Chapter Two
Whoa, boy. Clay was in trouble. Until three nights ago, Clay hadn’t thought there would ever be anything between Scout and him beyond the amazing friendship they had built.
Scout had been teaching Clay how to shoot the way he had learned in the spy program: fast and accurate.
It was a lot of fun. They had done a ton of laughing together.
But Scout hadn’t seemed to look at Clay in any sort of romantic light, as far as Clay could tell…
and then Scout had kissed him. Scout had been born into a Russian program that trained spies to be the perfect robots.
They had a special skill honed to flawless while also being taught how to fit in with any situation.
Scout didn’t talk about those days. Clay didn’t ask.
They simply enjoyed each other’s company.
Then Zeus kissed Clay first, bringing out all sorts of feelings, and Clay had gotten a little obsessed with the guy who was absolutely God’s favorite.
Zeus was sexy in every fucking way imaginable.
As hard as he tried not to, because there was no future there, Clay always found himself watching Zeus, hoping for something, anything to happen.
Scout busted him studying Zeus. That became the first and only time Clay heard Scout speak about the place they had been raised.
Not about his time in that hell, but Zeus’.
His words taught Clay a lesson more thoroughly than any rejection ever would.
Zeus hadn’t kissed him for any reason beyond that was just who he was.
If Clay fed the beast the program created, Zeus would bite, and Clay would get hurt.
Clay couldn’t say if the speech had actually deterred him in any way, but he knew now he had no real shot.
Except then Scout kissed him, and that move turned him on his head.
The last three nights, he hadn’t done much beyond thinking about the last few months they had spent together.
Now, Clay couldn’t stop picturing Scout walking toward their waiting plane.
His hips moved like a man’s who knew his worth.
They swayed with a swagger of confidence.
The muscles in Scout’s back—and there were a lot of them—had flexed as he put his shirt back on.
Clay still wanted to whimper at the loss of that sight.
He knew now exactly how Scout would look walking away from his bed.
That was what getting hurt would truly look like.
Clay understood the truth now. None of these men would ever be his.
Clay carefully scanned each room of Beau’s vacation home.
He was determined not to miss a single inch.
Clay wouldn’t have people getting hurt. This home was a lot more welcoming than the compound where they lived.
It was still massive, though. The place had been built especially for Beau’s husband, Kylo.
Kylo was sweet, wild, and everything Beau wasn’t.
Thankfully, Beau knew it and did everything he could to protect the amazing miracle he had been granted.
Kylo turned the hardened criminal’s life around.
He looked at Beau and saw a person no one else did.
It was kind of beautiful. Clay wouldn’t let any harm come to Kylo.
He was a huge blessing to their house. This property being for Kylo made it kind of fun to search.
The place had a kid’s playroom. Kylo was a Little, which was a lifestyle Clay didn’t understand, but he didn’t judge.
There was a dance studio. Kylo was a former ballet dancer.
Apparently, he had once been a professional, dancing in several huge productions, including a run on Broadway.
Kylo still loved to dance, and Beau encouraged him.
This entire house was a monument or some sort of playground just for Kylo.
Still, there had to be dozens of rooms to accommodate Beau’s army.
Safety came first, and Beau had trusted Clay to do this sweep.
That was a hell of an ego boost. While everyone always said Beau thought highly of him, Clay never put too much stock into it.
Beau could turn cold in a way Clay had never seen elsewhere. It was best just to stay in his lane.
Seven weeks in the tropics. He rubbed his hands together in his mind. An entire team would be here. Clay would get plenty of time off to get into trouble. Fabrice would be here too. They always found something fun to do.
“All the cameras are working fine.”
Clay nearly jumped out of his skin at Scout’s silent appearance. He spun.
Scout looked amused by his reaction.
Clay narrowed his eyes. When he thought of something to say, he would really tear into Scout for always startling him.
“Okay. Real talk.” Scout didn’t look the least bit contrite. “Why are you so jumpy around me all the sudden? You’ve also been avoiding me since that kiss. We’re supposed to be friends. I thought you understood I was only making a point.”
“Okay.” Clay’s response came out sounding as insulted as he was. That had been a real asshole thing to say.
Scout smiled. “For about the first ten seconds I’d been making a point. After that, it was because you’re sexy and I wanted to kiss you.”
Clay didn’t know if he was appeased or not. “Okay.”
Scout sighed like he couldn’t be more tired of anyone.
“There’s really no winning with you. You kissed me back—like this attraction goes both ways.
” He motioned between them. “Then you ran for your life and didn’t talk to me again until you had no choice.
Now your expression screams I’ve insulted you.
Fuck, dude. This is about to be a really uncomfortable week of working together if you don’t learn how to communicate. ”
A smile exploded across Clay’s face. “To be fair, Fabrice and I raised each other, so I really didn’t have anyone to teach me how to talk things out.”
Scout cocked his head. “Hmm.” He sounded stumped as he studied Clay. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll double-check the security system.” Scout walked away, leaving Clay even more perplexed. Scout being willing to communicate was super-hot. Maybe he was even more interested than he realized.
The news that Fabrice and Clay raised each other was a bit of a surprise. He hadn’t thought to ask about Clay’s past. All those nights of shooting lessons had been more playful than anything. Scout never pried because he didn’t want anyone poking into his past life. He had another option.
Scout shut himself in the security room and risked looking crazy by calling Tracker.
Tracker answered on the first ring, like he was scared something had happened. “Are you okay?”
Scout supposed he kind of deserved that. He only called Tracker when there was a problem on the job. Otherwise, the guy was right down the hall. He could walk to talk to him quicker than Scout could find his contact info in his phone.
“Yeah. I’m good. Sorry to scare you.”
“No, it’s good. I guess I’m feeling out of sorts with you being so far away. You know me. If it isn’t stressing me out, then I’m not controlling the situation.”
Scout chuckled. “At least you’re self-aware. I need a favor.”
Tracker didn’t let him down. “Shoot. I’m free and bored.”
Scout shook his head. Tracker wasn’t the best at doing nothing. The techie of their group had a big brain that needed stimulation. “Can you send a dossier on Clay? He said something today about his past that’s got me curious. You know me; I’m nosy.”
Tracker laughed. “Yeah. Me too. It just so happens I created a file for everyone living with Beau when we first arrived. I won’t take any chances with our family.”
“I figured you had things under control. You always do. You’re the real protector of our group.”
He heard Tracker clicking away on his computer. “That’s high praise coming from you.”
Scout got it. He was the eyes. The first line of defense and the last resort. It was Scout’s job to ensure they never walked into a trap. He was also the one who neutralized the problem if anyone slipped past all their defenses.
“Dossier sent.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll repay the favor anytime you like.”
Tracker snorted, and the call disconnected.
Scout chuckled as he moved to sit at the desk.
Scout turned his back to the room, facing the huge monitor with all the camera views.
If Clay checked, it would look like he still worked on the camera system.
He got comfortable and opened the file. The beginning was pretty standard stuff; still, Scout laughed when he saw Tracker had even included Clay’s height.
Tracker was definitely on top of everything.
Clay Bernardi.
That was very Italian and heightened Scout’s curiosity. Twenty-five.
“Damn.” His curse sounded shocked even to Scout’s ears. He had known Clay looked young, but that was still seven years younger than Scout.
Five-foot-eleven.
Scout nodded. He had figured as much. Clay was only slightly shorter than Scout’s six-one.
Born in Italy. Unknown parentage.
Whoa. Scout couldn’t believe even Tracker didn’t know Clay’s parents.
Brought to the U.S. at four years old by a sex-trafficking ring. Rescued by the Russian mob boss, Zander Kapra. His organization, The Kapra Foundation, named and re-homed Clay with Beau and Tabitha Bosi. Where he has lived since.
That explained the missing details. As good as Tracker was, Zander Kapra was not one to toy with. He likely had bots in place that triggered if anyone searched for details on anyone in his sphere.
“You know. Anything you wanted to know about me; you could’ve just asked. I thought you preferred communication.”
Scout startled so hard, he had to catch himself before he toppled from the chair. “Fuck!” He called himself under control. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
A small, humor-filled smile hovered on Clay’s lips.
“I’ll bet.” He grabbed a nearby rolling chair.
After pulling it to Scout’s side, he sat.
His hazel eyes held no animosity. All Scout saw was kindness.
“It’s not like I have some secret, shameful roots.
I’m also nowhere near the only rescue living at Beau’s.
Zander and he have a gentleman’s contract of sorts.
They work together, using their powerful positions to deter unwanted illegal activities. ”
Scout was all the way fascinated. “You said Fabrice and you raised each other. Is he a rescue as well?”
A sexy chuckle fell from Clay’s perfect lips, and goosebumps skittered across Scout’s skin. He was adorable. “No. He’s Pierre’s grandson.”
“The retired chef?”
Clay nodded. “It would probably take you weeks to find out where everyone is from and how they got there. I’m one of the lucky ones. I can’t remember anything about my life before Beau.”
Scout leaned closer. He realized something. Scout could talk to Clay all night. He kind of wanted to do that. “What was it like growing up in that home as a child who wasn’t his?”
Clay shrugged. “Not that I have anything to compare it to, but normal, I guess. Fabrice and I aren’t that much younger than Beau’s kids.
We had the same private tutor. The same nanny.
We played at Tabitha’s feet. Anytime she took Boone and Banks on vacation, she took us too.
She was an absolute treasure before the drugs and alcohol turned her into a stranger.
I watched the whole family mourn her while she was still alive.
There were several years when that house turned into a battlefield.
Then she passed, and things got even darker until Kylo. ”
Scout chuckled. “I’m sure that was a breath of fresh air.”
“It really was. Beau was never like a father figure or anything like that. Fabrice and I were kept completely away from the inner workings of the Bosi family until I started training for my current position. Not to say we were treated as outsiders or anything. Pierre is the one who’s always acted like my dad. ”
“So Fabrice is like a brother to you?”
“Exactly!”
Thank God. Scout had worried about that one.
Clay kept talking, unknowingly easing Scout’s fears of competing with someone who had been in Clay’s life for years.
“We used to fight like siblings, and I got punished the same as he did. In fact, Pierre used to ground us, but we were each other’s best friends, and we lived under the same roof.
What was he actually grounding us from?” Clay laughed as he spoke, and Scout couldn’t look away.
“I like you.”
They fell silent and held each other’s stare at Scout’s sudden admission.
He didn’t take it back. “Giving you those lessons has been one of my best decisions.” Scout purposely didn’t say if he meant as a friend or more. If all Clay wanted was friendship, Scout would take it.
Clay’s eyes always fascinated Scout. It was like his whole soul shone through them, and it was beautiful.
“I like you too.” Clay slapped his knees and stood.
“Well, I guess I need to get back to it. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want to sleep in a house that hasn’t been thoroughly secured. ”
“Agreed.” Scout stood too. He wouldn’t call Clay out for running again.
Scout saw him now. Clay hadn’t been mistreated.
In fact, he had been given a hell of a great life compared to where he would’ve ended up if Beau hadn’t taken him in.
But Clay hadn’t walked away with no issues.
It was in Scout’s DNA to read people. Clay feared the fuck out of rejection.
Despite his understanding that he was a rescue, and not a child of Beau’s, he still felt unworthy of love.
Scout totally got it. They were the same.
Scout doubted anyone could ever love someone like him.