He’s a puzzle—defiant, passionate, with that Little spark that makes my blood run hot.
The spanking proved he’s got steel, taking those swats with whimpers but no surrender. But Cole’s message changes everything. If Knox & Rain are dirty, Miles is either a pawn or a player, and I need to find out which.
The boy is staying with me, no question—not just to protect the Guard, but to keep him alive until I’ve got all the pieces.
I pull out my phone and reply to Cole:
TRAVIS: Keep digging. Names, dates, transactions. I want everything on Knox & Rain and this new cartel. Miles is with me. I’ll handle him.
I set the phone down, my jaw tight. Miles is not just a threat anymore—he’s a key. If I can get him to talk, to trust me, I might unravel this mess without bloodshed.
But as I watch him sleep, his face soft and unguarded, I know it won’t be easy. He’s got me questioning my own rules, and that’s a dangerous place to be.
The pizza box sits open on the coffee table, steam curling from the pepperoni and extra cheese, the scent filling my apartment with a warmth that feels almost foreign.
Miles is cross-legged on the couch, a slice in his hand, Bean propped beside him like a dinner guest.
He’s in one of my old t-shirts—too big for him, slipping off one shoulder—and his hair’s a soft, floppy mess from his nap.
The sight of Miles, relaxed for once, does something to me, loosening the knot in my chest. I take a bite of my slice, the crust crunching, and lean back, the city’s nighttime glow filtering through the windows.
For a moment, it’s just us, the pizza, and a rare kind of calm…
“Never pegged you for a pizza guy,” Miles says, licking sauce off his thumb, his eyes flicking to mine with a hint of that sass I’m starting to crave. “Thought you’d be all kale smoothies and protein shakes.”
I chuckle, wiping my hands on a napkin.
“I’m full of surprises, Little,” I say. “Besides, even mercenaries need a cheat day.” I pause, the mood light enough to let my guard down, just a fraction. “Truth is, I don’t get much time for…normalstuff. Dinners, dates, all that. My work’s my life, and I’m good with it. Doesn’t leave much room for anything else.”
Miles’ eyes soften, and for once, there’s no bite in his response.
“That sounds kinda lonely,” he says, his voice quieter than usual. “I mean, I get it—work’s everything for me too. But don’t you ever want…more?”
I shrug, taking a sip of water to dodge the weight of his question.
“Used to think about it. A relationship, someone to come home to,” I say. “But the Guard’s not exactly conducive to a love life.Missions, secrets, the kind of enemies who’d use anyone close to me as leverage. I accepted a long time ago that this…” I gesture at the sparse apartment, the pizza, the life I’ve built “…is what I get. And it’s enough.”
Miles tilts his head, studying me like I’m one of his case files.
“I’m curious, you know,” Miles says, setting his slice down. “About therealNight Ops Guard. Not the rumors, not the files I’ve dug up. Who you guys actually are. What drives you.”
His words catch me off guard, and I lean forward, elbows on my knees.
“Careful, young man,” I warn. “That’s dangerous territory. I’ve gotta be real selective about what I share, and you know why. Hopefully, you respect that.”
Miles nods, his expression serious, no trace of his usual defiance.
“I do. And I’ll earn your trust, Travis,” he says. “I’m not just here to fight you. I want to understand.”
I laugh, a low rumble, and point at his plate, where he’s left the crusts untouched.
“You wanna talk trust? Start by eating those crusts,” I say with a wink. “No trust without a clean plate.”
The boy pouts, but there’s a spark in his eyes as he grabs a crust and takes a dramatic bite, chewing with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“Happy now, Daddy?” Miles teases, and the word hits me like a shot, heat pooling low in my gut.
Our eyes lock, and the air shifts, charged with something neither of us is naming.
