“Thanks for meeting me, dude. I know it’s a little late but…”

Dana sat at the high-top round table after removing his jean jacket. “Uh-oh. You’re thanking me for coming like I’m here to see a show.”

“Shut up. I can never understand your work hours. Besides, I also know you don’t like to be pulled away from that old man of yours,” Sway said, messing with his best friend. “Did you give him his Ensure after dinner?”

Dana almost spit out some of his beer trying to stop his laughter.

“At his age, it’s critical for him to get all his nutrients and vitamins,” Sway said, dead serious.

Dana continued to laugh. “You’re a dick. Will you stop acting like Ford is that old?”

“Well, if the orthopedic shoe fits.” Sway couldn’t hold in his laugh any longer.

“I’ll be sure to tell him you said that when I get home.” Dana lifted the beer that Sway had already ordered for him and took a large gulp, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his old Dallas hoodie. “So, what’s up swish-and-sway? Spit it out. Applebee’s ain’t open twenty-four hours.”

Sway rolled his eyes at the nickname and decided to get down to why he’d called his brother out at almost nine o’clock at night. “How well do you know Brian?”

Dana finished his beer and flagged the waitress for another before he turned back to him. “I’ve known him a few years, just as long as I’ve known Ford. They both came to work for Duke at the same time, bout three and half years ago. I’ve worked side by side with them ever since.”

Sway hoped he could get as many of his questions answered as he could before Dana started to act like Dana. “What was your first impression of him?”

“Damn that guy’s huge… and quiet.” Dana chuckled.

“Dana come on, be serious.” It sounded like a whine, but he could do that with Dana. He was tired, irritable and his feet hurt, he was allowed to groan.

“So, first impressions.” Dana looked away as if he was carefully considering his words. “Brian wowed me on the very first bust he and his brother assisted us on. Judge—you know Duke’s other business partner who runs the PI business—he brought them on to help temporarily after Duke was injured. They were only supposed to aid with one case. Needless to say, that was years ago and they’re still with us. The way Brian calculates and moves is freakin’ crazy.”

“Do you trust him, D?” Sway asked quietly. “Is he dangerous?”

Dana was serious when he answered. “Personally, I think he’s the most dangerous man in Atlanta, but he’s only a threat to certain people. To answer your other question, I trust him with my life every day, and the life of my partner. He’s an amazing man. I’m lucky to have met him but even luckier to call him a friend. I’d trust him with my baby brother too.”

Sway was impressed with Dana’s statement. He wanted to ask more but he knew that eventually Dana would stop answering and switch to asking him questions, and he didn’t want that. He had no answers.

“I guess this means you haven’t called him,” Dana said soberly. “No wonder.”

“He hasn’t um, you know. Asked about me, or anything?” Sway asked as if he could care less, but his heart beat wildly at the thought that Brian had secretly inquired about him too.

Dana shook his head. “It’s not his style. He’s not going to come to me crying for answers.”

“I’m not crying, bighead. I just figured my best friend would have my back and let me know if I’m going to make a huge mistake by seeing this guy, knowing what he’s been through, and knowing what I’ve been through, D.” Sway leaned back. “And you know my mom and I are a package deal. Would it be fair?”

“Yes! It’s absolutely fair. Everyone deserves to be happy, especially you two. Brian, he’s, he’s been through some stuff, yes. But, I’ll be damned if he isn’t one of the strongest, most disciplined men I’ve ever met because of it. What he went through didn’t make him weaker, it made him a beast.”

“Damn.” Sway had concluded that Brian’s silence had everything to do with what had happened to him while in the service, but that was the extent of it. If he wanted to know more then he’d go about it the right way and earn Brian’s trust. But, the thought of putting himself out there again was scary. What if something happened? Another heartbreak like he’d suffered, and next time he’d end up in an insane asylum.

Dana threw a few bills onto the table when he noticed the servers starting to do some cleanup. It was going on ten, and Sway needed to get home and rest. “Let Brian decide if you’re worthy.”

They left the quiet restaurant. The night air was cooler than usual, and Sway wished he had on more than his scrubs and a light hoodie. When they were almost to his Impala, Dana elbowed him. “So, you gonna go for it?”

“I’ll think about it,” Sway said honestly. He still wasn’t sure if he should bring his baggage—and his own insecurities—to the table and dump them on top of Brian’s or not. He also felt silly for putting him and Brian in a relationship already, complete with relationship-like issues when he’d barely spent a total of two hours in his presence. How about dinner with the man first, Sway? Over-presumptuous much? But he knew if he gave this a shot, he’d have to be all-in because Brian didn’t seem the type to do anything half-assed. He was intense and consuming in a way that made Sway soar. He’d never encountered anyone like Brian King; and in the small amount of time he’d had with him in that sex club he’d made Sway feel as if they were meant to find each other amongst a dark abyss of writhing lost souls. He’d made him feel special, adored, hopeful. That wasn’t what he’d been prepared to feel that night. It’d been too damn long since he’d felt anything… so he’d run. He ran from the immediate connection, and from the way he’d felt when the huge man had him pressed tightly against his thick chest in Dana’s house. Oh no. Brian wasn’t looking for a fling.

“Don’t overthink it. Isn’t that what you told me about Ford?” Dana smirked.

“I don’t recall,” Sway lied.

“Yes, you do. You and Brian have some type of weird chemistry popping off and you’re terrified of it.” Dana leaned on the door of Sway’s car, preventing him from escaping inside to block out his big brother’s accurate assumption.

“Am not,” was all he could murmur. He’d never been able to lie to Dana and make it believable.

“I can do a set up for you if you want, since you’re being such a little girl. I’ll invite Brian over to my place and then you can just pop up or something. Bring some food or some shit, he loves to eat.” Dana thought, then a shit eating grin covered his ruggedly handsome face, “And if you check your back bone at the door this time, you can just borrow mine when you get inside.”

Sway groaned. “Ugh. You’re such jackass. Don’t torment me, D.”

“That’s what big brothers are for.” Dana clicked his teeth dramatically.

Dana was his big brother, regardless of DNA. They’d all grown up in the same hood on the rough side of Adamsville, him and his twin brother Stanton. When Stanton had died during his second year in college, it had been barely survivable for them both, but Dana had stepped up and helped comfort Sway through the pain and depression while battling his own. Dana had sworn to Sway’s brother that’d he’d keep him and protect him, forever. And Dana hadn’t failed on that promise and Sway knew he never would.

“Are you sure he hasn’t mentioned… or maybe said anything about wanting to…” Sway felt silly, knowing he was about to hear something slick from Dana.

Dana pretended to think on it for moment. “Hmmm.” He drew out. “No, he hasn’t. But I can pass him a note in between classes.”

“I hate you so much,” Sway griped, shoving Dana as hard as he could, only to end up making himself stumble. “You big cinderblock.”

“See what you get for using your hands instead of your words,” Dana teased.

“Let me go, I’m dead on my feet,” Sway said, climbing into his car.

“Stop working so hard. You work more tortuous hours than Trump’s press secretary.”

“You need a new line and something else to worry about.” Sway buckled his seat belt and lowered the window. “I’m good. Thinking of making some important moves, I think. You won’t believe I literally ran into Dr. Chauncey today and he starts chatting me up to the Chief and everything, talking about me joining his department again.” Sway narrowed his eyes. “You or that boss of yours wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”

“Of course not. Quick would never try to score favors on his man and Cayson wouldn’t compromise his department. If he’s asking for you to join his team it’s because you’ve earned it, Squirt. You know you’re the man at that hospital. Congratulations! That’s amazing! Cayson Chauncey is big shit. Working for him is like going to community college dude, from there you can go anywhere.”

Sway laughed, feeling so much lighter. His friend always had that effect on him. “Okay, okay. I believe you then,” Sway said, blushing. He wouldn’t tell him—because Dana’s head was big enough—but Sway also worked so hard because he wanted… no he needed the only brother he had left to be proud of him. “But, I better not hear otherwise. You know I don’t like special favors.”

“I know. Are you gonna take the job?”

“I don’t know. I have to think about it,” Sway hummed.

“You have more to think about than a Nobel scholar,” Dana growled. “I got an idea. Just do it, man. Don’t think at all. Explore. Be adventurous. Take a risk. Jump without a chute.”

“Okay, um, all those ideas literally just made my stomach cramp and I’m pretty sure your last suggestion would lead to my bone-crushing death, sooooo, thanks a lot for your help, D.”

“Anytime, man.” Dana stepped back from the car and took his key fob and remote started his Chevy.

“And don’t say anything to Brian right now either. Let me think ab… I mean… I’ll decide soon. So, just keep your mouth shut since you can’t say anything helpful right now.”

Dana held up his hand to his brow in a three-finger salute. “Promise. I won’t say a word to—”

“Put your damn hand down, you were never a fuckin’ Boy Scout. They had morals, discipline and drive to help others.” Sway laughed.

“Hey. I have… drive,” Dana grumbled. He leaned in, kissed Sway on his forehead and tapped the hood of the car. “All right Squirt. You know what to do.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll text you when I get home.” Sway pulled away, grumbling to himself. “He still acts like I’m ten years old and getting bullied on the way home.”