by TL Reeve
“Sure.” He shook Thomas’s hand then Asher’s. “I’ll be seeing you.”
Even with the midday traffic, the drive to the airport didn’t take long. By the time he’d arrive in Florida, it would be early evening. Duncan must have stared at the single key taped to the sheet of paper a thousand times now. They’d included his new license and a credit card hooked to his bank account. He wondered how long Asher and Thomas had been working on the little scheme. Had he been oblivious to their machinations the whole time? Had he been so deep in his depression he stopped paying attention?
The driver stopped in the unloading zone for Duncan to get out. Once he had his bags, the man handed him a set of keys. “Mr. Kaine said you’d be needing these when you arrive in Orlando.”
Duncan stared at the fob and the attached house keys. “Right. Thank you.”
“Enjoy your flight, sir.” The man returned to his vehicle and pulled back out into traffic, leaving Duncan to stare after him.
What am I missing? Duncan went through TSA and arrived on time to start boarding the plane. Unlike every other flight, he sat in first class, a perk he received as a going away present from everyone. When he found his seat, he pulled the paperwork back out and read it again. It didn’t make sense. He shouldn’t be given a new identity. He wasn’t in witness protection. He was a criminal on loan.
Once they were in the air, the flight attendants came around to take snack and drink orders. Duncan requested a cola, knowing full well anything else would upset his already angst-ridden stomach. The flight hadn’t taken as long as he thought it would, and before he was ready, the plane rolled to the waiting gate so he could exit the aircraft. Again, he asked himself what he was doing, but he came up with the same answer as before. He didn’t know. He was on autopilot as he found the parking deck where the vehicle he was supposed to drive was located. When he found the sleek Benz, he snorted. It was the same make and model as his car sitting in the parking garage of R.O.O.T.
After throwing his meager belongings into the trunk, he got in then programmed the GPS with the address of the place he’d be calling home. As he pulled out of the parking deck, he had to admit the idea of being someone else no one knew excited him and lifted some of the guilt off his shoulders. He finally felt free. Over the last several months, he’d been tempted to find out what his father had been up to and to read the files on the thumb drive Thomas handed him, but in the end, he gave it back to Thomas. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t his father.
Duncan wanted better for himself.
As he turned the corner onto the suburban street, he was surprised by how cookie-cutter the community was. The houses were one and two story single family homes and mostly new. He slowed as he drove along the road, looking for the address where he’d be staying. When he found the house, he stopped. The place was huge. The two-story home had at least a three car garage and a large front and backyard. He pulled into the driveway and got out, not sure he was in the right neighborhood.
Duncan didn’t stay outside too long. He didn’t need the neighbors being too nosy about his arrival. The property had to be a government seizure. There was a video doorbell along with a set of smaller cameras around the perimeter, not noticeable to anyone who didn’t know what they were looking for. Duncan stuck his key in the lock and opened the door. The smell of something spicy cooking assailed him first, then soft conversation followed.
He stepped outside and checked the address once more, sure there’d been some kind of mistake. When he stepped back into the house, his knees buckled. It wasn’t possible. He was dreaming. Any minute he’d wake up and he’d be back in his apartment. Something clattered in the distance, falling to the floor. Then a round belly came into view before a woman knelt in front of him.
“Agent,” Bella whispered. “Is it really you, primo?”
His hand went to her belly. A soft kick bumped his palm, drawing him out of his stupor. He blinked several times, trying to clear the haze clouding his vision. Enzo was on his left while Bella was on his right, waving her hand in his face in an attempt to snap him back into reality. The last time he’d seen Enzo, he’d been covered in blood and fighting for his life. Bella had been crying on his couch in the club apartment, desperate for him to pay attention to her. Duncan had shut down his emotions, forcing himself not to think about them in those moments. Now, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of the pair. They were really here. He touched them, afraid if he moved his hand away they’d disappear, or he would wake alone in his room.
He took a shuddered breath, unsure of what he was supposed to do in this particular situation. He’d said his goodbyes and had pretended he was content with letting them go, but now he had them back.
“Bella?” He ran his fingers through her long black hair. “Enzo?”
“It’s Xavier and Gracella now,” Enzo said. “You’re Damian Hooks, right?”
Duncan nodded, unable to speak. Long repressed feelings swamped him. “How—How is this possible?”
“Your agent friend did it all,” Bella said, taking Duncan’s hand. “He sent me here first with a team to watch over me. After Enzo got out of the hospital, he joined me.”
He stood on shaky legs and followed them into the great room to sit on a couch. He still couldn’t believe where he was, or the fact Thomas had pulled it off. “Wow.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you tongue tied, hermoso,” Enzo teased.
“I’m a little confused is all.” Duncan braced his elbows on his knees and blew out a breath. “I have so many questions, including the baby.”
Bella rubbed her stomach affectionately. “We do too. We were all sterilized when we joined up. Raul only did it to the women, because well, you don’t want to talk about that.” She waved off the sideways track of their conversation. “A few weeks after I arrived here, I started feeling really bad, so the agent sent to watch over me took me to a local clinic, and I found out I was pregnant.”
“It didn’t take, hermoso, the sterilization,” Enzo said. “The doctor believes the clips were defective or some shit. I checked out on the technical explanation. Anyway, the doc says it took several years for the tubes to heal and then resume functioning.” He shrugged. “We’re happy.”
“H-How far?” Duncan couldn’t keep his eyes off Bella. She glowed as she sat beside him. The happiness radiating off of her warmed the dead spot in the middle of his chest.
“Six months.” She beamed. “We don’t know what we’re having, but we turned one of the bedrooms into a nursery already.”
Duncan stood then. “You both should hate me because of how I left everything.”
“We were very hurt, hermoso. You let us go without even saying why.” Enzo frowned. “I thought you rejected us.”
He had. “But?”
“Thomas called, and then Asher,” Bella answered. “They talked to us, and we realized you have tons of shit in your closet you need to get rid of.”
He chuckled. “I suppose I do.”
“Dinner’s almost ready. Would you like to eat?” Bella hedged. “Then we can take a tour of the house.”
“I’d like that,” Duncan replied. “But, first where’s the bathroom so I can get cleaned up a little?”
“I’ll show you.” Enzo took his hand. The sensation of the man’s warm palm against his spread up Duncan’s arm. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
Neither did Duncan. “I can’t believe I’m here. If this is a dream, I never want to wake up. Ever.”
“Same, hermoso.” Enzo led him down the hall. “Same.”
True to her word, after dinner, Bella went for a walk through the quiet neighborhood and showed Duncan around. The tour of the house ended with all three of them in bed naked and sweaty. As he laid there staring up at the ceiling, Duncan couldn’t believe he was with the two people he’d so willingly sent away. The people he loved.
He was home. He’d found his place after all.
“Hey, hermoso, you awake?” Enzo curled i
nto his side, draping his arm over Duncan’s chest.
“Yeah,” Duncan whispered. “What’s wrong?”
“I never did get a chance to tell you thank you for saving my life,” Enzo said. “If you hadn’t been so quick, they say I would have bled out.”
‘They’ were the doctors. “It’s my job.”
“Nah, homie. It’s not your job. You could have turned your back on us when you first found us in the club. You could have slapped cuffs on us and sent us to prison. Instead, you gave us a second chance we didn’t deserve.”
Duncan shook his head. “No. I saw two people who didn’t look like they could hurt a fly cowering in a crumbling building. I couldn’t let you take the fall. I only paid ahead the favor I received all those years ago.”
“Speaking of which,” Enzo said. “Why haven’t we been called to testify?”
Ah, the million dollar question. “I think I should say this when Bella is awake.”
“Bella and baby are awake. This little peanut is active tonight.” She groaned and rolled over. “What’s going on?”
Duncan hated breaking the moment between them to give them the gory details of what happened to Raul, so he kept it simple. “You won’t be testifying. Late last night, Raul was killed in his cell.”
Enzo whistled.
Bella gasped and crossed herself.
“We’re not sure who did it,” Duncan said. “Some of the footage from his cell has been destroyed. I’m sure at some point the agency will investigate his death, but as of now, the case is closed. You’re both free. You won’t have to be looking over your shoulders.”
“Damn, that’s some fucked up shit,” Enzo muttered. “What about his kid? The girl?”
Duncan grinned. “She’s good. She graduated high school, and now she’s training to be part of SRT. She’s also in therapy for the physical and emotional stuff she’s been through, plus she has a speech therapist.”
“I knew she was a tough chica. I’m happy for her.” Enzo pressed his lips to Duncan’s shoulder.
“Does she know about her father?” Bella asked.
“I’m sure she does now,” Duncan answered.
“So, what happens next?” Enzo prodded.
“Now,” Duncan said, dragging Enzo over his body. “You ride my dick until we both come again.”
Enzo groaned. “I’m down, hermoso.”
“What about me?” Bella pouted.
Duncan smirked. “You’re going to ride my face so I can drink down the sweetest juices I’ve ever tasted.” He tucked his finger under her chin, so her gaze met his. “I missed you, Bella. I fucking hated leaving you like I did.” He pressed his lips to hers. “I fucked up. I only realized after you were gone how much I loved you. Both of you.”
“We love you too,” Enzo said. “But then, you knew that. Your mind just had to catch up.”
Duncan groaned as Enzo lubed him up then sat down on Duncan’s thick cock. His eyes closed as pleasure zinged through him. “Enough talking for the night. We have to make up for lost time.”
“Yes, Master Duncan.” Enzo chuckled.
“Mmm, I love it when you call me Master Duncan.”
Duncan guided Enzo over him. The warmth of their connection burned across his skin searing him with the love he never believed he’d been worthy of. Their pace wasn’t hurried or harried. Duncan took his time enjoying the soft sounds Enzo made. Beside them, Bella toyed with her nipples.
Her gasps of pure bliss spurred Duncan. He wanted to see both of his lovers take their pleasure before gaining his own. “Bella, touch yourself. Play with your clit.”
A wicked grin spread across her face as her hand glided between her breasts down her rounded belly and between her legs. She moaned, and her eyes fluttered shut. When she looked up at Duncan, her gaze glittered with arousal.
Her pace matched Duncan’s. When he sped up, so did she. When he slowed down, she did too. It was erotic as fuck and turned Duncan on. He wanted to fuck Enzo to completion then take Bella too. Yet, he held back. They needed this. The connection between them had been damaged, but he hoped over time they’d heal together.
Enzo’s hips faltered. His whimper of pleasure sent a shudder through Duncan. Enzo squeezed Duncan’s cock, and the pleasure pooling in his gut spread through his body. He couldn’t hold back. Duncan quickened his pace. He chased after his release while Enzo stroked himself. The tension built inside of him. As much as he wanted it to last longer, Duncan couldn’t hold back. He thrust twice more, burying himself deep. Enzo fluttered around him, and the second he started to come, Enzo followed him over the edge. The soft sigh and cry of bliss from Bella drew his attention. She trembled through her release. The flush of her orgasm caused her to glow in repletion. Duncan sagged at the sated expression on her face. One day at a time, he’d rebuild what they lost. Until then, he was just content to have both of them in his life.
“Mmm, primo,” Bella whispered. “We’ve missed you.”
“Fuck that, we loved and missed him,” Enzo said then looked at Duncan. “We love you.”
Duncan didn’t know what to say. “I—”
“Shh,” Bella placed her finger to his mouth. The sweet scent of her release churned the embers of his arousal. “You don’t have to say it. We both understand what you must have gone through. We went through shit too. But, we do love you, primo.”
Duncan grinned. The restlessness he’d been consumed by for the last six months disappeared. He was with the two people who filled his every thought, and he’d never leave them again. “Good, because I love you two as well.”
Four months later...
Duncan stared at the photo of his son, Ezekiel Ramon Jimenez-Hooks and grinned. Bella had a somewhat easy labor, and after eight hours, their son came into the world at a whopping eight and a half pounds and twenty inches long. He had mocha colored skin and Duncan’s blue eyes, which shocked the shit out of him every time ‘EZ’ opened them to stare at Duncan. He still couldn’t believe he was a father. It was all so surreal.
The PI business Thomas set him up with only dealt with cases the FBI needed an outside helping hand with or ones Asher sent him, and he’d been grateful. The jobs kept him close to home for Bella and Enzo while also allowing him to hone his investigative skills. After attaching the picture of his son to the encrypted email, he began writing.
Well, here he is. We’re doing good in Florida. Our lives have changed, but we’re figuring it out. Thanks for putting up with me for all these years. You’re the brother I never knew I needed.
Damian
He hit send on the email and stood up right as EZ decided to wake from his nap. Duncan turned around in his office and picked up the boy from his bassinet and cradled him in his arms. The boy stilled and stared up at Duncan in wide-eyed amazement.
The door to the office opened moments later, and Bella joined him, a bottle in her hand along with a diaper. Enzo was hot on her heels.
“Do you want diaper or meal duty?” She held out the items to Duncan
“Both,” Duncan answered. “We’re still bonding.”
Bella’s features softened as she joined Duncan. “You’re spoiling him.”
Maybe. “It’s okay. He should be spoiled. We’ve all had shitty lives, and it’s time for us to enjoy what’s left of them.” He pressed a kiss to his son’s forehead then to Bella’s and Enzo’s. “Besides, don’t tell me you both haven’t been doing the same.”
Bella laughed. “You caught us, primo.”
“Yes, I did.” He stared at the ring on her ring finger and the matching one on Enzo’s. He also thought of the collars both wore when they went to the club. “Both of you.”
“Forever,” Bella said.
Enzo nodded. “Yeah, hermoso, you’re stuck with us.”
Sounded perfect to him.
Virginia Beach, Virginia...
Bex stepped into C&C for the first time as a member of R.O.O.T and SRT and sat at one of the open chairs around the conference table. No
ah took his position next to Asher while the others filtered into the room. She hadn’t been able to stop looking at her tags since the minute Noah handed them to her. Belonging and pride filled her. It seemed like so long ago she’d been a simpering girl who kept getting knocked on her ass instead of standing up for herself.
Alé and Bronx joined her, taking her hands under the table. Later she’d show them the gift Noah had given her, but she was determined to learn everything she could about their new mission—technically her first. When AJ and Scotty joined them, Asher closed the door and turned down the lights. The projector whirled to life and the photo of a kid, no more than maybe fifteen or sixteen appeared on the screen. He had black hair streaked in purple, teal, and pink and sad, soulful blue eyes. He also had snake bite piercings and one in his brow along with 8-gauge piercings in his ears. He looked like a typical teenager, or what she’d consider a typical teenager, considering her knowledge of what could be considered normal was skewed thanks to Raul.
AJ handed her a folder then gave them out to the others. She opened it and started reading over the initial information for the case. The kid—Sergio Pershing, came from a well to do area. He had two sisters and an older brother in the military. She blinked. She knew his brother, Omar Pershing. He’d been one of the men who cared for her with Noelle. She set aside the knowledge and continued reading the information. Three weeks ago, his sister, Camilla, disappeared after attending a party not sanctioned by the high school they attended.
“Sergio Pershing is your target. He’s sixteen and a junior at Cascadia High School in West Hollywood. This school is high dollar. This place is like Beverly Hills High on a smaller scale, but just as rich,” Asher said, replacing the mark’s picture with one of the high school. “This is where you’ll be enrolling. Like with Bex, you’ll befriend Sergio, see what kind of information he can give you then work the case.”
“Do we have a contact inside the school?” Alé asked.
