After spending another day in bed with Kieran, Derek wasn’t expecting to be at the docks on the Thames Estuary, but when Grant Kincaid summons you, it’s easier to go. Kieran had gone to his flat to get some more clothes. Hassan was there, and Derek was going to pick him up on the way back. He hadn’t told Kieran he was going to meet Grant. He’d tell him everything when he saw him later, but there was no point in worrying him unnecessarily.
He got out of the car that had been sent for him and was escorted into the warehouse by a guy who could probably snap him in half without breaking a sweat. He had to be close to seven feet tall. Once inside, the door slammed shut behind him. Why he’d come here, telling no one, was something he could castigate himself for later, if that was an option.
“Derek, so pleased you could make it,” said Grant, walking towards him and shaking his hand.
It was the first time Derek had seen him not wearing a suit. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing muscular forearms, and his collar was open, with some chest hair showing. Even dressed casually, the guy was annoyingly handsome.
“Did I have a choice in coming here?” asked Derek.
“There’s always a choice, Derek. And all choices have consequences.”
Derek snorted, and Grant chuckled.
“Follow me,” said Grant.
Derek walked through a corridor into the main warehouseand saw someone he’d been expecting. What surprised him was that Carl was bound to a chair and gagged. He’d been badly beaten but still had a defiant look in his eyes.
“I know he hurt your boy, Derek, and I can’t apologise enough that someone I thought was family would do that to anyone, let alone someone as sweet as Kieran. Is he okay?”
“He’s . . . getting there.”
“I know he won’t want to go back to the shop, but I’d like to compensate him enough so he can set up on his own. It’s the least I can do.”
“I’ll talk to him about it. Why am I here, Grant?”
“The reason it took the full two days of your...deadlineis because I needed to have a little chat with Carl first and then check on some things. Kieran wasn’t the only one.”
“Fuck. How many?”
“A dozen that we know of. I’ll see that they’re all compensated. I know it heals nothing, but it’s all I can do, other than making sure he doesn’t touch anyone else again.”
Derek had suspected that there might not be a happy ending for Carl, given the ultimatum he’d given Grant. That he’d done it before, and not been caught, made Derek furious. If Grant had known he had a fucking monster in his organisation sooner, then Kieran wouldn’t have had to suffer.
“I know you probably want to punch the crap out of me right now, which I don’t advise. I like you, Derek, and I’d hate to have to break your face.”
Derek snorted. “That’s . . . honest.”
“Now, I have plans for Carl here, but I’d be happy to pass that pleasure on to you, should you wish? It would be my way of apologising.”
Derek looked to Grant’s right and saw a selection of knives on the table, and his stomach churned. Was this really happening? The most drama he’d ever had to deal with was someone’s zimmer frame slipping on lube in the club and a customer breaking his good hip.
“I think the best thing I can do is be with Kieran.”
“Of course. I appreciate Kieran may never want to speak to me again, and I will respect that choice if he wishes. I’ll liaise with you about his compensation.”
“Of course. I’ll take Kieran’s lead.”
“You look after that boy, Derek. You’ve got a good one there.”
Derek couldn’t help smiling.
“Now, make yourself scarce. I don’t get to play as often as I used to, and I do like to make a mess.”
He picked up one of the knives and smiled at Carl. The guy looked terrified, and he wasn’t the only one. Derek couldn’t get out of the place quickly enough. He needed to get to Kieran.
CHAPTER 17
KIERAN
