Then he got angry.
“And do you really think I’m going to let you leave?” Peter’s voice was silky and dangerous, backed by the confidence of an alpha who could make anyone do anything he wanted.
Leaning back against the wall, his legs stretched out on the floor in front of him, Peter made himself big and intimidating.
Chad watched him spreading out into his personal space, his expression not changing.
“If I want to, yes.”
He sounded utterly sure, and Peter deflated. Chad was right. Peter wouldn’t force him to do anything he didn’t want.
“So what can I do to make this work?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if I stopped accepting contracts like that? Would you be willing to come back?”
If sacrificing the mercenary arm of Tank Security was the price it took to keep Chad, Peter would pay it.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ve been shifting my focus to the IT side of the business. What if I restructured the company and got rid of all the mercenary operations that wouldn’t hold up to public scrutiny?”
Chad was quiet for a long time, but then he took a deep breath.
“You would really do that for me?” He sounded hopeful, and Peter let himself believe that he could actually salvage this.
“I love you, so yes.”
Chad bit his lip and shook his head, and Peter tilted his head quizzically. “What?”
“We’ve never actually said that to each other before.” Chad’s voice was wistful.
Peter realized what he’d said, but he couldn’t believe that it was the first time he’d said it. But thinking back, it was.
“Well, I do. Love you.”
He waited for Chad to say it back, but he didn’t.
“What if I’d just shot him?” Chad asked. He stared at Peter, and Peter had no idea where he was going with the question.
“Yes?”
“Would it have bothered you?”
Peter shook his head. “I don’t… I care about the people I care about. Other than that, no.”
Chad was quiet for a long time.
“I don’t understand that,” he said at last. “I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself if I’d taken the shot.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Peter said.
Chad’s answering look was searching. “You are?”
Peter nodded. He wasn’t lying. “You’re not the kind of person who does bad things. You’re good. I wouldn’t want you to give that up for something as stupid as my company.”
Peter reached out, putting his hand on Chad’s shoulder. When Chad didn’t pull away, he moved closer until he had Chad resting into his side.
