“You totally have a harem,” Holden said, smirking. “I’ve been watching anime with Darius. I’m kind of an expert now.”
“What the fuck have you been watching? Never mind. I don’t want to know.” Kit sighed. Mentioning Darius reminded him…“Thank you for looking at houses,” Kit said, soft and sincere. “You’re right, I’d love to live with all three of you.”
“But?” Holden prompted.
Kit wasn’t sure how James would take this idea, but he was sure of one thing. “Darius will never agree.”
Darius didn’t even want Kit to meet his sister. He was thoughtful. Caring. He gave Kit perfect gifts like guns with tracking devices. He tied Kit up and fucked him until Kit couldn’t remember his own name. He calmed Kit down like nobody else could.
But he wouldn’t agree to move in with Kit and James. Or Holden, not for a permanent arrangement beyond the current imprisonment.
“Don’t worry about that.” Holden winked. “I have a plan.”
“What kind of plan?” Kit asked suspiciously.
Holden tapped Kit on the nose. “Don’t worry, darling. Nobody will die.”
“You know that’s not reassuring, right?” Kit complained. “Clarifying that nobody will die makes it sound worse.”
Holden glanced out the window. “Quick, kiss me and tell me I’m your favorite.”
He leaned forward—but Kit pushed a hand against his mouth. Turning to the side, he saw Darius walking up. “You’re saying that specifically because Darius can read lips, aren’t you?”
“You’re so smart,” Holden mumbled against Kit’s palm. He let Kit scramble off his lap, and Kit hopped out as soon as Darius opened the door.
“All clear?” Kit asked.
“All clear,” Darius confirmed. “Time to set up for our guest.”
The hostage wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow morning, and waiting was easier when Kit had things to do. Darius and Holden cleared out the basement, so old chairs and mops didn’t interfere with the interrogation. Kit toured the house, making sure every window was properly boarded shut. The task meant he didn’t overthink other things. Even in the bathroom, where he dissociated last time.
Darius didn’t need help checking the security systems, but Kit asked how it all worked anyway. That occupied a solid half hour, with Holden draped over Kit’s shoulders as Darius patiently explained.
“Are you expecting more company?” Holden asked, each word stirring in Kit’s hair.
“I expect problems,” Darius said. “I always do. That’s why I rarely have any.”
There was a refrigerator this time. New compared to the rest of the kitchen. After they finished clearing the basement and triple-checking the security, Kit rearranged the Chinese takeout slated for dinner, breakfast, and lunch the next day. Then he filled the ice trays from the sink, getting the water perfectly level in each little square, and slid them into the freezer.
He was feeling distantly pleased with himself when Darius asked, “Hey, are you all right?”
Kit shook, spilling water over his fingers. He wiped his hand on his sweatshirt, trying to figure out the answer.
Trying to figure out whether to lie.
“I was fine until you made me spill water all over myself,” Kit said, forcing an adorable pout. “Can you like, try to make audible footsteps?”
Darius stood by the kitchen table, with Holden lurking in the hallway door. Something subtle and complicated crossed Darius’s face. Worry or hurt, quickly replaced with distance.
Kit’s stomach flipped. He hadn’t meant his self-protective lie as a rejection, but that was what it was. No wonder Darius didn’t open up. Confiding to a locked door yielded nothing but echoes.
At the border of the darkened hallway, Holden watched with sharp fascination.
“No promises.” Darius’s fake smile was more natural than Kit’s. “Maybe we should train your environmental awareness instead.”
Kit wiped his hand on his sweatshirt again. “We could put a bell on you.”
Darius chuckled. “You could try.”
