Duke didn’t speak as Quick hustled around him. When his friend moved to pick up his salad plate, Duke’s hand darted out and grabbed his wrist; the abrupt move forcing Quick to finally look him in the eye. “Does it look like I need you to spare my feelings right now or make sure I eat all my food like a good little boy? I had a mother; I don’t need her replaced. I want to know what’s going on with my guy and I want to know now. Because if I find out something is wrong, you’ll pay first, Rome. I found out about the surgery you tried to hide, I’ll find out whatever it is you’re trying to keep from me now, too. Only this time I won’t let you off the hook so easily.”
Judge’s hearty laughter broke their tense stare off. “Fuckin’ Duke, man.”
Quick shot Judge an evil look, prying his wrist out of Duke’s grip and dropping into the recliner next to him. “First of all. Dana is healing fine. He’s just… he doesn’t.”
“Quick,” Duke growled.
“Just tell him already,” Judge urged.
“He’s still feeling responsible for your injury. He was one that did the surveillance and he was the one I was helping, the reason I couldn’t get upstairs to help you, so—”
“God, that is such bullshit! Why would he think that?” Duke fussed, his anger rising quickly. If all his friends thought him such a badass, then why were they treating him like a little bitch? All the ducking and dodging, and lying to so-called protect him was driving him insane “Get Dana on the phone. Yesterday!”
Quick reluctantly but hurriedly pulled out his cell phone and hit a couple buttons.
“No more secrets. I mean it. No fucking more,” Duke declared.
Judge and Quick both nodded once, then his friend was handing him the phone: already on speaker. Duke didn’t wait for Dana to say a word. His conversation was fast and to the point, like Dana was used to.
“Hey, man. You feeling alright?”
“Um. Sure,” Dana claimed hesitantly, obviously shocked at hearing his boss’s voice from Quick’s phone.
“Good. Get your ass over here for a mandatory meeting now. I’m at Quick’s.” Then hung up. Duke would set Dana straight and hopefully they could all go back to their lives.
********
Vaughan was sprawled across the bed listening to his man’s deep voice carry up the stairs to him. He’d left the door open on purpose. He wanted to hear what was going on but he didn’t want to go down and interrupt the impromptu business meeting. He’d been more than a little pissed off when Judge put his arms around Duke, almost pushing him out of the way. He was Duke’s man. His partner. He wouldn’t be disrespected. Judge’d had his chance and been too stupid to take it.
Another man had arrived about forty minutes after Vaughan got out the shower. Although Vaughan couldn’t see him, he figured the guy was as big and burly as all the rest of the men that worked for Duke, because his voice was deep and frightening even though he wasn’t in fight mode. The visitor had started out with apologies, but Duke and his dad cut him off. It was only a few minutes before they were off the subject of fault and back to talking about business.
Vaughan wanted to throw up when he heard that Duke was going back after the man that had tried to kill him. Somehow the asshole had eluded the authorities again and was back on the loose. Why did his man have to be the one to hunt the rabid animal down? Couldn’t they send the FBI or some other team to get him? Shouldn’t the guy be on the Most Wanted list? He didn’t expect Duke to become a desk jockey but he hadn’t expected him to try to get back in the field so fast, either. He wasn’t sure what to say or do about it. His love wasn’t conditional. He had no other option regarding his heart but to love Duke in every way. He’d pray every day that his man was safe when he left his bed to go to round up bad guys. God had answered his prayer before so he’d keep doing it.
He’d been so deep in thought that he hadn’t heard Duke come up the stairs or into the bedroom until the bed was dipping down next to him.
“Hey. You feeling okay?” Duke questioned softly, climbing up next to Vaughan and dropping wearily down onto his pillow. He nuzzled in close to Vaughan’s left side, running his nose along his man’s smooth jaw. “You always smell so good.”
Vaughan brushed his fingers over Duke’s cheek, along his clammy skin. “You look so tired, sweetheart. That was an awfully long meeting. It’s almost dusk.”