Ah, but what’s this? He’s married … to a woman.
Further digging tells me that this is Josh’s second marriage, and he apparently has a history of gay liaisons going back several years. That’s what ended the first marriage, and a quick search of his current wife’s socials indicates that he’s probably been up to his old tricks recently. That may even be the reason for the move, if Tricia Blake’s vague media posts are to be believed.
If this is all a front, a ruse to get close to Matt, it’s an elaborate one. I can’t find any obvious cracks in Josh’s persona, not a single sign that he’s not exactly who he seems to be.
I’m not worried about Matt’s feelings getting hurt by any of this. Matt isn’t one to settle down, so Josh might have picked the wrong sugar daddy to seduce. My charge is more of a love ‘em and leave ‘em type; if tonight ends in disappointment for either of them, I’m betting on Josh being the odd man out.
Matt and Josh pause to lather up and actually get clean, and I check my watch. Twenty minutes. Not too long, but they need to hurry in case someone else wants to use the men’s locker room.
As soon as they shut the water off, I toss them a couple of towels. “Clock’s ticking, Matt.”
He nods. “Roger that. So, Josh, what are you up to tonight?”
Oh, great. Matt wants to bring him home.
Josh grins. “I could be persuaded to spend a night away from my own bed …”
I clear my throat and wave his phone at him. “I’m not sure Tricia would agree, Josh. Maybe you should make plans for another night?”
Like a night when he can give his wife a believable alibi. We don’t need some jilted spouse showing up and harassing Matt in public. I might recognize her and be able to step in without causing a scene, but if it’s a night that I’m home with Emily, oneof Matt’s other guards could fuck up and jump the poor woman for approaching him without explicit permission from the don.
Josh pales as he realizes I went through his shit, but Matt appears unphased by the revelation. He cracks a smile of his own and turns his back on Josh, opening his locker and getting dressed without giving the other man another glance. “Tricia, huh? I’m guessing she’s Mrs. Josh?”
“I-I can explain—”
“No need.” Matt slams his locker shut after pulling out a fresh pair of shoes. “This was fun, Josh, but if you’ve got someone waiting for you at home, I won’t get in the middle of that shit.”
Smart move, Matt. We don’t need to add any extra complications to our lives.
Josh, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to take rejection well. His hands are halfway to Matt’s neck when I step in, knocking him to the ground and pressing my shoe to his windpipe while I draw the gun I’ve hidden in my sling.
“What … the fuck?” With my foot on his neck, Josh can barely get the words out.
“I don’t think you’ll be coming back to this gym, Josh,” I say through gritted teeth. “I think you’re going to find a new gym across town. When Tricia asks why you left, you’re going to admit that you cheated. You’re going to tell her you’ve had a change of heart, and that you want to be faithful from now on. If you don’t—” I release the safety “—then you’re going to give her the freedom she deserves. You’re going to give her everything in the divorce, and you’re going to stop using women as a cover for your true desires.”
“But—”
“No ‘buts.’ It’s this, or you disappear tonight, and Tricia gets everything you own anyway.”
While Josh sputters and fumes on the floor beneath my shoe, Matt snaps his watch on his wrist like nothing unusual is happening. “I mean, honestly, Josh, did you really not wonder why I was at the gym with a bodyguard?”
“I-I thought you guys were just workout buddies …”
Matt throws his head back as he laughs. “Please! Consider for a moment that my ‘buddy’ took you down with his arm in a sling and didn’t even break a sweat. If you’re smart, you’ll take Aron’s advice. There are plenty of decent gyms across town.”
“Wh-what’s to stop me from spilling your dirt? I bet a rich asshole like you doesn’t want people knowing his … preferences.”
Matt and I exchange a glance before I respond. Josh just gags as I press harder with my shoe.
“Me.”
With that, we leave Josh coughing and wheezing on the floor of the locker room.
Chapter 3
Matt
Aron might have stopped Josh without breaking a sweat, but not without popping a few stitches.
