Chapter Five #2
While Rhodes stared at the monitors at the security desk, he didn’t see a thing.
His mind was filled with nothing except for the way Cairo had looked at him after Rhodes kissed him goodbye for the day.
There had been something in his eyes Rhodes had never seen before.
He fought the urge to shirk his duties. There was something better he wanted to do.
A light knock tapped on the door. Rhodes’ gaze snapped to that security camera feed.
He shot to his feet. The camera didn’t have a good angle.
From what he could see, it wasn’t anyone familiar.
How had they gotten this far onto the property unnoticed?
With his hand on his gun, Rhodes pulled open the door.
Cairo stood on the other side, hugging his puppy like he was nervous as hell, and looking transformed.
For a moment, Rhodes couldn’t do anything but stare.
Cairo seemed to hug the dog tighter. “Are you going to shoot me?”
Rhodes shook his head, shaking the cobwebs loose. “What?” He realized his hand was still on his gun. Rhodes immediately dropped it. “No, baby. Of course not. You just caught me off guard. Come in.” He backed up, giving Cairo space to step inside.
Cairo looked around. “Wow. This is super high-tech.”
Rhodes couldn’t think straight while looking at Cairo’s painted eyes. “Yeah. Um. It was designed by the best. You look different today.”
“I’ve been playing dress-up with Kylo.” That explained the blindingly bright vest.
Rhodes took Cairo’s hand and moved to reclaim his seat. He pulled Cairo down to sit on his lap. “Which of you chose this outfit?”
“Me.” He looked and sounded excited. “First Kylo tried to put me in a fedora and fake facial hair, but it didn’t look like me. I picked the shirt and vest. Kylo did my eyes.”
“You look gorgeous.”
Cairo beamed with happiness. “I hope so. I really, really like this look. But I don’t need to dress this way again if you don’t want to look at me like this. I don’t actually have to look at myself, so your opinion matters more.”
He drove Rhodes crazy with the constant insecurities, but he understood where they came from.
Rhodes didn’t try to reassure him with words.
He kissed him. Rhodes couldn’t say what happened exactly.
The new look might have turned him on, but their kiss was so sweet, the backs of his eyes burned.
He could stay right there and kiss Cairo for the rest of his life and be content.
Unfortunately, he was supposed to be working.
As much as he hated giving up Cairo’s mouth, he had to.
Still, he kept brushing his lips lightly across Cairo’s. “May I take you to dinner tonight?”
Cairo giggled. “So proper. Yes.”
Rhodes couldn’t stop smiling. The door opened, and Rhodes stood, lowering Cairo to his feet. He tried to look professional and not at all like he had been making out instead of working.
Teddy nodded to Cairo in greeting before focusing on Rhodes. “Thanks for the break. Henry wanted me to tell you to meet him in the garage.”
That sounded a lot like bullshit was afoot. “Thanks. I’ll head that way.”
Rhodes escorted Cairo outside, doing his best to look like he was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing.
Cairo broke the moment the door closed. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble or anything. Mickey said I should visit and show you my outfit. I didn’t think about how it might look.”
Rhodes squeezed his hand. “It’s fine. I love having you around, and no one snitches in this house. Damn near all of us came from the streets and still live by street rules. As long as everyone stays safe and keeps the property secure, we’re allowed to have lives.”
Cairo nodded. “Okay. I don’t want to be a nuisance here. You make me happy. I just want to make you happy too.”
Rhodes couldn’t stop the heated look he tossed Cairo’s way. “Oh, I’m happy. You don’t have to worry about that.” There was no mistaking the heat in his claim.
Cairo blushed.
Rhodes headed for the back door, intent on walking Cairo back inside.
Henry stepped out of the garage before he made it. “Let’s go.” His hard, unforgiving tone said everything. It was about to be a long day, and they had no time to waste. Henry’s humongous and goofy-as-hell husband, Field, bounded from the garage like an overenthusiastic puppy.
He linked arms with Cairo. “Come on. It’s dancing time.”
Cairo tossed him a confused look, but he let Field drag him away. As much as Rhodes wanted to make sure Cairo made it inside safely, he had to put business first or they wouldn’t have a home.
Rhodes made sure he used his professional tone. “What’s up?”
Henry motioned toward a black SUV. It was only one of the many vehicles on the property available for use to anyone. “Get in.”
Rhodes didn’t hesitate. He jumped into the passenger seat, matching the energy of Henry’s tone. Things seemed serious.
Henry didn’t enlighten him until they were on the road. “Hugh responded to our message. Grab that paper.” Rhodes looked where Henry indicated with a nod. It was covered in blood. He gingerly unfolded it and read it out loud.
“This is how I deal with thieves. Bring back my property or I’ll send another piece of him home every day I don’t have Cairo.”
Henry tossed a quick glance his way. “That came by messenger this morning along with James’ hand.”
Shit. He had hoped Hugh would recognize he was up against someone he couldn’t beat and scurry back under his perverted rug. “Damn. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Henry’s expression didn’t so much as shift. “Did you know Cairo belonged to Hugh when you brought him home?”
“No.”
Henry shrugged. “Then it’s not on you.”
He couldn’t let Cairo take the blame either. “Cairo shouldn’t—”
Henry cut him off. “You don’t have to plead your man’s case.
I saw him when Hugh’s first letter came.
Plus, we all know damn well what Hugh is.
I have no doubt Hugh acquired Cairo as a child through his sick trade.
No one should be condemned to that. He deserves to heal.
I know you’ll give him that. But we can’t let Hugh think he can harm one of ours.
After we recover James, we’ll have to make a big statement.
I played too nicely last time, trying to prevent a war.
That’s why James got hurt. I won’t make that mistake twice. ”
Rhodes nodded along to every word more for himself than Henry. They couldn’t let James down, and Rhodes wanted to watch the life leave Hugh’s eyes. Maybe it wouldn’t be tonight, but Hugh’s days were numbered. He could count on that.