The Protector

by Jessie G.

  “I really can’t believe you’re leaving,” Ryder repeated for the hundredth time.

  “This isn’t a lifelong career with a pension plan, Ry. Make sure you have an exit strategy, too.” Kyle had lost count of the number of times he said those words. He’d seen too many young men come into the game thinking they were going to hit it big right out of the gate and that porn was going to sustain them. The money just wasn’t there, not unless you knew how to springboard from porn to other avenues of entertainment. As for sustainability, age was a career breaker and everyone suffered from it.

  “Yeah, but ten years, man! That’s legendary.”

  It was a good run, but it was insulting to all the real legends out there to try to attribute the accolade to him. “Yes, they’ll write poems about my cock sucking skills.”

  “You are an epic cock sucker, Ky. Any chance of a going away BJ?”

  “Sure, you getting on your knees?” They both laughed at the absurdity of it.

  “Will you keep in touch?” Ryder shifted from foot to foot, looking down. There were few people that Kyle thought of as a real friend in and out of the industry, but Ryder was one of the good ones. He meandered onto the scene in that laidback, Midwestern boy way of his, and they had each other’s backs ever since. If there was anyone he’d care to keep in contact with, it was Ryder Holt.

  “I’ll be your biggest fan.”

  “Can I still call you when Tex pisses me off?”

  “I’d be mad if you didn’t.” They hugged tight and then he pulled back, looking sternly at his friend. “Ry, promise me that you have an exit plan.”

  “I do, I do. I called your investment guy, got things set up, I promise.”

  “Good.” As his friend drove away Kyle looked at the empty storage unit. This was the final tie and he was severing it. No more porn, no more modeling, no more living out of boxes and pitching his tent wherever he happened to be. All in all he had no regrets, but it was time for a new chapter and he’d be damned if someone else was going to write it for him.

  With a bang the door to the unit slammed behind him, but he didn’t look back. The past was the past. It was time to see what he could do with the future.

  Chapter 22

  Saul

  In the long list of things he hated, being kept in the dark ranked right up there with anyone daring to tell him what to do. Bull, one of the few men he trusted, had committed both crimes repeatedly in the last four weeks. It all started with a seemingly innocent invitation to a barbeque, which had turned out to be a meet and greet with someone Clay and Bull thought could help him. What it didn’t help was Javier’s ability to forget Kyle. What were the fucking odds that the man his friends thought could help him would be Chase’s Master Ty?

  Saul couldn’t have been more surprised to find out that Clay’s good friend and Chase’s beloved Master was Tyler “Trick” Malone. Though their paths had never crossed, it was no secret that the motorcycle club was acting as mules for Durango’s drug business. It was also no secret that Trick Malone got his SAA patch by killing the previous Sargent at Arms.

  The man was an unapologetic monster with a warped sense of humor who somehow garnered adoration from Chase that was unlike anything Saul had ever seen. Deeper than the reverence Evan and Tory had for Clay. Deeper than the trust Javier had for him. It encompassed all of that and so much more, that it actually hurt to see.

  After some tense introductory moments the gathering had accomplished its purpose. They had a new ally. Even Javier relaxed after a time, joining the boys in the pool, and he only asked about Kyle twice. Chase had been kind, maybe a little sad, in his refusal to talk about his cousin. Trick was not quite so polite, but at least he waited until Javier was out of earshot before informing him that Kyle was stretched to near breaking. Working too hard, piling on to an already impossible schedule, zig-zagging across the world, and was just flat out exhausted.

  What, Saul demanded, was he supposed to do? Hunt Kyle down and drag him back to Miami? No, because Kyle didn’t belong in Miami. For starters, it wasn’t safe and really, why the hell would Kyle want to settle down with two mechanics who thought a good day meant they weren’t dead? Surely Trick would understand that? Trick just looked at Chase as if he held the key to the whole fucking universe and shook his head. I gave him the truth and the choice, but between you and I? If he had tried to leave I would have done anything, right or wrong, good or bad, to keep him with me. I’m prepared to kill for him. I’m even prepared to die for him. What I’ll never do is squander a second of time that we can be together.

  Reeling from that, Saul was blindsided when Bull let it slip that Alaric was working on a plan to get Miguel and Marisol to safety. It only got worse when Bull refused to divulge any details until Alaric was ready. That was weeks ago and his anger had just begun to abate when Bull called to say that he was closing the shop for the morning. Before he could demand answers, Bull told him to be at Alaric’s office at nine. Told him. Didn’t ask him. Didn’t discuss it with him. Just told him.

  The only amusement he got was seeing Alaric’s employees scurry away as Delia led his merry band of misfits, dressed in their garage best, to the conference room. They arrived in the cavernous room to find Trick and Chase already there with Clay and his boys. Even Owen was there, glaring into a mug of coffee...at least until he spotted Chris.

  Saul couldn’t be bothered to watch the freaky foursome, as Kyle dubbed them, come together in that weird way of theirs. While Javier walked over to the coffee bar, Saul made his way to where Trick was leaning against the wall and took up a similar stance. “Did they at least give you a good reason for being here?”

  “I suppose I know more than you. Doesn’t change the fact that I was dragged out of my bed at some god-awful hour to ‘show up or else.’” Trick glared at Clay even though the man wasn’t paying them the least bit of attention. “Fucking bastard’s lucky I like him.”

  “Yeah.” Saul was feeling the same way about Bull. Javier walked over with a cup of coffee for him and offered Trick a small smile before sitting with those he felt most comfortable.

  “I think that’s progress,” Trick said thoughtfully, watching Javier retreat. “Less fear, more at ease.”

  “Yeah.” Saul grunted again.

  “I had to wake up Chase to be here. Do you know what that’s like? When he’s all warm and soft and naked and plastered all over my body like he can’t get close enough and I gotta be the one to pull him from that nirvana to drive across the state at Fido’s ass crack of dawn? The least you can do is string a few more words together.”

  “Fido’s ass crack of dawn?” Saul shook his head. “Where do you come up with that shit?”

  “I’m a pretty witty motherfucker.” Trick chuckled and looked around the room again. “This little gathering needs to get underway. Chase’s ability to veer from his routines only lasts so long.”

  As if on cue, Bull and Red walked in. “Ah, there’s the other bastard now.”

  “That sex-on-a-ginger-stick still putting up with his royal horniness, huh?”

  It took Saul a second to realize that Trick was referring to Red and laughed. “You’re right, you’re a pretty witty motherfucker. And yeah, those two are in it for the long haul.”

  “Yeah? That’s good.” Trick hummed again before smirking at Saul. “On a scale of one to epic, how bad do you think Bull would explode if I called his hot piece of ass that to his face?”

  “Epic and enough with that shit.” It didn’t pay to be offended when Trick was just trying to get a reaction out of him. But, just in case the man needed clarification, Saul pointed out, “Red’s like a little brother.”

  “Yeah, I get that vibe. That whole brothers-in-arms, family-of-our-choosing shit. I respect that.” Trick shifted his stance, his evil smirk fading away. “It’s nice.”

  Before Saul could respond, Alaric and Davin walked in with Delia in tow. An angry hand pushed against the door before it could close, causing everyone to tu
rn curiously. Slim and rumpled, and beyond pissed, the straggler barely acknowledged the room as he threw himself into the nearest empty chair.

  Alaric looked from him to the others around the room and sighed. “I can see everyone’s just as thrilled to be here. Why don’t we all take a seat so we can get this over with?”

  There was some general grumbling as everyone took their seats. Saul took his chair and looked around. Friends, family, whatever label you wanted to give it, this was everyone he cared about. Well, nearly everyone. He was willing to hear Alaric out, but putting any one of their lives at risk wasn’t an option for him.

  “I’ve been tracking Miguel and Marisol for three months,” Alaric began. “I was hoping to find some routines, but there was no discernable pattern.”

  That didn’t sound like the beginnings of any master plan Saul ever heard. “So what are we doing here then?”

  “There’s an event coming up. A big birthday party for Hector Romero.” On the far wall a screen came down, displaying a picture of Romero.

  The years had not done him any justice. “I thought that old bastard was dead.”

  “Like you, another great exaggeration.” Clay chuckled.

  “As I was saying,” Alaric cut them off, “the old bastard is going to be eighty. They’ve scheduled three days of parties because they couldn’t make it simple and just gather everyone in one building.”

  “They’re sick, twisted fucks, but they aren’t stupid. So how did you find out about it?”

  “When we got trackers on Miguel and Marisol, we tagged a few other key players and have been listening in on some interesting conversations. It’s really a shame none of it can be used because I’ve got a helluva RICO case.” Davin sighed and stretched his neck. “We’ve pieced together about ninety percent of the party schedule.”

  It was easy to put the next piece of the puzzle together, and Saul looked at Clay thoughtfully. “I know you wouldn’t let Evan have this event at the club, knowing how dangerous it would be.”

  Clay sighed. “No, normally I wouldn’t, but hear Ric out. It’s not a bad plan.”

  The headache he’d had since yesterday morning was getting worse. “I’m listening.”

  “Marisol is one of a dozen women who will be shuttled between events to provide entertainment to the guests. Miguel has been promoted to Tito Perez’s detail and will be running point at Velvet Ropes. It’s the only event that they’ll be together.” With a few taps on his tablet, Alaric replaced Romero’s picture with Miguel and Marisol’s. It had been years since he’d seen her, but Saul wasn’t shocked by her appearance. Durango had a lot to answer for. “It’s been requested that the girls be assigned a specific room, so we know which room she’ll be in.”

  “If she’s in a private room she won’t be alone, so now you’re talking about taking out her john?” The messier this was, the worse the fallout would be.

  “Once shit goes down, do you really think the john is going to care about her? He’s going to run and not look back.” Alaric had a point. Not that he was swayed into thinking this was in any way a good idea, but Alaric had a point. “There’s an outbuilding not far from the club that’s currently empty. Evan has been contemplating having it demolished to extend the parking lot. Now, I know you have an explosives expert among you…”

  “No!” Saul looked at Bull incredulously. Bull knew exactly why they couldn’t use their explosives expert. How could he let Alaric put Jacky in the plan?

  “Saul, he already asked me,” Jacky spoke up. “I already agreed.”

  Alaric continued before he could argue anymore. “The quick and dirty of it is that once Marisol is in her assigned room, a few well-placed explosions will cause the right amount of panic. Once her cowardly john leaves her in the dust, we’ll have someone on the inside to corral her where we can get her out. Billy, Owen and Colin will be waiting to get her to safety. In the commotion Miguel is going to get injured and will require an ambulance. Bull and Jared will man an ambulance since Jared’s got field medic training. It’ll be hours before the cops, fire department, bomb squad and homeland security are done questioning all the guests and securing the area. By the time Durango realizes they’re missing it will be too late to do anything about it.”

  “Let me get this straight. You’re,” Saul pointed to Clay, “going to let him blow up Evan’s club?”

  Jacky pouted at his incredulous question. “Have some faith in me, brother. I’m not going to blow up his club, just the outbuilding. His club won’t have a scratch on it. It’s just a scare tactic—a cover—and a way to bring the authorities in.”

  “And it saves on the demolition costs.” Evan spoke finally and sent him a reassuring smile.

  Saul looked at Jacky and saw beneath the brave exterior to the fear, the excitement, and the clawing need. “This is a bad idea, Jacky, we both know that.”

  “First, Chris is going to be with me and if anyone can control me, it’s that brute there. Second, we’re in this fight with you, whether you like it or not. Third, I trust you to bring me back when it’s over, so let me help you do this.”

  Saul looked at those who knew why this was a bad idea, and all he saw was the same determined expression. “You and I will talk about this. Every fucking day. Do you hear me? If I don’t think you can handle it, I will stop you.”

  Jacky ducked his head in embarrassment. Saul knew he should feel guilty for pointing out his weakness and suggesting he wasn’t strong enough. But how could he stay silent when Jacky’s sanity hung in the balance? Jacky had come so far since Bull brought him to the house, a broken, guilt-ridden mess. Saul wouldn’t risk that progress for any reason, not his brother or his need for revenge.

  Alaric looked between them, seeming to understand his concern, and offered, “If need be we’ll switch Jared, but he’s best served in the ambulance.”

  “We’ll see.” Saul mentally reviewed the list of who would be where. Yeah, Chris could control Jacky in the moment, so that was the right choice if he allowed Jacky to be involved. Colin, Billy and Owen could work together well, but he would need more information before he agreed they were right for the job. Bull and Jared in the ambulance was probably the only solid choice. Their joint military experience spoke for itself. Having both Clay and Evan in the club was risky, but Evan’s presence was probably requested and Clay would never let him do it alone.

  The whole thing sucked so far. The type of contrived, over-the-top scenario that went into those cheesy romantic suspense novels Liam had stashed under his bed. And he knew Alaric was far from done. “How are you going to guarantee Miguel gets hurt or that he gets to your ambulance?”

  “I’m gonna be checkin’ coats.” Liam wasn’t a cold blooded killer or a criminal; he was a jock who got dealt a bad hand in the parental department. He read cheesy romance novels for fucks sake! “Durango’s lettin’ Evan have a few of his peeps work da blowout.”

  It was slightly alarming how easily he could translate Liam’s slang. It was a mask, much like Kip Veil was Kyle’s, and the why was another worry that ate at him. “You do realize that my brother is a trained killer, right?”

  “Yep.” Liam shrugged. “I figure when the ground starts shakin’ I’ll just tackle his ass. Then I can be suitably remorseful and help him to the medics.”

  “That’s…” It had so many potential pitfalls Saul didn’t even know where to begin. Another thing for him to think about and refine. “Who’s going to be on the inside to get Marisol where you want her?”

  “Me.” Delia sat on Alaric’s left, his trusted executive assistant, and she was the last person Saul expected to speak. The woman exuded class and there was no way she’d blend into that crowd. “I see your doubt, but I’m not just a pretty face, Mr. Alvarez.”

  The other man, the pissed off straggler, shifted uncomfortably and Alaric spared him a warning glance. “Juan, she can do this.”

  If anything, that pissed Juan off more. Saul still didn’t know what his role was, but the a
nger was something he understood well. “You already know how I feel about it, so go on.”

  Saul had more than enough to worry about without trying to figure out what was going on with Juan and Alaric’s assistant. “The question isn’t if you can do the job, it’s why would you?”

  “Simple. It’s important to Mr. Bennett and Detective Monroe. You’re not the only one with family in this room. You need a woman on the inside, one who can blend and can stay cool under pressure. I’m your girl.”

  Finally Saul looked at their ringmaster. No, it wasn’t a bad plan. It was a horrible plan, but did he have a better one? Short of storming Durango’s compound with the hopes of killing the man before his army could stop him, the answer was no. “You really think you can juggle this whole thing from your computer, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I can. But I won’t do it alone. I’ve got our hacker and I’ve got Red and Tory.”

  Bull met his questioning gaze and let him see the fear and determination. Of course he was afraid for Red, so why was he determined to let him be involved? “I won’t leave him behind. If he’s working with Ric, I know where he is and that he’s safe.”

  “No.” Red was like a baby brother.

  Red leaned forward, drawing his gaze, and spoke from his heart. “I need to be involved. For you and Javi, yes, but…Bull is my life.”

  “Saul.” Tory didn’t smile, but his eyes said he was on board even as he nervously stroked his collar. “Master and I won’t let Evan be in the club alone and there is no way in hell I’m sitting home waiting while the men I love risk their lives. Red won’t sit home and wait either. We’re safer with something to do, with Ric and Juan.”