Chapter 9

The next day it was at his spot on the kitchen table in an elegant box, Rhodey watching him open it with a pleased look in his eyes as he drank his morning beer.

It was a clear sign that Rhodey trusted his judgment—and his Dom loved spoiling those who belonged to him. Having the gun strapped to his side when he went out alone always made Keiran feel a bit safer, even though he wasn’t as good a shot as the others in his quad.

Sneakers pounding the pavement brought his head around to the other end of the lot. A few members of the local gang. His throat tightened as he resisted the urge to bring his hand up to cover the scar on his neck. Steady. He had to be steady. They couldn’t hurt him like they had when he’d first come here. He wasn’t that vulnerable anymore.

Or alone.

Not a single one of them looked his way as they scrambled out onto the street. Frowning, he continued to Dallas’ SUV. Two long, powerful legs stuck out from under it, the boots Avery had polished this morning already scuffed.

Instantly relaxed, Keiran holstered his gun and crouched by Rhodey’s side, ducking down to watch him inspect the underside of the vehicle. “I would’ve done that, sir.”

“And there would’ve been no one to watch your back while you did.” Rhodey dragged himself out, bracing on one elbow and giving him a slanted smile, grease smeared on his cheek. “They messed with the brakes. Next time, I’ll let you practice. I’m feeling nice today.”

Keiran cringed, recalling all those hours on remote roads when he and Dallas got a very different kind of driving lessons from Rhodey. Defensive driving took on a whole new meaning when there were bullets flying and smoke and only two working tires. They hadn’t stopped until Rhodey was satisfied they’d survive whatever scenario seemed run-of-the-mill to him, but probably outlandish to anyone else.

After a few missions? Yeah, those tests hadn’t taken much imagination on Rhodey’s part.

He’d taken it pretty easy on them.

Gaze following his Dom as he straightened, Keiran pushed forward and looped his arms around Rhodey’s neck before he was fully on his feet. He stared into those dark gray eyes, not indulging in the triumph of having caught the man off guard. It...hit him, how often Rhodey had come too fucking close to not coming back to them. To him.

And how hard he worked to make sure everyone he cared about made it home in one piece. He couldn’t make the world they lived in all pretty and perfect, but what he did give them was worth so much more.

“Hey.” Rhodey wrapped his arms around Keiran, studying his face with some confusion and concern on his own. “You’re okay. You can handle yourself, but I wouldn’t have let them get close to you.”

Inhaling slowly, Keiran sorted through his thoughts, trying to lay them out in the straightforward way his Dom prefered. But he couldn’t quite explain it. “I’m just...grateful, sir. This whole thing...I’m guessing you know about the baby? It has me wondering about the life I could have, but it’s not what I want. I want this, even if it’s a bit crazy sometimes. Because I get to have you, and Dallas, and Avery. I get to have it all.”

Muscles tightening, Rhodey lifted him up against his chest, lips that could be so hard, even cruel at times, soft as they brushed over his. The touch of them was all heat, a gentle reassurance as Rhodey spoke. “You’re mine, you’re damn right you can have it all. And if you or Dallas wanted a baby? I’d make sure you could have that, too.”

“We don’t.” Keiran tongued his bottom lip, the words coming automatically, right before uncertainty kicked in. “Or...I don’t. Dallas...sometimes...maybe…”

Rhodey lowered him to his feet, shaking his head. “Our man is happy when you’re happy. Look at it this way. You get baby fever, he’ll be all over that. He’d be a fucking amazing father and share the whole thing with you...and me and Avery if we wanted in.” His lips twisted slightly. “Between Coal and Ana? It wouldn’t be ideal, but what ever is?”

“I love you, sir. So fucking much.” Keiran lowered his forehead to Rhodey’s solid chest, taking some of the strength that was always there for him to lean on. “This whole mess... Jamie can’t keep that baby, not...not unless he does it the right way. Talks to his Doms and makes it all official. Even if you smooth the way for him—”

“I won’t.” Rhodey’s brow lifted slightly when Keiran blinked at him. “Coal was old enough, it made sense to give him a choice. Ana’s paperwork was all fucked anyway, none of that shit was legal. This baby? And Jamie? It would be too public and I won’t use my resources that way. If he asks? It’s a no.”

Inclining his head, letting Rhodey feel it, rather than see it, Keiran closed his eyes and pushed away the creeping doubt. His Dom was right. This was a situation where his support, his understanding, would have to be enough. He pictured Avery with the baby and let out a soft laugh as he lifted his head. “Avery already has his hands full with Ana. I don’t see him taking on more.”

Sliding his hand down to the small of Keiran’s back, Rhodey smiled. “Neither do I. He’s having a hard time accepting he can just be her big brother. If anyone other than Tracey was taking care of her, he wouldn’t be able to. It’ll be good for him to stop by tonight when all this is done.”