“Fine. I don’t like it, but I understand it. I will give you time to do what you need to do, but if anything starts to go wrong, you call me immediately.” Ryan nods and smiles. “Well then, Cat, I don’t think you need to go if Ryan’s going.”
“You need me to go, and you promised me. Besides, Ryan can use my help. I’m going,” she says.
“And Cat is my best friend. Where she goes, I go. So, I am going too. I am bored here anyway. I will come back for the Lords’ meetings and will report to you in person what we discover. It can’t hurt to give Ryan some extra help,” Amery says.
Elijah huffs, “I’m going Nicky. Someone needs to keep this circus in check.”
“You don’t need to go. You’re just worried that Cat and I might like spending time alone together,” Amery says, causing me to look at Elijah to verify his accusation. I nearly laugh when his contorted expression confirms it. Elijah shakes his head at me and huffs a few times. Ohhh, so he really likes her. I thought Kayla was exaggerating. I look up at her and she smiles with that, I told you so, look. I hate that look.
I sit back in my chair, looking at the odd crew, and wonder how the hell this is going to work. I call Terrence in, to everyone’s surprise. “Terrence, pack your bags. You’re going to head up a new crew.”
“Nick!” Ryan snaps at me.
“Sit down, Ryan! It is your territory, but you are going to need Terrence’s help selecting men to help you when you get there. He is good at that, and he is good at getting information. You other three can go, but if you start to cause more trouble than your worth, I will come there myself and sort things out. You don’t want me to do that, I promise you. And Elijah, weren’t you the one that wanted to get out of here not that long ago? Go start your own business and team up with Ryan when necessary. It worked for us here, so I am sure it will work there, too. Meanwhile, Cat and Amery can keep an eye on Marius. I want all of you to work together … together. Do you hear me?” They all nod and roll their eyes, except Terrence, who seems to be the only one who truly respects my authority which is why I am sending him along. “Alright, everyone get out of here. Everyone but Ryan.” After they all leave, I look my brother in the eyes, trying to come to terms with him being an adult that doesn’t need my help anymore. It’s not easy, and maybe he is right. Maybe he does need to separate himself from me in order to find his own way. “Be careful, Ryan, and if you need me …”
“I’ll call you Nick. Don’t worry. I will even call just because you’re my brother and I want to give you shit for no reason or just to tell you, I miss you like hell.” Ryan says before looking at Kayla who is shaking her head at him with her arms crossed. “Don’t worry I will call you too, I can’t have you not being annoyed at least once a day.”
“I don’t like it. I don’t think that I will allow it.” Kayla says.
Ryan opens his mouth and I know he is going to say something that will cause an argument so I shake my head and he smiles, “Alright, I will go and see what I can do. It doesn’t have to be a permanent life change, just a change of pace for a little while.” Kayla nods and agrees with a heavy sigh. Ryan looks down at Nicky and his big sad eyes. “Oh don’t give me Brayden’s look little man, I will call you too and even make sure to have a special room made up for you at my new house so you can come visit me whenever you want.”
“Yeah, whenever I want?” Nicky perks up with a large smile.
“Whenever you want, or whenever your mother will let you out of her sight.” Ryan says winking at Kayla.
“And can we stay up and …” Nicky looks sideways at his mother before holding his hand between his mouth and her. “And can we stay up late and play video games like we do when Mommy isn’t around?” Nicky asks him.
Ryan leans down and winks at him, “At my house, there are no Mommy rules allowed, you know that.” Ryan smiles wide at Kayla and her snarling figure. I nudge her back to a smile. “I need to do this; it doesn’t mean I won’t miss you all. I will miss Brayden and Jael, and hell I will miss Dad and my new … I don’t know what the hell to call her.” He says looking at Sophia. “My new step-dog mom? What the fuck? This is one fucked up family Nick.” He says causing me to laugh and Nicky too even though I am not sure he completely understands why.
“Oh speaking of that.” I go pick up a puppy and hand it to him. “Take one of your brothers with you; I am sure I am allowed to give you a pup?” I ask looking back at my family who all seem to be okay with the idea and allow me to feel good about having one less dog in the house. Ryan looks down at the wiggly pup with an odd expression. “I know you like dogs. He will be good company for you and force you to take care of yourself. He will need you to be there for him.”
“Don’t forget that Ryan. You’re needed … very much needed.” Kayla says fighting back tears as Nicky hugs his mother.
Ryan nods with a sigh, “Alright, I guess he is kind of cute. I’ll name him, King. My little king just like me, huh, Nick?” He smiles, reminding me of the true meaning of Ryan.
“You’re not a little king anymore, Ryan, you’re The New Devil in Charge.”
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue – The Remedy
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28 – The Masquerade
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
Jennifer Loren, The Devil's Masquerade: The Remedy
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