Chapter Thirteen
His kitchen had long since fallen silent.
It was nearing sunrise, but still an hour away from any kitchen staff arriving for the day.
Crisp and Jay had gone with Austen to get proper care.
Everyone else still lingered in the family room, quietly discussing the past few years.
Fabrice hung here: the one place he knew he belonged.
The countertops were spotless. Fresh fruit waited to be chopped to go with breakfast. Everything was at a standstill. He breathed in the peace.
Tidy strolled in with his hands shoved in his pockets.
He looked relaxed in a way Fabrice hadn’t seen in a while.
He wasn’t surprised when he found himself embraced in a hug.
Tidy wasn’t a large guy. He didn’t stand out in crowds.
Tidy had been trained to be invisible. He was average, with a nice smile and a great sense of humor.
Tidy was very much the guy who slipped past defenses and ended up embedded in someone’s life before they realized it happened.
“I’ve missed you. Have you enjoyed your travels?”
Tidy laughed softly against his hair. “You say that as if I haven’t called you nearly every day.
” He pulled away and leaned against the island, giving Fabrice his full attention.
That was the real danger with Tidy. He made Fabrice feel seen and as if they were the only two people who existed in the world.
He was Fabrice’s friend and left him with a lot of mixed emotions.
“Phone calls don’t allow me to see the joy in your eyes.” And fuck, they were beautiful eyes. Light green framed by thick lashes. That was the physical feature that made Tidy memorable.
“You could’ve come with us. Crisp and Jay would’ve been totally cool with that.”
A sad smile tugged at the corners of Fabrice’s mouth. “That’s not an option I have, but I appreciate the sentiment. My place is here, in charge of the kitchens I never would’ve had without Beau.”
Tidy’s gaze moved over him. “Where’s your sexy little chef’s jacket? Surely you’re not working without it, Chef Fabrice.”
“I’m not working. My shift doesn’t start for another hour. This is just my happy place. I know that’s not something you can understand.”
“This is your dream.” Kirkland appeared from nowhere. He was sneaky like that. Kirkland had spent his life as Atticus’ butler and now—theoretically—he lived the good life free from duty. As far as Fabrice could tell, he still acted as if he worked for the household.
His light-blue gaze landed on Fabrice. “Not everyone understands people like us. There’s pride in bringing joy through craft. There are quite a few daily events that require a very particular skill. It’s not a talent everyone is blessed with.”
Kirkland fascinated the hell out of Fabrice.
He was older than Fabrice. Probably quite a bit older, but he didn’t look it.
In fact, Fabrice would wager he was nowhere near as old as he presented with his perfect posture and stodgy attitude.
He was perfectly poised and showed zero emotion.
Kirkland made Fabrice want to shake him up a little. It didn’t seem he was the only one.
Tidy towed Fabrice against him. With Fabrice’s back against his chest, Tidy wrapped his arms around Fabrice and hung on.
“I appreciate his skills. In fact, I came in here to entice Chef Fabrice to let me enjoy one of his many talents. Do you want to join us?” He rested his chin on Fabrice’s shoulder. Sexual innuendo dripped from Tidy’s every word. Fabrice didn’t doubt for a second his expression matched.
Tidy’s heart sped.
Kirkland held his stare. No emotion crossed his features, but Fabrice’s mouth went dry, nonetheless. He knew Kirkland wasn’t as immune to Fabrice as he pretended. Every now and then, he caught a lingering glance. The way he stood too close. Fabrice felt the tension building between them.
“Your shift starts in an hour.” Kirkland paused.
Fabrice held his breath. There was something here. He wasn’t crazy.
Kirkland’s shoulders squared. His posture returned to its usual rigid stance. “You have no time for these antics.” His gaze flickered to Tidy. “I believe Crisp’s physical assessment is coming to an end.” Kirkland walked away, leaving Fabrice behind.
“Was that interest? That looked like interest.” Fabrice whispered the question in case Kirkland’s inhuman hearing still lingered nearby.
Tidy kissed Fabrice’s neck. “No one can resist you for long, babe. You’ll see.”
Fabrice accepted the continued embrace as he stared at the spot where Kirkland had been.
Sometimes he wondered if he was insane or broken.
He always seemed to want what he couldn’t have.
That thought alone was enough to pull him from the trance Kirkland had woven.
Fabrice didn’t know if the chase was all he cared about.
No one deserved that treatment, especially someone who was already such an island like Kirkland.
Fabrice was better off alone. At least that way, no one got hurt.
While Jay waited for Crisp to get x-rays and a full exam from Austen, Jay sat by the pool and shared a cigar with Jett.
It helped the pain quite a bit. Neither of them spoke.
The night had been draining as hell. As his muscles relaxed and the sky lightened a little more by the second, Jay realized there was something he needed to know.
“How do all these men learn everything from you?” He didn’t mince words or spare feelings. That wasn’t who Jay was. “You never get in trouble with Beau for gossiping, and I imagine that’s very frowned upon here.”
Jett laughed. It was filled with happiness, setting Jay free of any worry over the state of their friendship.
“Beau knows I’d never risk my place with him.
Life is just kind of boring here sometimes.
That’s why I’m fucking almost every single guy here.
” Jett laughed again. No guilt. “I need something to talk about in bed.”
The loud guffaw that left Jay hurt like hell. His ribs protested and screamed, but Jay couldn’t stop. His eyes watered. There was no way Jett knew how much Jay needed the laugh. Everything had been so heavy for the past twenty-four hours. It felt good to let things go.
Foster appeared beside him. “Hey. Is it okay if we talk?”
Jett stood. He had the cigar between his teeth, obviously intending to take it with him. “See you later. I need to catch a few hours of sleep before my shift.”
Jay nodded. He waited until Jett was a few feet away before calling out. “Sleep, Jett. That’s it.”
Jett’s loud laughter followed in his wake.
Jay couldn’t stop smiling. Even as Foster filled the spot Jett had left unoccupied, Jay’s mood didn’t dim.
Foster met his stare. He didn’t look angry anymore, so there was that. Foster held his hand out to Jay. “I’m Foster. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jay accepted the handshake. “Jay. I’m happy to formally meet you. Crisp talks about you all the time.”
Foster smiled. “Well, at least there’s that.”
Jay shook his head. “You know his silence truly was no reflection on you.”
Foster slowly blew out a loud breath. “Yeah, I know. Atticus reminded me I had told Crisp he could keep his secrets when I immediately noticed the way he always disappeared and generally acted withdrawn in certain ways. If I had pushed, I feel certain Crisp would’ve told me about you.”
“He would have,” Jay said without hesitation. “Crisp has always talked about how close you two are. We’ve been…” Jay fought for a way to explain.
“At peace,” Foster supplied.
Jay nodded. “Exactly. Our life together has been a quiet happiness. I guess neither of us wanted to ruin that. He felt he kept me safe. I didn’t have to share.” Jay felt like he should carry some guilt over that, but he didn’t. Their marriage was a good one.
Foster stared at the horizon, watching the sun slowly rise. Finally, he looked Jay’s way again. “So, you enjoy travel.”
He realized Foster wanted to connect. Jay would meet him halfway.
“Yes. Obviously, I was sent all over the world in my spy days. Never have I gotten to feel joy or excitement about my surroundings. Sometimes, I still struggle with those emotions. But when I see Crisp and Tidy react to every adventure, that brings me happiness.”
“I don’t know if you know, but Zeus is a master deprogrammer. Maybe you could talk to him and learn a few methods to push past the suppression we can’t always fight.”
It hit Jay. All these men had been where he had been.
They had suffered as children and learned tricks to heal.
The Agafonov brothers were years ahead in their reprogramming progress.
Still, this was one offer he couldn’t take.
“I appreciate the suggestion, but no. Zeus and I are way too much alike and entirely too familiar with each other. We were in the same classes and graduated at the same time.” Jay watched the recognition grow in Foster’s eyes, and he hated it.
This was another reason Jay hadn’t balked at being kept a secret for so long.
Each new face meant another person learning his shame.
They were each given a skill and purpose equally terrible, but Jay felt the horrors too deeply.
There had always been a part of him that revolted.
He hadn’t completely lost himself. Each day, Jay had known his existence wasn’t supposed to be the way he was forced to live it.
He loathed anyone seeing that about him.
Like a wraith, Zeus appeared from nowhere. He sat at the foot of Jay’s lounge. Tracker pulled a chair next to him.
Zeus held his stare as if he forbade Jay to look away.
Oddly, Jay couldn’t. “You’re right. We know each other too well.
But that’s a good thing, really. For me anyway.
Not many people can understand my struggle.
” His gaze moved over Jay’s features. “I’m not surprised they worked so hard to scar your face.
Even intending to kill you at the end, they wanted to make you feel your only use had been destroyed. ”
Jay dipped his chin. He had come to the same conclusion.
“They succeeded, but it had the opposite effect.” A chuckle that sounded evil even to him fell from his lips.
“They took away the only thing that would make me lose my way again. Crisp fell in love with my heart. Maybe I wouldn’t have believed that had they spared my looks.
Their punishment was my saving grace.” Jay’s gaze moved over Zeus’ flawless features.
“I know you understand. It must’ve been hard as hell to believe Tracker could love you. ”
A bright smile exploded across Zeus’ face. “No. He’s never had a problem humbling me.”
Tracker swatted at Zeus’ arm. “Stop telling people that.”
Zeus dodged the hit, laughing like a naughty child.
One by one, the brothers joined them. Chairs crowded together. Zeus moved to Tracker’s chair and pulled Tracker into his lap when Crisp arrived with Austen and Rain in tow.
Crisp crawled into Jay’s arms, ensuring he only put pressure on the side where there were no broken ribs. He held an ice pack against his abused face. “I’ll live.”
“He has a hairline fracture in his cheekbone and another in his lower left tibia. I’ve given him some meds and orders.”
Crisp pressed his ear against Jay’s chest as if he sought Jay’s heartbeat. Love swelled inside him.
Tidy plopped down on the ground next to their chair. “You two should have a wedding. Like I got to see you marry, but you should do a big event so everyone can join in.”
Crisp laughed. It was a low and tired sound. “Honestly, I think I need to throw another wedding for Foster and Atticus since I ruined their night.”
Foster looked Atticus’ way.
Atticus smirked. “Yeah, no. You didn’t ruin anything.” He followed the words with a wicked, soft-sounding laugh.
Yeah. They had definitely found some time alone before Jay had rudely gotten abducted on their wedding night.
One thought led to another. “Who caught the bouquet? Or did you not do that?”
Atticus burst out laughing. His eyes swam with happiness. “Kirkland. He raised me and worked as my butler for years. You should’ve seen his face. I know he only grabbed it because he’s used to picking up after me. He was scandalized.”
Tidy barked out a laugh. “Still is, truth be told.” He didn’t say how he knew, but Tidy’s tone had Jay’s gaze sliding his way. There was something there.
“I love you guys,” Crisp sounded half asleep.
“Love you too,” they all said at varying times of simultaneously.
Jay smiled as he stared down at Crisp. They were both exhausted and in pain, but it was equally obvious neither of them intended to cut this moment short. Jay had his amazing husband in his arms. They were gathered around like a happy family. One Jay felt he was becoming a part of.
“We should have a slumber party.”
No one laughed at Shore’s suggestion. In fact, everyone looked Shore’s way, as if waiting to hear more.
The giant blond who always stayed quiet lifted and dropped his arms. “We used to have nothing but a studio apartment and a bunch of blankets. Back then, we might have gone without a lot of things, but we still had everything we needed because we had each other.”
Tracker smiled. “I love that idea.” He stood and pulled Zeus to his feet. “I’m in.”
Atticus stood. “We should invite Kylo and Cairo.”
Rain laughed as he, too, popped to his feet. “Yeah, Beau and Rhodes aren’t about to let that happen without them.”
“The more the merrier,” Shore said as he started moving chairs back to where they belonged.
Jay didn’t move until they were ready to head inside. He was too stiff. Despite the long day and even longer night, he was oddly excited to do a slumber party—whatever that was.
Crisp tossed a sweet smile his way as they walked hand in hand inside. “Thank you for tolerating this.”
Jay scoffed. “Tolerate? I’m excited. What do we do? It’s slumber. Do we just sleep?”
“There’s lots of alcohol,” Field said behind him.
“Oh, good. The painkiller of champions.”
Crisp snorted.
Jay’s face hurt from smiling. It was the perfect ending to a day. He was in love. Crisp had his family back. They were about to slumber party. Life was beautiful.
Keep an eye out for the next Killers Inc, Scorched.
If you somehow missed Cairo's story, his book is A Daddy for Him.