Chapter Twenty-Eight
Garett
Garett woke up early, the first light of dawn filtering through the curtains. He glanced over at Torin, who was still asleep, his face pale and drawn even in rest. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on Garett’s mind, and he knew Torin needed a break—a day away from the ranch, from Dante, from everything. Quietly, he slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Torin, and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
As he started breakfast, Garett pulled out his phone and sent a message to Colton.
Garett: Torin’s had a rough time. He needs a friend today. Can he spend the day with Henry? He didn’t have to wait long for a reply.
Colton: Of course. Bring him over whenever. It will be good for Henry too.
Garett felt a small measure of relief. Torin could use some time away from the tension of the ranch and he could use some time to figure things out too.
By the time Torin came downstairs, Garett had a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast waiting for him. Torin’s eyes were red and puffy, his face still shadowed with exhaustion. He looked like he hadn’t slept much, and Garett’s chest tightened at the sight. He hated seeing Torin like this—hated knowing how much pain he was in.
“Morning,” Garett said, keeping his tone light as he set the plate on the table. “Sit. Eat.”
Torin nodded silently, sliding into a chair and picking at the food. Garett sat across from him, sipping his coffee and watching him carefully. He didn’t want to push, but he needed to make sure Torin was okay—or as okay as he could be, given the circumstances.
“I talked to Colton,” Garett said after a moment. “Henry’s expecting you today. You’ll spend the day with him, get your mind off things. Sound good?”
Torin looked up, his expression hesitant. “Yeah. That sounds…good.”
Garett nodded, his tone gentle but firm. “There’s one thing, though. I need you to promise me you won’t see or talk to Byron. Not today, not without talking to me first. Can you do that?”
Torin’s gaze dropped to his plate, but he nodded. “I promise.”
Garett reached across the table, placing a hand over Torin’s. “Good. I’ll drop you off at Henry’s, and I’ll pick you up later, okay?”
Torin nodded again, and they finished breakfast in relative silence. Garett kept the conversation light, avoiding any mention of Dante or Byron or the mess they were in. He didn’t want to add to Torin’s stress, not when he was already fragile.
Once they were done, Garett drove Torin to Colton’s place, making sure he was settled before heading back to the ranch. His next stop was Dante’s office. He knocked once before pushing the door open, not waiting for an invitation. Dante was seated at his desk, his expression unreadable as he looked up.
“Byron’s in town,” Garett said without preamble, his voice firm. “And I don’t want you touching Torin. Not now, not ever. And I never want you to slap him again. It wasn’t your place to lay a hand on him, Dante. Not ever.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, his tone icy. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Garett. Torin disrespected me, and he needs to face the consequences. If I decide to discipline him, that’s my right.”
Garett took a step closer, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “No, it’s not. Torin’s not your sub. He’s not mine, either. You don’t get to punish him for something that was a mistake. And if you ever touch him again—if you so much as raise a hand to him—I’ll make sure you regret it. I’ll leave this ranch, and I’ll take Torin with me. You’ll lose us both.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Dante stared at Garett, his expression hard, but Garett didn’t back down. He couldn’t. Not when Torin’s safety was on the line.
“You’re threatening me now?” Dante said, his voice low and dangerous. “After all these years, you’d throw away our friendship over some kid?”
Garett’s jaw tightened, his gaze unwavering. “This isn’t about friendship, Dante. This is about right and wrong. You don’t get to hurt people just because you’re in charge. And if you think I’m going to stand by and let you treat Torin like that, you’re mistaken.”
Dante’s lips curled into a stiff smile, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—reluctance, maybe even respect. “Fine. I won’t touch him. But you need to call Liam. He needs to know what’s going on with you and Torin. I don’t think he’ll be impressed by hearing any BDSM details.”
Garett nodded, though the idea of involving Liam didn’t sit well with him. “I’ll call him. But remember what I said, Dante. Torin’s off-limits. If you touch him again, we’re done here.”
Dante didn’t respond, but the look in his eyes was enough. Garett turned and walked out, his mind racing as he headed back to his truck. He didn’t trust Dante, not completely, but for now, he’d done what he could to protect Torin. The next step was calling Liam, and Garett wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. But he’d do it—for Torin. He’d do whatever it took to keep him safe. First he had to call the club before he calls Liam.
“Hey, Jace. I’m not going to be working on the weekends for a month or so until I get things at home taken care of with Torin.”
“I heard you and Dante had a fallout over Torin.”
“That’s an understatement. I want to teach Torin about the BDSM lifestyle. I can’t be touching other men during his training. He has to feel safe and trust me.”
“I hate to lose you, but Mason asked about getting some time. So, we’ll be okay.”
“I’d like to come in a few nights with Torin.”
“Is he your sub?”
“Not yet. He’s new to the lifestyle, but we’ll be exploring different aspects to see if that feels comfortable for him.”
“Remember to book Torin’s collaring two weeks in advance when the time comes.”
“Thanks.” Garett ended the call.
Garett walked into his office, the weight of the impending conversation heavy on his shoulders. He didn’t want to make this call, but he knew he had to. Torin’s safety and well-being were at stake, and Liam deserved to know what was going on. He sat down at his desk, pulling open the drawer where he kept Torin’s file. Flipping through the pages, he found Liam’s contact information and stared at the number for a long moment before finally dialing.
The phone rang twice before a deep, cautious voice answered. “Judge O’Connor speaking.”
Garett took a deep breath. “I’m Garett Barnes from Carrillo Ranch. I’m calling about Torin.”
There was a brief pause on the other end, and then Liam’s tone shifted, concern was evident. “Is Torin okay?”
“He’s fine,” Garett said quickly, not wanting to alarm him. “But there’s been…a situation. Torin had a misunderstanding with Dante. Torin was disrespectful, and Dante didn’t take it well. I wanted to let you know what’s going on.”
Liam’s voice tightened. “Disrespectful how? What happened?”
Garett hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Torin made a comment to another ranch hand about being my sub. It was a misunderstanding—he wasn’t serious, but Dante overheard and took it the wrong way. Dante confronted him, and things escalated. Torin’s shaken up, but he’s safe. He’s under my protection.”
Liam was silent for a moment, and Garett could almost hear him processing the information. “Is Torin in good standing with Dante now? Are they on okay terms?”
“For now,” Garett said, his tone firm. “I’ve made it clear to Dante that Torin is off-limits. He’s not to touch him or discipline him. Torin lives with me, and I’ll make sure he’s safe.”
Liam let out a slow breath. “And you’re sure he’s safe with you?”
“Yes,” Garett said without hesitation. “I’d never let anything happen to him. But there’s something else you should know. Byron’s in town. He reached out to Torin, and I told him to stay away. I don’t trust him, and I don’t want Torin anywhere near him.”
Liam’s voice turned sharp, a note of anger creeping in. “Byron? That man is poison. He almost got Torin sent to prison, did you know that? He’s manipulative, dangerous, and he doesn’t care who he hurts. If he’s sniffing around Torin again, you need to keep him as far away as possible.”
“I already have,” Garett said firmly. “I’ve forbidden Torin from seeing him or contacting him. Byron will not be a problem.”
“My brother is constantly getting into trouble, so I’m not surprised he was disrespectful to Dante. I thought the ranch would be safe for him because it’s gay friendly and far away from Byron. Dante promised me he would have limited contact with Torin. I don’t want Torin around mob bosses.”
“Dante has limited contact with Torin, and I will make sure it stays that way.” Liam seemed to relax slightly, but his tone was still cautious.
“We share the same thoughts about Torin. But there’s something else I need you to know. You said Torin made a comment about being your sub. What’s going on between you two?”
Garett hesitated, then was upfront. “That’s actually the main reason I’m calling. Torin and I…we’re in a relationship. I wanted you to know because I care about him, and I want to be transparent with you because you are his family. I know you are very important to him.”
There was a long pause on the other end, and for a moment, Garett wondered if Liam had hung up. But then Liam spoke, his tone measured. “I like to meet the men my brother dates. It’s important to me to know who’s in his life. But…Dante mentioned you once. He said you were one of the best men he’s ever worked with. That counts for something.”
Garett nodded, even though Liam couldn’t see him. “I appreciate that. But there’s something else I need to disclose. I’m a Dom in the BDSM lifestyle. Torin isn’t in the lifestyle, and I’m not pushing him into it. But I wanted you to know because it’s part of who I am, and I believe in being honest.”
To Garett’s surprise, Liam didn’t sound shocked. “Torin’s always been curious about the different aspects of his identity. He’s tried different things over the years, so I’m not entirely surprised. But I need to ask you something, Garett. Have you ever been in trouble with the law? Or are you involved in any of Dante’s…less legal business?”
“No,” Garett said firmly. “Dante and I go way back, and I work at the guest house, but I’m not involved in anything illegal. My past is clean, and my focus is on keeping Torin safe and happy. I promise you, I’ll take care of him.”
Liam was quiet for a moment, then let out a slow breath. “Alright. I’ll trust you for now. But if anything happens to Torin—if he gets hurt, or if I find out you’re not who you say you are—I’ll come for you myself. Understood?”
“Understood,” Garett said, his voice steady. “I’d expect nothing less.”
The call ended, and Garett set the phone down, leaning back in his chair. He felt a strange mix of relief and unease. Liam’s approval—or at least his lack of outright disapproval—was a weight off his shoulders. But the conversation had also reminded him of how much was at stake. Torin’s safety, his trust, his future—it all rested on Garett’s shoulders now. And he was determined not to let him down.