign.

“Oh, come on.” She pulled the tray of burnt cookies from the oven and dropped it on the stove. That action, combined with her wild hair looking even more unruly, made it hard to keep from laughing out loud.

“We can’t eat them. I incinerated them.” Thea was adorable when upset.

“How the hell high do you have the oven? Are you trying to cremate something?”

“You in a minute. I always wanted to be an only child.” Thea shot back at Cam.

Before the two broke out into a fight amongst the ruins of the cookies Thea had spent the better part of an hour making, Mr. Ahern walked into the kitchen with a fire extinguisher. Thea huffed and leveled narrowed eyes on her dad.