“Fuck you, you would not have.” He pointed his finger in Dev’s face. “You never even told me you liked ass, so fuck you.”
Dev’s good-natured grin stayed plastered on his face, and he reached out again for their familiar hand slap. This time he obliged, feeling like he was finally on level ground again.
“I just didn’t want you to fall in love with all this.” Dev raked his hand down his body, causing Keyes to bust out with a much-needed laugh.
“Never say one word about him,” Keyes said, somehow knowing in his heart his secret was safe with Dev.
“Man, I got my old man out of there so fast yesterday, and they know you’re more tight-fisted than Warren Buffett. You got the cash to pay for that fancy attorney. I’ll listen to the talk and give you the heads-up if anybody starts suspecting anything, but right now, you’re golden. They didn’t understand not usin’ the club attorney, but I told ’em it was for the better, keep it away from the club until we decide what to do with that bitch. They seemed to buy it.” Dev tossed out his hand for a fist bump, and Keyes obliged that one too.
“By the way, he wasn’t a fuckin’ prospect. Your old man gave him a patch so he could fuck his wife. I heard all that shit last night. I figured that was what my old man was gonna say to you before that chick walked in,” Dev explained, staring him straight in the eyes. His gaze never wavered, and Dev was a fucking terrible liar.
Keyes nodded, instantly feeling better about that too.
“All right, man. Bring it in.” Dev enveloped him in a tight hug. One he participated in, hugging Dev back. “Hope that fancy attorney can keep you outta jail.”
Keyes took a deep breath, fought the indecision, and closed his eyes, gripping Dev tighter. “I got some intel last night. Shit I didn’t know before I went over to Cummings’s apartment.” He turned until his lips were almost touching Dev’s ear and whispered, “I need you to handle this without involvin’ the club. Give me your vow.”
Dev’s body tensed. He released the tight grip he had on Keyes but stayed close as Keyes relinquished his hold on Dev. “’Course.”
Keyes hated a goddamn rat more than anything, but he still paused. Alec’s protection was everything to him. They had gone overboard this morning while hiring as much security to watch Alec as Keyes saw fit. Alec wasn’t going to be able to take a leak without someone there, guarding him. Hell, Keyes had even suggested he stand lookout for Alec. There wasn’t one motherfucker that would get past him if he were on guard duty.
But if his father had overshared with Cummings, then that could bring the entire club down, and the bitch DA would win.
Keyes reached out, cupping the back of Dev’s neck, drawing him forward as he whispered, “Cummings got immunity to rat out the club. He’s a protected informant. I didn’t know when I went over there.”
Dev’s head jerked back as if he’d been burned, fire lit his eyes. Every single one of Keyes’s movements became measured, including his hand sliding inside his jacket pocket to grip the pistol he had hidden there. Dev’s crazy-eyed gaze stayed transfixed on his for several long seconds until his brows furrowed into a hard V.
Keyes gave a single nod.
The concern on Dev’s face relaxed, the challenge was clear in the spark of excitement that split into a shit-eating grin. “Stay in plain sight.” Dev reached out, whacked his arm while pivoting on his boot-covered heels. “Love ya, brother.”
Keyes staggered under the weight of his relief. Out of everyone, it would have hurt the worst to know Dev hadn’t truly been on his side. He was his brother. Keyes took several steps backward before he spun around, heading for his bike, letting Dev’s unconditional commitment ease his heavy heart. Just maybe…
Key lay stretched out on his side. His long body created a shell around Alec’s work space on the living room floor, a spot he’d commandeered. They were close to the roaring fire, comfortable and cozy. Key had sweetly built the fire to keep him from getting a chill as he worked. The lights on the Christmas tree twinkled brightly, and the glow of the fire bathed the room in a warming light. Alec had been truly surprised at how much he had enjoyed the holiday decorations he had gone ahead with, even under the uncertainty of Key’s arrest and the waiting game that had held them in a constant state of worry.
The blueprints for their new home had been pushed to the side. What weighed heavily on his mind now were the stacks of cash lying between him and Key. He’d counted fifty-three stacks, each with five thousand dollars. Alec did the math quickly in his head before lifting his eyes, staring at his biker who was resting his head on his hand, playing the finger monster game with Nash.