“Yeah? Who?” I trail my fingers up his sternum, moving my hand back and forth in a soothing motion. He tenses again, but I stay away from his scar. After a while, he relaxes and rests his hands on my knees.
“Guy that works in my cages. Jadon. I think he’s been stealing from the casino. I got a feeling about him a few weeks ago, so I looked into him. He had issues with stealing at his last job because of a gambling addiction and he has a mountain of debt he probably won’t get out of in this lifetime.”
“And you hired him?” I ask incredulously. He just dumpedsomeone in the middle of the Atlantic for stealing from Kai and he hired someone that could do it right under his nose?
He scoffs and looks back at me. “No. I don’t handle hiring practices. If they’re not affiliated with the family, I let the board handle it. This dickhead used his wife’s last name, so nothing came up on his background check.”
“Fucking dick,” I say around a chuckle. “What are you going to do about him?”
“I’m going to bring him into my office in a few days. I have my guys tailing him to see if he does anything suspicious, like leave letters on my car, or have them delivered via courier. So far, he’s clean, but I haven’t received a letter in a while. He could be lying low, thinking I’m going to give in, or letting shit cool down if he thinks I’m on to him. He looks scared every time he sees me on the floor, like he thinks I’m going to confront him about his bullshit.”
“Where’s the first letter you received?”
Declan surprises me by giving me a quick kiss before he gets off the bed and pads over to his nightstand. He rummages around, then pulls out a crumpled piece of paper.
“Here.” He sits back where he was, comfortable between my legs. I wrap one arm around him and look at the letter he handed me.
YOU FUCKED WITH THE WRONG PERSON.
YOU’LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID.
FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO THIS ACCOUNT OR YOU’LL REGRET IT.
I tap the letter.“The other letter says the same.You’ll pay for what you did.Did you do anything to Jadon? His family?”
Declan is quiet for a bit, leaning back against me as he looks off into space. “Not that I know of. Then again, I haven’t been keeping a fucking tally. There are more people in the ground because of me than I can count on both hands and feet. I can’t say for sure Jadon’s stealing from me, but the guy’s got a history of sticky fingers and a gambling problem, so it’s not exactly a stretch. And I guess he’s dumb enough to think extorting me is a solid plan..”
“Need back up?”
“No. I have some guys that I’ve worked with for the past few weeks helping out. Tailing him and keeping tabs when he’s not at work.”
“People you might want to have guarding you full-time?”
Declan shrugs. “Maybe. They’re good. Thorough. Follow directions well. Maybe two is better than one. I won’t get attached.”
That note of sorrow in his voice is clear, even though he tries to hide it.
Emotion tugs at my heart at his words. He doesn’t want to get attached. Because of losing Hendrix or something else? I need to figure out what’s going on in that pretty head of his so I know how to proceed.
Declan claimed me in one way, but I want so much more. If I’m careful, I can get everything from him.
I wrap my arms more snugly around him and kiss his shoulder. He tries to shrug me off, but I only chuckle and kiss him again. I let him go when he wiggles again.
He turns around and slides his hand on my cock, pulling the condom off. “This didn’t irritate you?”
“Yeah, but we were talking.”
“Don’t catch feelings, Nico. I’m just fucking you until you decide to fuck off with another hot guy.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I cup the back of his neck andpull him close, kissing him gently. Declan sighs against my mouth but kisses me back.
Catching feelings won’t be hard. Even though he’s a cranky, complaining asshole, I like Declan. He’s so soft in my arms, so pliant when I have my hands on him. He keeps up the tough guy act—though it’s not really an act—but there’s something deep down that’s worth getting to know. He might not think so, but I get small peeks of it. Maybe he’ll let me see more.
One day.
“You don’t have to use them anymore,” he says as he ties the condom off. “Since we’re both tested. I already fucked you raw.”
I shrug. “I know. But it cuts down on the mess.” I look over at the wet spot. “A little.”
