Devlin sat in stunned silence at the kitchen table, finally found his voice and asked, “Does Abel know?”

“I don’t know,” Axel said. “I haven’t spoken to him.”

Rubbing his mouth, Devlin murmured, “He called me at work, said he was helping Angel and the others do some clothes shopping for some kids that Clint and his men brought in. He’s over there now.”

“Cory’s there,” Axel told him. “He may have let him know what happened.”

Devlin glanced into the living room, his eyes damp and emanating fear. “We just got these boys out of a horrifying situation. To think that…” He swallowed and lowered his eyes, then looked up at Axel. “But Cory did get the guy, right?”

“Yes. He took him to Clint. I guarantee, he’ll never come around here again.” He’ll never go anywhere again. The look on Devlin’s face revealed to Axel that he understood fully what was to become of the man—and he was in favor.

“That’s good to know,” Devlin whispered. He cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair. “I should get the boys home. I’ll call Abel from the house if he isn’t back yet and find out what he’s been told, if anything.”

Axel nodded as they both stood. “The boys seem to be taking it okay, but it might be that it hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think Jules and Reuben understand it so much and that’s probably just as well.”

“Definitely,” Devlin agreed.

The twins gathered their things and hugged Axel goodbye. Noah gave him an extra-strong hug and a reassuring smile as if to reaffirm that they were okay.

“Do we have to go home, too?” Jules asked when Devlin and the boys were gone.

Axel sat down on the sofa next to the child. “I don’t know yet,” he said. “I’ll have to call Cory or your Uncle Adrian.”

His face scrunching, Jules asked, “Why did Cory put that man in the trunk?”

Axel hesitated. “It’s…hard to explain. But don’t worry about it, that man won’t come around anymore.”

“What did he want?” Jules asked innocently. “Why did he grab Noah?”

“He…he wasn’t a good person,” Axel offered carefully.

“Noah kicked him good,” Jules snickered, and Reuben giggled softly beside him.

“I’m glad for that,” Axel said. “He did what he had to do.” He stretched his arm along the back of the sofa and looked at the two boys. “I want you both to listen to me, ok? If a stranger ever tries to grab hold of you or make you go with them, I want you to scream and fight and make a lot of noise. And don’t ever go anywhere with a stranger, no matter what they tell you, do you understand me? Not even if they want to give you presents, like the man at the park, or want to show you a puppy—nothing. Bad people try to trick kids into going with them by promising them good things.”

Jules frowned. “Why?”

Axel didn’t know if he should be telling the boys these things or if he should leave it to Adrian, but his fear for their safety spurred him to warn them. “Some people…steal kids away from their families. That’s why whenever you’re out away from home, you stay close to whoever you’re with, hold their hand, don’t ever wander away.” He looked at Reuben. “Both of you. Do you understand?”

The two boys nodded. They were only four, but they were smart little kids.

“Good.” He ran his fingers through Jules’ silky soft hair. “I don’t want you to feel afraid to go places with your Uncle Adrian or any of the rest of us, but it is very important that you listen and always stick close to the person you’re with.” He reached over and rubbed his hand down the back of Reuben’s head. “And that goes for you, too, kiddo, when you’re out with your dad, or us. I just want you both to be safe, always.”

Axel’s cell phone vibrated on the kitchen table. He left the sofa and walked into the kitchen and grabbed up the device.

“Hello?”

“It’s Abel.” Fear strained his voice. “Cory just told me what happened. Are the boys okay?”

“Yeah,” Axel assured. “They’re fine. Devlin just came and picked them up. He’s headed home now. He said he’d call you when he got to the house.”

“Okay. Good.” A short pause, then, “How are the little boys?”

“They’re doing all right,” Axel said. “They didn’t really comprehend the situation.”

“And you?” Abel asked quietly. “Are you all right?”

Sighing, Axel murmured, “I could be better. But, yeah, I’m okay, too.” It was his turn to pause a moment before asking, “Is Clint there at the house?”

“Yeah. He’s downstairs, though.”

“Okay,” Axel said low. “I just wanted to make sure he was there.” He laughed quietly. “Is it crazy for me to worry about him? I mean, considering who he is and all?”

“You love him,” Abel pointed out with a soft smile in his voice. “You’re going to worry about him no matter what. And that isn’t crazy at all.”

“Thanks,” Axel smiled. “Good to know I’m not crazy.”

“You’re as sane as the rest of us.”

“Uh-oh.”

Abel laughed quietly. “Wasn’t much comfort, was it?”

They talked for a few more minutes before saying goodbye. Less than five minutes later, Cory called.

“Hey, how are the boys?”

“Okay,” Axel said. “The twins went home with Devlin.”

“Yeah, that’s what Abel said.” He quietly cleared his throat. “Look, Axel…I’m sorry about before. I shouldn’t have just brushed you off like that.”

“You didn’t,” Axel murmured. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It isn’t like I didn’t know that Clint doesn’t want me involved in that stuff. I shouldn’t have insisted on going along.”

“Even so,” Cory sighed. “I feel like I was treating you like a kid or something. I mean, shit, we’re the same age.”

“Stop it,” Axel said. “You didn’t treat me like a kid. You were just honoring Clint’s wishes. Like you said, he’d kick your ass if you brought me into it.”

“Yeah,” Cory agreed. “And if it makes you feel any better, I was kicked out, too.”

“Um…yeah, it kind of does,” Axel chuckled.

“Thanks a lot, brother.” Cory laughed lightly, then sobered. “You are, you know?”

“What?”

“Like a brother to me.”

Axel cleared his throat. “I’m touched. But maybe we should stick with just really good friends.”

“Why?”

Axel smiled. “Because I seem to recall sharing a pretty heated kiss with you once that…uh…might be a bit unsettling to think about if you consider me your brother.”

“So, you still think about it, do you?” Cory’s grin was evident in his teasing tone.

Axel shook his head and chuckled. “Shut up.”

“I’m telling Clint.”

“I’m shaking in my boots.”

Cory laughed lightly. “Yeah, I can feel the tremors.”

Axel rolled his eyes, grinning.

“Anyway,” Cory went on with a short laugh. “I was wondering if you could bring Jules home and bring my car in? Clint has his car and you’ll ride back with him and Cochise.”

“No problem,” Axel said. “I’ll need to swing by and drop Reuben off at Nolan’s apartment.”

“That’s fine.”

“All right. We’ll take off as soon as I gather up the boys’ things.”

“Then I’ll see you when you get here,” he said, then added teasingly, “Want me to give Clint a kiss for you?”

“Baby,” Axel chuffed. “You couldn’t handle that cowboy’s kiss.”

 

•♦•

 

After Axel left, Nolan sat for a long time just holding Reuben in his arms; clinging to him. Until this moment, his greatest fear had been losing his son to Patrice. But this—this—fear surpassed the other by a powerful margin.

Grid lingered close by, the young man’s fear as thick in the air as Nolan’s own. He thought Grid longed for a turn to hold Reuben, feel him in his arms, but Nolan couldn’t let go of him. Not yet. The little boy seemed to understand that his daddy needed him close and he didn’t squirm or try to get loose—simply laid his head on Nolan’s shoulder and wrapped his small arms around his neck. Nolan struggled not to break down and did manage to keep his composure for the most part, but he couldn’t stop the flow of tears as he gently rubbed his son’s back and lightly rocked back and forth.

Grid brought him a steaming cup of coffee and sat down beside him. He leaned over and kissed Reuben on the head then whispered, “He’s asleep.”

Nolan lost a bit of control and sobbed quietly against his son’s hair. “I thought…I thought the worst thing that could ever happen would be losing custody of him.” He hugged his little boy closer, shaking inside and out. “But that isn’t the worst thing.” He looked at Grid, his vision swimming. “Not even close.”

Grid reached out and stroked Nolan’s damp cheek. “The worst didn’t happen,” he whispered thickly. “And it isn’t going to. He’s home. He’s safe. You’re not going to lose him; not to the worst thing…and not to Patrice.” He caressed his thumb gently over Nolan’s lower lip. “Okay?”

“Okay.” Nolan trembled.

Grid kissed him. “I love you,” he said softly then kissed Reuben again. “And I love Reuben. Everything is going to be okay, baby. It’s going to be better than okay.” He smiled and brushed another kiss on Nolan’s lips. “It’s going to be perfect.” He wrapped his arms around Nolan and Reuben. “Right here, right now…what matters is that we’re together and our little guy is home safe with us.”

Nolan pressed his lips to Grid’s cheek as fresh tears seeped out. “I love you.” So much.

 

•♦•

 

Anthony lent Clint a pair of fresh clothes and the use of his bathroom off the master bedroom. Clint stripped out of his Wranglers, damp and sticky with the blood of the men he’d slaughtered, and dropped them in a heap by the bathroom door. He discarded his briefs then stepped into the steaming shower and sucked in a sharp breath when the hot spray pelted his chilled skin. He quickly adapted to the heat and welcomed the warmth it pushed into his cold muscles.

The water streamed off him in a crimson flood as he scrubbed the blood from his chest, arms, and legs. The shampoo tinted red when he worked it through his tacky hair then shoved his head under the spray and rinsed it out. He flattened his hands on the wall and leaned on his arms, eyes closed, and head ducked as the scalding water ran down his back and over his ass.

Until just now, he hadn’t stopped long enough for the events of the day to fully set in. His chest heaved as he imagined the scene at the park…them coming so close to losing their boys…

His brow cinched; with all that they’d done to their guest…it didn’t feel like enough. Not now…not as it began to sink in that their boys could have become one of these very kids that he and the other men had rescued today…cast into hell while they were still alive.

His arms strained against the wall, his whole body knotting up as his jaw clenched until his face began to ache. He suddenly longed for Axel’s arms, the warmth, and refuge of his body-

“My cowboy.”

Clint flinched and thought he’d imagined Axel’s voice. He slowly pushed off the wall and turned around. Ask and ye shall receive. Axel stood in the open shower door, gazing at him with that look that burrowed straight to the core of Clint’s being. His breath quickened, and throat knotted as Axel’s perfect face blurred before him.

I need you.

Axel responded as if the words had been spoken aloud. He left his clothes lying on the bathroom floor and came to Clint, his coveted arms sliding around Clint’s strong frame, his warm body pushed up against his cowboy.

Clint ran his fingers through Axel’s soft curls—which seemed to grow a little longer each day—and tilted his face up for a warm, passionate kiss. Their hearts and bodies responded to one another as if they were two parts of one whole. Weren’t they?

Slowly drawing out of the kiss, Clint stared into Axel’s beautiful eyes. “Cory told me,” he whispered, his throat pinched tighter. “Axel…”

Axel shook his head, tears forming. “We can talk about it later,” he said quietly against Clint’s mouth. “Right now, I just want to be right here with you…” He kissed him softly. “Just us.”

Clint swallowed and pulled him closer, their love and need for one another fueling their mutual arousal. He captured Axel’s mouth in a deep, fervent kiss and ran his hands down the young man’s firm body, gripped his ass, and lifted him up, pinning him against the wall as he slid inside him. They shuddered as one, held on tight to each other…and let go.