Brenden could finally breathe for the first time since he got the phone call. “What happened?”
“He didn’t wait for backup, that’s what happened,” Mayson said, walking over to him and Julian.
“What!” Brenden shouted. “I thought he wasn’t supposed to get involved?”
“He wasn’t supposed to,” Mayson answered.
“Then what the fuck happened?” Brenden said calmer than before, but he was still angry and frustrated, not sure who he could direct his anger at.
Mayson explained that after they had gotten to the Baxter compound, Stephen went to the control room to see if he could find anything they missed. Mayson told Brenden he was on the phone with Stephen going over a few things when he grew quiet then told him to meet him on the east side of the compound then hung up before he could say anything. Mayson told Brenden he ran to the control room, hoping to catch Stephen before he left, but when he got there, he was already gone. The guards told him where Stephen was and on his way over Mayson called him to tell him to stay put, but that’s when he heard talking then he heard the gunshots.
“I took less than ten minutes to get to him,” Mayson finished.
Brenden was seething by the time Mayson was finished.How could Stephen do something so fucking reckless?“That fucking idiot.”
“I don’t disagree with you on that,” Mayson said. “But if he hadn’t gone into that building and tried to stall them until I figured out what the hell was going on, who knows how much evidence would have been destroyed. We have enough to put the director away for life.”
“I don...” Brenden started.
“Brenden, I hate to say this and it doesn’t excuse my son’s behavior. But no one could have stopped him from doing something when he’d already decided on it. He has a tendency of acting first and thinking of the consequences later. I’m just glad it was a clean shot. He’ll be on crutches for a bit, but the good thing is he’s fine, and so is the baby.”
Brenden didn’t know what to say. Julian was right about that, Stephen and their baby were alive and he was thankful for that. He looked at Julian and wondered why the man was so calm. “How come you’re not as upset as I am?”
“It’s sad to say, but I’m used to it,” Julian said. “Nick, might not have been his blood father but they’re cut from the same cloth. His father was the same way.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The number of times I’ve pulled my hair out worried about either one of them, I should be bald by now. I thought he would have learned from the last time…”
“Last time?” Brenden asked cutting him off. “What the hell are you talking about?” He looked at Mayson who shrugged his shoulders.
“It happened with the first case he took after transferring here,” Julian explained.
Then it hit Brenden when Parks asked Stephen about the work incident. He was going to spank Stephen’s ass red right after he gives birth. He was so angry he didn’t know what he was going to do. “What room is he in?” Angry or not, he still wanted to see his lover.
“Come on, let me show you,” Julian told him.
Before walking off with Julian, he looked at Mayson. “Thanks for being there.”
“I wasn’t quick enough. Other than his need to rush in head first, he’s a good agent with good instincts. And I wouldn’t mind working with him. He’s a dedicated agent. Stupid, but dedicated,” he said then looked at Julian. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Julian smiled.
He nodded, and Mayson walked one way while he and Julian went another. They did not speak to each other, and frankly, Brenden wasn’t sure he could have a civil conversation. As they got closer to the room, he heard Stephen’s laughter. It should have calmed him knowing his lover was in a good mood, but it made him angrier that he was worried that Stephen was laughing.
They reached the room, and Brenden wasted no time and walked through the door. He stopped when he saw doctor Parks in the room with Stephen. He was sitting on the edge of the bed talking to Stephen who was way too close to his lover in Brenden’s opinion. Brenden cleared his throat, and both men turned to look at him. Stephen’s face lit up brightly seeing him standing there, and for a second his heart melted until he remembered why the hell he was there in the first place.
Brenden looked at Parks. “How is he?” He asked Parks.
“He’s doing great,” Parks told him, getting off the bed clearing his throat.
“And the baby?” he asked.
“She wasn’t in any danger which was great. But I would like for him to stay here for the night so he could get some rest.”
“I thought you said he was all right?”
“He is,” Parks answered him.
“Hey, I’m right here, no need to talk about me as if I’m invisible.”
Brenden turned to look at his lover, he sighed, and he was pissed and jealous at the same time. The doctor was only doing his job, but Brenden still hated how personal he was with Stephen. “Can I speak to him alone, please?”
