Chapter One
SweatrolleddownMarc’sbody. He gasped for air. He honestly had no idea what had convinced him he could simply take up jogging at the grand old age of thirty. That wasn’t true. Valon had suggested it. Marc was the muscle. He wasn’t built for speed. Marc had played football years ago. He had never been part of the track team. Now he wondered if he might die.
“Fucking Valon.” Even as he growled the words, his aggravation transformed. Damn. He was sexy. No doubt Marc had been lost staring into his navy-blue eyes when Valon had told Marc he should take up jogging so he could keep up with Valon. Admittedly, Valon was a pretty active guy. Sometimes he exhausted the hell out of Marc. Marc lived for every second of it. Not only was Valon hot as fuck with his shoulder-length curly silver hair, but he was also the lead singer of Backlash. That was Marc’s favorite band. He had already been a little obsessed with Valon before they had met. Now Valon knew Marc. Marc wasn’ta lost face in a sea of concertgoers. He had the perfect job at the feet of greatness. Marc had to do whatever it took to keep Valon.
The loud honk of a too-close car came from nowhere. Marc jumped and spun, ready to fight even as his heart tried to burst from his chest.
Valon’s bright smile immediately calmed him. He pulled up next to Marc and rolled down the window. “Get in, loser. You’ll never make it back home.”
Why did it have to betheValon Stark watching him fail? “I’m good.” God, everything screamed in agony.
Valon rolled his eyes.
Marc thanked every deity he was too winded to whimper. Those eyes were so sexy, especially lined in dark eyeliner the way they were now.
“Get in. I’m hungry. Let’s get you back to the house so you can snag a quick shower. We’re going out for the day.”
With that amazing excuse saving him, Marc didn’t hesitate to climb into the two-hundred-thousand-dollar SUV. Before Marc had agreed to this assignment, Valon had been on thin ice with Steel Security, where Marc worked. Valon had fired or forced almost every guard on the payroll to quit. His entire file was marked in red because he was impossible to work with. He constantly sneaked away. Screamed every time he didn’t get his way and was just generally horrible. So far, Marc had beenwith Valon for three months, and none of that had gone down. Of course, Marc had approached Valon’s needs a lot differently than his previous guards had done. Marc loved going along with Valon to every tiny thing he wanted to do—which was a lot. Valon still sneaked away, but he didn’t know Marc was completely aware and followed him, staying in the shadows. Because of his stealth and agreeable nature, Valon treated him like the friend Marc had hoped they could be. Marc wanted to stay in Valon’s life. Valon needed way more protection than anyone understood. Marc knew him and never wanted to be anywhere else again.
“Where are we headed for lunch today?” Marc threw some excitement into his tone, wanting Valon to know he was happy to do whatever.
Valon chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite.”
Even though Valon watched the road, Marc shrugged. “It’s not that. I mean, yeah, I’m starved. But I grew up lower-middle class, and it shows now. Like, we never went without or anything, but we always had food at home if I asked to go anywhere. Forget ever going on any big shopping trips. My best friend had a mom who did everything with him. Sometimes, she’d pick us up from school, buy us iced coffee and we’d hit all the popular discount stores. She always tried to buy things for me, but I knew my mom would be pissed if I let anyone spend their hard-earned money on me.” Marc had no idea why he always said so much to Valon. Once he started, he couldn’t stop. Today was no different. “Being with you makes me feel like I have those days back, but I can buy things for myself without fear.”
Valon flashed a bright smile his way. “It makes me happy being with you too. I’m so glad Kash asked you to take me on as a client. We’ve been great together.” He took Marc’s hand and squeezed. “I totally get what you’re saying about the shopping trips. Dad and I used to do the same things. Of course, those trips were always ruined by Ry. Anytime he found out we had done anything, he would scream at Dad about wasting his money on his worthless son.” Valon shrugged, as if those memories didn’t hurt.
Marc couldn’t look away. He also couldn’t imagine having a parent who hated him. While his parents had been strict and thrifty, he had always known he was loved. Truth be told, that kind of fucked with his head, knowing everything he knew about them now. But they were talking about Ry, not his dad.
“That guy’s a piece of shit.”
A bark of laughter burst from Valon. “Yeah. How did that go for him, though? I hit it big and get to willingly spoil my dad now. He ended up alone and bald. Of course, he tries to pretend he wasn’t abusive now, but nope. I’m never letting that shit go. He’ll never get anything out of me I give freely out of love. It’s in my ironclad will that he never sees a single penny of my money.” He chuckled. “In fact, I’ve ordered my attorney to sue Ry if he ever tries to claim he’s any relation to me in public.”
Marc snorted so hard, it hurt. A cackle followed. There was no controlling the sound. “Remind me never to get on your bad side. You choose violence.”
Valon never stopped smiling. “Oh, I’m fully self-aware that I’m a petty Betty, but fuck that guy. He’s a monster.”
The laughter died an immediate death inside Marc. He had never heard Valon go quite that far when it came to Ry. It didn’t matter if Valon still smiled. There had been something dark behind that statement.
“Oh.” Valon jumped slightly. “I never answered your question. We’re going to Dad’s to eat. He’s grilling steaks, and we’ll be swimming and all that. So make sure you bring your swim trunks. I fully expect you to be in the pool, keeping me from drowning.” The way Valon laughed made Marc shake his head. Valon knew he had Marc wrapped around his little finger. That was fine. Marc was thrilled to be there.
Going to his dad’s house always had Valon fighting mixed feelings. There honestly was no one Valon loved more than his dad. He fully recognized the sacrifices and floor-pacing on his behalf. But there was a whole other side to his childhood. Valon held a lot of secret bitterness over Ledger staying with Ry. While technically both men were his legal parents, Ry would never be anything to Valon. The pent-up anger he felt over a childhood of terror at Ry’s hands was massive. It was soul-consuming. Then there was Kash. Kash had been his first love. His first everything, really. The traits Kash had that had Valon falling for him were the same traits that made Valon push him away. Valon had been forced to accept some harsh truths about himself over the years. Now he saw his issues for what they were; the things he loved the most were the same things killing him.
It should feel strange to see Kash with his dad, but something fundamental had changed inside Valon. He had become someone no one knew any longer. Just as no one recognized him, Valon barely knew anyone in his life anymore. Nonetheless, he wanted the pair to be happy. They were the only people he cared about. His dad and Kash deserved the love they had found in each other. He wanted that for them. It was just that Valon hurt for himself. Thankfully, for the last three months, Marc had distracted him. The guy was big and funny. He made Valon smile. Valon hadn’t done that in a long time and meant it. Marc was his friend. For real. Valon had given up on having anyone come into his life who cared about anything other than his fame and money. People only wanted what he could do for them now financially, or just by being seen at his side. Marc was different. The way he focused on Valon, being open and genuine, had Valon relaxing his shoulders and unclenching his jaw. It was nice.
No matter his feelings about anyone, a full day with Kash and Dad always mentally exhausted him. While he had regained some genuine happiness and smiles with Marc, he still found himself keeping up an act with his family. Marc let him brood in the silence, if that was what Valon needed. At his dad’s, he had to fake his way through every second any time his mood changed. There was no way he was doing this sober. As they headed out, and Valon headed for the driver’s side, he pulled a laced cigar from the front pocket of his shirt.
“You said you wanted to drive today,” Marc reminded him before he could climb behind the wheel. In a minute, he was about to be too high to think, and it wouldn’t matter much to him. They would be fine.
Marc snatched his fun stick before Valon could even light the thing. Without a word, he walked to the passenger side of Valon’s SUV and opened the door. “Get in.”
Valon huffed. Marc didn’t defy him on many things, but this was one. “That’s coming out of your paycheck.”
Marc shrugged. His jaw was set. “Do what you feel you need to do. You can have your dumbass cigar back when we get home. You’re not ruining your visit with your dad.”
Valon dutifully climbed into the passenger seat. “I wouldn’t have ruined anything.”
Marc snorted and closed the door behind him. Valon watched him circle the vehicle to the driver’s side. He didn’t know why he couldn’t look away, but he was always like this. Valon felt like there was a revelation on the edge of his brain ready to break free. Like déjà vu or something.
