“Yeah, as a matter of fact, you do,” Colin returned and moved along the line.
“Son of a…” Archer muttered, stalking after the smaller man.
Greene made a beeline to the bar that sat just to the right of the food table.
“Pour me a double.” Greene pointed to a bottle of whiskey and tapped one thick finger on the bar.
The bartender poured the liquid into the glass.
“Joshua?”
Forest approached wearing a pair of neon green sneakers with his expensive black designer suit. Talk about defying authority. Isaac lifted a hand to hide a smile. Maybe Forest quit the FBI again and Infinity hadn’t gotten the memo?
Greene turned on Forest, and the height difference between the two men was comical. Forest’s eyes moved over Greene’s face as if drinking him in.
Greene squinted down at Forest and then his eyes snapped further downward, blinking at the green shoes before sweeping upward to lock on the man’s face.
“Nobody calls me Joshua,” Greene grunted.
“I just did.” Forest jerked his head to the glass of liquid. “You think that’s a good idea?”
“You think you can mind your own damn business?” Greene growled and tossed back the drink before slamming the glass on the counter. Of course, with the noise from the room, the exchange went unnoticed by all except him.
Something flashed in Forest’s eyes before the FBI agent tipped his head and strode confidently away. Greene stared at Forest’s ass a little too long before shaking himself.
“Another, Sir?” the bartender asked.
“No,” Greene snarled and stalked away.
“Hey, bro,” Dillon said from his side and pulled his attention from the now empty bar.
“How’s the patio coming along?”
“Zane is a master at remodeling. He should have it done in another three weeks.”
He and Zane had finally moved a few months ago into a home that was not too far from here. He loved being close to his brother and Luke, but what he loved most was the home he’d created with Zane.
“Nice.” Dillon smiled and reached for an empty plate. “You two all set for tomorrow?”
Isaac plucked up a roll, took a bite, and then forked up several slices of steak onto his plate.
“Zane and I plan on bringing the sides,” he replied.
“Cool, Luke and I will bring the main dish.”
“Better bring beef. You know how Zane likes his steak,” he said around a bite of warm bread.
“Yeah, I thought he was going to kill me when he found out there was only chicken breasts last time.” Dillon laughed and slapped a hand on his back.
His brother was worried about things between him and mom, but he didn’t need to be. He’d been over to their mother’s house several times over the past six months and other than a few awkward times, everything was going well. Her health had further declined, but she insisted on staying in her house and behaving like normal, and he and Dillon were doing everything in their power to make that happen.
Even his nightmares had eased up. Doc was pleased by his progress, but better than that, he was pleased by his own recovery. His past wasn’t as painful. Sure, bringing it up still had its fucked up moments, but now he had the good times to remember. Zane helped with that. Just being with him went a long way in creating new memories, making life so much sweeter.
Spotting Zane in the buffet line a few people back, he squinted at Oliver and Pia until they grinned and ushered Zane up front beside him.
“Hungry?” he whispered when Zane slipped in line behind him.
“Hell yeah, I’m starving.”
“Me too. Chicken?” He teasingly pointed.
Zane scowled, reached over his shoulder, and plucked up a piece of steak from his plate.
Isaac grinned when Zane plopped it into his mouth and chewed loudly. In a room full of suits and officers, Zane didn’t give a rat’s ass about decorum. Fuck, he loved his man so hard.
“I want a dance later,” Zane said, sliding an arm around his waist.
“You’re on, soldier,” he whispered.
When the meal was over, the lights turned low, and the melody of music filled the room, they danced in each other’s arms there among their friends.
And at least for this night, Infinity, Fury, and the people they loved were safe.
The End
Out for Justice Series
Ricochet
Collide
Rampage
Destruction
Bulletproof
A Phoenix Christmas
Code of Honor Series
Cutting It Close
Risking It All
Bringing It Home
Taking It Slow
Whatever It Takes
Cobalt Security Series
Without Warning
Without Fear
Pacific Northwest Shifter Series
Hunted
Bonded
Marked
SNEAK PEAK of Ricochet
Shoved beneath the bed by his mother, he pressed his hands over his ears to muffle her screams. Through a sliver of light beneath the bed skirt, he could see the side of his mother’s blue blouse. Her chest jerked and heaved. Dusty brown work boots cut off his view.
A violent bang cracked through the room, sending his heart racing and a warm stream of urine beneath him. Two men argued and he held his breath, biting one fist. The boots moved on. He kept his eyes riveted on his mother. He couldn’t remember when she stopped jerking. Wiggling backwards, eyes squeezed shut, he panted quietly.
Harsh, cruel hands reached for him and he fought them, terrified, screaming. He clawed at the floor for purchase, but it didn’t matter. Brutally yanked from his hiding place, a man with a cruel face looked him over. At eleven years old, he cried for his mother, and learned early on that crying only made it worse.
Noah
Six years later
Noah’s fingers twisted the leather band around his wrist until he felt the comforting burn against the irritated skin. Standing before the mirror, he pulled a brush through his shoulder-length, blond hair and tied it back.
He fiddled with each of the shirt’s long sleeves, making sure the material laid flat with no wrinkles. He smoothed a hand down the front. God fucking forbid if anything looked out of place; everything had to be perfect, no scars showing. He adjusted
