Rialto

by Drake, Jocelynn

  Ian released Snow and with a little grumbling, finally got to his feet. His head throbbed, but he didn’t want to keep sitting there on the couch. He had too much nervous energy, too many questions rattling around in his brain. The feeling of being trapped and helpless would go away only if he was moving.

  His head throbbed and the world swayed a little when he stood, but he found his footing again and moved to the kitchen. When he arrived, he discovered that Noah was bringing in the last of the groceries from his car and setting them on the counter. He smiled at Ian reassuringly. That man was just too sweet for Rowe.

  “Hollis said he’s on his way and will be here in about twenty minutes.”

  “Thanks, Noah.” He knew better than to try to call Hollis himself and talk him out of abandoning Shane while on a job. Hollis would only feel better when he finally laid eyes on Ian and saw for himself that his husband was safe.

  When Rowe arrived back in the kitchen and announced that it looked like nothing in the house had been touched, Ian set them to work putting the food he didn’t immediately need away in the pantry and fridge. He grabbed the cutting board and knife to start chopping up vegetables.

  “Ian, you need to take a break. I don’t think you should be cooking right now,” Lucas gently advised.

  Ian snorted at him and kept working on the prep. “You really think anything else is going to help me calm down right now?”

  “True.” Lucas sighed. Pulling out a chair at the breakfast bar, he sat down and rested his arms on the counter. “All right, tell us everything. Did you see or hear anything?”

  “Did you notice being followed while you were out at the store?” Noah added.

  “No.” Ian paused and sighed. “My mind was on a hundred other things. No one has been after me for years. My mind was on the foster classes, the new restaurant, the problems with Rialto. I didn’t—”

  “Whoa! What problems with Rialto?” Rowe interrupted, holding his hands up in the air.

  Ian clenched his teeth together in frustration. He’d really wanted to deal with this on his own. Well, just him and Hollis, actually. Lucas, Snow, and Rowe liked to exclude him from all the interesting and dangerous stuff as their overprotective way of keeping him safe. But this was his restaurant, dammit!

  Reluctantly, he launched into a quick retelling of everything that had been happening at the restaurant—the ICE raid, the fake bad reviews, and the reports to the health department about supposed food poisoning. Though Ian felt a small amount of glee in informing Rowe that he had already secretly gotten the help of his IT team. Noah snickered and Rowe crossed his arms over his chest as he thundered softly like a little black raincloud.

  “Why didn’t you tell us all of this when it started?” Snow demanded. Ian winced at the hurt and betrayal in his voice.

  “We’re family,” Rowe groused. He still looked like a redheaded powder keg ready to explode. “We’re supposed to be honest with family. We’re always there for each other.”

  “Yes, and I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, but you have to admit that your way of taking care of things sucks for me.”

  “What are you talking about?” Rowe asked.

  “You cut me out of everything. You leave me out and shove me aside. This is my restaurant,” Ian said, tapping his chest with his index finger. “You leave me out in the name of protecting me, but you never do that when it comes to Snow, Lucas, or Rowe. Or even any of your spouses. You’re all right in the middle of the shit and explosions.”

  “But you’ve never trained for that,” Snow countered.

  “Neither has Jude.”

  Snow sighed. “And I pray that he’s never in the middle of the shit and explosions ever again.”

  “Whatever. And I don’t want to hear any more of that Army training crap from you two,” Ian said, pointing the knife in his right hand at Lucas and Snow. “It has been decades since either one of you was in the Army.”

  Ian stood with his hands pressed into the center island counter, watching as the four other men in the room exchanged looks. Oh, Ian knew he had them trapped between a rock and a hard place. He welcomed their attempts to wiggle out. They weren’t going to work. Not this time.

  “Ian, we’re just trying to keep you safe. After everything that you’ve been through—” Lucas started, but Ian simply shook his head.

  “This isn’t just an attack on your restaurant any longer. Someone came here and physically attacked you,” Snow picked up when Lucas fell silent.

  “You need a fucking bodyguard with you again,” Rowe growled. “I’ll check the roster. I’m sure—”

  “No! Absolutely not!”

  “And an upgrade to the security system,” Noah said. “I don’t remember if we’ve got a camera that has a good view of this rear door and the driveway.”

  Rowe nodded. “At the very least, we need to make sure that everything is still recording even when the system is disengaged, just in case we get another smart asshole on Ian’s tail.”

  “No more food for any of you!” Ian shouted above the talking.

  The response was absolute silence for several seconds.

  Lucas was the first to find his voice after that stunning announcement. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re all banned. If the only thing you value me for is my cooking, then you’re cut off if you aren’t going to treat me like an equal in this family.”

  They all started to argue with him at once, but their words stopped when he held up his hands. “I’m serious. I get it. The Jagger shit and my past, it’s bad. Really fucking bad. Years and years of therapy bad, but I’m not an invalid. I’m not so fragile that I’m going to break when things go sideways. If you guys try to exclude me from shit on this, I will cut you all off. No more Rialto food. No more surprise lunches.” He paused and looked over at Rowe. “And I’m definitely not cooking Thanksgiving.”

  The deafening silence in the room was broken by clapping. Ian twisted around to find Hollis standing in the doorway, a lazy grin on his face.

  “Proud of you, babe,” Hollis said before squeezing between Rowe and Snow to reach Ian.

  Ian let Hollis’s arms engulf him, pulling him in tight. He could feel the tension trembling in his body despite the smile on his face. He’d been worried and it was only now that Hollis was holding him that his husband could find some relief.

  “I’m okay. I promise. Just a conk on the head. Nothing more,” Ian murmured over and over again. He tried to be strong, but Ian couldn’t deny the tremor in his own voice as he spoke. There was a bundle of fears he wasn’t dealing with yet and probably wouldn’t until he and Hollis were alone that night.

  “Ian,” Snow said softly, drawing Ian’s head from Hollis’s chest to look at the surgeon. “We are sorry we made you feel like you weren’t an equal part of this family. We never meant to do that to you.”

  A lump of old pain and new joy grew in Ian’s throat as he released Hollis and walked over to Snow, grabbing him in a tight hug. “I know.”

  Lucas added, “We want to keep you safe, and we tend to take it overboard when it comes to you…because of Jagger.”

  Ian turned and hugged Lucas. He hated that he’d hurt them, but this conversation had been a long time coming. They were spending far too much time trying to protect him and not enough actually including him in on the crazy things in their lives. He was tired of feeling like an outsider.

  “And while we love your cooking, we love you more,” Rowe said. “If I’ve got to choose between never having your cooking and keeping you safe, I’ll always choose your safety.”

  Ian moved to Rowe and hugged the grumbly lunatic, then pulled Noah in for good measure.

  This was his family. He knew they loved him and would do anything for him, but they also needed to let him take the same risks and chances they took.

  Ian stepped away from Rowe and wiped his eyes, feeling relief and maybe a little silly.

  “Now that we’ve got that out of the way,” Ia
n said with a laugh.

  “How do you want to handle this?” Lucas asked, and Ian couldn’t deny that the question felt great. They were willing to leave things in his hands.

  Ian walked back over to where Hollis was standing by the center island, a questioning look in his dark eyes. Ian leaned against Hollis, inwardly smiling when his husband pulled him in tight. They were a single unit. Just how he wanted it.

  “Right now, Hollis and I are following a few leads. Gidget is looking at people who’ve visited the restaurant. Quinn is trying to track the person behind the bad reviews. And Hollis is digging into my last disgruntled employee.”

  “Sounds like a good start,” Rowe said with a nod.

  “What are you doing about your safety?” Snow pressed.

  “Until now…not much,” Ian admitted. “But until now, everything was directed at the restaurant. I’ll admit that I was kind of wondering if I wasn’t the target. If maybe someone on my staff was the real target.”

  “But now we have proof that this person is out to hurt you. And not just financially or your business reputation. This was an attack at our home on you.” Hollis’s arms tightened around Ian as he spoke, his voice growing more urgent.

  “I know. But I still don’t want a bodyguard.”

  Noah took a step forward, one hand outstretched toward Ian. “Would you at least consider letting us look at the security system? See if there’s something more we can do or add to make sure you’re better protected?”

  “Yes, that would be fine.” Ian could at least agree to that for both of them. While Ian might be the ultimate target, he wouldn’t put it past this person to threaten Hollis with harm if it meant hurting Ian.

  “And maybe stop back in for a refresher on self-defense.”

  Ian narrowed his eyes on Noah. “You’re pushing your luck.”

  “If not for yourself, then do it for Hollis. The poor guy is just starting to enjoy married life.”

  Ian groaned. “Fine. Two self-defense sessions at Ward Security just to brush up.”

  Hollis tightened his arms around Ian and lowered his head, brushing his lips across the edge of his ear. “Thank you, baby.”

  Ian closed his eyes and pushed down a sigh. Anything for Hollis. If it made Hollis happy, he’d do it. And it probably was a smart idea to knock some of the rust off his skills.

  “So the plan is to let you follow up your leads, and we’re going to wait until you need us?” Lucas asked.

  “Yes. We’ve got this for now. Oh! And Snow needs to plan his own damn wedding. I’ve got enough to do.”

  Snow’s mouth dropped open while Rowe and Noah nearly fell into each other laughing.

  “What? Jude and I are totally planning the wedding on our own,” Snow argued.

  Lucas placed a hand on Snow’s shoulder. “You’re texting all of us. Even me. I’m sure Ian’s getting the most. You’re outsourcing your wedding and afraid to commit to any decisions.”

  At least Snow had the good grace to blush a little.

  “Go! Get out of my kitchen while I cook,” Ian said with a laugh. “Go figure out Snow’s wedding while I make food.”

  With some grumbling, the quartet relocated to Ian’s living room while Hollis lingered behind.

  “Do you have to return to Shane and the case?”

  “I should. I hate to leave him shorthanded and without backup, but I had to hold you to make sure you’re fine.”

  Ian lifted up on the tips of his toes and lightly kissed Hollis again and again until his lover grabbed him and deepened the kiss to something desperate and hungry. When they parted a minute later, Hollis hummed and gave him a slightly wicked grin.

  “Oh, you’re so fine,” Hollis purred.

  “And I’ll be happy to prove how fine I am to you later. For now, go back to Shane. I’ve got plenty of company to keep me safe tonight.”

  Hollis cupped the side of Ian’s face, rubbing his thumb across his cheek. “I know you find it annoying, but they really are trying to keep you safe.”

  “I know.”

  Hollis kissed the tip of his nose. “Sometimes it sucks to have so many people love you,” he teased and then left through the door again.

  Ian smiled to himself, instantly missing the feel of Hollis against him. The smell of his cologne lingered in the air, and Ian wanted to wrap himself in it. His husband was right. He might chafe under their overprotectiveness, but it all came from a place of love.

  Chapter Nine

  Hot water pounded down on Hollis’s head as he closed his eyes and leaned into the stream. He braced both hands on the tile and rolled his shoulders, hoping the water would take away some of the stress eating him alive. He’d spent the evening in a surveillance van with Shane when all he’d wanted to do was be home with Ian. He needed to find out who was out to get Rialto.

  No, that wasn’t quite right anymore.

  Someone was out to get Ian. Tonight’s attack had been intensely personal. His hands closed into fists as he thought of how much worse it could have been. What if that person had hit him more than once? He imagined Ian lying alone and dying on the kitchen floor. His heart clenched, panic clawing at his insides. Ian was his whole damn world, and the thought of losing him terrified Hollis.

  And all this right on the heels of seeing one of Jagger’s enforcers.

  Ian wasn’t completely safe.

  While Hollis understood Ian’s frustration with everyone treating him like a kid, he couldn’t help but want to take care of him. He’d liked the idea of a bodyguard, dammit. But he also understood how Ian felt, and he had the utmost respect for those feelings. Still, he was walking on a fine line here and he hated it.

  He growled and turned under the spray, opening his eyes when a gust of cool air hit him as Ian stepped into the shower with him, naked.

  “I’m okay. Wanna see?” His smile was warm but his brown eyes held concern. He brought his slim body close, his hands on Hollis’s hips. “I figured you’d be in here, worrying. You tend to take extra-long showers when you do.”

  “How’s your head?” He kissed Ian’s temple.

  “Just a slight ache, nothing really all that painful.” He tightened his fingers on Hollis’s hips. “My dinner with the boys turned out nice once they all calmed down.”

  Hollis ran his hands up Ian’s shoulders and cupped his neck. “I’m so pissed this happened to you in our home.”

  “I know, but there’s nothing you can do about it now.”

  “Oh, there’s plenty I can do. Ian, I liked the idea of you having a bodyguard.”

  “Hell, no. The last thing I want is another one of those following me around. Rowe is upping the security system, and I’ll just have to be more vigilant when I’m coming and going, that’s all. Pay attention to my surroundings. Not get lost in my thoughts. You know…like normal people.” He smoothed his palms up Hollis’s chest, curling his fingers in the hair. “I don’t want you to start getting overprotective again. We’ll figure out who’s doing this.”

  “You bet your ass we will.”

  Hollis picked up the body wash and started soaping Ian, his dick hardening as he ran his palms over the lissome body of his husband. He had no intention of doing anything about it though, not when Ian’s head probably hurt more than he was letting on.

  But Ian had other ideas as he wrapped his fingers around Hollis’s cock. “I need you tonight,” he said softly.

  Hollis shook his head even as he gasped at Ian’s grip. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t. We can take it slow and easy, but I want to feel you in me. Want to feel safe and loved.”

  “You are so loved, Ian Banner. More than you can possibly imagine.”

  “Show me.”

  They got out of the shower and dried off. Hollis watched Ian the whole time, loving the lean lines of his body. He was so damn sexy, he took Hollis’s breath away. When he held out his hand, Hollis took it and followed him into their bedroom. Ian let go, turned on a lamp, and crawl
ed onto the bed, his gorgeous, round ass on display. He looked at Hollis over his shoulder and the come-hither smile on his face reeled Hollis in. His feelings for the man were this tangled mass of lust and love and appreciation that swelled in his chest and threatened to steal his breath. But he also felt worry over Ian’s injury and he hesitated.

  Then Ian stretched out flat on the bed on his stomach and slowly spread his legs, revealing that dusky, pink hole.

  Hollis grabbed the lube and dropped it onto the comforter. He crawled behind Ian and stared at the beauty before him and wanted his mouth all over him. He started with Ian’s calves, kissing them, enjoying the soft hair, then nibbled on the sensitive skin behind his knees before moving up to knead the taut, round globes of his ass. He kissed the dimples right over his cheeks and nuzzled up his spine until he reached the back of his neck.

  “So fucking hot,” he whispered into Ian’s ear before he nipped it. He was careful around his head, still worried about jostling him too much.

  Ian turned so they could kiss. He pressed against Hollis, his body feeling wonderful underneath him. Muscles shifted under sleek skin.

  “How’s your head, baby?” He kissed his nape.

  “We can take this slow and I’ll be fine. Need you.”

  Hollis came up to his knees, gaze roaming the body spread out before him. He reached down and spread Ian’s cheeks, further revealing the tight hole he couldn’t wait to be inside. But first, he wanted his tongue there.

  “Yeah,” Ian breathed.

  He licked around it slowly, then speared his tongue inside, tasting soap from their shower and the unique flavor that was all Ian’s. He kneaded the globes of Ian’s ass as he moved his tongue in and out. Ian shoved up into Hollis’s mouth, crying out. Listening to his husband made the sweetest sensation move through Hollis’s heart. He’d never get enough of Ian as long as he lived.