Chapter Seven
Cairo: Would you like to have a tea party with me?
Cairo: Well, it’s actually wine and cookies.
Rhodes: I’d love that. Just let me know where.
Cairo: Oh. Haha. I forgot that part. Our bedroom.
Rhodes: On my way.
Rhodes: Meet me in the garage. It’s time for your first driving lesson.
Cairo: But my tummy hurts. Could you come rub it instead?
Rhodes: No fibs. No excuses. This is a skill you need.
Cairo: Okay.
Rhodes: No pouting either.
Cairo: sigh. I can’t have anything.
Rhodes: What are you wearing?
Cairo: Button-down shirt and jeans. Why?
Rhodes: Just trying to decide how easily I can peel them off when you meet me in bed in five.
Cairo: I’ll be nude before you get there.
Rhodes: Run.
Cairo: I just realized we’ve been together five months today.
Rhodes: I noticed that too. There’s a gift on the bed for you.
Cairo: Squee!
The ease with which they fell into a pattern of being together never ceased to blow Rhodes away.
Cairo did his therapy sessions, and Rhodes joined him sometimes.
Watching Cairo grow and heal was a balm to his soul.
Everything about Cairo warmed his life. When they first met, Rhodes kept himself a little closed, fully expecting Cairo would get better and crave freedom.
He was owed the ability to control his life and do what he wanted.
Instead, his growth had moved him toward Rhodes.
Not away. Rhodes couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but one day, he noticed he felt different.
He believed in them. They were happy together.
They equally wanted forever. There was no one Rhodes would rather be with.
He felt like he had grown right alongside Cairo.
Cairo was also just fucking beautiful. Rhodes had a terrible time keeping his hands to himself.
Cairo shifted.
Rhodes molded against his back and readjusted Cairo’s stance. “You’re shying away again. Believe in yourself. Take a breath.” He listened to Cairo draw a steady breath. “Squeeze the trigger.”
Cairo hit the target dead center. He threw his arms up in victory and bounced up and down. “Oh my God. Did you see that? I did that.”
Rhodes guided Cairo’s hand into a safer position. “I saw. Let’s not forget you’re holding a loaded weapon.”
A nervous chuckle burst from Cairo. “Oh, right. Sorry. But did you see that?”
Cairo looked so adorable. While wearing a baggy T-shirt, jeans, and work boots, Cairo still managed to look dainty.
“I can’t believe I’m good at this.” The wonderment in Cairo’s voice had pride growing in his chest.
“You master everything you touch.” His belief in Cairo sounded in every word.
Cairo shuffled closer, looking like the cat that ate the canary. “Does that include you?”
Rhodes hauled Cairo against him. “That especially includes me.” He held Cairo’s hand with the gun away from them as he stole the kiss he wanted. While Cairo was really good at everything he did, he was also a bit of a klutz. He couldn’t get enough of anything Cairo did.
“I wish I didn’t have to work today.” Rhodes whispered the confession between kisses. “I’d rather be with you.”
He felt Cairo smile against his lips. “You can’t get into trouble because of me. Go. I can clean up here.”
With a groan, Rhodes took a step back. “Three more hours. I’ll be done.”
Cairo held his hand until the last second as Rhodes walked backwards away from him. The gesture filled his chest with warmth. He was totally in love with Cairo.
“Remember me.” Rhodes said the words as dramatically as possible.
Cairo’s laughing smile made everything brighter. “Goofball.”
Rhodes covered his heart. “You wound me. I’m your goofball.” He couldn’t stop smiling.
“Mine.” Even though Cairo still grinned like an idiot, his eyes flashed with hunger.
Rhodes shot forward and stole another kiss. He didn’t know why he was so extra needy today, but he genuinely didn’t want to leave. The desire to climb beneath Cairo’s skin was massive. The door to the range opened. He forced himself away.
Fetch stuck his head in the door. “Come on. You know we have a meeting today.”
Rhodes’ gaze moved over Cairo’s face. Emotions engulfed him. He swallowed them down. “I really have to go.” Again, it took a second for Cairo to release his fingers.
“Dude, really? You’re not headed for the gas chamber. Let’s go.”
Rhodes took a few more steps back, but he picked up the pace. “Love you. Don’t get into trouble.”
It took him a second to realize what he had said. The confession had rolled so naturally off his tongue. Rhodes didn’t take it back. He simply jogged in Fletch’s direction and out the door. Fletch genuinely looked irritated.
Rhodes hated that. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the time.”
Fletch’s shoulders relaxed. He made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry about me. I woke up in a pissy mood, and things have done nothing but gone downhill since. It’s not on you.”
Side by side, they walked toward the main house. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Fletch shrugged. “Banks handed me a seven-day ban from The PlayPen last night.”
Rhodes' forehead furrowed. “What? Why? You’re always super respectful.”
“Sammie had a meltdown. I mean, really showed his ass. You know how he can be. Anyway, I finally hit my breaking point and screamed at him. Apparently, I frightened a bunch of Littles. Shit has gotten out of control with him. I just accepted my punishment and broke things off.”
“Fuck.” Rhodes wouldn’t say he was sorry to hear it. Sammie was a real piece of work. Being a brat was one thing, but it was like the guy got off on humiliating Fletch in public. Rhodes had always hated him. “You two were together for a long time.”
Fletch tossed him a sad smile. “Yeah, but there’s a reason I never brought him here. In my heart, I knew we wouldn’t make it. He was fun, but life has been nothing but drama since we met. I want to find my peace—the way you have.”
A surprised bark of laughter burst from him. “Never in all my days would I have expected anyone to envy what I have. But yeah, that’s a good description. Cairo has had his dramatics, but he’s definitely my peace.”
Fletch nodded along. “I’ve never seen you the way you are with him. Maybe it’s just a case of the grass being greener. I should probably just apologize to Sammie.”
Rhodes did not like that plan. “Nope. You’re not doing that. When Banks lifts your ban, Cairo and I will go with you. We can be your buffer while you taste freedom.”
Fletch chuckled. “I’d like that. It used to be a lot of fun to hang out with the Littles before I let Sammie ruin my life. I don’t want to be the reason Sammie doesn’t have a safe place, but I also can’t let him steal any more joy from me.”
“Agreed.” They flashed each other a smile.
Rhodes didn’t know if Cairo would want to step foot in The PlayPen again, but he knew Cairo cared about Fletch.
They could be there for a friend. Rhodes had to think about anything other than dropping the L bomb on Cairo.
He winced. Maybe he wouldn’t think anything of it.
Rhodes had wanted to have that conversation in a much more romantic setting.
What if Cairo hadn’t been ready to hear that?
Rhodes hadn’t considered that. Now, it was all he could think about.
Damn, Cairo could be melting down right now, and Rhodes had to work.
He already felt like three more hours on the schedule was soul-sucking.
This was about to be the longest afternoon of his life.
Cairo had no idea how long he stared at nothing. He had heard Rhodes right? Surely Rhodes hadn’t told Cairo he loved him. Obviously, Cairo loved Rhodes. He just hadn’t found a way to have that conversation. A wave of nausea inexplicably washed over him along with the past.
The room kept getting darker around the edges. He desperately gasped for air each time Hugh’s grip loosened on his throat.
“I want to hear the words, pet. It’s your job to love me.
” He suddenly released Cairo’s neck but not his hold on Cairo’s body.
His dark eyes were crazed. Cairo had seen this side of Hugh before.
Nothing good would happen today. These moments were becoming more common than not.
It wouldn’t be long until Hugh killed him.
Cairo had gotten too old for him. Only nostalgia kept Cairo alive.
That, and Hugh’s sick obsession with breaking this one last thing inside Cairo.
That was exactly why Cairo refused to say he felt something he never would.
He was scared and in pain. Everything shook so hard, he felt sick.
He ugly cried and couldn’t stop. Cairo was definitely as pathetic as possible.
He was a broken coward. Hell, he was just fucking broken.
His sanity had fled long ago. He had never known pride.
Cairo was a shattered mess with no hope.
The only thing that still belonged only to him was his heart. He would die with that intact.
Hugh reached behind his back.
Cairo shook harder. Sheer terror had him in its grip.
“Say it, pet. Don’t make me put you down like the useless dog you are.”
Cairo couldn’t have spoken even if he wanted to obey.
His vocal cords had definitely been damaged this time.
Cairo saw the end in Hugh’s eyes as a punch landed in his midsection.
He was right. It took him a second to realize the hit to his gut was actually a knife.
He saw the blood covering the blade as Hugh lifted it to stab him again. Another blow to the chest.
“Please?” He had to push hard to force the word past bleeding lips.
“Oh, now you want to beg.” He stabbed Cairo again. “You had your shot. This is on you.”
Hugh didn’t understand. Cairo didn’t beg for his life. He pleaded for death. Cairo needed Hugh to end his life. That was the only way he would ever be free.
“Are you okay?”
Cairo blinked. An unfamiliar man stood feet from him. Cairo cleared his throat. “Yes, sorry.” An embarrassed smile popped to his lips. “I guess I kind of spaced out there for a moment.”
The guy nodded. “Yeah. I get it. You were pretty gone. I’ve been trying to get your attention for a minute.”
Cairo fought a blush. He moved to the lockbox where Rhodes kept the gun he had bought for Cairo.
For some reason, he couldn’t let go of the weapon.
“It seems like I’m a lot more tired than I realized.
” As the shock of the past faded, Cairo realized he was alone with a stranger.
He licked his lips. His grip on the gun wouldn’t loosen.
The familiar sensation of being hunted for sport overcame him.
“You don’t look familiar to me.” Cairo had to say something. He couldn’t let the anxiety beat him.
“I’m James, but most everyone calls me JJ.” He held out a bandaged arm with a missing hand. “Shit. Sorry. I keep forgetting.” He switched hands.
Cairo lightly shook. “Cairo.”
Something flashed across JJ’s face, but he immediately hid his first reaction. Cairo had no idea what that was about.
“We’ve never met because I work a different shift than your man. Plus, I live in one of the houses farthest away from the main house. I’ve heard a lot about you, though.”
A nervous chuckle escaped Cairo. “Uh oh. You said that like you’ve only heard bad things.” He motioned toward JJ’s arm. “What happened?” Even Cairo heard how genuinely concerned he sounded. He knew what it was like to have traumatic injuries.
JJ turned away and set up a shooting station. He struggled to do everything left-handed, especially hold a steady gun. “Hugh happened.”
The immediate sick feeling hit like a truck.
Hearing Hugh’s name on the heels of a horrible flashback nearly set him back two months on his therapy.
“What?” It was the only word his lips would shape.
His brain had been wiped clean. Surely, he had misheard.
Maybe he really was more tired than he thought.
JJ’s hand shook as he tried aiming with his non-dominant arm. He growled and tossed Cairo an irritated look. “There’s no way you don’t know this. After all, I lost a fucking hand for you.”
Something inside Cairo died a little. He felt the adult inside him shriveling, searching for the safety of being a child. “Oh. No. I didn’t know.”
At the sound of his voice getting smaller, JJ softened. He looked torn. “Look, I shouldn’t have said that. This has just been a hard day for me, and you said your name.”
“And you lost a hand for me,” Cairo finished for him.
“I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll get out of your way.
” No one knew better than he did what helpless rage felt like.
Maybe if he was in JJ’s shoes, he would shoot him.
Life would have been so much more convenient for everyone if he had stayed with Hugh.
No one here deserved to be tormented by Hugh just because Cairo existed.
JJ huffed. His light green eyes flashed with aggravation. “You don’t have to go. This is your home. Hell, it’s probably more your home than mine. I’m just some rat from the streets. Fuck, I really can’t stop. What’s wrong with me?”
A sad smile tugged at Cairo’s lips. He understood a lot more than JJ would ever believe.
“You’re angry, and you’re right to be.” Cairo still couldn’t stop sounding more like a kid than an adult, but he also couldn’t let JJ think Cairo didn’t deserve his rage.
“Hugh bought me when I was very little. He’ll never stop feeling like he owns me.
Maybe he does,” Cairo added absently. He shook his head, trying to shake away the darkness closing in.
“You didn’t deserve to get hurt because of me.
” Cairo swallowed. It hurt, just the same as having Hugh’s hands around his neck again.
“I wish I had known he hadn’t given up before this happened to you.
It’s my fault. Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.
” He managed a sad smile and headed for the door.
JJ spoke again, but Cairo didn’t hear a word.
His pulse pounded too loudly in his ears.
Rhodes had given him six months of a beautiful life and his heart.
That was more than Cairo thought he would get in this lifetime.
Cairo couldn’t risk Rhodes being the next person Hugh hurt.
He just wished he had gotten to tell Rhodes he loved him too.