“What’s his name?”
“You know I can’t tell you.”
“Does Matteo know about this?”
Arden’s eyes skittered away as if tempted to lie. “Yes.”
“I’m going to kill him,” I said with absolute certainty. I wasn’t a violent man, but I knew how to throw a punch. I’d smash his arrogant Romanesque nose. Make him look like the back-alley thug he truly was.
Arden sighed. “You’re drunk and I’m tired. Let’s go to bed. We can talk about it in the morning.”
Arden made a move toward the bathroom and I followed.
“Stay here,” he commanded.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
Because there were bruises and marks and god only knew what else. Blood? I would get the man’s name from Matteo after punching him in the face and find out where he lived. And then I would…
Tears of rage sprouted in my eyes and Arden pulled me close.
“Damnit, Arden,” I rasped.
“It’s okay,” he soothed. “I’m fine.”
“I should be the one comforting you.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t see him again, I promise.”
“What about Matteo?”
“I’ll speak with him tomorrow. We have an appointment. He never forced me, Michael. I chose it.”
So, he kept saying.
“I’m coming with you,” I said. I’d never let him out of my sight again.
“Fine. Go lay down. You smell like the bottom of a whiskey barrel.”
I waited for Arden to shower and then climb into bed. He wore a long-sleeved shirt and pants where he usually slept naked. I held him gently and stroked his hair. I told him I loved him and waited for him to fall asleep. Then I used his thumbprint to unlock his phone and took it with me to the hallway of his apartment.
I found Matteo’s number and dialed. It was three in the morning. I didn’t give a fuck.
“Arden?” he answered almost immediately.
“You’re lucky he’s alive, you rat-faced son of a bitch. Do you know what happened to him tonight?”
“Michael.”
I didn’t give him a chance to answer. “No wonder he doesn’t love you. You treat him like a fucking sex toy, loaning him out to sick, twisted men. You think because you’re rich, you can get away with it?”
“I advised him against it,” Matteo said tiredly, “but the money was good.”
“That’s what it’s all about right? The money. Paying him just enough to play your stupid games but not so much that he can be rid of you altogether? Tell me the man’s name.”
“I won’t.”
