Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
“ Y ou ready for this?” Kade asked softly as Leo piled into the car after him. He could feel that the man was uncomfortable in just a pair of blue briefs Torres said made his eyes pop. Sometimes being blind was a real bitch.
Leo sucked in a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be for something like this.”
Kade blindly patted his knee. “You’ll be ok, I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Leo blew out a breath that ended in a laugh. “I know that and I promise to yell duck if someone pulls a gun.”
“I would appreciate that.” Kade said dryly.
Leo snickered.
“Do you remember who you are and who we are?” Torres asked, sliding in next to Leo and throwing his arm over his shoulder offering some warmth.
“Yes, Kade is Angus Collins, an oil tycoon who loves little boys.” Leo tried not to grimace as he said that. “You’re Anton Blevins, Mr. Collins’ right-hand man, and I’m his boy Armani.”
Kade grinned. “He’s a natural.”
Torres shook his head. “Don’t get any ideas, Kade, this will never happen again.”
Leo scoffed. “You got that right, I’ll write about it and you guys can live it. How about that?”
Doc chuckled from the front seat. “I’ll take that deal.”
Leo grinned at Torres and gave the man a once over. He was decked out in a tux and Leo really wanted to rip it off those wide shoulders and have his wicked way with the body underneath.
Torres gave him a knowing smile as they pulled up to the building’s entrance. “We’re here.”
Kade nodded. “Alright, from now on Leo, stay silent unless I ask you a direct question. You know what to do?”
Leo nodded. “Yes, keep quiet. Look at the floor and try to find Yousef.”
Kade nodded and patted his naked shoulder. “Excellent.” Kade got out first and waited until he felt Leo and Torres behind him before he moved. He had Cowboy in his ear mapping out the place in front of him through a camera he was wearing sewn into one of the buttons on his jacket.
“Front desk three paces to your 1 o’clock.” Cowboy said, thankful Torres could hear him and could easily correct Kade if he needed to.
“Welcome, Mr. Collins, we have heard good things about you.” The female concierge smiled at him as she handed over his pass. She fluffed her hair and betted her overdone eyes at him, but when he just thanked her and moved towards the elevator Cowboy snickered in his ear.
“What?” Kade demanded under his breath.
“She was totally into you, man.” Cowboy laughed. “She wanted to get you alone in a dark corner and have her way with you.”
Kade rolled his eyes so hard he could have sworn he saw his fried eye stocks. “I hate you.” He sighed, making Cowboy laugh even harder.
Torres ushered both Kade and Leo onto the elevator and followed, standing in front of both of them like the good bodyguard he was. When they reached their floor, Torres stood aside, letting Kade go first, followed closely by Leo. He hated anytime they pretended Kade wasn’t blind. It was so fucking dangerous for everyone involved and there were so many issues or accidents that could arise.
“Kade, go to your left. There’s a bar.” Cowboy ordered.
Kade headed that way, perching himself on a stool and bringing Leo closer to stand in between his legs and lean back against him. “Remember eyes down but look for the boy, tell me if you need anything, ok?” He shook Leo a little to get his point across.
“Yes, sir,” Leo said quietly.
Kade hummed in response and ruffled Leo’s hair as he felt Torres slide up next to him. “Keep an eye out. I’m sure people will be heading to talk to us shortly.”
“I’ve got you.” Torres mumbled.
“Good, because I hate this shit.” Kade grumbled.
Leo nuzzled into Kade as a scary-looking man passed them. He made sure not to make eye contact as the man studied them, but he was able to study the brute out of the corner of his eye. “We’re being watched.” He said, singing into Kade’s ear.
Kade chuckled. “Settle baby.” He nudged Leo down on his thigh as he tried to get his bearings. Having a man this close was throwing him off. The smell, the heat and the feeling of another body rubbing up against him was both bliss and torture. He just hope to fuck Torres wouldn’t get offended by his hard-on. “Armani baby, get me and Anton a drink will you?”
Leo’s eye flicked to Torres’ before they went to the floor. He breathed deeply as he passed his man and got a squeeze on his hip in encouragement. He had no idea what the men would want, but they would enjoy whatever he chose.
“Sorry, brother,” Kade rasped.
Torres cleared his throat as Kade shifted to get more comfortable. “It’s all good brother. I know it’s been a long time for you, but I also know you would never make Leo uncomfortable.”
“Ain’t, that the fucking truth,” Kade huffed.
“Is there something specific you would like to look at, sir?” an adorable young woman asked as she paused with a tray in her hand.
“Yes,” Kade said, thankful his voice was strong and firm. “I was looking to possibly get a new boy, my boy, hey sweetie,” he kissed Leo’s forehead as the man sat back in his lap, handing him a drink. “My boy here would like a new playmate.”
Leo played it up, waving shyly at the woman who smiled softly in return. He wanted to throw up. She had to know what was going on in here but she acted like nothing was wrong.
“See anyone you wanna talk to, buddy?” She asked softly.
Gag. Leo had to control his face because oh my god, this bitch. “No,” He shook his head.
“We will let you know if we find anyone. Is everyone free here to be looked at?” Torres asked.
“Yes, anyone you see unaccompanied? The younger boys will be brought out in about ten minutes.” She smiled politely and scampered away.
“You ok?” Leo asked Kade quietly. The man was so tense.
“Yeah,” Kade breathed his reply. “What’s in this?” He asked, shaking his glass.
“Sprite, all the drinks here are non-alcoholic.” Leo shrugged, sipping his drink as he swept the room. He froze.
Kade pulled him closer. “What is it, baby?”
“Yousef twelve o’clock,” Leo tried to stand, but Kade held him tight.
The waitress came back around. “See something you like?”
Yeah, a fist in your face, lady, Leo thought. He was definitely gonna have her brutally killed in one of his stories. “He looks scared. Can I talk to him?” He pointed at Yousef. He really hoped he wasn’t blowing this.
“Sure thing, sweetie, he’s a new boy with no daddy to look after him. I’m sure he would love some company.” She smiled, relieved as she went to go get him.
Hmmm maybe she wasn’t all bad, Leo still reserved the right to brutally murder her…on page of course. He was terrified of dead bodies so he could never actually kill her.
“This is Ricky.” She introduced them, putting herself in the way of people walking by so he wouldn’t get run over.
“Hi Ricky, I’m Armani.” Leo waved, and when the boy just nodded Leo’s heart broke. The kid looked so scared.
“Is there a private room somewhere my boy can get to know him?” Kade asked, rising to his feet and bringing Leo with him.
“Yes, we have private rooms in the back. Follow me and I’ll see if any are available.” She led them to the back of the open floor room and down a little side hallway that held four doors, two on each side. “The last one on the right is open.”
“Thank you.” Leo gave her a small smile and followed Kade into the room. His heart squeezed when he saw the fear on Yousef’s face. The boy kept looking from him to the bed and Leo wanted to throw up. “I won’t hurt you.” He told the boy and sat in one of the chairs, hoping to show the kid he wasn’t a threat.
“That’s what they all say.” Yousef fired back.
Kade tried to hold his temper. He really wanted to hurt someone. “Anton, relax.”
Once Kade gave Torres the code word, he hit the small panic button on the wrist of his watch. His brothers would be in here shortly to rescue them. He kind of felt like a dick for thinking this was anticlimactic but considering all the kids that were here, they couldn’t risk shooting anyone or having someone take anyone hostage and he refused to put Kade in danger. Not after saving the women. Kade had been shot and he damn near had a heart attack so the man was staying safe and sound if it was the last thing he fucking did on this earth.
“Your father sent me.” Kade said softly, keeping his voice at a low pitch just in case they had an audio recorder in the rooms.
Yousef’s eyes water. “Swear,” he demanded.
“Swear.” Kade replied, handing his phone over so the kid could see the picture of his dad with all of Kade’s men.
“Where is he?” Yousef asked, his bottom lip wobbling.
“I’m going to take you to him.” Kade assured the boy. “When it goes down, stay close to me. I won’t hurt you.”
Yousef’s eyebrows furrowed. He desperately wanted to believe the man.
“I’m blind. Come closer.” Kade crook a finger at him and when he could feel the boy shift closer, he took his sunglasses off. The boy’s gasp was all he needed to hear. He settled his sunglasses back on his face and just stared in the boy's general direction. He opened his arms and waited. “Gonna need you to come closer, but I won’t force you, take your time.”
“You promise you won’t hurt me?” Yousef asked, his voice wobbling.
“I promise, kid, I hurt bad guys, not little kids.” Kade assured and was rewarded with Yousef’s little body slamming into his chest. Fuck, this kid was tiny. He held the kid tight as he sobbed into his chest. Kade pulled Yousef up into his lap and wrapped his arms tightly around the kid’s back. “I got you.” He tried his best to comfort the kid as he felt his neck get wetter, but he was so not good with kids.
Torres tried to hide his smile. Kade was sitting stiff as a board, holding the kid like he would hold a bomb. It was both hilarious and touching that Kade would put himself out there. He saw Kade’s head tilt and moved closer to the door to listen. He could hear shouts of voices screaming police and the high-pitched screaming of the other patrons.
“Yousef, did anyone hurt you?” Kade asked, holding the kid tighter.
“Not like you mean, they just roughed me up but didn’t…like ya know, touch me.” Yousef said, his voice tired. “Can I take a nap right here?” He played with the lapel of Kade’s tux jacket.
“Yeah, kiddo, go ahead. If we need to leave, I’ll carry you.” He pressed the kid’s face back into his neck and rubbed his hand up and down the kid’s back. He didn’t really know what the hell he was supposed to do with the kid, but if he felt the most comfortable and safe in his arms, he wasn’t going to tell the kid he couldn’t stay there. Even though it made his skin crawl to have someone this close, especially someone he didn’t really know. He gently rocked side to side as he felt Yousef’s little body relax into his. Fuck, the kid must be exhausted.