Chapter 14
Bento
“Here.” Niran set a warmed-up burrito in front of me. I scrunched up my nose as I stared down at it.
“I don’t eat microwaved burritos.” They tasted like plastic and never like the real deal. Fuck eating that garbage.
Niran rolled his eyes and lounged back against the counter opposite me, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ll eat it today. Stop griping. I’m not giving you more pain medicine until you eat. I worked hard on that.” He nodded his head toward the wanna-be burrito on my plate.
I snorted and lifted the burrito, grimacing at it. The damn thing didn’t even smell right. “You literally took it out of a wrapper, rolled it in a paper towel, and tossed it into the damn microwave. That wasn’t difficult or hard to do.”
Niran moved forward and braced a hand on either side of my plate on the bar top, arching one perfect eyebrow at me.
My heart flipped in my chest. “Don’t be an ungrateful brat, kon-dii.
You might be bigger than me, but I’ll still bend you over this counter, drop your sweats, and spank your ass until it’s burning red from my palm. ”
My cock jerked to life behind my briefs, and my heart tripped over in my chest all while my stomach swooped.
Was Niran really into spanking? Because fuck, I could definitely be into that.
In fact, I was pretty sure I was into that.
Hell yes, he could bend me over the counter and spank my ass.
And all I had to do was be what he deemed a brat?
“I see those gears turning in your head, Perez.” Fuck me. I loved it when he used my last name like that. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew because I’ll deliver.”
“You’re trying to be threatening, but it’s not working,” I told him before biting into the burrito.
It tasted like shit, but I dealt. He had gone out of his way to warm it up for me, and while I hated the fucking thing, I was grateful, nonetheless.
I worked hard to keep from scrunching my nose up at the awful taste.
“It’s not a threat—”
“Oh, is it a promise?” I taunted around a mouthful of food.
He shot me a distasteful look. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, Bento. It’s gross, and I taught you better.”
He had. He’d taught me every bit of manners I had.
Without Niran, I’d just be another kid lost to the streets, probably not making it past the legal drinking age before my stupid “occupation” of picking pockets got me killed.
I’d thought I was the best at what I was doing, but Rico had caught me red-handed without even having to see me.
He’d just sensed me. Had it been any other man, I could’ve died right there, my body disposed of with no one ever knowing.
And I wouldn’t have met Niran either.
I wouldn’t be his.
Before I could open my mouth to apologize or say something that’d probably get me in more trouble—who knew what would actually come out of my mouth once I opened it—Anurak and Ace walked into the kitchen.
Immediately, my appetite vanished, and I slowly set the burrito down.
I hadn’t seen Rico’s husband since the day at the shopping plaza, and I’d both been wanting to see him and dreading it.
Because I’d fucking failed him.
Anurak took one look at me, and his chin wobbled, tears filling his eyes.
“Anurak—” I started, but he was quicker—and louder.
“I’m so sorry,” he cried, his arms wrapping tight around his waist. I winced.
Rico was going to rip me a fucking new one for this, and I hadn’t even done anything to set the boy off except try to eat this shitty ass burrito Niran had worked oh-so-hard to make me.
“If I’d known they were going to do this to you, I would have stayed.
” He swiped his arm under his nose, his shoulders hitching with sobs.
Ace wrapped Anurak in his arms, trying to soothe him, but it was hopeless.
“This is all my fault. I’m so sorry. So sorry.
I shouldn’t have run. I should have tried—”
“Perrito,” Rico rumbled from the doorway. Immediately, Ace released him, knowing Anurak needed his Papi.
I clenched my jaw, watching as Anurak stumbled into his husband’s arms, sobs wracking his chest and his shoulders shaking.
Gunner slipped in and silently led Ace out, leaving me, Niran, Anurak, and Rico alone.
I pushed my plate away, but Niran scowled at me and pushed it back, pointing a finger at it afterward in a silent demand to eat it.
Goddamn him. How the fuck was I supposed to eat when Anurak, the sweetest boy I’d ever known, was in fucking pieces because I’d failed him?
“It’s not your fault,” I told Anurak. “My job is to protect you, and those men had plans to kidnap you. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“I told you, perrito, that this was his job,” Rico told his boy gently, cupping his face to tilt it up so they were looking at each other. “Bento has always known the risks associated with being your bodyguard, and he did exactly as I expected of him. He risked his own life to save yours.”
“But he could have died,” Anurak cried, his voice wobbling and his breath hitching.
“It would have been honorable,” I quietly assured him.
He turned to look at me, and I offered him a soft smile.
“I will always gladly lay my life down if it means you get to live another day, kid. And not because it’s my job, but because you’re my friend.
And I want to protect you, okay? There are risks associated with being your bodyguard, and I’m aware of that. I’m okay with that.”
He shook his head, his jaw clenching. “Then I don’t want you as my bodyguard anymore.”
I felt his words like a punch to the gut.
I’d worked fucking hard to gain the position I’d gotten as his bodyguard.
Niran was the head of all of us, and I was just about right beneath that.
Being the bodyguard of the boss’s significant other was something most only got to dream of.
It was more laid back, less hours, and more pay. But it wasn’t just that.
It meant you were trusted. You were family in a deeper sense than just belonging to the man who signed your paychecks.
“If that’s what you want,” I managed to get out.
But saying the words was about as easy as swallowing acid.
Because Anurak wasn’t just someone I protected.
He really was my friend. I cared about what happened to him.
And I also didn’t trust a single other soul to protect him the same way I did. The same way I could.
“It’s not what I want,” he croaked, “but I can’t stand the thought of this happening to you again.”
I sighed. “Anurak, the odds of this happening again are slim to none,” I assured him. “It’s been several years since you and Rico got together, and this is the first time someone has gone out of their way to target you.”
“But it can happen.”
I opened my mouth to try to tamp down his fears, but Rico spoke before I could. “Perrito, why don’t we go cuddle in bed and watch a movie?” he suggested. “And once you’re calm, we can talk more about this. Okay?”
Anurak nodded, and Rico lifted him. Once Anurak twined his arms around his husband’s neck and legs around his waist, Rico carried him from the room, calling for Ace as he did so. I sighed and stared down at the burrito. My appetite was fucking gone.
“He didn’t mean it, kon-dii,” Niran said quietly. His voice was stiff, but it was nice to know he was still trying to comfort me, even he wasn’t all that sure how to do that.
I sighed. “He did,” I assured him. “Anurak doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean. And while he didn’t mean it the way it feels because I know he only wants me to be safe, it still fucking hurts.”
Niran grunted. “Eat,” he instructed. “And don’t wallow.”
I scowled at him. “Fuck you, Niran.”
He heaved a heavy breath. “I didn’t mean it that way.
I’m not good with comforting people, Bento.
Even you. I just can’t empathize like that.
It’s not one of my abilities. Give Rico and Ace time to calm him down and talk some sense into him.
You’ll be out of commission while you heal, but you won’t be losing your position as his bodyguard. I can promise that.”
“If that’s still what he ultimately wants, Niran, Rico will give it to him.”
Niran tapped the bar top. “Eat, kon-dii, and stop worrying. You are the closest thing Anurak has to a best friend. Just… I don’t know. Hang in there.”
My lips quirked at how uncomfortable he looked. “You really are shit at this whole comfort thing, aren’t you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Eat. I’m tired of repeating myself.” He headed for the doorway to leave the kitchen. “When you’re done, come to my office to get your medicine. I need your assistance with something.”
I saluted him. He snorted and left the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the fear that I was not only about to be demoted, but I was going to lose someone I considered family.