AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Santee noticed how Dax’s voice had risen with each question. Duncan was right. The guy wasn’t taking the news well. He also had to be human since Beckett had called Santee his husband.
“If you don’t want to go, that’s fine, but you don’t have to make shit up,” Dax snapped. “We used to have something special, Beckett. Are you telling me that you really don’t feel anything toward me anymore?”
“When you showed up last week, I was trying to let you down easy,” Beckett countered. “I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings, but if you want to put on a show, then we have nothing else to talk about.”
Unsure if Beckett would be upset if Santee stuck his nose in this—and he honestly didn’t care because Santee was staking his claim—he stepped forward and slipped his arm around his mate’s waist. “Is something wrong, honey?”
Dax’s gaze was scathing as it slid over Santee. “Who is this?”
“My husband,” Beckett said. “Look, Dax. What we shared a few years ago was nice, but like I said before, I’m not looking to rehash anything with you. Give my best to your parents.”
Santee saw the moment defeat entered the guy’s eyes. He kind of felt sorry for Dax, though. It had to suck to try and rekindle something, only for there to be nothing left to rekindle.
The guy was good-looking, and he probably had a lot of men interested in him. Santee just hoped that Dax didn’t get hung up on Beckett, because Beckett was his.
“Okay, I get it.” Dax nodded. “You don’t have to worry about me coming around anymore.”
Dax turned to leave, and Santee had to bite his lip to stop himself from inviting the guy out for a coffee. Yes, Dax was Beckett’s ex-boyfriend, but he was actually being civil about this, and Santee knew what it was like to have your heart broken.
The only other person he’d been with, when he’d given such a bad blow job, had kicked him aside without thought to his feelings. He’d been into the guy, but it was clear the guy hadn’t been that much into him.
“I’m glad you let him down easy,” Santee said when Dax pulled from the driveway. “He seems like a nice guy.”
Beckett snorted. “He’s clingy on steroids.”
Now Santee was glad he hadn’t invited Dax out for coffee. “Are you sure he’s going to leave you alone?”
“Yeah.” Beckett sighed. “Now that he knows I’m married, he’ll back off.”
Santee hoped so. He didn’t want to have a smackdown with Dax.
Just as they moved back to close the door, a sheriff’s cruiser pulled into the driveway. Santee wasn’t sure why, but he suspected this had something to do with him.
Sheriff Harper stepped out, walking toward them. “Good morning, fellas,” he said. “Can we talk inside?”
Santee didn’t like the way Sheriff Harper looked at him, but he let go of Beckett’s waist and went back to where Duncan was standing. Thankfully Beckett joined him and took Santee’s hand in his.
Sheriff Harper looked at their joined hands. “I’m here because Orion Keplin was assaulted.”
Santee’s jaw dropped as Beckett frowned.
“Who?” Beckett asked.
Sheriff Harper looked at Santee. “When I talked to your employer, I was told he was last seen with you.”
“Hold the fuck up,” Beckett snarled. “Who are we talking about, and why was Santee implicated in this? That fucking employer is lying.”
“But I’ve been with Beckett for the close to a week,” Santee argued. “I would never hurt Orion.” He turned to Beckett. “Orion is my best friend. He covers for me when I want to skip work and just hang around town for the day.”
“This smells like a setup,” Duncan said.
Santee paled. “He’s trying to draw me out into the open. He thinks that if the cops arrest me he can bail me out, and then he’ll have his hands on me.”
“Who?” Sheriff Harper and Duncan asked at the same time.
Beckett looked at Santee, as if telling him that it was up to him to reveal as much as he wanted or nothing at all.
“My brother,” Santee finally said. “I know it was him who hurt Orion.”
