Emmett put a hand on Kaz’s arm and said, “No worries. I’ll keep my receivers on while I’m here. I appreciate the effort, though.”
It was always nice to know people cared enough to at least try to communicate in his first language. He wasn’t surprised that Miles had fallen in love with a man who put in that extra effort because Miles always did.
Kaz shook his head, not looking so happy with his perceived shortcomings. He was about to ensure Kaz it was alright when Kaz waved him along and said, “Let me show you where you’ll be working.”
He followed Kaz to the doorway Maddox, Talon, and Wilder were still blocking. Kaz stopped to tell Maddox to get his ass home, but Emmett barely listened, his gaze caught on the biggest of the men. Wilder, Kaz had said his name was. The man’s jawline was to die for, and he was easily twice his size. He was pretty sure Wilder’s arms were thicker than his head. He was wearing a T-shirt under his leather cut, the tattoo covering his left arm peeking out of his sleeve and catching Emmett’s full attention. It was a gorgeous piece of art. It was clearly inspired by Greek architecture, with stark lines through the piece to break up the darkness. He wanted a closer look at the details?
“Emmett?”
A hand on his shoulder made him jerk, and he snapped his gaze away from Wilder’s tattoo to find Kaz watching him with a raised brow and a slight curve to his lips.
Fuck. He’d been staring.
Nothing new for him, but he knew it could be seen as disrespectful by the bikers.
“It’s this way,” Kaz said, gently pushing him toward the doorway.
He swallowed hard and clutched his tablet to his chest. He risked a glance at Wilder, his pulse jumping when he found the man watching him with a smug grin on his face. Oh, there was no doubt that Wilder knew he was hot, or that he’d noticed Emmett staring at him. Heat rose to his cheeks, and he hurried to look away.
Kaz led him through the door and past rows of different machines. They reached a set of open double doors, and a smile instantly found his lips when they stepped into a room with a high ceiling and countless windows that bathed the space in a soft light. A couch was placed along the back wall under a row of windows, and there were punching bags lined up against the wall to his left, ready to be hung up in the smaller space where the ceiling was lower. There was only one other door, and as it was propped open, he could just spot a sink inside. A toilet, then. He turned his gaze to the empty middle of the room. He suspected it wouldn’t be for long.
“You’re putting up a boxing ring?”
“We are,” Kaz said, a smile spreading on his lips. “We’re still missing some components of the ring, but it should all be here in a week’s time.”
“It’s gonna be great,” he said, grinning at Kaz.
“I hope so. This is all yours,” Kaz said, motioning at the only windowless wall. It spanned a good hundred square feet. They had left him quite the blank canvas.
“I’m gonna need a ladder.”
Kaz’s soft huff of laughter had him smiling back at him.
“We’ll get you something,” Kaz said. “I had the guys put the couch in here for you. Miles told me you like to sit and look at the thing you’re going to paint, and I don’t want you on the floor.”
“Thank you,” he mumbled.
Kaz nodded. “I’ll leave you to it. I’ll be around if you need anything, though.”
“There is one thing I need. You never got to answer my questions.”
“Your… Ah. Ezra,” Kaz said, shaking his head. “Well, we did need a legit business here, but mostly we chose the gym to provide a safe place for anyone who needs it. Everyone’s welcome here. Who you are, your past, it doesn’t matter here, as long as you don’t come in here intending to harm anyone.”
“I like that.”
He’d been lucky. He had family who loved and protected him. A lot of people didn’t have that safety net.
“On that note,” Kaz said, stepping closer, his expression turning serious. “You’re safe here. With us.”
A painful lump formed in his throat.
“You know?”
“I do. The others don’t. Emma had to tell me, but it’s no one’s business, Emmett. I just want you to know, the Kings have your back. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
He nodded, unable to form words.
“If there’s anything, come to me, yeah?”
