Dirty Games

by HelenKay Dimon

  “No.” Finn reached out and grabbed Justin’s arm. He held on even though his grip stayed loose, as if he didn’t have the strength to close his hand.

  “You’ll be here. I’ll be here.” Justin glanced at Kit. “The doctor will watch over you, and that’s the end of that conversation.”

  “You need to run the camp.”

  “You’re more important.” Justin ignored the stares from around the room and how right the words sounded in his head. He focused all his attention on Finn’s tired eyes and the way his body now slumped.

  Justin predicted they had about five minutes before Finn passed out from the mix of exhaustion and medication. At least he hoped that was true.

  He wrapped his fingers around Finn’s elbows, careful not to touch any of Kit’s handiwork, and lowered Finn down to the cot. “You’re going to sleep. We’ll move this curtain out a bit and drag another cot in so I’ll be right here.”

  Not that he intended to sleep. But Justin would be right there, ready to step in. To throw his body over Finn’s if needed. Because at some point over the last week, or maybe, if he were honest about it, during the last few years, Finn ceased just being the guy Justin wanted in his bed. He saw Finn and wanted more. Spent time with Finn and now fought to make it last longer. The initial attraction had grown into this pounding need to get to the next time.

  Justin couldn’t really deal with what that meant. All he knew was that they were too connected for him to walk away. Finn needed him, even if he wasn’t awake enough to realize it.

  Just as Justin thought it, Finn’s body grew heavier. He must have realized it was time to give in, because instead of fighting back or launching into the ten reasons why he was fine, Finn nodded. His body leaned to one side and Justin eased him the rest of the way down until his head hit the pillow. Finn’s eyes closed a second later.

  Justin felt rather than heard a person standing next to him. He glanced up as Kit put her hand on his shoulder.

  “This could have been so much worse,” she said.

  The memory of the headlights came zipping back to Justin. The crack of the impact. The screech of metal on metal. The way Finn’s head whipped around. Justin was pretty sure all of that would haunt his sleep for a very long time.

  “Someone did this on purpose.” No one asked, but Justin needed to say the words. This was intentional and Finn could have been killed. Justin still wondered if that was the goal.

  “Wait.” Ty sounded confused. “You’re saying that but do you know it to be true?”

  Justin waited until the nurse he didn’t know finished checking one of Finn’s bandages. The rings of the curtain slid against the metal bar as she opened and closed them again, leaving Justin alone with Kit and Ty.

  “The car aimed right for us.” Justin’s mind traveled back to what one of the guys said at the scene. “It didn’t even try to stop before it crashed into our car.”

  Ty whistled. “Damn.”

  “That’s awful.” Kit shook her head. “Why would someone want to hurt all of you?” Her gaze moved to Finn’s still form. “Or hurt him specifically?”

  “A money thing?” Ty asked.

  That’s exactly what Justin wanted to know. “Not sure, but I’m going to find out.”

  Two hours later, in the dead of the night, Oliver showed up. “What the hell is going on?”

  They’d been texting back and forth. Justin knew Oliver planned to check on everything at the camp, increase security, then put one of their most trusted assistants in charge.

  “Even I’m starting to think this is too much of a coincidence.” Justin sat on his bed with his legs over the side, staring at Finn’s still form. He’d been out since he lay down. Kit insisted the pain meds she gave him would keep him down.

  “Damn.”

  “I need to figure out what Finn was working on today.” Maybe that would give him a clue. Really, Justin was willing to try anything. He’d even called Alec and endured his yelling for ten minutes.

  Oliver came to a stop on the far side of Finn’s bed. He paused and looked over at Justin. “What are you saying?”

  “It’s possible someone thinks Finn is here investigating and found evidence, or is close.”

  “Okay, I understand the frustration of so many close calls.” Oliver took a quick look at Finn again. “But what happened tonight still could be an accident.”

  He didn’t even sound convincing.

  “Do you believe that?” Justin asked.

  Oliver shook his head. “I’m trying not to take on your paranoia.”

  But Justin sensed it was too late. From Oliver’s frown and the concerned expression, it was clear he, too, knew whatever was happening here tied back to Finn in some way. This could be the start of a kidnapping plan or a cover-up of the shipment problems. In all of those scenarios, Finn was not safe, and Justin hated that.

  “You know what this means, right? We’re going to have to go through every single piece of paper again, all of the emails. Interview, with some tact, anyone close to the camp or related to the charity or the transportation of our supplies.”

  “That’s a shitload of work.” Finn mumbled the response.

  Justin wanted to be angry that he was awake, but the sound of Finn’s voice provided too much relief to leave room for anger. “I thought you were sleeping,” Justin said.

  “In and out.” Finn’s eyes opened then. The light wasn’t bright but he squinted as if it hurt.

  “Go back to sleep.” Justin started to get up. “We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

  Finn reached out his hand. He grabbed air but he didn’t lower it. “No.”

  “Look…” Justin knew he shouldn’t, even with the privacy curtain pulled around them, but he did it anyway. He reached out and held Finn’s hand. “I’ll call Alec and—”

  “I know you wanted him here instead of me.” Finn’s words slurred.

  “Then but not now. I’ve decided you’re the right Drummond brother.” In every fucking way, which scared Justin like little else had.

  Oliver made a humming sound. “Interesting.”

  Being attracted from afar had been safe. Nothing could happen. Justin could fantasize, get angry, call Finn names in his head, put him down for being a spoiled rich boy. But real life turned out to be much more complicated. Finn wasn’t the empty suit Justin thought he would be. That sucked, because maybe he could have gotten over his attraction if Finn had turned out to be that guy.

  This Finn, the decent and loyal one, had Justin wanting to know more. The Finn who loved his family and had suffered emotional heartache. The one who seemed genuinely worried about the charity and the people it served. The guy who could kiss and fuck beyond Justin’s wild expectations. This Finn brought Justin to his knees and Justin had no idea how to handle it.

  “You know we have a bigger problem,” Oliver said into the quiet space.

  “Fill me in.” Because Justin was happy to have anything to take his attention away from Finn and his glassy-eyed stare.

  “Finn has two people circling him all the time.” Oliver hesitated, which was not his usual style. He rarely had trouble saying exactly what he meant. “Despite that, attackers have been able to get near you both.”

  “Rania and Karim? What exactly are you saying?” But Justin knew.

  “I think you know.”

  “No way.” Justin couldn’t see them being involved at all. Their reputations were solid.

  “I’m still alive, so they’re doing their jobs.” Finn’s voice started to trail off near the end, as if his energy reserves were running low.

  Oliver frowned at Finn, likely because he refused to just go back to sleep. “You said we needed to investigate everything and everyone. That includes them.”

  “Under that theory, I should be your…” Finn’s eyes closed and hi
s voice died out.

  Okay, that was enough. Justin let go of Finn’s hand and placed it on the bed. “Finn?”

  “Prime suspect.” Finn’s voice was so low now, almost a whisper. “I showed up and the issues started.”

  Justin didn’t understand where he was finding the strength to talk. He was hopped up on meds and exhausted. It was the middle of the night. Even the medical tent was calm. Only a few people walked around on the other side of the curtain and most of the other patients were already asleep.

  Ignoring Oliver and the possibility anyone could walk in, Justin leaned in closer to Finn and brushed a hand over his forehead. “I’ve cleared you.”

  “Since when?”

  Pretty much right from the beginning, but Justin didn’t feel like sharing that. “All that matters is I did.”

  Finn smiled without opening his eyes. “Keep this up and I might think you like me.”

  Justin hoped that’s all it was. “Don’t get cocky.”

  Chapter 14

  Finn was done being a patient. He remembered arriving at Kit’s clinic and how she’d knocked him out last night. He had vague memories of talking with Justin. Maybe Oliver showed up? Honestly, Finn couldn’t testify to any of it.

  This morning he picked achy over loopy from medication. Justin grumbled about the choice and stormed off. It took three more hours to convince Kit and her people that he could go. Even then, Justin insisted Finn stay close. Which was how Finn got stuck sleeping on Justin’s bed at the camp all afternoon.

  The pillow smelled like Justin. The mix of mint and something else that came from his shampoo. It was a scent Finn now associated with Justin. But even that didn’t prevent the tweak in his back due to inactivity.

  With a groan, he threw his legs over the side of the bed. His tight muscles protested and his head started to pound the second he lifted it off the bed. He winced, half closing his eyes against the sunshine streaming in the small window near the top of the tent.

  He grabbed the bottle from the stand next to the bed and swallowed two pills. They’d slow him down, keep that fuzzy feeling in his head, but at least he’d be able to physically function. With this newest accident, he couldn’t afford to take time away from the shipping issue. Too many things were happening too fast and he was pretty sure he was unwittingly at the center of it.

  He’d reviewed documents. Five drivers were approved to move Drummond shipments. All were on Billy’s payroll. None of them drove for all the missing and shorted shipments. Three different drivers were at the wheel on those occasions.

  Finn examined every manifest and every line, looking for a pattern. He didn’t see one. Nothing in the drivers’ records suggested their pasts were of concern. Alec was searching financial records and running advanced background checks. If there was anything interesting to find there, he’d do it.

  The only interesting note Finn found was a reference to a complaint against one of the men for reckless driving that Ty had filed more than a year ago. When Finn sent a message to Ty, pretending it was an insurance issue, Ty insisted he’d worked it out directly with Billy and the driver had been fine since.

  Finn wasn’t sure where that left him, but he sensed he was missing something. The clue sat right there and he couldn’t see it.

  But right now he needed to move around before the stiffness in his body became permanent. He shifted his shoulder, testing to see if he could move it without yelling. One inch too far and he gasped, and he decided that was good enough. Getting to his feet took another few minutes. He managed it but even he had to admit those five steps to the door of Justin’s tent took longer than they should have.

  He got the whole way outside without running into trouble. As soon as the door swung shut behind him, he remembered his wallet and phone. Both sat in the drawer of that stand next to Justin’s bed.

  “Damn.” He pivoted too quickly and lost his balance. Had to grab onto the side of the tent for support. “Damn.”

  “What are you doing?”

  Finn winced at the sound of Justin’s booming voice as it rose above the steady noise of people walking in and around the camp. Most of those people pretended not to hear Justin. Pretended and failed, because they slowed their steps and shot quick peeks in their direction. Nothing subtle about that.

  Justin stepped in front of him with Billy at his side. Now, there was a surprise. The shipment guy showing up at camp. Finn thought about Billy and Billy appeared. Lucky them. Finn had to wonder if that was a regular occurrence. He guessed not.

  “You look like shit,” Billy said with his usual lack of tact.

  Finn wasn’t in the mood. He debated firing back with a smartass response but then he took a good look at Justin. Dark circles under his eyes. Messed-up hair, as if he’d been running his fingers through it. Looked like he’d had a rough night. On the drive back to camp earlier, Justin insisted he was fine. Now Finn wondered if he should have pushed for more answers.

  Ignoring Billy, Finn focused on Justin. “I thought you weren’t hurt.”

  “I just got knocked around. You got the brain scramble.”

  As far as answers went, that one didn’t say much. Finn decided to let the topic drop until they were alone.

  “I hear trouble is following you no matter where you go,” Billy said.

  Apparently, Billy planned to throw out these gems until Finn punched him. That was the only explanation Finn could come up with for this conversation. “Excuse me?”

  Billy’s smile widened. “The joke is, every time you leave the camp disaster follows you.”

  “Someone finds that funny?” Justin asked.

  The question seemed to sober Billy up a little, but not much. “Hey, don’t get pissed. Just an observation. The boss here arrives at camp and there’s a shooting.”

  “The first night?” Finn stretched and immediately regretted it. Pain raced across his shoulder and down his arm. He had to clench his teeth together to keep from groaning. “That had something to do with animals.”

  “Did it?” Billy looked at Finn then. “That story didn’t strike you as odd?”

  Yes, but there was no way Finn would admit that now. He wanted to talk all this through with Justin. Oliver could be there. Billy would not be a participant. There was only so much asshole interference Finn could tolerate, and Billy tested that limit.

  But Billy wasn’t done sharing his annoying insights. His glance shifted from Justin to Finn. “But it’s just the start. You go to Tangier and there’s an explosion.” Billy switched his gaze back to Justin. “He drives over to the coast and you get into an accident.”

  Justin shook his head. “Coincidence.”

  That was the key word. Finn knew Justin wasn’t any more impressed with the idea of happenstance than he was. He joined in the silent agreement not to act concerned in front of Billy. “Exactly.”

  Billy’s smile came back. “Son, people are starting to think you’re cursed.”

  His voice sounded amused but Finn couldn’t figure out what was funny about this conversation. “You know I’m only ten years younger than you, right?”

  “You’re talking numbers. I’m talking experience.”

  Finn would have bet money Billy would say something smarmy like that. Good thing he was ready for it. “Any chance you have something to do with these dangerous situations?”

  Billy’s body stilled. “You trying to say something?”

  “I think I just did.”

  Justin frowned. “Finn—”

  Billy talked right over Justin, his attention never wavering from Finn. “You got balls. I’ll give you credit for that.”

  The watered-down compliment sounded like an avoidance tactic to Finn. “Is that your answer?”

  “If you’re asking if I think everyone out here should have weapons, that this be a fair fight? You’re dam
n right I do.” Billy didn’t bother to lower his voice as he delivered his speech. People walked by, no one was pretending to ignore them. “These folks need to be able to protect themselves. Giving them temporary tents doesn’t mean shit if they can’t relocate to somewhere safe. And how do you make a place safe?”

  Dizzy and half doubled over from pain, Finn was tired of this conversation. Fuck this guy. “You don’t hand them guns.” Seemed simple enough to Finn.

  “Wrong answer.” Billy let out a derisive snort before looking at Justin. “You know what I’m talking about.”

  “So, you think it’s okay if some of the charity trucks were diverted and traded for guns?” The knocking in Finn’s head grew louder, but he blocked it out. Ignored the stares of people passing by. Shut out the sounds of the camp. Didn’t even look at Justin for fear he’d show some sign of agreeing with Billy’s priorities.

  Billy gave Finn a who-cares shrug. “Not my business.”

  “Are you sure?” And that was exactly the point. Finn was pretty clear it was.

  Billy’s head fell to the side. He studied Finn with a blank expression. “See, that sounds like an accusation.”

  “Pretend it was.”

  “I don’t care if your billion-dollar company has to call your insurance company to be reimbursed. So long as people get services—and Justin is the one here making sure they do—then everything is fine.”

  Justin took a step forward then. He stood closer to Billy. “Maybe we should—”

  “Oh, I see your boss’s face.” Billy stared Finn down. “All judgmental. It’s amazing how the guys who sit behind the desk think they know better than the guys on the ground.”

  The verbal shot landed. Finn knew he had vulnerable spots. Rather than get spun up or pissed off, he tried to use Billy’s anger against him. “So, if you say it’s fine to trade arms for food, then it is?”

  Billy looked as if he wanted to say something but his mouth snapped shut. He stayed that way for about a minute before talking again. “You’re not hanging this on me. And I don’t care what you think. I came to see Justin. Without you.”