Hit And Bothered: Boys of Lake Cliff

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Hit And Bothered
K. Sterling
We’ve been at this for a while now but I wouldn’t have made it far without Roshni. Thank you for
years of friendship and support.

Once again, Melissa has saved the day! I am so grateful for her generosity and patience. One of
the best things about writing a book is seeing her at the end!

Thank you, Sue. Your wisdom and wit have made this story sharper and stronger.
Hit And Bothered by K. Sterling

ASIN: B0B94NPXVQ
© 2022 K. Sterling
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by
U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:
k.sterlingbooks@gmail.com

Cover by K. Sterling
Created with Vellum
 Also by K. Sterling

The “Speed” Series:

Speed Trap
In All Due Heist
A Marquis & A Bloody Mystery

The Boys Of Lake Cliff :

Hide And Keep (Lake Cliff #1)
Safe And Sound (Lake Cliff #2)
Spark And Flame (Lake Cliff #3)
In The Kill (Lavender #1)
Hide And Kill (Lake Cliff #4)
Bleed And Seek (Lake Cliff #5)
Find And Keep (Lake Cliff #6)
In The Wind (Lake Cliff #7)
Lost Ground (Lake Cliff #8)
Sins Of The Father (Lake Cliff #9)
Kiss And Tell (Lake Cliff #10)
See How They Run (Lake Cliff #11)

Lake Cliff Adjacent Romances:

Swallowed In The Sea
Digital Love
A Soul To Keep
Merry & Wright
Like Grim Death
They All Fall Down
All Is Bright

Just A Little Lake Cliff: A Collection Of Lake Cliff Short Stories

Locke Out

Reginald’s Solo Adventure: Mr. Harcourt And The Hurricane

Reginald And Paul’s first adventure: Lust Marry Kill

Carlton House:
Lust Marry Kill (prequel to Thief)
A Thief In The Night
 Restraint
Truce or Dare
Stealing Persephone

Carlton House Adjacent Romances:

Hell In Beldon Hall

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club:

Haunted Hearts
Moonlight & Madness
Unhappy Medium
Grave Expectations
Riddles & Rivals
Shadows & Reservations
Heart & Soulless
Specters & Sparks

The “Queen” duet:

Sitting Like A Queen
A Queen For A Day

Cocky Cops and Cons:

Throttled
Snatched
Flipped

Standalone Titles:
One Night In Whisper
Happily Ever Alfie
Exposed
Pushing Reset
The Leading Man
Under The Stars
Better Than Best Friends
The Crush
A New Day
The Shattered Spell
Falling For Disaster
Building Heat
The Shop Downstairs
The Guarded Heart
Courage In Love
 For One Night Only
Waiting For Mr. Ashwell
In The Rough
The Hard Fall
Playing The Hero
The Perfect Cover
Ellis Harper’s Shot In The Dark
Beautiful Animal
Stuffed
Off The Menu (formerly Crave by Isla Bright)

As Abigail Graves:
Saving Kate
 Be The First To Know!

Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.ksterlingbooks.com/

Want advance copies of new releases and an exclusive short story from K. Sterling every month? Join
my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ksterling?fan_landing=true
 A Lake Cliff Primer

In case it’s been a while since your last visit to Lake Cliff. This book isn’t intended to be a
standalone. In fact, it’s more of a prequel with a satisfying “happily for now” ending that will present
our Lake Cliff heroes with their next challenging adventure. Here’s a quick summary before we begin.

Dr. Aiden Sharp is a renowned forensic psychologist who works for the FBI from time to time and he
is autistic. He’s brilliant but he doesn’t have a filter or patience for anyone but his husband, Lane.
And his best friend, Sage, because he’s an angel.

Lane West is Aiden’s soulmate and was Lake Cliff’s Chief of Police but has recently retired. In the
past, he’s reluctantly teamed up with Lavender and company to save Lake Cliff and fight crime in the
past. Deep down, Lane knows Lavender is his best friend but he’d never admit it to a soul.

Mr. Lavender (Jeremy) is the world’s greatest assassin and is doing his best to retire quietly in Lake
Cliff and be the model husband and father. WARNING: Lavender may seem tame and content but you
shouldn’t forget what he is, underneath all that immaculate charm.

Sage Bradley is married to Jeremy Holderson (Lavender) and has his hands full trying to domesticate
an assassin and raise their young son, Robin. Sage is an artist and philanthropist. His foundation, The
Robin’s Nest, rescues homeless LGBTQ youth in Chicago.

Mr. Blink is an attorney and his services are coveted by the wealthiest and most powerful people in
the world but he rarely sees the inside of a courtroom. His firm, Smith & Wick, employs not only
attorneys, but the likes of Messieurs Lavender, Marston, and Grim. Cyril Blink is married to
Professor Farris Elliot and lives in Rhode Island in his heavily-guarded mansion, Blackhurst, with a
small army and his loyal butler, Alon.

Lord Reginald Marston is a hacker and a bit of a shit, if we’re being honest. He had a terrible falling
out with his family and became an assistant to Mr. Lavender as a young man. He’s the wonderfully
rotten thread that runs through Lake Cliff. Reginald used to count oligarchs, warlords, and mob bosses
among his romantic conquests but has lost his heart completely to Paul Sloan.
Agent Paul Sloan. He’s Reginald’s very patient and devoted husband. He’s a senior agent in the FBI
and turns a sensibly blind eye to Reginald’s activities and does his best to keep him out of trouble.
Paul occasionally assists Aiden on cases but his primary responsibility is to keep an eye on Lake
Cliff and its more dangerous inhabitants.

Wilder Martinez is a former police detective who spent several years working undercover,
infiltrating a dangerous gang before retiring. He worked for The Robin’s Nest until he met and fell in
love with Anatoly Ivanof. Wilder has since moved to Lake Cliff and is enjoying “retirement” with his
husband but he’s always available at a moment’s notice.

Anatoly “Toly” Ivanof, formerly “The Red Death,” is a hacker who was taken by Russian intelligence
as a child. He was sold to an oligarch and forced to commit atrocities before escaping with
Lavender’s assistance. Now, Toly lives for his two loves: Wilder and junk food. This true Cold War
kid just wants to live in peace and enjoy the not-so-finer things in life.

Captain Denver Walsh is a hacker and former Special Forces officer. While in Dubai, Denver was
kidnapped and tortured until he was rescued by Reginald and Mr. Lavender. Denver’s experiences
followed him home and he suffered greatly from PTSD until he met and fell in love with Dr. Ezra
Gabriel.

Casper Grim is a twisted, traumatized mad scientist and assassin. He is employed by Mr. Blink and
lives in a little cottage at Blackhurst when he isn’t in Lake Cliff. But love strikes where it’s least
expected and Mr. Grim fell hopelessly in love with Dr. Hawkesworth when it became necessary for
his leg to be amputated.

Dr. Aldous Hawkesworth is a combat veteran and former Army surgeon. After he retired from
military service Hawk volunteered at The Robin’s Nest, providing medical care to homeless LGBTQ
teens. Hawk was all too happy to make a house call when Sage said there was a medical emergency
in Lake Cliff and the rest was history for this lost action hero.
 A Note Before We Begin…

Dear Reader,

Just when you think we’re out of the woods… I’ve got a few surprises left for you. I’m warning you
now, that this book will end with a bit of a cliffhanger but you won’t have to wait long to find out
what happens next. And I promise you’ll be glad you came along by the time we reach the end of this
five-book adventure. Buckle up and hang on. Speed and Blake’s love story is going to be an exciting
and unique chapter for Lake Cliff, coming to a very satisfying conclusion late summer or fall of ‘22 in
Little Red Revenge.
Also, please mind the spoilers if you should choose to leave a review. I would be super
appreciative and it would help this book reach more readers but please keep any surprises within the
pages of this book.

Upcoming titles in the “Speed” series:

Little Red Revenge

Love and happy reading,

K. Sterling
 Contents

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20

A Letter From K. Sterling

 Chapter One

F our days after the hit on Mickey Winterstone:

“Did you all have to be here in person for this?” Speed asked testily. He wanted to cross his arms
over his chest and glare at Lavender but Speed’s left arm was in a sling. And he was in his robe and
propped up by pillows so he’d look even more ridiculous “Why couldn’t you have listened from
across the street?”
“Some things are better experienced face-to-face, are they not?” Lavender said. He smiled smugly
at Speed as he reclined in the armchair by the window. Hawk was hovering because he was
monitoring Speed’s recovery and Lane often stopped by with food or to give Blake a hand with the
backyard. Wilder even made sense because he was helping them with the garden. Blake was in the
kitchen getting a head start on lunch so Speed didn’t mind the rest of them slouching against walls and
watching him but he didn’t want Lavender in the room while he “faced” Francis for the first time.
“Denver’s listening in from his cabin,” Speed pointed out. There was a soft laugh from the
speakers.
“Much easier to make a getaway if you aren’t recovering from a gunshot wound but we’ll be there
next weekend if you’re missing me,” he replied.
“Like a hole in the—” Speed started but Lavender cleared his throat loudly.
“Get on with it, Speed.”
“Fine,” Speed grumbled, then pointed at Lavender. “Turn around. I can’t do this with your stuck-
up face staring at me.” There was a hard eye roll from Lavender but he stood and angled the chair so
he was facing the French doors and turned away from Speed. He held up a hand, seeking Speed’s
approval. “Much better,” Speed declared with a nod. He picked up the phone he used for Francis’s
calls and messages and Speed’s pulse became a heavy thud in his ears.
He’d wished for some way to seal up his entire past and level or raze it so he could leave it all
behind. He wanted to believe that it was all over and had gone off without a hitch and that he didn’t
need to check in or look back. It would have been perfect if he could have destroyed the phone and
walked away but he knew that time was still rushing forward on the other end of that line. And a bill
was due to be paid. Speed knew the bullet he took wasn’t going to be enough to settle the entire debt
and he was about to find out how much he owed Francis.
“Here we go,” he whispered as he swiped and found the only number on the call log. He tapped
it, sending the call and holding his breath so he’d sound distressed when Francis answered. The
phone barely rang; Francis picked up as soon as the number touched his screen.
“Hello?” Francis demanded.
“It’s me,” Speed said and there was a natural catch in his voice.
“Jesus! Where the fuck are you? Do you have any idea—?” He broke down and it was just the
second time in Speed’s life that he’d ever heard Francis cry. It was the first time Speed had felt pain
since he’d been shot and it was almost as bad.
“I’m so sorry, Francis.” Speed was so damn sorry for what he’d done to Francis. He’d never put
the relief he felt after Mickey was gone into words but it killed Speed, knowing how devastated
Francis was.
“I know,” Francis said, once he’d pulled himself together. “I tried to get to you as soon as I could
but you weren’t at any of the hospitals.”
“I didn’t give them a name and I got out of there as soon as I could. I didn’t know who it was and I
was scared they might have been after me. I still don’t know if it was me or Mickey they were after.”
“I heard them. They were after Mickey.”
“You heard them?” Speed asked loudly but he was smiling as he glanced at Wilder.
“Yeah. They grabbed me at the door and they threw me in a UPS van. I heard a call come in and
someone said that Mickey was heading out onto the terrace and the guy in the uniform said to go ahead
and take him out there. The other guy laughed and said it would be easier.”
“Did you get a fucking look at them?” Speed demanded and held his breath.
“I didn’t see the second guy until we got into the truck. He was wearing a mask and he was a
fucking giant. The guy in the UPS uniform was big too and he had a bum knee but I didn’t get a look at
his face. He had his cap pulled low and he kept his head down like he was in a hurry. He had a
ponytail but I don’t know if that was a wig or real.”
“Fuck!” Speed spat but he was delighted. Wilder and Denver had played their parts perfectly and
fed Francis just enough to round out the performance.
“You ok, though? You laying low someplace safe?” Francis asked.
“Yeah. I’m safe. I got to a motel until I could arrange for a flight out of Florida. I’m safe and I’m
on good drugs so I barely feel it unless I try to move,” Speed joked, even though his shoulder did hurt
like hell if he didn’t take it slowly. There was a long pause before Francis sighed.
“You know what I don’t get, Speed?”
“What’s that?” Speed asked, somber as well.
“Why didn’t they touch me? There are times when I wish I had told you to get the door so I could
have been out there with Mickey. I wish it had been me and I wish they would have blown my head
off too.” Francis was crying hard again, cutting Speed deeper in the only place he still hurt.
“I don’t know but I’m glad they didn’t. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you too.”
He wondered if it would have been more humane and if he’d feel less guilt if Francis wasn’t
suffering.
“I’d rather be dead than see Mickey like that and hear you screaming the way you were. That was
the worst moment of my life and I wish they would have just killed me,” Francis insisted.
“Don’t say that!” Speed begged him. “I’d happily take that bullet for you if I had to do it all over
again. I just wish I could have done something to help Mickey. I never should have gone out there
with him. I keep wishing we would have just listened to you.”
“I knew he wasn’t going to listen to me. He never listened to me.”
“Are you going to be ok?” Speed asked. The line was silent for several long moments.
 “He didn’t want a funeral. He said he wanted to be buried at home in New York with his mother.”
“Do you want me to be there with you? We could have our own private service,” Speed offered.
“Nah. Maybe later, after things have died down and we know it’s safe. There might be a reason
they didn’t kill me.”
“What do you mean?” Speed became concerned but squeezed an eye shut as he waited.
“I think you were set up or your guy inside the FBI turned on you.”
“Nope. There’s no way.” That was exactly what they wanted Francis to think but Speed acted
indignant.
“You’ll see it if you think about it.” Francis sounded like he’d made up his mind. “They had to
know you’d take the fucking tape straight to Mickey.”
“So they gave me their best piece of evidence and risked it getting out in the open?”
“There was nothing on the tape, Speed. I listened to it and it’s some guys talking but neither of
them are Mickey and it’s just some therapy bullshit or something.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Speed demanded.
He was rather proud of that tape, actually. He’d spent months and months scouring the internet for
it but struck gold after a few weekends of garage sale shopping in the suburbs around New York City.
Speed put on a wig, thick glasses, a tracksuit, and wore a fanny pack. The beat-up minivan was
disgusting but Speed had the time of his life, chatting up people who believed he lived just a few
streets over with his mother. He focused on neighborhoods that would have attics full of junk from the
year the cassette tape was manufactured. Speed pretended he collected local radio station recordings
and old mixtapes from the early 2000s to the year he started college.
He offered $5 for any cassette tape. People rarely thought twice, they sent their kids into the
house to grab “that shoebox of old tapes” for a quick $50-$100. It wasn’t long before Speed had four
of the exact same model tape and one with two men speaking in thick New York accents. One of the
cases had a sheet of extra blank labels so Speed had everything he needed to make a convincing
replica.
“It wasn’t Mickey on the tape. I had to listen for a few minutes to figure out what was going on but
it had nothing to do with Mickey and Jimmy Coonan.”
“This was my fault,” Speed mumbled weakly but Francis shushed him.
“The FBI used you because they were scared of what Mickey was gonna say and they knew they
were running out of time. I think they kept me alive so they could pin Mickey’s death on me or frame
me for the break-in at the FBI. Once I’m out of the way, there’s no one left who can prove that they
were taking money from Mickey and that he was calling the shots.”
“Fuck,” Speed whispered. “I’m getting the son of a bitch who did this to us. He has no idea who
he fucked with.”
“Your guy at the FBI?”
“Yeah. I came to him with the idea. I told him I could make him a millionaire if he helped me lose
some evidence but he must have chickened out or ran his fucking mouth. He took my money and he
fucked me. I’m going to fuck him so hard, his fucking ancestors will feel it. His goddamned grandkids
are gonna be walking around with raw asses because I’m burning down every fucking thing he’s got
and then I’m gonna rip out his heart with my bare fucking hands,” he yelled, then ducked as he
checked the windows. He couldn’t see Blake but it was likely that he was in the garden or had the
terrace doors opened.
“I’m looking into it too but my friends in the FBI are fucking worthless. They don’t know much
and they’re scared to look into it. Which is why I know it was them. They’re covering for dirty agents
and don’t want it to get out that the FBI ordered a hit on Mickey.”
“I’ll take care of this, Francis. I obviously can’t trust my friends in the FBI but I have other friends
in higher places. That motherfucker is gonna pay.”
“Hey,” Francis said firmly. “You be careful. They probably want you out of the way too. You
know about the hit and you bribed an agent.”
“I’ll be careful,” Speed promised and grinned at the back of Lavender’s head. “He’s been on
‘administrative leave’ and fell off the face of the earth but I’ll find him.”
“There’s something else I’d like to find,” Francis said, becoming emotional again. “Tell me you
took Mickey’s rosary while you were holding onto him,” he asked but Speed understood that Francis
was begging him.
“No! What are you talking about?” Speed asked loudly, making himself sound just as upset.
“It’s gone, Speed. I’ve searched the whole fuckin’ house and every inch of the front and
backyard.”
“Why would you look…? Mickey had it. I saw him holding it right before—” Speed said and
Francis cut him off.
“I know! I saw him holding it while he was talking to you. But it didn’t come back with his things
from the hospital and I had the ambulance searched.”
“It must have fallen out somewhere between the house and the morgue,” Speed murmured.
“I checked with their lost and found and talked to the maintenance people myself,” Francis said,
then let out a hard breath. “I know it wouldn’t be the first rosary to get lost at a hospital but my gut
tells me someone knew what that rosary meant to us and took the fuckin’ thing,” he growled.
“Easy!” Speed urged with a wince at Hawk. He didn’t want Francis rampaging around Miami,
assaulting nurses and paramedics. “What if it fell out in the parking lot when they were unloading
him? Anyone could have found it out there or in one of the hallways and just took it because it was a
nice old rosary. I’d watch the pawn shops but anyone who knows that it was Mickey’s would know
that they’d be putting a price on their heads if they tried to sell it.”
“You’re probably right. But I’m still going to watch the pawn shops. Let me know when you have
something and we’ll decide what we want to do,” Francis said. Which was perfect. Speed could feed
him misinformation while keeping tabs on Francis. He’d have Francis spinning in circles until he
believed the Pope killed Mickey. Speed spat a frustrated curse so he could wind Francis up a little
more.
“What’s there to decide, Francis? I got fuckin’ played. As soon as I get the fucking—”
“Did you hear what I said?” Francis shouted. “They tried to take you out with Mickey. You think
they won’t try again if they know you’re coming after them? Your luck is gonna run out, Speed, and
you’re all the family I got left.” There was a rustling and Speed assumed Francis was holding his
phone against something while he raged. “I gotta think, Speed. I can’t make fucking heads or tails out
of this if I’m worried about you getting killed too.”
“Ok! I won’t do anything until I talk to you.”
“Thanks. I’m just glad you’re alive. You have no idea what was going through my head. I didn’t
know if they got to you and you were in pieces in the swamp or at the bottom of the ocean. Or if they
got to you and you were in protective custody,” he chuckled wryly. Speed’s face twisted and he
snorted in disgust.
“Fuck you for even thinking I’d help the fucking Feds. Or that I’d trust them to protect me.” He
laughed and shook his head. “Forget about you and Mickey, they’d never cut me a deal for the shit
I’ve done since I left you and they can’t afford to hide me.”
 “I was kidding. I know you’re too much of a pampered asshole for witness protection. Stay out of
trouble and check in soon,” Francis said.
“I will but you know that nobody can catch me.”
“Nope. You were always the fastest and you could slip through anything,” Francis agreed with a
soft laugh.
“Nothing’s changed. I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“You too. Later, Speed.” The call ended but Speed held onto the phone and the fleeting tenderness
he felt for Francis for a moment.
The love he felt was real when Speed was able to reach through the years and lies and touch the
Francis he knew as a child. It was easy to love the Francis that dragged Speed upstairs and into the
dumpy apartment Mickey kept for his mistresses. Francis fed Speed his first real meal in weeks and it
was manna after eating scraps from the trash. He made Speed take a shower and found him clean
clothes. They were both eight but Speed had gotten scrawny and frail so Francis promised he’d look
out for him.
Francis thought he’d found a brother but he’d played right into Speed’s hands when he got him a
job “guarding” the garage. There really wasn’t anything of value in the office but Speed was allowed
to sleep on the couch because it prevented the Feds from bugging it while the shop was closed for the
night.
He could have found help before Speed caught Francis’s eye on the subway but it had been a
calculated act. Speed followed him and learned Francis’s routine, scraping by on swigs of cold,
discarded coffee and dropped bits of bagels and pizza crusts. No one paid attention to him except the
creeps, as long as he avoided department stores. Speed learned how to be invisible in the city and he
learned how to listen for signs of danger but he only had a loose plan when he first met Francis.
Speed knew that the kid they called Francis Michael ran around with the man who killed his
parents and spent a lot of time at Mickey Winterstone’s garage. So Speed made it his mission to do
whatever it took to become that kid’s best friend. He vowed that he’d become indispensable to
Francis—and by extension, Mickey—until Speed could get his revenge. He didn’t know how he’d do
it because Speed was only a child, but he knew that he’d have time to figure it all out if he got Francis
to love and trust him like a brother.
And it was never lost on Speed that his success—and his survival—was made possible by an act
of kindness and an offer of brotherhood from Francis. He’d protected Speed as many times as he
betrayed him by being a bigot but even those violent threats were Francis’s misguided way of
protecting him. Through the years, Speed could swallow his disappointment and bitterness because of
those moments when he loved Francis like they were eight and believed they could be brothers.
“You handled that well,” Lavender said, snapping Speed back to the present.
“Thanks. As you’ve just heard, Francis is staking out pawn shops. He’s buying it and we’re in the
clear.”
“For now.” Lavender held up a finger and there were murmurs from around the room. Lane
pushed out a hard breath as he studied the carpet.
“That’s good enough for me. Speed’s bought himself some time so he can rest and heal. Toly’s
watching the FBI while Reginald’s away so we’ll know if Leary stumbles onto anything there,” Lane
said, earning serious hums and grumbles. Lavender gave him a loaded look.
“I talked to Paul before they left and we’re keeping him on a very short leash. I’ve given orders
for Reginald to rest and heal. He’s perilously close to going over a cliff so I want him offline until
he’s stronger.”
 Toly cleared his throat, a soft hum from the speakers. “I have it covered and I am monitoring
Sloan and Marston as they travel. I will make sure they remain safe.”
“Thank you, Toly,” Lavender said as he smiled at the ceiling, then bowed at the bed. “I always
rest easier knowing Toly’s keeping an eye on things.” He winked at Speed to remind him that Toly
was watching them as well.
“Me too,” Speed said as he nodded. “I trust Toly a hell of a lot more than I trust you.”
“Now, now…” Lavender pretended to be insulted as he left. “I haven’t done a thing to deserve
that. All I did was shoot you,” he said. There were more jokes and laughter as the room cleared,
leaving Speed with Hawk.
“You should give him credit for his restraint,” Hawk scolded. He was ready with a glass of water
and handed Speed two tablets.
“Thanks. My shoulder’s starting to act up.”
“Because you haven’t taken anything for it since last night.”
“I wanted to be clear when I talked to Francis and I had a feeling Lavender would stick his nose
in it,” Speed explained before washing the pills down with several large gulps. He felt like he could
finish the pitcher. He was sweating under his robe and couldn’t wait to shed his clothes and pass out.
His shoulder was screaming and he was exhausted after a night of tossing and turning over the call to
Francis.
“Can you blame him?” Hawk asked. He took the glass so he could refill it. “You omitted
something pretty crucial and you’ve got him and Reginald convinced you’re hiding something else.
Who likes getting blindsided? Twice,” he added with a hard look at Speed.
“I’ve never said he was wrong,” Speed conceded. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like him or
like having him in my business. And it isn’t my business to make his life easier by sharing things that
are personal, even if he thinks it is. Lavender isn’t God, no matter how much he wants us all to
believe it,” he said, earning a suffering groan from Hawk.
“Just don’t give him another reason to shoot you,” he requested but Speed gave Hawk a pained
grimace.
“I really can’t promise that.”
 Chapter Two

F our days later…

“Let go of me, Lane!” Lavender roared. He was snarling and thrashing as he fought to get free but
Lane had one arm flung around Lavender’s neck and the other was wrapped around his middle. Blake
silently prayed Lane could hold on and keep Lavender pinned against the door.
They had been enjoying the Cubs game with Toly and Wilder, and Blake was living the dream,
trying out the new grill on the living room terrace, when Lavender kicked open the front door. Thank
God for Lane’s reflexes. He sensed danger and tackled Lavender before he could make good on his
threat to murder Speed as soon as he got his hands on him. Everyone had gotten between them but
Speed was still reclining on the sofa.
“Fuck, I’m scared,” Blake whispered to Speed and edged closer. He was still holding up his
tongs as if Lavender might confuse him as a threat. “I don’t know what you’ve done but this looks
bad.”
“It’s bad.” Speed nodded and licked his lips nervously. “You should get out while you can,” he
advised.
“What?” Blake’s brows fell as he stared back at Speed in horror. “I’m not leaving you! Although,
it would be nice to know what it is we’re getting murdered for,” he muttered and glared at Speed
before smiling at Lavender. “I don’t know what he did but we can talk this out,” Blake said and
slowly set the tongs on the coffee table and slid his other hand out of the silicone oven mitt.
“There’s no talking this out if Reginald’s right,” Lavender said, then sneered as he shook his head
in disgust. “And of course, he’s fucking right! He’s always fucking right and this one was staring
straight at us this whole fucking time!” He screamed. The muscles in his neck strained and his fingers
curled into claws as he reached for Speed.
“I don’t know how long I can hold him,” Lane warned. Wilder cracked his knuckles and shook out
his shoulders as he got ready.
“We gotta do this carefully because he’s a slippery motherfucker,” Wilder whispered to Lane,
making Blake even more nervous. Then, Toly gasped as he turned to Speed.
“Mickey Winterstone was Frank Leary’s father?” Toly’s eyes were huge behind his glasses.
“No,” Blake said and shook his head. “I thought his mom…” But Blake realized that no one had
ever thought to ask who Francis’s father was or what had happened to him. Speed hummed loudly as
he bit down on his lips, his eyes watering with what Blake knew was hatred and spite. Lavender
cackled furiously while his arms flailed.
“He fucking told us! ‘Mickey loves Francis like he’s his blood!’” Lavender was spitting as he
pointed at Speed. “I’m so tired of the games, Speed!”
“You’re tired?” Speed shook his head, incredulous and defiant. “You’ve been sticking your nose
in my business and trying to uncover all my secrets for the last few months but now you’re tired? Try
living with this shit for thirty years. You think Mickey was a dirtbag now? You’re not going to love
him after you hear about how he treated Mary Elaine. Mickey was a monster and it was hell, living
under his thumb. And he was just as cruel to the people he said he loved as the people he terrorized
on the streets. You couldn’t do a fuckin’ thing about it, though. You just looked the other way and kept
your head down.”
“She was vital and you hid her from us!” Lavender yelled but Speed smirked, his eyes sparkling
with mischief.
“Mickey didn’t think she was shit and she got swept under the rug but I like to think she bit him in
the ass, in the end. She was just a kid and he was almost twice her age when she had Francis,” he
informed them, then let out a hard, sarcastic laugh. “The family covered it up because they had the
good sense to be ashamed but Mickey didn’t give a fuck. He wanted that girl. Even if she was just
fifteen and his first cousin. He said the fucking royals did shit like that all the time and at least she
was Irish. Mickey said it was better than diluting his good Irish blood and that he’d take care of his
kid. And he sure did take care of Francis. Didn’t give a fuck about Mary after she was knocked up.
But Francis didn’t care, he worshiped the ground Mickey walked on.”
Lane was appalled as he watched Speed out of the corner of his eye. “You kept that from us
because you knew there was no way we’d go along with any of this if we found out Leary was
Winterstone’s son.”
“I did,” Speed said and held up his right hand. “And I’m not asking you to defend me. Let him go
and let me deal with the consequences.”
“And stand back while he kills you?” Lane asked. “You might be feeling guilty but I’m not going
to help you punish yourself like this.”
That made Speed laugh. He clutched his shoulder and shook his head. “I said I’d accept the
consequences because I know that what I did was wrong but I don’t feel guilty. I did what I had to do
and gave you all the privilege of being impartial and unbiased when you decided to help me take
Mickey down. The hitman isn’t having an attack of conscience, he’s mad because he thinks I
outplayed him again.”
“Stop treating this like it’s a fucking game, Speed!” Lavender pleaded, then sagged against Lane.
“I swear I will not kill Speed. Will you please let me go?” He asked quietly.
“No bodily injury,” Lane stipulated before he cleared his throat. “Yet,” he added with a hard look
at Speed. Lavender huffed and nodded.
“I will not harm Speed. Physically,” he promised so Lane gave Lavender’s back a few steadying
pats before he released him. Lavender tugged at the front of his coat and smoothed his sleeves and
lapels. “This isn’t a fucking game, Speed,” he restated calmly with a bow of his head at the sofa.
Speed sighed as he sat forward and rested his right elbow on his knee.
“I know. I didn’t hide my parents or who Francis’s father was because I wanted to outsmart you. I
hid those things because I had to and so I could protect you. I couldn’t risk everything just so this
would sit well with your conscience and I couldn’t risk you telling me no. But I absolutely understand
why you’d be pissed and want my head. I knew you would when I was lying to your face but I was
willing to accept the consequences.”
“You are…the worst, Speed!” Lavender threw his hands up and began pacing. “You cannot make
decisions like this anymore. You are not an island and the consequences will not be isolated to
yourself. The things you do will affect Blake and the rest of us.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Speed stated but Lavender pointed threateningly.
“There’s no promise you can make that will put my mind at ease now. Think of what you would
do if the man you thought was your brother had your father killed,” he challenged. Speed was still
defiant and shook his head.
“I can handle Francis. You heard him, he’s chasing after that rosary and he wants me to stay out of
trouble. He’s nowhere close to figuring this out,” he said as he looked around but Lane and Wilder
grumbled dubiously while Toly scrubbed his eyes under his glasses. Lane put an arm around Lavender
and made a weary sound as he pulled him into a hug.
“We’ll figure this out. We always do.”
“At least it isn’t my fault this time,” Lavender said under his breath and Blake saw Speed’s brows
jump as Lane laughed.
“You usually mean well too,” he replied, leaving Blake to wonder if that was why Lavender truly
backed down. He made a note to ask Lane about it later.
“I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused and I’ll do my best to be upfront from here on out,” Speed
said, surprising everyone, judging from the unblinking silence that had descended upon the room. He
seemed to notice as well and Speed’s cheeks were pink as he fidgeted with the dangling sleeve of his
hoodie. It was hanging over his left arm. “I truly can’t think of any other bombshells and I have no
other tricks up my sleeve. I’m done playing games. I just want to get better and start a new life with
Blake,” he told everyone.
“What if you’ve put that in jeopardy?” Lavender argued. Speed’s lips pulled tight and he nodded
slowly.
“That’s the only thing I’ve been afraid of but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t turn back from my plan and
I couldn’t stop falling in love with Blake. So I’m back to living with the consequences but I won’t
push my luck. I’m keeping my head down and doing what I’m told from now on,” he insisted. He
offered Blake a quick grin. “I’m just waiting for Hawk’s permission but I won’t be able to get into
any trouble soon because I’ll be hiding in Sparks with Blake,” he said. Lavender gasped as he
became furious all over again and Lane groaned.
“You’re not going anywhere near Sparks,” Lane warned.
“What?” Blake cried as he looked at his brother and then at Lavender. “What trouble could he
possibly get up to out there?” He asked but Lavender aimed his wrath at Speed as he advanced on the
sofa.
“It’s not about what Speed could get up to out there. It’s about what Speed could bring with him to
Sparks. Frank Leary’s a lone wolf now and that’s the hardest animal to hunt. The best thing Speed can
do is stay close to the pack until we’re sure Leary’s no longer a problem.”
“I’m telling you—!” Speed started but Lavender cut him off.
“You’re staying here! I can’t protect you and the Wests if Leary comes after you in Oklahoma and
I’m not following you to Sparks so you can live out some country fresh fantasy,” he said.
“I didn’t ask for your protection or for your permission,” Speed snapped back as he stood. He
swayed and his eyes widened and Blake noticed his hand trembling as Speed spotted himself.
Lavender caught Speed’s unsteadiness as well and looked like he was going to explode or attack
again.
 “That’s it! I’ve had it!” Lavender gestured for someone to help Speed as he turned for the door.
“I’m calling Blink and telling him to get you under control or to get you out of here. You’re going to
get yourself or one of us killed and you refuse to be civil or listen.”
“I’m doing this for your own good,” Speed called after him but the door slammed behind
Lavender. Lane scrubbed his face as he lowered into an armchair. There were commiserating groans
from Toly and Wilder. They’d retreated to the corner, leaving Lane to deal with Speed.
“You two have got to stop. No one blames you, Speed. You did what any of us would do if we
were in your shoes, but he’s right, you aren’t making decisions for yourself anymore. We’re all
involved now and we won’t see Leary coming unless he wants us to,” he explained gently. He let out
a weak, worried laugh as he waved at the door. “I understand why you don’t want to be friends with a
hitman. But he’s admitted that he was wrong about you and he’s trying. Maybe cut him a little slack.
For our sake,” he added as he pressed his hands together.
Blake coughed softly as he edged closer to Speed and offered his arm. It was obvious that Speed
needed to lay down but he was still being stubborn and pouting about Sparks.
“We’re lucky he loves Lane as much as he does. I’m pretty sure Lavender could have kicked his
ass and taken you down if he wasn’t afraid of hurting Lane,” Blake said, then smiled as Lane’s cheeks
puffed and he made another exhausted but relieved sound.
“It was touch and go there for a few minutes,” he admitted with a loaded glance at Speed. “You’re
really lucky he didn’t want to embarrass me because he’s done worse while we were on a run,” he
said. Speed rolled his eyes but he nodded.
“Fine. I’ll cut him some slack,” he muttered. He was a little pale so Blake tipped his head toward
the stairs.
“Come on. I want to get a look at your bandages and give you something for the pain,” he told
Speed.
“I’m fine but you can look at my shoulder,” he said with a quick look at Toly and Wilder. “I’m
sorry that my…” Speed squinted in the direction of Lavender’s house. “I’m sorry about the
interruption. Help yourselves to another beer and keep an eye on the grill for us.”
“We can do that,” Wilder said and Toly nodded.
“Take your time. You look like you need a little rest,” he said but Speed made a dismissive sound
as Blake led him to the stairs.
“I’ll be fine,” he insisted.
He had to lean on Blake and Speed was sweating by the time they reached their bedroom. But
Speed remained stoic as Blake helped him out of his cashmere hoodie and unbuttoned his shirt.
“Lay down for half an hour and I’ll come and get you when the food is ready,” Blake said, then
raised a brow when Speed opened his mouth to argue. “It’s been a little over a week since you were
shot and almost bled to death. Don’t push your luck.”
“You’re all making too much out of this.”
“Speed!” Blake’s hand went to his temple before he clutched at his hair. He stifled a frustrated
swear as his temper swelled. “You know, I was terrified earlier but I’m getting a little angry now that
the shock and adrenaline have worn off. I won’t second-guess the decisions you made before but you
don’t have to make this worse now. You said you wanted to have a good, quiet life but you keep
stirring shit up with Lavender.” He let Speed see how mad he was and didn’t hide how damned gross
it made Blake feel to argue and raise his voice.
The change in Speed was immediate. He nodded as he backed onto the bed and slid under the
covers.
 “I’m sorry. I’ll stay here until dinner’s ready and I’ll do better with Lavender.”
“Look…” Blake scrubbed the back of his neck and counted down from ten. He never liked raising
his voice or arguing, even if he was right. Especially with Speed. “I swear, I just wasn’t wired for
being right and arguing everything to death like Lane and Nate are. I will be the last person to tell you
to trust Lavender. I understand why his whole existence offends you. It offends the fuck out of me and
I didn’t lose my parents,” he said with a bitter laugh. “I don’t want you to make peace with him if it
hurts you. You don’t owe anyone that. But you won’t find any peace if you keep this one-sided feud
going.”
“You’re right. There does come a point when spite ceases to be a motivator and becomes toxic.
I’ll talk to him.”
“Thank you,” Blake said as he went to help Speed. He kissed Speed’s cheek and then poured him
a glass of water. “Take these and rest.” He opened the pill bottle and tapped two tablets onto his
palm, pretending he didn’t see Speed’s nose wrinkle. “It’s ok to be injured and need help. No one’s
going to think you’re weak or take advantage of you.”
“It’s hard to break old habits but I’m trying,” Speed said and obediently took the pills.
“Speaking of old habits…” Blake winced at Speed. “Mickey was Francis’s father?”
Speed nodded slowly as he sat back against the pillows. “It was just a thing that everyone around
Mickey knew but no one would say anything about it because it was pretty shameful. Even if Mickey
didn’t think so. But they used to whisper about it in the old neighborhood. And every now and then,
Spillane’s boys would give Mickey a hard time about it before he helped Jimmy take over.”
“I can see why. Mickey slept with his cousin.” Blake shuddered, earning a sarcastic snort from
Speed.
“He used that girl like he used all of them. Mickey didn’t care if they wanted him or if he knocked
them up but he cared about Francis Michael because his mom knew. She didn’t know about any of the
other girls so Mickey could pretend like they didn’t happen but she made him take care of Francis.
And Mickey loved Francis, once he was old enough to be useful.”
“He really was a monster,” Blake said.
“He was and that’s why I’ll never lose sleep over Mickey. I’ll lose sleep over what I’ve done to
Francis but Mickey can burn in Hell for all I care.”
It was hard to muster any sympathy for Mickey Winterstone as Blake pulled the duvet over Speed.
“I don’t know that you need to lose that much sleep over Francis but that’s not my call.”
“You’re right and I’m trying to let go. It’s just hard after depending on each other for most of our
lives.”
“I understand and I love you for being the kind of man who fights to the bitter end to protect his
friends, even if they don’t deserve it.”
“Thanks. Get back to your grill and our guests. Let’s put Mickey and Lavender aside for the rest of
the day.”
“That sounds like a good plan. I’ll come and get you when everything’s ready. Do you want me to
put the game on?”
He nodded but Blake could tell by how heavy Speed’s eyes were that he wouldn’t last more than
an inning. “I might bring your dinner up on a tray if you’re not in the mood to get up again.”
“But we’ve got company,” Speed protested weakly.
“They’ll understand and they want you to rest.”
Speed offered his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Blake said as he kissed Speed.
 He left Speed to fall asleep to the Cubs and the Mets, grateful that the last awful secret had finally
come out. At least, it had better have been the last awful secret. Blake would help Lavender murder
him if Speed had anything else up his sleeve.
 Chapter Three

L avender was still seething despite promises from Blink, Lane, and Blake. Sage had tried to talk
him down after Reginald’s revelation and the confrontation across the street but Lavender
refused to discuss it.
“I’ve done everything Blink and Speed asked of me and I’ve been more than patient. I could
forgive him for hiding the truth about their parents but Speed’s behavior has been nothing but
disrespectful and I won’t tolerate it any longer,” he warned Blink before hanging up on him. Lavender
walked out of the room every time someone mentioned his name so it shouldn’t have been a surprise
when Speed presented himself a few days later.
“You have company,” Sage whispered from the door, pulling Lavender from his thoughts. He’d
been at his desk in his study, pretending to read a report from his accountant.
“Company?” Lavender began to rise and stopped when Sage waved Speed in.
“You should be resting. Over there,” Lavender said with a dismissive wave at Speed’s house.
Speed looked like hell as he took a few cautious steps into the study. He must have walked up the
steps on his own. “Sit down.” Lavender pointed at one of the chairs and got up to stand by the
window. He didn’t trust himself not to lunge across the desk and shake Speed if the conversation
became heated again.
“I came to apologize,” Speed said as he sat, startling Lavender. He was suspicious as he turned
from the window and checked the door to see if anyone was holding a gun to Speed’s back.
“Did Blink put you up to this?”
Speed laughed and shook his head. “He yelled at me but I already told Blake I’d talk to you.”
“Hmmm… A forced detente?”
“You know better,” Speed replied, making Lavender smile.
“No. You can’t be forced, can you?”
“I don’t think of you as my enemy. I didn’t tell you about my parents or Francis’s because I didn’t
trust you,” Speed started, then paused so he could flash Lavender a grimace. “I didn’t trust you in the
beginning but I kept those things to myself because I never wanted any of you to be accomplices. This
was just supposed to be a job for you.”
“You manipulated me—all of us—to get what you wanted. How could you expect this to be just
another job for me?” Lavender countered but he kept his tone even, gentle.
“I did manipulate you. I told you I would,” Speed said with an apologetic smile. “That’s what I do
and I did what I had to, to keep you as neutral as possible. But I’m sorry. I didn’t do it out of
disrespect. Not any of that, at least,” he added playfully. Lavender chuckled but it turned into a sigh as
he went to his chair and sat.
 “I am not your enemy, Speed, and I see a lot in you that I could admire and learn from if you’d
stop with the games.”
“Come on,” Speed said with a toss of his good hand. “You don’t have to blow smoke up my ass.”
“I know,” Lavender said simply. “But I can admit that there is far more to you than I believed and
I only do myself a disservice by treating you like a nemesis.”
“That’s…” Speed frowned at Lavender’s hands and seemed to be stuck.
“Surprising?” Lavender guessed. “I often have reason to be proud—because I am an
exceptionally talented person—but I am not so vainglorious that I cannot appreciate the work of
another master.”
“Thank you.” Speed looked around as if he was searching for a hidden camera. “I guess we’re not
too different,” he said and seemed to relax slightly. “We both grew up without parents and learned to
make the most of whatever we could find.”
Lavender made a thoughtful sound as he considered. He’d spent a great deal of time searching for
the truth about Speed’s past and his family but Speed wouldn’t have had to search very hard to
uncover Lavender’s past. He had been clever enough to hide himself from a background check but
Alon would have had everything on Lavender and would have passed it all along to Speed.
“But unlike you, I didn’t have to imagine what my parents’ love might have felt like. They weren’t
taken from me,” Lavender said without a hint of smugness or bitterness. “From all I’ve learned, I
don’t think anything could have possessed your parents to part with you.”
“No.” Speed shook his head firmly and he had to look away for a moment. “They just loved me.”
“Such a terrible, terrible loss.” That kind of loss offended Lavender far more than the passing of
other supposed “great” men. There would always be someone to celebrate while others mourn when
a “great” man dies because you can’t have heroes or champions without losers or foes. But there is
only loss when a child’s parents are taken the way Speed’s were. Innocence, optimism, identity, joy,
security… Speed lost everything.
“It was,” Speed agreed quietly. “What about your parents?” He asked Lavender.
“What about my parents?” His brow furrowed in confusion. “They live in Michigan.”
Speed’s focus sharpened as he sat forward and searched Lavender’s face. Lavender wondered if
Speed was looking for signs of human emotion.
“Just a few hours outside of Detroit,” Speed continued. “They’re still alive and you’ve forgiven
them yet you barely talk to them and they only see you and your family for the holidays. I couldn’t tell
if you were keeping them at arms’ length because you were cold and wanted them to pay or if you
were still afraid of them.”
“Not at all,” Lavender replied. He held up a hand, signaling that he needed a moment. He still felt
a flash of fear and intense loneliness as he recalled his parents’ lightning-fast rejection and their
cruelty. He would never get over the terror he felt as his father pushed him out of the car in front of a
Greyhound station and sped off. Nothing would extinguish how utterly lost Lavender was as he was
swallowed by the brutally cold Detroit night. It was as good as a death sentence for a scrawny
fifteen-year-old. “I have forgiven my parents for their mistakes but I cannot forget. I won’t punish
them for the past but I refuse to punish myself by making room for them in my life and pretending it
doesn’t hurt or send me back to that part of my past when I’m around them.”
“Is that truly forgiveness, then?” Speed asked gently and Lavender shrugged.
“It is as far as I’m concerned and I’m the one that gets to decide that as the abused party. And as
the abusers, my parents are happy to take what they can get and allow me to erect my own boundaries
as I see fit. My parents know that I am alive and doing very well, which is much more than they had
before. I check in and give them updates so they can monitor Robin’s progress. And I allow him to
communicate with them freely because I won’t deny my son a set of perfectly acceptable, loving
grandparents. I believe that that is more than fair and the ideal resolution, considering their past
behavior.”
“I suppose so,” Speed replied. “It’s a hell of a lot more than I’d give them.”
“People can change. It’s the ones who won’t that you should walk away from. Can you change,
Speed?” It was Lavender’s turn to watch him closely.
“I have and I am,” Speed replied. “I promised Blake I’d change and I’ll keep working because I
can do that now. I’m not tied to this thing with Mickey anymore.”
“You can’t keep making decisions in a bubble. Your decisions have consequences for all of us
now.” It was imperative that Speed understand that Lavender wasn’t trying to control him. “I want you
to have what I have here with Sage and I don’t want my best friend to worry about his little brother.
That’s it. That’s always been it. You have to stop seeing me as your nemesis and trust me. I’m trying
to protect you from this…problem you now have with Leary.” Lavender pressed his hands together
again, beseeching Speed. There was a hard sigh and Speed’s eyes rolled dramatically.
“I had to give you a hard time before. You were expecting me to and I didn’t want you looking too
closely at what I was doing with Francis until I was ready,” Speed explained.
Lavender’s eyes tightened suspiciously. “It was all an act?”
“Not completely. I still think you’re trash for being a hitman but sometimes trash has value or can
be redeemed, right? I don’t think you’re as bad as I used to think you were,” Speed said a touch
begrudgingly, then winked at Lavender. “And it has been illuminating to learn from another master.”
“Thank you,” Lavender replied. It was his turn to be surprised as he rose and came around his
desk. “Let me help you across the street,” he insisted and offered his arm.
“Thanks.” Speed bit back a pained grunt as he pulled himself up and took Lavender’s arm. “But
Blake walked over with me. He should be in the kitchen with Sage.”
It was odd to be this close to Speed without him bristling or attempting to goad Lavender. He
seemed calmer, no longer “on” and waiting to make his move. He was open and momentarily
comfortable being weak and wounded in Lavender’s presence.
“While I’ve got you here and in a cooperative mood,” Lavender began as they slowly made their
way down the stairs. “Any chance I could talk you into removing those flamingos or relocating them
to your backyard?”
“Get rid of Bertie and the boys? Never!” Speed protested dramatically. They stepped off the last
stair, leaving Speed free to clutch his chest. “That would kill me! I love my flamingos and they’re
perfect with my pink roses.”
“You could plant more roses in the back,” Lavender suggested but Speed looked at him like he’d
suggested something gauche.
“And distract from my new pool? It’s going to be so gorgeously minimal and feel like I’m
swimming right up to the forest.” His right hand stretched out in front of him and Speed gasped
happily. “I can’t wait until I can finally swim laps again,” he told Lavender and gave him a nudge
with his good elbow.
“I have heard that it takes a while to recover from a gunshot wound,” he said wearily, then waved
as Blake and Sage joined them in the foyer. Speed might be open to change but he wasn’t shedding all
of his stripes. That was a good thing, Lavender supposed. Speed wouldn’t be Speed if he wasn’t
being at least a little bit of a dickhead.
 Chapter Four

“S o… How did it go?” Blake asked once they were across the street. He slowed and offered his
arm when they reached the curb and Speed gave him a nonchalant shrug.
“It went fine and I’m fine. A walk across the street and up the stairs isn’t going to kill me,” he
said, then flashed Blake a wide smile when he glared at him. “But I appreciate your concern,” he
added and kissed Blake’s cheek before they climbed the porch steps.
Speed was tired and felt drained from his trek across the street but he had a feeling he’d be a little
stronger if he wasn’t confined to their bed for most of the day. Or stuck on the couch. Staying in bed
always made him more tired and restless but Speed was following orders and keeping the
complaining to a minimum. He was on probation as far as Lavender and the rest of the neighborhood
were concerned but it was the thin ice between him and Blake that kept Speed on his best behavior.
You couldn’t push your luck any harder or farther than conning a man out of his land, conning said
man’s friends and family into committing a heist and a murder, and coming home with a bullet hole in
your shoulder. Blake had taken it all rather well and was treating Speed with far more grace than he
deserved. So Speed happily leaned on Blake’s arm as he got the door and led them into the house.
“I’m feeling pretty happy at the moment,” Blake announced, making Speed’s brow hitch.
“Are you?”
Blake hummed and looked serene as they made their way upstairs. “I was hoping the two of you
could make peace but I did worry that one of you might end up in actual pieces.”
“He already shot me.”
“I consider that a favor since you asked him to do it.”
“True…” Speed conceded. He slid Blake a scowl. “How much do you think he enjoyed it?” He
asked but Blake just shook his head. He gestured for Speed to sit on the ottoman at the foot of the bed.
“I made you a cake to thank you if it went as well as I was hoping. Or in case it all went to hell
and we needed to soothe some bruised feelings,” he said as he took off Speed’s oxfords. He helped
Speed up and out of his coat and trousers, then took everything to the closet. “But it looks like we’re
celebrating so I’ll be bringing champagne too. You’re only allowed a few sips but I’m planning to get
trashed and act slutty,” he warned, causing Speed’s lips to curve into a loopy grin as he went to sit on
his side of the bed.
“Cake and cock? It was definitely worth it,” he murmured.
“What was that?” Blake asked. He tossed Speed’s robe on the chair by the window for later.
“Nothing.” Speed offered his lips when Blake leaned close to grab the empty glass on the bedside
table. “Thank you,” he said simply and held onto Blake’s cheek for just a moment, letting him see how
grateful Speed was.
 “Love you,” Blake whispered.
There was a kick in Speed’s chest and his tummy flipped. “I love you too.” He let Blake go and
Speed was grinning like he was drunk as he reclined against the pillows.
“I’ll wait here,” Speed said, then leaned so he could watch Blake go. He looked back, over his
shoulder, and Speed bit his lip shamelessly. “I hate to see you go, but your ass looks so hot in those
jeans.”
“Oh, they’re coming off soon,” Blake promised as he jogged down the hall. Speed chuckled
softly, then sat up and quickly opened the bedside table once it was clear. He reached past the books
and swept aside the collection of microfiber cloths he kept for his reading glasses and various
devices. They were becoming a nuisance but they helped hide the ring box in the back corner.
He moved it from the closet so it was close by and it was Speed’s habit to peek at the ring
whenever Blake was out of the room. Partially as a reminder of why Speed was minding his Ps and
Qs but also to reassure himself that Blake would be his forever.
Soon.
He opened the box and Speed’s heart ached; he wanted so badly to put the ring on Blake’s finger
and make it official. He had so many good reasons to wait, many of those involving Speed’s
conscience, but part of him wanted to sweep Blake off his feet with a romantic proposal and a quick
wedding before it was too late. But Speed didn’t want to trap Blake before they were sure it was
safe. So he closed the ring box and put it back with a heavy sigh.
“I don’t even have a plan yet,” he scolded himself. Speed sat back and hugged his chest and the
sling with his good arm petulantly. Even Lavender could acknowledge that Speed was a master at
planning the perfect crime but he was stuck as far as how to propose. “Two rings… Who does that?”
He grumbled. “Such a stupid idea.”
He’d made everything twice as difficult with two rings. Speed knew Blake would say yes and that
they’d both be crying no matter how he proposed. But he wanted it to be perfect because this was
Blake and they were getting married. The very idea made Speed lightheaded. How could he deserve
someone as funny, beautiful, and good as Blake? Why in the world would Blake settle for a broken
conman like Speed?
“I know you love tiramisu so I turned it into a cake,” Blake said as he returned with a tray. A large
slice sat proudly on a plate next to a bottle of chilled champagne. There was only one glass but that
made Speed feel even more festive.
“Two of my favorite things,” Speed replied. Cake and slutty, slutty Blake…
“Since you’re in a good mood,” Blake began as he set the tray on the bed and whisked the bottle
away so he could open it. “Sage asked if I thought you’d be up to brunch next weekend. He said
everyone’s going to be there—except Reginald and Paul, obviously—and I thought it would be cool if
we could go. Unless you think it would be too much,” he challenged with a wink, then twisted the
cork loose. There was a soft pop! and Blake leaned away warily but there wasn’t any spray.
“I wouldn’t mind going,” Speed said, raising his shoulder. “The only one who had any hard
feelings was Lavender but he’s almost over it.”
“Are you?” Blake asked as he poured. He slid the tray over so he could sit in front of Speed.
Blake offered him a sip and Speed hummed gratefully as he drank.
“What’s there for me to get over? I knew what was coming.” He wasn’t expecting the gaping
chasm in his soul, now that Mickey was gone along with Speed’s sense of purpose. But he was happy
to fill it with Blake.
“Are you over your…” His nose wrinkled as he drank. “I hate to call it a grudge because
Lavender is a hitman and that is appalling. And I would have an even harder time looking past that if I
were in your shoes,” Blake added with an apologetic cringe.
“We can call it a grudge. And I think I am getting over it. I’m learning that he isn’t the same as
Mickey. Lavender is an entirely different animal and I misjudged him,” he admitted, stunning Blake.
His eyelashes batted before he swore and drained his glass.
“I’m going into sport mode because this is gonna get messy,” he said as he grabbed the bottle off
the nightstand, making Speed laugh.
“As long as we don’t get any frosting or crumbs on the bed.”
“Not that kind of messy,” Blake purred. He wiggled his brows at Speed as he drank, then stood.
“I’ll move this over here until later,” he said while he relocated the tray to the ottoman and began
undressing. His eyes held Speed’s as he unbuttoned his shirt and slid out of it.
“Going to need another sip of this. I’m getting a little parched,” Speed said, reaching for the
champagne bottle. But he didn’t take his eyes off of Blake as he toed off his soccer sneakers and
stepped out of his jeans.
“Take it easy. You’re still on some potent painkillers,” Blake said and clicked his teeth as he
crawled onto the bed. Hawk had calibrated Speed’s pain meds so he stayed comfortable while
slowly stepping down the opioids.
“I don’t need drugs or champagne to feel high when I’ve got you,” Speed told him.
“Hmmm…” Blake captured Speed’s lips for a slow, brain-scrambling kiss. “Is that so?”
“All I need is you.”
“Do you love me for my cake or my cock?” Blake winked at Speed as he slid lower, his gaze
heavy with wicked promise as his tongue flicked and teased.
“Fuck!” Speed gasped and laughed as it swirled around his navel. “I’d never be able to pick.
They’re both so good,” he said, then swallowed a yelp when Blake bit into his thigh.
“That was a trick question. I don’t kill myself doing squats so you can disrespect my ass like
that.”
“Your ass is so perfect. So sweet,” Speed sighed dreamily. There was a chuckle of agreement as
Blake eased Speed’s boxers off. He recalled how perfectly sweet and tight Blake’s ass was when he
sat on Speed’s face earlier. Blake came all over Speed’s chest then swung around and rode his dick
like he’d stolen it and was being chased. “And so tight,” he added just as Blake lapped at the head of
his now throbbing erection. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
Pleasure radiated from where Blake’s lips wrapped around Speed’s shaft. Blake sucked hard as
his head bounced, making Speed’s toes curl. It was moments like these when Speed felt the words
rising in his throat and forming on his tongue. He wanted to beg Blake to marry him and promise that
he’d always stay and love Speed forever.
“What do you want?” Blake whispered against Speed’s sac before sucking and nuzzling.
“You!” Speed begged, making Blake hum softly.
“I know that, silly. How do you want me?”
“Really hard and really fast.”
“I can do that.” Blake stretched across the bed and got the lube from his bedside table. He was
gentle as he fingered Speed, getting him slick and anxious. Blake was vers and really good when he
was on top but they were learning that he enjoyed being submissive during sex. He was far kinkier
than either of them had realized or expected and the only thing holding them back was Speed’s
shoulder.
The sex they could have was still incredible. Blake was breathtaking as he supported himself on
an elbow, careful not to crush Speed’s wounded shoulder. He held Speed’s ass locked against his
groin as he rocked his hips, hammering Speed’s prostate with swift but shallow thrusts. He was so
athletic and his stamina was staggering. Speed’s eyes crossed as intense pressure swelled in the base
of his cock.
“That’s it! Harder, Blake! You’re so good!” Speed’s head thrashed on the pillow. He was so close
and so full of Blake, Speed didn’t want it to ever end, but he didn’t know if he could hang on any
longer. The pleasure rolling down his legs and up his spine was incredible and Speed was about to
get swept away.
“Tell me what you want,” Blake huffed in Speed’s ear.
“Help me.”
But he didn’t need much. Blake reached between them and gave Speed’s cock a few quick tugs,
sending him right over the edge. Speed’s back came off the bed as cum spilled from his shaft.
“I’m close, Speed. Do you want me to come inside of you or do you want to watch?”
And that was why Blake was the man of Speed’s dreams. “Let me watch!”
Blake pulled out and rose on his knees so he could stroke his cock until he came, his cum landing
in thick puddles and mixing with Speed’s.
“Look at all this mess we made!” Blake said, gasping dramatically as he lowered. He winked at
Speed before his tongue stretched and Blake greedily lapped it all up.
“God, Blake!” Speed groaned raggedly as he grabbed Blake by the hair. “You are such a good
boy!” He pulled Blake’s lips to his and kissed him, savoring the taste of their cum.
“I like that.”
“Hmm?”
“When you tell me I’m a good boy,” Blake whispered. “Time for cake.” He sucked on Speed’s lip
before he rolled away and bounced off the bed, energetic and eager to please. Blake was beautifully
athletic when he was on top but those tender, submissive tendencies and his eagerness to please
pointed to some interesting possibilities. Speed was intrigued and tempted.“You know, you remind
me of a golden retriever sometimes.”
“But am I a sexy golden retriever?” Blake asked as he sauntered to the bed with the plate. He used
the fork to cut off a bite of cake and offered it to Speed.
“What?” Speed laughed but he blinked and Blake was wearing a leather mask, a collar, and a
harness. He opened his mouth so Blake could feed him and Speed groaned again. “Holy shit! That’s
incredible.” It was a divine mouthful of sweetened mascarpone, whipped cream, and espresso-
soaked layers of the tenderest white cake.
“Am I a sexy golden retriever, though?” Blake repeated, holding the plate away from Speed. For a
second Blake was dressed as a leather pup and had a tail.
“So sexy. In fact…” He imagined holding a leash and Speed’s eyes widened at the rush of
arousal.
“In fact?” Blake prodded. Speed gave his head a shake and laughed softly.
“It’s something to think about. For later.”
Blake’s eyes tightened and he was dubious as he licked whipped cream off the fork. “Later?”
“I’m barely allowed out of bed, Blake.”
“Fine. But we’re circling back to this when you’re healthy.” He threatened to withhold the cake
again but that just made Speed laugh and need to kiss Blake. Speed sat up and caught Blake’s jaw. He
pulled him close and moaned as he licked along Blake’s lips.
“It’s a deal. You know what would help me heal faster?”
 “What? Sex?”
“No! Cake! We just had sex,” Speed said, clicking his teeth as he lifted the plate from Blake’s
grasp. He scooped another large bite into his mouth and swore as he chewed. “Cake and cock. Could
be one of the best days ever.”
 Chapter Five

“T imeOnce
to see if Speed is ready to play by the rules.”
again, Lavender watched as another stranger regarded his house from across the
street. This time, Lavender had warning and wasn’t surprised as the sharply dressed agent got out of
his sensible dark blue sedan and headed up Speed’s driveway. The tall, handsome Black man
knocked on Speed’s door and Lavender both braced himself for a fight and an amusing tantrum. He
had a feeling he’d find Speed in an absolute snit.
Speed’s door opened and Blake looked as alarmed as one would expect when finding oneself
face-to-face with a senior agent from the FBI’s Chicago field office. Lavender calmly made his way
across the street and strolled over Speed’s lawn.
“Sure! Come on in!” Blake insisted. He spotted Lavender just as he stepped aside and the agent
turned to regard him. The agent’s dark brown eyes sparkled as he offered his hand to Lavender.
“Hello! It’s a pleasure to finally introduce myself!” His hand pumped Lavender’s firmly and the
other man’s focus was sharp and lightning quick as he stepped closer. “My name is Agent Beesley and
I’ve been studying you for a long time.”
“How very…clinical,” Lavender replied with a bright smile but it became brittle and flicked to
Speed as he joined them. Speed’s glare was severe and suspicious as he sized the agent up.
“What’s going on?” Speed asked, reading the card the agent had passed to Blake. Lavender raised
his brows at Speed and hummed so everyone would know that they were in the presence of A
Consequence. And that Speed was about to tow a very heavy line.
“My name is Agent Beesley,” the other man informed Speed. He smoothly pulled his credentials
from inside his coat and shared them with everyone. “I’m a good friend of Agent Sloan’s and I’ve
been assigned Frank Leary’s case.”
“Whoa!” Speed shook his head and took a step back. “I’m giving Francis to Sloan, not some
stuck-up suit that I don’t know from Adam,” he protested but Lavender snorted at him.
“You’re not in a position to make demands.”
“I’m not giving that guy the collar for bringing Francis in,” he said, turning to Agent Beesley. “No
offense but I know Sloan can be trusted. How do I know that you’re not working for Francis or that
you’re not part of some plan the FBI has to make me the fall guy for this once you’ve got Francis
quietly tucked away?”
“Why would I take any offense to that?” Beesley asked with a warm laugh. “Paul Sloan trained
me when I was a baby agent almost fifteen years ago. He hand-picked me to take over the Chicago
field office and to help him keep an eye on things in Lake Cliff.” He hissed sheepishly as he leaned
toward Blake, already sensing who was most sympathetic. “The bureau also wanted me to keep an
eye on Sloan and make sure he wasn’t in over his head out here,” he whispered loudly. Speed and
Lavender exchanged loaded looks.
“Paul did warn me that you’d be checking in while he was away,” Lavender said, causing Beesley
to regard him again with the sort of wonder a child might have when meeting Santa Claus.
“He said to proceed with caution because you wouldn’t be thrilled about having another FBI
agent sniffing around.” His large, seeking eyes revealed just as much as they gathered and Lavender
was wary. The cheerful, energetic agent was an open book but Lavender would get nothing past
Beesley. Which was why Paul had hand-picked him. Paul warned that Beesley wouldn’t be
intimidated once he decided to introduce himself and that he was just waiting for the ideal moment.
He must have sensed that Lavender and Speed had come to some sort of truce.
“When is anyone thrilled to have an FBI agent sniffing around?” Speed countered, still defensive
and ready to send Beesley packing. “I don’t want to work with anyone but Sloan.”
“Sloan doesn’t want to work with you,” Beesley said simply. Lavender nodded and sighed at his
shoes.
“It’s for the best, Speed.”
“Excuse me?” Speed asked angrily and Lavender held up a hand, signaling for him to remain
calm. “When did you start agreeing with the bureau and you’re pushing it, telling me that this is for
the best,” he said, flinging his good hand at Beesley. Lavender coughed softly as he rubbed the end of
his nose, pretending to be amused. But he became serious as he stepped up to Speed, dismissing
Beesley and Blake for a moment.
“Because this is what’s best for Paul and for Reginald. Paul is recusing himself because of his
relationship with you in order to protect his career and because his husband nearly broke himself,
chasing after you.”
“I didn’t tell Marston to—” Speed started but Lavender cut him off with a hard, threatening look.
“He will never stop if he believes I’m at risk or Paul is in danger. Enough is enough,” he said
with a firm tip of his chin. “Paul’s handed this to Agent Beesley because it’s the right thing to do and
you will cooperate unless you want Paul and the FBI to wash their hands of this and expose you.
They’re fully capable of flipping this around and signaling to Leary that this was all your idea.”
Speed rubbed his lips together as he nodded. “Fine. You’re right about Sloan and Marston. I
thought Sloan would want this but if he doesn’t and they’re ready to get out, I gotta respect that,” he
agreed. “I trust Sloan, and if he says that we can trust Beesley, then it’s good enough for me.”
“Thank you,” Lavender said, then bowed as he began to back through the door, excusing himself.
“It was nice to meet you,” he said to Beesley, making the agent blush.
“It was…surreal,” Beesley replied with a laugh as they shook hands again. Speed’s smile grew
wide and hollow before he gave Blake a nudge.
“Why don’t you take Agent Beesley out back and offer him a drink? I want to have a quick word
with him before he takes off,” Speed said as he pointed at Lavender.
“Sure!” Blake smiled at Beesley, waving for him to follow. “I was about to start lunch. You
should join us.”
“That would be great if Mr. Speed doesn’t mind.”
“Why would I mind? And just call me Speed. All my friends do,” Speed said, smiling brightly as
he waved them off. His face fell as soon as they were out of sight and Speed was disgusted as he
turned back to Lavender.
“Tell me you didn’t mean all of that. What’s your real plan?” He asked quietly. Lavender groaned
and rubbed his temple, hoping to soothe away the throb behind his eye.
 “This is the real plan. And how many times have I told you that I’m not pretending here? I’m truly
concerned about Reginald and this is best for Paul.”
“Right! I get that and I agree but that doesn’t mean we have to cooperate with the rest of the FBI
and Agent Beesley. I know I can trust Sloan if he tells me Francis won’t get set up for the hit on
Mickey but I don’t know about Beesley.”
“I’m sorry, but why do you care as long as it doesn’t get back to you?” Lavender argued.
“Because Francis won’t last two minutes in any prison. Those Aryan fucks think Mickey is a
legend. Half of them are Irish and grew up hearing about how he sent money and boatloads of
weapons to Ireland. And he took care of the Brotherhood’s leaders—inside and outside of jail. That’s
how Mickey stayed strong without any soldiers of his own. Francis is as good as dead if they think he
killed Mickey,” he explained.
Lavender nodded in understanding. “Then, I give you my word that I won’t allow that. The plan
was for the FBI to get the glory for this so there would be no further vendettas and that’s how it
stays.”
That must have caught Speed off-guard. His head canted and he blinked at Lavender for a moment
before he pulled in a deep breath. “Fine. If you give me your word,” he said slowly. He nodded as he
coped with what must have been an incredibly foreign sensation, trusting Lavender. “I’ll do this your
way and cooperate with Agent Beesley.”
“Thank you,” Lavender said sincerely. He reached and gave Speed’s right shoulder a pat. Speed
frowned at Lavender’s hand.
“I said I’d cooperate but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about having lunch with a federal agent.”
“I don’t see what the problem is. You’ve befriended Zetas and the world’s seediest oligarchs,”
Lavender reminded him. Speed’s nose wrinkled as he looked over his shoulder at the kitchen.
“I’m officially an informant if I do this. Before, I was handing Francis off to Sloan as a favor and
because it seemed like a good way to quietly get some overdue justice. This feels more official and
like it won’t stay quiet. What about Francis’s guys inside the FBI?”
“The FBI’s watching them closely and they’ll be facing charges as well. Paul’s plan is to have the
bureau lean on them for most of their evidence so they won’t need you. He’s put Beesley in charge so
no one—including Leary—will be able to accuse Paul of doing all of this to cover for you,” Lavender
said, obviously surprising Speed.
“It’s Sloan’s plan?” He looked relieved as Lavender nodded.
“Who can argue that Paul was working by himself or running something shady within the bureau if
the head of one of the nation’s largest field offices is in charge of the case?” Lavender said and Speed
chuckled.
“No… This would look pretty high-level with Beesley running it,” he agreed, then frowned as he
became suspicious again. “I’d like this better if he wasn’t so…” Speed’s lips pulled tight. He glanced
over his shoulder at the kitchen again. “Smart. I get the feeling he already knows everything about us
and I don’t like it.”
“He does because Paul’s given Beesley very thorough notes on all of us over the years.”
“And you allowed that?” Speed asked, mystified.
“Of course,” Lavender said with a Cheshire grin. “The Devil makes deals on occasion, does he
not? That was how I kept the FBI from breathing down my neck and questioning my every move. I’d
rather deal with Paul because I know I can trust him than deal with a cadre of incompetent
bureaucrats.”
“Wow.” Speed leaned back and eyed Lavender appreciatively. “I see why Blink keeps such a
close eye on you.”
“Then pay attention and make nice with Beesley because it never hurts to have friends who are
going places, as you well know,” Lavender said, wagging a finger at Speed. “Paul Sloan has no
desire to become director but there could come a day when he has just as much power within the
bureau. Director’s a purely political position but Paul’s the kind of senior agent who gets results and
makes the bureau look good. So is Beesley. He could be your Agent Sloan if you play your cards
right,” he said with a suggestive look, making Speed laugh.
“I’ll think about it,” he said hesitantly and Lavender hummed.
“He doesn’t have to be your enemy either. Show him that this is where you intend to live and be
real and he won’t treat you like an informant. He’ll see you as an ally and he’ll want to protect you
and Blake.”
“I…think I can do that,” Speed said, then grinned at Lavender. “If you and Sloan trust him, I can
trust him.”
“Thank you. I think you’ll find it easier to let go of Leary once you get to know Beesley and see
what kind of case he’s building. You play a relatively small part, from what I’ve heard.”
“Really?”
“Really,” Lavender reassured Speed, then excused himself.
Lavender enjoyed how baffled Speed was as he left him. Speed assumed he’d help Paul build the
case around Leary and arrange his capture. That would have taken a terrible toll on Speed, Paul and
Lavender agreed. Both thought that it was best if Speed had as little to do with the case as possible.
And that included choosing someone who didn’t know or care about Speed as head investigator.
Paul was confident that Beesley would handle the case with the utmost professionalism while
juggling the unique challenges involved with Speed’s connection to Blink and Lake Cliff. He
described Beesley as highly intelligent and an incredibly savvy yet trustworthy agent and friend
within the bureau. Paul said he’d trust Beesley with his life and that he was just morally flexible
enough to appreciate Lake Cliff as an opportunity instead of a legal gray area.
“Who was that?” Sage asked when Lavender shut the front door behind him.
“Special Agent Beesley,” he said, enjoying Sage’s shock. “He’s a friend of Paul’s. He’s building
the FBI’s case against Leary so Paul can stay out of it and spend more time with Reginald.”
“That’s great!” Sage widened his eyes as he gathered Lavender in his arms. “And how do you feel
about Agent Beesley being here?”
“We discussed this before Paul left to go into hiding with Reginald and I agreed that it was for the
best.”
“And you’re cool with him poking around?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Lavender countered, narrowing his eyes at Sage. “There’s nothing for him
to find and the sooner we have a clean resolution to this situation with Leary, the better. I’ll just have
to keep a close eye on Beesley because he’s very much like Paul in that he’ll go his own way if he
thinks it’s the right thing to do.”
“I already like him,” Sage decided, his shoulders bouncing. “You should invite him to dinner.”
Lavender gave his head a quick shake, shunning the idea. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m
sure Agent Beesley would be a delightful dinner guest but I’m hoping he’ll go back to Chicago and
observe us from afar once Leary’s in prison. One federal agent in Lake Cliff is enough.” He didn’t
like the way Sage smirked or the calculating gleam in his eyes.
“We’ll see… Kat’s single and lives in Chicago and I know a few guys who’d want his number.
And I get the feeling Agent Beesley would love an excuse to hang around.”
 “God help me, Sage. If you—”
“If I what?” Sage asked, then kissed Lavender so he couldn’t object, successfully ending the
argument.
“I’m not sure.”
“Would you be more sure if we went upstairs?”
“Probably not but it’s worth a try.”
 Chapter Six

“W ebureau
were able to identify six moles within the bureau, thanks to your ‘Heist Scenario’—as the
is calling it—and we’ll have all we need to charge Frank Leary for a laundry list of
crimes without ever breathing your name,” Agent Beesley reassured Speed.
Agent Beesley…
It sounded like a nasally sneer in his head but Speed kept a placid smile on his face and nodded
along. But even the agent’s name offended Speed. Sloan might have hand-picked him but Agent
Beesley couldn’t have been more of a stuck-up do-gooder. And he was just a little too slick with his
easy grins and his sleek suit.
I know a smooth motherfucker in a hand-made Daniel George suit when I see one.
Which made Speed wonder. “Brilliant. Tell me, Agent Beesley, how did someone like you end up
as an FBI agent? Seems like a waste of talent if you ask me.”
“Are you offering me a job?” Beesley asked with a wink but Speed raised his right shoulder.
“Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve poached from the FBI. We’re always on the lookout for a bright,
creative mind that isn’t afraid of thinking outside of the box.”
“That’s almost exactly what the FBI said when they were recruiting me.” Beesley had a hint of a
Chicago accent and Speed suspected that that was also why he was recruited. The FBI cast a wide net
and sought out agents from all walks of life and Beesley would have been an ideal candidate because
he was bright, incredibly fit, charismatic, and had grown up in one of the wildest cities in the country.
Like New York, you could make it anywhere if you could make it in Chicago. “My mom was an
accountant and my dad taught high school history until they both retired a few years ago. The FBI
recruited me right out of law school and my parents were not happy about it.” Beesley gave his head a
slow shake and raised his brows at Blake, making him laugh.
“I can’t imagine that was comfortable.” Blake sat forward so he could top off Agent Beesley’s ice
water but he put a hand over his glass.
“I need to get going soon,” he said, then grinned as he went back to his story. “I was convinced I’d
made a mistake and that I wasn’t a good fit for the FBI but then Paul Sloan took me under his wing.
My parents got over it after I moved back to Chicago and took over the field office.”
“We could use good people in Chicago,” Speed said but Beesley laughed it off.
“No thanks. I’m afraid I’m the boring kind of good and I like my job.” He became serious and
tapped his knuckle on the table. “We’re close, Speed. I don’t need you to make a case against Leary,
but I need your help to find him and bring him in.”
Speed twisted his lips thoughtfully before he beat his knuckle on the table, mimicking Beesley.
“Call me when you’re sure you’re ready and I’ll help you find him.”
 “All I need is that phone number. You won’t have anything else to do with this once I’ve got it. We
can keep an eye out for Leary and pick him up as soon as we’re ready to press charges.”
Blake gasped as he turned to Speed. “This is perfect!”
“No, it’s not!” Speed laughed. He sat back and hugged his chest with his good arm. “The quickest
way for all of this to get blown to shit is for one person to decide it’s worth risking my life to move
things along a little faster or to help them get ahead. All it takes is for one person to lose that number
or share it with someone else and Francis knows I stabbed him in the fucking back.”
“I understand!” Beesley insisted. “But let’s be honest here, Speed. This is about control for you
more than it is about trust. You’re not going to like any plan that you didn’t build. And you want to say
goodbye to Francis when you’re ready.”
“Don’t call him that.” Speed pointed at Beesley and shook his head. He didn’t know how to
explain why it was blasphemous to hear someone, especially a federal agent, calling him Francis.
“It’s time to let him go,” Beesley said gently.
“I know. Come back when you’re sure you’ve got a case.” With that, Speed pushed back his chair
and stood. “I’m feeling tired. I think I’ll go lay down.”
“I need to head back to the city. Thank you for your time, Speed. Blake,” Beesley said as he rose
and shook their hands.
“We’ll walk you out,” Blake said, offering Speed his arm. Speed almost told them to go ahead but
he didn’t like the idea of Blake being alone with Beesley.
I am not jealous.
But Speed glared at the agent’s back and wondered why Sloan couldn’t have picked someone
older and more malleable. And he didn’t have to be so good-looking. Speed gave Blake a nudge
when he laughed at another one of Beesley’s jokes.
“You’re always welcome!” Blake said, shaking Beesley’s hand again.
“Thank you for lunch. I appreciate the warm welcome,” he said sincerely before turning to Speed.
“You can call any time. The number I gave you goes directly to me and I’ll know it’s you.”
“Got it,” Speed said and tapped his brow in salute. “You drive safely.” He could feel Blake
rolling his eyes but Speed turned on his heel and headed up the stairs.
“Have a safe trip back,” Blake said as he closed the door behind Beesley. He caught up with
Speed and gave him his arm. “You said you were going to hear Beesley out and give him a chance.”
“Did we not just spend two hours eating tapas with Beesley? I wanted to drag him out of my
house by his ear and stuff him in that cheap government issued sedan. But I promised Lavender I’d
give it a chance. I did and I hated it but I’m towing the line.”
“I understand why you aren’t ready to trust Beesley but you didn’t have to be rude. I believe him
when he says he wants to help and I like him,” Blake added but that just made Speed’s mood even
darker. He didn’t care what Lavender said, Speed didn’t want his own Agent Sloan.
Speed managed to ease his coat off and tossed it on the foot of the bed. “I could tell and I didn’t
appreciate the way he kept flirting with you.”
“What are you talking about?” Blake asked. He gave Speed’s chest a shove so he’d fall back onto
the bed. “Beesley was courteous and professional. He was right about you wanting to be in control
and that you’re not ready to let go but that doesn’t mean you get to shoot the messenger. And don’t take
it out on me. No one blames you for wanting to protect yourself. Especially me,” he continued as he
pulled off Speed’s shoes. Blake stormed over to the closet but he didn’t throw them. That wasn’t
Blake. He calmly returned them to the proper shelf and scolded himself for getting frustrated. “You’d
be just as bad as Francis if you didn’t feel torn up over this,” he said as he came back to help Speed
with the rest of his suit. “But he’s right. You’ve got to accept that your part in this is almost over and
it’s time to let him go.”
“I don’t mind when you call him Francis,” Speed realized and chuckled softly as he chased after
Blake’s lips. “I think it’s because I know you’re so much better than him.”
“Stop it,” Blake said but he let Speed kiss him.
“He’s right and I’m almost ready. I just want to be sure it’s the safest move for us.”
“As long as you’re putting yourself first. Francis doesn’t give a damn about what’s best for you.
He hasn’t since you were children.” Blake cupped Speed’s cheek and found his eyes. “You deserve
this and he’s not worth protecting.”
“I know.” Speed kissed Blake and made a promise to himself that he would put Team Speed &
Blake before Francis if push came to shove. No matter what. “I have to do this the right way or
Francis will haunt me. And he can make a lot of trouble for me on the inside. People always forget
that prisons are full of fucking criminals and they don’t stop committing crimes just because they’re
locked up. Francis will probably get stronger when he goes in as long as no one thinks he’s a snitch.”
“That’s definitely a scary needle to thread but Agent Beesley’s the perfect solution.”
“If I can trust him.”
“Give me two good reasons why you shouldn’t trust him,” Blake challenged.
“We don’t know him!” Speed replied, resulting in a severe look from Blake.
“You trust Paul and he’s not sending anyone into the lion’s den unless he’s sure they can go toe-to-
toe with Lavender. Don’t forget that this is where Reginald lives and works too. He isn’t going to fuck
up his own husband’s livelihood by sending in an agent that hasn’t been thoroughly vetted.”
“Those are all really good points—” Speed started defensively but hadn’t prepared the other side
of that argument.
“Give me another reason.”
“Well… You’re going to poke holes in any argument I make.”
“Not if it’s a good one,” Blake said, widening his eyes and daring Speed to come up with
something.
“It is possible to be too competent. Have you ever considered that?”
“Now you’re being ridiculous. You just told him that all it takes is for one agent to screw up and
now you’re saying he’s too competent.”
“Go across the street and ask Lavender what it’s like working with Sloan. I guarantee that’s as
much of a headache as it is helpful because guys like Sloan only bend so far and they don’t take
orders. And that unholy alliance only works because they have Marston. Who’s going to make me and
Agent Beesley see eye-to-eye?”
“So… You still don’t have a good reason. Because we can’t accept ‘too competent’ as a reason,”
Blake said with a snort. “I don’t know a lot about these things because I’m not a criminal but my good
guy gut tells me that you shouldn’t be working with an agent you can walk all over.”
“I shouldn’t be working with an agent at all,” Speed countered and fired a finger gun at Blake. He
was folding the throw blanket and rolled his eyes at Speed as he laid it on the foot of the bed and sat
on the edge.
He didn’t look like he planned to stay so Speed reached for his book. He was reading Pride And
Prejudice. Speed thought it might help him figure out how to give Blake the perfect proposal. It was
considered one of the best books ever written and it was about falling in love and getting married,
after all. There was a lot of proposing going on, but so far, all Speed had learned was that Blake was
just like Jane—beautiful, kind, and only able to see the good in others. While Speed was more of a
Mr. Wickham.
“Do you have a better solution than getting shot and stringing Francis along?” Blake asked quietly.
His nose wrinkled apologetically and he gave Speed’s foot a gentle squeeze. “Give yourself a little
time to get used to the idea. Agent Beesley came out of nowhere and you had different expectations.
But I think this could be good for you. I’m going to clean up the kitchen and get a head start on dinner.
I’m making chicken tacos.”
“You’re probably right,” Speed conceded. It was a lot easier to swallow with Blake than with
Lavender.
“Call me if you need anything,” Blake said, then left Speed with his thoughts.
Blake was far more objective and Speed didn’t have to worry about what his priorities were. He
was predisposed to trust the FBI, but in Beesley’s case, Blake’s trust wasn’t misplaced. Even Speed
could see that Sloan had chosen well. Any agent dealing with Lavender and Lake Cliff would have to
have a strong backbone, a good sense of humor, and balls as big and as tough as coconuts. That was
the opposite of Speed’s idea of a good time but Blake was right. Again. Speed didn’t have a better
way out than to string Francis along until he could be prosecuted.
There was another incentive to handing Francis off to Beesley…
Speed sat up and leaned, listening to make sure Blake hadn’t come upstairs before opening the
drawer on his bedside table. He took out the ring box and sighed longingly.
The more sensible ring was still safely hidden in the closet but this ring called to Speed
whenever he was in their room. And he was always in their room. Speed was able to get up and do
more and he was in a lot less pain. Hawk was showing him how to work basic physical therapy
exercises into his routine but Speed was still exiled to the bed or the sofa downstairs. Blake said he
didn’t want Speed to overdo it just because he was restless. But Speed suspected that Blake didn’t
want Speed causing trouble in the neighborhood or giving Lavender another reason to blow up at
them.
Everyone would be a lot happier with Speed and he could propose without Francis hanging over
his head. Speed was ready to let Francis go but he wasn’t sure if his conscience was. He wasn’t
going to feel less guilty after he sent Francis away for the rest of his life. It didn’t matter that Speed
knew Francis deserved it. He might have accepted that Francis was a monster but Speed didn’t want
him to suffer.
“What’s done is done.”
It’s what Mickey had always said when he had to accept something he didn’t like. Having Beesley
in charge of the case against Francis would only support the idea that the FBI was cleaning up its
mole problem and getting rid of a dangerous liability with Mickey.
Once Speed was sure Francis wouldn’t blame him, he’d give Beesley the number and move on.
He stared at the ring until it blurred, mesmerized and aching as he imagined sliding it on Blake’s
finger. Speed got chills every time he heard Blake say yes in his head and he longed to finally hear it.
“Soon,” he promised himself and went back to his book. Accepting that it was time to let go of
Francis was all well and good but Speed was still stuck until he came up with a plan for the perfect
proposal.
 Chapter Seven

“S weet Jesus!” Blake panted at the ceiling. Speed snatched his left hand and Blake’s laugh was a
breathless wheeze. They were both shaking after Speed kneeled between Blake’s thighs and
proved he could do a lot with only one arm. He had started out slow and careful, filling Blake with
deep, grinding thrusts. But Speed could be so persuasive and he had the filthiest mouth. Blake ended
up on his knees, begging to be held down and fucked harder. “I love you,” Blake said as he rolled
toward Speed and kissed his shoulder.
“I love you too.” Speed twisted onto his side so they were nose-to-nose. “Let me make breakfast.
I feel great and you’ve been waiting on me for weeks.”
“Nope!” Blake kissed him loudly, then scrambled out of the bed. He swiped his sweatpants off the
floor and hopped into them before Speed could protest. “You deserve breakfast in bed. I’ve got the
perfect bread for French toast and I saw this recipe for roasted cherry tomatoes I want to try,” he
explained, then narrowed his eyes at Speed. “I see what you did there. You could have just told me
you were hungry and wanted your coffee.”
He beamed at Blake as he sat back against the pillows. “But look at how much more fun that was
for you. It didn’t feel at all like work, did it?”
“It never feels like work when I’m cooking for you,” Blake said as he stretched across the bed
and kissed Speed.
“You’re spoiling me. You always spoil me.”
“You deserve it,” Blake whispered against Speed’s lips but they parted on a loud laugh. Speed
held onto Blake for a moment then patted his shoulder.
“That was a good one. You’re the only person in the world who’s ever going to believe that, but
God bless you, I’m so glad you’re mine.”
“Whatever. Stay here and don’t get into any trouble.” Blake glared at Speed playfully as he left.
He turned and pointed severely at Speed just before he reached the door.
Speed threw his good hand up and was still laughing. “I won’t move a muscle!” He swore
dramatically.
“Good luck with that,” Blake muttered as he headed down the hall, then snorted. He had actually
tested all the walls in the closet to make sure Speed didn’t have a secret control room hidden
upstairs. “Coffee’s ready!” He smelled the heady aroma as he turned at the bottom of the stairs. Blake
remembered to set the timer before he went up for bed so he patted himself on the back on his way
into the kitchen. “I’ll run this up to him, then start the French toast,” he decided as he grabbed a mug
and set the oven to preheat for the tomatoes.
Blake made each of them a cup of coffee and was sipping his as he made his way up the stairs. He
used his foot to push the bedroom door open a little wider and paused when Speed swore and stuffed
his hand under the duvet.
“You ok?” Blake asked, raising a brow at Speed. “Thought I’d bring this up for you to drink while
you were waiting for breakfast.”
“Great!” Speed said quickly as he pushed himself up straighter and scooted back. Blake set down
their cups so he could fix Speed’s pillows.
“Is your arm bothering you? I can help you into the sling before I run back down,” he offered but
Speed shook his head.
“It’s fine and you read my mind. I was just thinking that the only thing I needed to make this
morning perfect was a cup of coffee!” He said brightly. Blake hummed dubiously while pulling the
duvet across Speed’s lap.
“Why do I feel like you were up to something?” He asked when a small green box tumbled onto
the floor and landed next to Blake’s foot.
“What’s this?” Blake asked as he lowered and picked it up.
“What?” Speed croaked.
“You dropped this little box…” It was leather and almost as big as one of Speed’s watch cases.
Blake opened it and a startled “Fuck!” burst from him as he blinked at a diamond-encrusted ring.
“Right…” Speed stared at it, his eyes just as large as Blake’s. “I was just looking at it because…”
“Holy shit.” There were so many diamonds. The ring was stunning but there were so many
diamonds. Blake had never seen so many on a single piece of jewelry. “Why do you have…?” He
held it out to Speed, intending to hand it back but Speed was frozen.
“I’ve wanted to give it to you for weeks,” he mumbled weakly, fixated on the box in Blake’s
hands. “But I was waiting until it was safe and I could plan the perfect moment,” he added and licked
his lips like he was rushing to solve a problem.
“Oh no!” Blake shut the box and his eyes. “I ruined it! I’m so sorry!” He pushed it at Speed.
“No!” Speed let out a watery laugh and scooted to the edge of the bed so he could cup Blake’s
cheek. “I’m a sappy nerd, Blake. I’ve had it for weeks—I got it before we went to Sparks— and I
can’t stop myself from looking at it the minute you’re out of the room. I’m dying every time you walk
out because I know it’s here and I can’t give it to you and… I’m dying because I love you so damn
much and I want to ask you so badly that I—” Speed’s voice cracked and he swallowed loudly.
“You can’t stop yourself from looking at it?” Blake asked and gave up. He sobbed as he threw an
arm around Speed’s neck. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I was waiting… Fuck it,” Speed said as he held Blake away from him so he could find his eyes.
“You already know that this is it, that you’re all I want.” He grabbed Blake’s hand, letting the box
with the absurdly ostentatious ring drop onto the bed. “I know it’s not the kind of ring you’d ever
wear but I had to find the most extravagant, most expensive ring I could because…this is the biggest
and the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met and I
wanted you to have something as spectacular as you are,” Speed explained as he fumbled with the
box, opening it with one hand and working the ring out of the velvet cushion. “I don’t need the perfect
plan when every day already feels like magic and I have the most amazing man in the world. Please
say you’ll marry me, Blake.”
“Yes!” Blake cried, ecstatic and overwhelmed. “How am I this surprised and why am I crying?”
He complained as he dragged the back of his other hand across his eyes. Blake knew Speed was
going to ask but he was still shaking and couldn’t believe it was happening.
“I don’t know!” Speed complained back. He was laughing and crying too as he slid the ring on
Blake’s finger. “I knew you’d say yes but this doesn’t feel real.”
“It feels like a dream,” Blake agreed breathlessly as he stared at the glittering band around his
finger. Every stone caught the sunlight and created little stars on the wall and ceiling. “Are you
kidding me, Speed?” He clapped a hand over his mouth.
“You don’t like it?”
“I do!” Blake insisted. “It’s beautiful but…”
“You don’t like it,” Speed accused. His lips quirked at the corner. “It’s fine if you don’t. It can be
your around-the-house ring and for special occasions.”
“Stop it! I feel like I need security to wear something like this out of the house.” Blake gave
Speed’s good arm a swat. “But I love it!” His eyes blurred and his nose began to run. “Kat is going to
kick my ass!” He laughed as he reached for Speed. “It’s so over the top but I love you so much!”
Blake kissed him and Speed groaned as their lips clung.
“I can’t tell you how good this feels. I’ve wanted to ask you for so long but Francis—” Speed bit
down on his lips and shook his head. “No. I’m not letting him ruin this. We might not be able to have
everything we want right now but I’m done waiting. I want to celebrate how happy we are and I’m not
going to let anything stop us.”
“I’m in as long as you’re ready,” Blake said, his heart clear and so full it was fixing to burst.
“Me too.” Speed kissed Blake tenderly, content to linger. “I’ll call your dad while you’re working
on breakfast. I wanted to get his permission and ask you while your family was there but we’ll
consider this a…pre-proposal,” he said and his eyes widened. “That’s it! I have another ring because
I couldn’t make up my mind and I didn’t know how I was going to propose twice but now I do! We’ll
do something official next time we’re in Sparks with your family,” he decided.
“There’s another ring?” Blake asked dizzily as he held up his hand. His face got hot as he worried
that it might be bigger or that he’d have to find a way to wear two at once. There was a delighted
laugh from Speed.
“I had a feeling this wouldn’t be practical or suit you as an ‘everyday ring’ so I bought my second
choice too,” he confided. Blake shook his head at Speed.
“Do not tell my sister that. She’ll have you talked into doubling our wedding budget and we’ll be
riding up to a castle in golden chariots.”
“Shhhh!” Speed pecked at Blake’s lips. “There isn’t going to be a budget,” he whispered
soothingly but Blake’s stomach dropped and his eyes widened.
“Nothing reasonable will come of this,” he predicted, making Speed grin.
“I can’t be reasonable when it comes to you,” he said before becoming serious. “Let me talk to
your dad so we can officially break the news. I don’t want to wait and I don’t need Lavender’s
permission but we should see what he recommends. We might have to do something smaller now and
hold off on the castles and chariots until…later,” he added apologetically.
Blake’s nose wrinkled and he shook his head. “I don’t need all of that.”
“Neither do I,” Speed said as if he was relieved. “Kat can go wild because it’ll be a lot of fun
and I trust her taste. All I care about is this,” he said, raising Blake’s knuckles so he could kiss them.
“You said yes and you’re mine. Forever.”
“Forever,” Blake promised.
He’d ride a chariot to a castle to marry Speed if he had to. All that mattered was that Blake had
found his soulmate. He’d happily endure any silly ceremony if it meant he could spend the rest of his
life with Speed. But Blake did have faith in Speed and Kat. The wedding would be extravagant but
still exactly right.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 Pemberton slowly answered:
“I don’t know what to think. There is no reason for my doubting
the truth of their death miles above the earth. I have gone over it all
hundreds of times, yet I can not make up my mind whether far above
float the remains of two of the bravest men, or whether far away on
the earth’s surface are two of the slickest rascals that ever lived. Did
what Dexter described really happen or did they fly above out of our
sight and concoct the story? Did they cast down an oxygen tank,
smear blood on a piece of plane that they might have taken with
them for the purpose, and cast it down to fool us? A small cut on a
finger might have furnished the blood, and they might have cast
down part of the stolen money. Why did only one dollar bills come
down? Where are the half-million dollars of large bills? They could
be floating far above with the wrecked plane. Where is the upward
whirlwind? Still, it might have moved or died out. We might have
listened to one of the most awful death struggles, or we might have
been the victims of one of the cleverest jokes ever played on the
public. And the men escaped with half a million dollars. Who knows?

THE END

Transcriber’s Note: This story appeared in the Winter Edition,

1928 issue of Amazing Stories Quarterly magazine.
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TERRORS
OF THE UPPER AIR ***

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