Order (Tattoos and Ties 2)

“I never wanted you to know all that,” Key’s said quietly.

“We kept so much from each other—you more than me. I’m naturally inquisitive. I just didn’t think I could handle it. I love you so much it hurts me to think of you being abused.” Alec pulled back, then bent to kiss Key’s still bent head as his fingers caressed across Key’s long hair.

“He wasn’t my father,” Key said in little more than a harsh whisper, not looking him in the eyes.

“I suspected as much. When I saw him, I decided he couldn’t be your biological father,” Alec said, lifting Key’s head to move closer. He held Key who wrapped those strong arms around him, pulling him as close as he could. Key’s arms tightened as he rested his cheek on Alec’s shoulder.

“I always feel like trash when I’m around you. I just can’t make myself leave.” Key’s voice was filled with so much pain Alec didn’t think he could handle another minute. He closed his eyes and drew Key as close to him as possible.

“Don’t ever leave me.” Alec pressed his lips to Key’s hair. “Don’t ever leave me, Key. I won’t recover from losing you.”

They stood there holding one another for several long minutes until Key gave a deep sigh and the arms around him relaxed. Alec wasn’t in the same mindset. Key could do little more than tilt his head upward, because Alec was unwilling to release his hold.

“I beat the fuck out of the state’s informant. No way they’re not gonna see this as anything other than club retaliation. I’m going to prison, Alec.” Key’s strong arms tightened again.

“Let me handle this, babe.” Alec threaded his fingers through Key’s thick beard when he started to turn away again. He kept Key’s head tilted even when his lover averted his eyes. “Promise me you’ll trust me and let me take care of this. I made this mess; I’ll get us out of it.”

Key’s gaze met his. “I trust you.” Key shifted in his arms and concern rushed across his face again. “Are you sure you can’t use the secret service?”

For some reason, it was just the unintended comic relief he needed. He let go of Key as he reached for his files.

“I’ll call my security company right now.”

Key gave a nod of approval, scooping up Nash who had apparently hovered around their feet. This might have been the first night since Nash arrived that he wasn’t center of attention. Alec rubbed the little pup’s head then tucked the files underneath his arm before heading to his office.

As Keyes walked inside Fox’s custom bike shop, he had to ask himself…if he wasn’t afraid of anything, why was he nervous as hell? When the front door slammed shut behind him, the clanking of the bells hanging on the knob had him jerking his head over his shoulder in panic. Man, he’d been skittish since he left Alec’s house this morning, much later than normal, due to his refusal to leave until Alec had his new security detail in place. He needed to calm his ass down or his nervous energy would make his brothers suspicious—if they weren’t already, which brought the anxiety back full force.

“Hey, Key,” Fox’s old lady said, coming into the small showroom of the family owned business seconds before his hand landed on the door handle leading to Dev’s ink parlor. His heart had leaped into his throat as if he were surprised to be greeted by the woman who had greeted him in this same manner every single time he entered this building.

Fuck, he was a wreck.

“Hey. Goin’ to see Dev,” he said and cleared his throat while doing a weird thumb motion over his shoulder toward Dev’s area of their shared building.

“He’s in the back with his dad. They saw you pull up. They’re comin’.” She came to stand right in front of him, running a warm, caressing palm down his forearm. “You doin’ okay? I heard about yesterday. I wanted to come see you last night, but Dev said you were taken care of—your uncle was there. I hoped you went home with him last night.”

“I’m fine. I just lost my temper.” He spouted the lines he’d rehearsed over and over again in his head if any of his brothers asked about yesterday.

“It happens. Trust me. I know all about that.” She gave a commiserating nod as Fox came through the only other door in the showroom, Dev following behind him. Keyes locked his guarded gaze on the two men. He took in their casual gait and the gentle smile Fox gave his wife as she again patted Keyes’s arm. “Key, I’m gonna let you guys talk. Call me if you need anything, and come over for Christmas dinner. We’ll have plenty.”

He lifted a chin in acknowledgement with his eyes fixed on Fox. “Clyde told me you guys came up there yesterday.”