“No.” Jordan sat up abruptly, ignoring the painful twinge of his ribs. “Don’t sugarcoat it. I want, Ineedto help catch these bastards. Not only will I help my neighborhood and the city, but it will go a little way to ease my own guilt for what I did in tarnishing Keith’s memory. I was too caught up in my own self-pity to think about how destructive my actions were.”
Neil rose from his chair to sit next to Jordan and give him a hug. “Keith would’ve been proud of you. You’re not the same man you were a year ago, are you?”
“Keith would’ve kicked my ass from here until next Sunday if I’d ever done anything this stupid while he was alive. And no, I’m not, thanks to Lucas. Like Keith, he also has the ability to see past my bullshit and call me on it.”
“You’re a remarkably easy person to read.” Lucas began collecting the plates of leftovers that people had left scattered about. “But let me ask you something. How do you think you can help the police?”
Here was the tricky part. Jordan knew Lucas wouldn’t be happy, but it wasn’t his choice to make. Not his fight to fight. “I have an idea that it might be Johnny’s boss, his supplier. Johnny couldn’t have beaten me down by himself, if at all. But get to the bigger guys and you get to the problem. And that’ll be through Johnny. He’s only a boy, vulnerable and still fixable if we get to him early enough, and he hasn’t been too badly damaged.”
With deliberation, Lucas put down the stack of paper plates he’d been collecting and walked back over to where Jordan and Neil sat. “I know you didn’t suggest a setup. You can’t put yourself in the middle of this. It’s too dangerous.”
Jordan’s temper rose. “I wasn’t asking for your permission.”
In all the months he’d known Lucas, he’d yet to see him this scared. “This isn’t fuckingLaw and Order, Jordan. Things won’t necessarily be wrapped up all nice and neat in an hour, with a guarantee to make it to next week simply because you’re on the right side of the law.”
The heat of Lucas’s fear and anger hit Jordan like a fist. Rationally, Jordan knew Lucas was right, and only spoke like that out of concern and love. But he also knew that his plan was the best chance they had to catch these bastards. Appealing to Neil, he tried to remain calm and neutral. “Don’t you agree with me, Neil? I’m the best shot you’ve got at stopping these fuckers.”
The lines on Neil’s face deepened. He hesitated, shot Lucas a quick, troubled look, then focused on Jordan again. “I’m afraid I’m going to agree with Luke. You’re too intimately involved and things could go horribly wrong. Now that you’ve given us a lead as to who you believe is at least responsible for the break-in and attack, we have reasonable cause to speak to them. Then we’ll put them under surveillance and hopefully your kid Johnny will lead us to the bigger fish.”
“No, but…” Jordan sputtered, indignant that he could be so casually cut out of the loop.
“For Christ’s sake, listen to Neil.” Lucas had remained quiet and in the background while Neil spoke. “I agree that the kid is probably key. But you aren’t going to use yourself as bait.”
Jordan would’ve liked to continue the argument, but he didn’t have the strength to argue with both of them. He tipped his head back against the seat cushions.
“I think it’s time you rested and took a nap. Why don’t I help you upstairs?” Though he had formed it as a question, Jordan heard the steely determination in Lucas’s voice and quickly acquiesced. Bed sounded good—great, in fact. There was nothing he wanted more than to lie down with Lucas next to him.
Thank God Neil also understood. “I’ll be in touch, Jordan, and I’m thrilled you’re doing better.” He shook hands with Lucas and squeezed Jordan’s shoulder. “Don’t get up. I’ll show myself out.”
A minute later he heard the door rattle shut. Quiet descended on him, and without him needing to ask, Lucas gave him something for his headache. The two of them sat in the stillness, the afternoon shadows deepening. Sasha padded in to lie at his feet, her eyes never leaving him.
The pain in his head receded, and he sighed. “This was really nice. Thanks for getting everyone together.” He kissed Lucas’s slightly scruffy cheek.
Never comfortable with praise, Lucas shrugged. “It was nothing. Everyone helped put it together.”
“Uh, I saw you speaking to Ash earlier. Care to let me in on what it was about?” Hoping against hope the two men would continue to make headway toward reconciliation, Jordan held his breath.
“We agreed to meet tomorrow night. Here, if that’s all right with you.”
“Are you fucking crazy?” A huge grin split his face. “What time?”
Beneath him, Lucas’s chest rumbled with laughter. “Seven o’clock. I’ll be home from work by then.”
Jordan smiled, and Lucas cleared his throat. “I mean, I meant…”
“I know what you meant. I’d been meaning to speak with you about this very thing.” Taking both of Lucas’s hands in his, Jordan knew he was making the right decision. “You have every right to call this your home. I want to share my days and nights with you. Would you move in here, with us?” He glanced down at Sasha, who, thrilled at having some attention directed her way, put her paws on his lap and barked twice.
Lucas laughed and hugged him, careful not to squeeze him too hard. “Are you sure you want me, Prep School? I’m a real bastard in the morning, as you’ve seen sometimes.” His hazel eyes glinted, and Jordan’s body stirred to life.
“I know what I want.” Jordan slipped his hand into Lucas’s. “Right now I want you to take me upstairs and get into bed with me.” He could hear the quickening cadence of Lucas’s breath, and it matched his own rising excitement. “I want to wake up with you under me or over me. I want you inside me.”
When they stood at the foot of the stairs, he grabbed Lucas around the neck to pull him close. His lips rested against the firm line of Lucas’s jaw, and Jordan breathed in the light citrus scent of Lucas’s aftershave. “I love you, Lucas.” Pressed tight against each other, the unmistakable bulge of Lucas’s heavy erection prodded Jordan, and his stomach clenched tight.
Lucas’s deep voice drawled slow and sexy in his ear. “I love you too. But I want you to be sure. It’s only a little over a year since you lost Keith. I’m not going anywhere. I’m right where I want to be.”
Jordan took Luke’s hand and started up the steps. “I’m sure of two things right now. I’m sure I’m going to be screaming your name sooner rather than later.”
Lucas sprinted ahead of him and tugged at his hand. “I’m ready for that as well.”
