by Sara York
"Almost no one knows what you do, who made you?"
"Someone who used to work here. Look, I'm really tired and I need to sleep. I'll debrief you in the morning."
Roger didn't know why he did it, but Grant was in his arms, his head cradled against Roger's neck before he had time to think about the implications of what he'd done. It took Grant almost five seconds before he relaxed and returned the hug. They stayed like that for a long time, Grant huffing out his breath like he was crying but no words were exchanged.
Eventually, Grant pulled away and went to his room, not looking back once. Roger entered his own room and fell into the bed, closing his eyes and drifting off without any trouble.
Duff hadn't slept well either. Earlier, he'd gone downstairs and found Roger asleep in front of the TV. He'd switched off the device, hoping not to wake the man. Now, with Grant home early, he wished Roger were already in bed. That Roger hadn't slept well since Grant had left hadn't escaped him. He wondered what that was about. Of course, he had found them in bed together already. It did surprise him that Grant hadn't said anything, but then again, they'd gotten busy with the new mission.
Grant knew better than to fuck around, he only hoped Roger wasn't getting too attached. The cord that bound Craig and Grant together may be stretched to its max but it wasn't broken. He listened to Grant and Roger, knowing exactly who had made him the minute Grant uttered the words. Craig was back. Grant didn't need this trouble.
Maybe Craig would behave. He'd shocked Duff when he left the ranch the way he had. Everything had been going well then boom, Craig was angry, yelling about not having any control and stormed out. They changed all the security codes, phone numbers, and passwords, making it impossible for Craig to return without the entire ranch being alerted.
In the morning, he and Grant would have a long discussion, right now he needed to figure out where Craig Jenkins was and if he'd be any trouble for them. Duff headed to the control room and logged into their secure network. Craig Jenkins had disappeared after leaving the ranch. Duff had tracked him for about four days, then he went dark. Honestly, he never thought he'd hear from Craig again.
They'd made a mistake bringing him in. Duff hadn't seen the signs until it was too late. Now, they spent more time analyzing the men before they brought them to Wild Bluff. The months at the preparation facility were crucial, the psychological profile more intense than before. Grant was golden. Based on his profile, he was the best man here. Roger's profile had him coming in a close second to Grant. The others were better men than anyone would ever find on any battlefield or in any boardroom. They were honest to a fault, always on the side of justice, and amazingly talented. That he had them at Wild Bluff, fighting for good and defeating evil, still amazed him.
When he'd been approached about the idea, he'd insisted that they only take on those men who outshone the rest. He never dreamt he would be rewarded with the real elites. That most of them happened to be gay surprised him. He'd served for years in the Marines, back when gays were despised, some killed for their orientation. Now he saw things differently, wondering how many good men had been discounted because they liked other men. He'd made mistakes but Wild Buff wasn't one of them. Craig hadn't turned out the way he hoped and that pissed him off.
Duff spent a few hours going through the system, searching for Craig. Finally, after a few hours, he found an alias he thought was Craig. He hacked into the hotel computer, finding their video stream. Sure enough, after five minutes he spied Craig. The man looked good as ever, his classic looks drawing the stares of those near him. Duff gambled that the man's winning smile still got him things he didn't deserve.
The door opened behind him and Billy stumbled in with a cup of coffee in his hand, the scent reaching Duff long before Billy saw him. "Oh, hey, sorry. I was just—Is that Craig?"
This wasn't going to be a secret for long. He couldn’t count on the guys keeping quiet about him finding Craig or Grant seeing Craig. They were a family and though they kept their relationships as professional as possible, they would talk amongst themselves, gossiping worse than a bunch of teen girls after a party on a Saturday night.
Duff sighed. "Go grab me a cup of coffee. Do you have time for a bit of consulting?"
"Consulting? Duff, this sounds serious."
"It is and it isn't. Just grab me a cup and we'll talk." Duff loved Billy like a son. He respected all the men, but Billy was too much like his Davis, leaving him feeling familiar when he shouldn't. Duff needed to take a break and visit Davis in Seattle. His only child had lived the military life, choosing Army so he would never serve under his father, then leaving after eight years. He said he loved being a solider, but he needed to be himself. Duff said he understood at the time but he didn't. Davis had turned out fine though Duff had been absent most of his life. He regretted it now that he saw how cool Billy was. Christmas a few years back, he'd tried hanging out with Davis, it hadn't worked out the way he'd hoped. There was something Davis wasn't telling him and he sure as hell wasn't going to pry. If Davis decided to tell him one day, he'd happily listen.
The scent of coffee hit Duff before he saw Billy come through the door. The aroma was almost an aphrodisiac, making his head spin as he waited for the coffee to be poured. Billy set the extra cup down on the table at the front of the room and began to pour. Duff came up behind him, waiting for Billy to finish before he patted him on the back.
"I'm glad you decided to join us."
Billy picked up his cup of coffee and smiled over the rim. "Nowhere else I'd rather be. This is home now."
Duff almost said something about Tucker but he didn't want to pry. Eventually the pair would come to him, telling their story and how they'd paired up. He'd known Billy was in love with the other man for a long time and was happy for them.
"Grant came back last night." Duff took his cup of coffee to his seat, ignoring the worried look on Billy's face. That Billy said nothing spoke volumes about his maturity. He took a seat near Duff and started up one of the computers. "I didn't get a chance to talk to him when he came in, but from what I overheard, I think he ran into Craig."
"Shit." Billy shook his head and mumbled something.
"You never liked Craig, did you?"
"No, sir. Craig seemed to not like Marshal. I didn't get it at first, but the few times I was on a mission with Craig, he had an attitude that I didn't like."
"I wish you would have said something."
"I had my own things to deal with and he'd been here longer than I had."
Duff stayed silent, only lifting a brow to open the conversation. Billy didn't bite, instead he turned to his computer and signed into a secure session. "What are you doing up so early?"
"Couldn't sleep with the guys dark on a mission. I was planning on checking on the news but this thing with Craig is troublesome."
"Tell me why you think it's troublesome."
Billy sat back, sipping at his coffee. The look on his face was a cross between thoughtfulness and disgust. "First thought, you know, just throwing things out there, I have to ask, was Craig part of the bombing?"
"What?" Duff jumped up then sat down. Anger exploded inside, quickly replaced by an overwhelming need to prove Billy's accusation wrong. "What the hell?"
"First thing that popped in my mind."
"Good Lord. Do you really think he would have done that? I mean, really? They killed children." Duff drank more of his coffee then stood, heading to the carafe to pour up more but he didn't make it there, instead he spun around to face Billy. "You," he pointed, stalking forward, "figure this out. Craig knows explosives and we need to figure this out now. Every available resource—use it. Go wake up Zander and Roger. They're both explosive experts. I need you to run lead on this. Figure it out. Every resource, don't leave anything to chance."
"Yes, sir."
"And Billy, don't say anything to Grant about that yet. I want to break it to him."
"You can count on me."
Duff plopped
down in his chair, staring at the image of Craig. "You'd best hope we don't find anything incriminating." The coffee tasted sour now, not because there was anything wrong with it, but he'd lost his taste for everything, even life.
Chapter Eleven
Billy tapped on Zander's door, waiting for him to groan or mumble, anything indicating he was awake. He knocked again, trying to stay quiet.
A muted "fuck," seeped through the door. Billy knocked again. "Crap, can't you leave me alone?" The door was pulled open to a very ruffled Zander holding a pair of shorts over his crotch.
Billy's whole body heated and he turned around. "I need you in the command center. I've got an extra pot of coffee going. It's going to be a long day."
"Fuck." Zander shut his door and Billy heard him rummaging around in his room.
Billy moved on quickly, heading to the other end of the house to wake Roger. He tapped on the door, hoping Grant didn't hear and come out. Explaining to Grant that he thought Craig, his ex, could be involved in the bombing would be impossible. After another soft knock, Billy opened the door just an inch, praying Roger at least had on underwear.
"Roger…Roger wake up."
"Huh?"
Billy rolled his eyes. He hated waking people like this. Yelling and screaming like his sergeant at boot camp was so much easier. "Wake up," he whispered loudly.
Roger flicked on his bedside light and Billy slammed his eyes shut and backed out of the room a bit.
"I need you in the command center," he said through a crack in the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Billy. Duff and I need to see you there. Zander will be in there with us. Don't wake up Grant."
"M'k. He got in late, probably tired."
"I've got coffee. We'll have some sort of food eventually."
"K. I'm up."
Billy shut the door and waited until he heard Roger moving around in his room. Before heading into the control room, he swung by the kitchen and pulled a batch of Duff's cinnamon rolls out of the freezer, tossing them in the oven with the timer on fifteen minutes.
Duff still looked upset. Zander hadn't shown up yet but there were two more coffee cups and another carafe along with their chilled creamer picture. Two of their smaller worktables had been pushed together to create one big table and laptop computers had been moved along with a printer. They had everything they needed to work for hours.
"Thanks for arranging a work area for us."
"No problem." Duff gave Billy a printout. "These are all the places I can track Craig's alias to. We need to figure out if he was really there. We need to find out what type of bomb they used. Everything. We have to know if this was Craig."
"Craig?" Zander stumbled in and made a beeline straight for the coffee.
Billy's phone buzzed, indicating that the rolls were done. On his way out the door he ran into Roger carrying the pan of rolls and four plates. "Oh good, you've got them."
"They smelled too good. Just pulled them out."
"Come on in and I'll shut this." Billy glanced down the hall before closing the door. They were alone, for now. Once the house got buzzing, they'd notice the four of them were missing. He wondered if Duff would inform the men what they were in for. He glanced at the man and lifted his brows, but Duff sat down and waved him to the front of the room.
"Everyone have coffee?" Billy asked.
"Yeah, what's this about?" Zander grumbled as he slouched in his chair, his eyes only half open. He wasn't a morning person when he woke to his own alarm, waking him early had very adverse effects on his mood.
"Grant came home early," Billy said, his gaze sliding from Roger to Zander.
Zander sat up, his lazy demeanor gone. "I'm all yours. Tell me everything."
Billy smiled and glanced at Roger, wondering if the man would be as interested. He was glad Zander had perked up and was ready to work hard.
"I talked to him last night when he came home. He was different." Roger picked up a cinnamon roll and plated it, passing the treat around the table.
"Different, how?" Zander asked.
"It's hard to explain." Roger poured himself a cup of coffee and grabbed the creamer, taking his time making his brew just right.
"Just say it, boy. I'll make it easier. Roger and Grant have already spent the night in the same room. I'm guessing since Grant saw Craig any budding feelings are gone."
Roger stiffened and turned slowly. "I might have slept in Craig's bed but we fell asleep talking about the bombing. We didn't have sex, kiss, or anything else you normally do when you sleep in someone's bed. We were both shocked in the morning when we woke and found the other person."
"Okay, obviously stuff is happening around this house that I have no idea about." Zander took a bite of the roll and moaned. "Damn, Duff these are so good."
"I didn't have sex with Grant, but there were…fuck, this is embarrassing."
"We're adults, spill." Billy leaned on the table, not at all liking the turn of events. He and Tucker would have to come clean soon and with Grant and Roger potentially messing around, it was a bit tricky.
"There were a few looks exchanged but we didn't take it past that. Anyway, last night he came home and was cold as a cucumber."
"A cucumber, that's funny, Roger."
"Zander, quit being so immature," Billy barked. "Go on, Roger."
"He's closed off and upset by what happened."
"I'm not happy that Craig was in London. We have information on an alias we're sure he's using. Here is a list Duff worked up showing a trail. We need to verify that trail. Roger, you and Zander work together to determine if the bomb in London that killed those kids was made by Craig."
"Fuck." Zander sat forward and dropped his head to the table. "No fucking way." He shook his head, mumbling denials as his ears turned red.
"Figure it out, Zander. Work the problem and leave emotions in the dust." Billy hated telling Zander what to feel or how to approach the problem, but they couldn't allow their feelings for Craig to color their next move.
"Do you keep a file on employees?" Roger asked.
"I don't think of you as employees, more like teammates." Duff stood and went to a file cabinet, pulling out a key and opening it. "I have Craig's file in here. There's more information in a database on my computer. I'll shoot you the file."
"Thanks." Roger wondered how many toes he was stepping on being matter-of-fact, but they didn't have time. Grant used to be with Craig and now they were investigating the man for a terribly heinous crime. Being so new, he felt a little odd investigating a person they called friend. If he found something they didn't like, they'd be pissed as hell.
The guys who lived with him at the ranch were specialist in more than just weapons. They were the best of the best and could easily take him out. He had to trust them, but he didn't know them, not really. Roger glanced around the room, making a quick study of each man. They were fierce, even Duff who was close to sixty. As a SEAL, he'd been surrounded by elite soldiers who could kick his ass if they'd wanted to, but being here at the ranch left him feeling inadequate.
"What are you thinking, son?" Duff asked.
Roger swallowed, and nodded to his computer. "I'm fine."
Duff stared at him for a long moment and Roger felt the heat of that look long after he went back reading the files. Zander had finally calmed enough to help by listing the explosives classes Craig had taken.
At seven, Tucker threw open the door, disturbing their quiet operation. "Oh hey, I was looking for Billy." He paused and glanced around the room. "Um, I guess I'll do your ranch work?"
Duff stood and stretched. "Are the rest of the guys up?"
"Yeah, we were all eating breakfast, wondering where you all were."
"Have you run in to Grant?" Duff asked.
"Grant, why would I—is he back?"
"I take that as a no. Tucker, could you make sure all the ranch work is completed?"
"Yes, sir. I'll take care of it."
Tucker's g
aze settled on Billy, his eyes narrowing, before he backed out of the room. Something was going on there, more than what he and Grant had which was absolutely nothing when you stepped back and took an appraising look. Sure, they'd spent the night in the same bed but all they'd done was sleep. He couldn’t count that as anything other than an accident. The look they'd exchanged, though intense, had just been a look, no more special than the idle perusal you'd get on a train or across a crowded restraint. Different circumstances might have presented an opportunity, but with Grant, that opportunity was gone before he even had it. They weren't ever going to get together because they just weren’t. He needed to forget he'd even exchanged that look with Grant because obviously it meant nothing to the man. But Billy and Tucker, they had something going on, that was easy to see. They may not have had sex yet but they were close.
Zander stood up and stretched. "I'll be back in just a few. I think I'm making progress. There is video footage of Craig near all of the locations we have his alias at. He was in Ireland two weeks before the bomb went off. I'll state it plainly. I don't like what I've found. I'd be happier if I never knew this about the man."
Duff drew in a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. "Let's all take five, but please, until we know more, say nothing to the rest of the guys. At noon, after they're done with the ranch work, I'll call a meeting and you all can present your findings."
*~*~*
The sweet summer scent of fresh grass, sun and the mountains mixed with the hay, leaving Tucker happier than he'd been in ages. Maybe it was Billy who had him thinking the world was full of sunshine and sugar. He laughed and tossed another bale of hay on the truck.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" Mike slung another bale on the pile then took off his gloves and wiped his face with a blue bandana.
"Nothing. Just loving the work."
"You're weird."
"What, don't you like being a part-time cowboy?"
Mike climbed down from the hayloft, swinging the last few steps to the ground. He landed with a thump and skidded a few steps before he caught himself. "Yeah, I like it fine. Better than being a grunt in the Army."