11. Wes
CHAPTER 11
WES
I kept questioning my sanity as I took the drive out of the city to Luca’s manor for the second time in as many days. There was no reason for me to be there now. He’d needed my help, and I’d been happy to do that, but I was not part of Il Fortunato and had no plans to ever be. If he needed something, I’d be there, but there was no reason at all for me to be heading to a “staff meeting,” as Luca had called it.
Yet, I’d gotten dressed, sent Riley and Beckett a text letting them know where I’d be, and driven my ass the forty-five minutes to his manor, and I had no good excuse as to why. Except . . . Luca had asked me to.
He’d sounded off when he’d called, which had immediately made my alarm bells start ringing. It wasn’t the “our mission is going off the walls and we’re in danger” tone, which I knew very well after 25 years. This was more personal, and it concerned me enough that I wanted to check on him.
That was only partially the reason, though. I did want to check on my oldest and closest friend. And Diego. I couldn’t get the man out of my head all night and had planned on calling to see how he was even before Luca had called me.
There was something about Diego that spoke to me, and with how shaken up he’d been, it only made sense that I wanted to make sure he was okay. Seeing him in person with my own eyes wouldn’t hurt.
That was why I’d agreed to come. Luca and Diego. Not because I was part of his team, because I wasn’t. I still had two months left on my current contract with the PMC group I worked for. I’d already told my boss I wasn’t renewing it, but that was only because I was retiring. I wanted to spend time in my home, get to know my son and Beckett better. I was too old to be going to every corner of the world on jobs I had no idea if I would get back from. There was no fucking way I was leaving that to join Luca to do the same damn thing but without the protection that came from working with an agency. Nope.
I finally pulled through Luca’s gates. The thing was so ostentatious, I could understand why my kids and their best friend, Jay, joked around about Luca being Batman. And they hadn’t even seen the house yet. It did belong in Gotham, though, and really didn’t fit Luca at all.
I pulled up to the security camera and waved. “If it isn’t my favorite silver fox daddy!” Skye called through the intercom, and I rolled my eyes.
“I am not a silver fox. Luca has more gray than I do.”
Skye laughed. “You will be, though. I’m just preparing.”
“I don’t think Maverick beats you hard enough,” I grumbled, causing Skye to answer with a full belly laugh.
“You’re right,” Maverick chimed in out of nowhere. “I’m happy to try, though.” The gate buzzed and then opened.
“Thanks, Mav.” Then I drove onto their maze of a driveway.
Luca was waiting for me when I walked in, and he looked rough. His normally olive skin tone was ashen and his under eyes were so dark, they almost looked like bruises. His eyes were bloodshot and unfocused, like he’d spent the night drinking, which was proven when I got close enough and could smell the booze on him. I frowned. “What happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“You smell like a distillery and look like you haven’t slept in three months.”
Luca let out a rough laugh. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate the honesty.”
I knocked into his shoulder as I walked past. I figured we were going to the conference room, so I headed that way. “You know I’m not going to lie to you. And the same goes in reverse, so what’s going on?”
Luca stopped walking, his shoulders slouched. I paused and waited. “Shit hit the fan with Brooks this morning. I once again did something I shouldn’t and he told me some things I didn’t know and I . . . didn’t handle it well.” Then Luca straightened his posture and pasted on a fake smile. “But it’s fine now. And not important. This situation is heavy and we need to get a handle on it. My personal shit can wait.”
I wanted to say so much, but refrained. Normally, I had no problem calling Luca out on his shit, but it felt like if I did that now, he would shut down completely. He wasn’t going to talk, so I’d have to bide my time, but I wouldn’t drop it. He would do the same to me, like he had when I’d first found out I had a son my parents had hidden from me for twenty years. He wouldn’t let me wallow in my sorrows and had done everything he could to help me find Riley and make the situation right. So, I’d do the same and help him fix whatever was going on between him and Brooks. Though, he was right that it probably wasn’t the most pressing matter now.
I let Luca lead me, only glancing at his ass in his pants once. It was a rule I had with myself. I’d only indulge in checking Luca out once every time we were together, and then I’d bottle it back up and ignore it like the hypocrite I was. What Luca and I shared had been a long time ago and strictly a matter of convenience. He was with Mav and Skye now, and maybe, sort of, Brooks? I didn’t know. It was too complicated, and while I’d never judge them, it wasn’t for me. I was too old school.
Everyone was already there when we got into the conference room. Skye was lounging back in a soft leather desk chair, his feet crossed on top of the desk. Maverick was standing next to him while he pointed to the monitor and spoke in a soft voice to Diego. Diego was sitting in the other chair, face scrunched in concentration as he looked at the computer screens. He didn’t even seem to notice I’d walked in, his focus on whatever he was staring at and whatever Maverick was telling him. I did notice that Mav was careful not to hover behind him or touch him.
Brooks was sitting on top of the coffee counter, kicking his legs idly as he fiddled on his phone. At first glance, it would seem like he wasn’t paying attention, but I noticed how he kept watching Diego from the corner of his eye. That was, until Luca walked in. Immediately, his attention switched to Luca, his shoulders straightening before he very purposely looked in the other direction. Well, okay then.
Luca closed the door behind us. “Thanks for coming,” he told me sincerely. “I know you keep saying you don’t want to be a part of Il Fortunato, but the truth is, you’re involved in this now, and I feel better knowing you’re in the fold.”
I grinned. “I feel like this was your plan all along. No better way to get me on your team than forcing me to drop a few bodies.”
Maverick snorted. “Pretty close to how I was recruited, so you might be onto something.”
Brooks perked up. “How did you get recruited? I feel like you’ve always just been here.”
Luca sighed. “Can we reminisce later? Let’s get everyone up to speed and come up with a plan.”
Brooks grumbled but acquiesced and we all kind of settled. I dropped onto the leather love seat, and Luca sat on the armrest.
“Alright, let’s start with what we know and make sure everyone is on the same page. Marshall Fieldburg paid Brooks for a job, and then that very night, he was executed in his office. So far no one has taken credit for the hit, and if the feds or cops have a clue who did it, they’re keeping it quiet.”
“They don’t know anything yet,” Diego chimed in without looking up. “I just hacked into the police records.”
I felt like we should be more concerned by that, but since no one reacted, I guessed it was expected. Luca continued. “The good news about that is it also means they haven’t connected Brooks or Diego to it at all. But that brings us to the break-in at your home yesterday.” Luca shifted to address Diego directly. “We’ve been running their faces in facial recognition but haven’t gotten anything. Can you do your thing and try to find them? I’m sure they were hired, but if we can find out who they are, we can find out who paid them.”
Diego nodded. “On it. I’ll see what I can find.”
“Thanks, Diego.” Luca stood, stretching a bit before he began addressing the rest of us. The shift in him was significant. As soon as he got into work mode, all the stress and personal issues just disappeared and he was totally sure and in control.
“That leads to where we should go next. We need more information on the Covingtons. I don’t believe in coincidences, and it’s way too much of one that the day Fieldburg paid Brooks to steal information, he turned up dead and your home was attacked.”
“Not to mention that their kid has been MIA for over a year and they’re fucking mistresses and going on spa days. It’s sus,” Brooks chimed in.
Sus? Damn, I felt old.
“I have a contact in Berlin,” Maverick commented. “They’re checking on where Leah Covington is staying, to confirm that her son isn’t with them.”
Yesterday, after we’d gotten back to the manor, Luca had filled me in on everything they knew. It was so hard to believe that the kid they’d been raising as their child was missing and there was just . . . nothing. I would’ve killed for the opportunity to watch Riley grow, and every day I battle with the guilt that he’d suffered and I’d had no idea. How could these people just go on with their lives . . . unless they knew exactly where Matthew was.
“Thanks, Mav. In the meantime, I think it’s time to do some legwork.” He eyed Brooks. “How do you feel about a stakeout?”
“It sounds boring.”
Skye broke out in laughter. “It is. But you can come with me if boss man says it’s cool. We’ll have fun.”
Luca smiled softly, glancing at Skye fondly. It made me feel . . . strange. Not jealous exactly, I had no right to feel that way, but I just wondered what it would be like if Luca looked at me like that.
It was odd, though, and had no part in this. I focused on the plans. “That’s fine with me. Skye, Brooks, I want you on the wife, Michelle. Mav and I will check out Lewis. We’ll start tomorrow. Spend the day getting your teams prepped, and it’ll give Diego time to do his thing and hopefully find more information. Which, by the way, Diego, can you start looking into their financials? See if anything looks suspicious.”
“No problem.” Diego glanced up at me for a split second before clearing his throat and looking back at the computer.
Luca tapped the desk twice. “Alright guys, plan sounds good. Let’s get to work.”
Brooks hopped off the table and walked up to Diego. He squatted down next to him and whispered something quietly in his ear. I wanted to get closer, but it wasn’t my business, so I somehow refrained. I did see how Diego shrugged and brushed Brooks off before turning back to his work. Brooks said something else to him, but he was ignored. With a long, dramatic sigh, Brooks stood up and walked over to me.
“Hey, man.” He scrubbed the back of his head, looking a little uncomfortable. It was cute, honestly. It was the first time I’d really paid attention to Brooks. I’d been too focused on Diego and the situation yesterday, and then today I’d been wrapped up in the meeting and trying to figure out what was going on with Luca.
“Hi, Brooks. How are you doing?” I had been worried about Diego, but it occurred to me that it was Brooks’s house too, not to mention he’d walked in on a dead body, which wasn’t a normal occurrence for him.
He smiled slightly and fiddled with his lip ring with his tongue. “I’m alright. I, uh, just wanted to say thanks about yesterday. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”
It was a weird reaction, I barely knew the kid, but I was overcome with the urge to give him a hug. He looked like he craved physical affection, and I didn’t know if he was getting it.
“Can I hug you? You can say no. I won’t be offended.” It was a random question from a virtual stranger, so I wasn’t sure how Brooks would react to it.
Brooks eyes widened in surprise, but instead of calling me a fucking weirdo, he threw himself at me, his arms tightening around my shoulders.
It took me by surprise and nearly knocked the breath out of me. I’d expected it to be awkward, I’d felt awkward asking, but it wasn’t. Brooks slotted next to me perfectly, like he’d always been there. I tightened my arms around him.
“Shh, it’s alright, sweetheart.” I rubbed his back, and he buried his face in my collarbone.
Someone cleared their throat, and I suddenly remembered we weren’t alone. Brooks pulled away sheepishly and glanced over his shoulder at the guys. Maverick and Skye were looking at us with amusement, Diego seemed pleased for some reason, and Luca? Well, I couldn’t even begin to decipher Luca’s expression, which left me uneasy.
“What?” Brooks snapped. “I’m a cuddly little shit, and I don’t see any of you fuckers offering me a hug.” He pointed at Diego. “Except you, you have an excuse.”
Skye started to laugh and looked like he was walking up to Brooks, but before he could get there, Mav approached him, impressively fast for such a big man, and swept Brooks up in his arms, tight enough that his feet were dangling off the floor.
“All you gotta do is ask, brat,” Maverick told him affectionately. “Consent is important around here.”
We all started to laugh as Brooks melted into the hug. Then Skye was there, his front around Brooks’s back, squishing him between him and Maverick. Mav grumbled but kissed the top of Skye’s hand, his gaze full of love.
Warmth spread through me. I’d never seen anything like this before. I’d had comradery with the men in my unit when I’d been in the SEALS, but that had been more of a necessity. I didn’t know if I’d have been close to any of them if we hadn’t been stuck in the environment we’d been in.
Then there was my current position. I knew some of the other agents, but it was a surprisingly solitary job. I spent most of my missions alone, with my handler as my only contact for weeks or months at a time.
It was getting to me, which was one of the reasons I was retiring. I needed something more. Something Luca’s team had. I felt Luca watching me and I raised an eyebrow in question. The smug bastard just smirked at me from across the room. I was not joining their team. I only helped a friend out. That was it. I was done with this life.
Maybe if I kept saying it, I’d believe it.
Eventually, all the other guys started to leave the room. Diego was getting an office space set up for himself, and Mav went with him to help. Skye and Brooks walked out together, leaving me alone with Luca.
Once everyone was gone, Luca let go of the pretense of being strong and slumped into the closest chair, looking exhausted.
I didn’t even think, just walked up to him and knelt in between his legs. I was cupping his face and lifting it up before my brain caught up with my actions.
“Talk to me, Luc. You don’t need to pretend to be strong, not with me.”
My thumb traced along his jawline, the stubble rough along the digit. He cupped my hand with his.
“I—don’t know what I’m doing, Wes. I fucked up so badly. And the worst part? I spent the last years walking around convinced I was right and did a good thing. I-fuck, maybe I should find someone else to protect Diego and Brooks? I’m not sure I should be doing this.”
Yeah, fuck that. I wasn’t going to let him believe that. I was also way too old to be kneeling on this hard floor.
Groaning, I stood and took Luca’s hands. He looked confused but went with me willingly to the love seat. I sat down and dragged my best friend with me, so close he was practically on my lap.
Luca seemed amused but didn’t say anything. Which was good because I’d be happy to point out how he needed to wear a back brace when doing anything physical and how his knee creaked every time he bent over. We weren’t in our twenties anymore.
“Listen to me and listen good, Luc. I won’t let you get in your head. Believe it or not, you are human.” Luca snorted, but I ignored it. “You make mistakes. We all do. That’s life. What matters is what you do after those mistakes. You have a lot of options here, but none of them are wallowing in self-pity. I don’t know everything that happened, but I know you made a judgment call with Brooks, and maybe in hindsight it wasn’t the best decision, but that’s the beauty of hindsight. At the time, we can only work with the information we have. And sometimes, even you will get it wrong.”
Luca opened his mouth to say something, but I put my finger to it, shutting him up. He raised an eyebrow, but humored me and stayed quiet. I was well aware I was one of the few, if not the only person who could get away with that. “But Luc, out of the million judgment calls you make, getting only one wrong is fucking amazing odds. There is no one, and I mean that, that I’d trust with my life over you. And not just my life, but Riley’s and Beckett’s too. When they had their issues, I didn’t think twice about calling you because I knew no one would protect my sons like you did.”
Luca sighed. “Yeah, but that’s different. I can’t even be in the same room with Brooks without fucking up.”
I glared. “My finger is still on your lip. That means it’s time to listen.”
Luca’s gaze turned dangerous. I swallowed but didn’t back down. “Oh, does it?” he asked, his voice taking on a sultry tone.
For the first time in my entire life, I could understand what Skye or Brooks or any other submissive must feel like when they gave into that side of them. I hadn’t thought I had a submissive bone in my body, but Luca had a quality about him that made me want to be softer than usual.
I ignored it. “Yes. Now, let’s talk about Brooks. You say you fucked up, and I’ll have to take your word for it. But when Brooks was in trouble, when he had nowhere else to go, who did he go to?”
Luca sighed again. “Me, but that was only because—”
“No. It was because he knew he could trust you in this situation. He was hurt and had been avoiding you, and still, he came to you. I can absolutely fucking promise you that if you went to him right now and said you were going to find someone else to help, he’d lose his fucking shit. He wants you, Luca. Because you’re the best. No one will protect him and Diego like you do. So, whatever happened, you need to let that go and find a way to move forward. You have a whole bunch of people in your corner, including Brooks, and we won’t let you give into your self-doubt.”
Luca sunk into me, and I wrapped my arm around him, holding him tight. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d cuddled like that. It had to be at least 10-15 years, but it felt right. It made me think about things I tried to keep buried, of what Luca and I could’ve been if our careers hadn’t gotten in the way.
“Thanks,” he whispered after a while.
“There’s nothing to thank me for, Luc. You know I love you and will be here for you always.”
Luca smiled softly, a little sad. “Yeah, I know. Fuck, I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I do feel better. You always put things into perspective.”
“I hope I always do,” I whispered. If Luca heard, he didn’t respond.