Chapter 10
Routine Transactions
Drew
Sara draws away from me as Dante walks into the office. A little jingling noise makes her look behind her. I follow her gaze to a small, white fluffball.
"You get a good nap, Peabody?" she asks.
"He sucks at being a guard dog." Finn shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest as he leans against the kitchen counter. His gaze takes me in and he gives me a cocky smile. "Peabody hates Wyatt."
That’s a challenge if I ever heard one. Wyatt was the one to hold Sara’s heart first, but not her dog’s. I need to win the dog over.
Sara scoops the little dog up and sighs.
"That’s because Tom encouraged Peabody’s bloodlust for Wyatt." She strokes her hand over the pup’s head and his tongue lolls out happily. His fur hangs over his eyes, but he turns his head my way and becomes alert. His nose sniffs in my direction.
I step closer to Sara and offer the back of my hand for him to check out.
Finn chuckles. "You’re doing great, man. Peabody would have made Wyatt bleed by now."
I arch an eyebrow at Finn, but keep my attention on Peabody.
"You wouldn’t bite me, would you?" When Peabody stops sniffing me, I lift my hand to pet him.
He snuggles into Sara. I scratch behind his ear and his tongue lolls back out.
Sara’s smile is beautiful, and when she laughs, something in my chest clicks into place. I’m not the kind of guy who falls for the girl anymore, but I knew with Sara, she’d make it so fucking easy. Effortless.
"The only person he’s bitten is Wyatt, and it’s not just a little love nip." Her pale green eyes dance as they meet mine. "He draws blood. Don’t you, Peabody?"
She ruffles his fur and sets him down. When she lifts her gaze to mine, there’s hesitation, but also determination, in her eyes.
"Are you here for a while?" Her voice doesn’t fluctuate.
Leaving her this morning after yesterday was the wrong move. I felt it deep inside, but this is part of my life. I couldn’t just ignore my responsibilities.
Brushing my hand over her cheek, I smile. "I’m here as long as you want me. Well, until work tomorrow morning. But if you need me, I’m here."
Her lips press together like she wants to ask me for more. I want to explain what else occupies my time, but I can’t. There’s too much at stake.
Her eyes clear and her smile softens. "I’m glad."
And that’s what I like about Sara. She doesn’t ask for more. Not What have you been up to? Just Glad you’re here now. She’s uncomplicated. Mostly.
Finn smirks as he watches the two of us. It’s not like I left her all alone. I left her with her three bulldogs. Who, from the rumpled look of the mostly naked woman in front of me, definitely took advantage of the situation.
Sara takes my hand and glances at Finn. My heart quickens at her touch and I thread my fingers through hers. I’m not usually open to more than sex, but with her, I can’t seem to help myself.
"Do you have to work?" Her gaze doesn’t waver from Finn.
He steps into her and kisses her like I’m not here. Like it’s just the two of them. Much as I love to watch, I would feel like an intruder if Sara didn’t squeeze my hand. She pulls me closer, like she’s afraid I’ll draw away.
When he breaks off the kiss, without letting her go, he turns to face me and so does she. "Looks like we have her to ourselves for a while."
I smile. There’s a lot we could do to Sara before the others come out to play.
Peabody barks at the door.
Sara withdraws from both of us and walks over to the little dog. "Do you need to go for a walk?"
He spins in a little circle at her smile. I don’t blame him. Her smiles are worth everything. And when she gives me her full attention, I want to give her the world.
She grabs a leash and harness and holds it out to Finn. "Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready to go."
Finn draws her against him and kisses her again until she softens into him. "Hurry."
Her cheeks are flushed when she walks toward a bedroom. He sits at the table and pats his lap. Peabody jumps onto him and Finn puts the wiggling dog in the harness.
He glances at me. "So, what pulled you away?"
I rub the back of my neck and look toward the door Sara disappeared behind. "It’s private."
He nods and lowers Peabody to the floor before standing. We’re about the same height. So we’re eye to eye. "We all need to sit down and put together an agreement for this arrangement."
"I’m not fucking anyone else." I need him to know it’s nothing like that. These guys are with her more than I will be and they could undermine me when I’m not around. She’s still my girl and I’m determined to keep her, with or without them.
"Good." Finn’s usually easy smile drops. He reaches out to pick imaginary lint off my shirt. "You fuck around on her and I’ll make sure you won’t be fucking anyone for a really long time. Do you understand me?"
"Same." I’m not the only one with a reputation. If we’re posturing, then let’s posture. "The only person I care about in this arrangement is Sara, and I’ll protect her with all I have."
He nods. "She’s more than a fuck to us."
"I know." I lean against the wall. "She’s more to me too."
The door to the bedroom opens and she sweeps out in jeans and a t-shirt with sandals, her red hair pulled into a ponytail that swings as she walks. She grins at us as Peabody runs over to her. She squats down to the little dog and looks up at the two of us.
"I’ll go with you." I step forward before Finn can claim her this time. My smile is easy.
Finn hands me a roll of waste bags. "Do you have your phone, flower?"
She nods and pushes up on her toes to kiss his cheek. He turns at the last moment and takes her lips. I don’t feel the hot clench of jealousy, because she wants this. All of us. When he draws away, she sighs.
Without missing a beat, she smiles and reaches for my hand. They may have her more than I can, but in public, she’s all mine.
We walk out the door and into the elevator. Peabody sits at her feet and waits patiently until the door opens to the lobby. He hurries out and Sara walks after him with me in tow.
When we step out of the building, I draw her into my side and glance around. The neighborhood is nice and the park is right across the street, down a little. She heads in that direction.
"How do you feel?" I ask as we make our way to the park.
She tips her face up to mine. "I’m good."
"Sore?" The others probably already checked in with her. I hate that I had to leave her and that I’ll always be the one leaving her while the others stay. Even if they don’t all sleep with her every night, the option is there for them. I can’t even have her stay at my place.
Her cheeks flush, but she shakes her head. "Only a little."
"Are you going to fill me in on what happened while I was gone?" I raise an eyebrow. I’d love for her to give me a play-by-play.
She mimics my look. "Are you going to tell me where you had to go?"
Before I can say anything, I notice something moving quickly toward us out of the corner of my eye. When I turn to look, there’s a couple guys in black heading our way. Those guys could mean a number of things.
Fuck.
I scoop up Peabody. These two don’t usually mean a pleasant visit. I need Sara somewhere safe.
"What’s—”
I draw her against me and turn us back toward the apartment building, hurrying her and Peabody into the lobby. "Go up to the apartment. Get inside."
I press Peabody into her arms and head back outside.
"Drew," she calls after me, but I ignore it.
She’s safe. I lean against the building and cross my ankles before looking at my fingernails in boredom.
The men stop in front of me. When I lift my gaze, I grin like I’m happy to see them.
"Gentlemen, to what do I owe this impromptu visit?"
Sara
Peabody wiggles in my arms as I stare out the glass door at Drew, who looks like he’s lost his mind as two huge guys close in on him. One dark-haired and one blond. They’re both huge, a few inches taller than Drew and bulkier.
Drew must know what he’s doing. Right? It’s a pretty busy street in a good neighborhood. They aren’t going to rough him up right there.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Does he know those guys? They look scary, and why tuck me away if there’s nothing wrong with them and no danger?
I hurry to the elevator and pace, holding Peabody still, as it takes forever to get up to the guys’ floor. I rush into the apartment.
"What’s wrong?" Finn turns off the TV.
I put Peabody down. "Drew. There’s two men. He got me inside and went back out to talk to them. It didn’t look good."
"Stay here." Finn hurries out of the apartment.
I wring my hands and glance at the office door. Should I let the others know or is this nothing? The guys looked like thugs, but what do I know? That could just be a stereotype.
Finn should be enough backup for Drew, right? Besides, Wyatt isn’t a Drew fan. He might be upset if those guys were after Drew and not me. What if I just misread the situation? They could be business associates. Or bouncers from the club. Or whatever Tom is running from.
I’m at the door before I can think about it. I knock softly and then push it open. The one thing about their office is it has a view of the front of the building. I might be able to see Drew and the guys.
"Hey, pip." Dante watches me with caution as I walk through the room to the windows and look down. "Something wrong?"
Peabody’s tags jingle behind me. He didn’t really get his walk. He still needs to go out, but I can’t do that until it’s safe.
I can’t really see the sidewalk from here. At least not where I left Drew. My breath escapes me.
Hands rest on my shoulders.
"What’s wrong, trouble?" Wyatt’s warmth covers my back and I soak it in.
“Maybe nothing.” I lean back against him because I can and I know he’ll let me.
“Drew and I were going to take Peabody for a walk. We were about to cross to the park when he turned us around. Pushed me and Peabody into the lobby and went back outside where two big guys dressed in black stepped up to him. I told Finn and he went down.”
The door to the apartment closes. I look around Wyatt, but Dante is gone and no one came in. My heart pounds a little harder. I take a step, but Wyatt’s hands hold me in place.
“Let them take care of it, trouble. You need to stay here where you’re safe.”
I lift my gaze to his dark eyes and a chill goes through me. I need to know, so I say, “It could be nothing.”
“You’re right.” He doesn’t sound convinced, which doesn’t help my nerves. “It could be. Or it could be something. Whatever it is, Drew wanted to protect you.”
I bite my lip and turn back to the window. What the hell is going on down there?