Chapter 9

“They have…” Lawson let his words trail off. The damage Kovit had done must have left everyone shaken. Wary. He’d been here for years. He’d… “Damn it, that man, Kovit, almost got you both killed. Did he…” He put his hand on Matt’s shoulder, then met Reed’s eyes. “Did he try again?”

Reed shook his head. Paused, then shrugged. “Maybe? I mean, he got pissy with me once, like he was hoping I’d react, but Rhodey stepped in.”

Matt sat forward, nudging his chin at Reed. “And you almost got done in with a ‘Snow White’ maneuver. Man, I don’t know how you can even look at candy anymore.” Shaking his head, as if he realized something. “Dude did everything in twos. Cuz next time instead, he bit Jamie and poisoned him. Almost made Noah strangle him for cheating. It was some fucked up shit.”

“Wait...what?” Lawson stilled, staring down at Matt. “He tried to poison Reed?”

Curtis returned to the sofa, reaching out to massage his boy’s shoulder, brushing aside his light brown curls. “The lollipops in the jar. Rhodey found them.”

“Rhodey doesn’t let me have candy he doesn’t give me anymore, but it’s cool, because he’s always got some on him.” Reed patted the pockets of his black-and-yellow spotted pajama pants and frowned. “Damn it, I finished the last one. I should go see if he’s in the bar.”

“For breakfast? Stay put.” Curtis straightened one of Reed’s curls, tugging gently so it bounced from his fingertips when he let go. “It’s too early to go sugar happy.” The man spoke like he didn’t have a glass of bourbon in his hand before eight a.m.

Lawson looked Reed over, the way his knee was bouncing. The way he chewed his lip and let it go as if he was trying very hard not to break that particular rule. He cleared his throat and met Curtis’s eyes. “Unfortunately, I seem to have...well, never kept any cereal with anything colorful in it. Is the food safe at least? Maybe he can go get himself a bowl?”

Following Lawson’s gaze, Curtis studied Reed, seeming to see his distress for the first time. “Go on. Take Matt with you. Don’t wake Rhodey up if he’s asleep.”

Matt stood slowly, casting Lawson a reluctant look, like he was afraid if he let him out of his sight he might disappear. Or wake up to find out his return had all been a dream. “Yes, sir.”

Popping off the sofa, Reed nodded, leaning over to kiss Curtis before jumping over the coffee table and grabbing Matt’s hand. He gave Lawson a one-armed hug, whispering in his ear. “Thank you.”

Eyes on the two subs as they left, Lawson massaged the back of his neck and sighed. “None of this has been easy on them, has it?”

Curtis sat heavily. Tipping his head back on the cushion, he spoke at the ceiling. “I keep waiting to stop feeling like I’m going to throw up everything I eat. Hiding how worried I am—the way I want to rip anything he tries to eat out of his hand.”

“But you held it together for him. And for Matt.” Lawson shoved off the chair, going to the sofa and sitting, angled to face Curtis, squeezing his thigh. “I appreciate that more than I can say. I wish I could’ve been here so you didn’t have to do it alone.”

Rolling his head, Curtis took him in from beneath half-closed lids. “It’s so fucking good to see your face.”

“Yes, well...unfortunately, I don’t think everyone will feel the same once…” Lawson withdrew his hand. Eased back. His best bet was to see how Curtis would react. It would give him an idea of what to expect moving forward. “There’s already someone else here, Curtis. Someone targeting Wren. There’s...always two.”

Dark blond lashes blinked, and Curtis shifted, sitting up slowly. A thread of silence tautened, snagging on the rough edge of Curtis’s sigh. “I know you won’t do it. Who’s your contact inside? We’ll go tell Rhodey and he’ll take care of it. At least they’ll have to start again.”

“I don’t have one. That...was what made the decision for me.” Lawson bowed his shoulders and lowered his head. “It was so fucking easy to say no. To everything. To accept that I might never leave. But they told me that they had someone on the inside who wouldn’t hesitate to take out anyone in their path. The only way to protect the people I loved was to get to Wren first. And no, I won’t kill him.” He was grateful Curtis knew him that well, at least. It would’ve gutted him if he’d doubted that for a second. “I had to...agree to do it for them to release me. It was the only way I could get here and find out who’s after him. Stop them before they hurt anyone else.”

Curtis’s palm covered his knee, squeezing. “If it helps any, the sadistic torture stopped when Kovit left. Or seems to have. Whoever is in, they’re being very cautious and very quiet.”

“Then we do what you suggested. Tell Rhodey. Have everyone watching for this person until they’re exposed.”

“Or… We stop waiting and start setting some traps of our own.” Curtis rolled his head, vertebrae popping with tension. “That’s what my father would have done.”

Lawson’s brow lifted. “Which makes it appealing how, exactly?”

Gaze darkening, Curtis showed the edge of a feral smile. “It gets the job done and keeps our boys safe.”

“Which Rhodey has done. Which you’ve done. Without using methods you spent years moving away from.” Lawson shook his head. “You’ve come too fucking far, my man. I’m not losing you to that. Not again.”

Pink made the white of Curtis’s scars stand out. “Then you’re going to have to do something stronger than suggest, because I’m not willing to sit back and hear about Noah slowly strangling his husband again. I’ll kill the fucker myself.”

Blinking at him, Lawson frowned. “Why would Noah go after Jamie? I’m the one who agreed to kill Wren. He won’t like it, but he’ll understand why when I explain.”

“Kovit fucked with him over and over, as the weak link. I have sympathy, but the man is just too vulnerable to that. You think I’m bad?” Expelling a bitter laugh, Curtis tossed his hair out of his eyes. “It’s a good thing Jamie loves the man. Even I would’ve run screaming.” He frowned, looking down, lips thinning. “Well, maybe not. Noah has a way about him. But, fuck if I know.”

“Then no one tells Noah. If he’s that volatile, Rhodey will know what to avoid. And Jamie’s not here. This isn’t about him, or Noah. It’s about who might be at risk, and I refuse to let it be Matt, or Reed, or you.” Lawson’s jaw clenched. “And Jared should know. He’s been through enough.”

“No. No.” Sitting up, hands held up, palms out, Curtis shook his head. “He’d shoot you just in case. No Lawson. You’re not swaying me on that. Keep them both out of it. Let Rhodey handle this. Please.”

“Fine.” Lawson stood, grabbing his coffee to finish it. “How does one approach that man anyway? I’d rather not end up tied up, unconscious, in one of his ‘secure locations’ again.”

Curtis paled. “You won’t have to go far, at least. Did you authorize him building those cells behind the dungeon?”

I’ve entered the goddamn Twilight Zone.

He ran his tongue over his teeth, shaking his head. “Consider that question again. I’m pretty sure you can answer it yourself.”

Rubbing his hands over his face, Curtis spoke into his palms. “They’re versatile at least. Even my father didn’t think to combine a kill room with a cell. The bed and toilet fold clean into the wall. Completely disappear.”

“I don’t want to know. I really don’t. I’ve had my share of cells, thank you.” Lawson’s throat tightened at the idea of Rhodey deciding he belonged in one, but what choice did they have? Rhodey was here because of the threat. He needed to be aware of every part of it. “So, do you know the way to this lair of his, or should we go find out if he’s playing candyman, rather than stripping the skin off someone’s back?”

“Sorry. Would you rather I talked to him alone?” Curtis’s warmth sank into Lawson’s arm through his shirtsleeve, the light touch an anchor. “He’s across the hall.”

Turning, Lawson shook his head, cupping Curtis’s cheek and bringing their lips together. “No. I need to do this. It fucking killed me to say… Damn it, once I agreed, even though I knew what I planned to do, I wasn’t sure if anyone else would believe me. If anyone would trust me.”

“Only someone not in their right mind wouldn’t trust you Law.” Curtis tipped their foreheads together. “And when I say that, I can suddenly see how you might worry. But Rhodey’s not dumb. He’d come to you for the information sooner or later. It’ll go better if he doesn’t have to.”

“That makes sense.” Lawson sucked in a bracing breath, letting it out with a laugh. “I really miss when the most complicated thing I had to deal with was you forgetting to note down checks you’d written for repairs and having to recalculate the entire budget.”

Lacing their fingers together, Curtis grinned, sheepishly. “Is this the part where I tell you I fucked with Noah by not giving him receipts from random Tuesdays while you were away?”

Chuckling, Lawson shook his head. “It would be more entertaining if that wasn’t going to become my problem to deal with very soon. But you do petty so well now, it’s hard to be mad about it.”

“Mhm.” Claiming a kiss, Curtis breathed against his lips. “I want to get back to normal just so I can spend a Sunday morning piled up to my neck in blankets, boys, and you.”

Eyes closed, Lawson allowed himself a moment to imagine that kind of day. He’d take it, whether life was normal or not, but it would be so much sweeter without the anvil of the next disaster hanging over their heads. “Clear your schedule.” He tugged at Curtis’s bottom lip with his teeth. “But first, let’s make sure we don’t have to defuse any unexpected bombs. Or plan a prison break from within the walls of our own damn building.”

Nodding, Curtis took out his phone and pulled up an app Lawson didn’t recognize. “You’ll excuse me if I do this just for the pleasure of it.” Pressing a red button, he flopped down on the couch. “I think I like the idea of being in your space for this, and God knows I owe him one.”

This didn’t seem like the kind of meeting he would have arranged—knowing Curtis, it was anything but—yet, he wouldn’t question how Curtis chose to handle a situation Lawson had been excluded from for months.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Lawson shook his head, returning to his seat as the door to his loft—which apparently doesn’t lock automatically anymore?—opened.

Rhodey actually looked like he’d been woken, which was interesting, since Lawson hadn’t been sure he actually slept. He watched the man silently cross the room, taking in Rhodey’s skin, lightly creased from a pillow, and his rumpled tank top and jeans, which detracted nothing from how alert he became with every step.

Stopping at the other side of the coffee table, Rhodey folded his arms over his chest, gaze locked on Curtis. “If you wanted an audience, you pressed the wrong button, my man.”

A wry twist to his mouth, Curtis sat back, hands placed loosely on his knees. “You can spank me for it later. I needed everyone out of this room, you in it, and no one in or out of the building until this discussion is done.” His shoulders lifted minutely. “Seemed the most expedient way. You can tell Jared I butt-locked the building. Because he doesn’t get to know about this conversation, and neither does Noah.”

“I see.” Rhodey cocked his head, looking from Curtis to Lawson. “Then I’m guessing this has something to do with Wren.”

‘Something’ was putting it mildly. Lawson picked up his coffee cup. Frowned when he found it empty and put it back down. Why was it Noah was so much easier to deal with, despite his cold jabs and never-ending attempts to dig into any weak spots he could find? Rhodey was...impossible to read. There was no emotion. His body language never matched up with the words that came out of his mouth. Finding the proper way to approach the subject was about as simple as putting together a puzzle when a dozen had been scattered together in the dark.

But maybe Lawson was simply complicating things in his own mind. He met the man’s gray eyes, enough like Noah’s to both comfort and unsettle him. “There’s someone else in The Asylum with a mark on Wren. Someone who might get desperate enough to take out anyone who gets in their way. Kovit being removed from the equation might make things seem safer, but they’re not. Not in the least.”

“You do know there’s only one way you’d have that information, yes?” Rhodey didn’t move any closer. He actually seemed very calm as he claimed the armchair on the other side of the coffee table. But his nonchalant tone still sent a chill down Lawson’s spine. “So, what do you expect me to do with it? Look for the other threat while ignoring the one right in front of me?”

Curtis stood. “He wouldn’t tell you if he hadn’t come back with better intentions than that, and you know it. This is Lawson, you trigger happy goon.”

Rhodey sighed. “At least you’re entertaining, but if you stand then I’m going to have to stand, and someone’s going to get hurt. So how about you settle, Mobster Ken, and we can have a rational conversation.”

Jaw working, Curtis clenched both hands, leg twitching like he seriously considered round-housing Rhodey. Nodding once, he went to sit on the arm of Lawson’s chair, clearly aligning himself. “I told him you’d be reasonable. Don’t make me regret that.”

“If we’re done calling one another names…” Lawson took hold of Curtis’s hand and squeezed, appreciating both his support and his presence. “I’m not a threat. Whether you believe me or not, you’ve already proven how easily you can take me out. And if we want to get technical, I helped build this place. It wouldn’t take long for me to find the changes you’ve made and disable many of them. But I’ve never played those kinds of games and I won’t start now. I did what I had to so I’d be released because I wanted to be in a position to help stop whoever is willing to kill Wren. And is dangerous to everyone else here in the meantime.”

Brow slanting with interest, Rhodey braced his forearms on his knees. “If you can find a single way around the security measures here, I’d like to see it. If Wren could’ve checked everything out himself, I’d say it was impossible—his access was always limited though.” He nodded slowly. “But it fucked with you to get rid of a few bodies. I can’t see you pulling the trigger on that boy. And you’re a good man.”

“Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.” Rhodey sighed. “So...yeah. Let’s not tell Jared. As much as I like to watch him work, he’d go off the deep end if he ended up taking you out, and I’d miss how tense shit gets around here when you and Noah decide to growl at each other. So let’s not do the sharing thing, and find this fucker.”

Tension left Curtis’s hand.

Rhodey jutted his chin at Curtis, lips curving slightly. “You get one. Next time, you’ll have to find another way to get my attention, but that was clever. Well done.”

“It seemed quieter at this time of day than pulling the fire alarm.”

“But the looks on your faces were priceless.” Rhodey stood, leaning over to pat Curtis’s shoulder. “Either way, I won’t let Jared cut off your dick for scaring him. I’ll go check in and let him know it was a false alarm.” He turned to Lawson. “Stick to the story of you not being useful in the ways they wanted you to be. Focus on your boys. On getting back into the swing of things here. Keep your eye out and let me know if anyone checks in with you.”

Lawson nodded, rising to see Rhodey to the door as he pulled out his phone and ended the lockdown. He stood back as Rhodey stepped out into the hall. “That shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Mhm. Well, you’re a shit liar, so...just do that silent thing you do.” Rhodey shrugged. “Or work. Or fuck. I don’t care, but you and Noah? Do not discuss anything.”

With that, the man turned, sidestepping as Reed and Matt rushed up the stairs, shaking his head at them both before he returned to his loft. Lawson let the two subs by, then closed the door, laughing when he realized Reed had tucked a box of multicolored marshmallow cereal under his arm that he nearly dropped as he bent over, breathing hard.

“What the actual—” Matt cut himself off at a skwak from Reed. “—fire marshals was that?”

“Everything’s fine.” Lawson grabbed his mug and headed for the kitchen, calling over his shoulder. “Would you like a bowl for that?”

Reed’s light footsteps trailed after him before he set the box on the kitchen table. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

He heard Curtis speaking quietly to Matt in the living room, then the opening of his office door. Matt came into the kitchen a minute later with a yellow-lined pad and sat, forehead in his hand, and began writing lines.

Fetching Reed a bowl and the milk, Lawson glanced over at Matt, then to Curtis as he returned. “Did I miss something?”

Curtis shrugged. “Probably not, but I don’t think you’re in the headspace. I am.”

“Fair enough.” Lawson went to get himself some coffee, pulling out a spoon and tossing it to Reed when he realized he’d forgotten to give him one. He rested his hip against the counter, savoring the smooth, creamy sweetness of his second cup. “I like this kitchen. We really should spend more time in it.”

“Mhm.” Coming up behind him, Curtis wrapped his arms around Lawson’s waist and tugged him backward. Pressed his lips to the place where his shoulder met his neck. “It’s bigger than Reed’s and mine. More room to hang out.”

And no danger to Matt. Or Curtis and Reed. He leaned back against Curtis, enjoying the strength of his arms, the solidness of his chest, the...fucking human contact not involving any kind of pain was nice. He ignored the ache in his side, contemplating how to manage his schedule so they could be together like this more often. “I should find a way to do more work from home. There are likely some accounts I can oversee remotely.”

“That’d be nice.” Matt looked up from the pen he scratched over the pad, filling it up with neat, even lines. His handwriting was nearly pristine. “I have an office at the Center now. You could come there too.”

“Yes, I should.” Lawson watched Matt writing, line after line. Probably not a pleasant task, but he was here. Not at the community center, much too easily accessed. “Is there someone else who could take your place for some time? There’s plenty for you to do here…” Not in the bar. Not until Lawson saw for himself how Kovit had managed to come so close to killing too many of the people he loved. “I could teach you what I do, and we could work on it together.”

At the mention of working together with him, Matt relaxed his jaw and loosened his grip on the pen. “That would be…” He glanced at Curtis, as if seeking something.

Curtis nodded. “Not my decision. You’ll figure it out.”

“I—” Matt nodded. “Yes. That sounds nice.”

“Good. And we can work on some renovations. I’ll need your help.” Lawson considered the loft. Putting up some walls would take at least a few weeks. He nodded to himself and smiled. Curtis enjoyed that kind of thing. “The kitchen space is good, but the rest of the loft is too wide open. That is...if you have the time.”

Resting his chin on Lawson’s shoulder, Curtis nodded. “I have time on Tuesdays and Thursdays, if that works for you. You let me know. But what kind of rooms are you building? Do they need plumbing?”

Scooping cereal to his mouth, Reed spoke around it. “You should definitely make a game room. Some pinball machines. Shooting games. That would be cool.”

Not at all what Lawson had ever pictured in his home, but sure. “A game room. Soundproof.”

“Law?” Curtis spoke quietly next to his ear. “What do you think of knocking a door through? Or is that too much togetherness? There was a time when it wouldn’t have appealed, so I get it if you want to say no.”

“I like that idea much better than a game room.” Lawson held up his hand when Reed huffed. “But no reason we can’t do both. I’d like more togetherness. I’d like you all here.”

Matt muttered under his breath something sounding suspiciously like ‘I get to fuck him first.’

Curtis whispered in his ear. “I’m staying away from that one, my man.”

Chuckling, Lawson inclined his head. “Good idea. But we should make some plans. All of us. Changes that will make…” Make this feel like home. With them, not a place he’d returned to that he wasn’t part of. He shook his head, rejecting his own misgivings. Things would settle. He would figure it out. All it would take was some work and they’d all have what they wanted. “I don’t want to keep anyone from responsibilities, but I’d appreciate as much...as much time as you can spare.”

“Whenever I’m not on duty here or working at the dojo, you’ve got me.” Curtis gave him a light squeeze, then tapped Matt on the shoulder. “You’re done. Time for you and all of us to get back to bed.”

On the paper over and over Matt had written Lawson loves me and I love Lawson. I kiss my Dom with this mouth.

“I never thought I’d enjoy seeing lines written over and over quite so much.” Lawson tipped Matt’s chin up with a finger, claiming his lips in a long, slow kiss. “Mmm. Yes, you do.” He let out a soft laugh. “And I believe you weren’t the only one swearing. Do we have a separate set of rules around here? I really should go check the fridge to see what’s changed.”

Mouth full of cereal, Reed shook his head. “Totally doesn’t count. I get a pass talking about when I almost died.”

Kissing Reed on the cheek, Curtis missed his hair. “It’s true.”

“I see.” Lawson wrapped his arms around Matt’s chest. “Matt, what was Reed talking about when he said ‘fucked up’?”

“Doc. But Reed and I also each get one free pass a day. I used mine. Four and I would’ve gotten spanked. He stopped me at three.” Matt sighed, then brightened and grinned. “But it’s all right since I didn’t swear again until after the lines. Clean slate.”

Now these rules were definitely both fair and enforceable, without being draconian. He trusted Curtis without reservation, but he would’ve hated to see Matt lose the fierce passion that was such a huge part of his personality. How he didn’t back down from what he knew was right. This way, he could do exactly that, while still feeling the reassuring weight of his collar.

Finger brushing over the links of metal at his boy’s throat, he smiled. “Such a good boy. I’m proud of you.”

Matt’s throat lengthened as he gave Lawson access to that sweet spot he’d loved having caressed from the very beginning. “Thank you, sir. I’m proud of you too.”

“Of me? For what? I haven’t been here to do anything.”

Turning his head into Lawson’s palm, Matt met his eyes. “For being strong enough to make it back where you belong. Back to us. Back to me.”

Lawson wasn’t sure strength had brought him back. His strength had been useless when he’d been confined, restrained, overpowered, but something had gotten him through it all. Had helped him make choices he couldn’t have otherwise. Had kept him alive.

“That was love, Matt. Every bit of it.” He kissed his boy again. “You gave me more than enough to last.”