Coming to Colorado (15 page)

The line clicked and Roger spoke. “Hey.”

“I don’t feel safe going back to the hotel. I’ll meet you at the bus station in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

Ryan hung up and moved quickly to the subway station. A red line train was pulling in, heading toward the South Station. He was lucky. Ryan had kept the sunglasses on and still had the janitor uniform that he had to get rid of soon, but he could toss it at a different station.

The train doors closed, and he didn’t see any police racing his way. So far, he’d gotten away with it. When he arrived at South Station, he got off and headed to the public bathrooms where he tossed the janitor uniform, taking the badge with him that he’d used to get into the emergency room. His phone rang and he answered, hoping it was the guys.

“Hello.”

“We’re outside. White car. Come on out.”

Ryan hung up and left the bathroom, still holding onto the badge. Once outside, he saw the car and raced to it, hopping into the back seat with Mike. The man looked exhausted but better than he had earlier. Davis was in the front seat and lowered the sun visor, revealing the mirror. He stared at Davis’s sunglasses covered eyes.

“Glad you made it out. I was worried,” Davis said.

“Fuck, that was crazy. I was so scared.”

“You did great,” Roger said.

“Damn, I have no idea if he died or not.” Ryan took off his sunglasses and swiped his hand over his face. He put the shades back on, hoping to keep most of his face covered. All of the other guys were wearing ball caps and shades. They were in a world of trouble and he wasn’t sure how they’d get out of it.

“We’ll be at the airport and on the plane in an hour. Once we’re on board and safe, we’ll find out if Craig died,” Roger said.

“Did you get your bag?” Ryan asked Davis.

“Yes, I grabbed it quickly and got out.”

Ryan nodded and stared out the window, watching Boston go by. His life, all of his things were lost to him, not that he had much. He’d been into traveling light, taking little with him, not much more than he could carry on his back. Being tied to a location was dangerous. Maybe he should have walked away last night, but for some reason he’d wanted to help Davis. He only hoped he’d made the right decision.

Chapter Sixteen

Davis breathed easier once they were on the plane and the door was closed. The engines started their whine, and he caught Ryan’s gaze. So much had happened between them, and they really didn’t know each other. Roger walked past after helping Mike get settled in the back.

“Any word yet?” Ryan asked before Roger got to his seat.

“No, nothing yet,” Roger answered.

The air around them seemed stiff. Ryan stared out the window, chewing on the skin around his fingernails. Davis got up from his seat and moved to the seat next to Ryan’s, strapping in.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry you had to do this.”

Ryan turned to look at him. “I chose to do it. I walked in there knowing what was going to happen. I’ve killed before.”

Davis gave him a small smile. His heart ached for Ryan. “But with a gun, right?”

“Yeah, never like that.”

Davis reached out and took Ryan’s hand as the plane started rolling down the runway. It took Ryan a few seconds to relax enough to respond to Davis’s touch, but before the front wheels were off the ground, their fingers were woven together, their palms touching. Ryan glanced down at their hands then back up to Davis. Panic flared in Ryan’s gaze then settled before he glanced away. A black dread filled Davis, leaving him wondering if they’d pushed Ryan too far.

He closed his eyes and leaned back as the plane leveled off.
What the hell had happened this week?
The mission had been fake; at least he surmised that it had been. Then he’d been shot at by this Craig guy. Roger and Mike had showed up and he’d talked to his dad.
Duff knew these guys!
Dammit, what the fuck was going on?

Davis opened his eyes and turned to find Roger. The man appeared to be asleep along with Mike. Ryan’s hand had gone slack in his, and his breathing had evened out.

Everyone was dozing, and he’d never felt so alone. He was going to see his dad, that much was obvious. Or maybe they were taking him somewhere else. After talking to Duff, he’d assumed he could trust Roger and Mike, but now he didn’t know.

He’d screwed up royally. When he’d been shot at, he should have called it in. How could he have known what was to happen? Ryan shifted beside him and he glanced over, catching the man’s gaze. Davis adjusted so he was facing Ryan. The moment stretched on, the only sound the engine noise from the plane. Ryan reached out and touched Davis’s face with one finger, sliding over his cheek and down to his chin. Davis’s body heated and he leaned in about an inch, wishing he and Ryan were the only two on this plane.

Ryan ran his finger down Davis’s chest, over the shirt he was wearing to his jeans clad leg. Again, Davis adjusted so he could spread his legs, giving Ryan better access. Ryan’s pupils grew, taking away most of the green of his iris. Neither one of them moved for a long moment, but the anticipation grew with each passing second. His dick was getting hard and his breathing shallow. Ryan sat up taller and moved closer, his face only inches from Davis. Ever so slowly, Ryan slid his fingers over Davis’s thigh and between his legs, moving closer to his dick. It was heaven and beautiful all wrapped up together, leaving him panting before Ryan even touched him. Then Ryan stopped and Davis turned his head, their gazes meeting.

“Don’t stop.”

“We’re not alone. If I take this much further, I’m taking it all the way. I don’t think that would be fair for you, or me.”

Davis blew out a breath and groaned. Ryan was right. They couldn’t have sex here, not with Roger so close. It wouldn’t go unnoticed, and that wouldn’t be fair for anyone. Mike was passed out and probably wouldn’t wake up, but it still wasn’t the best place for them to get busy.

He turned back to Ryan and reached up, cupping his jaw. “Later, once we’re alone, I want to see where this goes.”

“Yeah, same here.” Ryan sighed and seemed glum and distracted now that they weren’t touching. He couldn’t help but worry about the man. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that it seemed like he’d known him for weeks. Davis rested his head on Ryan’s shoulder and closed his eyes. He wished life would get easier, but it wasn’t going to yet. Today, he’d participated in killing a guy he had no background information on. He’d listened to what Roger and Mike had told him, not once gathering information on his own. He really hoped he hadn’t fucked up.

*~*~*

Grant shook his head and stared open mouthed at Duff. “We can’t bring them here.”

“Why not?” Duff asked.

“Neither one of them has gone through the process. We don’t know this Ryan guy at all. He could be the thing that rips us apart.”

“He killed Craig. He has to be debriefed, and we need to have control or some sort of hold on him. Ryan can’t be out there running around, not after what he’s seen and done. This Ryan guy needs to know that what he did was good and not waiver over his actions. He just killed a man, and that can fuck with your head.”

“So it’s official, Craig is really dead?” Grant needed to know the answer, but he’d been too afraid to ask.

“Yes. We have a man on the inside where they are doing the autopsy. We’re getting it ruled natural causes. Any indication of a foreign substance will be removed from the records. Our guy is taking the bullet fragments and anything else leading back to the ranch, Mike, Davis, and even Ryan, and getting rid of it. We won’t be implicated in Craig’s death and life will go on. But Ryan might feel guilty. We’ll treat them like we do new recruits. They’ll be restricted and on lockdown.”

Grant shook his head. “Duff, this isn’t a good thing. Davis is your son.”

“Yes, he is.” Duff moved to leave the room then turned back. “We need you to drive down though. We don’t really have space in the helicopter for everyone, not with Mike injured.”

Grant swiped his hand over his face and nodded. “I’ll take the Yukon.”

“Marshal is going with you.”

Grant met Duff’s gaze. “We need to tell the guys that Craig is gone.”

Duff closed his eyes and shook his head. “I can’t believe it’s over. Let’s tell them now. Then I’ll have the guys prepare for our new arrivals.”

“I still think we should hold them in a hotel somewhere else.”

“That opens too many variables. We need complete control.”

Grant sighed, knowing that he wasn’t going to win this argument. “Okay, I support you in this call. Now, let’s go inform the rest of the guys that our biggest enemy is gone.”

“Grant?”

“Yes, Duff?”

“I want Marshal to take more of an active role in making decisions. He probably should have been in here for this discussion.”

Grant nodded. “I agree.”

Grant followed Duff into the den. The rest of the guys were there. Marshal and Zander were sitting close, their hands clasped together with Marshal’s head resting on Zander’s shoulder. Billy and Tucker were standing at the bar next to the kitchen, their heads together as they discussed something. Tucker’s chuckle made Grant smile. They could breathe easier now. They still had danger in their lives, but that danger didn’t know the ranch existed. He shivered, hoping that bringing two new guys to the ranch wouldn’t be a huge mistake. Davis he could understand, but this Ryan guy was a wild card, and they didn’t have room for mistakes.

“Hey guys,” Duff started off but paused. He cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. “I can’t believe that I’m getting choked up over this. Maybe it’s just the emotions of the day, but I wanted to let you know that I got confirmation. Craig is dead.”

“Oh thank God!” Tucker said then pulled Billy into a kiss.

Zander held Marshal tight, kissing the top of his head. These men had all suffered greatly because of Craig. Grant didn’t know what to feel. He’d held on to the hope that Craig had cared for him for far too long. That hope had died, but now he didn’t know what to think. Learning that the man was dead gave him relief, but at one point he’d loved Craig, though Craig had been incapable of returning any love.

He wanted Roger home, but first he’d have to deal with Davis and Ryan. Grant’s stomach tightened. He hoped he was wrong about bringing these guys to Wild Bluff. He trusted Duff, but Davis was family, and that threw everything off.

Chapter Seventeen

Roger moved close to Davis and Ryan. Hell, he had no clue if Duff knew that Davis was gay, but these two were so adorable together it was almost sickening. He tapped Davis’s shoulder, waking him.

“Hey, there’s a couple of things I need to go over,” Roger said.

Davis sat up and Ryan followed. They both stretched and ended up still close to each other, arms entwined, shoulders pressed together. It took Davis a few seconds to realize that he needed to really pay attention and he unwound himself from Ryan before wiping his hand over his face and shaking his head.

“I’m awake now,” Davis said.

“Same here.” Ryan leaned forward, resting his head on the back of the seat in front of him but turning so he could see Roger.

Once he felt he had their attention he spoke. “I know this may sound odd, but when we land and get in the vehicles, you will be blindfolded.”

“Why?” Ryan asked.

“Our location isn’t known by many, and the fewer the better. When I arrived at the place, my hands were cuffed and I was blindfolded. I was taken to a room and locked inside. Once they knew they could trust me, I was let out. Davis, I know Duff is your father, but there are safety issues we have to take into consideration.”

“Safety issues? Whose safety?” Davis asked.

“Everyone’s, including yours and Ryan’s. I can’t tell you more. I can’t explain things, and Ryan, I’m sorry that you’re caught up in this. If you want to leave, we’ll put you on a plane to another location. I’ve spoken to Duff, and he assures me that the death certificate on Craig will say natural causes. You won’t be under suspicion and you’re free to leave if you want. But, I have to add this; we’d like to have you as a guest for a while. Who knows, you might like it there.”

None of them said anything for a very long time. The captain signaled that they were landing, and he needed to move seats to balance out the weight of the aircraft. After a few more seconds, Ryan met his gaze and nodded.

“I’ll do whatever you ask for now. Once we arrive at this location, I’m going to want some answers.”

“Fair enough.” Roger took his seat at the front of the plane after he made sure Mike was okay. Mike looked fine, just tired. They’d have to watch for infection, and make sure he didn’t get stiff once he healed enough to start rehab, but Mike should have a good recovery.

Hell, they’d all been beaten, shot at, injured, hurt, and nearly killed, but he wouldn’t leave Wild Bluff for all the money in the world. He loved being there with Grant. They had a family, though it wasn’t traditional, it was theirs. He missed James and wished the man could come back, but Brody was his partner and needed to disappear.

The engine noise changed just a little, telling him that they were almost on the ground. He blew out a breath, letting go of his worry. Soon, he’d be in Grant’s arms. He hadn’t talked to his man much since things had gotten hairy. Grant had to be relieved that Craig was gone and maybe a little sad, too. They’d had their rough patches, and he got the feeling that sometimes Grant thought he was competing with a ghost, but sometimes he got the feeling he was competing against a guy he could never beat.

He tensed when the plane jerked as the wheels touched the ground. They were almost home and then the fun would begin. Once the plane stopped rolling, Davis helped Mike stand, and Ryan grabbed their bags. Roger let the pilot open the door and thanked the man before deplaning. They moved slowly across the tarmac and into the tiny terminal for private plane passengers, letting Mike set the pace.

Roger hung back to get in step with Ryan. “You probably know where we are, and that’s okay, kind of, but I want you to understand that we take our secrets seriously. Once we debrief you on everything Craig has done, you’ll understand why knowledge of our place, our home, can’t get out. You might decide to leave, and if you do, you must keep this place a secret.”