16. CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 16
Neo
T he door to the cabin bedroom hits the wall with a bang. “We did it!”
My eyes fly open and my heart zooms to my throat. My brain screams run, but my body won’t move. It can’t move because there’s a blanket of naked muscle holding me in place.
I hear chunks of ice hitting the floor, walls—
“Ouch. Jeeze, Colden, it’s just me.” Arlo sounds almost disappointed that we didn’t jump out of bed and welcome him with open arms.
I peer over the broad shoulder and see not only Arlo, but Bean, Gilbert, and Harold.
“We’re back.” Harold waves.
The full force of Colden’s weight pins me. His heaving chest slows, and he says loud enough for only me to hear, “This is the worst safe house ever.”
I rub my hand along his back. “Give us a minute and we’ll be out.”
“Oh, right.” Arlo’s cheeks burn red. “Sorry.” The four back out, and Arlo closes the door.
I turn my head to the radio clock on the nightstand. Yesterday’s rain and clouds have blown out and the noon-day sun shines in through the crack of the curtain.
“That’s one way to wake up.” I give the man still atop me a gentle shove. Instead of moving, his mouth finds mine, and he grinds into me. I groan, giving his hair a tug.
“Fuck, Neo.”
There’s a knock on the door. “Um. We can hear you.”
“Fine.” Colden rolls off me and the two of us drag ourselves out of bed and throw on clothes.
When June and Tuesday dropped us off late last night, Colden insisted on a thorough washing, which ended with both of us needing to wash up again, then we fell into bed. I was out before my head hit the pillow.
Hand-in-hand, we shuffle out to the living space, where June and Tuesday have joined the others.
Arlo spots us and jumps up from the couch. “We got them. Rylan Ridge and everyone at the Delmarva headquarters. Bean’s scream sent them running out like rats from the sewer.”
“It was a beautiful thing.” Gilbert takes his cigar out of his mouth and gazes at it with the adoration of a lover. “SPAM agents showed up in time to haul them away.”
“Then another team arrived and fenced off the building and confiscated everything in it,” Harold adds.
Arlo’s grin shines. “They had an agent who erected an actual fence. She moved her hands like she was an orchestra conductor, and pieces of steel slammed into place. It was so cool.”
Bean nods. Their eyes sparkling.
“And then—” Arlo’s phone rings. “It’s April.” He straightens and smooths his hand over his shirt. “Hello, April.”
“Arlo. Is your team with you?”
He turns the phone around and scans the room. “We’re all here.”
“Good. I want to thank everyone for your work yesterday.” A woman with a short bob and a face that is as lovely as it is forgettable fills the screen. “We were able to take control of both the Delmarva and Boston offices.”
Arlo mouths yes and pumps his fist.
“And more importantly, Mr. Price was unharmed.” The inflection of her words and staccato way of speaking gives a sense of efficiency, while also being intimidating.
Colden wraps a protective arm around my shoulders. “No thanks to SPAM.” Arlo squeaks and jostles the phone, almost dropping it. But it doesn’t diminish Colden’s ire. “Are all the safe houses so easily breached?”
“Your concern is warranted. However, we will need to shelve that conversation for another time.” She shuffles through some papers, then continues. “Rylan and Paris Ridge, and their underlings are in custody at SPAM’s Criminal Reporting and Processing.”
“CRAP?” I whisper to Colden.
He nods, his lips twitching, and I want to kiss the twitch until we’re both panting.
“They will be processed and tried through SPAM. You may be called as witnesses. In the meantime, we’ll need statements from each of you.” She checks off something on the paper in front of her.
Colden’s fingers trace along my biceps, and I snuggle in. We still have to talk to Dacker, and I know it’s weighing on him, but having him so open in his affection in front of this group feels like a gift.
“What about Lexton?” He spits out Dr. Lexton’s name like it’s a curse.
There’s a long sigh. “Unfortunately, because Dr. Lexton is without powers, he doesn’t fall under SPAM’s jurisdiction. However, we’ve contacted Boston PD and the university. They’ve been informed of Dr. Lexton’s involvement, and his selling of proprietary information. Prior to this call, I received notice that a warrant for his arrest was issued.”
“His poor wife.” My heart pinches for Mrs. Lexton.
“Yes. Our information indicates he was selling the information to pay for his wife’s cancer treatments. The courts may show leniency. Though I can’t speak for the university.”
“And what about Neo? Can we ensure that he’s safe?” He wraps a protective arm around my shoulders and pulls me tight against his side.
Arlo speaks up. “We believe the threat has been neutralized, but Roman will remain in place indefinitely.”
I feel Colden’s muscles turn from tense to granite, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Again, thank you to all of you. Please know that SPAM is always looking to utilize unique powers. If you are interested in joining our team, Colden and Arlo can help you. Colden and Arlo, I expect to see your reports in my email by the end of day Monday.” The screen goes black.
Colden turns to Bean. “What about your report?”
“Already submitted it.” Bean tugs their beanie over their ears.
Colden scoffs. “Show off.”
Bean smiles.
Gilbert stands and smacks his hands against his legs. “Well, that was the most fun I’ve had in years.”
“Me too,” Harold says. “I haven’t had reason to unleash my power since moving here.”
Tuesday eyes Gilbert with appreciation. “I had no idea how powerful you were.” She flings her hair over her shoulder saunters over to him. “I’d love to explore that power with you.”
“Nope.” Colden points at Tuesday. “This is not a nightclub or Grindr, or whatever app old straight people use.” He points to the door. “Out. Do that on your own time.”
“Prude,” Harold coughs into his arm.
Gilbert grins around his cigar and winks at Tuesday. She laces her arm through his, and as he leads her out, she says, “So about your power…”
June embraces me, her hug reminding me of my mother’s hugs. “You’re staying tonight, yes?”
“I think so.” Leaving Colden and going back to Boston has zero appeal right now, but there’s a lot we still need to discuss.
She pats my cheek. “Good. I’ll see you tonight.” She moves to the exit and calls over her shoulder, “Tamales tonight, Arlo. You’re in charge of the guacamole. You’ll come too, Bean.”
“Can’t wait.” Arlo waves.
Bean’s response is quieter, but they seem just as eager. “Thank you.” They raise their hand, then follow June out.
“I’ll be at the office if you need me.” Arlo scoots the stools under the counter, then heads for the door.
Colden stops him with a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” He grasps my hand. “I was a mess, couldn’t think straight, but you…” I give his hand a squeeze. “You’re not only a great partner, you’re a good friend.”
Arlo’s hand flies to his throat, then he throws his arms around Colden’s neck. “Love you too, buddy.”
“Get off me.” Colden pushes a beaming Arlo off, but his eyes shimmer with amusement. “No one said anything about love.”
“You didn’t have to say it. It’s called reading between the lines. Right, Neo?” He winks at me, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“It sounded like love to me.”
Colden pinches my side. “Really? You’re siding with him?”
Arlo’s laughter rings out, filling the room with cheer. “See you tonight.” He strides out, calling to Bean, “Guess who’s Colden’s new BFF?”
“There will be no working with him now.” Colden pinches his lips together, but the shaking of his shoulders gives away his humor. He grasps my hand and tugs me to the couch. “Time to call Dack.”
“You’re ready?” I tuck my legs to the side.
He opens his laptop and sets it on the coffee table. “No.”
I tighten my stomach, but it doesn’t help. The hit is hard. Biting down on my lip to keep the sting behind my eye at bay doesn’t help either. I know Colden is terrified of losing Dacker. But I also know that Dacker would do anything for his friend, just as he would for me. “It’s fine. We can see where this goes before talking to him.”
“I thought you already gave your heart to me? Isn’t that what you said yesterday?” He joins me on the couch and sits so close, the heat of his skin soaks through my t-shirt. Forehead pressed to my forehead, I breathe in the mint and coffee of his breath. “I have your heart, and you have mine.”
“Yeah?” I trail my fingers up the back of his neck. My constricted stomach relaxes and flutters.
His lips touch my temple. “Yeah. Just promise me you’ll keep it.”
“Forever.”
Another kiss. “I like the sound of that.”
He presses call and my brother’s face comes into view after one ring. “Is he okay?”
An indistinct murmur and the clank of glasses grow quieter as my brother moves through the bar to his office.
Colden shifts his phone and I wave. “Hey Dack.”
In between kisses and orgasms in bed last night, Colden and I agreed it was probably better to keep the second abduction to ourselves. Dacker was a nervous wreck as it was, and it didn’t seem wise to add to his worry.
“Where are you?” He leans forward like he will somehow be able to see more. “Are we on a secure line?”
“SPAM caught the bad guys.” I hold my hands up. “Everything’s good now.”
His head drops back, and he stares at the ceiling. His chest rises and falls, and when he brings his gaze back to us, his eyes have a glassy sheen. “Thank god.”
“We’ll keep the agent in Boston in place, just as a precaution.” Colden’s big hand covers my knee and in his frosty touch, I feel cared for and supported. He clears his throat. “But there’s something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
My brother squints his eyes. “Are you okay, Cold?”
Colden smiles at me, and in it I see our future. “I’ve never been better.” He clears his throat again. “I… The thing is…” He swallows, then licks his lips. “What I wanted to tell you is…” The hand on my knee tightens. “I’m in love with Neo.”
“You are?” Dack and I say at the same time.
Colden’s head spins, so he’s looking at me. “Yes? I thought you knew.”
“How would I know if you never told me?” My skin tingling, I clutch at his hand on my knee. He loves me. Loves. Me.
Dacker raises his hand. “I knew.”
Colden’s head spins back to Dacker. “Since when?”
“Since you booked it out of town after Neo’s twenty-first birthday.”
Colden glares at my brother. “And you never said anything?”
“Neither did you.” Dacker glares back. “I figured you needed space to work it out in your head. I just didn’t realize it would take so long.”
“Can we go back, please?” I slap Colden’s chest with the back of my hand.
“Hey.” He captures my hand in his and presses it to his chest, over his heart. “Go back to what?”
“To you being in love with me. You told my brother before you told me.” I try for an indignant tone, but I’m still so over the moon amazingly happy he loves me that I fall short and my words tumble out with quiet wonder.
“You can read between the lines for Arlo, but can’t figure out I love you?” He grips my chin, his thumb tracing the fading bruise. “I just told you I gave you my heart. Asked you to keep it. Forever .” He kisses me with all his indignation.
Laughter bubbles up, my chest, light but so full. Full of love for this ridiculous man. I pull away. “I love you too. In case it wasn’t clear.”
“As happy as I am that you two have finally figured it out, please don’t make out if front of me.” Dacker shivers and makes a gagging sound. “There are some things a person doesn’t want to think about his brother and best friend doing.”
“Then you better end this call,” Colden says against my lips, his grin as wide as mine.
“Talk to you tomorrow morning.” He pauses for a beat. “You’re the only person I trust with my brother’s heart, Cold.”
Colden laces our fingers together. “I’ll spend my life trying to be deserving of that trust.”
“You already are. Love you, both.”
When Dacker’s gone, Colden pulls me onto his lap, and I straddle him. Coffee-colored eyes shine with happiness. His hands clamp on my waist, then slide back down, as if he’s making sure I’m real. “I’m a lucky man.”
He looks at me with such awe; I feel dizzy with happiness. “You, Colden Frias,” I press my finger into his chest and wiggle it. “You are a remarkable man. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life reminding you of it.”
“I can’t wait.” His smile bursts free, lighting up his face. Engulfing me in his hold, he presses the sweetest kiss to my temple.
And I know everything that has led us to this point was worth it.