“Not much. He was barely conscious by the time we got here last night, and he still needs rest.”
“He does,” Sabrina agreed, “but I bet he also needs answers.”
“I told him we’d talk when he was feeling stronger.”
“Then take it a day at a time,” Lucien said. “If he decides to resign, I’m sure his connections and skills would be valuable to X.”
I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of Joe being in even more danger than he was right now.
“Whatever you decide, we’re here for you,” Angelo said.
“I just thought… I thought you’d think I was betraying the family. Joe’s arrested plenty of men for the same things we do regularly.”
Lucien seemed to consider my words for a moment. “Think about the things we’ve expected Cam and Peter to accept.”
Angelo nodded. “Neither of them would’ve stayed with us knowing what we do if they didn’t love us.”
“So if we told you Joe couldn’t stay,” Lucien said, “if we pushed you away because we don’t like what he does, that wouldn’t be fair.”
“And no matter what we do that breaks the law—and admittedly it’s a lot—our family is built on unconditional love,” Lucien said. “When you love someone, they become family too. Did you ever consider not excepting Peter once you knew I loved him or Cam once you understood how Angelo felt?”
I shook my head.
“Joe is welcome here as long as he wants to stay. If he tries to arrest me, I will put up a fight, but—”
“He won’t. We’ll make some rules.”
Angelo laughed. “You living by rules? Who would have thought?”
I flipped him off, and we all laughed. In that moment, looking around at my family, I knew everything was going to be okay.
After our talk, we went downtown for a few hours. I called Joe at lunchtime to make sure he was doing okay, eating, and drinking plenty of water. Lola had brought him a lunch tray, and he assured me he’d be fine for the afternoon. I let him know I’d be back before dinner.
As soon as I got home, I raced up the stairs to see him. He was sleeping soundly when I entered my room, so I undressed and climbed into bed with him. I was going to just hold him for a while then wake him gently to see how he was doing, but once I felt his skin against mine and breathed deeply of his scent, I couldn’t resist trailing kisses along his shoulder. He rolled onto his back and murmured something, but he didn’t fully wake.
I slid under the covers, slipped his shorts from his waist, and teased his cock with my tongue before drawing his length into my mouth. I loved the feel of him hardening as I sucked him.
It only took a few moments before he woke and pushed his good hand into my hair. “Keep going.”
I pulled back enough to speak. “Make me.”
He did, holding me against him and thrusting to push himself deeper into my mouth. I worked him with my throat and my tongue while I used my hands to toy with his balls and tease his hole. I didn’t stop until he erupted down my throat, holding me against him until I was sure I was going to run out of air.
I was close to spilling myself. When he was finished, I gave his softening cock a long lick, rose up on my knees, and jerked myself furiously. Seconds later, I shot my load all over his stomach.
When I leaned down to lick him clean, he groaned. “I love watching you come.”
“Good,” I said between swipes of my tongue. “You’re going to be seeing it a lot.”
“You really want to stay together?” I glanced up and saw his expression had turned serious.
“I told you you’re mine. I’m not letting you go. I don’t joke about things like that.”
He smiled. “I fucking love you.”
“I know.”
“Asshole.” He yanked on my hair, pulling me up so I could kiss him.
“I might be an asshole, but I’m one who will keep you safe.” I shifted position so I was lying beside him. “How are you feeling?”
“Damn good now.”
“Better, though? Seriously?”
“Yes, and I’ve made a decision.”
Apprehension tightened my chest. “You have?”
“I’m going to resign. I still want to help people, but after what I’ve seen, I want to do it in a different way.”
“Are you sure?”
He took a long, slow breath, then he looked at me. “I am.”
“All right, but I wanted to tell you that either way, you’re welcome here as long as you want to stay. You’re one of us now.”
“One of us?”
“A Marchesi. I love you, and that makes you family.”
“Even if I’d decided to stay with the department?”
“Yes. I talked to everyone this morning. Does that change your mind?”
He shook his head and winced. “I keep forgetting I can’t do that. I don’t want to go back to the department. I don’t think I can work within that system anymore.”