by Lynn Hagen
Lights on, fog cleared. Gabe spun around to glare at Maxwell. “What the hell? I should have a say in this considering it’s my life we’re talking about.”
“You’re being unreasonable,” his father bit out. “You have no background training for this.”
“And you do?” Gabe asked. “What do you know about dealing with money-laundering thugs? You didn’t even know what they were up to until it was almost too late.”
Maxwell narrowed his eyes at the reminder.
Gabe hadn’t meant to embarrass his father in front of his friend, but it scared the hell out of him to leave the man here while he ran. That didn’t sit well with him at all.
“Go get your bags,” his father ground out. “Now.”
Gabe started to argue further, but could see that it was pointless. He stormed from the office, furious that his father was sending him away. After gathering his luggage from his room, he was met by Legend at the front door.
“You’re being unreasonable,” the bodyguard said before walking out.
Gabe knew he was. But Maxwell was all he had and Gabe was terrified of losing the man. He was allowed to be upset. Screw Legend and his unwelcome opinion.
He stepped out into the bright California sunshine and spotted Legend standing by a luxury sedan, trunk open. The man was leaning against the car, his arms crossed over his chest. Gabe crossed the cobblestone driveway and stored his luggage.
“Pack enough unnecessary shit?” Legend asked as he gazed disapprovingly at Gabe.
Gabe flipped the man off, though he’d noticed a solitary duffel bag that had been stuffed in the trunk before he packed it full. “I can’t help it if you only own one pair of underwear.”
After slamming the trunk shut, Gabe walked around to the passenger side. He was reaching for the door handle when he heard something that sounded like a ping. His eyes went wide and he screeched as Legend dove toward him, knocking Gabe to the ground and making him hit his head.
“What the fuck?” Gabe shouted at the man as he tried to shove Legend off of him. “What are you going to do, kick my ass for getting smart with you?”
His bodyguard pinned Gabe to the ground as he growled into his face, “Someone is shooting at you, moron.”
Oh. Well, that changed everything.
Legend reached up and yanked the passenger door open before he grabbed Gabe’s arm and shoved him onto the floor of the car. Gabe stayed down as he watched Legend pull a gun from a holster that had been hidden under his jacket.
This was getting too real. Gabe wanted to run back inside and make sure his father was okay. Legend crawled to the front passenger side and then slid over into the driver’s seat. Gabe had to reach up and slam the door closed as his bodyguard peeled from the driveway, exiting the estate at a hair-raising speed.
Gabe worked his way out of his tight confines before he took a seat and then turned, trying to see who was shooting at him.
“Get down,” Legend shouted as he cut another corner, tossing Gabe into the door.
“But my father!” Gabe righted himself as he slunk down in the seat. “We can’t just leave him there.”
“He has measures in place just in case something like this happens.”
What measures? It was as if Gabe didn’t know who Maxwell Summerville was anymore. He knew his dad had a military past, but Gabe had never seen the man acting in any way but normal. Legend’s reassurance didn’t ease the suffocating fear that had Gabe fighting to breathe.
“Please, take me back. I have to make sure he’s okay.” Gabe twisted in his seat and reached for the handle. If Legend wouldn’t slow down, then he would jump from the car. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was the only one he could come up with.
Legend reached over and grabbed Gabe’s arm in a firm grip. “Don’t even think about it. Your father can take care of himself. My job is to make sure you don’t get your damn head blown off or break your neck by stupidly leaping from a car that’s going ninety miles an hour.”
As much as he hated to admit it, Legend was right. Gabe would be of no use to his father if he broke his neck. He sat back, snapping his seat belt into place and taking a shuddering breath. This was all too much. Gabe had never been shot at before and he was wigging out.
“I just…I can’t…” Gabe shook his head as he felt the tears welling up. “I can’t lose him.”
“You won’t.”
“But how do you know?” Gabe was desperate to believe Legend. He didn’t want to think about his father dying. “Can I call him to make sure he’s okay?”
Legend shook his head firmly. “It’s too risky right now.”
Gabe gazed out of the window, watching as they drove past the exit for the airport. “Where are we going?”
“It’s on a need-to-know basis,” Legend said as he steered toward a familiar exit. They were headed to the Summerville airstrip. His father owned a private jet and it seemed they were about to put it to use. But he still didn’t know where they were headed.
“And what, I don’t need to know?” The small airstrip came into view and Gabe could see that the jet was fueled and ready to go. The steps were lowered and the pilot was standing there talking with one of the workers as Legend pulled onto the tarmac.
“You catch on quick.” Legend pulled the luxury sedan to a stop before killing the motor.
“You know, evasive answers aren’t going to work with me. I demand that you tell me where you’re taking me.” Gabe crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture that said he wasn’t moving until he got some answers.
Legend turned toward him, piercing Gabe with those gorgeous amber eyes. “You don’t want to push me, Mr. Summerville. It would be quite embarrassing if I had to throw you over my shoulder to get you onto that plane.”
The threat made Gabe’s cock hard, which only pissed him off. Why on earth did the thought of Legend manhandling him turn Gabe on? That was some pretty twisted shit.
Gabe could tell his bodyguard was dead serious. Legend would do exactly as he threatened. Gabe’s eyes darted to the pilot to see the man staring at them. Could he risk the humiliation? Legend was twice his size and had a good sixty pounds on Gabe. Sixty pounds of pure muscle from what he could see from the cut of the man’s suit.
“Don’t think you’ve won.” Gabe released his seat belt and got out of the car, heading straight for the plane. He shook the pilot’s hand and then boarded, leaving Legend to grab his luggage. Screw him. If Legend was so dead set on being an asshole, then he could carry the bags.
Gabe knew his anger stemmed from being shot at. That had been a terrifying moment and he was still trying to deal with too much. And since he couldn’t and wouldn’t take it out on his father, Legend would have to do. Gabe dropped into one of the leather seats and stared out the window, watching as the worker grabbed the luggage from the trunk and brought it on board.
Legend glanced up at Gabe and there was…amusement in the man’s eyes. He thought this was funny? Gabe ground his back teeth and looked away. He might be hot for his new bodyguard, but he definitely didn’t like the man.
The plane took off after Legend and the pilot boarded. Gabe sat there quietly the entire ride until they touched down in Louisiana. What on earth were they doing here?
“Is this where we’ll be staying?” Gabe asked as the plane came to a stop.
“It’s the first leg of our journey,” Legend answered as he stood and headed toward the exit.
“First leg?” What in the hell did that mean? Again, he asked, “Where are you taking me?”
Legend ignored him as he exited the plane. A car was waiting on them as Gabe joined the guy. If Gabe didn’t get some answers soon, he just might shoot the son of a bitch with his own gun.
* * * *
Maxwell Summerville watched his son leave with Legend. It had been the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. But he knew by sending Gabe away, he was keeping his son safe.
He turned from the foyer when he heard something outside.
Max walked back to the front door to see Legend and Gabe lying on the ground, Legend’s weapon drawn. He started to go outside when Legend shoved Gabe into the car and sped off.
Max hurried to his study and grabbed his gun from his drawer. He next went to a room Gabe knew nothing about, pressing in the code before a section of the wall slid free. It was a room with monitors and weapons. It was also Max’s intel room. Little did his son know that Max worked counterintelligence. His son worried greatly for him and Max hadn’t wanted to add to the man’s stress.
Besides, these days, Max took on less and less work. He felt guilty for lying to his son. The cartel threat was real, but Max hadn’t called the FBI. He’d called the team he relied on when he needed things handled in a discreet matter. Gator—the team leader—was working on the Ortega problem. Max knew Gator’s team was comprised of nothing but bear shifters, but Max also felt that was to his advantage.
Ortega posed a very real threat. He was a powerful U.S. operative who was known best for his gruesome killings and weapons dealings. Max didn’t plan to be the man’s next target. Ortega had reaches far beyond the prison cell he was currently sitting in. Ortega had men working for him that would have no problem not only killing Max, but Gabe as well. From what Max had gathered, Ortega had branched out to the Irish gun-smuggling pipeline.
Max needed a safe house. His home had been compromised and there was no telling how many men would be coming for him. He grabbed his cell and called Gator.
“Speak,” the man said with a thick southern accent.
“Gabe has been moved and now the heat is on. They’ve come for me.” Max checked the monitors to see three men moving slowly through his backyard. It was large, ten acres, and he knew there were more coming.
“Exit plan,” Gator said. “Use it. I’ll meet you where we agreed and get you to a safe house.”
“On my way.” Max hung up and glanced at the steel door to his far left. It led to an underground tunnel and out into the edge of the woods just south of his estate.
He grabbed another Glock and shoved it into his waistband before using the computer in front of him, entering his codes, and locking the house down. Metal shutters began to descend as Max locked his intel room and headed for the steel door.
He’d had the estate built when he’d married his wife, Sofia. The tunnels and the room hadn’t been included in the blueprints. Max had hired a special group for that phase of the construction. The tunnels were concrete and had taken nearly a year to complete before he’d brought his bride to the Summerville Estate. He’d been working counterintelligence since leaving the marines and knew he would need the intel room as well as an escape route.
In his line of work, an undetected means of escape was always a smart move.
Max worked his way toward the exit, praying the bastards invading his property didn’t do too much damage. He loved his home and didn’t want it destroyed. He also thought of Gabe and his heart clenched. Max knew that Legend would take care of Gabe, but as a father, Max would always worry over his son.
Reaching the end of the tunnel, Max emerged to find Gator waiting for him in a SUV with tinted windows. Max also knew they were bulletproof. He climbed in and they sped off.
Chapter Three
After checking into a hotel for the night, Gabe had showered and then fallen into bed, exhausted. But he couldn’t sleep. The sound of crickets floated through the darkness. Gabe lay there and listened as a soft and gentle breeze blew over his heated skin. It was so muggy that Gabe felt as if he had a wet blanket over him.
Legend was on the other bed, passed out. Since the man had insisted they share a room—thank goodness they had separate beds—it made it all the harder to sneak away.
Unfortunately, Gabe couldn’t find his cell phone. He was pretty sure that it had gotten lost when Legend had shoved him to the ground.
Turning over, Gabe stared at the open balcony doors. He would’ve used that as his means of escape, but they were on the third floor. Since he didn’t have the ability to scale down walls, Gabe would have to use the door.
Legend had stayed with him the entire time, making it impossible for Gabe to get out of the room before now. But he’d been smart. After taking his shower, Gabe had dressed in a pair of leisure pants and a T-shirt, ready for his escape out of here. His sneakers were tucked under the bed with a pair of socks stuffed inside. He’d made sure to leave his wallet by the door as well.
The only reason he was attempting to leave was because Gabe was worried about his father and Legend wouldn’t let him call.
He knew that the Summerville estate was a hot spot right now, but if he could make sure that Maxwell was okay, Gabe would feel a hell of a lot better.
Easing the sheet back, Gabe slid his legs silently off the bed. His moves were slow as he watched Legend for any movement, any type of stirring. He wasn’t sure if the guy was a light or heavy sleeper and he couldn’t take any chances.
Gabe reached under the bed and retrieved his shoes. He didn’t bother to put them on. He’d do that once he was downstairs in the lobby, hailing a cab to the nearest airport.
The ceiling fan stirred the air, making Gabe wished he had boxers on instead of the long pants he was wearing. He was sweating like a pig in this heat. Why in the hell had they gotten a hotel room with no air-conditioning? They were in Louisiana in the middle of summer. No one in their right mind booked a room in a hotel without AC.
Gabe held his breath, his muscles bowstring-taut, when Legend twisted onto his side, tucking the pillow under his head. Once again that pang of lust shot right to his groin, making Gabe stifle a moan at just how handsome Legend was.
Get your mind out of his pants and get a move on it!
He spared one last glance at the perfection of Legend’s back before he eased across the room, praying the floorboards didn’t squeak. Gabe was letting out slow breaths, his shoes clutched to his chest as he reached the table where his wallet lay.
Before snagging it, he glanced over his shoulder to see Legend still sound asleep.
Some bodyguard.
If Gabe could creep out of here, then some gunman could get inside just as easily. His father might have faith in his friend, but Gabe highly doubted Legend knew what the hell he was doing.
Gabe retrieved his wallet and crept toward the door. When he reached for the handle, he was lifted off of his feet. Gabe shouted as he dropped his wallet and shoes, struggling against whoever had grabbed him.
“Settle the fuck down.” Legend growled into his ear. “Do you want to wake the entire hotel?”
“Fuck you!” Gabe twisted and turned, but Legend had a tight grip on him. He fought like crazy to get free.
Legend carried him over to his bed and dropped Gabe onto the soft mattress, pinning his wrists over his head as he glared down at Gabe with piercing gold eyes that were currently filled with rage. “What is your problem?”
Gabe writhed under Legend, yanking at his wrists, his body moving ever closer to the glistening muscles of Legend’s chest. He gazed at the man’s hard nipples and his mouth began to water. The soft light of the moon caressed the man’s features, and Gabe was almost too mesmerized to breathe.
The man’s closeness was dizzying. Legend was planted between Gabe’s legs, wearing nothing more than a pair of boxer briefs. His cock was outlined and Gabe could see that the man was growing hard. Gabe struggled again to get free and that only seemed to turn Legend on. His cock was getting thicker by the second.
“Let me go,” Gabe demanded.
The man gazed down at Gabe like a hungry predator eyeing his tender prey. Like Gabe was his to enjoy. Gabe shivered. Legend’s nostrils flared. The man tightened his grip on Gabe’s wrists. “You’re not going anywhere, sweetness.”
Sweetness? Just who in the hell did this guy think he was? “Let me go or I’m going to lodge your balls in your throat.” Another futile round of squirming commenced, which only made Legend’s eyes grow darker with heat.
Leg
end leaned down, his warm breath whispering across the shell of Gabe’s ear. “Don’t make me tie you to this bed.”
Oh, god. Gabe couldn’t stop the shudder that racked his body. The bewildering attraction returned and Gabe felt a strange sense of connection to this man. He forced himself to ignore it. He also forced himself to forget the thrill he’d felt when Legend threatened to tie him down.
Gabe wasn’t into that kind of kink. He was the dominant one in the bedroom. Gabe controlled what happened and when it happened. No one dominated over him.
So why in the hell was his body damn near begging Legend to go through with his threat? He panted, licking his dry lips as sweat trickled down from his scalp. The man’s eyes were dark, hungry, and molten.
“I’m going to keep running,” Gabe said. “You won’t stop me.”
He yelped as Legend yanked him up and flipped him over onto his stomach. Gabe was too stunned to react. His eyes widened and he lost his breath when a heavy hand landed on his ass before Legend said with a growl, “Run and I’ll spank this pretty little ass until you can’t sit.”
He was going…oh, god…Gabe slammed his eyes closed, mentally screaming at his body to stop enjoying what Legend was doing to him.
It wasn’t listening.
Gabe’s breath hitched as he eased his ass a little further out.
Legend snarled as his fingers tightened around Gabe’s wrists. “You liked that, didn’t you?”
“No,” Gabe said, though they both knew he was lying his ass off. Legend brushed the tips of his fingers over the area he’d just abused and Gabe bit his lower lip, stopping himself from moaning.
Legend released him, taking a step back. Gabe turned over, his body aching at the loss of weight and heat. The man stood there, looking as if he had an internal struggle going on. He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “Go back to sleep, Gabe.”
How in the hell was he supposed to sleep when his body was so wound up? Disgusted with himself for enjoying what Legend had done, Gabe stormed off to the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.
