“It used to be my house,” Brad argued, sounding annoyed and pulling Tyler back on topic.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Jace asked, sounding more tired than upset as he appeared at Tyler’s side.
“Tell this fool to stop pointing his gun at me,” Brad said, dropping his hands.
“Put your fucking hands up,” Tyler repeated. He didn’t give a fuck if this wasn’t some stranger breaking in. He’d still shoot the fucker and not miss a single night’s sleep. “This isn’t a game. Breaking into someone’s home is a crime.”
“Jace doesn’t care if I come in without knocking.”
“Actually, I do,” Jace said, but it was obvious Brad wasn’t listening. He was too busy eating up the sight of Jace in nothing more than workout shorts. Tyler wanted to demand he go put some clothes on, but he had bigger problems at the moment.
“You also broke our window,” Tyler reminded him. “That’s destruction of property.”
Brad’s expression turned thunderous at Tyler’s claim. “Jace’s window. Not yours, and it was an accident. I couldn’t see in the dark.”
“It’s Tyler’s window too,” Jace said, trying to be heard again.
“It’s all right, baby. I got this.”
Jace flashed him a smile. It slipped away as his gaze landed on Tyler’s face. “What happened to your eye?” Without waiting for Tyler to answer, Jace gasped. “Oh my God. Did he hit you? I’ll kill him.” Jace took two steps in Brad’s direction before Tyler snagged him around the waist. As much as he’d like to let Jace fuck up Brad, he couldn’t risk it.
“Don’t worry, babe. He broke in here and assaulted a police officer. I’ll make sure he gets the maximum sentence.”
“Wait. What?” For the first time, Brad looked genuinely frightened, which had been Tyler’s intention. He couldn’t actually see to the man getting any amount of time. That was all up to the courts, but he enjoyed watching Brad squirm. “It wasn’t like that,” Brad argued. “Paige called, saying she was worried about Jace. He hasn’t been returning her texts or answering her calls. She was worried something happened to you,” Brad added, obviously hoping to appeal to Jace’s good nature.
“So she called you?” Jace asked, sounding odd—like a mixture of furious, hurt, and confused.
Tyler was good with letting Jace ask the questions. His mind was too busy thinking about how Paige had to go. Jace had been so right. They needed her out of their lives. He didn’t doubt for a second that sending Brad had been a calculated move on her part. Unlike Jace, Tyler understood all Brad’s motives for treating Jace as he had. Mostly, the guy was just a dick, but he also tried keeping Jace in his place, scared shitless he’d lose him. It was fucked up, but so was Brad.
Brad shrugged. “She knows, even though we’re no longer together, I’d always take care of you.”
Jace snorted. “Funny, all she ever says to me is how big of an ass you are.” Jace rubbed the spot between his eyes, as if a headache bloomed there.
Brad’s eyes stayed locked on Jace’s every move. “Is that a wedding band?” The man’s question came out low, sounding hurt yet deadly.
Jace dropped his gaze to his hand. “Yes.” His tone sounded conversational. Tyler bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing.
“Paige didn’t tell me you remarried.”
“That’s because I didn’t tell her,” Jace said with a shrug.
“What?” Tyler snapped. It was his turn to get pissed.
At his open surprise, Brad snorted. “How could you marry this idiot?”
“This idiot has a gun pointed at your head,” Tyler reminded him. “So, really, who’s the dumbass in this equation?” Tyler asked, reaching his limit. He focused on Jace once more. “Why haven’t you told anyone?” It hurt more than he imagined, realizing Jace was ashamed.
Jace’s shoulders fell. “I’ve told everyone who’ll listen,” Jace said, sounding proud and taking away some of the sting before adding, “Except Paige. You don’t know how she can get. If I told her, I know exactly what she’d say. First, she’d tell me I’m crazy, and we just met.” A sexy smile touched Jace’s lips, carrying away the rest of Tyler’s irritation. He fucking loved this man. “Then I’d try to explain how I knew you were the one the moment you showed up at my door, looking for Jimmy. I felt in my bones.”
Brad snorted. “You felt it in one bone.”
They ignored him. Tyler couldn’t stop hanging on Jace’s every word, and Jace had more to say. “Then Paige would try reminding me how this fool treated me,” he said, tossing a careless wave in Brad’s direction. “I’d argue how you treat me like a king—how you’re nothing like him. But then, she’d try to convince me you’re a cheat by pointing out how many hours you work and how often you have to stay gone. No matter what I try saying, she’ll twist it and turn it ugly. We’re not ugly. I couldn’t listen to her while she tainted this,” Jace said, motioning between them.
Because Jace was right, they were beautiful, he couldn’t let Jace keep standing there in the middle of more of Paige’s ugliness. “I’ve got you now, baby. Just go back to bed and let me take care of everything.”
With a nod, Jace headed back down the hall. Brad’s gaze ate up every move Jace made. Tyler almost felt sorry for the guy—almost.
With his gun still held on Brad, Tyler grabbed his cell phone and pretended to dial.
“What are you doing?” Brad asked as his attention snapped back to Tyler.
“Calling this in,” Tyler said, keeping his voice nonchalant. “As I said, assaulting a police officer is serious business.”
“Dude, I’m so sorry. I thought you were some strange guy in Jace’s house. I thought he was in danger.”
“Our house,” Tyler reminded him.
“Yeah,” Brad immediately agreed. “Y’alls’ house. Look, I can’t go to jail. I need my job. My mom depends on me to help with her bills and stuff. I thought I was helping out a friend. That’s all.”
The guy was a douche and Tyler still wanted to shoot him, but he’d been played by Paige just as Jace had been for years. Still, Tyler couldn’t let this go without some comfort this wouldn’t happen again. “If I let you walk away from here, you can’t ever come back.”
“Dude, I’m out. Jace has been done with me for a long time.”
Tyler nodded. Damn straight Jace was done. “Would you be willing to give a statement against Paige, making it possible for us to file a restraining order against her?” Tyler wasn’t playing. That bitch had to go.
“Yeah, anything.”
An evil smile stretched Tyler’s lips. “You down to scare the hell out of Paige?”
Brad’s smile matched Tyler’s. “Bitch has you pointing a gun at me. I’m in.”
Tyler set his gun aside, freeing Brad. “Call Paige, tell her this is your one phone call, and you’re using it let her know you’ve told the police everything. You’ve already agreed to testify against her for setting you up.”
Brad snickered as he pulled out his cell phone.
Tyler stopped him. He held his phone out to Brad. “Use mine. She’ll never believe it’s your one phone call if she recognizes your number.”
Brad snorted as he waved away Tyler’s offer. “Please. She’s not that bright. I’ve got this.”
Tyler watched in equal parts humor and horror as Brad convinced Paige the police were on their way right that second to get her. He’d never seen anyone more suited for an acting career. The guy was a natural born liar. He almost wished Jace was witnessing it as well, but Jace had already seen this man lie too many times over the years. Tyler’s features hardened. He felt it happen. Never again, Tyler vowed. He would never allow people like this to invade Jace’s life again. His man deserved a beautiful life. Tyler would make damn sure he got it.
*
Jace stared up at the darkened ceiling, trying not to think. Curiosity ate him alive, but he stayed put. Tyler would take care of everything. It was a good thing too. Every time Jace thought a
bout Brad putting his hands on Tyler, he wanted to go back out there and unman him. No one hurt his man. If Tyler ended up with a black eye tomorrow, Jace might still decide to hunt that bastard down and make him pay. And Paige; he’d never been more fucking done with anyone in his life. Before Brad had shown up at his door, Jace had been on the fence about how to handle Paige. Now, fuck her. No one came between Jace and his husband.
Tyler reappeared in the doorway.
Jace’s breath caught at the back of his throat. “I didn’t hear any sirens.”
“No,” Tyler said with a shake of his head. “We came to an understanding.”
Tyler had never looked sexier to Jace than he did in that moment. Jace didn’t doubt for a second Tyler had done something badass to get Brad to agree to go away without a fight. Still.
“Was your agreement you wouldn’t kill him? Because I made no such promises.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near that guy.”
Tyler’s calmly spoken demand had Jace gripping the sheets to keep from touching himself. Dear God. The hot possessiveness in Tyler’s tone set Jace on fire. He no longer cared what happened after he left Tyler alone with Brad.
Jace licked his suddenly parched lips and tempted fate. “What will you do if I disobey?”
Tyler pushed away from the doorframe and silently headed for the drawer filled with all their toys. Jace already knew what would happen next. His stomach quivered with anticipation.
“I think I should punish you now, before you get any ideas.”
Jace bit his bottom lip to keep from whimpering. This was his life now. Tyler was everything. In a few days, they’d disappear and everything with Paige and Brad would be ancient history. The weight that had lived on Jace’s shoulders for years was gone. For so long, he’d felt unworthy of anything. Now he enjoyed using his newfound confidence against Tyler.
He tossed back the covers and shifted his weight, making his abs harden. Just as he’d known Tyler would, the man eyed Jace from head to foot. Tyler palmed the erection tenting his boxers as if incapable of not touching himself by only the sight of Jace’s nude body.
“You were in here naked with Brad down the hall.”
It wasn’t a question. Jace didn’t respond. Instead, he boldly stroked his cock, taunting Tyler.
Tyler’s eyes flashed with something dangerous. “I’m about to spank you,” Tyler promised, making Jace’s dick leak. “Then I’ll fuck you until you can’t sit tomorrow. You’ll never think of Brad again.”
Jace hadn’t thought of Brad since meeting Tyler, but if Tyler wanted to punish him, Jace would keep that bit of information to himself. After all, he did love the sting of Tyler’s palm on his ass. Maybe tomorrow, Jace would tell Tyler all about how no one held a candle to him. There was no one else in Jace’s head and there never would be again. Then again, maybe he’d drag this out. Jace could handle a lifetime of being chained to the bed as long as Tyler was the one who held the key.
Chapter 8
The knock landing on the front door had Adam staring at the slab of wood in open wonder. No one knew he was here. As far as everyone was concerned, the house had been empty since Jace and Tyler took off on their trip around the world. There also shouldn’t be any deliveries. Jace and Tyler’s mail now went to a P.O. box and Adam got all his mail in New York. Another loud knock landed against the wood. Adam moved closer. There was no soliciting in this neighborhood, so it couldn’t be that.
“Do you plan on answering that?” Kano asked, dragging Adam from his musings.
With a shrug, Adam pulled the door open. Paige stood on the other side.
She squealed when she saw him, nearly piercing Adam’s eardrums. “Oh my God. You’re home.” She pulled him in for a hug. Adam let it happen while stamping down his surprise over her appearance. “How long are you here for?”
Adam stepped back and allowed Paige inside. “Um. Just until we get all this squared away.”
Paige’s gaze swept the room. Her expression turned puzzled as she eyed the bare walls and mounds of boxes before focusing on Kano. “I feel like I’m missing a lot. Who is your friend?”
Before Adam could respond, Kano took over the way he always did. “Kano Aramante, and you are?” He let the question hang in the air. It dripped with British disdain, sounding as if Paige was a stranger intruding on their time. Of course, nothing pissed Kano off like having a second of his time wasted.
“Paige Carpenter,” Paige said, clutching her purse tighter, as if Kano couldn’t be trusted. Since Kano was currently sporting a fifty-thousand-dollar suit, the move was beyond ridiculous. “What is a man of your… stature doing here—alone—with someone as sweet as Adam? I can’t think Jace would appreciate that.”
Adam bit the inside of his cheek hard. Paige had all but called Kano old and insinuated he was out to molest an innocent child. In truth, Kano was only thirty-seven, and Adam was no child.
Kano’s icy gaze flashed in such a way Adam had come to know too well. The man was sharpening his claws and deciding in which way he would ruin this woman. To Adam’s surprise, Kano didn’t immediately attack. “I’m helping Adam pack.”
Paige smirked.
Kano’s steel-gray eyes narrowed. He didn’t like Paige. Adam could feel it. That tidbit had Adam eyeing Paige with interest. Kano was never wrong about anyone.
Her evil smile didn’t abate. “Dressed like that?” she asked, pointing out Kano’s expensive suit compared to Adam’s ragged jeans and worn out T-shirt.
Something wicked passed over Kano’s features. Adam drew a slow breath through his nose. It was damn sexy when Kano turned condescending. “I don’t have to get my hands dirty to help anyone do anything.”
Judging by Paige’s sneer, things were on the verge of turning ugly. Adam intervened. “Did you need something, Paige?”
She turned away from Kano, dismissing him. Adam couldn’t resist checking Kano’s reaction. No one ever dismissed him. The man’s eyes flashed with humor, as if he found Paige to be a weak target.
“I came by to speak to Jace, but I wasn’t expecting all this,” she said, motioning toward the boxes. “Since we don’t work together any longer, we don’t speak as much as we used to. In fact, it’s been so long, I’ve lost his number. You know how it is. I got a new phone and all my contacts didn’t transfer. Is Jace moving?” she asked, eyeing the boxes once more.
Instead of answering, Adam dug his phone out. “I’ve got his number.” He swiped the screen, scrolling through his contacts and searching for Jace’s number.
Kano’s hand covered Adam’s phone, stopping the motion. Adam’s head jerked up. Irritation ran through him. Kano’s expression had Adam’s hackles falling as quickly as they rose. He looked calculating.
“Jace hasn’t been here since the day he called to tell his boss he wouldn’t be back. Even I know that, and I’ve never met the man.”
Adam held in his snort. That was because Adam refused to let Kano meet Jace, but that was another story.
“It seems strange you’d show up here on the exact day someone is here. I’m not much on coincidences.”
Kano had a point. It was odd. Paige’s closed expression piqued Adam’s curiosity even further. The woman did seem… off.
“I told Jace I would keep an eye on the place. As I was passing by, I saw a light on.”
Adam shoved his phone in his back pocket. He didn’t think it was such a good idea to give out Jace’s number after all.
Kano confirmed his feelings. “Do you live in this neighborhood?” His tone said he knew she didn’t.
Paige shifted from foot to foot. “No.”
“So, you were driving by, through a gated community, to check on a friend’s house who even you admit you haven’t spoken to in so long you no longer know how to contact them?”
Adam knew by the way Paige’s shoulders squared, she wasn’t backing down. “I don’t know you. It’s none of your concern what arrangement I have with my friend.”
Kan
o’s eyes took on a hard edge. Adam’s knees weakened. The man transformed into the owner of the world’s largest fashion magazine in front of Adam’s eyes. This was the powerful version of Kano that Adam couldn’t resist.
Kano pulled out his phone. “I would feel better if I spoke with my friend at the Justice Department before Adam hands out any personal information. As you pointed out, I don’t know you. For all I know, Jace has a restraining order against you and you shouldn’t even be here.” Kano focused on Adam. “While I’m doing that, you should probably go ahead and call the police to be safe.”
Adam’s mouth fell open as Paige scrambled for the door. She scratched at the knob as if stuck in a horror film with a killer on her heels. Once she made it through the door, she was gone. Adam stared at the spot where she’d been standing while trying to process what happened.
A low chuckle caressed Adam’s ears. Without thought, he pressed his hand to his stomach to stop the butterflies. Once he had his emotions under control, he met Kano’s stare. Those steel eyes, damn. No amount of preparation could stop would they did to Adam.
“Do you really know someone at the Justice Department?”
Kano snorted. “Not only do I not know anyone, I’m not even certain what they do, but I recognize crazy from a mile away. Stalkers flock to me. That woman had ‘nutter’ stamped all over her.”
Everyone and everything flocked to Kano, which was why Adam refused to be walked on. He would never be special to Kano. That traitorous thought kept sneaking its way in. As if he read Adam’s thoughts and hoped to prove him wrong, Kano closed the distance between them. “Aren’t you glad I ignored you when you told me not to come here?”
Adam licked his lips. The way Kano stared at his mouth had Adam scared he’d give Kano everything if the man pressed. All Adam had was his pride. “No. As always, I would’ve been fine without you.”
Unarm (Hooked Book 5) Page 11