“Snow,” he growled against Jude’s lips. “Quit calling me that.”
“Never,” Jude whispered back. “Get back in me. Now.” He smiled. “Stratige mou.”
Their grins mashed together, Snow muttering, “Dominant fucker,” even as he complied, sliding back into Jude’s heat, knowing that he, for the first time in his life, was making love.
Chapter 23
Rowe stared at the door in front of him, willing the queasiness in his stomach to settle. A cold sweat broke out across his skin under the layers of warm clothes he’d pulled on two days ago for the long drive from Colorado. Going through this door meant that he was back. No more running. No more hiding from the gaping abyss that was tomorrow. It was moving forward…without her.
“She doesn’t want you wasting your life,” he mumbled to himself with a little shake of his head. Dropping his gaze to the keys in his hand, Rowe used his thumb to sift through the scratched and dulled pieces of metal until he came to the right one.
It was time. His family needed him.
Sliding the key into the lock, Rowe paused at the sound of Ian’s raised voice. He didn’t sound distraught, just adamant. What day was it? Three weeks had passed since he’d left. Was it Wednesday? Had he arrived in time for breakfast? Just the thought of Ian’s cooking and playful smirk almost brought a smile to his lips. Almost. He wasn’t sure he still carried the ability.
Quietly, Rowe unlocked the door and stepped into Lucas’s penthouse. The sky beyond the wall of windows was slate gray as another late winter storm promised to dump a mix of rain and snow on the city. Inside, the air remained bright and light and achingly familiar. This was home.
When he shut the door, three heads popped up. Two unfamiliar men stood in Lucas’s kitchen wearing aprons and looking extremely uncomfortable while Ian was in a wheelchair just next the island, giving orders. The young man’s eyes instantly welled with tears when they latched onto Rowe and his bottom lip trembled so badly that he bit it. Ian shifted in his wheelchair, trying to turn his body and move closer to Rowe, whose feet seemed to be rooted to the hardwood floor, but the cast that ran up Ian’s right thigh kept him relatively immobile.
“Rowe,” he gasped, finally breaking Rowe’s paralysis.
Shoving his keys in his jacket pocket, Rowe closed the distance between them in just a few steps, then wrapped his arms gently around Ian’s slender shoulders. He tried to be careful, but Ian’s fierce hold and surprising strength forced Rowe to kneel down. A hard shudder ran through Ian as he sucked in deep, jagged gulps of air, burrowing his face in Rowe’s neck. The young man sounded as if he were trapped between sobbing and trying to hold it all back.
Rowe ran a hand down Ian’s back, soothing him. “Hey now. I’m fine. I’m back, safe and sound.”
“Tell me you’re not going to leave again. You can’t…you can’t do that again,” Ian said brokenly, his voice muffled in Rowe’s coat.
His eyes drifted shut and he cupped the back of Ian’s head, threading his fingers through his soft hair. Pain throbbed in his chest, but he knew he’d live with that phantom ache the rest of his life. It was better that he was here. “I’m home and I’m not leaving again, I swear.” As Rowe pulled away, he pressed a kiss to Ian’s forehead, grateful that the man was safe and alive.
“So, where’d the two new recruits come from?” Rowe shucked his winter coat and tossed it over the back of the couch as he had a hundred times before. His eyes skimmed over the penthouse, part of him searching for any changes while the other part was just basking in all the things that hadn’t changed while he was gone.
“Mike is my nurse.” Rowe looked over at the two men when Ian spoke. The dark-haired one looked up and nodded at Rowe. “And Sven actually works for you. He’s the bodyguard Andrei assigned to me. I guess he was hired while you were gone.”
Rowe looked over the tall, blond man who reminded him of a Viking from the front of a romance novel — all muscles and bright blue eyes. Rowe lifted on eyebrow at the man, who blushed lightly, probably realizing that he was meeting the owner of the company he worked for wearing a red and white apron while cutting up fruit.
“It’s good to meet you, Mr. Ward,” Sven said.
A faint smile finally tugged at Rowe’s lips. Andrei never ceased to surprise him. Other than one slip up with Lucas while serving as his bodyguard, the man had come through for him again and again. Ian had needed a bodyguard and Rowe was vaguely aware that the existing staff had already been stretched thin, so Andrei had wisely recruited someone new and experienced to watch over him.
Rowe started to comment when heavy footsteps echoed across the floor, stopping the words on this tongue. He turned to find Lucas, dressed in dark slacks and pale blue shirt. Missing only a tie and blazer, the man looked like he was ready for the runway or some kind of corporate takeover. Hell, Lucas was the only man he’d ever known to make a suit look like battle armor.
Lucas’s steps didn’t slow as he quickly closed the distance between them. It was like being hit by a truck when Lucas slammed into him, wrapping his powerful arms around him like steel bands. The same shudder than ran through Ian hit Lucas as well. This time, Rowe buried his face in Lucas’s shoulder, holding his friend tight.
The embrace lasted only a couple of seconds before Lucas stepped back holding him by his shoulders. Sparkling green-gray eyes swept over his face, taking in Rowe’s scruffy beard and the heavy circles under his eyes. He knew Lucas saw a man who was a little thinner and more ragged than he’d been when he’d left Cincinnati weeks ago, but he hoped he also saw a man who wanted to stand on his own two feet again. Rowe tensed, waiting for the angry tirade that was about to hit his head for leaving without talking to them first, for not telling them where he’d gone or when he’d be back.
Lucas gently cupped his cheeks and leaned close, brushing his lips across Rowe’s temple. “I love you. We’re glad you’re home,” he whispered.
Rowe wanted to make a snarky comment. He wanted to tease Lucas about getting more in touch with his feelings since he started dating Andrei, but he couldn’t. Those two sentences broke down his carefully erected walls so that he was blinking back tears as he hugged Lucas again. No questions. No accusations. No anger or frustration. Just love and understanding. That’s why these men were his brothers. The only family he ever wanted around him.
“Hey, babe!” Andrei’s voice echoed through the penthouse and Rowe could feel Lucas chuckle softly. “Where the hell is that tablet? I thought I left it on the nightstand.”
Lucas released Rowe and turned so that Rowe could see Andrei still buttoning his shirt as he crossed the living room, his bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor. His easy gait, his smile…Andrei fit at Lucas’s. As much as any of them did.
“It got shoved between the couch cushions,” Lucas said and Andrei’s smile turned absolutely wicked as his eyes narrowed on Lucas. Rowe flushed at that look and it wasn’t even directed at him. Apparently Snow wasn’t bullshitting when he’d hinted that things were hot between Lucas and Andrei.
“Oh! Hey boss!” Andrei said. The look and heat were gone in an instant, but there was also no tell-tale blush that he was in any way embarrassed about his relationship with Lucas. And Rowe wanted to kiss him just for that. He gave Rowe a long look, concern darkening his eyes before he smiled, nodded and walked back into the living room. “Glad to have you back,” he said over his shoulder as he leaned over the couch from behind and dug between the cushion until he came up with the tablet.
Rowe sighed, watching Andrei wander to the kitchen, stopping beside Ian to show him something that he’d pulled up on the tablet. “So… is there any chance I can get a cup of coffee before you tell me what the fuck you guys have been doing while I’ve been gone?”
The smile on Lucas’s lips fell away and he nodded. It was time to get to business. Sadly, by the time Lucas, Andrei, and Ian had laid all the dirty details on Rowe as they sat around the dining room table, Rowe was wishing that he’
d had some of Lucas’s favorite hundred-year-old whisky rather than black coffee. Fucking Dwight Gratton was back. He’d learned that from Snow’s message, but to know the sick asshole was behind Melissa’s death as well as a long string of other deaths left a burning hole in Rowe’s stomach. He was so ready to put the man six feet under. Preferably while he was still breathing.
“We should have killed him years ago,” Rowe muttered, staring into his empty coffee mug, not really caring who heard him.
“Rowe…” Ian’s voice wobbled and Rowe lifted his eyes to the man who looked so lost.
He reached across the table to lay his hand on Ian’s and squeeze. “No, it would have been bad. Would have destroyed Snow.” Rowe closed his eyes for a second, pushing away the hundreds of “what ifs” and “could have beens” dancing through his brain. He couldn’t look back, couldn’t second guess. That way was only madness and more sleepless nights.
“Speaking of,” he started again with a hard shake of his head to clear it. “Where the hell is the doc? Still asleep up there?” A slow smile spread across Lucas’s mouth and even Ian giggled with glee. This was not what he’d expected. “What?”
“Snow stayed over at Jude’s last night…again,” Lucas said.
“So,” Rowe muttered then the words clicked. “Again? Who the fuck is Jude? Wait! He’s…dating?” The three men at the table nearly fell over in their laughter while Rowe’s mouth hung open in shock. “Are you shitting me? Is he really dating?”
“Yes. The man’s name is Jude Torres.” Andrei lounged in his chair and folded his hands behind his head as he grinned. “He’s a paramedic at UC Hospital. Tall and dark, with a swarthy, sexy, European vibe. Nice guy.”
Beside Andrei, Lucas growled. Rowe’s eyebrows shot to his hairline as he stared at his long-time friend.
“What?” Andrei demanded, holding up his hands as if to ward on Lucas. “I’ve got eyes.”
“And you better watch where your eyes wander,” Lucas grumbled before shoving hands through Andrei’s loose, dark curls to pull him close in a searing kiss. Rowe didn’t miss how Andrei seemed to melt into him, a soft moan sliding up his throat.
Ian groaned and Rowe snickered to see the younger man roll his eyes. “And Lucas wonders why I won’t move in here with him. A single guy can take only so much of this crap.”
A loud knock on the front door broke Lucas and Andrei apart. Everyone in the penthouse seemed to freeze for a breath at the intrusion, and then nearly everyone was in motion with amazing speed and silence.
“Security never called,” Lucas murmured to Rowe as both Sven and Mike approached Ian. The nurse carefully moved Ian from his seat at the table back into the wheelchair, while Sven stood blocking them with his body and gun in hand. Lucas stood as well, moving to the liquor sideboard where he kept a gun hidden in the top drawer.
But Andrei was still the most impressive to watch. One of Rowe’s favorite quotes was from Bruce Lee—Be like water. And that’s exactly how Andrei moved. Silent, fluid, and swift. He didn’t make a damn sound moving from the dining room to the front door. Along the way, he palmed a knife hidden on his body and flicked out the lethal blade so that it was at the ready.
At quick count, there were at least three guns — counting the one that Rowe had on his person but had not yet drawn — and a knife waiting to greet whoever was on the other side of that door. While the air had been light when Rowe appeared, it was obvious that this was a house on high alert. He was lucky he didn’t get a damn slug in his forehead when he walked in the door unannounced.
With his shoulder pressed against the wall, Andrei tapped on the security panel to pull up an image of the person on the other side of the door. “Who’s there?” he called.
“Detective Hollis Banner,” replied a weary voice. “Now open up, or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow—”
Andrei swung the door open and even from across the room, Rowe could see the bodyguard’s smirk. “You’re not blowing anyone in here.”
Hollis straightened, his eyes pointedly traveling down the length of Andrei and back up before stepping through the open doorway. “Dream on, ponytail man. You’re not my type.”
As the cop entered, everyone relaxed and returned to where they were before. Ian smiled brightly at the detective, while Lucas glowered at the man. Rowe could only shake his head at the ongoing antagonism.
“Good morning, detective,” Ian said, and Rowe watched Banner straighten just a little more at Ian’s enthusiasm. “Would you like some coffee? Can you stay for breakfast?”
Hollis moaned, shoving one hand through his hair, sending it in twenty different directions. “Coffee would be so good.”
Rowe shoved to his feet. “Sit, cop,” he said, pointing to his now empty chair, which would put Hollis directly besides Ian. Sure, it also put him directly next to Lucas, but then that was part of the fun. “Black?”
“Splash of cream and two sugars,” Ian corrected and then blushed brightly. Even Hollis looked stunned as he dropped into Rowe’s chair. Ian stared down at the table, unwilling to meet anyone’s eyes. “That’s how you ordered it at lunch.”
“That was weeks ago,” Hollis said, his voice little more than a rough whisper.
Ian shrugged and Rowe wanted to laugh, he looked so damn adorable. “I just have a good memory…when it comes to food.”
“What do you want, cop?” Lucas snapped, shattering the moment. Rowe rolled his eyes heavenward and quickly made the detective’s coffee as Ian instructed. Apparently, he needed to have a long talk with Mr. Vallois about letting the young leave the nest.
“Have you found him?” Ian demanded.
Hollis’s shoulder slumped and he murmured his thanks when Rowe placed a mug of coffee in front of him. The cop sipped it while Rowe dropped into a chair on the other side of Ian. He reached over and squeezed the young man’s shoulder, trying to ease some of the tension that had pulled his muscles as visibly tight as a bowstring. Rowe wanted nothing more than to slowly torture Gratton, to find him in some dark alley and spend the next several hours working the man over until his mind and his body were broken. Ian, he imagined, just wanted the nightmare to finally be over.
Banner lifted his eyes and they locked with Rowe’s. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ward, but I can’t say that your appearance is filling me with joy. I’m sure you’ve heard how your boys have been driving me crazy the past few weeks.”
“Lucas filled me in.”
Putting the mug on the table, Hollis pushed his right hand into his hair and tugged a handful away from his scalp. “See this? Gray. I’ve got gray hair now. I’ve taken on pimps, drug dealers, and Cuban cartels. Not a single gray hair. A few weeks chasing after your boys and I’ve got gray hair.”
“Try Just for Men hair color,” Andrei suggested with a smirk.
“Is that what you use on your boyfriend?”
“Can we get down to business?” Lucas snapped.
Hollis grinned at Lucas and Rowe felt the first hint of an honest-to-god smile in weeks. “All business with you. This is foreplay. You’d think ponytail would have taught you about that.”
“Please,” Ian murmured, placing his hand on Hollis’s wrist. The cop’s expression softened, the evil grin disappearing as he looked at Ian.
“Sorry.” Hollis cleared his throat, turning serious. “We haven’t found him. We’ve hit a lot of dead ends, but we’ve got a new line that we’re following. We’re checking out neighbors around all of you.” He paused and looked at Rowe. “There were a lot of pictures to go through and one of the ones of Snow showed him standing in front of your house. We could tell it had been taken from inside your neighbor’s house across the street. He’d killed them and it looked like he used their house for several days before he moved on. Probably when it became clear that you weren’t going to be back anytime soon.”
Dismay filled Rowe. The Parks, Sylvia and Dave. He hadn’t known those neighbors well, but they’d always offered up friendly waves and h
ellos. “They told me he’d been using a place near Ian’s, too. Anywhere else?”
Hollis nodded. “The house opposite Andrei’s apartment building was empty. Up for sale. We found Gratton’s fingerprints there. Doesn’t look like he stayed long.”
Andrei grunted, seemingly unmoved by the fact that Lucas sat straighter in his chair, every muscle in his body tensing. “I haven’t been staying there much recently.”
“And you’re not going back there alone,” Lucas declared.
“You’re right.” Lucas deflated before their eyes and Rowe couldn’t stop his snicker. Lucas had puffed up, ready for a fight and Andrei stole it away. “I’ll grab one or two of the guys from work next time I need to stop by for something.” Andrei lifted his eyebrows at Lucas and grinned. “I’m not an idiot.”
“No! Of course not! I…just…”
Hollis’s cackle echoed through the penthouse, cutting off Lucas’s stammer.
“What else, cop?” Lucas demanded, getting his footing again.
“We’ve enlisted about a dozen Covington cops and they’re going door to door here in the Ascent right now to make sure he hasn’t found a way into this building.” Hollis turned his attention to Ian. “There’s still an undercover cop outside your place and at Rialto.”
“Thanks,” Ian mumbled, paling slightly at his words.
“What about Snow’s and Jude’s?” Andrei inquired.
“We checked around Jude’s address as well as at his mother’s. Nothing.” Hollis took a drink of his coffee and then stopped, looking around the penthouse. “Where is the doc?”
Lucas, still frowning, leaned back in his chair. “On his way.”
“We’re checking out his neighbors. There’s one we haven’t been able to catch. It looks like they’ve been coming and going, but they keep weird hours.”
Lucas’s brow furrowed and something in Rowe’s stomach clenched. “Which ones?”
Shatter (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 2) Page 29