Calder scrubbed his hands over his face. He hadn’t expected this. He thought Linc would give him a lecture and send him on his way. He hadn’t expected to be called out over his self-destructive behavior. Maybe Robby was right. Maybe he did need to look more into what happened to Megan. But, before he did that, he needed to make one thing clear. “You told me that I wasn’t allowed to have sex with Robby and still be employed with Elite. I made a decision. I’d rather have him than this job. I’m not trying to fuck up my life. I have plenty of money saved. Shit, Linc, this might be the first time I’m trying tosavemy own life.”
Linc leaned forward in his seat. “Level with me, are you falling for this kid?”
Yes.“Yeah, I think I am.”
“Christ,” Linc muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Calder frowned. “I mean, I know Elite is getting a bit of a matchmaking reputation, but I would have thought you of all people would be happy to see me falling for somebody. If I’m sticking my dick in him, then I’m not sticking my dick in the clients. Problem solved.”
“Why’d you have to pick that kid?”
Calder looked towards the closed door. “How could I not? He’s…perfect.”
Linc slammed his fist on his desk. “You know what? Fine. But I want you to know that I now owe Wyatt a thousand fucking dollars and I’m taking it out of your yearly fucking bonus. You know how smug he’s going to be about this? I hope this kid’s worth it.”
“He is,” Calder said without a moment’s hesitation.
“Well, mazel tov, I guess. But what are we going to do about his case? I can’t have you guarding your boyfriend. It’s bad for business.”
“You and Shep both did it,” Calder reminded him.
“Yeah, and both times, we made stupid mistakes that could have ended up with them getting hurt,” Linc countered.
“I’m not walking away from this. Give me a leave of absence, fire me if you have to, but I’m sticking this out until the end.”
Linc grunted. “Were you always this much of a pain in the ass?”
Calder shrugged. “Well, yeah. But I’m the only guard with a PI license. So, you tolerate me.”
“Fine. But if this goes sideways, it’s on you.”
Calder winced. “Well, funny you should say that…”
“I’m going to rehire you just so I can fire your ass. What now?” Linc asked, exasperated.
“Somebody tipped off the press that Robby was at my place. They ambushed us on the way out this morning. We can’t go back.”
Linc nodded. “You can use one of the safehouses. I can send Connolly to collect some of your personal items from your apartment. Just make a list. Is that it?”
“Nope. Robby recognized somebody in the crowd this morning. His older sister. She slipped a note into his hand. It just said ‘help me’ and gave a phone number.”
Linc jammed his finger down on a button. “Get the client in here, please,” he growled into the intercom before releasing the button. After a moment, he jabbed it down again. “Keep the dog out there. It gives me the creeps.”
Calder’s mouth fell open. “Hey, Cas can’t help how he looks. It’s not his fault he’s ugly.”
Linc snorted a laugh. “Jesus, this kid’s really done a number on you.”
Robby creaked the door open like he was trying not to wake them, closing it softly behind him before trudging forward, arms crossed like he was cold.
“It’s okay, angel. You aren’t in trouble. Linc’s face always looks like that,” Calder assured him, waving Robby to the empty seat beside him.
Linc flicked him off before turning his attention to Robby. “You still have the piece of paper the woman gave you?”
Robby nodded, fishing the paper from his pocket and handing it to Linc before sitting on the edge of the seat beside Calder, almost like he wanted to be prepared if he had to flee suddenly.
Linc pushed a single button on his phone. Webster’s voice popped up on the other line. “‘Sup, brother?”
Linc didn’t bother to return the greeting. “I need you to trace a phone number for me.”
