“It’s nothing like that, Daniel. I just don’t want him in the clutches of some gangster.”
“Okay... two things. First, Grant Kincaid is notsomegangster; he isthegangster. Second, if it was just about Grant, then why did you get all growly at the thought of me fucking him? And to be clear, I haven’t. I remember now, you talked about Kieran when you were having one of your drunken ramblings about regrets.”
Derek felt his face heat at Daniel calling him out. The guy didn’t miss a thing, which was why he was the best at what he did.
“Look, I’m not going to unpack the whole stepson thing, because I get it. I mean, Josh and I are a little... unorthodox.”
“What do you mean?”
Daniel gave him a rundown of the connection between him and Josh. Derek was surprised, but he couldn’t deny the look on his friend’s face as he spoke about the man he loved. They were meant to be together.
“I appreciate you saying that, but it’s not the same thing. I never looked at him that way when he was a teenager. It’s just a physical reaction because he screams submissiveness and sadness.”
“Ah, your kryptonite.”
Derek snorted. “I know there’s no law against it, but it just feels... wrong somehow, so it’s not about me. I don’t want him anywhere near a mobster. The guy has killed people for fuck’s sake. Well, I’m assuming so. What happens if it doesn’t work out and Kieran knows too much?”
“I don’t know what you think I can do, Derek, but there’s no way I want to be on that man’s radar, for any reason. All you can do is try to talk Kieran out of it, or monitor things in case they progress. If you really want some advice, then talk to Langdon, but be careful, and I would do that as a last resort.”
Derek nodded his agreement. There wasn’t much he could do. Kieran was his own person and could do what he wanted. It wasn’t like Derek could wade in as the protective father figure, especially after what he’d done, and his inappropriate thoughts would fade soon. Derek wanted Kieran back in his life, and he wouldn’t do anything to risk that.
The club was packed out as usual on a Saturday night. Thankfully, Neil had been present all week and seemed to be less distracted by whatever personal stuff he had going on. Hopefully, he’d sorted things out. Omar was quiet but working at his usual frantic pace. Derek would need to talk to him to find out what was going on. He hated seeing people look sad. Although he didn’t want to pry into his employees’personal lives, he’d be a terrible boss if he didn’t check in when it was clear something was bothering him.
Once the whole Kieran and Grant conversation had been put to the side, he’d enjoyed his lunch with Daniel. The food was delicious as always at Knights Corner. Derek was looking forward to meeting Josh, the young man who had somehow turned Daniel Harper into a gushing teenager whenever he spoke about him. It made him a little envious. Derek hadn’t had a serious relationship since his second marriage ended. The club was his significant other, but seeing Daniel and Edward all gooey over their partners made him feel lonely. That two of his closest friends were both with men in their twenties made him think of Kieran again.
He looked up and had to do a double take. Was that Kieran in his club again? The man looked directly at Derek and smirked. His bleached hair, tattoos on full display, and eyes sparkling with mischief were the perfect combination. Derek had always loved his partners being a little bratty and being able to put them in their place. Not in a daddy way. He’d tried that, but it just wasn’t him. He shook his head, getting thoughts of Kieran like that out of his head. When Derek looked again, Kieran was right in front of him.
“Vodka and cock... I mean Coke, please,” he said with a smile.
Was he flirting? Or just being a brat? Derek smiled at him before making the drink. He waved his hand when Kieran took out his card to pay. There was no way he was going to charge someone who was like family to him. Ten years may have passed, but Kieran was family– though he needed to be kept in that box, and Derek needed to stop staring. Based on another smirk from Kieran, he’d picked up on something.
“What’s brought you here tonight?” asked Derek.
“Thought I might try out the facilities... again.”
Derek felt his stomach drop, but also noticed Kieran blushand look uncomfortable. The mask had dropped for a second. What was that about?
“Does Grant know you’re here?”
Kieran narrowed his eyes. Why the fuck had Derek asked that?
“I don’t give a fuck what he thinks, or you for that matter.”
Before he could say anything, Kieran was gone. Derek couldn’t go after him, as he had a crowd of thirsty and horny queens demanding service.
Over the next half hour, he couldn’t help but keep looking for Kieran in the crowd, wondering if he’d gone into the labyrinth yet. There were many people in there, and they were free to do whatever they wanted as consenting adults, but not Kieran, which was irrational. What he had noticed were a few guys approaching Kieran, and him shaking his head. Maybe they weren’t his type. The club attracted an older crowd, and other than his staff, Kieran was probably one of the few people in the club who was under thirty.
There was a lull at the bar, so he looked for Kieran again. Derek noticed a guy around his age, who also had a beard and tattoos, had Kieran pinned against the wall. He wasn’t touching Kieran at all, but his presence was enough to keep him in place. Kieran was smiling, but his body language said he wasn’t comfortable. Should Derek check that he was okay? If he spotted something like this with any other customer, he’d ask his security to walk past. That usually caused the person to back off if anyone was being pressured.
Derek went to connect his radio when he saw the guy signal towards the labyrinth. Kieran shook his head, and the guy grabbed his arm. Kieran didn’t move, but he was saying something. He wasn’t trying to fight him off, but the guy wasn’t taking the hint. That was enough for Derek to fly out of the bar and head towards the corner they were in.
“Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes,” said Kieran, his voice filled with panic.
“Don’t be a fucking cock tease, you little slut.”
“What’s going on here?” asked Derek, trying to keep his voice calm, but he wanted to knock ten tonnes of shit out of this guy.
“None of your fucking business,” said the guy, who still had his hand on Kieran.
