Tom was climbing slowly to his feet, blood on his temple, and one hand pressed to his ribs.
“Check him,” Tom rasped. “Boot, knife. Maybe more.”
Bryce nodded, throat too tight to speak. He knelt, pulled weapons one after another off Jax’s body—three knives, one more gun. He used Jax’s belt to tie his wrists.
When he finally stood, Tom was swaying. Still upright but barely, as the wind tugged at him.
Bryce moved before he could think. He edged around Jax, ignoring the height and his spinning stomach. And then, finally, he reached Tom, and pulled him close.
“God,” he whispered, voice shaking. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Tom didn’t answer. Just leaned into him, solid and real and alive.
Bryce buried his face in Tom’s neck. “Don’t ever,” he said again, fiercer this time. “I can’t lose you. Not you.”
The wind stung his eyes. Or maybe it wasn’t the wind.
Chapter Thirty
TOM
Bryce was pressed against him, warmth and strength, and it was the hardest thing Tom had ever done to move away.
“No,” he said, thickly. Every part of him ached to stay in Bryce’s arms, but the danger hadn’t passed. “Jax might not be the only one to come through that door.”
Bryce stepped back without protest, professionalism slipping over him like a second skin. Tom watched it happen—beta instincts kicking in, watchful and contained. The man who’d kissed him like he meant it, and who’d rejected him like none of it mattered.
They stood in silence, tracking the door, keeping one eye on Jax’s limp form. Minutes passed. Then Bryce’s phone buzzed. Tom saw his shoulders drop in relief as he answered. A moment later, he ended the call and looked up.
“That was Matt. The security team’s in custody. It’s over.” He paused. “He said to come out from wherever we’re hiding before we give him a coronary.”
Tom braced to follow him, but Bryce didn’t move. He glanced at Jax, made sure he hadn’t stirred, then stepped away from the false security of the wall and toward Tom again.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, voice low.
Tom blinked. He’d been trying to prepare himself for what happened when the threat was past. For awkwardness. Indifference, perhaps. Not for… that.
And then Bryce’s lips were on his—warm, certain, and trembling with everything he wasn’t saying. He kissed Tom like a promise. And Tom found himself responding, helpless to stop it, because everything inside him still wanted this. Still wantedhim.
When they finally pulled apart, Tom was breathless. The walls he’d built against Bryce had been made of paper.
Bryce’s hand lingered at Tom’s cheek. “I was a coward,” he said softly. “I told you I didn’t want a mate. That I didn’t wantyou. And it wasn’t true.”
Tom stepped back, barely a pace, but Bryce dropped his hand. His eyes were hollow, like he was bracing for rejection.
Tom looked away, swallowing hard as he stared at the Capitol, red in the sinking sun.
“Tell me why.” The words sounded pleading, and he didn’t like that. He’d done nothing wrong, unless he counted being who he was. “We’re mates,” he added, and despite himself, his voice cracked. “That’s supposed tomeansomething.”
Bryce’s expression twisted, guilt and grief crossing his face. “That’s exactly why I ran.”
Tom shook his head. He didn’t want riddles. He wanted toknow.
“I never wanted to meet my mate,” Bryce said, voice low and uneven. “If I did, it would mean letting go of something I’d been holding onto for too long. This guy I—” He stopped, jaw working. “There was someone. I fell hard, a long time ago. And I kept hoping that maybe one day he’d look at me the way I looked at him.”
“You’re in love with someone else.” Everything made sickening sense, finally. And somewhere deep inside, he wasn’t surprised. Story of his life—something that couldn’t be changed getting in the way of what he wanted so desperately.
“No.” Bryce’s voice was sharp. “That’s the thing, I met you. And I started to like you.Reallylike you. And that’s when I realized—I’d already let him go. I just hadn’t noticed.”
