“Love you, Declan,” Jagger said hoarsely. “Love you so much.” And then Jagger was screaming in pleasure and Ren felt his orgasm take him. He managed to stifle a groan and was glad he did because otherwise he would have missed Declan whispering his own words of love into Jagger’s ear just before he gave in to his release.
***
“Jagger, baby, are you here?”
“Up here Mom,” Jagger said as he glanced around the room once more.
“What are you doing?” he heard his mother ask and he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway of the bedroom. “You should have called,” she said nervously.
“I won’t be long,” he said. “Why do you keep it this way?” Jagger asked as he studied the bedroom that had once been his. It looked exactly the same as he’d left it when he was seventeen and the fact that it was completely dust free meant his mother was still cleaning it when she did the rest of the house. There was even fresh tape on some of the half-dozen fighter jet posters that had started to yellow with age.
“Because it’s your room,” his mother answered in confusion.
Jagger shook his head in frustration. “It stopped being mine the minute he came into our lives.”
“That’s not true-”
“It is, Mom. It is.”
“Jagger-”
“Did you really believe all the things he said about me or were you just too afraid of losing him?”
His mother dropped her gaze and he had his answer. He was surprised to realize that it actually hurt more to know she’d believed him but had still chosen Frank.
“You were always such a good boy,” his mother murmured. “I knew you’d be okay.”
Jagger let out a sad laugh. “You know what’s ironic? I didn’t get it until now. How being in love with someone else can consume you like that. How the idea of losing them…” The idea of a future without Ren or Declan was too disturbing for Jagger to even finish the thought.
His mother lifted her eyes. “Have you found someone, baby?”
“Two someones, actually.”
His mother looked confused but he wasn’t in the mood to clear it up for her. His sexuality wasn’t something they’d ever talked about beyond him telling her over dinner when he was sixteen that he was gay. She hadn’t condemned him or supported him – she’d simply reached for his plate and started piling more food than he could possibly eat on it and they’d never discussed it again. But since Frank had started calling him fag and queer shortly thereafter, he knew she’d talked to him about it.
“If Frank loved you, he wouldn’t hide you away, Mom. If he loved you, he’d want to spend every moment with you, share every part of his life with you. He’d accept you for who you were and he’d do anything to protect you. He’d cherish you.”
“He does love me like that. He’s just not free to show it yet.”
Jagger felt tears of frustration sting his eyes. A little part of him had always hoped he’d be able to free his mother from the hold Mitchell had on her but it was a battle he just couldn’t fight anymore.
“Here,” Jagger said as he stood and handed her the papers that he’d been holding in his hand.
“What is it?” she asked as she glanced at it.
“Citizenship papers. You’re already approved - all you have to do is fill them out and send them to the address on the bottom.”
His mother flipped through the pages. “How did you do this?” she asked in shock.
“I didn’t. One of the men who loves me did it because he knew how important it was to me,” Jagger said. He leaned down to kiss her cheek and started to leave but she grabbed his arm.
“This man – he makes you happy?”
“He does. His name is Declan.”
His mother nodded slowly. “And there is another man?”
“Ren.”
He was surprised to see his mother start to cry and he mentally prepared himself for the rebuke he knew was coming. But instead, his mother leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him. “You’ll bring them both to dinner sometime?”
“Lucia!”
Jagger flinched as he heard Mitchell’s voice bellowing from downstairs and his mother tensed in his arms.
“You here honey? I only have half an hour.”
Jagger clenched his fists and he stepped back from his mother as he heard footsteps on the stairs.
“Jagger, please don’t,” his mother whispered.
Mitchell froze when he saw them and then sneered. But to Jagger’s surprise, the man didn’t say anything.
“Bye, Mom,” Jagger said as he left the bedroom and forced himself to brush past Mitchell without wrapping his hands around his throat and squeezing the life out of him. He wasn’t surprised when he heard Mitchell mutter something to his mother that included the word “faggot” but he didn’t stick around long enough to see how his mother would respond.
***
Jagger fumbled with the key as his dick tightened with anticipation. He’d seen Declan’s car parked on the side of the street in front of his townhouse but he had no idea if Ren had returned from his appointment yet since the garage door was closed. They’d decided to have Ren park his GTO in the garage since the distinctive car would be recognizable on the off chance that Vin or Dom dropped by unexpectedly. It was getting harder and harder to keep the truth from the two brothers, especially now that Jagger had returned to work, but hopefully it would just a be a few more days until the deception was over. He’d learned from Declan that Rafe had started doing some consulting around the office though he hadn’t seen the young man himself. But whatever was happening between Rafe and his brothers seemed to be a good thing because he’d finally seen some of the life returning to Vin and Dom’s eyes. If all went as planned, they’d have more reason to celebrate with Ren’s reappearance. He just hoped like hell that Dom and Vin would forgive him and Declan and that they’d accept them as being a part of Ren’s life…and that Ren would forgive them for keeping the truth about Rafe from him for so long.
Jagger finally managed to get the door open and hurried inside. Even if Ren wasn’t home, he and Declan could start without him and let him catch up. Maybe he’d bend Declan over the kitchen table so that would be the first thing Ren saw when he walked in the door. Jagger was so preoccupied with the image that he didn’t even notice Declan or the man sitting across from him at the table until he was almost on top of them.
“What the fuck?” Jagger snarled when he recognized Zane.
Zane’s green eyes flashed with amusement as Declan immediately got up and placed his body between Jagger and Zane.
“Jagger-”
Jagger tried to push past Declan. Seeing Declan’s former lover sitting at their kitchen table – the very one he’d been contemplating making love to Declan on – had him seething with rage. The idea that this man had used Declan when he’d been vulnerable…
“Get the fuck out of our house!” Jagger snarled.
“Jagger, stop it!” Declan ordered. “I asked him to come here.”
“Why?” God, did Declan want Zane back? Had he not meant it when he’d told Jagger he loved him?
Declan’s hand came out to close over Jagger’s cheek and Jagger allowed him to draw his gaze away from Zane. “Don’t you dare think it! I love you.”
Jagger forced himself to draw in a breath and then another one. He finally nodded and relaxed as Declan drew him down for a quick kiss.
“Why is he here?” Jagger asked stonily.
“I asked him to take a look at Sutter’s lawsuit,” Declan said.
Jagger hadn’t given the lawsuit much thought since he’d been forced to ask Ren to read it to him. He’d mentioned it to Declan that night but hadn’t considered how to deal with it.
“It’s bogus.”
“I assure you Mr. Varos, it’s very real,” he heard Zane say. Jagger forced himself to release Declan and focus on Zane.
“Are you saying he has a case?” Jagger asked.
; Zane stood. “I’m saying you need a plan of attack. Declan tells me the Barrettis terminated their contract with Lionel Sutter because of you and your friend.”
“Connor.”
“Lionel Sutter doesn’t enjoy losing and from what Declan tells me about what Jason did to your friend, his kid doesn’t like it much either. This” – Zane held up the document outlining the suit – “is two bullies trying to get their power back.”
“Can you fix it?” Jagger asked.
Zane eyed him for a moment. “Yes,” he said simply. God, the guy was arrogant. “With your permission, I’ll start drawing up a countersuit.”
Jagger nodded briefly. He didn’t like the guy but he trusted Declan and if Declan thought Zane was the best man to take care of the shit with Sutter, then so be it.
“Declan, I’ll need the police reports like we discussed,” Zane said crisply as he reached out a hand. Even the sight of Declan touching the other man had Jagger’s blood boiling but he managed to remain where he was. Zane was smart enough not to try to shake his hand and it took just moments for Declan to show him out.
“I don’t like him,” Jagger snapped as he tossed his keys on counter.
“I think the feeling is mutual,” Declan said. “How did things go with your mom?”
Jagger shook his head. He was still too raw from the conversation with his mother to share the details just yet so he said, “Mitchell showed up.”
Declan’s anger was instantaneous. “Did he say anything to you?”
“Surprisingly, no,” Jagger said. “At least not to my face anyway.”
“Good,” Declan said in satisfaction.
When Declan turned to go towards the bedroom, Jagger reached out and pulled him back. “Want to tell me how you got him off my back exactly? Or how you managed to get those papers for my mother?”
Declan remained mute and Jagger felt his insides jump at the unspoken challenge. He used his arms to cage Declan between his body and the kitchen counter and leaned down to run his tongue over Declan’s lips. Declan instantly opened for him but Jagger pulled back. He let one of his hands close over Declan’s cock and smiled when Declan’s eyes closed and his body shuddered.
“How’d you do it, Declan?” Jagger whispered as he ghosted another kiss over Declan’s lips. Declan tried to follow his mouth when Jagger pulled away but a hard tug on Declan’s cock had him biting back a moan.
“Bastard,” Declan muttered as he caught on to the game. “I know some people.”
“What people?” Jagger asked as he continued to stroke Declan. He waited until Declan was writhing against him before he stopped.
“Fuck,” Declan bit out. “Mayor, Chief of Police. We’re on a first name basis.”
“I’m going to need more than that,” Jagger said.
“Really? Now?” Declan asked in frustration.
Since Jagger’s own body was tight with need, Jagger said, “Promise you’ll tell me everything afterwards.”
Declan’s hand tried to wrap around his neck to drag him down for a kiss but Jagger grabbed his wrist.
“Yes, damn it, I promise.”
Jagger instantly released Declan and moaned at the hungry assault on his mouth. But he only let it go on for a few seconds before he grabbed Declan and dragged him to the table and did exactly what he’d been planning to do.
“You better hope Ren comes home soon,” Jagger whispered as he bent over Declan and rubbed his cock against Declan’s ass. “Because I’m going to keep fucking you for as long as it takes for him to walk through that door and see you like this.”
He cut off Declan’s strangled groan with a kiss and then reached for his zipper.
***
“Nice car.”
Ren froze as he watched Zane climb out of the luxury sedan that had pulled up behind his car in front of the bar where Connor worked.
“What are you doing here?” Ren asked in irritation.
“Between you and that boyfriend of yours, I’m starting to think you guys don’t like me very much,” Zane drawled as he walked around the car. He was wearing an expensive suit and looked every bit the lawyer that he was. In truth, the guy was gorgeous but he had nothing on Declan or Jagger.
“You’re an observant guy. We’d probably like you a whole lot better if you hadn’t used Declan like you did.”
Zane seemed like he was about to say something but then a strange look came over his features before he shuddered them with a mask of indifference. He took a few steps towards the bar and opened the door. “You coming?” he asked.
“Why are you here?”
“I came to speak to Mr. Talbot about the lawsuit your boyfriend managed to get himself caught up in.”
“Jagger hired you?”
“I guess you could say that. Right after Declan kept him from ripping my throat out.”
“I thought you were a criminal lawyer,” Ren said as he walked past him.
“Winning’s winning,” he thought he heard Zane say.
The bar was dark compared to outside and it took a moment for Ren to focus. “He must be in back,” Ren murmured.
“I don’t give a shit about some restraining order! You’re mine!”
Ren tensed at the raised voice coming from the back of the bar. The pitch was higher than Connor’s. He felt Zane right behind him as they hurried towards the commotion.
“Baby, I’ll drop the lawsuit against your friend if you come back. I love you so much.”
“My backpack, have you seen my backpack?” a confused voice said. Connor’s voice.
“God, you are such a retard,” the first voice snarled.
“My backpa-”
The words were suddenly cut off and Ren heard what sounded like a struggle. A second later there was a resounding slap.
Ren and Zane reached the stockroom at the same time. Connor was pressed back against the shelves, his hands pinned above his head. He was struggling against a slightly larger man who was kissing him and grinding his hips against him.
“Get your fucking hands off him,” Ren yelled but Zane beat him to it and grabbed the guy and dragged him off Connor. Ren managed to catch Connor as he lost his balance.
“My backpack. I need it or I’ll be late for school again,” Connor whispered brokenly as he looked around in confusion.
“Connor, it’s Ren,” Ren said softly as he gently lowered himself and Connor to the floor.
Connor flinched over and over again and it took Ren a moment to realize that he was reacting to Zane’s fist connecting with the man’s face. Blood was pouring from the guy’s nose and he wasn’t fighting back against Zane at all.
“Zane, stop!” Ren shouted. “Zane, for God’s sake, stop!”
Zane finally stopped and the man slid in a heap to the floor. Zane’s fists were bruised as he turned around and there was blood on his face and suit. None of it appeared to be his though. Ren turned his attention back to Connor.
“Connor, can you hear me?” Ren asked.
“Ren?” Connor asked as his eyes suddenly seemed to clear from the fog he’d been in. His eyes darted up to meet Ren’s and then came to rest on the unconscious man at Zane’s feet.
“What happened?” Connor asked. His eyes settled on Zane and his eyes widened as he noticed Zane’s battered fists. “What did you do to Jason?”
***
“Jagger, don’t!” Declan heard Connor yell as Jagger slammed through the bar door. He was right behind Jagger as they’d entered the bar but his view had been obstructed. But within seconds of walking through the door, Jagger had sped up and Declan saw Ren step in his path just as Connor shouted at him. Zane was there too and grabbing Jagger’s arm as he lunged for a man being treated by paramedics. They’d gotten the call from Zane only fifteen minutes ago but a patrol car and ambulance had beaten them to the scene.
“Jagger, Connor needs you,” Ren said firmly but it wasn’t until Ren grabbed Jagger by the face and forced him to look at him that Jagger finally calmed down. He
pulled free of Zane and went to where Connor was sitting in a chair near the bar.
“What happened?” Declan asked Ren as he took out his badge and flashed the officer flanking the man being loaded onto a gurney.
“We found him assaulting Connor,” Ren said.
“Sutter?” Declan asked and Ren nodded in in response. Declan looked Ren up and down quickly to make sure he wasn’t injured. One look at Zane had him asking, “Do you need medical attention?”
Zane shook his head but didn’t say anything. His eyes kept flashing to Connor.
“Stay here,” he said to Ren and Zane. He hurried over to where Jagger was kneeling in front of Connor.
“You okay, Connor?” Declan asked.
Connor nodded but his eyes were on Jagger. They were filling with tears. “I had another one,” Connor whispered. “I don’t remember anything after he came into the storeroom.”
“It’s okay,” Jagger said softly. “Ren’s going to sit with you for a bit, okay?” Jagger motioned to Ren who came over and pulled up a chair next to Connor.
Declan pulled Jagger aside and said, “What did he mean?”
“The bombing that took his leg also left him with permanent brain damage. He has episodes where he starts saying things that don’t make sense or he forgets where he is. They don’t last long but he never remembers them. Sometimes he forgets what happened right before the episode starts too.”
“Okay,” Declan said as has mind began to work out what needed to happen. “Let me get the details from Zane and we’ll go from there.”
“I’m coming with you,” Jagger said.
“Jagger-” Declan began to say.
“Please, Declan. I need to know.”
Declan finally nodded and went to where Zane stood quietly near the storeroom entrance The officer that had been talking to Sutter as he was being treated by the paramedics nodded at Declan. He recognized him but couldn’t remember his name.
“Officer…”
“Gerard, Detective.”
“Officer Gerard, you get Sutter’s statement?” he asked.
“He says this man” – the officer motioned to Zane – “assaulted him while he was talking to his boyfriend.”
Saving Ren (Barretti Security Series, Book 3) Page 17
