Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
GABE
Nico’s words wrapped around my heart like a warm blanket. I’d had no idea how much I needed to hear that. He leaned his body against mine, and I felt him relax. I wanted to crow in triumph that he felt safe enough with me to do that.
Marco’s voice came up from the bottom of the stairs. “Get your asses down here. We have work to do.”
I rolled my eyes, and Nico chuckled. “He seems more intense than usual.”
“He wants to get home and fuck his boyfriend into the mattress.”
“I guess we better get down there then,” Nico said.
The whole team was there, with several large Wawa bags on the coffee table and end tables, lounging on my two large sofas, devouring breakfast sandwiches and breakfast bowls like they hadn’t already eaten on the plane coming back. I had to admit, it all smelled delicious. Nico’s stomach growled. “Hungry?”
He nodded. “My barbecue got stolen off the roof of my car last night. I haven’t eaten much since lunch yesterday.”
“Assholes!” Dante shouted. “Who steals a man’s barbecue?”
Liam stood and held out a bag to Nico. “Here, eat something. You’re recovering from an injury.”
“Thanks,” he said, taking the bag. I shooed Dante and Pete off one of the sofas and settled Nico in their place while I sat beside him with my own breakfast. They grumbled and went to grab chairs from the kitchen.
“So, what have you got?” I asked.
Michael, who had already gotten himself a chair and a tray table from the kitchen, clicked a few buttons on his laptop. “Deshawn got a lot of information for us overnight. They just found Vincent Wilson guilty, which is probably why they went after Nico. Vincent was the second in command of this little gang.”
“Who’s in charge?” I asked.
“His name is Bobby Kendrick,” Michael said. “Forty-two years old. Wife and two kids. Boys ages ten and fourteen. Grew up in the Bronx. He was a gang banger even as a kid. He left the Bronx right after high school and moved into Greenwich Village. Worked his way up in the current gang he’s running. It’s rumored he was the one who took out the old leader.”
“I want to know how they found out where Nico was living,” I snapped. “That information shouldn’t be available.”
Michael frowned. “Sadly, that information is easy to come by with an internet search. It’s also possible they have someone in the precinct giving them information.”
“Motherfucker,” I muttered. “I’ll go there myself and root out the mole.”
Nico placed a comforting hand on my arm. “Easy there, sailor. I trust Michael to figure it out.”
Michael smirked at me. “Thank you, Nico.”
“But I’d like to know how they knew about Cody,” Nico said.
“That one is more of a mystery,” Michael admitted. “They might have done some asking around. Has he been here recently?”
Nico nodded. “He was here yesterday. I picked him up from preschool because Zach had to work late.”
“They were probably watching the house,” Marco said. “How else would they have known you were getting barbecue?”
I shook my head. “I don’t get it. If they were watching the house, why would they wait to attack you in public?”
Nico frowned thoughtfully. “No idea. It doesn’t make…” He paused in mid-sentence. “Did you know Janice’s great-nephew is an Asbury Park cop?”
I was completely confused. “No. What has that got to do with anything?”
“He was over there with her last night,” Nico said. “She fell and had to go to the ER. He was bringing her home as I was going out to get my dinner.”
“And they wouldn’t want to jump you when there was a cop around,” I finished.
“Makes sense,” Marco said.
“You know,” Nico added, “I think I saw one of them when I was leaving. He walked right behind the car as I pulled out of the driveway.”
“Where’s Cody now?” Andrea asked.
“Probably at preschool,” Nico replied. “Zach and Miguel both have to work today.”
“Who’s on them?” Marco asked.
Michael clicked a few keys. “Sylvie is watching the preschool. Holt is hanging out at Moonlight Inn with Miguel.”
“What about Zach?” I asked,
Marco snorted. “I’d like to see anyone get past Tommy Chambers to hurt one of his own.”
“True that,” I said with a smile.
“Who’s Tommy Chambers?” Nico asked.
“He owns the Harley shop Zach works at,” Marco replied. “He’s a former Army Captain. Lost his leg to an IED but can still kick your ass.”
Nico looked around. “That reminds me. Where are Khamil and Rory? They were here last night.”
“I sent them home when I got here,” I said. I put my arm around his shoulders and kissed his temple. “I’ll protect you.”
A chorus of “Awwww” went up from my asshole friends. I flipped them off, but Nico’s blush and shy smile were worth the ribbing.
“Can we get back to business?” Marco grumbled. “I’d like to get home sometime today.”
“What’s to keep these guys from escalating?” I asked. “Wilson’s already going to do time for murder. It doesn’t seem like it’s a no-go for them.” I felt Nico stiffen beside me, and I pulled him closer.
Marco nodded. “Agreed.”
“Then we take the fight to them,” Dante said.
“Have you been talking to Gabe?” Pete asked.
“Hey!” I objected. “I never suggested getting into a gunfight in New York City.”
“Nobody’s getting into a gunfight!” Marco barked. “Jesus Christ. Michael and Deshawn are going to find their weaknesses, and we’re going to exploit them.”
“How long will that take?” Nico asked. “I won’t let them hurt my son.”
“A couple of days at most,” Michael said. “Most people are stupid about what they do online. These guys are no exception. I’ve already found their local bank accounts. It won’t take me long to find the off-shore ones.”
“And then what?” Nico asked.
Marco’s smile was feral. “Then we pay Bobby Kendrick a visit.”
Nico winced in pain as he sat forward. “I don’t understand. How is accessing their bank accounts going to help?”
Michael’s eyes gleamed wickedly. “It’s pretty attention-grabbing when every penny in your accounts disappears in seconds.”
“Oh shit,” Nico breathed.
“Yeah, gangsters love their money,” Pete said.
Michael cracked his knuckles. “And if that doesn’t scare them, there’s a wealth of information that can be used against them. Things he wouldn’t want any of his subordinates knowing. Things he wouldn’t want his wife to know either.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Do tell.”
Marco waved me off. “Another time. Everyone’s tired. It’s time to wrap this up. We just need a rotation on Cody, Zach, and Miguel.”
I zoned out, thinking about how I would keep Nico safe. I felt him snuggle closer to me before his head fell heavily against my shoulder. I kissed the side of his head. “Tired?”
He hummed quietly. “Yeah. Never been stabbed before.”
My gut twisted. I better never meet the motherfuckers who hurt my man. I shifted my weight so I could put my arm around him to help him stand. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you back to bed.”
Nico grimaced as he stood. “Ow.”
He was unsteady on his feet as we moved forward, so I said, “Lean on me, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
“Gabe,” I heard Liam call.
“What’s up?” I asked.
Liam came to stand beside us. “Are you taking him upstairs?”
“Yeah. He’s tired and in pain.”
“Jon asked me to check Nico’s sutures and change his bandage. Mind if I follow you up?”
“Of course not,” I replied.
“I’ll just get my bag and be right there,” Liam said as he headed for the front door.
I got Nico up the stairs slowly and carefully, resisting the urge to pick him up in my arms and carry him bridal style. I didn’t think he’d appreciate that.
I was helping Nico sit on the bed when Liam came in carrying his large medical bag. “This won’t take long,” he said, setting his heavy bag on the floor. He unzipped it and took out the things he needed to change Nico’s bandage. I helped Nico take off his shirt, then stepped aside to let Liam do his thing.
I’d seen Liam in action before, patching up me or one of my teammates. But I found myself getting twitchy when Nico winced after Liam pulled off the bandage. My boyfriend must have clocked my expression because he smirked and said, “Settle down, Captain America. He’s not hurting me.”
Liam snorted a laugh. “Oh my god. That’s hilarious. I can’t wait to tell Marco.”
“Do not tell Marco,” I groaned.
Liam examined Nico’s stitches and seemed satisfied with how they looked. “Now, Gabe,” he said in a mock chiding tone, “You know that’s not how that works.” My boyfriend snickered.
I raised a brow at Nico. “If I’m Captain America, who does that make you?”
“Definitely Bucky,” Liam chimed in before Nico could answer.
“What? No,” Nico objected.
“Oh yeah. I can see it,” I said. “I would totally ship Cap and Bucky.”
“Ugh. I’ll never hear the end of it,” Nico complained.
“Probably not,” Liam said with a wicked smile. He smoothed some antibiotic ointment on Nico’s wound and covered it with a new bandage. “All set. I’ll leave some gauze pads and medical tape so Gabe can change it for you over the next few days. I’ll take a look at it again on Sunday.”
“Thank you,” Nico said.
“Of course,” Liam replied. “Any time.” He packed up his bag and headed back downstairs.
As soon as Liam was gone, Nico’s shoulders drooped. “Ready for sleep?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“You want some pain meds? Liam left some acetaminophen and a bottle of water on the nightstand.”
“Sure.”
I gave him the pills and the water, then took his elbow and helped him stand. “Get out of your jeans while I pull down the covers.” He murmured an affirmative, but I kept a close eye on him in case he stumbled.
Once Nico was down to his briefs I helped him ease onto the bed. I settled the blankets over him and leaned down to kiss him. “Rest now, sweetheart. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
He gave me a tired smile. “I know. You’ll always be here for me.”
His words brought tears to my eyes. I vowed right then to do my best to always justify his faith in me.