13. CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 13
Colden
S team rises from the earth from last night’s rain. Gray clouds hold the sky captive, threatening to open up and pour down on us at any minute. While I’d be happy if Neo and I stayed here forever, his spirits are dipping, and I know not speaking to Dacker plays a role in that. The Price brothers are close. They always have been, but after Mrs. Price’s death, they became an impenetrable unit.
Unable to focus on reading, I set my book down on the cushion and stand. From up here in the loft, I have a view of Neo as he scratches out equations and notes on a legal pad. He tugs on his hair and throws the pencil down, then gets up from the sofa and paces the length of the cabin.
He’s wearing another pair of skimpy code briefs—this pair orange—and a faded Stealthy Spirits tee that’s two sizes too big. His bare feet slap against the floorboards as he mumbles to himself, and I swear, I’ve never seen anything more gorgeous. My dick should be worn out, but seeing Neo in all his long-limbed glory sparks its interest.
The SPAM phone vibrates in the pocket of my basketball shorts and I pull it out. “Do you have good news for me?”
“You can thank Bean. They’re the one who arranged everything.” Arlo’s voice lacks some of its usual cheer.
“You alright?”
He yawns into the receiver. “Just tired. It was a late night, but we’ve narrowed down the location of Delmarva’s offices.”
“How’d you do that?”
“Bean knows a guy in Baltimore… We didn’t actually go by the book.”
My gaze goes to Neo. I’m not doing much by the book either. “Thanks, man.”
“Just doing my job, partner.”
I chuckle, but don’t correct him. “Is there anything special I need to do on this end?”
“Nope. Bean has everything secured. Roman and Hendrix helped. Roman said Hendrix spotted bugs in the system that could be breached. According to Roman, it took Hendrix less than thirty minutes to fix them.” I hear him slurp something and I know he’s sucking on the straw of some dessert-like drink he’s taught Mrs. Speakman how to make.
“Neo said he’s one of the best in the field.” Spending the last several days together, I’ve learned more about Neo’s life than I have from five years of texts. I don’t want to go back to the way things were, but I also don’t want to piss off Dacker.
I scrub the back of my neck. Shit. I should have told my dick to back off until I told Dack I have feelings for his brother.
“Are you listening?” Arlo’s irritation pulls me from my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I peer over the wall and see Neo back on the couch with his legs crossed, a slice of banana bread in one hand, and his pencil in the other moving franticly across the page.
“You weren’t, but whatever. Give us ten minutes, then we’ll be ready for you two. Dacker’s ready on his end”
Excitement strums through me. The call’s happening. Being able to give Neo something to help make this situation a little easier makes me feel somewhat useful. “Thanks again, Arlo.”
“No problem. Ten minutes.” He ends the call, and I tuck the phone back in my pocket.
I make my way down the ladder and pad over to where Neo sits. He looks up at me, and the strain around his mouth softens. It’s like falling into a pond of pillows, and I want to snuggle into him. Because with Neo, apparently, I’ve become a snuggler. “Arlo’s arranged for you to have a video call with Dack. And I think Hendrix may be on too.”
“Really?” His grin grows until the dimple under his right eye pops.
“Really.”
He tosses the notepad to the side and throws himself at me. I catch him with an umph , but I wobble and before I can steady myself, I tumble. Neo screams and unwraps his legs from my waist, but it’s not enough to stop the backward motion. I tighten my hold on him, using my body to soften his fall. My ass hits the wooden floor, and I roll back.
Sprawled on top of me, Neo’s eyes shine. “You broke my fall.”
“Hard not to with you wrapped around me like a spider monkey.” I trace my thumb over the dimple.
Some of the shine dims, and he pinches my side. “You don’t always have to act like you don’t care. Not with me.”
He rolls off, then hops to stand. I lay on my back, not sure what to say, so I say nothing. Neo’s a people person. He’ll feel better after he talks to Dacker and Hendrix.
After a beat, I push myself up and stride to the console. Behind me, I can feel him watching as I open the drawer and punch in the code to open the safe. I pull out the laptop and walk it over to the peninsula.
“We’ve had a laptop for the last four days, and I didn’t know?” He’s behind me, looking over my shoulder as I turn on the machine and click into SPAM’s secure video chat program. “I could have been doing work.”
“And risk someone noticing you were on the server? Don’t think so.” I type the password, then press my thumb to the mouse pad. “Plus, I thought you said you liked me reading to you.”
I glance over my shoulder to find his pink tongue travel over his lips in a move so seductive that were we not five minutes from seeing his brother, I’d reenact the most recent scene between the two Dukes in my Forest Gravis book.
“It’s a very good book.” He trails his tongue along the shell of my ear, sparking shivers and a boner.
A ringtone that sounds oddly like an underwater woodpecker with laryngitis has me yanking Neo onto the stool next to me. The last thing we need is questions about why he’s walking around in his sexy nerd underwear.
I take a cleansing breath with the hopes Dack won’t notice anything different about Neo or me, but my lungs won’t fully expand. What the hell am I doing? Risking my longest friendship because I can’t keep my dick in my pants?
Shit .
I straighten my tee and answer the call. Dack’s ugly mug appears. His hair spikes in every direction, and eyes a little wild. “How is he?”
I turn the laptop camera to my left and Neo’s face appears in the bottom square. He waves to his brother, and I feel his body relax. “I’m fine.”
“Thank god.” Dack falls into the cushions of the beat up sofa in his office. A large hand comes into frame and squeezes my friend’s shoulder.
“I told you he was okay,” a baritone voice says off-screen.
Neo cocks his head. “Is that Rain?”
The platinum blond presses his cheek to Dacker’s and waves. “Hey, little Dack.”
“Hey Drizzle.” Grin widening, Neo drops his head onto my shoulder for a moment.
The underwater woodpecker sounds, and I tap the button. A square pops up with Roman and Hendrix. Neo waves and I squint. “Is he sitting on your lap, Fluff Muffin?”
The mountain of a man shrugs. From his enormous size, you’d never guess his baking prowess or his love of karaoke. “It’s the only way you can see us both.”
“Neo doesn’t need to see you,” I say.
Neo places a hand on my thigh, effectively shutting me up. “Hen, how are you?”
Hendrix leans back into Roman with more familiarity than is appropriate. “Good. Roman has been wonderful. The students love him and Dr. Lexton is afraid of him, so no more pop-ins in the office. And he’s put a security system in place that’s more secure than the system guarding the Crowned Jewels.”
“Alexander hasn’t bothered you?” Neo’s fingers dig into my knee when he says Alexander’s name.
Roman shakes his head. “I paid him a visit to retrieve your phone and wallet, and made it clear he was not to bother you or Hendrix again.”
Hendrix’s face lights up and he wiggles his eyebrows at Neo. “I have a lot to tell you.”
Neo shakes his head, affection plastered on his face. “I miss you, Hen.”
“Same, babe. But the most important thing is keeping you and your work safe.” Hendrix’s eyes dart between Dacker and Neo. “We’ll go, so you and your brother have time together.” He holds up a hand. “We’ve got things covered here. Stay safe.”
“Thanks, Hen. Sorry, I got you involved.” Neo’s shoulders slump forward. I press my hand to his back, softly tracing circles on it.
Hendrix shakes his head. “Not your fault, so wipe that from your brain right now. Talk soon?”
“Hopefully.” Neo waves as Roman reaches around Hendrix and disconnects the video.
“So what do we know?” Dacker wastes no time.
I glance at Rain. While I have no reason to believe he’s anything other than the punk rock musician who rents the apartment above Stealthy Spirits, I’m not about to trust anyone not vetted by SPAM. “We’re not at liberty to say right now.” Neo whips his head toward me, and Dacker’s lips pinch. “But be assured, your brother is safe.”
Dack narrows his eyes and I swallow the rock in my throat. I’ve never purposely kept something from him. Other than my feelings for Neo.
With that thought, I realize I’m still stroking Neo’s back. I drop my hand like a bag of hot coals, causing Neo to jerk and Dack’s eyes to narrow more. I’m saved from an interrogation by Neo telling Dacker about the lake and asking about the bar.
Does Dacker know Neo and I are messing around? I hope not. Will he be pissed? Why wouldn’t he be pissed? Dacker has always wanted the best for Neo. He trusted me to take care of him. And what do I do? I fuck his baby brother.
Technically, his baby brother fucked me, but that seems like splitting hairs. Beads of sweat coat the back of my neck, and my underarms feel swampy. I’ve got to fix this before things get out of control.
With a heavy sigh, Neo taps my thigh, then leans toward the screen and waves. “I’ll talk to you soon. Bye Rain.”
“See you, Neo. Stay safe.”
Dacker presses his face close to the camera as if he can get close enough he’ll be able to reach out and touch Neo. “Love you, bud.”
“Love you back, Dack.” His words are watery, and I want to pull him onto my lap like Roman and Hendrix, and kiss away all his sadness.
My friend turns his gaze to me. “Love you too, Cold.”
“Yep. Same.” My skin itches with my lies by omission. “I’ll ask Arlo to schedule another call soon.”
“Thanks,” Dacker says and I end the call.
I power down the laptop and stand to return it to the drawer, but Neo stops me. Taking my hands, his finger strokes my palm and my dick responds immediately, with force.
“I didn’t realize how much I needed that. Thank you.” He tilts his head, and when his delicious lips are a breath from mine. When our breaths are seconds away from mingling. When I anticipate the taste and feel of his tongue exploring my mouth. I jerk my head back.
“This isn’t a good idea.”
He grabs my forearm, grip tight, like he has no intention of letting me go. “What’s not a good idea?”
“You and me.” The words lacerate my throat with thousands of slashes until it’s so mutilated speaking is near impossible.
“So after four days of acting like this is something.” The hand not holding me in place lashes between us like a whip. “Acting like I mean more to you than a plaything to pass the time while we’re holed up. You don’t think it’s a good idea?” Fury radiates off him like it’s a living, breathing being.
I tuck the laptop under my arm. “I’m sorry. But I got carried away. Your Dacker’s brother…”
With a jerk, he releases my arm, so no part of him is touching any part of me. The void may as well be a black hole, sucking all the good with it. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m twenty-fucking-six-years-old? No one dictates who I do and do not sleep with. Especially my brother.” Eyes flashing fire, his posture is rigid, his voice too low, too controlled, too filled with fury. “Whatever problem you have is your problem, Colden.” He spins and stomps into the kitchen, his orange covered ass doing nothing to ease my straining cock. “You know what I think?” He’s on a roll, and I don’t dare interrupt. Or mention how fucking hot he is when he’s pissed. “You don’t think you deserve to be happy.”
“What?” My head snaps like he hit me. And from the sting of his words, it sure feels that way.
He takes a mug from the row of mismatched mugs on the open shelving and removes the coffeepot from the machine. “You have an inferiority complex. Always have.”
“I do not.” I thunder to the console and dump the laptop into the safe with more force than is good for the computer.
He stirs his coffee; the spoon hitting the side of the mug with one harsh clunk after another. “Pu-lease. You’ve had one for as long as I’ve known you.” He chucks the spoon into the stainless-steel sink and it hits with a clattering crash. “Not everyone has to change the world.”
“Easy for you to say.” I jab my finger in the air at him like I’m wielding a sword. “Your work will change how we view grief. Hell, people may no longer have to mourn because of what you’re doing.”
“Or I might unleash something that could destroy us. Maybe I already have… Why else would I be hiding in a fucking safe house?” His nostrils flare and his chest rises as he inhales a long breath. “We’re not talking about me.” His voice is calmer, less angry, but there’s still a bite to his words. “It’s not about the big things. It’s about how we make people feel. How we treat people. Take care of them.”
Thorny vines of discomfort twisting through me, I cross my arms over my chest. “That just shows your youth and naivety, and why anything between us would never work.”
“You are the most infuriating person I’ve ever—” He spins, turning his back to me and yanks the trash bag from the can. “I’m taking out the trash.”
I hustle toward the kitchen. The man doesn’t have shoes on and it’s wet and muddy outside. “I’ll do it.”
“Don’t bother.” He yanks open the back door and the knob bounces off the wall.
I don’t remember ever seeing him this pissed, and my gut clenches at being the one to provoke him. “Be careful.”
“Too late for that.” He storms out.
“Neo,” he stops, and I take a breath. I don’t want to fight. Not with him. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve said that before.” Bright eyes pierce me as he looks over his shoulder. “But if you really mean it, you’ll stop doing the same thing.” He disappears out the back door.
“Fuck.” I tug my hand through my hair, pulling at it for being a dick. Through the window, Neo flings a half-full trash bag around, talking to himself as he stomps through the wooded space, splashing mud and splattering it on his legs. I get glimpses of those orange briefs every time he raises his arms.
I move to the sink, turn on the hot water, and add some soap to wash the few dishes in it. Neo needs space right now, and I’ll give it to him, while keeping him in my sight through the window. He’s right. I need to stop with this on-again, off-again dance.
The sound of engines speeding through the forest interrupts my brooding, and the hair on the back of my neck stands straight up. I turn off the water and cock my head to the side, listening. The buzzing sounds like they’re coming from every direction, disrupting the quiet. “Damn four-wheelers can’t read the private property signs posted everywhere?”
Before I can dry my hands, two ATVs zoom in. They’re the high-end kind that seat four people, and they’re not out on a joy ride. They’re on a mission.
“Neo,” I yell as I bound for the door.
For a split second, he freezes, taking in the two hulking assholes who jump from the vehicles and rush him.
My bare feet slap the mud when I leap from the back porch, splashing my legs with cold brown muck. Pain shoots up my foot from the rock I land on and my breath hitches, but I scream, “Go!”
Running toward the stream, Neo is only a blur of flashes of orange, but the brawny guys are faster than they look and tackle him.
“Nooo!” My feet suck into the mud like glue and every step is like trying to lift an anvil. I raise my hand, shooting the biggest cubes I can form at the ATV speeding toward me, but my stupid power doesn’t do anything to stop the vehicle or the asshole driving it.
Laughter bounces off the trees like the fucker’s enjoying this. I can’t make out his or any of the others’ features from behind the lime green kerchiefs they all have tied around their faces.
Funny man accelerates, forcing me to dive out of the way. I hit the ground with a thud as tires zip past me, splattering mud in my face.
I hold my hands out and the sound of ice hitting the sides of the four wheeler as it plunks off can barely be heard over the rumble of the engines.
“Colde—” Neo’s voice chokes out.
“Shut up,” one of the assholes says.
Bouncing to my feet, I blink the grit from my eyes and take off towards Neo. He fights, tugging his arms, twisting in their grasps, and dragging his feet. But it’s not enough to stop them from hauling him closer to their vehicle. Stones and rocks hidden under the muck rip up my feet, and I’m covered, head-to-toe in slimy dirt, but the only thing that matters is getting to Neo. “Leave him alone.”
More laughter echoes menacingly around me as they throw and bound Neo into the back seat and peel off.
Panting, I chase, feet pounding, hope dying in my chest. They disappear from view. Gone, with the man I promised to protect.