Unexpected (The Protectors 10)

I’d taken care of the matter shortly after I’d come out. When I’d told Nash to call Director Hill to find out when he should report to the Seattle office for work, he’d railed at me for a bit, but promptly shut up when I’d kissed him. Gage and I had distracted him long enough to calm him down, then we’d discussed the issue at length until he’d admitted that he wanted the job, but he was afraid to leave his family, and specifically me, unprotected.

It was another reason it had been easy to accept my new protection detail.

Reese and I reached his car. He put the bag in his trunk, then stepped up to where I was waiting by the driver’s side door.

“Try not to worry,” he said.

“Try not to get killed,” I said.

Reese sighed and then wrapped his arms around me. “I’ll call you when I get there.”

“Call me before that,” I murmured. “I love you, Reese.”

“Love you too, Dad.” He stepped back and opened his door. “Go home to those men of yours. I’m surprised Nash hasn’t put out an APB on you.”

I looked over my shoulder at the female agent. “Agent Kemp, how many times has Nash texted you?”

“Seven times, Mr. President,” she said without hesitation.

“Only seven today? That’s got to be a new record,” Reese said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Seven times in the last hour, Mr. Shaw,” Agent Kemp clarified.

Reese and I both chuckled, then he put his hand on my shoulder. “Go home, Dad. I’ll be—”

“Fine,” I said for him. “I know.”

I stepped back as he got in his car.

I closed my eyes and sent a silent message heavenward to the man I’d once hoped to share the role of fatherhood with.

Watch over our boy, Pierce.

While I believed what Vincent had told me about our loved ones resting in peace only when we were truly happy, Pierce had loved Reese, because I loved Reese. So I knew he wouldn’t truly be at rest until he knew the young man he’d started to think of as his own had found the same happiness that I had.

I waited until Reese’s car was gone before allowing the agents to take me home.

I felt some of my worry for Reese fade away as we began the trek up the driveway to the house. I smiled at the sight of my men sitting on the porch steps. I said my goodbyes to the two agents and greeted the dogs who all came running to me.

Except Zeus.

Because he was passed out at the top of the steps behind Nash and Gage.

My men didn’t speak as I approached them, nor did they say anything when I settled between them on the step. I took the beer Gage offered me and had a sip before handing it back to him.

“He’ll be okay,” Gage said softly.

I nodded. “Yeah, he will.”

Nash kissed my temple, then took the ball Dorf brought him. He threw it down the driveway and all the dogs took off after it.

“You ready for tomorrow?” Nash asked.

“Very,” I said.

We were flying to Virginia the next day so I could deal with getting my house ready to put on the market.

“I want you guys to come to Arlington with me,” I said softly. “There’s someone there I’d like you to meet and that I need to say goodbye to.”

“We’d be honored,” Gage said, since he knew full well that I was talking about Pierce. Nash didn’t say anything, but he did link his fingers with mine, then lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers.

The three of us sat in silence for a while until Charlie came busting out the front door. She rattled something off to us in a language I didn’t recognize.

“What did she say?” Nash whispered. I shrugged and we both looked at Gage.

“Not a clue,” Gage said as he took a sip of his beer.

We looked at each other for a moment, then turned around to Charlie and yelled, “Ja!”

The little girl giggled and ran back inside.

As we stood, Gage let out a loud whistle. Four dogs came running toward us. I smiled when I saw what was in their wake, but traveling in the opposite direction.

“Look,” I said to Gage and Nash before they turned to head up the steps.

“Damn,” Nash muttered when he saw what I was pointing at.

“Sorry, buddy,” Gage said as he slapped Nash on the back. “It’s your turn. We’ll save a plate for you.”

Nash let out a loud curse, then began to move down the stairs. I grabbed him and held him in place for a moment so I could brush my mouth over his. “See you in a bit,” I whispered.

A smile drifted across his lips. “Yeah.”

I reached for the hand Gage extended to me and followed him up the stairs. We stepped over Zeus, who ignored the three dogs that stumbled over him as they darted through the door Gage was holding open.