Jay’s narrowed eyes never wavered from the dumbass with zero sense of self-preservation. “No. You’re allowed to enjoy yourself without unwanted advances.”
“Are they unwanted?”
Crisp pinched the spot between his eyes. The guy really was that big of an idiot. This was bad. Crisp needed to defuse things now. “Honestly, it’s a little too hot in here for this outfit. I’m getting kind of lightheaded.”
Jay’s gaze immediately snapped back to Crisp. His features softened. “Your cheeks are flushed. You are getting overheated. I’ll get us through this crowd in no time.” He made the claim in Russian, and Crisp didn’t think he realized it. Jay was triggered and Crisp was terrified. He knew Jay would never hurt him, but he couldn’t say the same for anyone else. They needed to leave right now. When Jay turned to clear a path, Crisp’s gaze collided with Mike’s. Mike smirked. He had accomplished whatever he had set out to do. For a moment, Crisp considered quickly andquietly severing a major artery on the sly as they passed. Good sense prevailed, and he let Jay usher him outside.
The moment fresh air hit his face, Crisp drew a deep breath. It sounded ragged.
Jay eyed him as they spent a moment cooling down. “Are you okay? There’s still time for me to kill him.”
Crisp growled. Jay seemed calm now, and Crisp was the furious one. He started pacing. “How fucking dare that asshole act like you weren’t right there? I’m so sick of people who can’t take a hint.” He paused and looked at Jay. “You know you’re the sexiest man on the planet, right? I don’t know how bad that guy’s eyesight is, but he must be fucking blind if he thinks anyone would choose him over you.” Crisp went back to pacing. “I mean, the fucking audacity. Who in the hell even—” Jay kissed him, cutting off the rant.
He smiled against Crisp’s lips even as he tried deepening their kiss. He pulled away and pressed his forehead against Crisp’s. “It’s all good. We’re good. I know you would never break my heart. Some people are just walking pieces of shit. That’s all. I know you’re mine. Let’s get that champagne, though. I am still shaking with rage, so…”
Crisp chuckled and took Jay’s hand. He was all smiles as they headed to the back parking lot where their car waited. The moment Crisp stepped off the sidewalk and onto the darkened lot; he heard a screech and the world flipped upside down. He was too confused to understand what had happened. Crisp knewhe was on the ground, but his brain was too fuzzy to keep up. His heart raced and adrenaline pumped through his veins. He heard shouts and grunts but couldn’t pinpoint which direction to look. Then Crisp blinked, and he was alone. He thought he might have blacked out for a second, but everything still had a surreal edge.
Crisp pushed himself up onto his knees. Everything screamed as he forced himself to his feet. He was completely alone. There was no sign of Jay. He spotted Jay’s shirt. It was ripped and had blood on it. Crisp’s heart skipped a beat. He grabbed the shirt and headed for the car. Crisp could track Jay’s phone. No one would take Jay from him. Not without a fight. They would have to kill Crisp first.
Even though he could barely see through his dizziness, Crisp wasn’t completely scattered. He knew he needed guns. Crisp needed his gear. They had fucked with the wrong man. Why had this even happened? The question came out of left field. Crisp was too terrified to think clearly enough to formulate a clear thought, much less a possible motive. Thank God they hadn’t gone far from home. Crisp stumbled out of the car into the house. The party still raged in the backyard. Crisp didn’t pass a soul until he reached his bedroom.
Tidy jogged his way as Crisp tumbled into his room. “Whoa. Wait. What the fuck happened to you? Holy shit, Crisp. You’re bleeding. Can you even see out of that eye?”
Crisp had no clue what he meant. Not to mention, Crisp didn’t have time to chat. “They took Jay.” He stumbled into the closet and pulled out his gear bag.
“Who took Jay?”
Crisp dragged black clothes from the bag. “I don’t know. I don’t have time for this. Gotta save Jay.”
If Tidy had more questions, Crisp didn’t even notice. His head cleared a little more by the second, and the pain started setting in. Crisp ignored every screaming ache. He dressed as fast as he possibly could before firing up his LED mask. He did a quick check to make sure it still worked properly. The moment he knew it was fine, he shoved it back inside the bag. Then he checked the weapons inside to ensure everything was loaded. Lacing up his combat boots was the worst part. His head spun like a motherfucker. It got harder to see out of his left eye. That was fine. He only needed one to kill whoever had done this. The moment he was satisfied he had all he needed, Crisp draped the bag over his shoulder and headed out. His feet froze as he reached the family room. Every single one of his brothers were suited up and checking their gear.
Crisp blinked at the sight. “What’s going on?”
Foster didn’t even look away from his task as he answered. “We’re going to get your man.”
The statement stunned Crisp into truly focusing on the room. Tracker was on his knees with his laptop on a chair and his nose buried in the computer. Every one of his brothers were dressed to kill while Atticus, Clay, and Zeus sat next to them helping. Even Henry had donned his black military-style gear and waited for instructions. Tears filled his eyes at the sight of Field pumpedand ready to go. Field was supposed to be done with this shit. Kylo and another guard’s husband, Cairo, sat across from each other in office chairs and took turns spinning each other. Everything seemed like a dream. Surely none of this was real.
Crisp shook off his confusion. “I can’t ask you to do this.”
Field grabbed his high-powered rifle. “You didn’t. If it were any one of us, you’d be there. We’ll get your man for you.”
“He’s actually my husband,” Crisp said absently as he studied each face. “I appreciate this more than you could ever know, but I know how you guys never go in without a plan. Jay doesn’t have time for that. I have to go.”
“Woof,” Cairo said, cutting through the silence left in the wake of Crisp’s speech. He held his head between his hands as if trying to make the room stop spinning. “I have a plan.”
Everyone turned Cairo’s way.
Kylo smiled like he was always on board for some ratchet shit.
They all exchanged looks.
If whatever Cairo said got them out the door quicker, Crisp was willing to hear anything.
Chapter Twelve
Jay’smusclesscreamedfromthe way his arms were tightly bound behind his back. His lip bled freely. Jay was pretty certain he had at least two broken ribs—again. He saw red to the point that he was surprised he couldn’t berserker-rage his way through the ropes binding him. The knowledge Crisp was out there seriously injured, or even possibly dead, had his blood pressure through the roof and his heart pounding. If Crisp wasn’t okay, Jay had nothing to lose. They should just kill him now. Jay had no clue who these people were or what they wanted. None of that mattered. Before the end of the night, the four of them would go out together.
Jay kept eyeing the three men who paced, smoked, and talked in low voices. At one point, they argued over whether they should make a call. Then they had fought some more over whether he was even worth it. Jay had no fucking clue what was happening. All Jay knew was one of them was the grease stain who had dared to flirt with Crisp. He wanted to say no one was crazyenough to go this far over being rejected in a nightclub, but he knew better. People ended up dead all the time for that very reason. How very fucking ironic, though. That very nightclub was where he met Scout and headed down the road to end up with Crisp. Now he would likely die leaving the same spot after everything Crisp had done to save him.
