“We must leave!” Lorenzo called out.
“And we have the blast to make our way out. You done on your side?”
“Yes, and Mason has finished.” Lorenzo spotted more men arriving. “Come on!”
“Fuck!” Dominic’s voice came over the radio. “They made you!”
Lorenzo grabbed Justin and they ran. “Mason! Meet us at the rendezvous! We have to blow it early!”
“On my way!”
Stefan ran and fell into step with them. They spotted the Hummer and ran faster, spurred by the shots behind them. All were shooting as they ran, and a bullet whizzed by Stefan. “Jesus!”
Tyler and Greg dove into the vehicle along with Roman and Alex, and they high-tailed their asses out of the blast zone. Alex positioned himself on the main gun of the Hummer, shooting the men chasing Lorenzo, Justin, and Stefan. Dimitri was driving.
“Come on!” Tyler put his hand out.
He hauled them men onto the vehicle and then the blast went off. Lorenzo yelled, “Hang on to something!”
The force of the blast pushed the Hummer forward, almost knocking it over. Dimitri slammed the accelerator to the floor.
“Faster!” Lorenzo shouted.
“Shit! Stop! It’s Mason!”
The brakes screeched as Dimitri slowed down long enough for Roman to haul Mason inside. “Hit it, Dimitri!”
“Holy fuckballs!” Justin watched as half the town evaporated. “We got the good guys out, right?”
“Yes.” Lorenzo smacked him upside the head.
“Are you okay?” Dominic asked Mason.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Mason leaned against a seat and tried to catch his breath.
“Everyone accounted for?” Justin spoke into the radio.
“Yup,” Vince’s voice replied. “Any word on Nico?”
“Not yet. I suggest we all go to the hospital,” Lorenzo said.
Stefan and Jordan were in the waiting room when they finally arrived. Stefan counted heads. “So, it went well?”
“It went, that’s for sure,” Roman offered. “How’s Nico?”
Reece came out just then. “We found the bullet. He’s just fine.”
Stefan let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
“May I see him?” Lorenzo asked.
“Of course. Heath and Caleb are in there with him.” Reece kissed his husband. “Glad to see you alive.”
“I am a badass.” Lorenzo winked.
“Yes, you are.” Reece patted his ass.
Dimitri’s cell rang and heads swiveled in his direction. “It has been more than two hours. I am not surprised.” Dimitri answered the phone, “Hello, my love.”
“Are you okay? Is everyone all right?” Chris asked.
“We are all right. Why?”
“Tanner had a really bad feeling come over him.” Chris held Tanner close to him.
“Nico is fine. He took a bullet to the shoulder, but he is just fine.”
“He what?” Tanner grabbed the phone.
Tyler motioned for Dimitri to give him his phone. “Tanner, Nico is fine, baby. We will be back there in a few hours, all right?”
“I wanna talk to him.”
“He is in with his dads right now. When he gets a chance, I will tell him to call you. I love you and we will see you soon.” Tyler handed the phone back to Dimitri.
“Babe?”
“Yes.”
“I love you, Dimitri.”
“I love you, Christophe.”
Tanner paced the house like a crazy man. He couldn’t sit still. He was worried to death about Nico. His dad took his hand.
“He’s going to be fine.”
“That’s what they said about Uncle Tanner after he was shot, and we all know what happened! HE DIED!”
“Tanner.” Damon grabbed his shoulders and looked into his eyes. “He will be fine.”
Tanner’s cell phone rang and he snatched it up. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
“Nico! Oh, thank God.” Tanner dropped to the couch and cried.
“Hey, I’m okay. Tanner, please stop crying. I’m coming back in a few hours.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. I love you, Tanner.”
“I love you too, Nico.”
“ ’Bye.”
“ ’Bye.” Tanner hung up the phone and put his face in his hands. “I don’t know how Uncle Josh survived when Uncle Tanner died.”
“He had Jason.”
“I’m so glad they had each other.”
“Good. Now let’s go shower and eat. You smell,” Damon teased.
“Hey!”
Stefan and Jordan, along with Lorenzo, Antonio, Marco, and Vince, walked into the building where their meeting with a senate leader in Pakistan was being held. Stefan and Jordan entered the room first. Stefan took the guard out to his right in one movement while Jordan quickly dispatched the other. Stefan wiped his knife blade on the dead guy’s shirt, then straightened.
“Now that I have your attention.”
“This was to be a friendly meeting!”
“I am friendly. I killed him quickly. Now sit down and shut the fuck up before you join him.”
Lorenzo and the rest of the team stood behind Stefan and Jordan, their weapons by their sides. The man they were meeting was very influential in the country they had just fought in, and he was not playing by the rules.
“I’m sure by now you have heard what we did to a little town south of here.” Stefan sat down and crossed one leg casually over his knee. “The townspeople called us for help. Apparently, drugs, prostitution, and other nasty things were going on there. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
The official squirmed a little. “No, I was not made aware —”
“Bullshit,” Jordan interrupted smoothly. “There are surveillance photos of you making deals with these drug- and human-trafficking assholes.”
“I hear there’s a man who wants to take your place — a good, honest man. So, you will give up your position to him,” Stefan informed him.
“I will do no such thing!”
Stefan motioned to Vince. “Do it.”
Vince shot him in the leg. “I have a lot more rounds in this gun.”
“Son of a bitch! You’d kill me?”
“I can fillet you if you’d like.” Stefan took his knife back out. “I have no qualms taking you apart piece by piece.”
Lorenzo handed the man a piece of paper. “Sign these. It is a letter of resignation and a press release announcing your resignation, and it names the man taking your place.”
“I don’t care how you spin it,” Stefan sighed. “You want more time with your family, you need a vacation, you’re devoting your life to saving stray kittens. Whatever excuse you want to make is fine by me, but you will leave this post and never come back.” Stefan stood.
Jordan added, “If you step one foot back in this country or try to have your cronies overthrow the government, we’ll know. And that gunshot in your leg will be nothing compared to what we do to you then.”
The man shook his head. Stefan brought his fist down on the desk hard. “Sign them!”
Everyone watched as he signed with a shaky hand. Stefan handed the papers to Antonio, who motioned the others out of the room, leaving Stefan and Jordan alone with him.
“Don’t make us regret keeping you alive, Manuel.” Jordan leaned over. “It would be my pleasure to watch you take your last breath.”
“Oh, and one more thing.” Stefan paused. “Every man you ever made a deal with is dead. I saw to it myself. Get out, and don’t ever come back.”
The flight back to Alaska seemed to fly by. They minute they landed, bodies swarmed the helicopter. Chris was all over Dimitri as soon as his foot hit the ground. “Oh, I missed you.” Chris was kissing him everywhere.
“I was not gone that long.”
Nico saw Tanner running, but he stopped short in front of him, the arm in a sling. “Can I hug y
ou?”
“Yep.” Nico winked.
Tanner put his arms around his waist instead of around his neck and rested his head on Nico’s chest, hearing his heartbeat. “I missed you.”
Nico rubbed his face against Tanner’s cheek. “I missed you.”
“Tyler!” Damon picked his husband up and swung him around.
“I love you.” Tyler held him close.
“I want to hear about all of it.”
Dylan ran into Alex’s waiting arms, getting swept up in his embrace. They held each other, and Ryan watched his parents together. He knew the whole story of how they had met and fallen in love — only to be torn apart when Alex lost his memory. For a brief period of time, his other dad had been with Uncle Vince, a fact that made Ryan laugh when he found out.
“What is so funny?” Dylan had asked him.
“I just can’t see you with Uncle Vince. You guys are, like, polar opposites.”
“But you can see your dad with Uncle Andrei?” Dylan arched a brow.
“Well, yeah… I mean, he and Uncle Andrei are the same height — ”
“Excuse me?” Dylan looked at his son.
“You know what I mean, Dad. You’re just so… cute.”
“If you weren’t so tall…” Dylan sighed.
“You’d spank me?”
Ryan laughed at the memory and smiled at his dads still hugging and kissing. They were so happy, and still so in love.
“So, what’s for dinner?” Roman smiled.
“Bear,” Chris chuckled.
“Awesome!” Roman laughed and picked Brett up. “Let’s eat!”
They gathered around the dinner table giving the details of the mission. The wine was flowing and the kids watched their dads laughing and making light of the mission they had just finished — which, for them, was confusing.
“Don’t you guys ever get scared?” Evan finally asked.
“Some fear is necessary, but too much can cripple you,” Tyler answered.
“As it was, I took out the sniper who shot Nico,” Greg said.
“Which, by the way — awesome.” Tyler high-fived him. “I took out the fat guy.”
Vince laughed. “God, he was! I was more scared he’d fall over on us!”
“That was not fat. It was padding plus a vest. Trust me: the guy had muscles.” Nico pointed at them with his fork.
“Nico here is just as bad as I am,” Vince pointed out.
“Great.” Heath rolled his eyes.
“I prefer to live… therefore, they can’t.” Nico shrugged.
“Spoken like a true Santorno.” Stefan preened, earning him a raised eyebrow and an elbow from Jordan.
“When do we get to learn the hand-to-hand stuff?” Jensen asked.
“I don’t know if you’re ready for that.” Justin arched a brow.
“Oh, come on!” Ryan stood.
“Dominic?” Lorenzo looked at him.
“I’ll get Tomas.” Dominic nodded.
Stefan stood and smiled at the kids. “Some of you will have to fight me.”
“Grandpa?” Landon frowned.
Jay Reynolds cracked up. “He won’t be ‘Grandpa’ when you get in that circle with him.”
“Get some rest.” Stefan grinned. “We start in the morning.”
Dylan watched Alex undress, his strong biceps flexing as he unzipped his pants. Dylan sighed as Alex crawled up the bed.
“Babe?” Alex ran his hand up Dylan’s thigh.
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
Dylan pushed Alex on his back and straddled him. He wiggled until he felt Alex’s erection on his ass.
“Yes.”
Dylan took off his shirt. He pulled his boxers off and traced his hand up Alex’s strong chest.
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you wanted something.” Alex leaned over for the lube.
“Maybe.” Dylan sat up and took Alex’s boxers off, lubing him up generously as well as himself. He flattened himself on Alex’s chest and maneuvered his way down, feeling Alex right at his opening.
Alex gripped Dylan’s hips and slid in a fraction of an inch. “Were you worried about me?”
“I always am.” Dylan moved his hands to Alex’s shoulders and wiggled his ass onto Alex’s erection. The tip slid in and he moaned.
Alex took Dylan’s face in his hands and trailed his tongue along Dylan’s bottom lip before sliding it in and taking his mouth. Dylan whimpered, and Alex inched in farther. Dylan deepened the kiss, as Alex’s hand stroked his erection. Dylan let out a loud moan and Alex pushed in the rest of the way.
“Alex…” Dylan moaned.
“God, I love you, Dylan.” Alex bit his lip softly.
They moved together, and Alex stroked him, all while keeping one hand in Dylan’s hair, gripping the back of his head. He loved the taste of Dylan. He always had.
“Babe!”
Alex thrust up hard and came with a loud moan. He held Dylan in place and sped up his thrusts until he heard Dylan’s breath become more ragged. Dylan came with a loud cry. He wrapped his arms around him and held him. Dylan moved off of him slowly and rolled onto his back, panting.
“Holy shit.”
“I know.” Alex took his hand. “Are you feeling any better about Ryan’s decision?”
Dylan sighed. “I don’t have a choice, do I? I know you will protect him as much as you can.”
“I will, babe.”
“I love you.” Dylan nestled against him.
“I love you, Dylan.”
Tanner ghosted his fingertip over Nico’s wound. It was bandaged, but the area surrounding it looked awful, all purple, black, and a whole bunch of other colors. Tanner leaned over and kissed it softly. Nico’s breath caught in his throat and he opened his eyes and looked into Tanner’s.
“I’m sorry,” Tanner whispered. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t, I don’t think. The pain meds are wearing off.” Nico sat up and Tanner pushed him back down gently.
“Yeah, stay there, tough guy. I’ll get them.”
Tanner was shirtless and wearing boxers. His abs were defined — not like Nico’s own, but getting there — and his chest was getting bigger. He eyed Tanner’s ass as he got his medication from the bathroom. It was perfectly rounded and Nico wanted to run his tongue over it.
Tanner turned just then and stopped. “What are you thinking?”
“How thirsty I am.” Nico licked his lips.
Oh hell. Tanner watched his tongue slide out and swipe his lips. His jaw dropped and he snapped it shut. Of course, that happened in a matter of seconds. He knew that his mind was playing that in slow motion just to torture him further. “Well, then, it’s a good thing I brought you a glass of water.” Tanner sat on the bed and helped Nico into a sitting position.
“You don’t have to take care of me, you know.”
Tanner frowned. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to stay with me.”
“I want to.” Tanner cupped his face. “Now, take your pills.”
“Yes, sir.”
After swallowing his pills, Nico propped himself on a pillow.
“You are going to make a really good wife someday.”
“Hey!” Tanner drew back to hit him and thought better of it. “You are so lucky you’re hurt.”
“No, really.” Nico took his hand. “Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
“Well, right now I’m single, so…”
“You’ll find a guy. I’m sure of it.” Nico closed his eyes.
Tanner rested on his back. It wasn’t fair. He knew he was in love with Nico. He didn’t care how much older Nico was. He’d learned a long time ago what love was. Watching his parents had taught him that. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
The air was filled with smoke and he could hardly see where he was going. He tried to make out shapes, but only saw blurs of p
eople running by. There was loud shouting and screaming. Tanner couldn’t see anything. He tried yelling for Nico, then he finally saw him running his way. Tanner ran forward and watched as Nico was thrown back. His chest was hit by a round of gunfire and Tanner screamed.
“Tanner!” Nico shook him. He was starting to get scared as Tanner couldn’t stop crying.
Tanner’s eyes flew open, unfocused. “You’re okay!” Tanner grabbed him and held him hard.
Nico hissed. His shoulder still hurt, but he held onto Tanner anyway. “What is it? Did you have a nightmare?”
“I dreamt you were shot.”
“Well, I was.” Nico motioned to his shoulder.
“No, I mean shot dead.”
Tanner trembled in his arms and he ran his hand through his soft hair. “I’m okay. See? I’m breathing and I’m right here.”
“It was so real. If anything happens to you, Nico…”
“It won’t.” Nico was caressing his face without even realizing it. Their eyes met and Tanner’s fell to Nico’s lips.
There was a soft knock on the door, and Tanner got up to answer it. Nico strained to hear, and then Tanner was back. “I gotta go.”
“Where?”
“Running. I didn’t realize it was already four.” Tanner threw a shirt on and pulled on some sweats. He leaned over and kissed Nico’s forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
The run was painful, and by the time they got back to the cabin, most of them were throwing up. Tyler gave them water and instructed them to sip, not gulp. Lorenzo watched them all panting and cheerfully asked, “Ready for combatives?”
There were groans and Jensen looked up. “Can’t we have a few minutes to catch our breath?”
Dimitri pointed out, “The bad guy will not wait for you.”
“Come on, little ones.” Stefan seemed gleeful. He and Jordan had essentially adopted all of their kids’ friends and partners and everyone considered themselves one big family — thus, lots of ‘uncles’ and Jordan and Stefan were the granddads.
Jensen stood and looked down at his grandfather. “Little ones?”
“You’ll only fall harder.”
Assassin's Angst: The Santorno Series Page 3