Page 83 of Pretty Poison
Asher puffed out his cheeks on a deep exhale. “I know it was a mistake, and I probably made the situation worse. I’m sorry.”
Rocky shook his head. “You don’t even know half the things he’s done to us.”
Asher slid a hand inside Rocky’s hair and massaged his scalp. “So tell me. I’ll listen.”
Therapy had already zapped a lot of his energy, and an emotional conversation would drain the rest of his battery. Rocky had initiated this confrontation, so he wouldn’t give up now.
They sat back down at the table, and Rocky told him everything that had happened with Duggins, both the little digs and the massive betrayals. Asher’s face turned pale when he found out his so-called best friend had invaded Rocky’s privacy and used his trauma to humiliate him.
“I’m going to kill him,” Asher said.
Rocky chuckled a little. “That’s one solution, but I think we can come up with something that will keep you out of prison. We’ve got to beat him at his own game.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Feed me first,” Rocky said. “I can’t thwart evil on an empty stomach.”
Asher stood up, then leaned over to kiss him hard on the mouth. “My seanmháthair always said Irish stew can fix anything that ails us. Have a broken heart? Eat stew. Need to conquer a villain? Eat stew. Want to win a man’s heart? Make stew.”
Rocky snagged his hand to prevent Asher from walking away. Craning his neck to look up at his husband hurt, so he rose to his feet. “You made it for me a lot after that night. I never thanked you for the many ways you took good care of me. I appreciated it so much.”
Asher cupped his face and rested his forehead against Rocky’s. “I… Christ.” He swallowed hard and held Rocky tighter. “I’ll never forget the sound of those gunshots or the way your voice shook when you told me goodbye. I have never felt so fucking helpless in my life. And you hung up before I could say it back.”
Rocky had told Asher he loved him, but he’d meant it as a goodbye.
“It felt like an eternity before I reached someone in the Vegas PD who could tell me what the hell happened,” Asher continued. “Do you have any idea how relieved I was to find out you’d been taken to a hospital instead of the morgue?” His voice cracked, and tears filled his eyes. “You were practically catatonic when I was finally able to see you. You were alive, but I feared I’d lost you anyway. The only thing I could think of was to take you home and make the fucking stew.”
“The best fucking stew,” Rocky corrected.
Asher grinned. “It didn’t work. The harder I tried, the more you pulled away. I didn’t know what to do or how to make things better.”
Rocky shook his head. “You were everything I needed then, and you’re everything I need now.”
“You’ll always have me,” Asher said tenderly.
“Now, how about that fucking stew?”
Two bowls and half a loaf of soda bread later, Rocky and Asher had mapped out a plan to take down Duggy Bear.
“Remember, don’t glare at the woman,” Felix said to Jonah as they approached Tess’s house.
The ranch-style home was slightly bigger than Rocky’s bungalow. The yellow exterior was tidy and cheerful with perfectly groomed flower beds. A blue jay was frolicking in one of the ornate birdbaths but flew away when the men got too close. Glancing around, Rocky noted several feeders hanging from trees on the property. Queen Bea would approve of both the color scheme and attention given to both the floral and feathered fauna.
“Jonah won’t scare the lady if you promise not to stick your nose up her ass,” Rocky said.
Felix snickered. “Keep your charm in check, Major. She might be on the prowl.”
They dropped their shenanigans as they reached the porch steps. Grant opened the front door before they had a chance to ring the doorbell. Rocky made quick introductions, then Grant stepped aside for them to enter.
Rocky was the last one through the door, and Grant stepped in front of him. Nothing about his demeanor or expression was menacing, though. Rocky only saw concern. “Is this a terrible mistake?”
Rocky shook his head. “You said your mother is innocent of any wrongdoing.”
“That didn’t stop them from charging her with fraud,” Grant pointed out. “Luckily, they just couldn’t make it stick.”
“Everything okay here?” Felix asked as he joined them.
“We’re fine,” Rocky replied, meeting his curious gaze. “Grant is just looking out for his mother.” Rocky smiled at Grant, hoping to reassure him. “You don’t have anything to worry about if there are no skeletons to dig up.”