TWENTY-THREE
“The fuck you say,” Leo growled, but Morgan didn’t pay attention. This was his first face-to-face with Jeffrey since the night he’d run out on him, over a year earlier. Jeffrey hadn’t changed at all—his blond hair gleamed, and his jaw, even at this time of day, was smooth and clean as if he’d taken a razor to it moments before. Lean and dressed in one of his Italian suits, pristine white shirt underneath, Jeffrey reminded him of a going-out-of-business sale. All flash on the surface with nothing left inside—something he’d learned too late, the hard way.
Morgan left Leo’s side to meet Jeffrey halfway up the cement drive.
“What are you doing here?”
“This?” Jeffrey jerked his head toward Leo, who’d matched him step for step. “This is what you left me for? Slumming, aren’t you?”
“Get out of here.” Leo moved forward, but Morgan put a hand to his chest.
“I can deal with him. It’s okay.”
Jeffrey’s upper lip curled in disdain. “Yes, Morgan. Call off your guard dog. I knew you always wanted a pet, but I didn’t think you’d take it this far.”
Not taking the bait, Morgan asked again, “Jeffrey,whyare you here? You’re violating the order of protection. I could have you arrested.”
Those pale eyes narrowed. “Don’t you speak to me like that. You and I need to talk.” He smiled. “You know you’d never do that. You love me.”
Morgan leaned against the fence railing and crossed his arms, trying to project an aura of calm when inside his heart pumped at an alarming speed. “The hell I won’t. I’ll speak to you any damn way I please. You don’t get to tell me how to think or act anymore. And I have nothing to say to you. Go away. Now.” He touched Leo’s shoulder. “Let’s go inside. I don’t want to be out here anymore.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Leo’s dark gaze met his. “I wouldn’t mind practicing my uppercut on his jaw.” He flexed his hands, and Morgan frowned.
“And I don’t believe in hitting people. You know that.” The harsh lines in Leo’s granite-hard jaw softened under his fingers. “That would make you no better than him when there’s no comparison at all.”
“Fine but let’s go in through the service entrance. Leave him standing here.”
Maybe it was foolish pride on his part, but Morgan didn’t want to be seen as hiding or running away. “No. I want to go in through the front, like everyone else. I don’t need to run away or hide. We’re going to walk right by and ignore him. That will bother Jeffrey more than anything, you’ll see.”
He took Leo’s hand, and when he turned around, Jeffrey’s gaze was pinned to their entwined fingers. Chin up, Morgan walked past Jeffrey, who dogged their steps down the street and around the corner to the front of the building, yelling after them.
“Morgan. Talk to me. You’re the one who ran out and left me. Come home now, where you belong. I’ll even forgive you for your affair with this…this person. I didn’t know you liked the type, but now that I do…remember when you used to let me tie you up? You said you hated it, but I knew you were lying. You like it rough.”
Morgan stumbled, humiliation searing through him at Leo having heard his deepest, most painful secret. Leo’s breathing grew harsher, and Morgan squeezed his hand.
“Please. You promised.”
“I promise not to hit him. That’s all. And I don’t want him coming inside the building, so it’s going to have to stop here.” They halted on the sidewalk path leading up to the building.
“Morgan, stop walking away and talk to me.” Jeffrey remained several paces away. “I have my car. Let’s go.”
“He’s not going anywhere with you, so forget that,” Leo ground out. “Say what you want, then leave.”
Leo’s words drew nothing but a sneering response from Jeffrey. “You have no right to tell me to leave. This is City property. I’ll stand here as long as I like.”
“You can rot as far as I’m concerned, then.” Leo tugged at his hand. “Let’s go.”
“You’re coming with me. Let him go.” Jeffrey reached for Morgan, and Leo took a step forward.
It all happened so fast, Morgan couldn’t tell what came first, but as Jeffrey lunged toward him, Morgan saw nothing except the man who’d hurt him entering his physical space.
“Get away from me.” He swung his fist, connecting with Jeffrey’s jaw, and as Leo had taught him, kept his other hand up to protect his face.
Caught unawares, Jeffrey rocked on his heels and stumbled backward. His eyes bugged out wide, spitting fire. “You hit me? You miserable piece of shit.” Head down, he came at Morgan, who stepped aside and stuck out his foot. Jeffrey tripped and fell face forward on the cement. He landed on his hands and knees with a loud cry.
“You fucking prick.” Jeffrey crouched as if to stand. The knees of his suit pants were ripped, and the palms of his hands scraped and reddened. “Look what you did. You’re going to regret this, I swear.”
Leo nudged him with his foot, pushing him on his ass. “Stay there and don’t move.” He pulled out his phone, but Morgan didn’t pay attention.
