by Carol Lynne
Rio checked the P38 Walther hidden beneath his jacket. “I’m going in. No matter what happens, don’t let him get away.”
Jessup took one last sip of his coffee before setting it on one of the small tables that lined the hall. He pulled his own 9mm M11 out of its harness. “All set.”
Rio produced the key card given to him by Chad. It had taken little convincing once he had informed the lodge manager that Jack was the main suspect in Ryan’s shooting. Rio pressed his ear against the door and heard no movement from inside. He prayed Jack hadn’t roused enough during the night to engage the deadbolt.
A quick swipe of the card and Rio was inside the darkened room. He remained stock still until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. A lump in the centre of the bed drew his attention.
Before he could move, the barrel of a gun pressed against Rio’s temple.
“Don’t fucking breathe,” Jack said in the darkness.
Rio swallowed. Unlike most people, Jack wouldn’t hesitate to blow Rio’s head off if he believed he was a threat.
The overhead light turned on and Jack made a sound deep in his throat before pulling the gun away. “What the fuck? I could’ve killed you.” He tossed the Sig Sauer onto the bed.
The move surprised Rio. “I need to talk to you.”
“Knocking would’ve been a safer move,” Jack said. He walked towards the window. “After our conversation yesterday morning, I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Really? Because I could say the same to you. You’re slipping, Jack.”
Jack span around. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Rio eased his way towards the bed where Jack’s gun lay. “Are you honestly gonna stand there and tell me you didn’t try to kill Ryan yesterday?”
Jack’s gaze flitted to the bed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was here all day.”
Before Jack could react, Rio grabbed the Sig and pointed it at his ex-partner. “Two shots from a distance. One in the shoulder and one in the neck.”
“Wasn’t me.” Jack eyed the gun in Rio’s hand. “I’m sorry for your loss though.”
“No loss other than what little friendship the two of us had left.”
Jack threw up his hands in apparent exasperation. “Well then, that should tell you right there it wasn’t me. Have you ever known me to miss a target?”
Rio stared at Jack. He’d been so sure the shooter had been Jack he hadn’t considered any other possibilities, but what Jack said was true. “Then who?”
“How the hell should I know?” Jack turned his back on Rio and made his way to one of the chairs. “Just calm the fuck down and tell me what happened.”
There was something in Jack’s easy manner that bothered Rio. Jack in combat mode was tense and on-point. The person sitting in front of him with one leg crossed over the other didn’t speak of a man with something to hide. Was it a trick?
“Ryan was pulling out of the garage yesterday morning when two shots were fired from the hill across the street.” Something else that hadn’t dawned on Rio popped into his head. “He was driving my pickup.”
Jack rested his chin on his closed hand. “Sounds to me like someone was out to kill you, not Ryan. Now why would I want to do that?”
“I don’t know. Would you?”
“What? Kill you? No.”
“Then who would? I don’t have a single enemy in CattleValley, especially not one who’s ever fired a high powered sniper rifle.”
Jack seemed lost in thought for a moment before jumping to his feet. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“Who?” Rio asked.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll take care of it.”
“That’s bullshit! Give me a fucking name!” Rio demanded.
“Chet.”
“Chet? Why would he want to kill me? He’s the one who called to tell me you were alive for Christ’s sake.”
Jack strode across the room, completely ignoring the gun still pointed at him. He opened the closet before pulling his suitcase off the top shelf.
“What’re you doing?” Rio asked.
“What I told you I’d do, taking care of it. I can guarantee Chet is long gone by now. Probably sunning himself on a beach somewhere, waiting for me to call him.”
Rio narrowed his eyes as Jack started packing. “Why would he be waiting for your call?”
Jack sighed and stopped what he was doing. “Because we fuck. Chet told me he already informed you of that fact.”
“Yeah, he did. Guess I didn’t realise it was more than that.”
“It’s not.” Jack went back to packing. “He’s always had this fantasy that we’d retire and disappear together. I must’ve told him a million times it would never happen.”
“Because of me,” Rio surmised.
“Yeah,” Jack said, not meeting Rio’s gaze.
“So if Chet believed all it would take was to get rid of me…”
“Afraid so. He’s under the delusion that with you out of the picture I’ll fall in love with him.” Jack disappeared into the bathroom. He came out carrying his dop kit. After zipping his suitcase, he ran a quick hand through his hair. “Mind if I get my gun back?”
“What’re you going to do?” Rio asked, taking the magazine out of the gun before passing them over.
Jack stood just in front of Rio. “What I told you I’d do. I’ll take care of the problem.”
“How?” Rio had a sneaking suspicion he already knew.
“Don’t worry about it. Tell Ryan there’s no sense in starting an investigation. By the time I find Chet, there will be nothing left to prosecute.”
The civilised part of Rio wanted to tell Jack not to kill Chet, but the ex-mercenary side of him knew better. Chet was ex-CIA. He could ruin Rio and his men in more ways than one if he had a grudge against them. Looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life wasn’t something he wanted to deal with. “Don’t tell me any more.”
Jack nodded. “Fair enough.” Jack moved towards the door. “Can I call you some time?”
Rio weighed his thoughts carefully before answering. “As long as you know we’ll never be more than friends.”
Jack leant his forehead against the door. “Did you ever truly love me?”
“With all my heart,” Rio said without hesitation. “And while I still carry a certain amount of affection and love for you, I’m no longer in love with you. I’ve grown as a man and as a person since we were together. Nate and Ryan are my present and my future.”
“So you’re saying that even if I hadn’t faked my death we wouldn’t be together now?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m sure we would’ve had issues along the way, but if we loved each other, we would’ve grown with each other. Don’t make the mistake of thinking my life with Nate and Ryan has been all candy and flowers because nothing could be further from the truth. But we love each other enough to fight through the difficult times.”
Rio stepped forward and put a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “If you ever get the chance at love again, hang on to it, because nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important.”
Jack nodded. “I’ll call you once everything’s taken care of.”
“I’d appreciate that.” He reached for the doorknob. “You’d better let me go first.”
“Why? Because you’ve got some goon watching me?” Jack laughed. “You can’t seriously think he could’ve kept me here if I’d wanted to leave.”
“Trust me. Jessup isn’t a goon. He’s one of us.”
Jack’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “So it’s not my past you’re kicking out of town, it’s me.”
“Too much has happened between us, and you know it. I have to think of my family, and they wouldn’t be comfortable with you here.”
“And you?” Jack asked.
Looking at Jack, Rio felt nothing but fondness, no love, no regrets. “Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“I think it would be harder fo
r you than me.”
Jack’s jaw clenched for several seconds before he spoke. “I think you’re right.” He shook his head. “You’ll always be the man for me.”
“Nah, you’ll find someone. Just remember what I told you.”
Epilogue
“Christ, would you stop whining and just do what I told you to do?” Rio grumbled. It had been over a month since Ryan’s surgery and the man insisted on babying his shoulder. Matt Jeffries had suggested some light hand exercises, but Ryan complained every time Rio mentioned them.
Making sure Ryan’s shoulder fully recovered was the most important thing. In Ryan’s line of work, a significant decrease in range of motion could spell the end of his career. Rio had finally resorted to thinking outside the box.
“You’re really getting off on torturing me, aren’t you?” Ryan asked.
Rio held Ryan’s hand around his cock. “Yep. Now squeeze, dammit.”
Nate walked into the living room wearing nothing but an apron. “Seriously, guys, it’s Valentine’s Day. People in love should not fight on February fourteenth. Ever. He waved a wooden spoon. “It’s like an unspoken rule…” Nate cut himself off mid-rant. “What’re you doing?”
“Making Ryan do his exercises,” Rio answered innocently.
Nate walked over to the sofa and stood in front of Ryan, the front of the apron already starting to rise. “Maybe it would be better to exercise both hands. We wouldn’t want your right arm to get stronger than your left.”
For the first time all day, Ryan actually grinned. “I’m so glad the two of you are taking pleasure in my misery.”
Nate bent over and kissed Ryan’s forehead. “I can’t speak for Rio’s motives, but I’m really just trying to help.”
Rio reached out and smacked Nate’s bare ass.
“Ow!” Nate cried. He tried to defend himself with his wooden weapon, but Rio grabbed Nate’s wrist and pulled him closer.
Rio pushed the apron out of the way and took the head of Nate’s cock into his mouth. He ran his tongue over the smooth crown while Ryan’s grip on Rio’s cock tightened. Perfect. Evidently, Ryan needed the added motivation that Rio was more than happy to provide.
Nate dropped the spoon. “Damn.” He threaded his fingers through Rio’s hair and began a slow thrust in and out of his mouth.
Rio’s gaze automatically went to the carpet. A light brown spot on the large white area rug drew his attention. He gripped Nate’s cock and pulled back. “You’re going to clean that up, right?”
Nate glanced down at the floor. “It’s just gravy. It’ll come up, no problem.”
Rio wanted to argue that it was no problem for Nate because he never bothered to clean up after himself, but he bit his tongue. It was Valentine’s Day. He should be grateful Nate hadn’t insisted on going out for dinner. The fact Nate had actually volunteered to cook was a huge step in the right direction.
Rio gazed up at Nate’s face as he flicked his tongue over the man’s cockhead. It wasn’t just his men who needed to work on changing their behaviour. Rio also understood he needed to back off on occasion. For some reason he’d fallen into the role of housekeeper, a job he’d let come between him and his lovers.
The grip on Rio’s cock disappeared, drawing his attention. “You were doing so well. Why’d you stop?”
Ryan glanced down at his own erection. “Because my shoulder hurts, and I’m grouchy, and I want some attention, too,” he whined.
Rio grinned up at Nate. “Will dinner wait a few minutes?”
Nate bent over and retrieved the spoon from the floor. “That depends. How do you feel about lumpy gravy?”
Rio regarded Ryan’s pout before gazing back up at Nate. “I think it’ll be worth it.”
“Let me make sure everything’s turned off, and I’ll meet you upstairs.” Nate left the room with an extra swish in his step, his bare ass framed perfectly by the apron.
Rio helped Ryan pull his sweats back up around his waist before holding out his hand. “Come on, Grumpy.”
Ryan allowed Rio to help him to his feet. “Sorry. I’m just sick of this damn sling.”
“I know.” Rio wrapped an arm around Ryan’s waist. At the stairs, he released his hold. “After you.”
Ryan glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “You’re so transparent.”
Rio looked up from Ryan’s ass to meet his eyes. “I was simply being a gentleman.”
“Yeah, right.”
As Rio followed Ryan up, he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. Ryan hadn’t been the easiest patient to nurse, but Rio knew he’d miss doing for his man once he was back to work. It had been a nice change of pace to have both partners home with him every evening.
And although he still hadn’t heard from Jack, Rio wasn’t worried about Chet showing up to finish the job he’d botched. He had no doubt Jack would continue to track Chet until he found him. Ryan had expressed a certain amount of guilt over Chet’s fate, but Rio had assured him Jack’s actions were his own.
“Do you need one of your pills?” Rio asked when he noticed the pained expression on Ryan’s face. He rushed forward and helped Ryan remove his snap-front shirt.
“Maybe just a couple of aspirin if you don’t mind.” Ryan sat on the side of the bed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Before retrieving the pain relievers, Rio knelt at Ryan’s feet and took off his socks. Maybe he should’ve listened to Ryan earlier when he said he was hurting. Rio rested his hands on Ryan’s thighs and stared up at him. “It kills me to see you hurt. Why don’t I bring you one of the pain pills?”
“You know what they do to me. I’ll be fine as long as you don’t make me squeeze your cock any more tonight.” The corner of Ryan’s lip lifted in a devilish grin.
“Too much for you?” Rio stood and puffed out his chest. “I’ve heard that a time or two.” He returned Ryan’s grin. It was obvious Ryan was trying to make the best of the situation. Nate prided himself on being the King of Valentine’s Day. Of course, Nate prided himself on being the King of every day.
“What? The two of you aren’t naked yet?” Nate asked, coming into the bedroom.
Rio fitted his fingers under Ryan’s waistband and gave the sweats a tug. “Lift up, babe.”
Ryan braced himself with his good arm and raised his hips enough for Rio to pull down his pants.
“Ryan’s really hurting,” Rio told Nate over his shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Ryan said.
Nate stared at Ryan for several moments. “Liar.” He walked over and pulled a bottle of massage oil out of his dresser drawer. He held the bottle up, the bright red bow signifying its importance. “I was going to suggest the two of you roll me in this and fuck every hole you could find, but I guess Ryan needs it more.”
Ryan groaned and carefully lay back on the bed. “Should we get out the rubber sheets as well?”
Nate shook the bottle before removing the cap. “Good idea for next year, but unfortunately, my mind wasn’t in KinkyLand this year.”
With his arms crossed over his chest, Rio couldn’t help but smile. This was his life, one that he loved more than anything in the world. “You still want those aspirin?”
Ryan’s eyes started to drift shut. “Yeah.”
“Stand up, and I’ll get the bed ready,” Nate said.
Rio could tell by the wince on Ryan’s face how much energy the move would expend. “I’ll grab some towels to put under him, no big deal.”
Ryan smiled up at Rio. “Nice knowing you have my back.”
“I’d better have more than just your back,” Rio returned.
Ryan puckered his lips before blowing Rio a kiss. “You know you do.”
Nate dropped the blanket. “Just don’t yell at me if we ruin something,” he told Rio.
“Nope. I’m done with that.” Rio crossed to the bathroom. He opened the medicine chest before shaking out three aspirin. After filling a glass with water, he returned to the bedroom. “Here you go.”
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Ryan managed to sit up enough to swallow the pain relievers. In the meantime, Rio grabbed three big towels out of the linen closet.
It took a little doing, but eventually he and Nate had Ryan atop the towels on his stomach in the centre of the bed. Rio couldn’t resist running his hand across his partner’s firm ass. Forbidden fruit, he reminded himself. Since the shooting, Ryan hadn’t been able to indulge in anything but blowjobs or hand jobs.
Rio held out his palm. “Give me a squirt of that.”
Nate, who had already begun to dribble the massage oil onto Ryan’s back, filled Rio’s hand.
“Geeze, I want to tickle his hole not deep fry him.”
Nate turned around and presented his ass. “Go ahead and put the excess where I know it’ll be needed.”
Rio reached out and poured some of the oil from his palm down the crease of Nate’s ass. He took the time to slip his finger inside before retreating. “There you go, Mr. Thrifty. By the way, I like the lavender scent.”
Ryan grunted when Rio’s finger pushed between the cheeks of his ass to find the neglected hole. “You like that?” Rio asked with a chuckle.
Although Ryan didn’t answer, he did adjust his position to give his hardening cock more room. “Yeah, I thought so,” Rio answered his own question.
After rimming the hole with the pad of his fingers for several moments, Rio slipped a digit inside. He found Ryan’s prostate and brushed against it, finally getting the reaction he wanted.
“Fuck!” Ryan wailed.
Nate whimpered. “How come I’m doing all the work and the two of you are having all the fun?”
Ryan rolled his head over to face Nate. “Stick that cock of yours in my mouth and forget the massage.”
Rio glanced at Nate. It was obvious Ryan was in pain and needed the massage more than Nate needed a blowjob. “No, let’s do this. Nate, turn around, and I’ll finger you both while you help Ryan loosen up. Then once we both take care of Ryan, I’ll take care of that ass of yours.”
Nate smiled, obviously understanding the hidden message in Rio’s request. “Ooh, that sounds like a good plan.” He leant down and gave Ryan a deep kiss. “But don’t think I’m not keeping track. You’re going to owe me a lot of fucks by the time your shoulder heals completely.”
