Stetsons and Stakeouts

by BA Tortuga

  “Huh. Bonner’s not the conspiracy type. The sister, I don’t know.”

  “The sister is a solid C student with a good work ethic and a disturbingly honest streak.”

  “Okay, so we bet on this all being a coincidence.” Gianni hated coincidences, but that was all he could believe in. Still, they would have to keep an eye on Brianna. A hard one.

  Dammit, he hated loose ends.

  “Anything else you don’t think I need to know yet?”

  “Not yet. I’ll let you know. Your Spec Ops guy is hurting, but he’ll heal.”

  “Holler if I need to pull him. I know he wants this assignment, but I won’t have him get killed.”

  “This should be the worst.” The unless he gets made didn’t have to be said.

  Gianni knew it as well as Colt. Maybe better. There’d been that one job in Baja….

  They both winced, and Colt wouldn’t hold his gaze. Yeah.

  “Anyway, I really do want that coffee.” He peered into the kitchenette.

  “Fair enough. Sit. I’ll show you what your cowboy is doing.”

  “Okay.” He sat. Well, after he moved a stack of books off the couch.

  Colt brought him his latte, then brought up the screen, cameras everywhere. They found Bonner in the stables, shirt off, working a broom like a madman.

  “Oh now. That’s like porn.” He felt a little weird watching it with Colt, in fact. “How many cameras do you have in Kody’s room?”

  “Three.”

  Little shit. “Uh-huh. You seem pretty interested in the big guy.” Deflection was always good, even if he couldn’t take his eyes off Bonner.

  “Are you kidding? He’s built like a brick shithouse. Why would I be interested? I like little twinks with glasses.”

  Smartass. “You like all kinds and I know it.” He stared at the screen. Jesus, that pocket cowboy was hot.

  “I do. I don’t have cameras in Bonner’s place. Bugs, yes.”

  “Okay. Good. I would have to kick your ass.” Besides. Pregnant sister. Ack.

  “I only spy on the team. They should expect it. I have rules.” Man, Colt actually sounded affronted. Like the little fucker had feelings to hurt.

  “I didn’t explain you to all of them,” Gianni confessed. Colt was difficult to explain on the best of days.

  Colt snorted. “Alison did. You would have been far kinder.”

  “She adores you.”

  “Like she adores spiders.”

  Good one. “She crushes them like tiny clown cars. You, she would smother slowly.”

  “Oh, now you’re turning me on.”

  “Nope.” He caught Colt’s eye, making sure they saw each other. “I have your back.”

  “I know. I have yours.” And that was that. Colt would throw himself on a sword in a second for him.

  “I know that, buddy. I really do.” Gianni took a sip of coffee. “Damn, I need this machine. How can an Italian villa, even in Texas, have such shitty coffee?”

  “You work with cowboys. Seriously. I’ll order you a Jura for the kitchen—you deserve it.”

  “Oh, you rock.” Espresso on demand would make his life so much easier.

  “No worries. I’ll have it here in a day or two.”

  Bonner was still working, muscles moving like a dream. That made his mouth dry, so he took another sip.

  Colt rolled back a little, giving him an uninterrupted view. “Want me to go away so you two can be alone together?”

  “Don’t make me hit you.” No, if anything he would go to the barn.

  “Was it good?” When he glanced up, Colt just wore the expression of pure innocence. “Your ride, I mean?”

  “I’ll put you over my knee, man.”

  “Everyone promises, no one does it.” Colt sighed dramatically.

  “I’ll talk to Kody.”

  “Stop it.” Colt leveled him a lizard-like stare.

  “Ah, it’s okay to mess with my love life….”

  “Absolutely. I live to interfere.”

  “Colt.” He loved to spar with this guy. Loved it. Too bad they were the same kind of crazy or they would hook up. A man had to go with complementary nutsos instead. It made for less homicidal rage.

  Colt blew him a kiss. “I love you too, boss. Go on.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you later. Thanks for the coffee.” He was headed to the barn, even if he wasn’t dressed for it. “Turn off the barn camera, Colt. I mean it.”

  He wanted to see. Touch. Feel.

  Colt might not do what he asked, but at least this way he had plausible deniability. After all, he was a bit of an exhibitionist anyway.

  The sun beat on him, the humidity like a blanket. He headed for the relative comfort of the horse barn. If he had to endure this, he should be at the damn beach….

  Mmm. Beach and Bonner. That could be a movie. A soft porn movie. He liked it. Colt would sell it. Gianni rolled his eyes. “Hey, Bonner.” He stepped into the barn, watching Bonner closely.

  “Sir.” Bonner looked up, offered him a smile. “How goes it?”

  “Hot out there. At least there’s shade and fans in here.”

  “You want a water?”

  “If you have one to spare, sure.” He would encourage Bonner to have one. Maybe watch drops fall on that tanned skin.

  “I have a couple, yeah.” Bonner bent over a little cooler, offering him a long look at that tiny ass.

  His hands flexed, and he hummed. Happily. Look at that gorgeous, distracting wonderfulness.

  Bonner was the good thing in this clusterfuck. The one good thing.

  “Here you go, boss.” The water was tossed over, the bottle icy cold.

  “Stop calling me that.” He caught it with one hand. “You gonna take a break and talk to me, caro?”

  “Sure. What you want me to call you?”

  “Gianni.” He smiled, then popped open his water to take a long swig.

  “I guess I can do that.” Oh, Bonner’s voice had gone all husky, and when Gianni licked his lips clean from the water, he heard Bonner swallow his moan.

  “I bet you can.”

  That face was flushed, Bonner staring at him as if he was naked. “I… did you need something, Gianni?”

  “I wanted to see you.”

  Now Bonner frowned some. “That why you called everyone up to the house today but me?”

  Gianni blinked, trying to change gears. “Do what?”

  “Kody and Harrison, Colt too. The old-timers are off today, but you don’t never call them up for meetings.”

  “I—” Bonner had caught him flat-footed. “I have no idea what you mean. I slept in.”

  “Huh.” Bonner drank his water without another comment. “The barns are cleaned. As soon as you give the word, I can move your horses in.”

  “I appreciate that.” He just…. Okay, wow, he would have to be more careful. Bonner wasn’t as… clueless as he thought.

  “So you figure that chauffeur of yours was having a morning tea-party thing with the boys?” Bonner drawled the words, and light dawned. Bonner was jealous.

  “It’s possible. As I said, I slept in.” Did Bonner think they’d been having an orgy or something?

  “Sure. I was just speculatin’.”

  “Really.” Okay, two could play that game. “What about your, uh, wife?”

  “What about Bri?” Oh, he did love the plausible deniability. No calling her wifey, just her name.

  “Word in town is she was getting some on the side.” Okay, why did that feel slimy?

  One eyebrow lifted into Bonner’s hairline. “Honey, Bri’s been in town for three doctor’s appointments and a box of fucking Twinkies.”

  “So you’re saying she doesn’t know a biker?” He watched Bonner closely, needing to gauge how much Bonner actually knew about this whole thing.

  What he got, instead of the guilt he expected, was a flash of rage. “Does she look like a biker bitch to you? She’s nineteen, for fuck’s sake. A baby still.”
>
  “No. She looks like an East Texas teenager.” Gianni sighed. He hated it, but he had to push. A little. “So why the biker rumors? Do you not keep her happy?”

  “Why fuck with an employee that’s got two babies on the way, boss?” Looked like little Bonner could push back.

  “You mean fuck around with?” Enough of this nonsense. Gianni moved, slowly stalking Bonner. “Because I don’t believe you’re into women. Not that woman or any other. Any man who responds to me like you do can’t be.”

  “Bullshit.” Bonner dropped his eyes, though, the lie hanging there between them. “Leave Bri out of things, then. I’m serious.”

  “Then you stop asking about why people are coming to the house. Fair enough?”

  Bonner’s mouth tightened, those eyes flashing at him with barely contained fury. “It’s like that, huh? Fine.” Bonner tossed his head like a fractious horse. “I’ll just leave you the fuck alone.”

  He didn’t think so. Gianni pushed right into Bonner’s space, herding him toward the wall. “No, you won’t.”

  “Back off, man. I need this fucking job.”

  “So? I never suggested once I’d fire your ass. I might fuck it, if you offer.”

  “You wish. Back off.” Bonner braced himself, surprising him, and they smacked together with an audible slap.

  “Yes, I do wish, and no, I don’t think I will, caro. I think I want something else.”

  “Fuck you.” Bonner’s hands were hot as hell on his hips, dragging them together.

  “No. No, Bonner. The other way around.” He remembered that part as clear as day, how Bonner begged for it. He was so focused on Bonner’s lips that it shocked the hell out of him when they slammed back against one of the big posts in the breezeway.

  “Big man.” Bonner shoved back, that tight body deliciously strong.

  “Uh-huh.” He lifted Bonner clean off his feet. “I want you.”

  “You haven’t earned the privilege, Gianni.”

  “I’m working on it.” He lowered his head and kissed Bonner right on the mouth, the heat between them boiling over. Christ, that tight, half-bare body made him crazy. Jesus, Bonner was a fucking addiction.

  Bonner grabbed his hair, tangling and tugging. The sting made him grunt and nip at that sweet lower lip. He held Bonner up by that tight ass and let those legs wrap around him so he could grind his cock against Bonner’s.

  “I want you.” He took sharp kisses in between each word.

  “Why?”

  “Because you make me forget my good sense.” Bonner responded so damn well to his every move. Gianni had never lacked for partners, but Bonner was something damn special, and Bonner needed him too.

  Bonner craved him just as much.

  The kiss went a little wild and a lot bitey. What the fuck was wrong with him? Why had he come down here with no condoms or lube? Jesus fuck.

  His phone began to ring, the sound the Wicked Witch’s theme from Wizard of Oz. Colt. Motherfucker.

  He bit Bonner’s bottom lip hard, then put Bonner down and backed away, scrabbling his phone out of his pocket. “What the fuck do you want, asshole?”

  “Boss. Your boy has company coming of the Snakey-biker type. Luis says he was asking questions at the diner about the girl, and I have him on camera.”

  “Shit. Okay. I’m with Bonner. We’ll head to his place. If the asshole stops at the main house, let Greg deal with him.”

  Bonner grabbed his shirt and started running before Gianni said another word.

  He followed on Bonner’s heels. Colt had made it clear Bri was hiding out, not wanting Snake to find her. They needed to get there before the biker did. It was easy to catch up. “The biker is coming.”

  “Snake? Why? Fuck.”

  “I assume for your—for Brianna.” Shit, this was really gonna be a mess. If Snake had heard about the stash on his land….

  Bonner hit the door running, then opened a couple of drawers in the old desk by the door and rifled through them before slamming one hand on the desktop. “Bri! Sister! Where’s my gun?”

  Brianna waddled out of the kitchen. “What? Why? Is there a snake?”

  “Yes! Yes, there is. He’s on his way. Where’s my gun?”

  She blanched, staring back and forth between him and Bonner. “What? I—it’s in the storage shed.”

  “Snake’s on his way. You keep yourself in here, girl. Doors locked.” Bonner snapped orders like any DI. Impressive.

  “Bubba? How can he be coming here?” Her voice rose, the hysteria growing quickly.

  He offered her his most comforting, least “I was just seducing your big brother” smile. “Miss Bri. Please do as Bonner asks. Just stay in here. Stay where no one can see you.”

  “But—”

  “Do what I say, goddammit!” Bonner zoomed out of the house and unlocked the little shed on the porch.

  Gianni got Colt on the phone and followed, hoping Bonner had two firearms in there. “What do you see?”

  “He’s circling the main house, sort of like a bumblebee. What’s the plan?”

  “We need to get him out of here. And I need him to target me or someone else, not Bri and Bonner. I’m coming up.” He would let Bonner stay here and keep Bri safe.

  “Good deal. You want me to send backup to Bonner?”

  “Yes. Get Kody and Harrison down here.” Gianni didn’t say another word to Bonner; he sprinted for the house. He was still unarmed, but there would be witnesses up there, and plenty of guns. He heard the buzz of a motorcycle purring toward the main house, heading around it in a wide circles. That was good. That meant this was an exploratory mission, or one meant to terrorize. Good thing Gianni wasn’t prone to terror.

  In fact, he was way more worried about blowing this sting than a single biker, no matter how powerful the biker was in the organization. Cut off the head and another grew back. There was always someone wanting to level up.

  He made it to the house, then rounded the corner to stand in the middle of the large, half-oval driveway.

  Alison and Luis met him there, flanking him. “Are we having fun yet, Caesar?”

  “Scads. Gesù, do we have to fuck this up before we even start? If he doesn’t stop this time around, draw down, Luis. You’re my security.”

  “You got it, jefe.” Luis spread his feet and turned his right side to the driveway’s front. He held his sidearm loosely in his right hand, ready to pull up and shoot. Really, they were all obviously bored. Everyone wanted to do something. “I’ve got Chris on the phone. He’s on the way.” Alison smiled, the look a little feral. “We could invite Mr. Snake in for tea. I have some….”

  “Don’t even say it.”

  “Right. Colt is no doubt recording.” She winked, relaxed and easy. Really, compared to some things they’d faced, one drug runner on a motorcycle was nothing.

  In fact, this was overkill. “Al, you should go inside. You know, you’re a girl.”

  “I will remove your spleen with my teeth, Gianni.”

  “Yeah, but you’ve been showing your face in town. Just go.”

  She growled at him, like, literally, but she whipped around to stalk to the house. It was the smart move. She should at least pretend to be scared. He could lord of the manor it with his security, but Massimo would never allow his personal assistant to be in danger.

  Never. The bike skidded to a stop when Luis raised his weapon, beading in on Snake. Gianni waited for the inevitable monologue. He never did that himself.

  He simply waited, staring the bastard down without a word. This was, after all, his place.

  “Where is she?” Snake shouted. “I want the woman.”

  Gianni raised a brow at Luis, who rolled his eyes. “You’re trespassing,” Luis said clearly, no shouting required.

  “She’s my bitch! She belongs to me!”

  Somehow he thought both Brianna and Bonner would disagree. Seriously, why on earth would anyone sleep with greasy, tall, and badly tattooed?

  Brianna had
to have been drunk.

  “I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” Gianni said, pushing his Italian to the fore of his accent. “We have no bitches here. We do have private security, and they are not constrained by the rules of the police. Remove yourself.”

  Colt appeared at his left with a lovely semiautomatic while Kody drew down from the pasture gate. Ah, it was good to be him.

  Gianni could tell the moment Snake realized his predicament. Someone hadn’t planned this well. Not one bit. His face twisted with rage, and he gunned the engine of his bike. “I’ll get her one way or the other.”

  “And her little dog too,” Luis murmured.

  “Oh, very nice.” Anytime you could work in a Wizard of Oz quote while drawing down was a good day.

  “You’re not welcome on Webb property. Leave.” He turned his back imperiously, the move killing him, but he knew his people had his back. He strutted back into the house, then headed right out the back, intent on cutting Bonner off if he had to.

  Bonner was leaning against the porch railing, shotgun in his hands, held casually. “He’ll be leaving soon,” Gianni said when he reached the foreman’s house again. “I swear, this Texas cooking is getting to me. I need to work out.”

  One eyebrow lifted to Bonner’s hairline. “Surely you got a gym in that big ole house.”

  “I do. I’ve just been lazy since we got here.” He plopped down on the bench behind Bonner so he could stare at the man’s butt. “Or we could just have a great deal of sex.”

  “Would you shut up! I’m trying to protect my… those babies.”

  “He won’t make it past the boys up there. There are three he can see, and at least four he can’t, plus Alison called Ch—the sheriff.” Christ, they were the stuttering wonders.

  “Good. I won’t let him hurt her.”

  “Neither will we, Bonner.” He wanted to tell Bonner he knew, that he wasn’t a cheater either, but now was probably not the time. After all, the man obviously hadn’t twigged to the fact that they’d slipped up, called each other by name. “She’s safe here.”

  “Thank you. She’s a good girl. She made a mistake.”

  Gianni nodded easily, relieved Bonner was going to stop pretending. “Clearly. Have you seen his tattoos?”