Chapter 27
Flynn
“You’re getting an early start.”
Holden’s voice took me by surprise, and I jumped, which jammed my knuckles into the undercarriage of the SUV above me.
“Ow! Fuck.”
It was barely 7:00 a.m., and usually, the guys were a little slower to start their day. I’d come in early because I wanted to get shit done and get out early enough for a nice, long phone call with Bailey this evening.
Maybe even another one of those hot video calls we’d done.
He’d only been gone a couple of days, but I missed the hell out of him.
I was secretly really glad he’d decided to quit college after the end of the semester.
I wasn’t sure how I’d survive three more years of this torture.
I’d do it if it was what Bailey wanted, but I was thrilled I wouldn’t have to.
I shook out my sore knuckles. “Do you have to sneak up on me?”
“Why so jumpy?” Gray said with a smirk. “You fucking our brother or something?”
I glared at him as I wiped my hands on a rag. “That stopped being funny two days ago.”
“Nah, it’s got another few weeks of life left. Just wait till Bailey is home for the weekend. Then we’ll really have some fun.”
Even Holden—Mr. Uptight himself—laughed. “Yeah, you’re in for some good times. You’re lucky Axel isn’t over here to give you hell.”
“Axel likes me,” I protested.
“We all like you. That’s why we gotta bust your balls,” Gray said.
“But seriously, why are you working so early?” Holden asked. “I thought we made it clear you’d earned your job. You don’t have to keep trying to impress us.”
“Even though I’m fucking your brother?”
They both stared at me. I winced. “What? You just said it.”
“Lands different when we make the joke,” Gray said.
Holden nodded. “Too soon for you to be laughing about it. You better be head over heels in love with him, or we’re gonna have beef.”
I raised my hands. “I’m one hundred percent gone for him. That’s a promise.”
“Good. I don’t feel like trying to find a new mechanic. Of course, if Bailey comes back, maybe I wouldn’t have to.” Holden cast a look at Gray. “What do you think?”
Gray grinned. “I think you better ease up before you give Flynn a heart attack.”
Holden considered me. “He is looking a little gray.”
“Man, fuck you guys,” I said. “Is this how it’s always gonna be?”
“Get used to it,” Gray said with a chuckle. “The trash talking has hardly begun.”
“Great,” I grumbled, even though I couldn’t hide my smile.
I’d seen the guys give each other hell for months.
They were always a little more professional with me, a little more distant.
I wasn’t sure how they’d handle me dating Bailey, but it seemed once they got over the shock, they’d decided I was just another brother in need of some tough love.
Their acceptance made me wonder if maybe they’d be cool when I told them about my manslaughter conviction. I hoped so, but they were protective of Bailey, so it could go either way.
Just tell them and find out. Better to have it all be in the open.
Holden started toward his office, and the words burst from me. “Hey, uh, about me dating Bailey.”
He paused. “Yeah?”
“I know my time in prison probably gave you some concerns.”
Holden crossed his arms and leaned back against the rolling toolbox near his office door. “Bailey’s still young, Flynn. It was nothing against you.”
“The brat is gonna love who he loves,” Gray said. “We’ve got no say in that, and we shouldn’t.” He cast a pointed look Holden’s way. “Right?”
Holden sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I overreacted at first. I get it. But Bailey was in jail, and they sprung this shit on me, along with Bailey not wanting to continue with school. You gotta give a guy a chance to process.”
“It was a lot to take in that night.” I took a big breath. “That’s why I… Well, I didn’t want to get into the whole con thing with you on top of everything else.”
“We get it, Flynn,” Gray said. “Don’t worry about it.”
He didn’t get it. Not yet.
I licked my lips. “I made mistakes that put me in there, and I should own up to that.”
“We’ve all made mistakes,” Gray said. “Hell, I ran away from home and took way too long to come back. Axel was pissed as hell at me for a long time. We hired you, and we hired Matteo before you, because we believe in second chances.”
Holden nodded. “You did your time. Just don’t put that baggage on Bailey. That’s all I ask. He came through a childhood in foster care without any real damage. He’s lived with our trauma. I just don’t want to add any more weight on his shoulders.”
My chest went tight. I’d already put my baggage on him, hadn’t I? I’d told Bailey what I did. Let him offer me absolution when maybe I didn’t really deserve it.
How could I be with Bailey, be open and honest with him, if I tried to keep that part of myself from him?
The guys were all for second chances, but I was the last guy they’d really want for their brother if they knew everything.
Going to prison changed me. It sharpened all my edges.
There were things I had to do there that still haunted my nightmares, and I wasn’t one of the truly awful ones.
I was big enough that most men wouldn’t fuck with me, which allowed me to avoid a lot of the gang fuckery in there.
But damn, the things I’d seen had cast a permanent shadow over me. Was it too selfish to keep Bailey, knowing I might dim his light?
A sharp bark cut across my thoughts. Holden and Gray turned toward the open garage door as Loki trotted inside.
Axel was right behind the German shepherd, his rottweiler, Sugar, at his side. She looked around, alert, sniffing the air.
Taz, the Chihuahua, ran in behind as quickly as his short legs would carry him, panting and quivering.
There was a tension among the dogs that put me on my guard. I bent down to scoop up Taz with one hand.
“What happened?”
Holden and Gray both gave me a surprised look, but Axel tipped his head. “Had a break-in attempt this morning. Sugar ran them off, but not before they cut a chunk out of our fencing.” He curled one hand into a fist and cracked his knuckles. “Wish I’d been awake to catch that bastard.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you call me?” Holden demanded.
“Dalton was there. He called it in and took down a report. Made it all official. I just got away.”
“You should have let us know,” Gray said. “We’d have been there first thing.”
Axel threw up his hands. “So you could do what, man? The perp was gone. Sugar made sure of that.” He patted her head. “She was a good guard dog. I only wish she’d gotten a chunk of his hide while she was at it.”
“Not like it’s a big mystery who it was,” I said. “I’m sorry, guys. This is on me.”
“It’s not your fault,” Axel said. “The junkyard is always a theft risk. We’re used to that. It’s why I like having the dogs out there with me.”
“But we know who this fucker is,” I said. “He’s targeting the place because of me.”
“Nah, I think he’s targeting you because of the place,” Gray said. “He thought you’d get him in. You didn’t. So here we are.”
“It doesn’t really matter why he tried,” Holden said. “We’ve got to take precautions.”
“I’ve been staying there every night,” Axel said. “Dalton made the report, but without seeing the guy…”
“Exactly,” Holden said. “We should get some surveillance cameras up. Make sure we see him coming next time.”
Gray nodded. “That’s a good idea. I’m not super busy today. I could make a run into town and see what I can find.”
“I’ll go too,” Axel said. “I need some wire to repair the fencing.”
“Thanks,” Holden said. “Just bring me the invoices, and I’ll reimburse you out of the business account.”
Gray headed out, Axel tagging along, and all the dogs went with them. The office phone rang, and Holden went to answer it.
My chance to confess had slipped by, and I was relieved. Because for at least one more day, the brothers wouldn’t hate me.
I returned to the brake job, throwing all my focus into it so that I wouldn’t have to think about the truth the brothers still didn’t know—and whether I’d ruin the best parts of Bailey if I let him share the burden of my mistakes.
By the time I got home that night, I wasn’t in the best mood. I’d let Holden’s words eat at me all day. When Bailey called, I almost didn’t answer.
But I couldn’t resist the siren call of all that sweetness and light. I picked up the video call.
Bailey was propped in his bed, a pillow behind him, in a tight black tank top. I could see the points of his nipples through the fabric. His hair was messy, as if he’d been lying on it, and the whole picture was getting me hard.
Fuck. How was I supposed to resist this?
“Hey, babe,” he said. “How was your day?”
“Okay,” I said.
The corners of his lips tilted up. “You sure? You seem a little down.”
“I guess it wasn’t the best day.”
“Same here,” he said. “I miss you.”
It hit me then, just how damn much I longed for him. The fact I’d even entertained the thought of giving him up seemed ludicrous.
“Me too,” I rasped. “You have no idea how damn much I need you right now.”
Bailey cast a look to the side and smirked. A second later, the door shut none too gently. “My roommate’s afraid of getting a show.”
I chuckled. “Would you do that with him in the room?”
“Nah, but it’s tempting, because you look all broody and sexy tonight.”
“Is broody sexy? I didn’t know that.”
“On you, everything is sexy.”
I chuckled, my chest loosening. “Baby, I could say the same about you. What the hell are you doing with me, anyway?”
His eyes narrowed. “Why would you ask me that bullshit?”
“No reason,” I grumbled.
“This is my brothers, isn’t it? They giving you shit?”
“No, just… They’ve been great, honestly, but Holden said something today.”
“What?” Bailey asked, voice flat.
“He just said he didn’t want me to put my prison baggage on you, and I feel like I already have, and I don’t know, maybe I’m bad for you, you know? I’ve got all these ugly experiences tainting me.”
“Fuck that,” Bailey said, straightening up.
“You’re not a prisoner anymore. I know you went through a dark time.
I know it still probably hurts. I wish I could make that all go away, but I can’t, Flynn.
I can only tell you that I love you—all of you—every part.
And you wouldn’t be the Flynn I fell in love with if you didn’t have those experiences.
You would be a different Flynn. Maybe I’d have loved that guy too?
Probably. But I don’t know him. I know you. ”
Bailey’s eyes were bright, practically glowing. His cheeks flushed with color.
Damn, I was lucky.
Deserving or not, this man had decided I was worthy, and no one—not even me—was going to convince him otherwise.
“I love you,” I said. “I’m just afraid I’ll damage you.”
“Flynn, I grew up with a lot of damage all around me, and I came out just fine. If I could handle it at three, and eight, and fifteen, I can sure as fuck handle it now. Holden’s protective of me, but I’m not fragile.
I’m strong enough for you to lean on, okay?
I’m strong enough to fight for you. And if my brother doesn’t back off, I’m strong enough to kick his ass for you. ”
A laugh burst from me, because shit, I believed he would. Bailey was like Taz. He was smaller and often underestimated, but he was ready to tear apart anyone who fucked with him or those he loved.
“Are we done with this bullshit?” Bailey asked.
“Yeah, Bails. You set me straight.”
“Well, hopefully not too straight,” he said with a glint in his eye.
“Hell no. I wanna rip off that tank top and feast on your body.”
“About time,” he said, reaching for the hem of his shirt. “Thought you were gonna leave me with blue balls tonight.”
“Never,” I said, drinking in his slim, toned torso with greedy eyes. “Sorry for freaking out on you. I’m working on feeling like I deserve all this, but Bailey, you gotta know… I didn’t think I’d get to have something like this with someone like you.”
“Well, you’ve got me. Now, what are you going to do with me?”
“Keep you,” I answered with more conviction than ever.
If the brothers didn’t take my truth well, it would hurt. But I couldn’t second-guess this. Couldn’t do Bailey the disservice of running away. Not when our connection was so strong.
Not when, against all odds, he still wanted me, damaged or not.
I wasn’t a strong enough man to walk away, so I’d just have to be strong enough to be the man he deserved.
There was no other way.
I loved him too damn much.