As far as plans went, this one was basically the worst that Rory had ever heard. He realized that they didn’t have much choice, but it still grated on his nerves that the only thing they could really do was up the security at Viridian, make sure Magnus was being watched over, and try to get his restraining order against that bastard reinstated.
Rory had half a mind to just go find him, but the thought of what he might be capable of doing when faced with the man who’d hurt Magnus so badly honestly scared him. For all his fight training and training of others, Rory didn’t consider himself a violent man, but thinking of what Magnus had to endure and knowing the perpetrator was out walking in the broad light of day, and so close, had vicious, brutal thoughts warring for space in his brain.
“Okay,” Rocco said from his place at the table where they’d all reconvened after Rory’s outburst. He slowly pulled in another deep breath. He needed to keep his head. This was about Magnus and how they were going to keep him safe. “So, I’ll double check the guys you already have working for you, Magnus, and,” Roc nodded at Vidar, “maybe put out some feelers at the gym for a couple others. Then when you’re not at Viridian and not with Wilson, you’ll be with one of us.”
Magnus didn’t hide his grimace very well. “I appreciate all the effort, I really do, but I can’t ask you all to babysit me all the time. And I don’t really need it. I’m a big boy. I know I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday, but to say I was caught off guard is an understatement.”
A thought started to take shape in Rory’s mind, but he wasn’t sure he should suggest it in front of everyone. At the end of the day, Magnus was right. Rory would gladly stay with him around the clock, but even that wasn’t feasible long term. They all had jobs and lives, and where his was inextricably wound up with Magnus’s, the others had partners of their own to worry about, too. He would bring his suggestion to Magnus and if he agreed, they could discuss it with Rocco to see what he thought. Rory frowned. He couldn’t believe he was considering that.
Magnus raised a brow at him in question, but Rory shook his head. It was Friday morning, and they needed to be off to their jobs and commitments, yet all he wanted to do was take Magnus back to bed. The night before had been intense in the best of ways. The whole day before really. He felt both revitalized and raw, like someone had split him open and given his insides an exfoliating treatment, scrubbing away what was dead and leaving tender pink places behind.
Vidar and Dagen left to open the gym. Harbor and Theo had originally planned to head back to Indy, but decided to stay for the weekend, so they tagged along. With Harbor being at the gym, that left Rory able to stay with Magnus for the day. He had vacation days that had built up, and he was going to cash them in. As Rocco stood from the table to take his leave, Rory climbed to his feet.
“Rocco.”
Roc turned, eyes wary, and walked to where Rory was standing.
Rory stuck out his hand, and after a brief pause, Rocco shook it. “Sorry about blowing my top,” Rory said with a little shake of his head, his eyes darting to Magnus. “When it comes to him...”
“No need to explain.” Rocco nodded, a tight smile pulling at his mouth. “Believe me, I know.”
Rory nodded, and with a stomach rolling with nerves, he looked at Magnus before turning back to Rocco. “I had a thought...that I don’t like at all, but I’d like your opinion on it. Only if Magnus is on board with it, of course.”
Magnus’s eyes were questioning, but Rory was relieved to see no alarm there, no concern. Only trust. The unwavering faith Magnus had in him shook him to his core. He couldn’t believe that he deserved it. That he deserved Magnus’s love at all, but he was prepared to guard it, jealously and without hesitation.
“What’s the idea?” Rocco asked looking between them. So, Rory opened his mouth, and before he could second guess himself, mapped out a plan that would take them into the belly of the beast.
Chapter Seventeen
“Good job, Luca,” Rory called, watching Luca work with Andre on escaping a submission hold. He’d been worried about having Luca work with someone else and someone so much bigger than him, but he and Andre seemed to get along well, and so far, Luca hadn’t shown a single sign of panic.
It had been four days since their “meeting” with Magnus’s brothers and Rocco about what to do to keep Magnus safe from the man who’d assaulted him. Rory grimaced at the thought, but he and Magnus had talked a lot since they’d bared all their secrets to each other. He’d learned that Magnus had been in therapy since he’d been back in Cincinnati to deal with the aftermath of his attack. Magnus had told Rory that he’d told his mom and Kayla right away about his attack, but that it had taken him much longer to feel like he could tell his brothers. He’d admitted to feeling ashamed that he wasn’t able to defend himself.
Rory had done his best to simply be there for Magnus and not push him one way or the other, but when Magnus mentioned the self-defense lessons Rory gave Niko and Luca twice a week, he invited Magnus to join them. Now his boyfriend was changing in the locker room, and Rory was deciding which drills he’d start Magnus off with.
His own admissions about the past and his family had brought on a sense of peace and a fresh wave of grief. After his mother had passed, he’d sold the farm his grandfather had owned and moved back the States without a backward glance. But now he wondered if he should have done something to find out what really happened to his uncle. As much as it pained him, he believed in his heart that his granddad really had murdered his own son for being gay.
He often thought of the uncle he never knew. He’d mourned him, but that didn’t seem like enough. Caleb deserved a place of rest even if it could only be a symbol. Vowing that he would find a way to honor Caleb’s memory, Rory turned to see if Magnus was nearly ready and almost ran right into him.
He was wearing a pair of black shorts and a red t-shirt that looked wonderful against his tan skin. Rory loved him so much he thought his heart would burst with it. “Ready?”
Magnus nodded. “I think so.”
“You’ll do fine. Remember, this is training. It’s not about getting the move perfect the first time, but about teaching your body through repetition what to do. Okay?”
Magnus nodded, and Niko bounced over from where he’d been lounging on the side of the mats. Rory had decided to pair them together. Niko was proving to be a good training partner.
Rory walked them through the first set of moves he wanted Magnus to learn, and then left him and Niko to it. He was afraid of making Magnus more nervous than he already was. Magnus had always done his own thing, and it seemed like he’d avoided any sort of martial arts because his brothers were so heavily involved in it.
Taking a break, Andre and Luca walked over to him. Luca sat, picking up his water bottle and taking a long drink, but Andre stood beside Rory, his wide eyes trained on Magnus.
“Holy shit, that’s—”
“My boyfriend,” Rory cut him off. “Magnus Rourke.”
If possible, Andre’s eyes went even wider and he swallowed hard. “Um...I’m sorry, I didn’t me—”
“It’s okay, Andre,” Rory said, and he realized as he said it, that it was. Magnus had been a porn star. It was part of who he was. He wasn’t ashamed of it. He didn’t try to hide it, and Rory wasn’t going to be the reason any of those things started to happen. He loved Magnus. All of him.
“I’m still sorry I was gawking at him just now. Sometimes being famous kind of blows.”
Rory chuckled. “Already regretting going pro?”
Andre ducked his head a moment, before shaking it. “No, not that. I meant my dad. He was a big hockey star. NHL. He’s retired now and coaching a team in Texas, but I remember growing up with people always watching me.” He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Even now when they want to talk to me, it’s usually about him.”
“How does he feel about you being a MMA rising star?”
“Oh, he’d be thrilled if I was winning.”
Rory nodded and clasped Andre’s shoulder. “There’s always going to be loses, but we’ll get you on track to have plenty of marks in the win column too.”
Andre nodded. “Thanks Rory.”
“Anytime,” Rory said, giving him a smile before focusing back on Magnus and Niko.
Magnus looked up at him from the mat where he’d just successfully deflected an attack from behind. He threw up his arms in a little cheer, then caught Rory’s eye.
“Did you see that?”
“You’re doing great, baby.” Rory smiled as he watched Magnus and Niko start practicing again. Now, all of this just needed to be enough to get them through what was coming next.
Chapter Eighteen
The music was a pulsing, living thing slithering over his skin and leading his body into sinuous movements against his rigid dance partner.
At least the part of Rory that Magnus wanted to be rigid was cooperating, now if he could just get the rest to loosen up. Enjoying the way the black t-shirt he was wearing molded to Rory’s muscled chest, Magnus slid his hands up over Rory’s pecs making sure to give his nipples a little pinch through the fabric before letting his hands rest just over Rory’s shoulders.
Leaning in he whispered against Rory’s lips, “Relax, baby.” He knew he should be the nervous one. This whole idea hinged on Nolan being there tonight, seeing him, and then not being able to walk away without giving away his true colors. It was a risk, but for whatever reason, Magnus wasn’t afraid. It was hard to be when Rory’s hands hadn’t left his body, and despite them supposed to be blending in, Rory’s eyes were constantly scanning the crowd around them.
Glancing to the side, Magnus spotted Rocco. He was dancing with a dark-headed twink and looked like he was actually enjoying himself. Huh. Given that Roc’s usual type was tall and blond, Magnus was surprised at his chosen partner. Of course, it could all be for show. They weren’t really there to celebrate Gaslight’s official grand opening, after all, but to poke the beast as Rory had taken to referring to it. Magnus had taken that statement and translated it for his own purposes and had taken great pleasure in poking the beast, repeatedly, for several days in a row.
Magnus was half convinced that they’d had more sex in the last week than they had the whole of their young relationship. Of course, back then, it was all about being sneaky and avoiding parents. It was proving more amazing then Magnus thought possible to wake up every morning with Rory’s skin sleep warm against his. Even if he could wake that way every morning for the rest of his life and it would never be enough.
Still in Magnus’s line of sight, Rocco spun his twink around so that his back was pressed to Rocco’s chest, and Magnus’s jaw fell open. The boy was wearing dark skinny jeans with a long-sleeved crop top that left his toned midsection bare and his face was accented with perfectly applied makeup. The boy that was Niko.
Rory huffed a laugh against Magnus’s ear. “You just realized that sexy little thing with Roc is Niko, didn’t you?”
“Holy shit,” Magnus breathed, eyes still wide and staring. Niko had dyed his dark hair to a deep purple that matched the shirt he was wearing which covered his tattoos, Magnus realized. He was so used to seeing Niko in whichever flirty little underwear he was wearing that night on stage, bright tattoos on full display, and a smile on his face that it was no wonder he didn’t recognize him. He looked stunning, but not like himself at all.
“Right?” Rory said. “Your brother will shit a brick when he sees him.”
Magnus couldn’t help but laugh, only for it to die in his throat when another familiar head of dark hair passed his line of sight, just on the edge of the dance floor. “Show time,” he whispered, and Rory went tense again for a moment before letting out a breath and coasting his hand down Magnus’s back to squeeze his ass and sealed their mouths together.
Magnus opened for him immediately, letting Rory lick into him and sucking on his tongue. He closed his eyes and let everything else fade away, reveling in Rory’s taste, and scent, and the feel of his hands on his body. He held on to that, even as his mind tried to rebel. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to have to do this. He shouldn’t have to, but he didn’t want to live with Nolan like a constant specter over his shoulder, either.
Opening his eyes, he saw Nolan see him. Saw the flash of recognition in his eyes, then watched as they clouded over with rage. Good, Magnus thought. Get angry.
Pulling back from Rory’s kiss, Magnus looked up into the beautiful blue-green eyes of the man he loved. Viridian eyes. Rory gripped him a little bit tighter. This was the part of the plan his lover had the most qualms with, but Magnus was prepared. He wasn’t afraid anymore.
Giving Rory one more kiss, he pulled back and held his gaze. “I’ll be okay.”
Rory started to shake his like he was going to protest. “Magnus, no, I—”
“Let me do this,” Magnus said, heart in his throat. He didn’t want to. He wanted to stay right there in Rory’s arms and forget that Nolan Clemonte existed. He wanted to erase him from his thoughts and from his life. Taking a fortifying breath, Magnus pressed one more quick kiss to Rory’s lips, then slipped out of his arms, walking toward where Nolan was sitting in a roped off VIP section to the side of the dance floor. Their eyes met and held, a satisfied smirk pulling up one side of Nolan’s lips, and Magnus saw red. It burned him up inside that this excuse for a man could ever think that he would choose him over Rory. That he would ever choose anyone over Rory.
Then Nolan’s eyes went wide, and he was setting his martini glass down with a splash, and scrambling to his feet. Magnus was confused until a hand landed on his arm and he looked over to see Tom, his former bartender, with yellowing bruises still lingering on his face. “Tom, what?” He looked tired, but resolved, with his blond hair pulled back into a bun and several days worth of scruff on his face.
A moment later, several men in uniform walked past Magnus where Tom had pulled him to the side. The police went straight past the velvet rope and seconds later, Nolan Clemonte was in handcuffs, screaming for someone named James to call his lawyer and demanding to know if the cops knew who he was. One of the officers, that Magnus thought looked vaguely familiar, said, “Yes, your name was on your arrest warrant.” Making several people laugh, but only seeming to enrage Nolan further. They escorted him out, and after a moment, the music resumed, and people went back to dancing like Magnus’s world hadn’t just tilted on its axis.
Turning to Tom, Magnus was speechless. “Tom, what? How?”
“He threatened several of us, Magnus. More than threatened some. I know you didn’t know, and I’m sorry I didn’t come to you sooner. But your friend...” Tom nodded behind Magnus, who glanced back over his shoulder to find Rocco, Niko, and Rory standing in a semi-circle behind him. Rory stepped up, letting his chest brush Magnus’s back, and Magnus leaned back against him gratefully. “Came to see me and told me some of what was happening and about the case against Nolan. I wanted to help, and when I called some of the others, they did, too.”
“Thank you, Tom.” Magnus didn’t know what else to say. He could barely process what had just happened. He’d been prepared to antagonize Nolan into giving himself away. To confront him the way he never did in California. Rory’s arms slid around him, and he leaned down to kiss Magnus’s temple before stepping to the side and offering his hand for Tom to shake.
“Thank you,” Rory said simply, his voice strong and deep the way it went when his emotions were close to the surface.
Magnus slid his arm around Rory’s waist, fitting himself against his lover’s side. “Why don’t we get out of here? I hear there’s a much better club just down the road.”
“About that…” Tom said, looking nervous. “Do you, uh, think I could have my job back?”
“Do you really have to ask? The job is yours for as long as you want it.”
“Thanks, Magnus.”
Viridian was hopping. Rory led their group through the front door and
immediately Vidar, Harbor, and Dagen, who had all been on standby in case things went south at Gaslight, descended on them.
“A group just came in talking about the police arresting some guy in a club down the street,” Dagen said, looking at each of their faces before settling on Magnus. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good, little brother. Several of my employees that Nolan had been harassing went to the police. He’s in custody,” Magnus said, with the same look of awe and relief on his face he’d had in Gaslight.
“And I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way,” Rocco piped up from behind them where he was standing with an arm thrown casually around Niko’s shoulders. Everyone glanced back at him, and then did a double take. To Rory’s surprise, Vidar didn’t react at all, just let his eyes sweep over them before looking back to Magnus and Rory.
“We’ve claimed a table over there.” Then he turned and walked back to one of the larger U-shaped booths where Kayla, Theo, Andre, and Ollie were sitting with drinks in front of them. Tom broke away from the group, going over to where Chelsea was standing by the bar to get enveloped in a hug.
Magnus leaned up, kissed his cheek, and said, “I’ll be right back,” before going over to join in the mini-employee reunion happening beside the bar. Luca even came out from behind the bar to hug Tom.
“Huh,” Niko said from beside Rory, looking in the same direction.
Rory looked down at him, raising an eyebrow at the purple crop top.
“What?” Niko said, looking down at himself. “Rocco said he needed eye candy, but that I needed to be incognito.”
“And he just randomly called you with this need for eye candy?”
Niko glared at him for a moment before his eyes traveled past Rory to the table where the rest of their friends—their family was waiting. “Yeah. I think someone might have told him I’m available.” There was a bitter note in Niko’s voice before he sighed and turned toward the bar. “I’m going to go check on Luca.”
Open Wounds: The Boxed Set Page 36
