Chapter 23 #2
“So, how are your parents, and Alyssa?” Our hands swung between us, partially just out of joy and partially for momentum to keep our hands warm since neither of us had thought to grab gloves. I kept my eyes open for a drug store or something that we could pop into and grab a couple pairs.
That had definitely been a miscalculation on my part. Bad Daddy.
Aiden rolled his eyes. “They’re fine. And they love you, which is annoying.”
“Sorry,” I said with a smirk. I’d never met a significant other’s parents before, mainly because I’d never had one, so I’d been nervous about them liking me, but I was happy that things seemed to be going well on that front.
Up ahead, there was a small shop where I knew we could get some hats and gloves, so I tugged him behind me and we made our way inside.
They were right by the door, so we quickly rooted through the options.
Aiden was always cold, so I should have anticipated that he would have needed to bundle up and I felt terrible for suggesting the walk when he didn’t have proper outer wear.
“I’m sorry I didn’t think of these earlier, little bird.” Guild ate away at me when I saw his trembling, red fingers struggling to grab the set he wanted.
“Here, let me.”
I had just worked the second glove onto his hand when a man came barreling up to me, red-faced.
Shit.
My arm went around Aiden to turn him away and guide him toward the register so I could pay and hopefully get out of the store before he would notice the man, or before he would get to us.
But I wasn’t so lucky. I’d only gotten us a few steps when I heard my name.
“Nathan Turner.”
I froze, caught between the past and my future. Twisting to look behind me, I gave the man behind me a cold stare. But Aiden gave him a curious look.
“Hmm. Still dating pretty boys, I see.”
Aiden bristled.
My hand on his shoulder tightened just the slightest bit. A warning to let me handle this. I could see him fighting between wanting to step in and intercede and also letting me handle my own shit.
As he should. Especially considering I was the Daddy here. It was my job to protect him. Not the other way around.
“What do you want?” My voice was cold and flat, not something I had hoped for Aiden to ever have to hear. But especially not this early in our relationship. Not when there was still so much he still had to learn about me.
And so much he never would.
“Oh, me? Nothing. Just doing a bit of shopping. And when I saw you, I thought I must absolutely say hello and introduce myself to your new friend.”
My eyes narrowed. There was no way he just happened to be in the same store as me, when I was with Aiden. Was there?
Aiden shifted uncomfortably from the tension. This was not how our date was supposed to go.
“Detective Colby Chase, Metro PD.” He extended his hand to Aiden, but I moved between them.
Snarling, I hissed, “Do not touch him.”
“Detective Aiden Cooper, Sheriff’s Department.” He reached around me and shook the asshole’s hand while shooting me a questioning look.
I wanted to rage at the way he disobeyed me and it forced me to swallow the lump in my throat.
Detective Chase looked surprised, glancing back and forth between Aiden and myself before he shook my little bird’s hand. Then the asshole had the gall to smirk.
“Keeping your friends close and all that, huh, Detective?” he said with a wink. “I’ll be seeing you around, Turner.”
With that, he walked out of the store.
Fucking asshole.
Aiden turned to me, a wary look on his face. “Nate, what the fuck was that?”
“Nothing to worry about.” I gritted my teeth and grabbed our stuff and walked to the register, ignoring his questions.
Fuck. Why the hell had Chase shown up when he did? What did he want?
Nothing good.
Aiden remained quiet, too quiet, all the way back to the car. Which, I shouldn’t have been surprised that when we left the store that was where he started walking. But a guy could hope.
My heart sank when we got there and he buckled himself, refusing to allow me to do anything for him.
Once I had the car started, he turned toward me again.
“Nate, why the fuck is a cop from the Metro PD threatening you.” His arms were crossed over his chest and he was in full detective mode, waiting to catch me in a lie. I was so fucked.
I shook my head. “That was barely a threat, little bird.”
“Don’t give me your bullshit, Nate. I asked a question and I want an answer.”
Glancing over at him, I shook my head. “It’s nothing like what you’re thinking. I promise.”
My head fell back against the headrest and I wondered how this was my life. The one cop in the city who wasn’t looking for me because of me being a serial killer had to be the one we ran into.
“Then tell me what it’s like.”
“I fucked his son, okay? We met at a bar last year and hooked up. Apparently, he didn’t know his kid was gay, or bi, or whatever. Somehow, it was my fault that he ended up at a gay bar before he even met me and that I went home with him.”
My hand came up and tugged at my hair as I looked over at Aiden, praying he believed me, considering it was the truth. But there were so many lies between us, I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.
“How did he find out?” His face had softened a little, but he was still reserving judgment against me.
I shrugged and gave a bitter laugh. “Fucking walked in while we were in the middle of having sex. Apparently, his dad had been trying to get ahold of him because of some family emergency, so he came over and let himself in. Neither of us heard him.”
Aiden’s shoulders relaxed. “I still don’t get how it’s your fault?”
“Join the club.” I rolled my eyes. “He said because I was older and bigger, not to mention the top, that I pressured his son into it.”
“That’s fucking bullshit.” Anger flashed in Aiden’s eyes, and it was nice to see him get mad in my defense. Even if I didn’t want him to have to defend me. But to know he believed me meant a lot.
I shrugged. “Yeah. He’s tried to make my life hell since.”
Honestly, I was surprised he hadn’t uncovered the fact I was a serial killer, with how much he seemed to be digging into my life.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” He looked so sad as I pulled him into my arms.
Fuck. If he was this emotional over some asshole going at me over sleeping with his son, I didn’t want to think about how much it would break him to find out that his Daddy was a serial killer.