Chapter Twelve
Jay’s muscles screamed from the way his arms were tightly bound behind his back.
His lip bled freely. Jay was pretty certain he had at least two broken ribs—again.
He saw red to the point that he was surprised he couldn’t berserker-rage his way through the ropes binding him.
The knowledge Crisp was out there seriously injured, or even possibly dead, had his blood pressure through the roof and his heart pounding.
If Crisp wasn’t okay, Jay had nothing to lose.
They should just kill him now. Jay had no clue who these people were or what they wanted.
None of that mattered. Before the end of the night, the four of them would go out together.
Jay kept eyeing the three men who paced, smoked, and talked in low voices.
At one point, they argued over whether they should make a call.
Then they had fought some more over whether he was even worth it.
Jay had no fucking clue what was happening.
All Jay knew was one of them was the grease stain who had dared to flirt with Crisp.
He wanted to say no one was crazy enough to go this far over being rejected in a nightclub, but he knew better.
People ended up dead all the time for that very reason.
How very fucking ironic, though. That very nightclub was where he met Scout and headed down the road to end up with Crisp.
Now he would likely die leaving the same spot after everything Crisp had done to save him.
Finally, Mike—or whoever he really was—strolled his way.
“You know, I almost didn’t recognize you under all them scars.
” He had a deep Irish accent that he definitely hadn’t had earlier in the night.
That couldn’t be good. The only people Jay knew who hid their accents behind a practiced American one were people like him.
It didn’t matter Mike was Irish. Spy programs operated all over the world.
“Someone really did a number on you. Or did you end up mangled in a car accident or something?” He didn’t wait for Jay to answer.
Mike had to know he wouldn’t. “Nah. I wager it was someone. Torture scars are pretty easy to spot. When you’re meant to be a pretty boy, they always take your looks first. I’m assuming whoever got ahold of you underestimated you.
They didn’t realize you couldn’t give two fucks about being featured in next spring’s lingerie catalog. ”
He grabbed a folding chair and moved it to face Jay. Mike sat. To Jay’s delight, he was bleeding too. He hadn’t gotten out of abducting Jay unscathed. “Who do you reckon will give more money for you? Your loaded boy toy or the Russian government.”
Money. He fought not to roll his eyes. All of this was about money.
Jay snorted. “The Russian government has no use for me. I’ve been decommissioned.
Why else would I look like this now?” There was no reason not to be honest. The guy obviously knew all about him.
But he didn’t know Crisp, and Jay had to keep it that way.
“I don’t know how you expect to get money out of a man you just killed with your car. ”
Whatever he did, Jay couldn’t let these men know how important Crisp was to him.
Neither could he let Mike inform the Russians he still lived.
He would be stuck running for the rest of his life.
Crisp would be stuck running. “The only thing the Russians will do is send a team to wipe you from the planet.”
A guy who stayed as far away as possible chimed in. “See? That’s what I said. Russians ain’t got no use for him now he don’t have his looks. All they’ll do is kill us for knowing too much.”
Mike snorted. It was an ugly sound. “First off, your man is fine. I made sure I didn’t actually kill him.” Mike glanced over his shoulder. “As for the Russians, can’t nobody kill me.”
Oh, Jay would. That was a promise.
Mike focused on him again. “Let’s talk about your man.
” Jay ground his back teeth, letting the rage continue to grow as Mike kept talking his way toward the grave.
“Four-hundred-thousand-dollar watch. Hundred-thousand-dollar suit. Half a million-dollar car. No way a decommissioned nobody has that kind of cash lying around. So who is he?”
An evil smile stretched Jay’s lips. He knew his next words might get him killed, but he needed Mike to know he would go down with him.
Even if Bosi had no care for what happened to Jay, he did seem to have a soft spot for the Agafonov brothers.
Pride alone wouldn’t allow Beau to let this insult stand.
Plus, a movement in the shadows proved Jay knew something they didn’t.
A loud series of bangs stopped Jay from revealing anything. It sounded like someone kicked the metal garage door in the pattern of a knock.
The men exchanged confused glances as they pulled guns from their holsters and moved closer to the door next to the garage entryway.
Mike motioned toward the door with his gun. “Find out who’s out there.”
A giant red-haired lackey peeked through the small glass window of the metal warehouse door. He turned, looking baffled. “It’s some kid or small guy or something like that in bunny pajamas.”
Jay nearly cackled. He didn’t know who it was. It definitely wasn’t Kylo. Beau would kill Jay himself first. However, this definitely sounded like some Bosi bullshit. They were very much a household of daddies.
Mike moved closer to his buddies. “Open it and do a quick sweep. I’ll deal with the rodent.”
Mike’s problem—beyond being monumentally stupid—was he had no clue who he was up against. He thought Jay had been cut loose by his government and landed some ultra-wealthy guy. Mike was already as good as dead, and he didn’t even know it.
Jay relaxed and crossed his feet at the ankles, settling in for the show.
Mike’s two goons opened the door side by side. The red-haired guy immediately slipped outside while the blond intercepted their visitor.
The bunny leaned sideways and waved at Jay.
He straightened and held out a car-shaped backpack.
“I’ve come to buy back my friend.” He shoved the bag toward the man who blocked his way and then easily skipped past him.
The bunny was Cairo. Jay had met him a few times.
He was married to one of Beau’s many personal guards.
Jay had known he was a Little, but he had only seen Cairo play the part of more of a middle.
This was the first time he had seen Cairo like this.
He was adorable with his curls poking out from beneath the hood and his big eyes looking in every direction.
Cairo bounced from spot to spot, checking out the place like a kid high on sugar. “This is a really dirty place. Do you live here? You should count the money. I don’t know how much is in there. I just emptied my piggy bank and hurried right over.”
Mike turned into the same snake he had been in the bar toward Crisp. “Hey there. What’s your name?”
Cairo stopped bouncing, but he didn’t stay still. He stood with his legs braced wide while moving his hips from side to side like a little kid with too much energy. “I am a bunny, silly. Bunnies don’t have names. Unless they’re a pet, and then I guess they’re named whatever you want to name me.”
Mike moved to hover over him. He stared down at Cairo, looking like the predator he likely was. Mike motioned toward the door. “Leave that bag. Go join Eddie outside.”
Jay cocked his head. Was this guy really about to try to fuck Cairo?
“Surely you’re already someone’s pet. You look way too well cared for to survive in the wild.” Mike was obviously enamored.
Apparently, Cairo was extremely good at this game.
Mike never saw Crisp coming. In a single quick movement, he sliced Mike’s throat.
Blood splashed the rabbit outfit. Cairo didn’t even flinch.
Mike dropped, grasping at his throat. Crisp stared down at Mike with no emotion marring his features. “His name is Killer. Killer the Bunny.”
Cairo giggled as if there wasn’t a man bleeding on the footsies of his pajamas and sticking to his fur. “I like that name.” He threw some wild punches through the air. “Yeah.” He shuffled his feet back and forth as he swung. “I’m a killer bunny.”
Cairo’s husband was in the building like a shot of lightning. He patted Cairo down like he was scared as hell the blood was his. Jay didn’t blame him. He would be the same in his position. Obviously, he had married a spitfire, though. Cairo was more than fine. He was totally unbothered.
The ropes loosened on Jay’s arms. He didn’t even look to see who freed him.
All he saw was his beautiful husband walking toward him.
His eye was swollen shut. The entire left side of his face was a massive bruise.
Jay’s heart squeezed. His ribs screamed as he pushed to his feet and opened his arms to Crisp.
“Jesus, baby. Are you okay? I’m so sorry you got hurt because of me.” He kissed the top of Crisp’s head as he squeezed him tighter against his chest. Fuck his broken ribs. All he felt was the man he loved.
Crisp sniffed, making Jay realize he cried. “Stop talking nonsense. I’m already pissed.”
A smile exploded across Jay’s lips, reopening the cut. Damn, it was worth it. He was the luckiest fucking bastard on the planet.
“All threats neutralized. Beau is sending a clean-up crew, so we’re cleared to leave.”
Jay looked around at the statement. All Crisp’s brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, holding their masks. He didn’t see any animosity staring back at him. Jay saw only sadness.
“I missed some stuff, eh?”
A watery chuckle sounded against his chest. Crisp was the only one who laughed.
Tracker cleared his throat, breaking the growing silence. “Let’s go home. You two get cleaned up. Then we’ll meet back in the living room. It’s obviously beyond time we had a family meeting.” He walked away sounding and looking upset.