by Luna, David
“Yes, sir, and install Brody’s app on his phone. Tell Braden about one of them.”
“You want me to use two of my tracers and the app and tell Braden about only one of them? Do you have any idea what this man has come to mean to me and what lying to him could do to our relationship?”
Sawyer didn’t like the warning tone in Cade’s voice, so he assured him, “Yes, cap, I know what he means to you, which is why I’m pushing on this in the first place. From my body’s reaction to working on the systems, and to having this conversation, it’s the best advice I can give at this point, sir.”
Cade released a pent up breath. He knew that Sawyer was doing his best to look out for Braden. “Fuck’s sake, Sawyer, stop calling me cap and sir.”
Sawyer exhaled in relief at the irritated, yet much calmer tone of voice from Cade. “I’m usually pretty successful at doing so, captain, but not when you use the look. When you use the look, sir, it’s nearly impossible not to call you by the rank you earned.”
Aware that his unit had always talked about the look, Cade jerked his head towards the door and muttered, “Get outta here before I toss you out.”
Sawyer didn’t need him to say it twice. He walked out to the kitchen, found that Jackson was done with the diagnostic run, and they both left to contact Cooper for further instructions. Cade texted Cooper and asked him to call when he was free and had more info regarding Eric.
Cade was going to do exactly what Sawyer had asked him to do. He would tell Braden about one tracer, but place another on him that he didn’t know about. He’d also put the app on his phone as well. He hated, absolutely hated, not being completely honest with Braden. He hoped like hell that Sawyer knew what he was talking about, because he could completely fuck up everything they had going if Braden thought he couldn’t trust him.
Cade entered the kitchen and slid his hand up Braden’s back. Braden pulled out one of his buds and glanced back at Cade and smiled gently. Cade squeezed his neck. “Hey, I know you’re listening to your music, but can I borrow your phone for a minute or two to download the security app on it?”
Braden tugged the phone out of his back pocket, plugged in his passcode and handed it over to Cade. There were two versions of the same security app that Brody had created, one with a tracer attached, and one without. He pulled up the app with the tracer and downloaded it. Cade felt a little sick to his stomach at having to keep this from Braden. He handed Braden his phone back and kissed him on the temple. “I’m gonna try to get some work done in the office. Please stay in the kitchen and if you need to go anywhere, including the front of the café, please come get me first.”
Braden smiled and nodded while plugging the jack back in and turning the music back on. Cade walked to the office and called Brody, who answered on the first ring. “Hey Cade, I got a tracer that was just activated from Braden’s phone. I’m assuming you downloaded that for him? Does he know about it?”
“Yeah, it was me, and no he doesn’t.”
“OK, well, I’ve traced him and as you already probably know, he’s standing in his own kitchen at the café just down the hall from your own tracer. I checked the other tracers I sent up with Sawyer this morning, and they all seem to be at Maya’s.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure if we’d need them, but Sawyer’s sixth sense was making his skin crawl, so later today I’ll be putting those on him.”
“OK, I’ll text you when I see them moving just to verify they’re all active and on him.”
“Thanks. Cooper is at the non-profit today, trying to get more info on Eric. I need you to continue trying to find him, Brody, and if you need help with anything, call in Landon. Actually, let me call him to see if he’d be interested in helping us out with this in between his PT appointments and doctor’s visits. I’ve been meaning to offer him a full time position with us, as I know we often ask more of you than you have time for, and I think it would be good for you to have some help. I need to know if he’s someone you can work closely with, though. You have any issues with him that I need to know about?”
“Nah, Cade. Landon was a huge help with the Meyer’s case. He mentioned his interest in learning some stuff from me as well, so the more I train him the better off we’ll be in order to take on more cases. We seem to be at max these days, so if we’re going to continue to grow, it’s important to have more people behind a computer than me and my gofers. Your current case is my number one priority. I haven’t found any further trace of Eric since I sent you the file, but I’ll keep looking. I’m running facial recognition software and hacking into a lot of digital camera feeds around the city. This could take days, as more and more camera signals are coming up that I can check against. I hope something’ll pop. When it does, you’ll be the first to know.”
After talking to Brody, Cade checked the camera feeds in the kitchen and saw Braden pulling something out of the ovens. He pulled up Landon’s contact info and file on his iPad and called. Landon was going to be a great asset to them. He was from another unit under the same Special Forces command as his unit had been. Landon was a computer whiz, a lot like Brody, but with less hacking under his belt.
Landon lost his leg, just under his knee socket, while in Afghanistan and was still dealing with a lot of doctors’ visits and physical therapy, not to mention getting fitted for a new prosthetic. However, before someone else snapped him up, Cade needed to be sure to extend him a formal offer. He let him know that they’d like to work with him on a part time basis around his PT and doctor’s visits, but that as soon as he felt ready to work full time, they would be extending him an offer. He also asked if he’d need health insurance or if he was still being covered by Uncle Sam, which it turned out he was.
Landon seemed pretty damned happy with the news and said he’d be in touch with Brody to help on this case and get back to Cade about his full time availability as soon as possible. Cade felt much better after talking to Landon, and hearing how pleased he was to get started with them again. He double checked the camera feeds and when he saw everything was good, he got online to review the file on Eric. He read and reread the file, over and over, to learn all he could about Braden’s ex.
He spent some time checking his email and responded directly to requests for new security detail. A number of requests had slipped through to him, rather than being rerouted to Micah, so he spent the time to personally respond to each request, copying Micah, who he knew would take it from there. He wasn’t going to be able to focus on anything else, until everything with Braden’s stalker was cleaned up, and he knew that Micah would disperse the jobs to the proper guardians. After responding to those few communications, he put them out of his mind.
Glancing at the clock he was surprised to learn that it was close to noon, and he’d been working for hours. Anxious to check on Braden, he walked towards the kitchen to find him exactly where he’d left him earlier. He drew up beside Braden, who smiled his way, while he stretched his neck. Cade began to massage his shoulders and asked him what he’d like for lunch.
He saw Layla head to the break room and called her over while he kept massaging Braden’s shoulders. He smiled flirtatiously at her and asked if she’d be willing to pick lunch up for everyone if he called it in. She blushed, but agreed, and he called the deli and ordered lunch for everyone. He handed her enough cash to get their sandwiches and for her to pick up some drinks for everyone as well. When he finished that, he went back to Braden and continued his massage.
“I can’t figure out why she can barely speak around you, why she blushes and stammers. I mean, yeah, you’re gorgeous as hell, not to mention gigantic, but I’d figure she’d be over it by now.”
“Well, considering that the first time she saw me and Cooper she looked at us both and said, ‘threesome,’ I figure she’ll be blushing for a long time.”
“She said what? You’re shitting me!”
“No shitting involved.”
“Well, hell, now it makes so much sense. Little LaLa, having dirty thoughts; I
think I just might like the girl after all.”
“The only person I want having dirty thoughts about me is you.”
“Oh, I’ve had several, but I can’t say any of them had anything to do with a threesome.”
“Fuck, they better not. Just me and you Bray, got it?”
Surprised by such a forceful and serious response, Braden looked up at Cade and saw the look of desire and possessiveness and couldn’t help his own blush from suffusing his skin. He nodded and leaned into Cade’s answering caress over his head.
After lunch Cade went back to the office to check his phone, shutting the door behind him. He’d missed a call from Cooper so he gave him a call back, being sure to wake up the monitor to see live footage of Braden while he talked. Cooper was over at Maya’s, and said he had just been on his way over to talk with him, but since he called, he’d stay there and continue working. He warned Cade that he wasn’t going to like what he had to say and proceeded to tell Cade what he’d gleaned from his visit. Cade watched while Maya came from the front, chatted with Braden for a couple minutes, and then headed out the back door. Cooper kept talking, and the more he did, the more pissed off Cade got.
He watched, confused when Maya came back in, not a minute later and stood by the back door, staring at Braden, who went to her immediately. Both of them looked tense and Cade was on his feet just before hearing Braden call his name. He ran out to the kitchen, took one look at Maya’s pale, frightened face, told Cooper to get his ass over to the café, and hung up his phone.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know, she just shook her head and said your name, so I called you. She left to get a change of clothes because she spilled coffee on herself. She came back a minute later, looking like this.”
Cade approached them, saw that Braden was holding both of her hands, figured that was good, and ran his own hand over her blond curls. “Sweetheart, can you talk to us?”
Just then the back door slammed open, causing Braden and Maya to jump. Cooper came in looking pissed off, holding his phone to his ear, into which he muttered, “Take care of it,” and hung up the phone. He folded Maya in his arms. “You found it. Did you touch anything?”
Maya shook her head. “I know better than that, Coop.”
Braden tensed and Cade put his hand on the back of Braden’s neck, settling him. Maya looked at Braden, who made a sound in the back of his throat, but managed, “Tell me. I can handle it, you guys, just tell me.”
Cooper answered, looking directly at Braden, “Your car is the black Ford Edge, parked across the street, right?”
Braden’s shoulders slumped and he nodded. “Yeah, what did he do?”
“Slashed all the tires, keyed it, and left a note under your windshield wiper. Jackson went to get some gloves out of the van, and Sawyer’s calling Detective Miller. We’ll deal with this.”
Cade’s hand tightened on Braden’s neck when he turned towards Cade. He was holding it together and for the most part, looked more pissed off than anything. Cade had to tell him about Eric now. He didn’t want to wait much longer.
“You OK to leave for the day? I need to talk to you about some information we’ve found.”
“Maya’s got a big order needed for tomorrow evening pick up. I’m backed up and need to get at least a couple more hours of work done. Do I need to deal with Detective Miller?”
“No, Sawyer and Jackson will deal with Miller. How about you get whatever work done you need to get done, we’ll head over to your house after you’re done, we’ll talk, then we’ll take that run, OK?”
“Is it bad, what you’ve found?”
“It’s not good, but we’ll deal with it, Braden. Get what you need to get done here, take the time you need, then we’ll talk.”
Braden looked up at him, suddenly exhausted with all of the shit going on. He leaned his forehead on Cade’s chest, took a deep breath, and looked back up at him, nodding. “OK, yeah. I need to make a few more batches of scones and muffins, and then finish the pain au chocolat and make some sea salt and caramel brownies. Three hours, probably.”
“Take whatever time you need. Coop, stay here for a minute, let me go talk to Jackson and Sawyer.”
Maya settled in next to Braden and they talked quietly together, while Braden continued to work. Cooper stood next to the back door and took a call, while Cade stepped outside. He walked over to Braden’s car and asked Jackson to see the note that was left there. Sawyer seemed to be on the phone with Braden’s insurance company dealing with the claim and promising to provide the police case number when it was available. Cade realized not only were the tires slashed, but the knife was left in the front tire, which is probably what had been used to leave slashes in the paint all over the front and sides of the car. The note was clear. “You don’t want to make me angry, Braden, who the FUCK is he?”
Cade wanted to hit something and had to pace for several minutes, taking deep breaths, to calm down. He didn’t want to upset Braden any more than he already was. Sawyer glanced over at him as he got off the phone. “Detective Miller should be here any minute and the insurance company is sending out a tow truck to haul it into a body shop within the next hour or so. Will Braden be working for a while, or will he have to see this shit?”
“He needs to work for at least a few more hours, so get this thing outta here before that time is up. Thanks for handling this. I need you to stay here for as long as Cooper and I can make use of you. Is that going to be an issue?”
Both men told him it wouldn’t be a problem. “Good, I’ll make sure you’re comped some lengthy time off after this. I don’t want Braden brought into this mess with his car. Get it fixed and back to him, and if you have to tell the insurance company that you are Braden to get it dealt with, do so. And, while you’re getting his car repainted and new tires put on, get him the best car security system out there. Let me know the outcome of your conversation with Miller.”
Cade asked them where the tracers were, and detoured over to Maya’s, grabbed her a shirt and the tracers, and then walked back over to the café. When he walked back in the door, Cooper went back out. He handed the shirt to Maya and received a hug and kiss on the cheek for the effort as she went off to change. He took the stool she had been sitting on, by Braden, and watched him until he was done mixing some batter. When he finished, he turned towards Cade, leaned his hip on the counter and crossed his arms, putting up a defensive wall. Cade leaned forward, grabbed Braden’s waist and pulled him between his legs, putting both hands on Braden’s hips and looking him in the eye.
“You doing OK?”
Braden shook his head and Cade nodded. “OK, that was a dumbass question. Are you hanging in?”
Braden released his crossed arms and rubbed his face in frustration but muttered an affirmative.
Cade took out one of the tracers and showed it to Braden. “This is what we call a tracer. I created it with one of my guys. Each of us, the core team anyway, has a similar one embedded in our skin. Should anything happen to one of us, we will always be able to be found. I think it’s very important that you wear this. I don’t think it will be needed, but better safe than sorry. If you are OK with being traced, I’m going to place it on the inside of the ring you always wear on your right hand. You won’t feel it and it’s waterproof. Are you OK with a couple tracers being on you? I don’t want to take any chances with your safety, Braden.”
Braden looked at the tracer and could barely believe it was anything more than a little black sticker. At this point, he’d deal with anything that kept him a modicum safer, so he nodded his head and removed his ring, handing it to Cade to affix the tracer.
After Cade handed back his ring, he thought again about his car. Then, as if in afterthought, Braden looked up. “I need to call my insurance company. Fuck, I didn’t even think about the house break in. I need to call about both.”
“It’s being handled, Braden.”
“What do you mean it’s being handled? I’m the
one who needs to call.”
“And you have, so don’t worry about it.”
Braden’s eyebrows rose, and those arms crossed again. “So, someone called, pretending to be me? Are you managing me? Because, I’ll tell you what’s gonna send me over the fucking edge right now, is you trying to control me and tell me what the fuck to do. You don’t own me, Zavier! Nobody fucking owns me. Got it? I was with someone who thought they owned me, and I got the fuck out, so don’t think you can come in and take his place, you hear me? Never again, Zavier!”
Cade remained sitting and held Braden’s hips in his strong hands, calm as you please. “You done?”
Braden’s eyes narrowed, but he admitted, “Yeah.”
Cade raised a brow. “Feel better?”
One side of Braden’s mouth quirked up, despite his best efforts. “Yeah.”
Cade smirked. “Good, because I have a few things to say. First, if anyone owns anyone, at this point, it’s you who owns me, Braden. Second, I’m not trying to manage you or tell you what to do. Do you want to spend at least an hour of your day today answering questions from your insurance company? Is that how you want to spend your day?”
“No, of course not! Nobody wants to spend their day doing that, but life is full of shit we don’t wanna do.”
“You’ve got enough on your plate right now and if getting someone to deal with your insurance company because of this clown’s bullshit is going to help you, then I’m damned well going to do it! I haven’t found this guy; I haven’t been able to keep these fucking things from happening to you, which fucking kills me! So you’re gonna have to deal with my need to fix things. If I see a problem that I can tell you wouldn’t want to have to deal with, I’m going take care of it. That doesn’t mean I’m trying to tell you what to do, it just means I’m trying my fucking best to keep you from stressing on the stuff that I can easily manage. You had several hours of work to do, I just wanted to make sure you didn’t have to focus on anything else except getting through your workday.”
