Chapter 2 #2
Red didn’t fill the silence with chatter and Kit only realized he’d dozed off when he heard the whirr of the gates opening at the Evergreen Wolves clubhouse.
He sat up, blinking as he realized they were home.
It was more home than anything else was.
Even the condo was just somewhere he crashed to get away from Tony.
Almost before the SUV stopped in front of the clubhouse, Red was out of the door and round to Kit’s side of the car. He opened the door and hauled Kit out.
“I can stand,” Kit snapped, even if he wobbled a little, the shots he’d downed earlier making their presence known. He wasn’t drunk, but he had been on the way. He would have danced and fucked it off if he’d been given the chance.
Red narrowed his eyes, but Kit shrugged off Red’s grip on him and stomped into the house, heading for his bedroom to shower off the sweat and dirt. He was sticky all down his front. It was gross.
The bodyguard didn’t follow him into the house, and Kit told himself that was fine.
More than fine. He didn’t need Red’s intense gaze tracking every move he made like a silent command.
He didn’t need to feel seen in that particular way—exposed and wanting.
Dammit, he’d clearly had more shots than he thought if he was brooding over Red Baxter.
Kit kicked off his boots and shrugged off his jacket, his pulse quickening as he headed for the bathroom.
He could indulge his teenage fantasies now, the ones he’d tried to smother under layers of rebellion and noise.
The ones he’d kept hidden from everyone because they always started with Red walking in while he was in the shower…
pinning him against the tiles… that voice rough with command, that body molding against him.
Kit had been a teenager, but he knew what he wanted.
Except it had been just that, a fantasy.
He was a kid and Red had barely looked at him.
Kit swallowed hard, shoving the thought aside as he tugged his shirt over his head and let it fall to the floor.
He started the shower, waiting until the steam obscured everything behind the glass shower door before he stripped off the rest of his clothes, his head still whirling from the fact Red Baxter had slammed back into his life.
Older yes, but even more sexy than he was when he first rode up to the clubhouse over a decade ago.
Hard body beneath his leather. Kit had lain beneath it this evening and he wanted more.
The way he looked at Kit like he knew exactly what he was—knew, and didn’t judge.
Kit stepped into the stall and let the hot water slam into his skin.
A moan slipped from his lips before he could stop it, low and shameless.
The heat poured over him, down his neck, over his chest, pooling at his feet—and still, it wasn’t enough to wash away the ache Red had ignited in him with one look.
Bracing his hands on the wall, Kit let his head fall forward and closed his eyes. Red wasn’t going to walk in. But God, Kit wished he would.
“Kit, where the hell are you?”
Unseen by his older brother from his window seat in his bedroom, Kit flipped him off.
Damn, he thought he’d have more time to process what had just happened before anyone came looking for him.
Kit wrapped his arms around the soft, well-worn hoodie he’d tugged on after his shower, and leaned against the wall.
He just wasn’t ready for Tony’s disapproval.
Kit waited for his brother to stomp up the stairs. He knew Tony couldn’t leave it be until tomorrow. He wasn’t that kind of guy. Tony was just like their dad, in looks and mannerisms. Kit took after their mom.
“Deal with it now before it becomes an explosion.”
That had been his dad’s motto for everything. He had a point. Kit preferred to run away from the problems and look where that got him.
He sat up as Tony reached the top step. “In my defense, I hated that job,” he said before Tony started yelling. Then he noticed Red at his back. What was he still doing here? He’d delivered Kit home.
“Is that what you’re starting with?” Tony didn’t look impressed. “Walking out on your job? The one you made a huge fuss about.”
Kit thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, I’ll start there.”
“You’re fired. Your boss called here when he couldn’t get hold of you.”
Kit had turned off his phone when he walked out. His usual move when he wanted to run.
“I expected that. I’ll be looking for another job in the morning.”
“I had to send CDR to find you because you didn’t come home and you switched off your phone—again.”
“You know me.”
Tony folded his arms across his chest, hiding the faded Hog on his hoodie. “Yeah, I do, and I’m done with it, Kit.”
“I got fired from my job. It’s not the end of the world.”
Tony stalked over to him. Kit sat up straighter, tense now. His brother had thumped him before when he lost his temper, usually when they were on their own.
“Do you have any idea what went down this evening?” Tony demanded.
“I got fired and some dude went loco with a gun in the club.” Kit shrugged. “Just a normal evening downtown.”
“That guy could have been after you,” Tony snapped.
Kit blinked. “Me? What for?”
He watched as Tony looked over his shoulder at Red who shrugged.
“Hey.” Kit snapped his fingers. “I’m over here. Why could that guy be after me?”
“There have been threats aimed at you.”
“Me? Why?” Kit was bemused.
“Someone’s trying to send a message to me. There was a deal….”
What was the pause for? What was Tony leaving out?
“That guy was after me?” Kit said, trying to hide the shiver of fear that passed through him. He wasn’t going to show vulnerability in front of Tony and Red. “He’s dead now so what’s the problem?”
Red shook his head. “No. That guy was a jilted boyfriend. Someone dumped him, and he took exception. He was looking for the ex. This was their favorite club.”
“Wait, you killed a jilted ex?”
“He was stupid enough to threaten the people waiting in line outside. Mo dealt with it.” Red didn’t sound much like he cared. “Dominic will smooth it over.”
Kit had no idea who any of these people were and didn’t much care either. It sounded like a thriller and not one Kit wanted to read. He was more of a reality TV consumer.
“But he could have been after you,” Tony said.
“How did you know where I was?”
“I followed you from work,” Red said. “My brief was to stay back this evening.”
“You followed me?” Kit stared at him. “I didn’t see you.”
Red gave a wry smile. “That was kinda the point, kid.”
“How did you get into the club? It’s like really hot.” Kit realized that was tactless. But he still wanted to know.
“It’s owned by someone close to CDR and it’s us on the door.”
Kit lost interest in the topic. He went back to the initial discussion. “I don’t need babysitting. I’m not a freakin’ kid.”
“You behave like one,” Tony roared.
Kit stared at him, erasing any emotion from his expression. “I’m twenty-three. You don’t get to decide what happens to me. This is your problem. Your deal. You sort it.”
Tony huffed and jabbed a finger at Red. “I’m trying to.”
“Not by treating me like a kid, Tony. You don’t get to carry on with your life, while you smother me. I’m going home.”
“You can’t. You’re in danger.”
Kit narrowed his eyes. “Watch me. I don’t need some booted and suited babysitter on my back.”
“He won’t—”
“And what’s Red doing here?” Kit plowed through Tony’s response.
Red turned to him. “I’m your new babysitter, Kit. Only in leather.”