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Chapter Two

Sikes

“Fizzbo,” I answered as I put the phone on speaker. “What can we do for you?” Snipe and I both knew what was coming, Deuce was thrilled when we offered to give him a break and said he was calling the man in charge as soon as we hung up.

“Sikes. I take it Snipe is there as well?” Fizzbo knew we were a two for one.

“Here, sir.”

“Just hung up with Deuce. He’d like to go on vacation and mentioned you’d both be willing to head to Seattle and oversee the Chaotic Abyss principals during that time.”

“Yes, sir,” we answered in unison as we normally did. We’d been together so long the merge of brains was inevitable.

“Embrace don’t have anything on the schedule outside of Jeremiah and Seltzer but they’re with Easton and Diamond in Seattle, so they’re covered. I’ve been toying with the idea of adding another guard to the Vegas principals due to their elevated status. All right, I’ll book you on the next flight out and keep me in the loop. Debrief with Deuce before he heads out.” Click .

Fizzbo wasn’t one for small talk and neither were we.

“Are we ready for this?” I asked my life partner and best friend. If he had any issues this pursuance of Jason would end now.

“Second thoughts?”

“Nope. You?”

“Nope. Let’s do it.”

Snipe and I had been together for two decades and worked well as a team while in the military to the point that our commander kept us together. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell kept us in the camouflaged closet during our service and while we didn’t flaunt our couple status, we didn’t hide it once we left. We retired several years ago and as soon as we did we had an interview with Fizzbo thanks to our good friend Max who ended up marrying his principal Ryder Hampton, lead guitarist for Maiden Voyage.

“If this goes well, I wonder how the boss will handle our request for a change in principals?”

“Thinking that far ahead, Snipe?” I side-eyed him. He was way ahead of the game. We had zero clues how this would pan out with Jason. We may be too much for him to handle, especially once our PTSD reared its ugly head, which was inevitable.

“We’re a lot and I hate the idea of your heart getting crushed. Take it down a notch and play it cool.”

Cool. I could say the word, though inside I was anything but. I was just as excited as Snipe was to see Jason again but due to Snipe’s overeagerness, I’d have to be the one to maintain composure and keep us both on track. Losing what we already had wasn’t an option and I’d back us way the fuck out if I saw that coming.

Before we’d finished packing our flights had been booked, along with a rental car and hotel room, and the email with all of that was in our inboxes. Fizzbo didn’t fuck around. Once he decided something it was done.

So it shall be written, so it shall be done. That was Fizzbo’s style.

“Looks like we’re ready to go.” We grabbed our bags, hopped into the waiting car and were off to McCarran to potentially begin the next and final chapter of our lives.

And hopefully that included Jason.

Jason had no clue if or when we were coming. We started the ball rolling with Deuce who thankfully asked no questions. He was far too excited for the break. But there was no hiding how Snipe and I felt for Jason and it would get back to Fizzbo in no time. The more we were around him, the harder it was to hide our feelings and fight the urge to touch him.

We’d kept watchful eyes on him throughout the tours and at Rocktoberfest. Always knew where he was. Always knew what he was doing. His infectious smile and bright attitude, the complete opposite of Snipe and me. Could he handle our grouchy asses?

“You okay over there?” Snipe asked. We talked at length about this before we even approached Jason for the first time in California. “Yeah, just nervously excited, if that makes any sense?”

“Sikes, you know me well enough to know we’re in the same boat. But the biggest question is what will this do to us?”

“What do you want it to do?”

“Bring back the excitement we once had. I’m not unhappy, don’t get me wrong, but I know you feel the same way. It’s like we lost something along the way but are hopefully on the verge of rekindling it.”

For hours at a time Snipe and I could remain silent and think nothing of it just as we had during this flight. We came from similar “ children should be seen and not heard” childhoods and exchanged those harsh upbringings at eighteen for a life in the military, never looking back. Hell, I didn’t even know if my blood relatives still existed.

“What if we’re too old for him?” was the first thing Snipe said right as we slipped inside the rental car at Seatac.

“Babe,” it was rare we used terms of endearment and usually only at times when the other required tenderness such as now. “We’re coming out here see if we even mesh. We’ll make sure he’s aware of our ages and the challenges dating us comes with.” He knew all too well what I referred to and grunted. I reached over and squeezed his thigh. “I love you, and no matter what we will always have each other.”

Fear of abandonment was a big one for Snipe. He’d bounced from one abusive foster home to another until he was old enough to enlist. I did much the same, though for me it was asshole parents who should’ve been struck with infertility genes right out of the womb.

“Yeah. Yeah. Okay.”

I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen him this nervous. Possibly when we first interviewed with Fizzbo. These were the only jobs we were qualified for so if we fucked up, it would be huge. Plus, letting Max down wasn’t a path we cared to tread. Talk about double the pressure. Our friends could be counted on one hand because we trusted very few.

We met Deuce at a diner not far from the warehouse where Chaotic practiced. There wasn’t much to debrief us on and after a quick bite he headed to Seatac while we went to the nearby practice facility in Tacoma.

“Play it cool.” Though I said it aloud, it was meant to calm both of us.

“Play it cool. Check.”

The loud sound of the massive industrial door sliding open turned all four of their heads toward it. So much for a stealthy entrance. Note to self, grab rolling door lubricant and fix it.

“What brings two guards our way?” Nigel asked.

“We’re covering Deuce’s vacation.”

My eyes met Jason’s, and he smiled wide.

“Cool. Great to see you guys.” He bro hugged us as he would any other guy. I wanted more but now wasn’t the time.

“Two for one?” Josh questioned. “Has our status elevated?”

“We do everything together.” What was Snipe thinking sharing that? I’d never seen him this far outside of his comfort zone. He never overshared.

“That answers a lot of questions I’ve had,” Marley said as he continued tuning his base.

“A better question should be since when do we hug our guards?” Nigel didn’t miss a thing. Jason turned beet red, and I almost told Nigel to fuck off, but that would’ve been unprofessional.

“You stay here, and I’ll go check us in at the hotel and drop off our bags.” Snipe grunted then crossed his arms over his chest and stared off. The chance of any perceived threats here was next to none yet still he struck the familiar guard pose. “Deep breath,” I whispered, and his nostrils flared. “I’ll be back in an hour.” Thankfully the hotel wasn’t far, nor did I have to fight the Seattle traffic to get there.

Snipe and I weren’t heavy drinkers. It was too easy to become addicted just to shut the demons up. But he may need a shot or two when we got to Reagan’s just to take the edge off.

I hurried through everything, feeling uneasy leaving Snipe unattended. It was rare we were ever apart, and I couldn’t tell if the butterflies were due to his behavior when I left or at seeing Jason again. But my gut told me to hightail it back there. Sure enough, when I pulled up Snipe was outside pacing.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ugh. Everything. Nothing. It’s like I’m losing my damn mind.”

“Start from the beginning and tell me what I missed.”

“You didn’t miss anything except your partner losing their cool. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like being frozen in time and trying to fast forward in the same breath.”

“I don’t understand. I’ve never seen you like this. Maybe we just need to forget the whole thing.” Fuck, I never should’ve brought the idea of bringing a third in, and a principal at that. Seeing this reaction from the man I knew better than anyone and vowed to spend the rest of my life with wasn’t worth it.

“No. No.” He stood firm. “I want this, and you know my history with wanting shit and having it go south. You’re the only win for me in a long life of losses and I won’t risk losing you, but I just…” He clenched his fists. “I just know he belongs with us, and I hate the whole dating-trying to win someone over shit. You and I clicked and fell into place. It was easy, but this is right, don’t you feel it?”

“I do but this is insane. You’re gonna drive yourself mad and I have no clue how to reel you in.” Fucking hell, nothing like watching the man you loved lose his shit.

“I know. I know.” He paced some more. “I’ll get it together. I promise. Why don’t you go back inside and check on them?”

No need to, the door slid open and out came Jason.

“Um, is everything okay?”

Was it?

“Yeah, sorry. Just needed some fresh air.”

Jason glanced around, not buying Snipe’s bullshit. “It’s raining.”

“Something we don’t get much in the desert so we better enjoy it while we can.”

This was akin to watching a tennis match and if Jason chose to be a part of us, he’d need to call us out on shit like this. So I watched and waited for Snipe’s inevitable crash and burn, though I’d be right there to pick him back up.

“Fresh air comes after the rain is gone so why don’t you tell me what’s really going on? Because if I walk back inside on a lie, I may just walk away for good.”

There it was, and the smirk on my face said it all. Way to go, Jason!

Snipe glanced at me, but this lifeline was stepping aside. He got himself into this mess and he was the only one getting him out.

“Fuck. Sorry. I’m complete and total shit at this dating thing. All I want to do is fast forward and know the three of us are going home together after work.” That took a lot for Snipe to admit to which said a lot.

“I bet you’re the kind of kid who opens the ends of his presents then tapes them back up before his parents find out, aren’t you?” Jason winked.

“I would’ve been had I had any presents, or parents for that matter.”

“Fuck, man, I’m sorry. I-I didn’t know.” Poor Jason walked into that one but they both had to learn. Hell, all three of us did.

“You didn’t but you also called me out on my shit and for that I have mad respect. I’m sorry, I’ll get my act together. It’s just, ugh,” Snipe ran a rough hand over his face. “I’m fucking this up, huh?”

Jason shook his head. “You’re not fucking this up. You guys have been together for a long time and a relationship is something I’ve never had. Dating is how we learn the quirks, likes and dislikes, and fuck, I’m just as nervous.” Jason paused for a second. “Okay, group hug time. Bring it in.”

Hmm, touching and hugging would be something to get used to but denying Jason’s request wasn’t happening. But with Jason more or less sandwiched between us, I felt Snipe’s anxiety as I took it unto my own and eased it away. Jason was the missing piece for us. Now, to hope he saw the same in us.

“Will you allow us to take you out while we’re here?” Might as well ask.

“I thought that was the whole point to setting up this visit. See how we work. How this works. But I’ll tell you right now, two inside me at one time ain’t happening.”

Snipe lost it. First real laughter I’d heard from him in far too long. “Yeah, size wasn’t lost on either of us in any capacity and hurting you isn’t an option.”

Jason stared up at us, nestled perfectly between our bodies. “Nice to see both of you can actually smile.”

How could we not with the sweetest man in our arms? As I leaned in, his eyes closed and I pressed my lips to his. When I drew back his eyes fluttered open but the smile I’d kissed was still in place.

“Your turn.” Snipe didn’t have to be told twice, and I hoped like hell this calmed his ass down.

“Feel better now?” I asked Snipe. We both still had an arm around Jason.

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that.”

“Talking will be key. I get you two are already established and without communication I’m gonna feel like odd man out. That’ll be a death sentence. Can you both promise me you’ll talk to me and include me in everything? I can promise you both the same to the point I’ll likely make you nuts.”

I kissed Jason again. “You have my word.”

“And mine, too.” Snipe and I were both men of our words. Communication wasn’t our strong suit but it was a challenge we would strive to work past.

“I have a question before we step back inside.” I cocked a brow at Jason, wondering where he was heading. “What are your real names?”

Snipe and I laughed. “Wyatt Harper, at your service, sir,” I bowed.

Snipe tipped an imaginary hat. “Hayden Whitlock. Happy to make your acquaintance.”

“Wyatt and Hayden. Those names fit you guys. All right, the guys are gonna grill us. How much are we allowed to share?”

We groaned. “I’m sure Fizzbo thinks something is up but until we get a chance to talk to him, can we keep it amongst ourselves?”

“Now that we know you’re really in we’ll fast track that conversation.” Snipe said what I thought and as always, we were on the same page with this.

“Agreed.”

“Okay, I’ll hold the nosy queens off as long as I can. All right, my men, let’s make some music.”

His men… Yeah, he had us hooked.

The mad scrambling of bodies as we stepped inside said it all—we’d been had.