The two of them got onto the Ninja with practiced ease. My heart clenched at the sight. I’d hadn’t ridden with Jack on his bike and yet this man, this stranger, was very comfortable wrapping his arms around Jack’s waist and leaning on him. My fingers inched towards the Eagle under my left arm.
Jack turned the bike into the traffic and quickly wove his way through the cars. It was a challenge keeping up, but it let me know I was his only tail.
They stopped at a pub and went in together. Parking further up the street, I followed them in. As with tailing them, keeping out of Jack’s sight in the close interior of the pub was difficult. He didn’t note me, however. Not even when Seven sent confirmation that the blond man was Dr. Adam Quinn and I was sure I stared daggers at him for a full five minutes. Thankfully, all they did was talk and drink, though Jack imbibed substantially less than the other man.
Unable to watch more of them chatting and laughing freely, I left. After exchanging the Monaro for Victoria, I went back to Leichhardt. Stripping out of my wrecked suit revealed the blooming bruises of Two’s attack. Wearing pyjama bottoms and a T-shirt, I got into bed and pretended to be asleep when Jack finally came in. He undressed quietly and made a few tentative advances before accepting my sleepy brush off and settling for curling up against my back.
I wanted to roll over and hold him, tell him how I felt and ask him if he felt the same way. I wanted to ask him if he had feelings for Quinn. All I did was wait until he was deeply asleep, slid out of bed and spent the night checking the security system.
There were no signs of anyone breaching it, except for a single foreign camera on the balcony, facing inwards, which explained how Two knew about our dinner and how I’d almost kissed Jack.
I felt sick knowing Two had seen everything that night, but worse, the fact that he’d circumvented my external security to place even one camera was simply terrifying.
Short of iron grates on the door and windows and sentry guns, there was very little else I could do to Jack’s apartment to make it more secure. It hadn’t been designed with maximum safety in mind.
Unlike the Bathurst Street penthouse. I had to finish making it liveable, in between keeping Jack out of Two’s trap and doing my best to divert Two’s attention away from his goal. I would let him find me every couple of day and encourage him to finish the job and leave—anyway I could.
“You can’t keep it up for long,” Nine said when she got in touch a week into the new arrangement. “It’ll just take one time for him to not hold back and . . .” She made a screechy noise I assumed was a knife across my throat.
I rolled more paint onto the wall in the penthouse main bedroom, covering up the new plaster over the extra wires I’d installed. My back twinged where Two had landed a particularly powerful kick. “He doesn’t want to kill me.” Although it felt like it at times. Ignoring the pain, I finished concealing the work site. This was the final bit of touch-up required, and then I would have the furnishings delivered. A couple more days and Jack and I would be able to move in.
“Who knows what that the freak wants,” she muttered, then louder, “He doesn’t have to kill you, just chop off something important. Don’t be an idiot, One-three. Two’s not going to leave you alone. You’ve got to get away. Go somewhere he won’t find you.”
“I’m not leaving. This is where I want to be and my decision has nothing to do with him.”
“You’re crazy, but not delusional. You know he’s not reasonable, ever, and even less so where you’re concerned. He thinks you’re his to do with as he pleases, remember.”
A phantom pain ran through my left foot. Followed by real pain as I stood and bumped a bruise on the cupboard door. “I’m doing my best to let him know how wrong he is.”
Nine sighed. “No, you’re not. You’re just giving him what he wants. Your time. Your focus. Your thoughts. Getting away from him is your only option.”
“I won’t leave Jack.” Even if I wondered if he was leaving me. He had been spending more and more time with Quinn outside of work, time in which I tortured myself by watching them. Jack didn’t frown or argue with him, as he did with me lately. He didn’t laugh at much I said anymore. Even his attempts to initiate sex had dwindled until now he just sighed and kissed whatever body part of mine was easiest before falling asleep beside me. “Especially not while Two’s after him.”
“Then take him with you.”
“He doesn’t deserve a life on the run.”
There was a long silence from Nine’s end of the connection. I gave her all the time she needed, knowing where her mind had gone. I wasn’t the only one who’d found someone outside of our strange and dangerous family to care about.
“Shouldn’t that be his decision?” she eventually asked, tone bitter as she used my slightly paraphrased words against me.
“I already know his answer. I asked him once if he would scramble with me and he said he wouldn’t.”
Though I wanted to believe that answer had changed. So much had happened between us since then. So many good things that were surely enough to counteract the current difficulties. I knew I was hurting Jack with my behaviour but it was the only way I knew to keep him safe, even if it was also pushing him away and towards another man. I just had to hope our history outweighed whatever connection Jack may have formed with the profiler over the past month.
Nine growled something inarticulate, then snapped, “Fine. I’ll be there in a couple of days. Don’t let Two kill you before then.”
“You don’t have to come here, Nine. I can take care of this.”
“Clearly, you can’t. He’s already hurt Seven, and you’re letting him close with you. You need me to sort this out.”
I made a few more protests but Nine was stubborn when she decided to do something and, in truth, I wanted her here. Another set of eyes on Jack could only be a good thing. And if anyone was ever going to get an advantage over Two, it was Nine.
Whether it was knowing Nine was on her way or worry that Jack was really pulling away from me, I turned into his hesitant touch that night. He was sweet and gentle as he removed my clothes, brushing fingertips and lips over the fading bruises as he moved downwards and sucked my cock into his warm mouth. In those minutes everything was perfect. Between us, in that room, with the world. I didn’t care about Quinn or Two. All that mattered was Jack and the way he showed me how much he still wanted me, still cared about my pleasure, still needed me when he sank into my body with a drawn out, husky, “Ethan,” and held me tight until we came together.
Afterwards was another matter, however.
“Don’t give me any bullshit this time.” Jack traced one of the fresher bruises on my lower ribs. “You aren’t clumsy, you can’t spend that much time under Victoria’s bonnet and you sure as shit don’t bruise easily. What the fuck is going on?”
I wanted to tell him the truth, but I knew how he would react. He’d want to go out and hunt down Two—more directly than he was now, albeit unknowingly—and that wouldn’t work well for him. Jack was the finest soldier I’d ever met and very nearly a match for me in combat. He wouldn’t prevail against Two.
“Jesus, Ethan.” Jack pressed his forehead into my belly while he drew in several deep, calming breaths. “I’m worried, that’s all. I need you to be okay. Otherwise, I don’t—” He cut himself off and kissed my skin, hard and lingering.
I ran my hand through his hair and nearly told him I loved him, but what came out was, “It’s nothing to be worried about, Jack. I’m just . . . it’s a surprise. For you.”
He kissed a still livid bruise on my left flank. “What sort of surprise entails this?”
“A good one, I hope.” The penthouse was almost ready and when I took him there, I would tell him I loved him. I would show him how much I trusted him.
Jack moved up and caught my gaze. His dark eyes swam with concern. “Nothing is worth you getting hurt.”
How could I ever doubt how he felt about me when I saw those beautiful
eyes? “Some things are worth it.”
“Like what?”
For what felt like the first time in an eternity, I said honestly, “Like you, Jack.”
Which resulted in Jack holding me so tight through the night I couldn’t get out of bed to check the apartment. Instead I had to lie there and listen to his breathing and when a dream shook his limbs, hold him and whisper that I was there and not going anywhere.
The conversation didn’t appease Jack’s worries, however. Especially not when Two managed to nick me with his knife a day later and Jack refused to accept I’d cut my neck shaving. Added to that stress, Nine was delayed. Her way into Australia was apparently blocked by a rather pesky navy frigate doing manoeuvres off the West Australian coast. She assured me she would find a way around them but I wondered if she would get here quick enough as I watched Jack and Quinn get drunk together one night.
I sat in a shadowed corner of the usual pub as Quinn poured more and more alcohol down Jack’s throat and got closer and closer. Their heads were bowed towards each other and although I had no hope of hearing the conversation or reading their lips, I knew it had to be very intense. Despite his inebriation, Jack listened intently to whatever the profiler was saying, asking questions and nodding often.
When they stood, I let them leave first, then followed, just in time to hear Quinn drunkenly proclaim, “He’s okay, I guess. ’Snot you, though. Come on, don’tcha wanna fuck my mouth again?”
My heart plummeted and all my training fled. I could not ignore that implication and keep within the parameters of the job. Not this time. This wasn’t Two needling me, or a leg cramp, or any one of a hundred other possible distractions. Nothing I’d learned from the Cabal could help me here.
I left Jack vulnerable to Two—and Quinn—and just walked.
Naturally, Two found me.
“He didn’t tell you, did he,” he said softly as he fell into step beside me.
I didn’t even have the wherewithal to react to his mere presence, let alone the words. All I knew was at least he wasn’t near Jack while he was compromised.
“It was quite the affair I believe. The good doctor has been pining ever since.” Two cocked his head quizzically. “Isn’t it interesting that they’re working together on the same case?”
The trap Two had dug for Jack was deep indeed.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked.
“Because you need to remember where you belong. It isn’t here, with him. Someone who cheats on you, who uses you just for sex.” Two lowered his voice even further. “I mean, there has to be a reason why he won’t let you kiss him.”
One of the Eagles was in hand without thought. I spun and pressed my shoulder into Two’s chest, the barrel of the gun shoved into his belly. Two froze. Anyone passing us on the street probably believed we were a couple, about to kiss.
“You will finish your job and you will not do it as the Judge. Don’t give them any reason to connect it to their case. Do that and leave Sydney. And then leave Australia at the first opportunity and never return,” I hissed. “Or I will kill you.”
Two’s chuckle sounded forced. “You can’t. You’ve already proven that, or have you forgotten the final test?”
I clicked off the safety.
“All right!” Hands raised, Two back off and I had to put the gun away swiftly or risk inciting a general panic. “I see you’re serious.”
“Deadly.”
Two’s smile was wide as he walked backwards several more paces. “Anything for you, little brother.” Then he turned and continued away. I watched him go until he was out of sight.
Even taking a meandering course back to the Monaro to lose any tails, and then another on the way to Leichhardt, I beat Jack back to the apartment. Now that I knew the full extent Two had gone to in order to build this trap, I understood Jack wasn’t in immediate physical danger. Not while Two was amused with the game he’d set up.
The situation wouldn’t stay that way forever, though. Two had come to make sure I left with him, and the best way to do that was to force Jack into betraying me. None of this was Jack’s fault. But knowing that didn’t make watching Jack stagger home any less painful. At least he was here and not wherever the profiler was.
We had to talk. It was time for truths on both sides.
“Jack, you’re late.”
Jack wove a slight zig zag to the fridge and got a bottle of water. “I never said what time I’d be home.” His attempt at enunciation was excruciating.
“I hope you didn’t ride home in this state.” Saving him from Two would be for nothing if he killed himself on that old bike.
“Got a taxi.” He surrendered his attempt at opening the bottle and settled on a comical leer. “Missed you, baby. Let’s fuck.”
The following conversation went about as well as it could. Nevertheless I took pity on him and steered him into the bedroom. Jack tried to cajole me into sex but gave up when I checked him for a fever.
“I’m fine. I’m just drunk.”
At last, some honesty. I wondered how far it would reach. “You went drinking with Adam, I suppose.”
Jack rolled away from me. “He’s part of my job. Gotta pretend to be his friend.”
What I’d witnessed in that pub over the past weeks wasn’t Jack acting. He genuinely liked the other man. Enough, apparently, to sleep with him at some previous point. I was all but convinced it wasn’t happening now. All but . . .
“That’s all right, Jack. I understand.” I did, even if I wasn’t comfortable with it. “I was, however, hoping you could spend tomorrow with me.”
“Can’t. Working. You know that.”
“Could you take a day off? Don’t you Aussies pride yourself on taking ‘sickies’?”
“I’m on an important case,” Jack moaned. “I can’t just pretend to be sick for you.”
Jack hadn’t put this sort of wall between us in a long time. It hurt more than one of Two’s blows. More than all of them together. Was he doing this because of Quinn? Or had I forced him to do this with my paranoid behaviour and mysterious bruises? Because he wondered if I was an unhinged killer? Either way, I needed to try again. We had to talk, and it had to be somewhere away from our known routines so Two had less of a chance of following us.
“I’ve booked track time at Wakefield tomorrow.” I hadn’t, but I knew the track manager well enough he’d fit me in. “It takes a couple of hours to get there, so going is a whole-day endeavour. I’d very much appreciate it if you would come with me.” I touched his shoulder gently. “I need to drive, Jack, and I think I need you there with me.” Which was true. I hadn’t unleashed Victoria—or myself—in a long time. I needed to feel in control of something and on the racetrack was where that happened the most.
Jack’s shoulder tensed under my hand. “I’d like to go with you. I can’t, though. Things are at a vital stage of the case.” He clumsily grabbed my hand and kissed it. “You go. Do a lap for me, too, okay.”
Yes, the walls from our early relationship were being built again. The walls he’d had when he slept with other men.
Retrieving my hand, I stood. “As you wish, Jack.”
He’d passed out before I’d even reached the bedroom door—before he’d realised I wasn’t getting into bed with him.
I spent the night watching over Jack from a distance, fairly certain Two didn’t mean him physical harm—yet. At dawn, I left Sydney and headed for Wakefield, hoping to find some measure of peace in the drive. Sadly the limits on the speed didn’t help me and I needed the race track. I missed the autobahn.
In the midst of negotiating my last-minute request for track time, Jack called.
“Jack,” I answered silently as Phil, the manager, checked the schedule for me. It didn’t even enter my mind to ignore the call. I was upset and confused, but not about to let Jack think I wasn’t able to respond.
That sentiment, however, didn’t make it into my tone and Jack’s response was an almost panicked, “I
’m sorry.”
I could imagine how he felt, waking up to find me gone, especially if he had any memory of his actions the previous night. Worried, yes. Ashamed, hopefully. Before I could reply Phil offered me an opening in fifteen minutes and another later in the afternoon. As I signed up for both, Jack rushed on with his apology.
“I was a total dickhead last night. No excuses. Except for, well, I told you I would fuck something up sooner or later. I’d really like to make it up to you. Can you come home?”
“I’m afraid not, Jack. I’m not in Sydney.”
“Fuck.” Jack sounded like he was on the verge of tears. “I’m really sorry. I don’t want you to leave.”
Oh. “I’m still in the country, Jack, at Wakefield. My track time starts in fifteen minutes. I will be back this evening.”
“Jesus. Don’t scare me like that.”
He was so desperately relieved I almost smiled. “Oh, I think you have a few more scares coming.”
“Yeah, I reckon I do. I’m glad you are getting to race.”
“Yes, well. The booking fee is non-refundable.”
“I’m going to take the day off, like you wanted me to. I could meet you down there.”
My heart leaped at the thought of Jack here. I would race and have Jack and feel complete and content. But that small concern from the start of this enterprise reared back up. What if I couldn’t do this alone? What if it was only Jack propping me up? Once, racing my cars was all I needed to centre myself. I needed to know that was still true.
“I don’t think so, Jack. Right now, I’d rather be alone.”
“Okay. Anything else I can do to show you how sorry I am? Do you want butter chicken for dinner?”
“I’m not sure. I will let you know.”
“I’ll see you tonight, then?”
I sighed. “Yes, you will.”
“Drive safely.”
He was trying so hard. “Where’s the fun in that?”
It took barely four laps for the speed, and the control it required, to work its usual magic. I felt steady for the first time in weeks, even as Victoria’s vibrations spread through me. She ran well, except for a slight hitch when shifting into sixth. I spent several laps monitoring it, letting the puzzle consume my mind.
Dealing in Death: A Death and the Devil Extended Novella Page 10
