ktmorrison
patreon
Devil In The Waters // Book 9 // Chapter 10
🕑 Added 2022-11-13 01:00:05 +0000 UTCThe limo took them all the way to north Toronto, stopping on the way to drop off Glenn near Forest Hill. Johnny Rumble took a cab home from the strip club. It was almost three in the morning.
Josh smelled like cigar smoke and whisky and cloying perfume. Only one day out in his expensive new suit and he’d have to get it dry cleaned already.
Devlin walked ahead of him, working a kink out of his neck, waving a hand for Josh to follow, saying, “Come on into the kitchen.”
In the kitchen Devlin doffed his suit coat and tossed it onto the glass kitchen table. Josh undid his tie and let it hang around his unbuttoned collar, coming to lean elbows on the kitchen island while Devlin went to the fridge.
Head in the fridge, Devlin said, “I hope you had a good time tonight.”
“Yeah, it was great,” Josh said. “Thanks again. I appreciate the private seats.”
Devlin said, “Ah, don’t mention it. My pleasure. It was good having you there.” Devlin’s head stayed in the fridge, but he began passing things over onto the island. A tub of yogurt, lemons in a plastic bag...
Josh said, “What are you doing?”
Devlin pulled down containers from a kitchen cupboard now, setting them on the island, then undoing his cufflinks and rolling up his sleeves, “Pre-hangover remedy.” Now he moved a blender to the island and plugged it in. “Grass-fed Greek yogurt, coconut water, ginger, ginseng, milk thistle, lemon juice, sea salt. And a metric fuck-ton of B12.” He cut the lemons in half and Josh watched the muscles in his hairy forearms flex. He squeezed out the lemon halves into the blender, stopping to retrieve a single seed that had squirted in. Devlin whirred the concoction, then added more ingredients. “Add some BCAAs, some creatine...”
Josh said, “What, no fruit? No banana? No honey?”
Devlin narrowed his eyes on Josh like Josh was insane. “Before bed? No way, buddy. We’re trying to be healthy here.”
Josh smacked his lips and turned up his nose. “How do I get the taste of a cigar out of my mouth?”
Devlin eyed him over his shoulder. “That was a fucking Cuban, Josh. An eighty-dollar cigar.”
“Well, it’s certainly hanging around.”
“That’s supposed to be a good thing.”
“I suppose it is,” Josh muttered, hating to sound ungrateful. “I’d get used to it.”
Devlin pushed over the drink, poured in a tall glass, frothy and white like a milkshake. “Try that.”
Josh smelled it. “What’s this supposed to do for you?”
“Keep you fresh in the morning after a night of drinking. Help you sleep, banish the headache, settle the stomach.”
“We didn’t even drink that much,” Josh said, then tried the smoothie. Not terrible, but not sweet, and not what he expected when he tried a smoothie.
Devlin said, “Pretty wild seeing Rumble again.”
“You don’t see him usually?”
“Sometimes I do. I meant for you.”
Josh sipped and nodded, wiped his mouth. “I can’t believe he doesn’t remember me.”
Devlin dismissed it. “That guy’s brain is Swiss cheese. He’s a crazy boozer. Like, bottle a night most nights.”
“A bottle of what?”
“I don’t know,” he said, taking another drink—then with a second more consideration, added: “Rye. Rye was Johnny’s drink.”
“I feel like he should remember me.”
“Why’s that?”
Josh shrugged. It was unfair for Rumble’s presence to stay in his life all these years, a manifestation of his teen powerlessness. Rumble didn’t even remember him at all. He’d said, “From where—Dalton?” Of course from Dalton.
Devlin said, “Rumble is only important because you remember him.”
Josh sipped his drink, manners dictating that though he’d like to toss it down the sink, he would finish it to be polite. He cleared his throat. “What does that mean?”
“Put it in perspective for you. Whatever hang-up you feel for Rumble is weightless. An absolute nothing. You could hold it in your palm”—he held up his palm—“and send it away.” Now he puffed air into his palm and then dusted his hands like the matter was over.
“Because Johnny doesn’t remember me.”
“Right. Josh, whatever he did to you, it was nothing to him. You give him power. You give his memory power. In reality, that’s all Johnny is—what you saw tonight?—that’s all Johnny is. Stop giving him power.”
“Sounds like metaphysical bullshit,” Josh said, daring to speak his mind. It was late, and though it had been a weird and uncomfortable night, Devlin had been good to him. It felt acceptable.
Devlin laughed at his retort, enjoying the sparring. He took a sip of his smoothie, then said, “Yup, you sound exactly like Kimmy.”
Josh’s stomach squirmed. That was on purpose. Josh sensed it. Devlin sparred back. Call his pep-talk bullshit, and he had a weapon ready to maim you. Devlin had just flashed his trusty switchblade to Josh, warning him about the way he fought. No rules and very, very dirty.
He’d headed out tonight with an adventurous spirit. Asking himself: could he be friends with Devlin Stone? Devlin had been gracious, fun, and had showed Josh a good time. But if you ever forgot Devlin Stone’s cruelty, he would make you regret it.
Devlin drained his smoothie, set the glass back down on the countertop, then patted at his pockets. He went to the kitchen table and lifted his jacket, saying to Josh as he passed, “Are you going to tell Kimmy you went to a strip club?”
Josh swiveled on the stool. “If I don’t, are you going to tell her?”
Devlin smiled, withdrew his iPhone from the jacket, then shook his head no and crossed his heart—mannerisms not bolstering any confidence at all.
“Of course I’m going to tell her,” Josh said. “We don’t keep secrets.”
Devlin checked messages on his phone. “I’ll vouch you didn’t get a lap dance or a blowjob.”
“She’ll know I didn’t.”
Devlin set his phone down on the table, then returned to the island, slapping Josh on the back as he passed. “You’re a good kid, huh?”
Josh agreed, nodding. “I’m a good kid.”
“You ready to hit the hay?”
***
In the luxury apartment’s raised living room, Devlin gestured at the couch. “Best I can do, buddy.”
“It’s just fine,” Josh said. “I might just grab a couple hours of sleep and slip out before you even get up.”
“Oh, yeah, okay. If you want. You don’t want to grab some breakfast in the morning? I can drive you to the office to get your car.”
“Maybe. I’m just anxious to get home.”
Devlin said, “Kimmy sent a bag for you with your PJs. It’s on the floor at the end of the couch.”
“Got it.”
Devlin made to leave, but seemed guilty somehow. Turning, rubbing knuckles on his ribs, he said, “You sure you’re okay on the couch?”
“Totally fine. It’s a big couch. It looks really comfortable.”
“I have no furniture here. I have my bedroom set and a little bit of an office and that’s it. There’s a guest room, but it’s like completely empty.”
“The couch is fine, Devlin.”
Devlin nodded, then jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I got a king size.”
Josh looked at him, unsure. Then said, “Are you bragging or something?”
Devlin laughed. “No, I mean, you could climb in with me if you wanted.”
“No, that’s all right.”
“Plenty of room.”
“I’m good on the couch,” Josh said, putting his hands in his pockets.
“Good,” Devlin said with satisfied finality. “I just didn’t want you going home and telling on me to Kimmy, like: ‘Devlin has this big bed and he makes me sleep on the couch.’ You know?”
“Why would I say that?”
“So Kimmy thinks I’m inhospitable.”
Josh shook his head, clear now that Devlin was fucking with him.
Devlin laughed, then said, “Hey, good night, man. I showed you the can, you know where the fridge is. You got a clean pillow there, a couple blankets. If you have to barf, just make sure—”
“I don’t have to barf,” Josh said.
“Not too much bourbon tonight, huh?”
“No.”
“Cigars can make you sick, man.”
“I know where the bathroom is.”
“All right, bud,” Devlin said, putting out a fist to be bumped. “We had a good time tonight. If you’re not here in the morning when I wake up, ciao. Say hi to Kimmy for me. And we’ll do this again, okay?”
Josh bumped knuckles, and Devlin held out a hand in farewell, heading down the hall toward his bedroom. He stopped, turned, saying, “Oh, hey. If you’re going to be away in Italy, you know what would be good?”
Josh took off his expensive jacket and lay it on the loveseat by the couch. “What?”
“I’m going to offer my apartment to Kimmy. I’m like never here. She can use my pad so she doesn’t blow her pay check on gas going home to Ajax every night if she doesn’t have to. You know what I mean?”
Josh nodded, guts squirming again, and an uncomfortable thrill raced through his prostate, tightening his stomach. “Oh yeah, maybe.”
Devlin nodded, thinking to himself. “I think it’s a good idea. All right, night, Josh.”
“Good night, Devlin. Thanks for everything tonight.”
Devlin held up the farewell hand again and disappeared into the hallway’s darkness.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Josh whispered to himself, squeezing the bridge of his nose.
***
On the floor at the end of the couch, Josh found the bag Kimmy had sent for him. A leather tote she’d packed the night before and brought along to work today. It was like being sent on a sleepover with the mean kid from school because your mother was friends with the mean kid’s mother. Only Devlin hadn’t been a mean kid tonight; he’d been decent.
He went down the hall to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, changed out of the suit, which he stored away in the zippered bag that came with it. He slipped into the sweatpants and T-shirt and padded down the dark hall, returning to the enormous leather couch where he’d sleep.
And there, only a dozen feet away and down three meager steps, he could see the dark shape of Devlin’s suit jacket on the glass kitchen table, and next to it the black rectangle of Devlin’s phone. His fingers tingled.
Josh lay his suit on a padded chair with his bag, tucked away his toiletry kit, and turned to look into the kitchen. The lights were off, but from the splash of pale light thrown by the clock on the stove, he could see a device that held many secrets. Or perhaps held none. That was what he would most like to think: that there was nothing incriminating on Devlin’s phone. Nothing was happening behind his back.
But wouldn’t that be a great idea then: to check the phone and find the relief you deserve?
If there was nothing on the phone, and he believed there wasn’t, why even bother to check? Because Devlin had a photo of Kimmy that the more Josh considered, the more illicit it seemed. Why on earth would he take a picture of Kimmy in his hotel room?
If something was going on, then the obvious question was: why the fuck would Devlin dare show off the picture in Josh’s presence?
Back to basics answer: Devlin was a bully and a fucking asshole.
Given that clear truth then, it could be equally considered that Devlin showed the picture specifically because there was no nefarious connection to it at all, but he loved to stir the pot. Devlin was drawn to meanness, and he couldn’t help himself, even when he was otherwise being decent.
Josh stepped down into the kitchen, eyes on Devlin’s phone. The thing would be password protected, so what was the point?
He could always wait until he heard Devlin snoring and sneak into the bedroom and face scan him, open the phone’s security that way, slink into the washroom and find out everything that’s been going on.
Yeah, right, like you would ever do that.
Years of conditioning told him what would happen. Devlin would kick the door open and beat the shit out of him. Maybe call Rumble over and they could tie him to a kitchen chair and take turns punching him in the stomach.
But that wouldn’t happen. Not anymore. The shit you could get away with when you were fourteen, you couldn’t get away with now. He’d press charges against Devlin. He’d sue him. He would have the upper hand. In fact, it would almost be worth getting the shit kicked out of him—hey, it wouldn’t be the first time—for the power over Devlin it would bestow. Devlin in jail for assault. A civil suit.
He stepped back up the stairs, looking around now in the corners of the dark room, imagining Devlin three steps ahead of him, leaving the phone there on purpose to tempt him, and meanwhile security cameras with night-vision were documenting Josh’s mental weakness the whole time.
So with bay language showing he had no care in the world, just a happy-go-lucky fella ready to catch a z or two, he returned to the couch, sat down and stretched his arms up over his head. He yawned, batted the pillow Devlin had given him, flicked open the blanket and scooted underneath it, letting its warmth settle on him. As sleep began to settle on his eyelids, he went over the night again, removing all his suspicion and thinking only of the real things he saw with his own eyes and ignored his awful suppositions. Devlin had been decent. Decent but a dick. But that was his natural state. He was a dick to Rumble, and he was even sometimes a dick to Glenn, too. Maybe Devlin was just—
Josh’s hand slipped under the sofa pillow to plump up his head’s angle of recline and snagged a cord in the webbing between his little finger and ring finger. He had to lift his head to free his hand from whatever trap lay under the pillow. He withdrew a clump of fabric, and as he opened it, a warm and familiar fragrance swelled around him. It was a pair of women’s panties; sexy flower-embroidered panties. They were a rosy pink, the side straps were doubled—two sexy lines of rosy cord sweeping over the hips on both sides, a spray of summer flowers framing the shape of the crotch.
Comments
Mike Monroe
Really??? she had to give Devlin and bag for her supposed to be grown man husband. He is not a child!...LOL..nothing Kimmy has done so far is being considerate for Josh...All a part of getting what she wants!!! Love your writing KT!!!
KT Morrison
She had to give the overnight bag to Devlin—so Josh wouldn't carry it to the Jays game! It was very considerate.
RCH
Fun, Fun! Can't wait for the next installment! Just wondering where they're going to stash the body?
Tracey52
I struggled early because of the deceit and bullying angle but I’m loving it now. Not really sure why, other than kt is awesome and I’d read a book about calculus if it was written by kt.
Mike Monroe
Agreed..but it's like a car crash just can't help looking or wanting to see the damage. KT is just a great writer!!!
Tim ziegler
With a wife like Kimmy who needs enemies,I dislike these characters so much I’m doing the Evelyn Wood speed reading just to know what’s going on.
CSH
Good point, that Devlin wanted Kimmy since high school. Hadn’t thought of that. Yeah, I get it. Not saying he should just cave. That would likely ruin the story, anyway. Just pointing out that he also really likes what’s happening in what he himself sees as a sick twisted way that he can’t help.The well adjusted response would be to accept it and leave her. Josh, it turns out, is not well adjusted. That KT has made all this actually work is exceptional. Not intending to denigrate anyone else’s response to the story, I’m just having fun with it.
L_S87
I think you are somewhat right, but I disagree about Josh's importance. I think Kimmy is the prize, and this is payback for Josh "taking" what he didn't deserve and should have been his because Devlin has coveted Kimmy since high school. I, personally, am not interested in revenge. Josh isn't vindictive, he wouldn't go for that on Kimmy or Devlin. But I do think it makes no sense for someone who cries in a hotel parking lot and feels physical pain over the thought Kimmy MIGHT be cheating, or who throws up when she "admits" she flashed Devlin, to suddenly be okay with months of infidelity thrown in his face. No one likes to be lied to, or manipulated, even more so by someone you love and trust. Remember how twisted up he was over Kimmy taking so long to get back on the trip? Then she lies about why she was late. Kimmy has told him thousands of lies. How can you have a partner to explore with, which is how Kimmy has portrayed this, when your "partner" never tells you the truth? Kimmy has it right, Josh would leave if he knows the full depth of her deception, not because he hates her for being with Devlin, but because of how many lies and manipulations she's twisted him up with for her own enjoyment.
Mike Monroe
Not missing the point...I know that this will most likely be another weak husband just accepting what ever scraps he gets from a ruthless wife and a her bully affair partner. I however don't think Josh need any of this. Especially how this has gone down. He has not asked for any of this. It happening to him...2 choices accept the lies and Decit from the love of his life or leave her with some dignity....If keeping with how most of these go it would be just accept it because he shouldn't have be able to get Kimmy anyway. They both have no respect for him anyway.
CSH
Certainly an inflection point. This is well done, KT. This surprised me. Devlin has just offered the whip to Josh with the choice of throwing it down and walking away or using it to beat himself mercilessly. His response is likely fore ordained and we can look forward to massive angst. We discussed varieties of humiliation in a poll earlier. In subtle ways this is more insidious and painful than any of those crude techniques as it makes Josh complicit in his own suffering. Death by a thousand self-inflicted cuts. Do we get no confrontation and a series of subsequent similar humiliations? That would be wonderfully excruciating for poor Josh. Kimmy would love it, too. It fits her past actions. I remember Kimmy did something similar with her panties early on after meeting Devlin outside the restaurant but Josh never saw the evidence. Those looking for Josh to man up and seek revenge miss the point. These three all need each other for this to work. Devlin needs Josh to accept and embrace his masochism just as he has been teaching Kimmy to embrace hurting Josh. I still maintain the whole affair with Kimmy is to gain control over Josh. Kimmy is a bonus prize.
L_S87
Hmm, I find the advice Devlin gave to be interesting, because amongst all that dickish behavior, he actually said something honest and profound. Something similar to what Kimmy has told Josh in the past about Devlin himself. Josh still struggles to accept it, certainly won't from this source. And then there is the panties. I wonder if Kimmy knew Devlin placed them there and let it happen or if this is 100% Devlin. It's not like she can't get out if this. Josh loves her and trusts her so much, too much, that she could simply lie and say she gave them to Devlin as a part of furthering her and Josh's partnership of exploration, similar to how she "only" flashed Devlin a few books ago. The question is, does she actually do that? Does Josh actually confront her about it or does he use that as a springboard to dig for more info? Does it turn him on or does it make him angry? The one thing I find missing here is when he ponders that photo and his suspicions, he doesn't really seem to think of Kimmy in relation to them. We don't really get any sort if input or feel on Josh's emotions in regards to Kimmy's potential lies and deception. I find that odd, and wonder where his thoughts will lead once that does come up.
Tracey52
Well played Devlin. He set this up. Now will see if Josh reacts like Devlin thinks. Devlin was nice to him all night then sucker punched him. Even told him how he should react in his conversation about Rumble. Josh won’t say anything because he thinks Devlin will expect him to and doesn’t want to give Devlin power. Secondly, the thought will turn him on now that he can’t deny it. Third, he has got to look at the phone now.
Mike Monroe
There is the BIG Slap in the face! How can he ignore this evidence! He has to know the smell of his wife perfume...This can't be a imagination. He wife packs him a overnight bag?? She could have given it to him when she dropped him off. He is like a little boy. The disrespect of it all. His GUT is screaming.. spider sense tickling!!! Danger Will Robinson Danger!!! He can't continue to being oblivious to what happening .. Hire a PI and catch these 2 bastards red handed. I know he won't though...or will he do anything??? KT ..you are a master of angst and emotions. No sleep now for Josh seems right. He should be making a B line home..as he said they didn't drink too much. Beside why the hell would he sleep over his arch nemesis house anyway NO man would do this..EVER
Donkatsu
Even de nial runs out of riverbank eventually, and the panties are better than a recognizable background; certainly less ambiguity. Clever SOB that Devlin. Don’t think Josh is likely to sleep well tonight.
