The Exit Strategy Bundle

by Jocelynn Drake

  “Your slobber beasts have missed you.” Jess walked to the rear of the SUV where they could already hear the dogs whining and licking the glass closest to Justin. He pressed his hand to the glass and smiled. The feeling was definitely mutual.

  “Let’s get them out so they can run around before they meet our guests.”

  Jess chuckled and barely managed to jump out of the way before two large furry bodies launched themselves out of the SUV and into Justin’s waiting arms. They whined, barked, licked, and generally climbed over each other to be close to him. He kneeled down, rubbing their soft fur and cuddling them as much as he could before one or both would dart away, do a little circle, and then dart back.

  “Come on! Check the yard!” he commanded. With a bark from each, they ran off in opposite directions. One would sniff around the house while the other would run around through the woods closest to the house, sniffing for intruders.

  Justin stood and extended his hand to Jess. “Thanks again.”

  Jess just snorted and gripped him in a tight hug. “You know I’m always there for you and Gabriel. It’s what neighbors do.”

  “And you know G and I are there for you if you ever need anything.”

  He meant that too. Those weren’t just words to him. Jess had been there on his front door the day after he and Gabriel arrived in Colorado. She had a pie in hand and excellent words of advice about generators and snowblowers. She’d helped them with the pets, while he and Gabriel had helped a time or two around her plot of land, whether it was removing some old trees or helping with their horses when they were shorthanded thanks to a spate of the flu. He liked knowing she was close. A neighbor who could keep an extra eye out for strange people in their small neighborhood and town. And he liked looking out for her and her family.

  “Well, I’ll leave you to your guests. I did pull in a fresh harvest of apples. Be expecting a delivery of applesauce and butter from one of the kids in the next few days.”

  “Oh God, woman!” Justin pulled her in for another hug. “I knew being your neighbor was gonna be the best thing ever when you dropped off the pie.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, well, how else am I gonna butter you up for the big harvest this fall? Gonna need you and your boyfriend.”

  “Count on us!”

  With one last wave, she climbed into her SUV and left. Justin motioned for Devlin and Jake to get out of the car. Jake seemed to move a little more cautiously, looking all around for the dogs who were still inspecting the area. Unless they found something, they’d be back shortly.

  “That was our neighbor, Jess,” Justin said to Devlin. “She, her husband, and two of their kids live about half a mile down the road from us. They keep an eye on the pets while we’re out of town. I’ll introduce you next time she pops by.”

  “Is that safe?”

  Justin nodded. “Jess isn’t one to gossip. You’re safe with her.”

  “Where are the dogs?” Jake asked.

  As if summoned by his words, both the dogs came charging around the house, tongues hanging out the sides of their mouth. Jake immediately jumped to his father’s side, clinging to his shirt. Justin gave a sharp whistle, and both dogs ran to him rather than Jake and his father. He rubbed their heads and smiled.

  “Jake, this is Pete,” he said, putting his hand on the one with slightly more black in his fur. “And this is his brother, Repeat.”

  Jake giggled and slowly came out from behind his father.

  “Just put your hand out and let them sniff you.”

  Devlin put his hand out first and Jake slowly followed. As Justin expected, the sniff took half a second and quickly turned into a tongue bath for both. But at least Jake was laughing and releasing his death grip on his father. Both dogs were incredibly loving, but also incredibly protective. As soon as Jake and Devlin moved into the house, they became family. Pete and Repeat would protect them with their lives if it came to that. Justin really hoped it wouldn’t.

  “Let’s grab some stuff and get settled. Then we can figure out dinner. I’m thinking hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. We’ll be fancy tomorrow.”

  Grabbing his and Gabriel’s duffel bags from the back of the SUV, he led their little troop into the house, where he found Gabriel sitting on the couch with both cats in his lap, purring loud enough to sound like motorboats about to speed away.

  Justin stopped in front of Gabriel, a little smirk on his lips. He loved seeing how happy those cats made him. Whenever Gabriel was tense or worried, one or both of the cats could crawl into his lap and he’d relax, putting all his energy into getting that cat a purring ball of happiness. They were the first gift he’d ever given the man he loved.

  “The fluffy assassins are happy to see you,” Justin teased, earning a dark look from Gabriel. The cats weren’t actively trying to kill him, but there were times when he caught the cats watching him and it felt like they were plotting his ultimate demise. That or they just blamed him for the dogs.

  “Whoa!” Jake exclaimed. “They’re really big. Can I pet them?”

  “Put your hand out and let them sniff you,” Gabriel said. “They might need some time to warm up to you. They can be a little picky.”

  “And really grumpy,” Justin added. He didn’t think the cats would attack the little boy, but he also didn’t know if the boy would try to push his luck with the cats.

  Jake slowly edged closer to Gabriel and extended his hand. He definitely looked steadier with the cats than the dogs, who were sniffing around the house, checking for both intruders and any stray scraps of food they might have missed since they were last there.

  To Justin’s shock, both cats sniffed Jake and then bumped their heads against his hand and arm, seeking affection. The boy laughed and started petting both. He sat down on the couch next to Gabriel and spent the next minute being pushed around by the large felines. Devlin put his hand out. The cats sniffed him before turning to Jake and rejecting him, which only had Jake laughing harder.

  “Sorry. They can be finicky,” Gabriel said.

  “No worries,” Devlin said. “As long as they like Jake.”

  With his lap now empty, Gabriel pushed to his feet. “Let me show you to the guest rooms. They aren’t much. We just moved in a few months ago, and we’re still getting the place settled.”

  “I’ll take an air mattress at this point. Just somewhere I can stretch out and stay in one place for a little while,” Devlin murmured.

  “I think we can do a little better than that.”

  Justin watched, and as Gabriel led Devlin and Jake to one of end of the house, he scooped up their bags and headed to the other, which held the master bedroom. He dropped their bags in the middle of the floor and shuffled into the bathroom. It had become one of his favorite rooms with its giant soaking tub and high-powered shower that could work all the knots out of his muscles. He turned on the cold water in the sink and splashed it on his face, trying to wake up after the long day.

  When he reached out, the hand towel was actually placed into his hand. He turned his head to find Gabriel leaning against the counter next to him, a worried smile on his handsome face. Fuck, he was so damn quiet when he moved.

  “I put them in the bedrooms with the Jack-and-Jill bathroom. That way they have a little space but stay connected. Thought they’d feel more comfortable that way,” Gabriel said.

  Their house was absurdly large with five bedrooms, but they had plans to turn a lot of the space into hobby rooms and a spare office. For now, the bedrooms were still bedrooms.

  Justin wiped his face but stayed bent over, his hands braced on the sink. “There are strange people in our house,” Justin mumbled in a low voice. He could say those horrible words to Gabriel because he knew the man would understand. After years of dodging bullets and being chased, after too many close calls, Justin needed his safe space. A place where it was just him where he didn’t have to worry about being shot in the back or stabbed while he slept.

  Gabriel was the first
person that he’d felt comfortable letting into his space. It had been a struggle at first, but after a while, he realized that he needed Gabriel there.

  “There are a father and son who desperately need our help in our home,” Gabriel said in a calming voice. “Two people who need you. They aren’t going to hurt us. Devlin only wants to protect his son. He’s lost too much already.”

  Drawing in a deep breath through his nose, Justin held it and then slowly pushed it out through his mouth. Some of the tension faded and he nodded. “I know. You’re right.”

  “You’re so sexy when you say that,” Gabriel teased.

  Justin turned his head and smiled at his lover. “And you’re sexy when you tell me that I’m sexy.” Straightening, he stepped closer to Gabriel, brushing a gentle kiss across his lips. He knew Gabriel could feel the “thank you” caught in the back of his throat, because Justin sensed the answering “I love you” in Gabriel’s touch.

  “Let’s get some food on the table before Jake falls over asleep. Then we can talk to Devlin about a plan and next steps.”

  “And then sex in our own bed.”

  Gabriel waggled his eyebrows at Justin before he walked out of the bathroom and Justin could only laugh. The man had a special way of reaching him, even when he was exhausted down to his core.

  Even with dinner being as quick as it was, Jake was still falling asleep at the table. But Devlin managed to get half a burger and some potato chips into him before carrying him off to bed. Justin couldn’t help but smile when Repeat tagged along after them and didn’t reappear when Devlin did several minutes later. He’d expected at least one if not both of the dogs to spend the night with Jake. The guard dog would help the boy and his father feel safer in the strange house.

  Gabriel helped him clean up the kitchen and pulled some beers out of the fridge.

  When their guest walked into the kitchen, lines of worry were framing his mouth, and his hands were clenched at his sides as if he knew what to expect.

  “Thanks again for dinner and for letting us stay with you,” Devlin started. “It’s been a long day. I think I’m going to turn in too.”

  “We need to talk first,” Gabriel said. His voice had become hard and unyielding. “You know this is more than a place to stay.”

  “We’re putting our lives on the line for you and Jake,” Justin added.

  “We didn’t ask you to,” Devlin snapped, his tone becoming defensive.

  Gabriel stepped forward and put a hand on Justin’s shoulder. “No, you didn’t. We offered our help free of charge because you need it. But we need you to help us if we all want to come out of this alive.”

  Justin grabbed one of the beers and extended it to Devlin. “And we are coming out of this alive.”

  Devlin took a deep breath and accepted the beer. He tried to smile at Justin and Gabriel, but it fell from his face almost as quickly as it appeared. After what was likely months of harassment, loss, police accusations, and now running for his life with his son, Devlin had reached the end of his rope. Justin didn’t need to hear the words to know that the man was exhausted down to the bone. He had to be if he was standing the kitchen of two strangers, willing to stay in their home and accept their protection.

  And Justin was going to make sure Devlin and Jake survived this. If not for Devlin, then for Jake. Justin knew what it was like to be an orphan. To finally luck into that great home only to have it ripped away again. No, his foster family hadn’t suffered like Devlin, but he’d lost them all the same. He didn’t want Jake to go through that. He’d already lost one loving parent. He couldn’t lose another.

  Justin led them to the dining room table and sat down at the head, while Gabriel took the chair on his left. There were far more comfortable places to sit, but the point was to stay awake, not be comfortable.

  “Let’s start this way,” Gabriel began. “You’re safe here. We didn’t notice anyone following us, but eventually someone will track us down. No matter what we do, we can’t stay invisible forever.”

  “But on the plus side, we’ve got a kickass security system on our property,” Justin said, and Gabriel smirked at him. He couldn’t help but brag a little. He’d installed every damn inch of it. He knew how good it was. “Gabriel checked the cameras, and no one has been on or near our property since we left for Montana days ago. The dogs are also trained to sniff out intruders. They’ve found nothing. We’re starting from a very good place. You can sleep tonight knowing you and Jake are safe.”

  “And it looks like he’s got a buddy in his room,” Devlin said, giving his first genuine smile.

  “Repeat is an excellent warning system. He will growl and bark if he hears or smells anything that shouldn’t be in that room.”

  “Thank you,” Devlin whispered. “I can accept something happening to me, but if something were to happen to Jake, I just…I don’t know…” His words broke off as he became more choked up.

  “Nothing is going to happen to Jake. And nothing is going to happen to you. Jake has suffered enough with the death of Adam. He can’t lose you too,” Justin said firmly. There would be no negotiation or trading of lives. This was an all or nothing situation for him.

  Devlin cleared his throat and nodded several times, pulling himself together. “What about in the morning? I’m assuming that you’ve got a security system on the doors.”

  “If Jake gets up before we do, just keep him in the house. We’re usually up early with the dogs. They have a set routine. We’ll disarm it and show it to you tomorrow,” Gabriel said because Justin couldn’t get the words out.

  As soon as Devlin and Jake were gone, he was resetting the whole damn thing. Maybe even adding a few new components. Just so that he could sleep soundly again.

  “What can I do?” Devlin asked.

  Justin took a long swallow of his beer. That had been the easy part. Now it was time for the hard stuff. “We need more information. A lot of it.”

  “I don’t—”

  “We need everything you’ve got on every threat, every note, everything you’ve ever received from the person who wants you dead,” Gabriel said.

  “Kai is starting to track down the person behind the contract on your life, but without more information, it’s unlikely that he’s going to get far.”

  “Kai? That’s the other man who came to the cabin?”

  “Yes, the first of what is likely to be many assassins looking for your head. The bounty is up to twenty-seven million.”

  Devlin rubbed a hand over his face. When he lowered his hand back to the table, the man still looked stunned. “I just can’t believe it. It seems insane that someone would pay that amount of money to see me dead. Are-are you sure? It’s not two-point-seven million or maybe twenty-seven thousand?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. A bounty rarely gets that big. They are going to be crawling out of the woodwork for you.” Justin took another drink of his beer and set the nearly empty bottle back on the table.

  “Then…why didn’t that man…Kai…why didn’t he just kill me? Or even you? That’s a lot of money. I can’t even come close to giving you that kind of money to not kill me,” Devlin said. His voice grew more panicked the longer he spoke, the words rolling on top of each other.

  “Because some of us live by a code,” Justin said. “We don’t hurt kids. Hurting you hurts your son.”

  “And we don’t hurt innocent people.” Gabriel gave him a small smile. “We’re just lucky Kai lives by a similar code. Justin and I have made enough money in this business. Since we have the skills, we’d rather make sure some people get justice in this world.”

  “And working a regular nine to five really isn’t us,” Justin added.

  “Yeah, it doesn’t work for most people,” Devlin said. He looked a little dazed by all the information, and they were getting off topic.

  “The point is that we had a close enough call with Kai. He’s not trying to kill you, but that doesn’t mean others aren’t coming our way. We need to know who
wants you dead, so we can put an end to the contract.”

  “I don’t know. Truly…I don’t.” Devlin sat with his hands on the table in front of him, opening and closing them in a futile desperation to grab a name from the air. “The threats started about two, two and a half years ago. I was making some progress on a new type of solar cell. They’re cheaper and capture about two hundred times more energy than the ones currently on the market. I think they would make solar energy available to everyone, not just the rich. And it becomes viable for all regions, not just those that are extremely sunny most of the year.”

  “No more coal energy,” Justin said, and Devlin quickly shook his head.

  “No more coal, oil, or natural gas energy,” he corrected.

  “Except that it’s uneven. No sun at night and we can’t use all the energy produced during the day,” Gabriel said.

  “Exactly. That’s why I shifted gears to batteries for storage. The ones on the market now are bulky and not cost-effective for everyone. We need to be able to store days of energy. Not hours. I was getting so close to the right material combination. The numbers I was getting were so promising.” For the first time since meeting Devlin, there was a spark of life in his eyes. He clearly loved his work. The idea of making such a giant leap forward for humanity toward a clean energy future was thrilling.

  “Is that when the threats started?”

  “Yes.” He seemed to deflate right in front of their eyes.

  “Did you tell anyone? Your employer?”

  Devlin shook his head. “I don’t really have a typical employer. I work at a think tank that specializes in clean energy. Our work is mostly theoretical, but I’ve always been more hands-on. I didn’t tell anyone at first. I didn’t take them seriously. It was only when the threats started appearing at my home that I started to worry.”

  Gabriel sat back in his chair and frowned. “If your work is at a think tank, what happens if you succeed with your creation of an improved solar cell?”

  “I give it away to the world.”

  “For free?”