by Sara York
"Okay, I'll get the paperwork and let you take a shower. Grant or one of the other men will be here when you finish. There are towels and toiletries in the bathroom. We've also provided you with some clothes if you choose to wear them so there is no need to unpack."
"How many other men are here?" Roger wondered if they'd tell him anything. He didn't expect much, but it would be nice to know a bit about the place.
"Currently, we have nine members including you. Three of our men are in Eastern Europe on a mission. Then there are three others here, but they are busy with ranch duties."
"So I'm a cowboy now?"
Duff nodded. "Yes, sir, you're a cowboy. You've read your dossier?"
"Yes I have. Don't the locals find it weird that we're all ex-military?"
Duff shook his head. "The locals don't pay attention to us and I doubt they know that much about us. They might have guessed that a few of us are ex military, but we don't socialize that much with them."
Roger let the news soak in. Duff waved as he left the room but Grant stayed, leaning against the wall, watching every move Roger made. He felt like prey about to be consumed by a predator. After grabbing a pair of shorts and a blue T-shirt he faced Grant, wondering if his sexuality would get him into trouble. Might as well dive in with both feet.
"Is it going to be a problem that I'm gay?"
Grant lowered his gaze, carefully inspecting his fingernails. Roger started to sweat, wondering how many difficulties he'd encounter here. Then Grant raised his head, the sadness in his eyes struck Roger hard. "No one will care."
"Are you sure? I've been military for a while and though people say they don’t care, they don't like the realities of gay men living in the same barracks."
Grant stood tall and approached, stopping next to Roger, their bodies brushing against each other. His lips were right at Roger's ear, his breath hot on Roger's neck. "Trust me, no one cares who you have sex with. Just keep it off the ranch or know that once you get involved with one of the guys, you're a couple and you don't fuck with anyone else."
Roger didn't want to sniff Grant, but the man was too tempting. He moved just a hairs breath and his nose was at Grant's neck. He breathed in before he could stop himself. The scent coming off the man was a mixture of soap, shampoo, and masculinity that had Roger so hard he wondered if he'd be safe sleeping in the same house with Grant.
Neither of them moved and he wondered if the lack of action was an invitation. He backed up just enough to catch Grant's gaze, the pain and sorrow took his breath away. The man wasn't open to a relationship.
Roger gripped Grant's arm above his elbow. Grant flexed, sending Roger's libido into overdrive. "I'll remember that. And thanks."
Grant nodded but didn't step away. The lines around his eyes softened. Roger wanted the exchange to mean something more than it did. He guessed that after Grant's warning the man wouldn’t even be open for a quick blowjob. This assignment was turning into an interesting placement. Of course, they'd told him over and over again that he had a choice. He could stay and play the game they wanted him to, or he could walk away with a few hundred thousand dollars to buy his silence.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Grant stepped away and moved to the doorway.
"Do you regret taking this assignment?"
Grant turned back to him, his lips thinned out and his eyes narrowed. "Never. Not once have I regretted my decision. I make a real difference here."
Roger nodded. "Thanks for answering honestly. I appreciate it."
"Anytime. Once you're past the next phase of your training, I'll answer any question."
"Any?" Roger wondered if the man actually meant any or if there would be places he wouldn’t go.
Grant nodded. "You'll have more clearance than the president."
"Even questions that are personal in nature?"
Had he not been highly trained at observing cues, he would have missed the tightness around Grant's mouth. "I'm sure we'll discuss personal lives later. For now, you need to shower before Duff comes back…unless you want him helping you."
Roger shivered and headed out of the room with Grant. They stopped at a door five feet from the room he'd just left. He took note of his surroundings. A television, a pool table, and two couches occupied half of the larger room, the rest he couldn’t see since Grant was blocking the way. They stared at each other for a beat before Roger stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. The room was typical for a residential bathroom. An empty medicine cabinet was sunk in the wall. Two drawers below the sink were filled with packaged toothbrushes, unused razors, toothpaste, ear swabs, cotton balls, and small cans of shaving cream. In the cabinets at the base of the vanity, he found shampoos and conditioners along with a hair dryer and five white towels. There were eight white washrags and two matching hand towels. Roger tried to check behind the mirror, but it was fixed to the wall securely.
Undressing quickly, he wondered if they were watching him on a monitor somewhere. He wasn't going to give them a show, not today. He stepped into the shower and turned on the spray, wincing as the cold water hit him. Soon enough, warmth filled the stall, raining down over his tired muscles. Being drugged had set him back in strength and reaction time. So far, he liked the place and the men but he didn't really know them. The other guys could easily be assholes, and he might make the decision to leave, but he doubted it. His mother had passed away while he was in the service and his father hated him. The man had made it perfectly clear he wasn't welcome when he returned from the military. Even being a SEAL didn't make his father proud. Getting the offer to make a real difference had intrigued him. He hoped he could meet their expectations because if he didn't stay here, he had nowhere to go.
Chapter Two
Grant heard the water start and flopped down on the couch, throwing his hands over his face and groaning. Why the fuck did Roger have to be so fucking good looking? Shit, he wasn't over Craig but he was alive. Fucking dick couldn't stay down and then Roger had to go and sniff him. Hell, he'd wanted to spin the guy around and ride him hard, which was so unlike him. He didn't prowl and he didn't push, he finessed in relationships.
"Damn it, Craig." Not for the first time Grant wanted to call Craig, ask him what the hell he'd been thinking, but he didn't know where Craig was or how to get in contact with him. Craig hadn't just disappeared from his life, he'd dropped off the radar, changing his name so he didn't show up on the computer and Grant had looked—plenty. He'd searched aliases, but they weren't positive which ones he would use and they hadn't found the safety deposit Craig kept, detailing which alias he had access to. Until they found that, they were flying blind.
The shower turned off and Grant sat up. He wouldn't be allowed to have his computer in the same room with Roger, not until the guy acclimated to their environment. They were cautious, initially giving few liberties to the men who took the job, but they had their reasons. After a few days, Roger would be free to roam around the property like the rest of them, but first they all needed a basic level of trust.
The door opened and Grant watched as Roger stepped out wearing the blue cotton T-shirt and shorts they'd provided for him. Water clung to his hair, leaving it darker than earlier.
"Feel better?" Grant asked.
"A bit. So what is the plan tonight?"
"Duff will come back and we'll talk. Our missions will be explained in depth. You'll be allowed to sleep on the information and in the morning, when you've given it thought, you'll either go home because you can't fathom killing someone who the court hasn't judged as guilty, or you'll receive a room assignment, be issued a computer and a start receiving training that is very specific to us and few are privy to."
Roger went back into the other room and returned with a Dr Pepper and a Coke. He handed the Dr Pepper to Grant.
Grant narrowed his eyes, his muscles tightening. "How did you know?"
"Earlier, when you first came into the room, you eyed the table, your gaze stayed on
the Dr Pepper longer than the other drinks."
Grant shook his head, and blew out a breath. He was glad Roger was on the side of good. A man this talented working for the enemy would be devastating to their cause. "You're good."
A slight blush crept up Roger's neck. His lips curved a bit and his dark brown gaze slid to the ground for a brief second. Bashful became Roger, making him sexier than before. "I try to be."
"Anything else you know about me from watching?"
"You don't like sweets as much as you like meat."
Grant smirked and glanced away. If he were at a bar or just hanging out with the guys he'd make a raunchy comment about loving meat, but he didn't know Roger well enough, and since they didn't know if he'd stay, though Grant was fairly certain he would, he didn't want to get too familiar.
The door opened and Duff ambled in, a folder in his hand. Grant thought about leaving, but he wanted to see how Roger responded to this part of the initiation to Wild Bluff.
"Glad to see you've made yourself comfortable. We'll be discussing a mission and I want your assessment. I'd like to know what you'd do and how you would handle the situation. First, would you like something a bit more substantial than the food in your room? There are burgers on the grill and I can have one of the guys bring one in."
Roger's eyes brightened and his lips curved up more than Grant had seen them move before. "I'd love to have a cheeseburger."
"Grant?" Duff turned to him and he nodded. "Okay, two burgers with the fixings." Duff typed into his phone, sending a message to Bill or Mike. They were the two best cooks on the ranch and often made dinner. He did one meal every two weeks but most of the guys preferred Bill or Mike to cook, often trading chores around the ranch so they'd have good food.
Duff turned back to Roger, his face serious. "I need you to review the information in this file. After we're done eating, we will discuss."
Roger nodded and took the file over to the table, spreading the papers out and putting them into piles. He reorganized the piles a few times, shifting the papers back and forth. After about five minutes he looked up, finding Duff's gaze.
"Do I need to put away the papers before the food is served?"
"No, thanks for asking though. Unless I specifically state, all missions can be talked about openly on the ranch. All of the team members have clearance to hear every conversation about the missions. If we have guests on property, we'll make sure everyone is aware. That means no sleepovers here, you find a guy you want to spend some time with, you go to a hotel or just do it in the truck."
"Yes, sir." Roger's cheeks turned a nice shade of pink before he buried his face in the papers. The next three minutes were spent in silence, Roger staring at the files in front of him. Then Roger's breathing grew deeper, his shoulders straighter.
The door opened and the aroma of burgers and oven fries hit Grant. He almost purred at the scent. His belly rumbled and Roger glanced up, his lips were tight, his gaze fierce. Bill brought in a tray with two plates covered by domes. He set them on the table and nodded.
"Roger, this is Bill. He's one of the best cooks on the ranch," Duff said.
"Thank you for the food, it's good to know who the good cooks are. Those smell delicious."
Bill glanced down at the papers in front of Roger and stiffened. It had been his assignment. He'd worked it for two months, finally getting close enough to assassinate the three men in charge of the Huan clan. Bill had spent a month at a private facility after that mission. It didn't happen often but enough for them to have a relationship with one of the private clinics the government used. Sometimes their work was too intense. They accepted the risks, understanding that needing help wasn't a weakness.
"Duff, Grant. I'll see you both in the morning. Roger, if I don't see you again, have a good life." Bill turned to leave, his hand on the door pulling it open when Roger spoke.
"Just a second, before you go. Can I ask him a question?"
Duff glanced at Bill before nodding. "If he agrees to answer."
"Fair enough." Roger glanced down at the papers before turning his gaze on Bill. "I've seen your name mentioned in this packet."
Bill stood tall, his hands resting behind his back. "It's only in there once."
"Yes, I noticed that. Anyway, have you ever regretted saying yes to this job?"
Bill looked at Duff. "Can I speak freely?"
Duff nodded and sat back, relaxing though Grant knew the man never really relaxed. "Yes, you may."
"The only time I ever regretted taking this job was after that case. I came back wrecked because of what I saw. It took me a month of intense counseling and even with that, I still have nightmares. However, if I hadn't taken this job, more people would have suffered. You see those photographs, those kids—that was their reality until I killed those bastards. I took out more than just those three men. I killed all of their sons in an explosion. The collateral damage was more than I would have liked, but the number of kids I saved was in the thousands. It's tough when you start weighing the worth of one human life, but I made a judgment and if I was wrong, I'll pay for it when I die, but if I was right, and those kids I saved were worth saving, then I'm happy with my decision to join this group of warriors. And by the way, I do think that all of those kids were worth saving. We found a few thousand kids being abused and forced into slavery, and there were rumors of more."
"And another family hasn't started doing the same thing?" Roger asked.
"We've been watching and so far, it's clean. That doesn't mean we won't have to take out the trash again, but for now, it's safe for those families and their children. We did that case pro-bono by the way."
Roger nodded then glanced back at the file. "Thank you for answering truthfully." He stared at the papers, his lips thinned out and his eyes narrowed, Grant could only guess at the emotions the guy was feeling.
Duff pushed a plate toward him. "Eat, then we'll discuss."
Roger put away the papers, taking time to straighten them. He took the dome off the plate, inhaling deeply. Bill was already out the door before Roger looked up. "Dang this smells great."
"His steaks are better. During the winter, he makes the best chili too. Then there is this chicken dish that I swear is pure heaven." Grant took a bite of the burger, closing his eyes to chew. Bill was the best when it came to cooking. It would be nice if they could hire a cook, but so far none of the men who'd come to the ranch were cooks by trade and there were no extra employees. Every man went out on missions, except Duff. Eventually Grant would tire and the need to settle down would call, leaving him without a place to call home, but he hoped that was far into the future. That was the hitch in his thinking—what he couldn’t figure out about Craig leaving. He pushed thoughts of Craig away, focusing on Roger and the food in front of him.
*~*~*
Roger pushed his plate away, wondering how he'd found the room to eat all of the food on his plate. "I'm going to have to go for a run in the morning and hit the gym—you do have a gym, right?"
"We have weights and a full gym. Half of the time the farm work is enough to stay fit," Duff said.
"I never thought I'd end up back on the farm."
Duff chuckled, "The work isn't that bad, not with all of us here. Today, Bill, Mike, and James were pushed to the limit. Usually, there would be more guys out there helping. Grant had a few things he had to take care of and the other three guys are on a mission. We are a very understanding group. The guys all work together well."
"So am I replacing someone, or did you ask for me?" Roger picked up the pieces of paper, his eyes drawn to the photo attached to the page underneath.
"You are filling a spot for a team member who decided to leave, but the decision to bring you in was made months before he left."
Roger glanced up from the photograph, his lips turned down. "How long have you been tracking me?"
"A few years, but that's not important. We're tracking three hundred men and women who might fit what we're looking fo
r."
"Interesting." Roger held up the photo, showing it to both Grant and Duff. "Did she live or die?"
"She's safe but no longer in China. We got her out. Her parents died, but they sold her in the first place. She is getting a good education and will be eligible for college in a few years."
Roger closed the file and tossed it on the table. "I'm in."
"That's it?" Duff asked. "No questions, no interrogations, asking how we could kill someone without a trial?"
Roger stood and walked back into his room, grabbing a bottle of water, bringing one for Grand and Duff. "It would be silly of me to think that you don't know my history. You know my sister was raped and murdered when I was five and she was sixteen. You know everything. Am I wrong?"
"Son, we probably know more about you than you do." Duff took the bottle. "Thanks for the water."
"You probably knew I'd go get you one if I got up to get one for myself."
"Yes. We've had you profiled and we've profiled your last five boyfriends. I'm sorry about Hayden. He was a good man."
Roger's teeth clenched and he shook his head. "Hayden isn't up for discussion."
"When you're ready to talk about him, I'm here. He was a big part of your life, it's natural to want to tell stories about him and we've all been in intense battle situations."
He gritted his teeth and pushed the memories away. "Fine."
"So you're ready to be—" Duff's phone buzzed, the one that only rang if there was an issue on a mission. Grant froze and Duff lifted his hand, signaling for silence as he took the call. "Yes?"
Grant listened to Duff's end of the conversation. The first few words were code, telling Duff if the operatives were in danger, if they were alone or with someone else.
"Sweetened or unsweetened?" Duff closed his eyes and his mouth pinched together as he listened to the caller.
Billy came in, setting down plates and leftover pie on the table. He picked up their used plates and utensils before turning to leave.
