Page 18 of Broken Promises (Soho Knights #5)

He nodded his head, looking down at the ground.

Patrick moved towards him and pulled him into a hug, his heart breaking.

This boy had thought Patrick was using him for a story, which is why he’d run.

If only he’d spoken to him, they wouldn’t have lost the last few months.

The moment he’d seen Jason, he knew his feelings were just as strong as they had been.

Jason was his boy, and he’d do everything he could to earn his trust back.

“Can we go somewhere to talk?” he asked. “We can go somewhere public.”

“I know the perfect place.”

Patrick was aware of KC’s Café, but had never been there before.

It was a place frequented by the brothers, and he knew Sebastian had been invited to one of their weekly brunches, but that was a one-off apparently.

The brothers had their weekly ritual, and they didn’t let others in, even if they were boyfriends or fiancés.

KC was a delightful woman, who could have been as young as thirty or as old as fifty.

She looked towards the lower end, but from the way she talked, Patrick knew she was an old soul.

They occupied a six-seater table by the window, which Jason had insisted on – KC hadn’t argued – and Patrick followed Jason by only ordering a drink.

He wasn’t sure how to tackle this conversation.

He knew he had to put aside the story because Jason was the focus here.

“How have you been?” asked Patrick.

“You don’t need to make small talk. ”

“I wasn’t. I want to know how things are. I heard you decided not to go for the job.”

“Yeah, it didn’t feel right after what happened.”

“What did Jane say?”

“She was shocked. I don’t think she expected me to do that.”

“Did she try to talk you out of it?”

“I didn’t give her the chance. I withdrew, then I told her.”

“How are you feeling about it now?”

“It wasn’t the right time. Too much pressure. My new boss is a DILF anyway, so not a total loss.”

Patrick couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy. He had no right to feel that way, and he knew Jason would have reverted to his old self with casual sex over the last few months. Patrick hadn’t been with anyone else, though.

“What do you want to know, anyway?” asked Jason.

“About what?”

“Grant. I assume that’s why you’re here.”

“No. Jason. I wanted to check you were okay.”

“I’m fine. Nothing for you to worry about. Are you going to put me in your story about Grant?”

“No. That’s not what the story is about.”

“Just be careful. I know what he’s capable of, and he’s only gotten worse since I left him.”

“What’s this I hear about a hospital visit?”

Jason stiffened and looked away. His eyes widened.

“Paolo!” he shouted.

Patrick knew Paolo but wasn’t sure who the other guy was.

He watched them chat for a while. The other guy was good looking, muscular, and friendly.

Patrick couldn’t hear what they were saying.

He couldn’t help but watch them all intently with a scowl on his face. After a while, Jason came back over.

“What’s that look for?” asked Jason.

“Who was that? ”

“Paolo. You’ve met him before.”

“The other guy.”

“Oh, that’s Max. He’s a friend of Sebastian’s.”

So that was Max. Jason explained the story between Paolo and Max, and his heart broke for them. He also felt foolish for his jealousy. Watching them, it was clear Max had eyes for nobody but Paolo.

“What’s going on with you and Grant?”

“Nothing. I haven’t seen him since he moved to London.”

“How is that possible? He bought a club round the corner from where you live.”

“I’ve no idea, but he’s kept his distance for now. He’s focussed on Langdon, anyway.”

“Why?”

“They’ve got history.”

“What?”

“Not like that. He knew Langdon when he was a kid. Look, it’s not my business to share, especially with a journalist.”

Patrick prickled at the tone Jason used. He liked sassy or flirty Jason, but he wasn’t a fan of this snarky version.

“Why are you still married, Jason?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Look, Jason –”

“One minute,” he said, jumping up.

Patrick noticed Paolo and Max were outside. They were embracing, but it was in a comforting way rather than being anything more intimate. Jason picked up a bag of food from the counter and grabbed his jacket.

“Call me if you want to talk, instead of waiting outside my flat. It’s creepy.”

“You blocked my number.”

“Shame!” he said as he walked out.

Patrick watched Jason give them the food and chat with them for a bit.

He looked back at Patrick with a smile and then walked up Old Compton Street.

It was clear Jason was on a mission tonight to get laid.

Patrick wanted to run after him, but what good would that do?

He had to hang back. Now he knew the reason Jason had ghosted him he was renewed with hope.

All he had to do was bide his time and Jason would come back to him.

The next morning, Patrick needed to talk to someone, so he popped round to see Sebastian.

They’d see each other on Christmas Day, but they wouldn’t be alone then.

He had a bit of a crowd staying with him at the moment– friends over from New York– but his place was big enough for them to find some privacy.

The home he’d created with Charlie was beautiful and made Patrick question why he’d gone for a flat.

He loved being able to see the river from his window, but there was something about going upstairs to bed that felt domesticated.

His mind wandered to Jason, and how they’d left things the night before.

He knew Jason had left intending to sleep with someone, and would have been successful.

Jason was a beautiful and determined man, but Patrick worried about the sort of guys he was meeting.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure this early in the morning?” asked Sebastian, opening the door and giving him a hug.

“It’s not that early.”

“For a weekend it is.” He closed the door, and they started walking towards the kitchen.

“I’m sure Charlie could use a break from your dick.”

“I’m fully dressed.”

“Hey, I don’t kink shame.”

Sebastian laughed.

“Have we got somewhere private we can talk? ”

Sebastian frowned. “There’s nobody else in the kitchen, so let’s get a brew, but then we can go into the den.”

“Did you just say brew ? Have you gone native?”

“I’m from here, remember?”

Sebastian put the kettle on and got things ready.

“What’s this about?”

“Jason!”

“Of course it is. Have you two finally pulled your heads out of your asses?”

“Asses?”

“Got to keep you on your toes.”

Patrick chuckled. Before he could continue, he heard the front door open and close. A moment later, Ryder walked in with a big grin on his face.

“And what have you been doing?” asked Sebastian. “Or should that be who? ”

“What can I say? The locals love me.”

Sebastian snorted. Patrick wasn’t in the mood to hear someone’s sex story, but he was a guest here so would need to be polite.

“You were right about that apartment, Sebastian. It’s impressive.”

Patrick saw Sebastian tense, but wasn’t sure why.

“That Jason is a fucking dynamo in the sack. Took my dick like a champ.”

Patrick felt something snap inside him. A red mist descended over his vision.

Before his brain could catch up to his body, he’d flown at Ryder and hoisted him off the floor, which under normal circumstances would be impossible.

He was taller than Patrick by a few inches and built like a brick shithouse.

“What the fuck did you say?” he snarled.

Ryder looked shocked for a second and then had a grin back on his face.

Patrick wanted to knock ten tonnes of shit out of him.

He wouldn’t be smiling then. Patrick was aware of two sets of hands trying to pull him off.

He didn’t know who the other person was, though, as he was solely focussed on Ryder.

Patrick wasn’t a violent man, but he wanted to beat the living shit out of this guy.

“What’s it to you, anyway?” asked Ryder. “He was just a hole for the night.”

“Don’t you fucking dare talk about him like that.”

“What business is it of yours who I fuck?”

“You don’t touch him, okay? He’s mine!”

Ryder looked surprised, and his bravado slipped.

“Chill the fuck out, man. I didn’t know he was your boy,” said Ryder.

“Keep your hands off him. Do you hear me?” snarled Patrick.

It was clear Ryder just wanted to get away from Patrick now, and had underestimated him.

“What’s going on here?” asked another voice.

Patrick let go of Ryder and shrugged the hands off him.

He realised Deacon was the other guy who’d been trying to pull him off with Sebastian.

The voice had come from Max. Patrick noticed Charlie was also in the room, with Hunter, who was Deacon’s boyfriend.

When the fuck did all these people come into the kitchen?

He sensed movement from Ryder, and his anger prickled again.

“You don’t talk about him like that. He’s not one of your disease-ridden whores to fuck and chuck.”

“Excuse me, gramps, but I don’t need to pay for it.”

“Ryder,” snapped Sebastian. “Find yourself something to do for a couple of hours. Deacon, go with him. Charlie, you and Hunter go and do something. Leave me to handle this.”

“Are you sure?”

“Charlie, just go.”

“Okay,” said Charlie. His voice cracking.

Sebastian pointed at Patrick and told him to stay, almost like he was giving an order to a dog. Patrick wanted to tell him to get fucked, but he’d seen that look on Sebastian’s face before, and it was one you didn’t argue with.

Sebastian rushed over to Charlie and picked him up in his arms, pulling him into a hug.

He whispered something in Charlie’s ear, which made him blush and giggle.

Charlie gave Sebastian a kiss and left with Hunter, and Patrick’s heart ached.

He wanted that again with someone; he wanted it with Jason.

“Max, make yourself scarce. I need to talk some sense into this one.”

“I’m literally standing right here,” said Patrick.

“Can we talk later?” asked Max.

“Is everything okay? Something wrong with you and Paolo?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s a good thing. It can wait until later. You be with Patrick. I’ll speak to you later.”

“Thanks.” He smiled before turning on Patrick. “You, in the den. No arguments.”

Patrick knew better than to argue, so he took the lead and walked into the den, which was basically Sebastian’s office and man cave all rolled into one. It was bigger than many people’s living rooms.

“Start talking,” said Sebastian, closing the door behind them.

Patrick took a seat, unsure of where to start. Sebastian went over to the corner and poured them both a glass of whisky. He always had the good stuff, so Patrick didn’t care how early it was. He knocked it back.

“If I tell you something, you can’t tell anyone else.”

“Of course.”

“Jason is married to Grant Kincaid.”

“I know.”

“What? How do you know . . . Charlie?”

“Yes. He swore me to secrecy. There’s some history between Grant and Langdon. It’s complicated and not my story to tell.”

“It’s fine. I only care about Jason.”

“You’re in love with him.”

“What? No . . . I’m . . . Yes, you’re right. What the fuck do I do? How can this be happening? George has only been gone for just over a year.”

“You can’t plan who you fall in love with. Look at me and Charlie. We couldn’t have been more different.”

“Bollocks. You two are made for each other.”

“I know that now, but when things started we lived thousands of miles apart and our lives were very different. Ironically, if it wasn’t for Jason, we wouldn’t have met.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was Jason who dragged Charlie out that night.”

“Yeah, but I think you still would have met somehow. You two were meant to be.”

“I like to think so,” said Sebastian with a smile. “Anyway, we’re talking about you. What was all that with Ryder? That’s not you, Patrick. I’ve known you for close to forty years and I’ve never seen you behave like that.”

“You heard what he said.”

“Look, I’m not defending Ryder, but if he’d known the context, he wouldn’t have slept with Jason.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That’s the sort of guy Ryder is. He can be shallow and think with his cock a lot, but he’s one of the most loyal people I have ever met. You know I wouldn’t be friends with a dick.”

“I know that. I’ll apologise, but I don’t know what to do about Jason. He wants nothing to do with me. And with Grant sniffing around again... That guy’s dangerous.”

“I’m well aware of that. He’s linked to the Moretti’s, and Grant is an even bigger deal than they are. For a one-man band, he’s got his fingers in everything. The last thing you want to do is piss him off. He has a habit of making people disappear.”

“I’ve been investigating a story on him for ages. What am I supposed to do with that?”

“Drop it.”

“But I think I’ve got something.”

“Hand it over to the police.”

“Like that will do any good. The police are fucking useless at the best of times, let alone when it comes to a mobster with deep pockets.”

“Then walk away, Patrick. No story is worth your life. I’d be more worried about him finding out about you and Jason.”

“There’s nothing to find out.”

“Give it time. You two are like me and Charlie. When the time is right, he’ll come to you.”

Patrick wanted to believe his best friend was right, but he wasn’t sure. Jason was his boy. In his heart, he knew that, but Jason was a very determined and independent young man. He’d walked away from Grant Kincaid, which took balls. All Patrick could do was be patient and hope.