“My ears are burning. I’m leaving him with you,” she said to Jack. “I have my own problems to deal with.”
Jack frowned. “That guy at the gym bothering you again?”
“What guy?” Aidan asked. Kitty brought out the protector in all of them. Pretty, funny, and genuinely nice, she had a bevy of friends. Yet to Aidan, used to solitude, she always seemed kind of alone. Then again, what the hell did he know?
“It’s not the guy that’s the problem. It’s his sister and her fiancé.” Kitty blew out a breath. “Nothing I can’t handle. It’s not a big deal.”
“Let me know if it is,” Jack ordered. “And that’s not a request.”
Kitty rolled her eyes. Not many fucked with Jack, but she tested him on a regular basis. And she was the only one Jack seemed to tolerate.
“Yes, master.” She winked at Aidan. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”
“Witch.”
She laughed and left him with Jack. Oh joy.
Jack turned and stared down at him, his muscles bursting from his clothes.
“Are you getting bigger?” Aidan hadn’t thought that could be possible.
Jack let out a breath. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“It was our intel that was compromised. No way they should’ve known who you were, but somehow they piggybacked on to that fifty grand we gave you.”
“So they tracked the money to Stallbridge. Now I get it.”
“We’re fixing the problem as we speak.” Jack grimaced, and Aidan was just glad he hadn’t been responsible for the financial mistake. “As far as the others… No word yet on Kerr or Ruelle. They rounded up the other dickheads at the party. Nearly half of them had outstanding warrants.”
“Good.”
“Feds took them away. The others went free, unfortunately. I’m bothered about Kerr and this Samson character. Samson Ruelle doesn’t exist, that we can find.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“Yeah, well, I have a bad feeling you haven’t seen the last of him either. Avery told me to put someone on you.” Avery, the clairvoyant. “Gavin’s your shadow until this is done.”
“Wait. What?” Aidan sat up and groaned when his body protested. Vehemently. “Gavin isn’t the bodyguard type.”
“He saved your ass.”
Aidan swore. “Yeah, okay. He did. But he can’t handle a guy like Samson. Fucker is as big as me. And Samson’s not right in the head. Seriously.”
Jack looked behind him and, seeing no one there, leaned closer to Aidan. “You’re right; he’s not. Avery had a vision of the guy tagging Gavin. Shot him with a tranq. Now would you rather that asshole just met with Gavin alone, or would you like to be around when it goes down?”
Aidan blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’m not dicking with you for my health. I want Gavin watched. He’s feeling good that he succeeded, and I want to foster that. I don’t want him to leave the team.”
“Leave?” His voice grew louder, and he didn’t like Jack’s expression. “What’s so fucking funny?”
“Nothing.” Jack sighed. “You people give me a headache, you know that? I meant what I said. Gavin wants a place on this team. He earned it. Hell, he’s had it since we got here. Little shit is a genius with our books. But he wants fieldwork to make him happy?” Jack shrugged. “He’s got it. He’s your new detail.”
“Christ.” Aidan needed to get on the mend, pronto.
“And just to keep things running smoothly, I’ll have Justin and Kyle Cannon keeping an extra eye on things. The Cannons owe me a favor. They can provide some extra security, since most of the rest of the team is tapped. You and Gavin are taking time off to heal. I assume you’ll be out at your place, in that secluded area near the mountains.”
“Yeah.” Aidan knew that look. “Hell. You want us to draw them out. We’re bait.”
Jack didn’t say anything.
“That’s fucked up, Jack. Gavin could get seriously hurt.”
“Oh?”
“Come on. Say what you want, but Gavin’s not like the rest of us. He needs time to grow. He’s not…” How to say it without insulting Gavin. He didn’t want to ruin Gavin’s dream of being a heavy hitter, but honestly, Gavin was soft and sweet. Just the way Aidan liked him.
“I know. But he won’t hear it. He did good with you on that op. So use him now and get him up to speed. If he wants fieldwork, it’s his.”
“I’m telling him the truth.”
“Tell him whatever you want. The feds are all over Kerr, but they’re not as concerned with Samson Ruelle. I am. I want this Ruelle character dealt with. I don’t like threats close to home.” Jack frowned. “I have to get back to the gym. With Kitty distracted and Avery and Nathan on a break, we’re shorthanded.”
“Put Ian to work.” The pained look on Jack’s face made Aidan chuckle. “Yeah, I know. But he can be charming when he wants to be. And he’ll occupy Keegan.” Jack’s other nightmare—a huge-ass Texan with a chip on his shoulder when it came to the boss. The pair seemed to be in a constant struggle to prove who was top dog. Keegan didn’t seem to realize Jack would never bow to anyone. Even Aidan had enough sense to know that.
“Good point.” Jack smiled, and for a moment, the heavy shadows that constantly lingered over him faded away. Good Christ, the man was hot. Not as sexy as Gavin, but still. Then Jack’s lips thinned again. “Now get some rest. Your boy should be back soon.”
Hot or not, only one man meant the world to him. Aidan forced himself to ignore the flush on his face.
“Hell. I’m done sending you guys out on ops. Every time a pair goes out, you come back a couple. Or worse, a threesome.” Jack snorted, no doubt referring to Keegan, James, and Rory, his biggest pains. “So the undercover work. You handled it?”
“Yeah. You want details?” he challenged, more than ready to defend his time with Gavin, especially if his boss thought he could malign Gavin and get away with it.
“Hell no. Collars and whips aren’t my thing. You just take care of your boy, you hear me?”
“It was just an op, Jack. Everything’s back to normal now.”
“Yeah, okay. Well, I have other things to do than pamper your sorry ass. Get up, get dressed, and get the hell out of here.”
Aidan thought he heard his boss say something about him being a dumb shit as he left the room.
Then Dr. Cannon walked in. “Aidan, why are you almost out of bed?”
Busted. “Ah, sorry, Doc. I have orders to go. I really can’t stay here.”
Gavin entered, looking fresh and innocent. He had a fading bruise on his left cheek, but other than that, he appeared fine.
Dr. Cannon shook her head. “You people are great for business. You come, I fix you up, and you leave. Bam. Then you’re back again.”
“You’re leaving?” Gavin scowled. “He’s not healed yet. Look at him.”
Aidan felt underdressed in his pajama pants. God, he wanted to get home and into his own bed.
“No, he’s not.” Dr. Cannon shut the door. She was an older woman in her fifties, beautiful, with a grace and dedication to her profession that did her proud. But a look at her eyes told Aidan the underlying truth. The woman had power, a lot of it.
He felt itchy, ready to leave. “It’s okay, Doc. Gavin’s going to watch out for me while I heal. Jack’s orders,” he said to Gavin.
He tried to ignore his pleasure when Gavin brightened.
Gavin nodded. “I passed him on the way. I’ll make sure he gets rest and fluids, Dr. Cannon.”
“Only the good kind,” Aidan sent him, attaching an image of Gavin’s cock in his mouth.