“I-I didn’t want to blow my cover!”
“My son’s going to Hell for sodomy, but God forbid you blow your cover!”
A soft hand touches my shoulder, and I turn to my second in command, who stands calmly at my side.
“Don’t worry, Javier. I’ll bring him back to God. Just bepatient.”
Chapter 22
Aron
One good thing about being Matt’s official guard: I get to stay close when the doctors are stitching him up.
He took a lot in that fight with Grady. Deep lacerations, bruises, even a broken nose. Then there’s the concussion. He insists he’s fine to deal with Syndicate operations, but I’m not so sure about that.
The problem is, Matt has yet to name a successor, or even a second in command. Tito always had Matt, but who does Matt have?
The easy answer is me, but he can’t name his guard as the next don. That might be what set my dad off, come to think of it, but I honestly don’t want that responsibility. I’d rather stay in the background, always by Matt’s side but never in his chair.
Finally, after an hour of stitching and bandaging and tests—faster than any hospital—our doctors declare Matt fit for duty, on one condition: He has to rest tonight.
Matt does not do rest well.
After the fifth time I catch him sneaking out of the bedroom, I pop a stimulant pill to keep from falling asleep and losingtrack of him. For whatever reason, Matt seems to think that the Syndicate can’t function without him overnight.
“Matt, please, just stay in bed for one freaking night.”
He tries to push past my arm across the door, but it’s no use. I’m not letting him out.
“I just want to check the numbers from the twins’ endeavors. Won’t take but a second. Then I’ll go back to bed.”
“The twins haven’t even been at it for twenty-four hours. Go to bed.”
“But—”
Taking him by the shoulders, I bodily turn him around to face the bed. “No buts except for yours in the damned bed.”
Matt sighs heavily and rolls his eyes, but he finally ambles back to bed. His gait is uneven, he wavers on his feet, and there’s a slight limp I hadn’t noticed before … all good reasons to make him behave. If someone sees him like this, they might consider him an easy target for a takeover.
While he climbs under the covers, I take a relaxed and ready stance by the door. It’s going to be a long night, so I might as well be somewhat comfortable while I stand watch.
“Why won’t you come to bed?” Matt asks.
“Because you’ll try to distract me.”
“If you’re in bed with me, you’re guaranteed to know that I’m safe.”
I glance over and see that Matt has kicked off the covers. He’s reclining against a pillow, cock in hand, stroking himself while he watches me.
“That doesn’t count as resting. The doctors were all in agreement; you need rest more than anything. If I keep you up all night having sex, you won’t get any rest.”
“I’ll let you top again.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. He’s insufferable sometimes. “No, Matt. We can fuck all you want in the morning, but the doctors specifically said that tonight you need rest.”
Matt pouts and stuffs his cock back into his pajamas, then rolls over with his back to the door. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t offer.”
“I won’t.”
