by Ruby Moone
Christian grit his teeth. “Before you go, I need to talk to you about going home.”
Daniel’s jaw clenched. “Can we discuss this when I get back?”
“I need to go home,” Christian said. If he didn’t do it now, he might never find the strength to walk away.
“I know you do. Just… Just let me get this sorted out and then we can talk about it.”
Christian looked at him. He looked tired. Stressed. “There isn’t much to talk about.”
Daniel rand a hand around the back of his neck. “No, just some fucking nutter out there trying to kill you. Nothing at all.”
“Daniel, I can’t stay here forever just in case.”
Daniel closed his eyes. “I know you can’t. Just give me a couple of days. Please. I’ve enough to worry about without having to worry about you too.” He looked at him, and for once, let him see the frustration, the exhaustion, and Christian was stunned at how strong the compulsion to go and put his arms around him was. The need to take him by the hand and lead him to the bedroom so he could take away all the stress, all the strain. Even more reason to leave.
“Tomorrow. I swear we will talk.”
Christian looked away. “I have a business to run too, you know. I have to get back. Michael and Finlay have done a sterling job in my absence, but any longer and they’ll decide they don’t need me.”
Daniel frowned, and was going to say something, but then seemed to realise he didn’t really mean what he said.
“You need to ease up.” Christian looked at him, but Daniel dropped his gaze.
“I’ll ease up when it’s safe.”
Christian rested and waited for Daniel to return. He got loads of work done, probably more than if he’d been in the office. His wounds were annoying now rather than painful, and it was time to go. It was time to go before he threw himself at Daniel and made a total fool of himself.
The day after, when there was no sign of Daniel, and no word from him. Christian texted him later in the day. He got an apology and a promise that he’d be home the day after.
On the third day there was still no sign of him, and on the fourth, Christian decided enough was enough. He couldn’t sit around any longer. He’d no idea where Asher and the crew were. He decided the quickest way to find them was to put his bag and his laptop bag by the door. Presumably, Daniel had the entire place under surveillance, and they’d see. It was dramatic, he knew that, he had Asher’s mobile number, but he felt he needed to do something.
He put the bags down in the mock gothic entrance, turned about until he spotted a camera, and waved.
It wasn’t long before Asher was running down the stairs.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving.”
“I’d strongly recommend that you don’t.”
“I know. That’s why I waved at you. But unless I’m a prisoner here, you can’t stop me. I’m appreciative of all the work you’ve done, and I’m genuinely appreciative of the chance to recuperate safely, but I can’t stay here. I’ll go mad. If Daniel is staying away because of me, he can have his home back.”
Asher didn’t flinch. “Daniel has business to attend to in London. He had to deal with it personally, it is nothing to do with you. He will be returning tomorrow. I suggest you wait and discuss it with him.”
“I’ve told him I’m going.”
Asher faltered. “And what did he say?”
Christian shrugged. “Don’t know. I texted him with the news and then turned my phone off.” Christian hefted the laptop bag onto his shoulder with barely a wince and picked up the holdall. “Now, if you don’t mind?”
At that exact moment, Asher’s phone rang. He gave Christian a long look, and then pulled it from his pocket.
“Hello.”
Christian could hear the tone of Daniel’s voice loud and clear. He smiled politely at Asher and gestured to the door. Asher held up a hand and listened. He pulled the phone away from his ear.
“He wants to talk to you.”
Christian sighed and took the phone.
“Hey.”
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m going home.”
“Like hell you are.”
Christian glanced at Asher and raised an eyebrow. “Daniel. I’m grateful for your support, and I’m as ever grateful for your interventions. But I can’t stay here. I’ll go mad.”
“I can be home in a couple of hours.”
“It’s not about you being here. Really. It’s not.”
There was a hesitation. “Would you wait until I get back to talk about it?”
“You’ve been saying that for days. There’s no need. If you want, your guys can carry on watching over me, but I need to get out of this house before I drive myself nuts. I’ve asked Asher, but if you won’t let him drive me home, I’ll call Finlay.”
“Dammit, will you just wait an hour or so?” Christian could hear the frustration in his voice. He wasn’t trying to be petty or childish, but he needed out. He opened his mouth to say no, but Daniel got in first.
“Please. Please just stay there. I’ll talk to you as soon as I get in. I swear.”
He closed his eyes and made an irritated sound. What the hell was it about Daniel saying please that crumpled him? “I’ll wait until you get here, if you promise to give me a lift home.”
“Christian…”
“Is that a deal?”
Daniel sighed. Audibly. “Deal. Wait there.”
Christian hung up and handed the phone back to Asher. “Here you go.”
Asher looked faintly relieved as he pocketed the device. “Do you want someone to keep you company?”
“No thanks. I’ll go back to the study and work. If he’d not back in a couple of hours though, I’m out of here. I’ll climb the fucking wall if I have to.”
Asher nodded.
25
Daniel sat at his desk in his London office and rattled through the emails he needed to deal with. He delegated what he could to his team, sent his PA to sort out his travel, and crashed through as much of the vital stuff as he could. Thank God he had a solid team, or he’d have gone under. Asher was working from Manchester, and the rest of the crew were hard at it. At least he’d be able to carry on while he was on the train.
His PA, Martin, knocked on the door and opened it. He slipped inside.
“Gentleman by the name of Eric Daly has called to see if you will see him.”
Eric Daly? What the fuck was he doing in his London office.
“Send him in.”
Daniel closed his laptop and sat back in his chair. He didn’t offer a smile, or stand up when Daly came in.
“Daniel. How are things going?”
“Fine. Take a seat.”
Daly unbuttoned his jacked, sat in the chair opposite, and crossed one long leg over the other. There was a subtle aura of power about the man that was impressive, but today, Daniel didn’t have time for it.
“What can I do for you?”
Daly shrugged. It was an oddly elegant move. “When we talked last, I mentioned that I might be interested in some of your father’s assets.”
Daniel nodded.
“I might be interested in the clubs.”
“Make me an offer.”
Daly smiled. “I’d change the businesses that run out of it.”
Daniel nodded. He’d an idea what the businesses were, and he couldn’t blame him. Daly was welcome to make whatever changes he wanted to.
Daly took an envelope out of his jacket pocket and pushed it over the desk. Daniel watched, then picked it up and tore it open. He made a quick calculation and drew the conclusion that the sum written on a cheque was about ten times what he estimated the real estate was worth, so he could safely assume this was about half of what the ‘businesses’ were worth. He put the cheque back in the envelope shaking his head and watched Daly frown.
“No.”
“It’s a generous offer.” D
aly looked unmoved.
“That’s too much. I’ll get the property valued, and I’ll sell it to you for that.”
“What?” Daly was startled. That much was evident. His dark eyes narrowed for a moment. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“I have no sense of humour, so no. I don’t know what businesses run out of them. I don’t want to know. I certainly don’t want to profit from it or have any link to them. So, I’ll have it valued, and sell it to you for the market value. I imagine it’s a fraction of what you’ve put in here.”
Daly tilted his head on one side. “And what do you want in return.”
Daniel shrugged. “Nothing.”
Daly observed him for a long time. Daniel didn’t flinch.
“Bryce?” Daly said after a while.
“What about him.”
“Is he under your protection as he claims?”
“You’ve got to be fucking joking. He tried to kill my cousin, so no. He is not.” Daniel’s heart was thumping hard. Little bastard. “He’s delusional, and this is not the first time he’s tried to claim a close link with my family.”
“Are you dealing with it?”
Daniel hesitated. He knew what his father would have done. Weeks ago. But it wasn’t something he could do. He wasn’t even about to pretend.
“Not in the way Kenneth would have.”
Daly shook his head. “You are a strange boy.” He smiled and looked more closely at Daniel. “Bryce owes me a lot of money. He owes a lot of people a lot of money.”
Daniel shrugged. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Perhaps the only thing protecting him is your name?”
Daniel shook his head. “Anyone in the business knows I’ve distanced myself.”
Daly looked thoughtful. “Yes, but people do like to be quite sure. Wouldn’t want to invoke the wrath of the McCaffertys unnecessarily.”
Daniel shrugged. He had no idea what to say to that.
“So, you’d have no objection to me dealing with the debt that Bryce owes me personally?”
None at all.
“And you stand by what you said about the nightclubs?”
Daniel nodded. “I’ll arrange a valuation today.”
Daly stood and held out a hand. Daniel stood and shook.
“In that case, consider the threat that Bryce posed to your family dealt with. As a favour in return for your generosity.”
Christian’s words were ringing in his ears. He couldn’t get rid of them. “You’re not going to have him killed, are you?” He grimaced as he said the words.
Daly smiled. There was genuine humour in the smile. “My dear boy, I have no intention of sullying my hands with the little bastard, but you can consider it dealt with.”
“Thank you.”
It was only when he’d gone, that Daniel realised he hadn’t actually said he wouldn’t be killed. Just not by him.
He put his head in his hands for a moment, then scrubbed his face before picking up the phone to Martin.
“I need to book a jet.”
“Private?”
Daniel nodded. “Yeah. Why not.” He gave Martin the details and set off for the station on foot as it wasn’t far. Because he was late, he didn’t have long to wait, and when he settled himself down in the first-class seat on the train out of Euston bound for Manchester, he pulled out his laptop and his phone and started texting.
26
Daniel waited until the gates had closed behind him before driving up to the house. He was exhausted. He slammed the door and jogged up the steps. Inside, Christian’s bags sat in the hallway in silent defiance.
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose as Asher appeared. “Where is he?”
“Den.”
Only then did he let out a sigh of pure, naked relief.
He strode down the corridor and went into the room.
Christian looked at him, and Daniel caught the flicker of appreciation in his eyes before he masked it. He’d realised Christian liked to see him dressed for business a while back. He knew that he looked good in the charcoal grey suit, white shirt and blue green patterned tie that matched the tattoo on his neck. He looked at Christian and it hit him that the colours in his tattoo were reminiscent of Christian’s eyes. All blue and green. He’d never really given voice to that thought before but as he looked at him, lounging in his favourite chair in black sweats and a black T-shirt, he knew that most of his artwork reflected Christian.
Not that he’d ever tell him.
“You’re here.”
“I am. So are you.”
“What’s this about?” Daniel tugged at his tie and stripped it from beneath his collar and pushed it into his pocket. He loosened the top couple of buttons and sat on the sofa opposite.
“You look good in a suit.”
“Thank you. What’s going on?”
Christian gave him a lopsided grin. “I can’t stay here. Much as I appreciate your help.”
“Is the house getting to you?”
Christian awkward grin turned into a genuine smile. The one that turned his heart over. “I don’t know how you live in it.”
Daniel looked down at his hands and smiled. “I don’t much.”
Christian cocked his head on one side. “You don’t.”
“Nope.”
“Well, where do you live?”
Daniel took a breath. “I have a flat in Manchester, a house in London, a house in Cornwall, this, and… a villa in Greece.”
Christian nodded appreciatively. “And they say crime doesn’t pay.”
Daniel held on to his fragile composure. He cleared his throat. “We could take a break to Greece?”
Christian’s eyes narrowed. “What, like a holiday?”
Daniel nodded.
“Why? Why would I go to Greece? I’ve just had weeks off work. I need to get back, not start gallivanting about the Med.”
Daniel cleared his throat again and arrived at a decision. He’d done a lot of thinking on the train ride home and decided he needed to get Christian away from Manchester until Bryce was sorted. Doing that meant revealing more than he’d intended, but so be it.
Taking a breath, he took the leap. “So you can meet my mother.”
Christian blinked. Clearly, understandably, stunned.
Daniel waited and let that sink in.
“I… thought your mother disappeared years ago?”
Daniel couldn’t help the smile that formed. “As far as my father was concerned, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, she did. She went out and never came back. But she’s fine.” Christ, it felt so good to be able to say it out loud.
“Lorraine McCafferty disappeared. Kenneth was petitioning to have her declared legally dead, and a service was held for her grieving family.”
Christian’s eyes were wide.
“Around the same time, I employed Elena Stakis to establish and manage a charitable foundation in Greece to support queer kids in need of somewhere safe to live, somewhere to get support and advice, just somewhere to belong and be who they needed to be.”
“Oh, my God.” Christian simply stared at him. “Your mother is alive?”
Daniel nodded. “You still can’t tell anyone.”
Christian shook his head. “Of course, I won’t but… fuck…”
“I know. It’s a lot to take in. She had no option, he would have killed her if she tried to leave, and she really needed to leave him.”
Christian rubbed his face. “I can’t believe you’ve had to hold this inside you all this time.”
Daniel’s head ducked. As it always did when things became emotional.
“Was this around the time you stopped drinking?”
Daniel glanced up for a second then looked back at the ground and nodded. “Yeah. We made a pact. She’d get out, if I stopped the booze.”
“Was it hard?”
Daniel swallowed and nodded. Harder than I could ever tell you. “Yeah. It was hard.”
Christian looked at him for a long time, then stood up. Daniel followed suit. He waited for Christian to speak and was stunned when he simply walked over to him and put his arms around him. Daniel hesitated but cautiously held him back. He smelled amazing. Felt amazing. Daniel’s heart was doing weird cartwheels in his chest. He resisted the urge to bury his nose in Christian’s neck.
“What’s that for,” he said, pulling back to look at Christian. His eyes were hard to read, yet still beautiful.
“Just because.”
For a moment, Daniel though he was going to kiss him and was taken aback at how much he wanted that to happen. He knew he was playing with fire, knew that he needed to get a grip, but just for once he wanted to be reckless. He wanted to do what felt right. Felt good. He wanted to kiss Christian. It was twelve years since they’d kissed. He remembered the first time like it was only hours ago. The taste of his mouth, the feel of his breath against his cheek, the unspeakable softness of his lips against the hard muscularity of his body and the scratch of his scruff. He ached. Ached to be held, ached to be kissed, ached to be loved.
But Christian moved away.
“Why do you want me to go to Greece? Do you think Bryce won’t follow us there?”
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve dealt with Bryce.”
Christian closed his eyes and groaned. “Oh, no. What have you done?”
“Nothing. I’m not the only person looking for him. Apparently, he owes a lot of money to other people, so it’s pretty much out of my hands. I had a meeting with a business associate, and I’ve done him a favour. He’ll see to Bryce.”
Christian was eyeing him. “You know, getting someone else to kill him is as bad as doing it yourself.”
Daniel had to smile. “Bryce has been telling people he’s under my…ah…protection.”
“What? Like he did with Jack?”
“Same kind of thing.”
“The absolute bastard.”
“That’s what I said. My contact came to me and asked if I would have objections to him dealing with the debt. I said I had no objections at all.”
Christian shook his head.
“Hey, I told him not to kill him. Okay? I had your voice ringing in my ears. I told him not to kill him, just to get him out of my hair.”
