by Sara York
“No, he won’t. You fixed the situation.”
“I don’t know about fixing anything,” Andries said.
The door swung open, and Lafferty stepped in. Andries froze. He felt like everything was falling apart. He’d not wanted to upset Lafferty, but he’d failed when he’d tried to protect him.
Lafferty stepped over and dropped his bags. He pulled Andries into a hug. At first, he thought Lafferty was laughing then he realized Lafferty was crying.
“Hey, babe, what’s wrong?” Andries asked.
“I almost lost you. You were just going to leave. I need you in my life. I don’t care who is trying to blackmail you, we’ll figure out a way to beat them.”
“You know?” Andries asked.
“Jump emailed me this morning. Whitley is an asshole.”
“He’s going to the cops.” Andries’ voice shook as he spoke.
“We have an appointment this morning,” Jump said.
Shock pulsed through Andries. “What?”
“We need to leave in about an hour. Then we can stop for lunch and talk.”
The weight of what he’d done hit and tears started to fall. Lafferty held him close and kissed his neck and cheeks before he kissed his lips. He didn’t have to worry about Lafferty leaving him over this.
Why hadn’t he trusted Lafferty? The answer was obvious. The people who should have loved him — who should have protected him — had kicked him out. He’d lost everything when his dad had decided he wasn’t worth love. Now, with Lafferty, he had to relearn how to trust.
Lafferty pulled back and stared into his eyes. “I need you.”
Those words broke him. Lafferty’s needs were more important than anything else. If this all went south, and he ended up in jail, he was okay with it. As long as Lafferty came first, it was all that mattered.
After he showered and dressed, they headed to the office where they were meeting with the lawyer. His hands were damp as his nerves took over. Lafferty held his hand or had his arm around him the whole time, but still, his nerves were too much.
During the first part of the meeting with the lawyer, Andries was too freaked out to hear what the guy said. Then it finally sunk in. The dude, Ian, hadn’t fallen off the roof. And he’d died a few blocks from where they’d been.
“So he wasn’t close to where I’d been?”
“No, and he really was beaten with a bat and left for dead. They’re fairly certain it was gang activity.” The lawyer smiled at him, and he tried desperately to remember the guy’s name, but he was having a hard time.
“So, Mr. Sanders, you’re saying Andries is in the clear,” Lafferty said. “He doesn’t have to worry about anyone tying him to the murders, and you think the cops would be interested in catching Whitley in a blackmail sting?”
“Basically,” Sanders said. “I think if we approach the right cops, they’ll jump at the chance to get Whitley in a compromising position.”
“The right cop?” Andries asked.
“I have some friends,” Sanders said. “Let me call one and see what he says.”
Andries shrugged, not sure they had much, but he was willing to try. Sanders stepped into the hall, leaving them alone.
Lafferty had kept his hand on Andries the entire time. It was odd, but he liked it. He enjoyed Lafferty’s touch and having him so close. Something needed to change between them. He should have been honest from the beginning, but being honest about what had happened with Ian would have been a lie. All along, he’d believed he was responsible for Ian passing away, but it had been someone else.
Lafferty squeezed his hand as they waited for Sanders to come back in. Jump leaned in and lifted his eyebrows.
“This is why you need to be upfront with us, both of you. Lafferty, lying about being married, really, we can take the truth, and no one would have said anything to Andries’ dad if you would have explained. Trust me, we’ve all had to deal with homophobia, and none of us like it. We have your back.”
“Jesus, now I have to tell Lane and Gresh the truth,” Lafferty said.
“Yep,” Jump said. “Telling Gresh the truth is hard.”
Lafferty chuckled and Sanders stepped into the office. His smile made Andries feel a little better.
“So the guy I talked to, he is very familiar with Whitley. They know him from running other cons. He’s not well-liked.”
“What did they say?” Andries asked.
Sanders took a seat behind his desk. “The police want to talk to you. They think it would be a good idea to go to Whitley and provide him with fake account numbers. They’d like to catch him doing something illegal, like logging in to the account to steal money.”
“What if I screw it up?” Andries asked.
“You won’t. We’ll be there listening,” Sanders said.
“What about immunity? Will Andries have it?” Lafferty asked.
“Yes, I’ll make sure whatever comes out in the meeting is covered under immunity. I don’t think any of us want him getting screwed over by the cops.” Sanders smile stretched wide as he rubbed his hands together. “This is the most fun I’ve had practicing law in ages. I’ve arranged a meeting with the cops for tomorrow. You’ll need to tell them what you told me. Then you’ll set up the meeting with Whitley, and they’ll get him on charges.”
“And he won’t bug us anymore?” Andries asked.
“No, he won’t.”
Sanders’ assurances made him feel better, but he was still nervous. If Whitley figured out he’d gone to the cops, how pissed would he be? What if Whitley tried to hurt him? Fear traced his nerves. He didn’t want anything to go wrong. He just hoped Lafferty and his family didn’t suffer from his actions.
Bruce and Jump checked into a hotel. They agreed to meet for dinner. Once back at the apartment, Lafferty pulled him close and held him, not saying a word. They stayed huddled close for a long moment.
At first, the hug was friendly, then the heat between them grew. The hard ridge of Lafferty’s cock brushed against his belly and he moaned. That seemed to be all the invitation Lafferty needed.
Lafferty’s lips found his in a breath-stealing kiss. Their tongues twisted as they fought for dominance. He gave in, and Lafferty pushed him up against the door, pinning him in place as his hands explored.
This was more than just kissing and touching, this was everything. His soul was scorched by the heat in Lafferty’s gaze. They weren’t just having sex, this was Lafferty claiming him. He gave in, allowing Lafferty to take everything he wanted.
Their kisses slowed, and Lafferty took a step back, his lips down in a frown. “I thought I’d lost you.”
Guilt hit hard. “I’m sorry.”
“You were willing to throw us all away.”
“I couldn’t betray you or your family. He wanted to destroy you. I couldn’t allow him to hurt you.”
Lafferty leaned in and slapped his hands against the door beside Andries’ head. Fear filled Andries. The anger he saw in Lafferty’s eyes sent a chill through him.
“But you leaving would have destroyed me.”
Andries shook his head. “But I’m nothing. I’m just a worthless dude who is homeless.”
“No, you’re not. You’re the air I breathe, the life I need. I can’t live without you.”
Andries stared into Lafferty’s gaze as wonder filled him. This man was his world. He wouldn’t have survived leaving. Tears slid down his cheeks. Lafferty’s gaze softened as he wiped the tears from Andries’ cheeks.
“I need you with me.” Lafferty leaned in and brushed their lips together in a sweet slide that pulled at deep emotions.
“I couldn’t let him ruin you or your family.”
“Babe, no one is going to ruin us. We can withstand anything as long as we stand together. Please, promise me you’ll tell me next time. No matter how bad it may sound, promise you’ll tell me if someone is trying to blackmail you or threaten you.”
Andries nodded and was surprised when Lafferty turne
d him around and pressed him up against the wall. Lafferty’s fingers worked open his pants, and he reached in, stroking Andries. He sighed, loving how easy being with Lafferty was.
“I love being with you. I love holding you in my arms. I love kissing you, touching you, fucking you. Don’t ever leave me,” Lafferty begged.
He turned around, and Lafferty’s gaze drilled into his. His heart filled with something so big it felt like he would choke. He touched Lafferty’s face, pulling him close. His forehead rested against Lafferty’s, and they both sighed.
“I love you,” Andries whispered.
Lafferty sucked in a breath. “You mean it?”
He nodded and brushed his lips over Lafferty’s. “I mean it. I love you.”
“Andries, I love you so much. I can’t survive without you. You’re everything to me.”
Being with Lafferty was right. He may have been homeless when he’d met Lafferty, but it didn’t mean he was incapable of emotions or love. So many of the people he’d met on the streets had been told over and over again they were too defective to be real humans, that they were nothing more than trash. He might have started to believe that about himself given time, but he’d been saved by Lafferty.
Lafferty pulled at Andries clothes, and they both stripped, finding solace in lovemaking. He opened for Lafferty, exposing the hardest of places in his soul. Lafferty took those spots and softened him, leaving him open for love.
As they lay together, both of them breathing hard after sex, Andries lifted up and stared into Lafferty’s eyes.
“I’ll always be truthful. I’ll share my life with you,” Andries said.
“And I’ll share my life with you. I accept you for who you are. I’ll nurture you, and love you, keeping you in my heart until the day I die.”
Andries leaned over then pressed his lips against Lafferty’s, taking all he had to give and giving back in the process. Now he felt like everything would be perfect between them. He just had to do the one thing the cops wanted him to do, and then it was over. He and Lafferty could relax and enjoy life.
Chapter Thirteen
Andries’ stomach was in knots, and his nerves were on edge. He’d never done anything with the police, and certainly not a sting operation. This could all fall apart if Whitley asked any questions.
They were meeting at a coffee shop, and there would be three cops inside. Andries didn’t know who because they didn’t want him looking at anyone weirdly. When he showed up at the shop, he was so nervous, his hands shook.
He ordered a decaf because he was too worked up to deal with caffeine. He sat at a table with his cup left untouched in front of him.
The door opened, and Andries jumped. It wasn’t Whitley. He picked up the coffee and set it down. He needed to calm himself, or he would risk revealing everything to Whitley.
After a few more minutes, he took a sip of his coffee, not even tasting it. The door opened, and Whitley stepped in. Andries froze. His breathing sped up, and his mind started to race. He couldn’t do this. What if he failed?
Whitley sat at the table, his eyebrows raised. “You have what I need.
“Um, yes.” Andries pulled out the envelope and handed it over to Whitley. “I did what you asked.”
“The passwords and the account numbers?”
Andries nodded but didn’t say more.
Whitley pocketed the envelope and moved to stand but settled back in the chair. “So you want more work? This time for cash.”
“Um, sure.”
“I need you to get information from them. I’ll pay good for whatever you can get me.”
“Why?” He wasn’t sure if the cops wanted him to ask or not, but he had to know what this guy had planned for Lafferty and his family.
“They’re dicks. I want them humiliated.”
“What did they do to you?”
Whitley narrowed his gaze. “None of your fucking business. I just want them to pay. I want their company to fail, and I want them shamed. I need something juicy, and if you can’t find anything out, I want you to plant something in the office, something like doctored photos to make them embarrassed. Actually, I should have thought of that earlier. I need to get some photos onto their hard drives in their office.”
“Photos?”
“Child pornography. They’ll go to jail then.”
Though shocked, Andries said nothing. His anger rose, and he wasn’t sure how long he could hold back. This bastard wanted to hurt the man he loved and his family. It wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be able to hurt people like this.
“You look weird.”
Andries blinked and shook his head. “No, it’s good.”
“So you’re willing to sneak in child porn and make them look guilty as fuck.”
Andries nodded though he wanted to tell the guy to fuck off. There was no way in hell he would ever put child porn on anyone’s computer, much less someone working for Miller.
“Good. I’ll get you the drive tomorrow. Same place, but earlier. Seven in the morning.”
“Sure.”
Whitley stood, and Andries stood too. They shook hands, and Whitley left while Andries sat back down, picking up his paper coffee cup and finishing the stale coffee.
His phone rang, and he answered. The caller ID said it was Lafferty. “Hello.”
“Come over to the hotel across the street. We’ll do the briefing there.”
He hung up and left the café, tossing the cup into the trash on his way out. He glanced down the street to make sure Whitley was gone. He didn’t see the guy, so he headed into the hotel and up the elevator to the second floor. The door opened as he stepped out of the elevator. He moved quick, slipping inside.
“You did it,” Lafferty said then kissed him.
The cop cleared his throat, and Andries pulled back. “That was good work. You did great keeping him talking without adding much. I think we want to wait until tomorrow to arrest him. Any idea what your family did to piss him off?”
“Um, my father wasn’t a nice guy,” Jump said. “He may have done something to make Whitley’s family hate him.”
“Like?” the cop asked.
“Split apart a company or do a takeover then fire someone from his family. The possibilities are endless.”
Bruce put his arm around Jump. “We’ve changed how the company does business. The Mr. Miller who founded the company was a hard man. We’ve found out some of the stuff he’s done, but not everything. He took advantage of a lot of people.”
“I’m sorry to hear about that,” the cop said.
“We’re working to right a few wrongs,” Jump said. “Like we try to give back to the community. We’re in town because we’d like to help out a shelter for youth here. It would be good if the kids on the street had stable homes, even if it’s just a room in a shelter where they can grow to become the men and women they were supposed to be.”
The cop nodded. “Homeless kids break my heart.”
“I was homeless until I met Lafferty. My parents kicked me out at seventeen.”
The cop’s gaze roved over him, and he shook his head. “You look good, though. Like you aren’t homeless.”
“I was lucky. I didn’t get into drugs. I did some illegal stuff, but not anything terrible.”
The cop flashed him a smile, then pulled out his notebook and wrote something down. Andries had to push away the fear as the police officer continued writing. He wasn’t in trouble.
In the morning, he’d have to do this again. He just hoped it went as well as today had. It was odd working with the cops to frame a rich man. Too many of his friends who were homeless had been targeted by the police. Some homeless people did terrible things, but usually, the homeless were just trying to survive.
“Time for me to head out. We’ll meet up in the morning and get set up for your meeting,” the cop said.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate you believing me and being willing to take down this jerk,” Andries said.
“Tru
st me, it’s not a problem. Guys like this piss me off. They think they can rule the world by lying and cheating. I hate guys like Whitley. Positions should be earned.”
They said their goodbyes and headed to the apartment. No one followed, which was good. Whitley hadn’t even contemplated Andries going to the cops about this. The jerk really thought he had them cornered. He couldn’t wait to wipe the smug smile off Whitley’s face.
Once in the apartment, Lafferty pulled him to the couch and held him. They didn’t move for a long time, and when they did, it was just to get something to eat or drink. After a few hours, Jump called.
The meeting with the shelter went well. They wanted to have dinner at seven then discuss everything in their hotel room. Lafferty said they would be there. Andries felt weird about how everything had gone down.
When Lafferty hung up, he knew he had to say something. “Listen, you know I didn’t mean for anything bad to happened to you.”
“Hey,” Lafferty cupped his cheeks and lifted his head so their eyes met. “I know. It hurts you were willing to leave, but I get it. You didn’t want to hurt us, and you didn’t know how to get out of the situation. I can’t say I’m happy you were going to leave, but you had good intentions. This is one reason I want us to really be open with each other. I’m happy you said you loved me, not just because I’m so freaking thrilled you love me, but you were willing to tell me how you felt. I want to know everything.”
“I’m ashamed I was going to take off.”
“Babe, don’t be. We both know living on the streets changes how you deal with things. I should never have stayed away from the ranch during the holidays, but I did. I wouldn’t go back for many Christmases because of my feelings. They were wrong, and I know I wasn’t seeing clearly, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t have those feelings.”
“Being a part of a family is hard. There are so many people to think about. Like how will Lane and Gresh take the news that we’re not really married?”
Lafferty’s lips twitched up on one side. “What if we were?”
“What?”
“I want you in my life forever.”