Oh, fuck, oh, fuck. He’s working a case.
Jesus, what should he do now? His whole body had stiffened, but that was okay, right? That would happen to anyone who got caught in some kind of clandestine gay shit. Stop, look, and listen. Calista was right and he’d gone to the wrong kindergarten.
“And what are we going to do with you?” The new guy tsked at Theo.
Theo calculated the odds and options. New guy was armed, but he didn’t seem so threatening. Koa hadn’t let his guard down.
Koa said, “What’s your damage? Gimme a minute to tell my boy here to take a hike, and—”
“You’re early, Mr. Ito. And things were just about to get interesting.” Another man stepped from behind one of the drapes like a magician. “It’s theatrical here, don’t you think? My family used to dress aristocratic brides, but now all this is such a waste. I’ve been dreaming about gutting the place since I was fifteen.”
He moved to the dais, sat, and clasped his leather-gloved hands in his lap. “Mr. Ito?”
Lights flickered on overhead—blinding, brilliant spotlights for the bride-to-be, Theo guessed, the kind that pick up every facet of a brand-new, expensive engagement ring. The man beneath them was in his midforties, Chinese, dressed beautifully in a lightweight navy suit, white shirt, and red patterned silk tie. He seemed like a banker except for the gloves. Light bounced off his shiny short hair.
“Koa Palapiti.” He gave a wave with his finger, as though he expected Koa to turn and display his suit. “Zhang Wei. I’ve heard tons about you.”
“I hope it was all good. I’d hate to have to kill somebody.” The two men laughed, and some small amount of tension eased. They switched to rapid Cantonese interspersed with pidgin. Theo picked out a few words here and there.
Koa, though. Totally. Different. Man. Two more people stepped into the room; one caught Theo’s attention because he’d seen him before—the weekend “helper” who pulled the gates closed on the liquor store. Oh man. Had he trespassed on this thing back then? Was that why Koa was acting so weird?
A little heads-up might have been nice.
The kid from the liquor store—everyone—focused on Zhang as he waxed nostalgic, or whatever, with Koa. That gave Theo an opportunity to look around. There wasn’t much to see. A building in disrepair. Places to hide. Broken glass to use as a weapon if necessary. He committed faces to memory to the best of his ability.
“Te?”
“Huh?” Theo blinked when Koa touched his arm.
“I said we’ve gotta go with Mr. Ito, here.” Brows furrowed, he added, “You okay?”
No, I’m not okay is what Theo would have said if they weren’t surrounded by bad actors in a not-play. No, I am not okay, I am apparently having my midlife crisis ten years too early.
But now was not the time. Now he had to put that self-help shit he’d been studying for years into play and go with the flow. You’ve got to ride the wave you’re on.
He asked himself, What would Mackenzie Detweiler do?
Talk, you idiot…. But he couldn’t manage a word. Terrified, he met Koa’s dark gaze. Koa caught his shoulders and gave him a slight, playful shake.
“Te? C’mon, boy. You with me or not?”
Theo made his feet move, and they followed this Mr. Ito, who looked nothing like any Ito Theo had ever met, which just went to show him, no stereotyping, but he couldn’t help himself. “Is your name really Mr. Ito?”
“In a way.” The man remained in profile, but he looked at Theo with one eye, like a shark, and Theo wished he hadn’t asked. “Name’s Carlito. Mr. Zhang thinks it’s funny to call me Mr. Ito because it’s one of the most common Japanese surnames, huh, boss. See, the funny part is, I’m not even Japanese.”
“That’s right,” Zhang agreed. “It’s hilarious shit.”
Carlito never took his eye off Theo. “Wait till you hear what the boss calls Kekoa there.”
Theo could wait, he was certain. Koa wrapped a reassuring hand around the back of his neck. He turned to show his gratitude, but Koa was looking ahead, at Carlito.
“Don’t terrorize my boo. He’s a thirsty kid who likes getting his ass striped. He’s not involved in my other shit, feel me?”
Theo frowned, because for reals now, Koa was out of his fucking mind. He was two months older than Koa, for one thing, and he might have said something if Koa hadn’t tightened his fingers to python-grip levels of pain.
“I’ll be gentle.” Mr. Ito threw a heated glance his way, and the liquor store kid flushed. The last man to come out with them busied himself closing and locking doors behind them. Theo filed the image away with everything else he was seeing. Heights, weights, distinguishing features. He was memorizing, categorizing, managing his fear by deciding who was what to whom and where each man stood on the ladder. How much juice does this Mr. Ito have…? And who is that fucker Zhang?
“I’m sorry, gentlemen.” Zhang smiled. “We’ll have to take your weapons.”
Koa handed over his piece, the Glock 17 he wore in a shoulder holster.
When Theo realized they were waiting for him, he laughed. “I am here for a whole different kind of target practice. You can check. I’m not armed.”
He waited patiently while they searched him, and chanced a glance into Koa’s eyes again. Warmth stole over him. Peace. Something passed between them, a promise to see each other through, maybe, or some simple acceptance of fate.
For Theo—this now, this moment—they had each other, and it was enough.
“This ain’t nothing, Te,” Now Koa gave him a little NCIS-style cuff to the back of the head.
Slowly, he pieced together everything he saw, every word Koa said. He listened to his heart and his gut and studied the people around him. The one message Koa had been sending him since the others arrived seemed to diminish his role in the thing: My boy. My boo. He’s just a kid….
If Koa had said, “Be a good boy and maybe we’ll get you a treat on the way home,” it would not have surprised him. Koa was deliberately painting him as a child.
Bracing himself, Theo glanced at Koa through his lashes. “Whatever you say, Sir.”
It was no effort on his part to look at Koa like he’d just put the stars in the sky. A smile was all Theo had to give. When he got a smile in return, it struck him like lightning. He cleared his throat and adjusted his dick.
Everyone laughed except for Koa.
Chapter Thirteen
THE FIVE of them piled into a black SUV with luxurious leather seating. The unknown last guy, the one who’d locked up after them, melted into the shadows. As they sped away, Theo watched the district’s flashy neon lights go past at a dizzying speed.
There went his bike. There was no way he’d get back before Mr. Don’t Fuck Me Over felt fucked over enough to walk away. In that neighborhood, his bike would be nothing but a grease spot when he got back. Shoot.
Carlito sat behind the wheel. Next to him, the kid from the liquor store squinted out the window. Theo had squeezed between Zhang and Koa, who acted as though this was an ordinary trip in an ordinary car with his friends. Koa played with him idly, reinforcing the story that he was there for a hookup. Koa grazed his leg with tickly fingers, slid them slowly up his inseam, and brushed them over his zipper. Not discreetly either.
Theo’s cock caught fire and got harder still. He physically ached—so, so ready for that hand to grip his shaft that he wouldn’t have minded the audience. When Zhang smirked, Theo crossed his legs—easier said than done in such tight confines. Old, bulky Theo could never have done that. Flexible Theo was pretty proud of himself when Koa spoke again.
“Relax.” Koa left off teasing him to stroke his hair. “It’s just business.”
“Mm.” Theo’s thoughts drifted as they left the city. He knew where they were, going toward the North Shore. Gonna be a long ride. Even though Koa’s fingers curled idly through his hair, the butterflies in his stomach seemed to be trying to batter their way out.
“
You’re not exclusive with your partner?” Zhang asked suddenly.
Koa stilled. “None of your fucking business.”
Theo heard the word partner and stiffened, until he realized Zhang must mean Freddie. But everyone said—
“There’s a saying: ‘What one hears about may be false, but what one sees is true.’ There must be such real trust between you and Ortiz. I would absolutely love to see that.”
Liquor store kid spoke up, and Theo didn’t need his Mandarin to know he was the subject of the new conversation. The boy told the old man about seeing Koa with him outside the liquor store, complete with hand gestures. Oddly enough, that seemed to mollify everyone. Koa’s body relaxed ever so slightly next to his.
Perhaps in this crowd, that sort of thing was reserved for whatever they believed him to be. Cop groupie like Spider? Or submissive, most likely. He’d been the supposed third that night. So Freddie was the equal partner.
My God, Koa had known these people were watching even then. But where did Spider fit in?
Theo turned and found Koa biting his lip. Their eyes met; a spark of predatory lust lurked in Koa’s glittering black ones. Maybe he wasn’t omniscient, but he sure had Theo’s number. Koa turned back to Zhang.
In English, he asked, “What are we doing here? I thought we were going to talk.”
“You came to talk to the boss, didn’t you?” A small, cruel smile played over Zhang’s features. “Talk to the boss.”
“Fine, but stop the car anywhere along here and let the kid go. He’s already had a big enough adventure for one night. Your business is with me.”
When they ignored him, Koa’s fingers stilled. “Alrighty then,” he muttered. “When will I fucking learn? It’s always amateur hour with you types.”
Theo turned to ask what he meant, but Koa gave a small shake of his head.
Zhang replied archly, “I should think the amateur is one whose boyfriend fucks things up for him.”
“If I had a boyfriend.”
Theo’d had enough. “For your information—”
“You came to me, Zhang.” When Koa talked over him, he bit off each word as though it tasted vile. “You have a particular problem, and you did your homework, and you came to me.”
Whatever Koa meant, he had Zhang’s full attention now. He grunted and gave the barest nod of assent. Theo felt Zhang’s heat, his tension, all along the left side of his body. On his right, Koa seemed relaxed by comparison. Theo would put every dime he had on Koa in a cage match against all these men combined—yet Koa was the one who made him feel safe.
Suddenly, absurdly, the situation made Theo laugh. “This is the worst bridal fashion show I’ve ever been to.”
Koa smothered a grin and looked away.
Zhang, however, looked closer. “You’re not a boy.” He said it first in English and then in Mandarin.
“I’m his boy.” Theo opted for English and a dirty smile. “Whenever he wants me.”
“Don’t get mouthy,” Koa warned.
Theo couldn’t help noticing Carlito, who glared at him in the rearview mirror, had adopted a similar cautioning expression, but he didn’t know these men; they didn’t know him. He was playing a part. Yin to Koa’s yang. “I’m bored, Koa.”
“Where’d you meet Palapiti?” Zhang asked.
Theo turned to Koa. “You make up something. I’m tired and hungry and I don’t give a fuck anymore.”
“You’re being disrespectful to my friends.” Koa’s eyes glittered.
“Well, yeah. Perhaps I lack respect. Ya think?” Deliberately, he stirred things up. “Plus, I’m bored out of my fucking mind. Don’t you ever hang out with fun people?”
Koa’s hard stare made him shiver. “That’s five. With a cane. Don’t disrespect my associates again.”
“Five, my God. You don’t fuck around. I presume I get to watch.” Carlito radiated sadistic glee. Shit. Goodie. Mission accomplished.
Theo wasn’t entirely acting when he backed down.
“What do you say?” Koa directed the question to Theo.
“Yes, Sir.” Christ. “I’m sorry, Sir.”
Koa turned away, apparently satisfied. Theo felt his attention leave like a tremendous drop in air pressure.
Zhang watched them interact with interest. His gaze felt like ants crawling over Theo’s skin. Theo concentrated on Koa’s profile. The strength of his jaw, the nobility of his forehead, his deep-set eyes and bladelike nose. If Theo closed his eyes, he could picture Koa with his halau, training on the beach.
The drive was familiar. Unmemorable. H-2 to the Kam Highway. They turned off the road and stopped in front of a pair of heavy iron gates. Zhang spoke into the intercom and they opened on well-oiled wheels. The SUV bumped over tracks and down a short drive, at the end of which stood a wide, flat concrete-and-glass mansion with a round tower like a spaceship. Theo held his surprise. These were the untouchable properties of Hawai‘i, the priciest of them all. Whatever Zhang’s people were into, they had to have a huge slice of the pie.
The SUV rolled into a massive garage. Carlito killed the engine. Their headlights briefly illuminated slick, freckled floors before winking out. The garage door rolled closed behind them. No one made a move to leave the car. Eventually all the lights went out and darkness swallowed them. In an instant, Theo’s lizard brain took over and his pulse quickened. Koa tightened his hand around Theo’s neck and gave him a slightly painful squeeze. Because it felt good, Theo leaned into it.
“Easy, boy.” Koa pitched his voice low and pumped his muscles again, rubbing now. Soothing him and smoothing the tension from his neck like a fucking boss. “It’s all fun and games with Carlito.”
He’d say one thing for Koa: the man had balls.
On his left, a throat cleared.
On his right, Koa’s phone flashlight lit up. “C’mon, Carlito. Enough fucking around.”
“Mr. Ito?” Zhang didn’t seem pleased either.
The driver’s side opened, and the dome lights went on. Carlito leaped down lightly. “Some people can’t handle a joke.”
The rest of them left the vehicle, taking time to adjust their clothes and stamp their feet. The ride had taken well over an hour. Theo was glad to be standing again. “Where are we?”
No one answered.
Koa frowned at Zhang. “This is your show.”
“You have a disciplinary matter to attend to first, don’t you?” Carlito’s eyes devoured Theo with hot longing, and it didn’t look like he wanted a kiss. “I want to watch.”
Anger framed the set of Koa’s jaw and the stiffness of his shoulders.
Surely Koa hadn’t set up a cover he wasn’t ready to exploit? Without waiting, Theo removed his jacket and handed it over to Carlito’s startled sidekick. He didn’t take his eyes from Carlito’s black, voracious gaze while he unbuttoned his shirt.
“Where do you want me, Sir?”
“This would be better accomplished somewhere private and comfortable, don’t you think?” Finally Koa found his voice. “You usually play upstairs, don’t you?”
Theo paused—Koa had been here before. He glanced around at each of the men again and waited for instructions. While Zhang and Koa talked logistics, he kept his eyes averted and his hands behind his back.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t listening or taking in his surroundings. Four-car garage. The SUV, a Mercedes convertible, and two other cars that sat under dust sheets. From the unmistakable shape, one was a Lamborghini. While Theo studied the walls—no windows, only one door, presumably leading inside the house—Koa found his arrogance again.
“He’s right. Business before business, let’s get this over with.” Koa snapped his fingers. “Come on, Trouble.”
Theo followed them into a massive open-concept space—kitchen, den, dining room, wet bar, all rolled into an attractive whole, with floor-to-ceiling windows all along the wall overlooking the ocean.
He caught his breath. Moonlight danced on the curling waves. They crashed
on the shore with a sound as loud as thunder and whispered to him as they receded. You’re home, you’re home, home is where you’ll find your heart….
Theo beheld the view with visceral longing. He could step out the slider and walk into the sea…. He thought he’d go insane just thinking about it. Wanting something so badly and knowing there was no way to define what that thing was, much less chase it like a rational goal—a SMART goal—was nearly painful. No one could say, Today I’ll begin the search for my heart’s desire, and these are the action steps I’ll take. Step one…. Wait. He checked his thoughts.
Remembered Mackenzie Detweiler and that dumbass book.
What he wanted was already his. Every minute of every day, his heart’s desire existed somewhere, waiting for him. He just had to call it. Or hear its call….
“Five. With the cane.” Koa had removed his jacket, and now he flexed his arms.
Theo didn’t let his thoughts show. He’d taken five with a cane before. More. In his early twenties, he’d actively looked for rough scenes and rougher masters, the more brutal the better, all in the service of misplaced masculine pride. Back then he’d wanted to prove how tough he was, and he’d needed the pain to distract him from his emotional turmoil. Now? Like his Djarum cigarillos, he could take it or leave it.
“Te?” Koa asked uncertainly.
“Yes, Sir?”
“Follow me.”
Goddammit. He had to get his act together. Zhang bought that he was Koa’s “boy” because of the sub thing. He wouldn’t blow this for Koa. Plus, if he went along, it might buy them some time alone. Then Koa could tell him what the fuck he’d walked into.
Carlito led them up carpeted steps to a nicely finished bonus room, with a wet bar, a pit of soft leather couches, and a massive curved big-screen TV. In the corner, a St. Andrew’s cross waited like the world’s most eclectic conversation starter.
Koa jerked his chin, by which Theo presumed he meant assume the position. Since the two of them were making this shit up as they went along and the point was to make it seem like they’d done this before, he did what he normally did—he made himself at home, toeing off his shoes and unbuckling his belt.
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