Page 21 of Bound

“Did I what?”

“Fuck her. Your new little…asset.”

“You mean the official princess of a complete country with which our government is allies?”

Or so he was assuming, about that official stuff. But he’d been out cold for three days now. Many coups had happened in half that time. And though neither Samsyn nor Jayd had said anything to the contrary, it wasn’t like the subject had conveniently rolled around.

Still, he persisted, “Honestly, man. You really think I’m that special brand of idiot?”

Zeke sighed. It was long and contemplative. “I think you’re the guy who was doing his buddy a solid and found yourself in a high-octane situation with a grateful, gorgeous girl, and—”

“Woman.” He bit it out like the Doberman he now felt like.

“Ermmm…huh?”

“Jayd Cimarron is a woman, Z, not a girl.”

And God help the Doberman who barked without thought. Right away, Z was pouncing like the words were juicy T-bones. “Ohhh, damn.” And relishing the feast with a hefty chortle. “You really did get biblical with her.”

“Fuck you.” But it sounded as desperately angry as it felt. The frantic pounds of his heart were ample confirmation.

“Ohhh, you completely did. And aww—now you’re being all prom-night coy about it. That either means you really liked that dance, or you can’t wait to flip the punch table and get out of the gym.”

He drew in a breath, ready to order the guy to go fuck himself again. But Z was already on a take-charge roll.

“Because that’s all fixable, just in case you’ve forgotten. One call to Colton, and he’ll have one of his corporate jets on the Sancti tarmac faster than you can say—”

“No.” Regret slammed as soon as the rebuttal spewed. “No calling Dan. No involving him or any of the other guys in this.”

“Whoa. Chill out,” Z reprimanded. “And why the hell not?”

“Because the guy isn’t a spook anymore, and this mess isn’t some random secret op gone to shit. Eventually, that bird would have to put me down somewhere—meaning Colton Industries and its good name would instantly be dragged through the mud. It’d be no different once the media identified any of you guys—and now it’s about way more than just you, as well. Hawk, you, Tait, Kell, and Shay are all fathers now. And how long until they link any or all of us to Franz? He’s engaged to the fucking president.”

“You really think he’d let that make a difference?” Zeke snorted. “You think any of us would? Wait, let me ask this differently. If it were any of us at the center of this insanity, would it make a difference to you?”

“Goddammit. It’s not the same.”

“The hell it isn’t. Ohhh, snap.” The roll hit a bump, but not the kind Brick had hoped for. This was a bigger, bolder snag. “Unless it really is. Unless all of this really is different for you…”

“Okay, at ease with that shit too. I only mean this has the potential to royally blow up in my face, pardon the crappy pun. If I let you guys just jump in without making sure you’ve thought about the ramifications, it’d be—”

“Exactly what you did, helping me slip out of town when every member of Seattle’s PD was ready to chomp on my ass.”

“Almost five damn years ago,” Brick volleyed. “In one city, in one country. This is crazier and you know it. It’s involving a lot of Europe and beyond. You can’t risk it. Not anymore. Your life isn’t about just you anymore, man.”

At last, thank God, there was a resigned sigh over the line. “Fine,” Zeke conceded. “Roger that, loud and clear.”

As he spoke it, the words blended in with a dark techno beat. The guy must’ve walked into Bastille’s main bar and adjoining playroom station area. Zeke quickly switched off the music, but Brick wished he’d kept it on. More than that, he yearned to be right next to his buddy, hashing this out together between the spanking horse and the submissive stockade.

But if he was, they wouldn’t be throwing down about this at all. Because it would also mean he’d never have met Jayd. She’d be nearly seven thousand miles away. She’d also be a complete stranger.

Though right now, wasn’t it the same difference?

And wasn’t that exactly what he wanted?

Yes.

Yes, damn it.