Ball & Chain (Cut & Run)

by Roux, Abigail

  “Was that really fucking necessary?” Nick demanded as he wiped a runny white substance off his calf.

  Kelly was laughing hard. “I’m sorry, it just shot out!”

  Both men glanced up when they noticed Ty and Zane in the doorway.

  “Hey,” Nick said.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Ty asked in horror.

  Kelly held up the tube. “First aid.”

  “He’s making a goddamn mess is what he’s doing,” Nick corrected. He scratched at his calf.

  “He’s scratching himself bloody, I was trying to put this hydrocortisone cream on him while I had him immobile,” Kelly explained. “But the plane ride must have made it separate or something, ’cause . . . I’ve never seen this shit do that.”

  Nick laughed.

  Kelly shoved at his knee to make him turn onto his side, and then he put the tip of the tube at his calf where the skin had been scratched red. When he squeezed it, though, another thin stream of opaque liquid shot out instead of the thick cream it was supposed to be.

  “That’s obscene,” Zane muttered.

  Kelly laughed harder and wiped at Nick’s leg before it could drip to the sheets.

  “Oh my God!” Nick shouted. “What kind of janky fucking medic are you?”

  “I’m sorry!”

  “It’s a tube of cream, how hard is this exactly?”

  “It’s separated!”

  “You’re sleeping in the wet spot tonight!”

  “No, it’s not my fault!”

  Zane finally lost it at that. Laughing, he strolled into the room and sat on the end of the bed.

  “Jesus Christ,” Ty said, moving closer. “You don’t want to know what I thought was going on in here.”

  Nick glanced up, scowling as he scratched at his calf.

  “I don’t understand why you’re still itching, there’s no bite or anything there,” Kelly grumbled.

  “You’re not even allergic to anything,” Ty added. “Where have you been?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m itchy,” Nick grumbled. “I think this place knows I’m Irish.”

  Kelly barked a laugh. He placed the cap on the tube and shook it vigorously. The same persistent liquid shot out from under the tightened cap, hitting Nick in the face.

  Nick howled and flopped to his side, covering his face and laughing raucously. Kelly pitched forward, cackling so hard he had to rest his head on Nick’s hip. Zane practically guffawed.

  “You got it in my mouth!” Nick finally cried. He rolled to his back, pawing at his face.

  Kelly was hooting and snorting and wheezing too hard to answer. He buried his face against Nick’s stomach and shook his head, holding the dripping tube of cream up.

  “In my mouth! Is this shit poisonous? Am I going to die?” Nick fumbled on the bedside table for his water bottle, gulped it down and wiped at his face frantically with a pillow.

  Kelly brought the tube of cortisone cream up again, and when Nick caught sight of it he rolled out of bed and thumped to the hardwood floor. “Don’t fucking come near me with that shit! I’d rather be itchy!”

  Kelly tried to argue, but he still couldn’t catch his breath.

  “I’m taking a shower,” Nick cried, distraught. He pulled his shirt off and wiped his face with it, then disappeared into the bathroom and slammed the door.

  Zane was holding his stomach, trying to sit up and laugh at the same time. Kelly chuckled. He quickly capped the tube then tossed it toward the trash can. He looked around for something to wipe his hands off on and Ty backed away from him.

  “There were so many things wrong with that,” Ty told him, close to giggling.

  Kelly snorted. “What did you guys need?”

  Ty shook his head. “I don’t even fucking remember.”

  Zane cackled. “I feel like I just watched free porn.”

  “Oh, look at this shit we found earlier,” Kelly said, grinning like a little boy as he hopped past Ty toward the fireplace. He reached up to one of the carved angels on its knees with its hands clasped. A chain ran through its broken wing and attached to a ball higher up the corbel. He pulled the angel’s head.

  Nothing happened.

  Ty and Zane shared a glance, and Ty put two fingers to his lips to indicate Kelly may have been toking earlier rather than resting. Zane snorted.

  “That’s weird,” Kelly said. He tried again, tugging at the angel’s head. Again, nothing happened. He glanced over his shoulder at them. “I swear to God this thing opened a door earlier.”

  Ty snickered.

  Kelly looked it over with a deep frown, pushing on the wall next to the fireplace. “No, seriously.”

  “We believe you, Doc,” Zane said kindly.

  “No! There was a door here! The walls are hollow, and there are stairs and everything,” Kelly insisted. He glanced at the bathroom door. “Nick!”

  “No!” Nick called from the bathroom. The water shut off. “No, no, no.”

  Zane began to laugh again.

  Kelly put his shoulder into the wall, leaning against it. He reached up to tug the angel’s head again. “Damn it!”

  Nick came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He watched Kelly for a few seconds before saying, “Pull its wing.”

  Kelly glanced at him, then up at the carving. He pulled the fragile-looking wing and something clicked within the fireplace. The wall gave way against Kelly’s shoulder, and he stumbled sideways before catching himself.

  Zane stood, and Ty took a step forward, eyes widening.

  “That’s so cool!” Zane cried.

  Ty took another step, peering into the dark passageway. “How the hell did you find that?”

  Kelly glanced at Nick, opening his mouth and closing it like a fish.

  “He, uh,” Nick said quickly. “He tripped over the wood holder down there. Grabbed at it when he fell.”

  “Did you follow it?” Zane asked, his brown eyes gleaming.

  Ty was struck speechless for a moment, just staring at him. Good Lord, the man was beautiful. He didn’t know if it was because he’d just missed Zane so much, but he was pretty sure Zane had grown even more attractive while he’d been deployed. The sprinkling of silver in the hair at his temples had increased, and the light in his eyes was there more often than not. He’d slimmed down, losing a little of the bulk in his muscles, but he was still trim, and his suits seemed to fit just a little better than they had. There was a weightlessness to him now as well that hadn’t been there before, like the burden of his past had finally been shed.

  Not lifted, no. No one had lifted Zane’s burden for him; he had shed it himself, like a caterpillar unfolding its wings to become a butterfly. Ty would never tell Zane he thought of him like a butterfly, of course.

  “We followed it a little way,” Nick answered, reminding Ty that no one else in the room was smitten and they were still talking. “Down to the study. We saw you two in there with Deacon.”

  Ty pointed a finger in his face. “I knew someone was watching me!”

  Nick and Kelly laughed.

  “You let me think I was being stalked by a ghost, you fuck nuts!”

  Kelly laughed harder. He pushed at the angel’s wing, and the opening in the wall creaked closed.

  “Are there more doorways?” Zane asked.

  Kelly shrugged. Ty grumbled at Nick and shoved him lightly, and Nick swatted at him.

  “We can go back in later and explore,” Kelly said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

  “I think something in there made me itchy,” Nick said.

  “But you’re not allergic to anything,” Kelly argued.

  “I know, but I showered and I’m not itchy anymore.”

  “You got groped by a ghost,” Ty teased.

  “Shut up.”

  “A ghost gave you crabs,” Ty added as he hopped toward the door.

  “Shut up!” Nick was looking around for something to throw, and Ty darted for the door. He and Zane made their
escape as Kelly peered at the wall and the angel who was chained to the fireplace and Nick hunted for a projectile.

  Zane and Ty had just enough time to shower and wind down, and that was what they did. Together. When the water started running cold, they turned it off and stayed in the shower for several more minutes, until it got cold enough to drive them into the bed and under the covers. They fell asleep wrapped up in each other.

  When Zane woke, he slipped out of Ty’s arms and pulled on a robe. He headed for the doors to the balcony and stood leaning against the frame, gazing out at the gardens, the cliffs, and the choppy ocean beyond.

  The bed creaked, and he turned. Ty was sitting on the edge, wearing only his sweatpants, watching him. “What do you think?” he asked after another moment of silence.

  “It’s gorgeous. I didn’t figure it would be so fucking beautiful. But it’s . . . rugged and captivating.”

  Ty’s eyes strayed to the pristine vista behind Zane, then back to Zane. He smiled slowly.

  “Kind of like someone else I know,” Zane added. He raised an eyebrow. “I sense mischief brewing.”

  Ty stood and joined Zane by the doors. Zane turned, and Ty stopped in the doorway, facing him with the same crooked smile still on his lips. It felt like he had something important to say, but the surroundings seemed to be outdoing him. Beyond the manicured gardens below, a sheer cliff stretched in either direction, ushering the angry sea along its way.

  “Ty?”

  Ty took a deep breath and grasped Zane’s hand.

  “What are you up to now?” Zane asked, even more suspicious.

  “Marry me, Zane.”

  Zane’s breath caught. His hand involuntarily tightened on Ty’s, and all he could do was stare into Ty’s eyes. He’d never dreamed he’d hear Ty say those words, especially not so soon after returning home. He’d never dreamed he’d experience half the things Ty had offered him. He brought Ty’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingers, inhaling deeply to calm everything that was suddenly churning inside him.

  Zane did want to marry Ty. But he didn’t want it yet, not when they still had so much to learn about themselves and each other.

  “No,” he breathed.

  “No?”

  “No,” Zane repeated shakily. Ty huffed. Thank God he looked bemused instead of upset, one eyebrow cocked and a gentle smile on his lips.

  “You’re not even going to think about it?”

  “No,” Zane repeated, more confident this time. He was relieved Ty didn’t appear to be hurt, but he also knew how well Ty could hide his feelings. He took Ty’s face in his hands, hurrying to explain. “I know you, Ty. And I know the thought probably just popped into your mind. You haven’t thought it through. You haven’t looked at it from any angle other than the one we can see from our balcony.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less sincere,” Ty said, frowning.

  “I know, doll.” Zane took a deep breath, wishing he had the words to explain just what Ty meant to him, how much he really did want what Ty was asking. The time just wasn’t right. It didn’t feel right saying yes, not after they’d been apart for so long, not after all that had happened to them. Not after they’d both changed so much. Nothing seemed like an adequate explanation, though, not when so much of him wanted to just say yes. Instead he sighed. “Let’s . . . let’s get to know each other again first. And you give it as much thought as I do everything. And if you can convince me you’ve done that, then when you ask me, I’ll answer as fast as you always do.”

  Ty’s lips quirked up, and he didn’t take his eyes off Zane’s when he leaned back. “You’re saying no?”

  Zane stepped closer and kissed him. His lips moved against Ty’s when he murmured, “I’m saying no for now.”

  Ty cupped his cheek, his fingers playing with the tips of Zane’s curls. “I’m going to keep asking until you say yes.”

  “I look forward to it.” Zane grinned, drawling when he added, “Try to be creative next time, huh?”

  Ty kissed him one last time, then shoved at his chest and patted his cheek hard. “Asshole,” he grunted before turning away.

  Zane reached past Ty on both sides to grasp the doorframe, trapping him in place. “Don’t be mad,” he growled.

  Ty smirked, jutting his chin out for a kiss. Just before their lips brushed, there was a loud rap on the door.

  Zane pulled back, and Ty huffed in irritation. “And so it begins.”

  Zane chuckled and let Ty loose, going to his suitcase to unpack and to find clothes for dinner. When Ty opened the door, Mara Grady threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

  He laughed in surprise and returned the hug. “Hey, Ma.”

  “Don’t you ‘Hey, Ma,’ me! Why the hell didn’t you come see me as soon as you got here? Gone a year—”

  “Less than six months.”

  “—and can’t come see his mother,” she scolded, holding him by his broad shoulders and shaking him. Then she hugged him again, pressing her cheek against his chest and patting his back.

  “Missed you too, Ma.”

  Zane chuckled and moved closer.

  Mara released Ty and practically shoved him aside as she stalked into the room. “Don’t you think you can hide from me,” she told Zane. “Get over here and give me a hug.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Zane said, and the smile on his face was honest when he hugged her.

  “You boys both look so handsome!” Mara said, even though Zane was still wearing his robe and Ty was in a ratty pair of sweatpants.

  Ty laughed, rubbing a hand over his chin as he closed the door. “Where’s Dad?”

  “Still trying to convince your grandfather that we did not just hit the shore of Guadalcanal and he should not hit anyone on the head with that shovel.” Mara released Zane and put her hands on her hips.

  Ty was biting his lip hard as he tried not to smile. “Did you come for reinforcements?”

  “Well, no,” Mara said thoughtfully. “Might not be a bad idea.”

  “Did he really bring the shovel? On the plane?” Zane asked, not suppressing his laughter very well.

  Mara shrugged. “He wouldn’t come otherwise.”

  “He should make an impression on the in-laws anyway,” Ty said under his breath. “Do you know where your room is, Ma?”

  “We’re in the other wing. Old farts and married folks are over there. Young troublemakers are shacked up on this side.”

  Zane laughed before he could stop himself.

  “Speaking of troublemakers, where’s Nicholas? I’ve got a hug for him, too.”

  “He and Doc are in the next room,” Ty answered.

  “Doc? Which one was that?”

  “The one who lost his parents when he was young. I brought him home for Thanksgiving one time. You told him you wanted to wrap him up and bake him in a pie and he never came back.”

  “Oh, that one! Oh, he’s a cutie. Little skittish. Well, make sure Nick comes to say hello to me and your daddy, got it? Earl was asking after him.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Okay. I just wanted to come get a hug before you got into trouble,” she told them as she headed for the door.

  “Why does everyone assume I’m going to get into trouble?” Ty asked, his brow creasing with frown lines.

  “Because we know you, baby,” Mara told him. She walked by him, patting his cheek. “See you boys at dinner.”

  After shutting the door, Ty shot Zane an evil grin that damn near caused them to be late. Thankfully, it was a casual affair, or they never would have gotten ready in time. As it was, Ty was still tucking his shirt in and fixing his tie as they made their way to the back patio of the massive house.

  Someone whistled from behind them as they were hustling down the stairs. Zane glanced over his shoulder to find Nick and Kelly, both looking well rested and more relaxed than they had been. It was also the first time Zane had ever seen either man in a suit.

  “You dirty whores,” Nick drawled quiet
ly.

  “Shut up,” Ty mumbled, still fussing with his tie.

  Zane just smiled and gave Nick a cheeky wink. They headed for the party with a handful of other guests. Zane didn’t know the numbers, but he estimated there were roughly thirty people on the island, with another hundred due to show up the day of the ceremony. Not a large wedding for such a prominent family. It was just family and friends, perhaps, but no business associates. Zane knew how these affairs went, and he found that particularly odd.

  He glanced at Ty, his body warming all over. Ty had asked him to marry him. He’d been entirely sincere, too, in the way only Ty could be when he thought of something spur of the moment. It brought a smile unbidden to Zane’s lips, and he quickly schooled his expression to something a little less giddy as they joined the crowd.

  The patio was full of outdoor heaters and covered with a large party tent with plastic windows and ties to keep the doors closed against the wind. The tent protected parts of the garden, too, giving the space an outdoor feel without the outdoor frostbite to accompany it.

  While Ty and Zane had been placed at the table of honor with Deuce and Livi, Nick and Kelly were at the next table over with the other members of the wedding party. They split off and took their seats just in time, beating Deuce and Livi by mere seconds.

  Zane knew everyone at their table except the older couple he assumed were the Stantons, and a younger man who was probably Livi’s brother. They didn’t have time for introductions before a man approached the table to say hello. Ty and Deuce both stood abruptly, and it startled Zane and the Stantons into flinching when they did it. Zane glanced up to see Assistant Director Richard Burns standing there.

  Ty reached out to shake Burns’s hand. “Sir.”

  “Tyler. Deacon,” Burns said as he shook Ty’s and then Deuce’s hands. He turned to Ty’s father, Earl, who was in the process of pushing back his chair to stand. They embraced warmly.

  Livi cleared her throat. “Mama, Daddy, this is Director Richard Burns, a dear friend of the Grady family.”

  The tall, white-haired man stood and offered a hand to Burns. “Theodore Stanton. Pleased to meet you, Director. This is my wife, Susan.”