25. Lex
LEX
“Mr. Hart,” Judy says over the phone. “The police are here to talk to you.”
I knew this would happen eventually.
Rory squirms in my lap. He’s been sitting there making a blanket for the last few hours while I’ve been working.
“Should I go?”
“No, rabbit.” I kiss his head and stop him from getting up. “Send them in,” I tell Judy. “It was bound to happen. Just follow my lead.”
“Talk with police a lot?” he teases, and I wink.
There’s a polite knock, and Mal answers the door before stepping back to his post.
“Mr. Hart.” Detective Markowski offers his hand but stops when he sees Rory sitting on my lap. In his defense, he recovers quickly. “Rory, it’s nice to see you too.”
“Rory?” Detective Risch asks.
“Hi, Becky,” Rory answers brightly.
“What are you doing here?” She’s very surprised.
Rory looks to me, and I nod.
“Lex, Mr. Hart, is my boyfriend.”
“Really? And how did you two meet?”
“His brother has handled a few medical issues for me in the past,” I answer coldly.
“And how long have you been dating?”
“He’s been keeping me company for the last week since Brendan went home to care for our sick mother.” Rory emphasizes that point. “One thing led to another, and here we are.”
“That’s odd because, as far as we know, Mr. Hart is straight,” Jason muses.
“I’m sure you’re not here to talk about my client’s sexuality,” Mal growls protectively. “So ask your questions and don’t waste his time.” Jason startles and turns to face him. “I’m Malcolm Hart. Lex’s brother and lawyer.”
“Detective Jason Markowski.” They shake hands, and I’m sure Mal crushes his. “Would you rather be alone while we ask our questions?” Jason looks pointedly at Rory.
“No.”
He waits for me to say more but then shrugs.
“Do you know Tanner Krohn or Mitchell Watts?”
“Yes.”
That startles Jason. He did not do his homework. “And how do you know these men?”
“I have business dealings with their parents.”
“What kind of business?”
“It differs.”
“Could you be more specific?”
“What does this have to do with this case?” Mal jumps in.
“I’m just trying to figure out who’s behind these attacks.”
“And his business dealings with these men’s parents are irrelevant.”
“Unless he attacked the boys to get revenge.”
“On their parents?” Mal scoffs. “Why?”
Jason shrugs. “Maybe the revenge wasn’t about the parents, but for Rory?”
“Then why ask about the parents?”
“He’s right,” Rebecca steps in, and Jason bristles but lets it go. “I’ll get right to the point. Mr. Hart, did you attack Tanner or Mitchell?”
“No.”
“Did you hire someone to attack Tanner or Mitchell?”
“No.”
“You understand how this looks, right?” Jason jumps back in and waves to me and Rory. “He’s sitting on your lap while you’re being interviewed by the police.”
“That’s not a crime. Hell, it’s not even public indecency,” Mal comments.
“No, but who better to get revenge for Rory than his boyfriend?”
“If you’re going to accuse him, present your evidence.”
“We’re not ready to accuse him of anything,” Rebecca cuts back in. “Would you be able to provide us with your alibis for these dates and times?” She hands me a piece of paper with dates on it.
Mal snatches the paper and crosses his arms. His glare says we are done with this interrogation. “We will.”
Jason wants to stand up to Mal, but Rebecca grabs his arm and thanks us for our time as they leave my office.
“Asshole,” Mal grumbles, and I turn on my camera feed to the lobby and elevator.
As soon as the doors shut, Jason snaps. “What the hell was that?”
“I was trying to stop you from getting charged with harassment.”
“Rory was literally sitting on the man’s lap.” He runs his fingers through his hair in frustration, and Rory laughs.
“He looks like a hedgehog.”
“That doesn’t prove anything, and I’m sure they have surveillance in the elevator, so you should watch what you say.”
“Hart’s obviously behind this.”
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “You can’t go making accusations without proof, and again, they are probably listening.”
“Fine. If you don’t think he did this, then who did?”
“We don’t have enough information yet. Let’s wait on his alibi, and we’ll go from there.”
“Even if he didn’t do it personally, I think he’s still behind—”
“Jesus. Shut up, Jason.”
“You’re just trying to protect Rory. You feel like you failed him after the first trial, and now, you’re going to look the other way in the face of the evidence,” he hisses.
Rebecca drops her head. “I’m sorry every day that I couldn’t get Rory justice.”
“It’s not your fault, Becky,” Rory whispers, and I kiss the top of his head.
“Look, I know you feel bad about that.” Jason’s voice is softer now. “But this is a new case, and we need to look at Rory and Hart as suspects.”
“And I am, but it’s not time to make accusations.”
“He’s trying too hard to make a name for himself.” Mal shakes his head, and I shrug.
Jason nods, and they exit the elevator in silence.
“Are you going to get into trouble?” Rory’s voice shakes, and Mal senses it’s time to leave the room.
“No, rabbit. They’ll never be able to touch any of us. I’ve got things in place to keep us safe.”
“I trust you, Daddy.”
Rory gets stronger and stronger every day.
When he first got here, he would hide at the sight of my men. But now he’s laughing along with them, and some of them even help with his training.
“Hiya, boss.” Bellen walks up next to me. I nod for him to continue. “A car kept driving around the North warehouse. I was able to get the plates for Liv.”
“Good. Any lead you find, you can take it. Just keep us updated.”
“Will do.”
The men gathered by Rory all laugh when he tries to punch Tag in the face. Mateo gets Rory a stool, and he’s still too short, so Rory twists Tag’s nipples, and I crack a smile when Tag screams like a girl.
“I’m glad most of the men get along with Rory. I wasn’t sure how some of them would take the news.”
“What news?” I growl because I know what he’s going to say.
“About you being gay.” He whispers the last word, but he’s quick to defend himself. “I mean, I don’t have a problem with it—”
“It sounds like you do.”
“Nah, boss. I get it. Rory’s a good—” My growl stops him dead in his tracks. “Right, sorry. I’m glad you have each other.” He takes a step back. “I should probably go.”
I let him stew for a moment.
“Not another word about my relationship.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Dismissed.” His words get me thinking, though. Do the men have a problem with me? “Mateo?”
He turns from where he’s watching Rory and runs over. “Yes, boss?”
“How have you been settling in?”
“Good. I’m grateful you gave me the chance to prove myself.”
“Mal says that you’ve been doing well.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Have the other guys been treating you well?”
“They accepted me right away.”
“You never felt like they were upset that you were with the Hellhounds?”
“No, sir.”
“Tell me honestly, what do the men say about Rory?”
“They all think he’s sweet, and he relaxes you. Which is good because they were all worried you were going to work yourself to death.”
“I’m not that bad,” I grumble.
“But seriously, none of the soldiers I’m with have issues with you being gay.”
“Was I being too obvious in my questioning?”
“No, sir.” His breath hitches just a bit. “It gave me the courage to come out too.”
I turn so I can see his reaction. “And the men have been good to you?” If not, I’ll kill those fucks.
“Yes, sir.” Mateo smiles, and the corner of my lip curls up.
“You let me know if you hear anything or have any trouble… with anyone,” I order.
“Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
Rory screams as Tag throws him over his shoulder and runs around the ring.
“Drop him, and I kill you,” I shout over the laughter, and Tag pretends to drop Rory who screams.
“Help me, Boss Daddy!”
I smile at the easy way Rory calls me Daddy and enter the ring to take back my boy.
“I’ll fight you for him.”
Tag takes one look at me and hurries to put Rory in my arms. “Here you go!”
“I saved you, rabbit.”
“My hero.” He swoons, and Mal shouts at the men to get back to work as we exit the ring.
“After that little setback, Mom is finally starting to feel better. I’m planning to come home early next week,” Brendan says.
“Really? That’s great!” Rory chirps. “But is she really getting better?”
“She is, but Dad is getting worse.” Brendan sighs. “He doesn’t want me to leave. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s worried about Mom or if he just doesn’t want to take care of her.”
“You’re damn right I don’t want you to leave. She’s your mother and she needs your help.” The asshole who I assume is Rory’s dad is screaming loudly in the background.
“Dad, don’t start.”
“Who are you talking to? Is it that faggot?”
I growl loudly, but Rory just curls into himself.
“I warned you about saying things like that while I’m here,” Brendan shouts.
“It’s true. He’s the biggest disappointment of my life.” I end the phone call and pull Rory even closer.
He’s crying softly now, and I want to kill his dad, but Rory doesn’t need my rage right now. He needs my love and comfort.
“Come on, rabbit.” I stand with him in my arms and walk over to the large office chair he’s claimed as his. The one he likes to nurse in if I leak after sex.
I open my shirt, and he quickly latches on. After letting him calm down for a few minutes, I speak softly.
“He’s wrong, rabbit.” Rory tenses. “You’re smart and caring and you see the good in people, but there’s none to be found in a man like that. Anyone who could treat their own child like that is a piece of shit.”
He smiles gently and moves to the other side. “You take such good care of me.”
Later that night, we’re lying in bed, and I’m just starting to doze off when Rory whispers, “Do you have any trouble with your parents?”
I scoff. “Not my father anymore.”
“Why? Was he mean to you? You’re manly and handsome, the perfect son.”
I don’t know if I want to tell Rory this story. “My dad was an abusive piece of shit.”
“No.” Rory gasps.
“He mostly hit my mom, but once we got older, I tried to shield her as much as I could.”
“No, Lex.” He’s crying softly as climbs onto me. “I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.”
“It’s okay.”
“What happened?”
Do I lie?
“I killed him.”
“What?”
“He was drunk one night and passed out in his truck. I drove him into the lake.” As far as I know, no one’s ever found him.
Not that anyone was looking for him. “Mom never asked any questions about where I went and what I was doing. She just bandaged my wounds and took care of Mal until she finally recovered enough to leave the house.”
“How old were you?”
“Thirteen.”
“Lex, that’s so young.”
“I know. Do you hate me now?” Mya never looked at me the same after she heard this story, but she still loved me.
“Of course not! That wasn’t cold-blooded murder. It was self-defense.”
I never thought about it that way.
“Thank you for caring about me.”
“Chad asked for a meeting,” Mal says as soon as Rory leaves the room with Tag to go get a snack.
I stand up like I’m ready to kill that fucker right now. I’m about to go and do it when the idea of fucking with him has me smiling and sitting down.
I’m going to take my time and torture the fuck out of him before I dump him in front of the local hospital.
Mal smiles. “I’ll set it up, then.”
I nod, but then I think about my sweet boy.
“Wait. Rory.” He won’t want to see Chad, and I’ve spent so much time with him recently that Rory will be suspicious if I send him away.
“I could set up more training, but I’m not going to leave you alone with that d-bag.”
“He’s been talking with Liv about going to get mani pedis,” I muse. “Text her the plan as soon as you get it set up.”
“Will do, boss.”
It takes everything in me to sit across from this man and not choke the life out of him. He touched what’s mine.
He hurt what’s mine, and now he wants to ask me for protection?
“What can I do for you?” I practically growl.
“Seriously? Have you not seen the news? People are dying and getting the shit kicked out of them, and I’m next. I just know it.”
“Why does this have anything to do with you?”
“Because all the people who are dying were involved in the trial I was in.”
“What trial?”
“Are you stupid or something?” His eyes widen. “I mean, I’m sorry. I know that you’re the smartest, most dangerous man in the city. I know you’re not stupid. I’m just so worked up.”
If I wasn’t already planning on fucking him up soon, I would fuck him up now. But I decide to wait him out.
“I was recently accused of raping some guy…” The pen in my hand snaps. “But I didn’t rape him or anything. It was—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I growl.
Chad pales so quickly. “Sorry, it’s been hard.”
Fuck, does this man want me to kill him? My eyes shoot to Mal, and he nods. He’ll keep me from killing him.
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to find the guys who are coming for me and stop them.” He sounds exasperated.
I stare at him for a moment and think about all the fun we’re going to have later. I think I might shove his dick up his ass and see how he likes getting fucked.
“I already know who’s coming for you.” My words are like ice, and it takes a few seconds before Chad catches my meaning.
When his eyes widen and he backs away from my desk, I can’t help myself. “I’ll see you around, Chad.”
“No, no!” He runs out the door and right into Mal’s large body. He shrieks and runs around him and down the stairs.
“Joke’s on him. We’re a hundred stories up.”
“I’m impressed with your restraint,” Numbers says. “I thought for sure you were going to kill him when he said he wasn’t a rapist.”
“Almost did, but seeing how scared he is, it just makes this so much better.”
“When are you going to go after him?” Mal asks.
“Follow him around for a week and make sure he sees us. Then I’ll pay him a visit.”
“Damn, boss. You’re really going for it. I like this cat-and-mouse shit.”
“Do you think he’ll run?” Numbers asks.
I shrug. “He won’t get far.”