Hours Earlier

“He’s not fuckin’ answering,” I yelled into the room. “That’s it; I’m getting on the next flight.” I started for the door, but then Parker stepped in front of me. He shoved me back gently.

“You’re not thinkin’ clearly.”

“I’m not?” I clipped. “You saw what Gamer found on that motherfuckin’ Amit Ravel. That damn email told me enough. I need to get the fuck over there to stop this bullshit and now.”

“Do you really think Easton would marry some bird for one mil?”

“No. I know he won’t. He wouldn’t unless he absolutely had to.”

“Guys,” Gamer called from the computer.

“I can’t see anything that douche had would get Easton to marry a bird. You’re stressin’ for nothin’.”

“Then why in the fuck isn’t he answering his phone, Parker?”

“Yo,” Gamer called.

“Fuckin’ shit,” Dodge commented.

I ignored them and stayed glaring at Parker.

“Maybe because he’s at some fancy dig and can’t hear it, Lan. You’re runnin’ for no reason but an email where he gets one million for marryin’ a woman.”

“Motherfuckers,” Knife boomed.

We both looked his way.

He pointed down at the computer. “There’s been other emails before the contract one.”

“What do they say?” I asked. Parker walked over with me as Gamer brought four of them up on the screen.

“They were in his deleted folder. The idiot didn’t empty it out,” Gamer explained. “It’s not good, brothers.”

“Explain,” Parker ordered.

Gamer pointed to one. He glanced at me and asked, “Didn’t you say he was sick? Cancer or something?”

“Yes.”

“Doctor’s results. He’s in good health.” He pointed to another. “This one tells us how his business will collapse because he owes the taxman money for his employees’ pensions and shit.”

“This one is a threat. From what I’m gathering, he slept with a prostitute. She knows he’s from money and if he doesn’t pay her in the next few days, she’ll be sending evidence to his fiancée.” He took a breath. “All of it tells me he’ll be desperate to get this guy’s business by making his son marry into the family.”

“What does the guy he’s gettin’ money from gain from the deal?” Parker asked.

“A lawyer and his firm to do anything he wants them to do,” Knife said.

“Fuck,” Dodge clipped.

Gamer nodded. He pointed to the last email. “However, it’s this one you need to worry about most.”

“What is it?”

“If this fails with Easton and he doesn’t sign, the father’s hired a hitman for after he’s married to the Darlene lady. Her family is fuckin’ loaded. He’ll go for her money.”

“They have a kid together,” I snarled.

“He won’t care,” Parker said, disgust in his voice. “Like Gamer said, he’s desperate. Social and financial appearances mean everythin’ to this guy. He’s willin’ to sell his son off to save his business. If that fails, he’s gonna kill for it.”

“Get me a flight, Gamer, and fuckin’ now,” I bit out.

A hand landed on my shoulder. “Do not fuckin’ talk me out of it, Parker.”

“I’m not. But it can’t be you.”

I faced him. “What the fuck, man?”

“You’re not healed. Airports will ask questions.”

Stepping up, I got in his face. “I don’t goddamn care.”

“Let me go. I don’t look like I’ve been in some bar brawl. I have a badge, and Gamer will print out the evidence from the emails. He won’t stand a chance.”

“No one will give a fuck how I look. I’m not—”

“We’re goin’ after him. Don’t you think he’ll come after us? If he does, he won’t find shit on me, but you looking the way you do, if things get put together, and people start asking where Miller, your ex-partner, is, don’t you think shit could hit the fan? Then where would that leave Easton? He’d feel guilty as hell just because you couldn’t take a breath and trust in me being right. We can’t risk questions being raised with you looking the way you do.”

“He’s right,” Dodge said. “Miller won’t show to his parole officer so an investigation will start. You need to lay low until then. Heal. Not run off when you know Parker can handle it.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and breathed deeply, refraining from kicking some arse like I wanted to. I fucking hated they made sense.

Pulling my hand away, I clenched both fists. Nothing helped the fury boiling under my skin.

Parker stepped close, his hand landing on the side of my neck. “You fuckin’ let loose in here, Gamer will lose the computers. The evidence. Calm the hell down. We got this. I got this. Gamer’s gettin’ me a flight already. I’ll be over there and back with Easton. He’ll be fine. Yeah?”

He shook me a little. I rolled my neck, goddamn wincing when it tugged at my shoulder and straightened before I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good.” He faced the others. “I’ve got a bag in the car. I won’t need anything else but those papers, Gamer.”

“Printing now,” Gamer said.

“What about work?” Knife asked.

Parker shook his head. “It’ll be fine. Nothin’s happening on the case. I’ll tell Sarge I have to head out of town to help a friend out for a day, two tops.”

“He good like that?” Dodge questioned.

“Yeah, he’s pretty good,” I told them.

“You’re takin’ backup,” Dodge suddenly ordered.

Parker shook his head. “I’m a detective. If I show up with a brother from the club, it won’t be seen well.”

“You’ll need someone with you. No brother, patch or not, goes it alone.”

“Who?” Parker demanded.

Knife took out his phone. “What about a lawyer?”

“We’re not taking a civilian into something like this. I don’t even know what type of situation it’ll be,” I said.

Knife shook his head. “Liam’s the fuckin’ bomb at scaring people with words. He’s a huge mofo too, and he’s a black belt in karate.”

“How do you know this Liam guy?” Parker asked.

“His partner helped me out in a situation.”

“Parker, it’s your call,” Dodge said.

“He’ll do. Make the call. Gamer, get him a ticket. Email it to him if he agrees and send mine to me. I’ll meet him at the airport.” Parker grabbed the papers Gamer had printed then strode out of the computer room.

“Be back,” I said and followed him out. “Parker,” I called.

He stopped and faced me. “Yeah?”

“Thank you,” I said, stopping in front of him.

“You’d do it if I were in the same situation. Nothin’ to thank me for.”

“Just… after everything, ah, yeah.” I nodded and felt like a fucking moron.

He snorted. “All good. See you when I bring him back.”

I nodded. Unclenching my jaw, I added quickly, “Be careful.”

His stare was hard to read because he wasn’t scowling. He blanked his expression. Then he dipped his chin, turned, and walked off.

Knife’d been right. Liam was a huge mofo, and black. Jesus, the brother even towered over me, and I was tall. He stalked towards me with confidence in his pricey suit, holding a briefcase.

“Parker?” his deep voice asked, stopping just before me.

“Yep. Thanks for coming, Liam.”

“I’ve been sent all the information. I’ll read it on the way over. I’ve previously heard stories regarding Mr Ravel. He isn’t a fair lawyer. He’s an even worse human being. I believe in justice, Parker. I’ll do what I can to help.”

“Good. We’d better board.”

He nodded.

Gamer had somehow got us a seat side by side. After take-off, I relaxed back for the two-hour flight. I felt Liam shift and opened my eyes to find him looking at me. His voice was low when he asked, “Knife didn’t mention your involvement with Easton Ravel. Are you romantically involved?”

I scoffed, snorted, and then laughed. “No.” I shook my head. Lan’s lips popped into my mind. “No,” I said again.

Liam narrowed his gaze. “Do you have a problem with—”

I leaned in. “Do not fuckin’ ask me that question. If I had a problem, then I wouldn’t be on this trip for my partner to help out his guy.”

“Partner?”

“Probably like yours, meaning partner in work. The guy who helped Knife out.”

Liam sat back, his lips twitching.

“What?”

“I have two partners, and it’s not for work. Liberty and Damien.”

Ding, ding, fucking ding.

Now I knew who Liam was. He was in a relationship like Pick and Billy were with Josie. Two guys and a girl.

“Ah, right.” I nodded.

“There’s nothing wrong with it. Will there be a problem?”

I sighed, ran a hand over my face, and said, “Why do people assume I’d have a fuckin’ problem? Like and love who you want. I don’t judge or give a shit.”

Silence for a beat, and then he said, “It’s the look you get on your face.”

“What?” I clipped roughly, causing some people to look at us in our two seats at the side of the plane.

He shifted, giving his back to the other people on the plane. “Your eyes widened for a second in fear, then narrowed in anger. Your lips thinned in frustration, and then you rolled your eyes before you tilted your head in thought.”

I froze.

“I’m a lawyer, Parker. I read people well. It’s the fear and thought parts I’d want to know about. If you want to tell me, I’m a good listener, and if you ask me to keep it in confidence, I will.”

Why did he tell me that? Who cared if he wouldn’t say shit to anyone? I didn’t. I had zilch to talk about. I just wanted to get to Queensland, punch Amit Ravel in the face before I arrested his arse and then get Easton back to Victoria for Lan.

Lan wanted Easton with him. They were together. Two men who annoyed the fuck out of me on more than one occasion. At least one of them I knew well, and I’d learned to take his teasing and the days he had attitude into account to know he was still a solid guy. The other I didn’t know, wasn’t sure I trusted him completely, but he had proven himself an okay guy.

Did I want to or need to talk?

Christ no. Besides, I couldn’t think of anything I needed to talk about. Hell, I was fine. I had nothing on my mind. Nothing of which he’d understand. Besides, I didn’t even know the guy.

“I’m fine,” I said, and then leaned back, closing my eyes.

I felt Liam shift, heard a zip, and for some fucked-up reason, my heart jack-hammered in my chest until I heard the tap, tap of his fingers flying over a keyboard. I glanced out the corner of my eyes and saw him working on his laptop.

Jesus Christ. Had that thought actually popped into my head? The one where I thought Liam undid his zipper on his slacks. Messed up. So bloody messed up in my head.

Fucking hell, it was like I thought every guy was coming onto me after the thing that happened with Lan’s lips.

Shit. I couldn’t even say it. Think it.

I had to. I goddamn had to own it and get over it.

Lan kissed me.

Except that wasn’t really it.

It was my reaction. For a split second, I’d kissed him back and liked the feeling of his lips—his man lips—on mine and what they were doing.

That damned split second was getting to me.

That second made me constantly think and dream about it.

Clenching my jaw, I tried blanking my mind. Thought about a brick wall, counted some fucking sheep, but nothing got me to switch off.

Rolling my head to the side, I sucked it up, and asked, “If you got a girl with you too, Damien the first you been with?”

His fingers stopped. He rested an elbow on the tray table and shifted my way again. “No. I’d been with others in my past. Again, both female and male. I’m bi. I like both. However, I was Damien’s first.”

It was too damn much looking at him; instead, I stared down at the seat in front of me. “First? As in he’d never been with a guy before?”

“Yes. Never. Hadn’t even thought of it.”

Surprised, I glanced at him, then back. Only to move enough to grab a band out of my pocket to tie my hair back. Then I sat forward, and then back. “Then how…?”

The refreshment cart got pushed by our seats. Then she stood beside us, leaned in, and asked, “Can I get you both anything?”

“Bourbon. Straight,” I ordered.

“The alcohol costs, sir, it’ll be—”

“Doesn’t matter how much, sweetheart. Just grab me one,” I said.

She smiled. Her gaze ran over me slowly, then Liam. If she could, she’d have a taste of both or either of us. She was stunning, so why wasn’t I interested? Hell, being on a case never stopped me from getting some in a bathroom if I had a few spare minutes. Still, my cock didn’t even twitch, even as I stared at her breasts as she bent over to give me an eyeful while passing the drink.

After she took my money, she asked Liam, “What about you, sir?”

“Water, please.”

She nodded, passed a water, and offered, “If there’s anything else I can get either of you during the flight or even after it, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

Hello, dick, wake the fuck up. She’d offered herself up on a platter, and it seemed my cock was dead to the idea.

Fuck.

I heard Liam reply, but I got lost in my damn thoughts again. If I thought about Lan and those dreams of him and Easton together on a bed… my pathetic cock twitched and started to thicken. Why? I’d never thought about that shit ever before in my whole damn life. Why now? Why them? What in the fuck did it mean?

“You wanted to know how Damien knew he could be with a man?”

I jolted at Liam’s voice, nodded, glared, and gulped back the bourbon like it was juice.

“He didn’t until me.”

I snorted. “You sayin’ you changed his ways?”

Liam chuckled. “In a way, yes.” He smiled warmly, like he was remembering it.

“He was straight. Completely?”

“Yes. One hundred percent.” He nodded. “You see, he and I were interested in Liberty at the same time. We knew she liked both of us, and I didn’t want to make her choose. I put it to Damien to give it a try, for her sake. Of course I found him very attractive too.”

“And he did?”

Liam laughed. “Yes. It took a little time and a lot of thinking, but he worked out he liked it.”

My brows dipped in confusion. How could a guy change just like that? Okay, Liam had said there was time and thinking, but Damien had been certain he was totally into women, and then he’d changed. How? Why? “So he’s bi now, that right?”

Liam chuckled again. “If you ask Damien, he would say he’s bi, but only for one man.”

I shook my head and rubbed the back of my neck. “What?”

“Damien told me his friend Max tested him. He showed Damien pictures of other men, ones even half-naked to see if any of them interested him. They didn’t. He said I was the only one who interested him in that way.”

Liam was it for Damien.

In a fucked-up way, that kind of made sense. It wasn’t until Lan kissed me that I’d thought of another guy’s lips and they were his, only his. Okay, maybe fucking Easton’s also. I wasn’t wandering around looking at other guys and thinking about what it would be like if they kissed me. I wasn’t dreaming of them. It was about a certain two men.

Thanks, motherfuckers, for confusing me.

Hell, it wasn’t like I’d go and jump into bed with them.

But it might be all right to watch them together.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

That thought flew out of nowhere.

Stop. Just stop thinking.

Jesus. My goddamn head hurt.

“Does any of that help?”

I jumped. “Huh?”

“Does any of what I said help?”

“With what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Liam sighed. “Parker, I’m gathering you like to bottle things up. It’s not good for you. I can see something going on inside of your head, and it could be better to talk about it.”

“Fuck. Fine,” I bit out. Leaning in, I whispered, “Lan kissed me, and since then, it runs through my mind randomly. I also caught him doing something with Easton over the phone, and now I dream of it. Them.”

I glanced to see Liam still held his neutral expression. “I’m going to take a guess. Did you like the kiss and seeing what you caught them doing?”

I clenched my jaw. “I don’t know.”

He nodded. “Even if you did, Parker, there’s nothing wrong with it or you. Those incidences may have been ones you’ve never experienced before in your life so you’re not to know if you would like them until they happened. Now they have and, if you did like them, it’s opening your eyes. And for some people it’s scary. Take time, work things out, or leave it, if that’s what you think you’d prefer. Just don’t beat yourself up over it.”

Fuck me. He made sense. Though, I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t ready to admit aloud I enjoyed the kiss and watching Lan, even hearing Easton. Nope, I didn’t enjoy it. I couldn’t.

Christ, I had to work my head out first.

“How about we move on to the matter at hand?” Liam asked, and I nodded. “Right, I’ve done some digging and found that Mr Khatri owns many businesses in the Middle East. There have been charges against him for beating his wife and daughter. Charges against his sons, too, for doing the same to their own wives.”

“Like father like sons.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll have someone contact the mother while Mr Khatri is away and see what else I can find out or help with. We should be able to get his daughter away from her father today since the files state she’s actually only seventeen.”

“Right. So we got not only one dickhead to deal with but two.”

“Yes.”

“You up for the challenge?” I asked.

“I believe I am. Are you armed?”

“My weapon has been checked. I’ll have to pick it up.”

“I have a feeling it could be needed.”

“So do I.” And I’d be ready to use it.