Do you know what you’re doing?”

Renzo didn’t open his eyes, but he felt the censure in Dax’s gaze. “What are you talking about?”

“Low. You’re playing a dangerous game with him.”

Renzo huffed and that sent a tug of pain shooting down his left arm. “You know me, Dax.” He opened his eyes, meeting his friend’s heavy stare. “I don’t play games.”

Dax’s lips twitched. But that faint show of mirth didn’t reach his eyes. “No, but I know how you feel about him.”

“Do you?” Renzo lifted a brow.

“You want him in your bed—”

“He’s a gorgeous, sexy man. And I’ve got a particular weakness.”

Dax didn’t take the bait. He lifted a hand and continued. “You want him in your bed, but you also want him in your life.” He paused and dropped his hand, placing it on Renzo’s leg. “You can’t have him in your life.”

He shouldn’t be moving, but Renzo still levered himself to a sitting position gingerly, gritting his teeth at the pain. “Never tell me what I can and can’t do.” The medication made his mouth dry and the pain made his throat ache. Still, he spoke softly. Clearly. “It is a fucking mistake to forget that I do what I want, when I want. Always.”

Dax rolled his eyes. “I just want to make sure you understand what’s at stake here.”

“There’s no way I’ll ever forget what’s at stake. My ass is on the line very single day. Don’t fucking patronize me.”

“Renzo.” Dax sat on the floor next to the couch and held Renzo’s gaze, moving his touch from Renzo’s leg to his torso. Stroking him. “Fucking with Low creates all kinds of problems. Don’t act like you don’t know that shit.”

“I’m not fucking with him.”

Dax scoffed. “Not from lack of trying.”

Right? “Low wants nothing to do with me.”

“But you won’t let that stop you. You’re infatuated and that shit needs to be put to bed. Fuck him and turn him loose.”

Renzo didn’t reply. He stretched back out on the couch, placing his head on the pillow Dax had put there. Fact was, there would be no one and done with Lowell Scott. Once was not enough. He hadn’t even gotten to experience Low yet, but already Renzo knew. He wouldn’t be satisfied with a one-off.

Dax’s phone went off. He picked up and stared at it with a grimace. “Your visitor is outside.” Disapproval rang through clearly in his voice, but Renzo ignored it. Dax didn’t think he should have anyone coming to the safe house, or knowing Renzo had been hurt at all. Renzo didn’t agree. He and Tek might have their differences, but they shared a common goal. He trusted that. He’d never entertained the possibility that Tek had anything to do with Renzo getting shot.

Besides, they had the auction coming up tomorrow. They had to talk business.

“Let him in.”

Dax did, and a minute later Tek came strolling toward Renzo wearing an olive colored V-neck t-shirt tucked into the waistband of tight blue jeans and tan combat boots. He wore a baseball cap pulled over his forehead, making it difficult for Renzo to see his face clearly.

“So it’s true.” Tek stood next to the couch staring down at him, hands in his pockets.

“What’s true?” As if Renzo didn’t have an idea.

“Heard you got ambushed at the club.” A small smile curved Tek’s mouth. “Thought my luck had finally turned.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Eh.” Tek shrugged. “I’m sure there’ll be other times.” His tone turned brusque. “So what do you want?”

“The plan is still on,” Renzo told him. “Everything is in place.” It didn’t matter that Renzo was flat on his back at the moment. The raid needed to go off without a hitch. “I hope you’re ready to go.”

Tek didn’t blink at him. “I stay ready. Just make sure your people are on point.”

Since the two of them had worked together many times in the past, it should be a seamless thing, even with Renzo down for the count. The only unknown variable they had was Seraphina Cook. At the thought of her, Renzo grimaced and sat up. Dax rushed to help, placing a hand on Renzo’s shoulder. “Listen, don’t turn your back on Seraphina. You get me? My people will be looking out for her, but still. She’s slippery.”

Tek smiled. “I’m aware of Seraphina’s shortcomings. But I know how to handle her.”

Seraphina was definitely not one to be handled, but Renzo allowed Tek that illusion. “Keep me in the loop.”

“Do you know who’s behind this?” Tek waved a hand at Renzo’s wound.

“I have some ideas,” Renzo hedged. He had ideas, yeah, but nothing concrete. He’d sent off the bullet Dax removed from his arm to a former fellow agent who now worked for the GBI and once Renzo had the results, he’d make his move. In the meantime, he focused on the auction and getting better.

Tek glanced at Dax, keeping his gaze there when he said, “Watch yourself.”

Things were really bad when one of your enemies were essentially worrying over you. Renzo accepted Tek’s sentiment with a smile. “How’s Quinn?”

As expected, Tek’s entire demeanor changed. Any softness leached from his face, leaving his features hard and sharp, and his dark eyes ice cold. “Why did you have to do that? We were getting along so well.”

“Does that mean things aren’t all sunshine and roses with you and your lover?”

Tek took a step toward him just as the door opened and Low walked in. Instantly Tek was forgotten. Low had changed into jeans and a gray hoodie. He looked younger somehow. Clean, and not just physically. Like he didn’t belong near Renzo and men like him.

When Low spotted Tek, his footsteps faltered. “Tek.”

“Lowell Scott.” Tek glanced from Low to Renzo, giving him a dark reproachful look, then back to Low. “How are you?”

“I’m—” Low licked his lips as his gaze skitted over to Renzo then away. “I’m all right.” His forced smile seemed to crack. “How-How is Quinn?”

“He’s good. You should call him sometime. He misses you.”

Low blinked. “Oh. Sure. Yeah. Tell him I’m okay. Please?”

Tek nodded slowly. “I will.” He faced Renzo again, eyes calling him all kinds of fucked up names. “I’ll be in touch.”

Renzo waited until the door closed behind Tek before addressing Low. “You came back.” Shit, looking at Low left him breathless.

“I said I would. I keep my word.” Lows expression remained closed off. Renzo couldn’t read him. “Did Dax feed you?”

“I’m a grown man,” Renzo grumbled. “I fed myself.” Not really.

“But I helped,” Dax piped up from his post over in the corner.

“I need to check your wound,” Low said. “Change the bandage. We have to keep it clean.”

“Have at it.” Renzo motioned to his wounded arm. “I’m all yours.” It was ridiculous how much he looked forward to Low’s hands on his flesh. Man, he was so far gone.

It was difficult, but he held his tongue and closed his eyes as Low did his thing, concentrating on Low’s touch. He was gentle, but efficient. And nothing about the brush of his gloved fingertips on Renzo’s skin was intended to be sensuous, but fuck if it wasn’t.

Could have been Renzo’s imagination, but it appeared to him that Low’s touch lingered here and there. He had a pretty good imagination, so that could be it.

“Did you know I quit my job as an EMT before you sent Dax to grab me from my bed?” Low asked suddenly.

Renzo jerked his gaze up. “No, but does quitting mean you forget how to handle a bullet wound?”

Low glowered, lips tightening, but didn’t say anything else. Renzo wanted to ask why he quit and what he was doing now, but he held his tongue. While Low worked, his phone kept going off, but he never stopped to answer it. After putting on the clean bandages, he washed up in the nearby bathroom then returned to Renzo’s side with a glass of water and a couple pills.

“Here.”

“I don’t—”

Low’s jaw tightened. “To prevent infection. This is non-negotiable since I tended to you in a non-sterile environment.”

Renzo took the pills obediently. “Fine.” He swallowed them and washed them down with the water before handing the glass back to Low.

Their fingers brushed. The throbbing in Renzo’s body was no longer just because of his wounds. Low’s breath hitched and his knuckles tightened around the glass before he snatched it, and his touch away. Renzo pretended not to mind.

Low’s phone went from beeping to ringing.

“You gonna answer that?” Renzo asked. “The last thing I need is for someone to start worrying about you.”

Low fished the phone from his jeans pocket and glanced down at it.

“Is it Chance?” Renzo blurted. Fuck. From the corner, he spotted Dax leaving the room with a shake of his head.

Low’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer.

“Trouble with the good doctor?”

“That would make you happy, right?” Low pressed a button on the phone and it went silent. “If Chance and I were having problems, that would make you happy.”

“Yes.” Why would he deny it?

“Why?” Low fisted the phone. “Why do you even care about us?”

“I don’t care about you as a collective,” Renzo corrected him quickly. “I give zero fucks about Chance. This is about you. And you damn well know why.”

Low’s nostrils flared. “And Dax, who is he to you?”

“Dax is my best friend.”

“Yeah? My best friend doesn’t touch and kiss me the way yours does.”

Jealousy colored every single word Low spoke. Renzo smiled. Nice and big and slow, taking so much pleasure in the way Low’s eyes widened by degrees. “Then you’re missing out. I’m very much single. Very much unattached. And my interest, all of my interest, is in you.”

“Chance and I broke up.” Low’s Adam’s apple shifted. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in you.” All that denial, it looked so good on him.

“Yes.” Renzo chuckled. “It’s too bad. Also too bad about that kiss.” He winked. “Remember it?”

Low scowled and bent until he was in Renzo’s face. “You don’t get to take my cousin from me, my best friend, and think I’ll fucking bend over for you.”

“Or call me Daddy?”

“Especially not after this.” Low waved a hand at Renzo, prone on the couch. “You have Dax force me from my bed to come deal with this, and what? I supposed to fall at your feet?”

“Or not.” Renzo shrugged. “I don’t mind getting on my knees.”

Low’s lips parted.

“In fact, I’m quite flexible.”

Look at that, the way Low blinked all rapid and shit. Like he didn’t know how to handle Renzo. That seemed like a front, though. Nothing could tell him Low didn’t know how to handle anything Renzo decided to throw at him. But he’d have to find out, and Low wasn’t in the mood.

Not yet, at least.

“I wish he hadn’t met you,” Low murmured.

Renzo blinked up at him. “Who?”

“Kenton,” Low whispered. “I wish he’d never laid eyes on you.” His voice wobbled as he straightened, staring down at Renzo with bright eyes. He wanted answers, but he wouldn’t get them. Not from Renzo.

“I’m sorry,” Renzo told him.

Low’s inhale seemed to echo in the room as he stiffened. Poised. Waiting. Renzo would disappoint him. How could he not know that already?

“I’m sorry that you’re hurting, Low. I’m sorry you lost someone you loved. And I’m sorry that you think I’m the reason for that loss, but I didn’t hurt your cousin.”

The ache on Low’s face. It was a physical thing, spreading over his features, settling in his eyes. That ache said Renzo would never get what he’d been wanting to claim. He’d never know what it felt like to belong to Low, to have Low belong to him. That ache echoed in Renzo’s own chest, causing him to take deep, slow breaths to try and ease it. He hadn’t even had him, but he felt as if he was losing Low right in front of his eyes. As seconds ticked by on the clock, as steadily as that he lost what he’d never had.

“I’m sorry.” The hoarseness in his voice was luckily drowned out by the ringing of Low’s phone. “Low.”

Low stepped back. One step, but it felt as if he’d left the room. He answered the phone this time, giving Renzo his back. “Ronna.”

Renzo gritted his teeth and forced himself to remain calm. His wound was throbbing and the twinge in the center of his chest wasn’t budging.

“No, I’m not busy,” he heard Low murmur. “Give me half an hour.” Then he hung up and spoke to Renzo. “I leaving and I’m not coming back.”

“Low.”

They locked eyes, Low’s filled with resolve.

“Dax can deal with your shit. Isn’t that why you keep him around?” He turned toward the door then stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder. “If you keep taking the antibiotics, hopefully you won’t die. But I’m thinking if you do, no one would miss you.”

Damn, savage much? “Jesus, Low.”

“Goodbye, Renzo.” Then he was gone. Just like that. Fucking gone.

Dax popped out from wherever the fuck he’d been hiding. “So…”

“Fuck off.”

“It’s for the best and you damn well know it.” Dax pulled up a chair next to the couch, smoothing Renzo’s hair, nosing his neck. Renzo closed his eyes at the touch, wishing it belonged to somebody else. “Now, can we talk about how we’re gonna deal with whoever it is that actually tried to kill you?”

“Get Atta on the phone.”