Page 19

Gabe

“ T odd’s doing better, his vital signs are stable, but he still hasn’t regained consciousness,” Adam says over the phone, his voice rough with frustration. “The doctor thinks he could wake up at any time—his EEG readings show the expected level of brain activity. And the fucking batshit insane asshole still hasn’t come by to interview him about what happened. Hasn’t even checked to see if Todd’s regained consciousness. I haven’t heard a damn thing from him.”

I clench my jaw, the frustration in Adam’s tone fueling my own. The fact that Kaufman hasn’t shown up is telling, but it’s also infuriating. Something must have pushed him to this. It doesn’t make sense. Mika and I will have to track him down tomorrow and see if we can shake any answers loose.

Sighing, I press the phone harder against my ear, knowing what I have to ask next but dreading it all the same. “Adam, did, uh…” I grimace, the words sticking in my throat. “Uh, did something happen between you two? Something Kaufman might have…objected to?”

The silence that follows is so sharp it cuts. I close my eyes, already bracing for the fallout. Adam sucks in a startled breath, and the weight of the pause that follows is crushing. When he finally speaks, his voice is tense with irritation. “I know why you’re asking that, Gabe, and if things were different, I’d tell you to mind your own fucking business. I’m still not sure that’s not the best thing to do.”

Shit. That’s not good. “Look, Adam, I really don’t want to pry— “mostly—” but if this was Kaufman, I would think something had to set him off. He’s never gone that insane in all these years, and it couldn’t have been something Mika or I did because we were gone. I’m sorry to have to ask, and sorrier still to push you to answer, but we rea lly need to know what happened in case there’s some tie-in, so we can figure this out.”

Adam exhales a long, resigned sigh, and guilt claws at me. I don’t want to push him into talking about something private, but there’s no way around it.

“I know you’re right, Gabe,” Adam says quietly. “It’s just, well, I’ve never been the type to discuss my personal life.”

“I understand, Adam. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t necessary.”

“I know,” he says again, his voice heavy. “If it’ll help nail the son of a bitch who did this to Todd, I’ll do whatever I have to.” Another sigh filters through the line. “So, uh. Well, I knew Todd was…interested.” He lets out a bitter laugh that’s hard to hear. “God, that sounds so fucking juvenile.”

I stay silent, knowing Adam doesn’t want or need me to comment.

“Alright, short and sweet,” Adam says, the words rushing out as if he’s ripping off a Band-Aid. “I’ve been attracted to Todd for a long time. I knew it was mutual. The problem was—and maybe still is, I don’t fucking know—the problem was that he seemed determined to stay in the closet. So, I didn’t let him know how I felt. Not when I’d seen him…out on dates. With women.”

The bitterness in Adam’s voice cuts deep, and I wish I didn’t have to drag this out of him. Before I can respond, Mika walks into the room. He checks the phone, then looks at me, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s Adam, right?” he asks, sliding closer. Not that he needs to, to listen in. He can hear everything quite clearly from the doorway with his wolfy hearing.

I nod absently, keeping my attention on the phone as Adam continues.

“I won’t be a secret, Gabe. I can’t. It goes against my personal beliefs. As long as Todd was keeping that door shut…” Adam’s voice trails o ff before he sighs. “Anyways, I went by your place the morning Todd was attacked. Uh, I told him I needed to check on a couple of the dogs, but, you know, I went because I couldn’t not go. Does that make sense?”

Oh yeah, I get that. Finding someone so irresistible that it drives you out of your own head? Been there. I grunt my agreement, reaching over to grab one of Mika’s denim-clad thighs. I let my fingers squeeze, and I smirk as Mika gives me a warning glance, his eyes flickering with something deeper.

Adam continues, his words coming faster now. “We, uh, no, I confronted him, I guess. Trying to make him—to get him to acknowledge what was between us, is between us. He wanted me to give us a shot, but keep it quiet, and I wanted him to give us a shot because I think he’s just…he’s it for me. But we both wanted it our way. The arguing got pretty loud, then…”

He stops, hesitating, and I figure I can help him out. Sort of.

“Then you went from fighting to fucking, so to speak?” Whoops. My lack of tact strikes again.

Mika tugs my hair in reproach, his startled glance saying it all. Adam lets out a strangled laugh that somehow still sounds bitter.

“No, not exactly. I mean, it didn’t get that far. We didn’t…well, we didn’t fuck. Nothing more than kissing and groping, sadly. I realized what I was doing and stopped. Told Todd to call me when he decided to be honest with himself, with everyone, and when he felt that I was worth doing that for. Then I left in a blur of self-righteous indignation. Fuck .”

“Hey, Adam, I get not wanting to pretend. I also understand Todd’s fears, which, as you saw from his parents’ reactions, are pretty well-founded.” My tone softens as I squeeze Mika’s ass hard, earning myself a small growl. My cock perks up at the sound, but I push the distra ction aside, focusing on the call. “I don’t know who was right or wrong, but if you love someone, you find a way to make it work. So, after you left, did you see or hear from Todd the rest of the day?”

“No. The next time I saw him, he was lying in a pool of blood.” Adam’s voice cracks with pain, the sound thickening as he continues. “I decided to stop by and either compromise or make him agree to do things my way. Probably more the latter. When I got out of my truck, the dogs were barking like crazy, so I went around to the kennels. And he was just lying there, looking so damn broken, Gabe.” This time, Adam doesn’t try to hold back the sob that tears through him.

Beside me, Mika stiffens. “Babe, ask him why he called from Todd’s phone. Why not his own? Where was Todd’s phone?”

Shit. We completely forgot about Todd’s cell phone. “Adam, Mika wants to know why you used Todd’s cell phone and where you found it.” I can almost hear the wheels spinning in Adam’s head as he realizes how crucial that detail might be.

There’s a string of creative curses on the other end of the line before Adam answers. “I left my phone in the truck, charging. The battery had died earlier. When I found Todd, his phone was lying about ten feet away from him, flipped open. I grabbed it without thinking and started calling EMS. You think there might be something useful on there?”

I exchange a glance with Mika. “Could be. If it was open, maybe whoever did this was using it, or Todd managed to call or record something before they attacked him.”

Mika’s expression is grim. “ We need that phone. There could be a trail there—texts, calls, something that gives us a lead.”

“Where’s the phone now?” I ask, watching Mika grab the truck keys and gesture for me to wrap up the call.

“ It’s here, in my pocket,” Adam answers. I can hear him fumbling around, then he curses. “Shit! It’s dead. I don’t have the charger for it.”

Mika’s voice filters through our link, calm but urgent. “Tell him we’re coming to get the phone. We’ll stop at the store and grab a charger. We need to check Todd’s calls and messages. Kaufman should have already looked at that call list and any texts.”

I smack my forehead, annoyed at myself for not thinking about Todd’s phone sooner. “Adam, we’re on our way to get it,” I relay. “We’ll pick up a charger, too. Just hold tight.”

As I hang up, I watch Mika gather dog toys and lift Iko into his kennel. It’s a flurry of efficient movement, and as soon as I’m off the phone, we’re ready to go.

The drive to the hospital feels endless. My mind churns with questions and theories as Mika and I discuss the phone’s potential significance. There ’s also the troubling fact that Kaufman either ignored it or didn’t think it was worth checking. Neither scenario paints a good picture of the sheriff.

“There’s a good chance the man is just an inept ass,” I point out, trying to consider all angles.

“I’d say that’s a given, whatever the case,” Mika grumbles. His jaw locks into place, his frustration clear. “He either did this and didn’t have the brains to cover his ass, or he didn’t do it and didn’t have the brains—or the desire—to gather all the evidence. The man is a fool.”

No argument here. I try to remember if there’s ever been a violent crime in Shasta that Kaufman would’ve had to handle. Something that might have given him even a shred of experience for dealing with a case like this. But nothing comes to mind. Domestic disputes, kids causing trouble, the occasional suicide—Shasta’s a quiet town. Maybe too quiet. Even the suicides have been rare.

So yeah, maybe Kaufman’s just an inexperienced idiot.

When we pull up to the hospital, Adam’s already waiting outside. He walks to the truck and hands the dead phone in through the window to Mika. I expect things to feel awkward after our earlier conversation, but Adam seems to have worked through any anger. That doesn’t mean he looks good, though. The man’s running on empty, his exhaustion written all over him.

He doesn’t need rest, I realize—he needs Todd to wake up. That’s the only thing that’s going to lift the defeated weight pressing down on his shoulders.

“Any change with Todd?” I ask, though I can guess the answer.

Adam shakes his head, his frustration palpable. “No. I wonder if…maybe it’s partially psychological? From the trauma of the attack?”

Mika looks at me thoughtfully. “Could be. It’s for damn sure the attack was traumatic.”

Adam and I both nod in agreement, the weight of it settling between us like a heavy fog.

“I just don’t know what to do to help him, encourage him to wake up,” Adam mutters, his voice heavy with frustration.

Mika grins, wicked and unapologetic. “Well, you could go the fairy tale route and try kissing Sleeping Beauty awake. Though his jaw might make that a bit tricky.”

Adam’s blush is immediate and intense, and I can’t help but smirk. Judging by that reaction, a peck on the lips hasn’t exactly worked yet. “Or,” I suggest, trying to ease Adam’s embarrassment, “you could try talking to him. Tell him about the two of you—what you want, how y’all could make it work. I honestly believe he can hear what’s going on around him.”

Adam looks flustered, his gaze darting to the hospital entrance as if he’s considering bolting. I decide to throw him a lifeline—or maybe just t ease him a little more. “And if you really want to test if he’s listening, tell him what you’re gonna do for him when he wakes up. Or better yet, what you’ll do to him.” I waggle my eyebrows for effect. “Trust me, if he can hear you, that’ll get his attention.”

Adam’s face goes from red to scarlet, but his eyes light up with the faintest glimmer of amusement—and interest. I can tell he’s filing that idea away for later.

“Seriously, Adam,” I add, “it’s worth a shot. Mika’s pulled that whole ‘let me tell you what I’m going to do to you’ move, and let me tell you—it works.”

Adam shakes his head, laughing despite himself. “I, ah, see your point, guys. Damn. Okay, I’d better…” He jabs a thumb toward the hospital, clearly ready to make a quick escape. “Thanks for the advice.”

As Adam heads back inside, I nudge Mika with my elbow. “Damn, you think Adam’s in a hurry to get back to Todd? The man just set a new record for hauling ass while pretending to stay casual.”

I’m still laughing when Mika grabs my hand and presses it against his cock, grinding his hips. “I know just how the man feels, babe.”

The store isn’t particularly busy, but Mika and I still draw attention as we make our way through the aisles. Most of it is simple curiosity, but a few people glare at us with barely concealed distaste. I notice it, but I don’t let it bother me. Mika doesn’t seem to care either, his focus entirely on me, as always. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.

I’m on a mission, scanning the wall of phone chargers for something that’ll work for Todd’s phone. Ideally, I want a car charger so we can start digging through the phone on the way back to the hospital, but at this point, I’ll take whatever I can get. Mika stands nearby, silent but radiating support. I catch him grinning at me out of the corner of my eye, but I’m too focused to ask what’s so funny. The man’s just too sexy, biting his lower lip like that.

Finally, I let out a triumphant noise and yank the right charger off the rack, holding it up like I’ve just found the Holy Grail. “Got it! Let’s—” My voice falters as I glance at Mika. He’s looking at me with that heated, hungry gaze that makes my stomach flip and my cock twitch, like he wants to bend me over the display and fuck me right in the store. I can practically feel him undressing me with his eyes, and I’m not exactly subtle about staring back.

Mika’s eyes drop to my jeans, and I know he’s spotted the bulge pressing against the fabric. Damn it, my cock has zero sense of timing.

“We should, um, pay for this and go. Now,” I mumble, spinning on my heel and heading for the electronics cashier at full speed. Behind me, I hear Mika chuckle, his footsteps heavy and deliberate as he follows.

When we reach the counter, the clerk looks up, startled. His gaze bounces between me and Mika, and his expression shifts to something I can only describe as flabbergasted. Yup, that’s the perfect word, flabbergasted. I want to laugh at the poor guy, but I’m too busy trying to pretend I’m not seconds away from dragging Mika into the nearest secluded corner.

The clerk fumbles with the chargers, scanning them quickly before muttering the total. Mika doesn’t say a word, but I can feel the heat of his presence behind me, a constant reminder of the tension thrumming between us.

“Will…will that be, uh, all for you?” The clerk’s voice trembles like he’s afraid one of us is about to jump the counter and assault him. Mika bristles beside me, and I can practically feel his annoyance simmerin g. If he could speak his mind without starting a scene, he’d probably ask the guy if he really thought being gay meant we wanted to fuck every man in sight—ugly ones included. Spoiler alert: we wouldn’t touch this guy on a bad day, a bet, or a dare. Mika’s frustration radiates off him, but I shoot him a wink, letting him know I’ve got this.

I turn back to the clerk, smiling just enough to make him squirm. “I can assure you, that is certainly all for me.”

The poor guy’s face turns beet red, and he stares at me like I just insulted his entire family. He finishes the sale in record time, practically slams our bag onto the counter, and bolts like the store’s on fire. I can’t help but laugh as we head for the exit.

“That was a little mean, mate,” Mika chides, though his grin says he isn’t mad about it. “You got that poor guy all flustered.”

I roll my eyes, tossing the bag into the truck. “He was already flustered before I opened my mouth. Ignorant, too. Guarantee you, he thinks being gay automatically makes someone a deviant pervert who humps anything male within a ten-foot radius.”

Mika slides into the driver’s seat, shaking his head. “I don’t know, babe,” he murmurs, his voice dropping to that deep, sexy tone that makes my stomach flip. “Our fucking can get kind of deviant, don’t you think?”

The heat in his words shoots straight to my cock, and I groan as he starts the truck.

“Yeah,” I admit, trying to ignore the throbbing between my legs, “but our deviant fucking stays between us. And it damn well better stay that way.”

Mika smirks, pulling onto the main road. “Oh, mate, it’ll stay between us, all right. Between us, in you, in me… Mmm.”

He tosses me a pocketknife, snapping me out of my dirty thoughts just long enough to focus on the task at hand—opening the damn charger.

I glance down at the package, realizinThe store isn’t particularly busy, but Mika and I still draw attention as we make our way through the aisles. Most of it is simple curiosity, but a few people glare at us with barely concealed distaste. I notice it, but I don’t let it bother me. Mika doesn’t seem to care either, his focus entirely on me, as always. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.

I’m on a mission, scanning the wall of phone chargers for something that’ll work for Todd’s phone. Ideally, I want a car charger so we can start digging through the phone, but at this point, I’ll take whatever I can get. Mika stands nearby, silent but radiating support. I catch him grinning at me out of the corner of my eye, but I’m too focused to ask what’s so funny. The man’s just too sexy, biting his lower lip like that.

Finally, I let out a triumphant shriek and yank the right charger off the rack, holding it up like I’ve just found the Holy Grail. “Got it! Let’s—” My voice falters as I glance at Mika. He’s looking at me with that heated, hungry gaze that makes my stomach flip and my cock twitch, like he wants to bend me over the display and fuck me right in the store. I can practically feel him undressing me with his eyes, and I’m not exactly subtle about staring back.

Mika’s eyes drop to my jeans, and I know he’s spotted the bulge pressing against the fabric. Damn it, my cock has zero sense of timing.

“We should, um, pay for this and go. Now,” I mumble, spinning on my heel and heading for the electronics cashier at full speed. Behind me, I hear Mika chuckle, his footsteps heavy and deliberate as he follows.

Whe n we reach the counter, the clerk looks up, startled. His gaze bounces between me and Mika, and his expression shifts to something I can only describe as flabbergasted. Yup, that’s the perfect word, flabbergasted. I want to laugh at the poor guy, but I’m too busy trying to pretend I’m not seconds away from dragging Mika into the nearest secluded corner.

The clerk fumbles with the charger, scanning it quickly before muttering the total. Mika doesn’t say a word, but I can feel the heat of his presence behind me, a constant reminder of the tension thrumming between us.

“Will…will that be, uh, all for you?” The clerk’s voice trembles like he’s afraid one of us is about to jump the counter and assault him. Mika bristles beside me, and I can practically feel his annoyance simmering. If he could speak his mind without starting a scene, he’d probably ask the guy if he really thought being gay meant we wanted to fuck every man in sigh. Mika’s frustration radiates off him, but I shoot him a wink, letting him know I’ve got this.

I turn back to the clerk, smiling just enough to make him squirm. “I can assure you, that is certainly all for me.”

The poor guy’s face turns beet red, and he stares at me like I just insulted his entire family. He finishes the sale in record time, practically slams our bag onto the counter, and bolts like the store’s on fire. I can’t help but laugh as we head for the exit.

“That was a little mean, mate,” Mika chides, though his grin says he isn’t mad about it. “You got that poor guy all flustered.”

I roll my eyes, tossing the bag into the truck. “He was already flustered before I opened my mouth. Ignorant, too. Guarantee you, he thinks being gay automatically makes someone a deviant pervert who humps anything male within a ten-foot radius.”

Mik a slides into the driver’s seat, shaking his head. “I don’t know, babe,” he murmurs, his voice dropping to that deep, sexy tone that makes my stomach flip. “Our fucking can get kind of deviant, don’t you think?”

The heat in his words shoots straight to my cock, and I groan as he starts the truck.

“Yeah,” I admit, trying to ignore the throbbing between my legs, “but our deviant fucking stays between us. And it damn well better stay that way.”

Mika smirks, pulling onto the main road. “Oh, mate, it’ll stay between us, all right. Between us, in you, in me… Mmm.”

He tosses me a pocketknife, snapping me out of my dirty thoughts just long enough to focus on the task at hand—opening the damn charger.

I glance down at the package, realizing I’m in no state to handle sharp objects. My mind’s too busy replaying the images Mika just planted there.

“Babe,” Mika snaps his fingers in front of my face, his amusement evident. “Earth to Gabriel. You gonna open that thing?”

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumble, fumbling with the knife. “Why do they make these packages such a pain in the ass to open?” Gabe muttered. “I just know some sadistic bastard designed the packages with every intention of frustrating the shit out of people. I’ll bet he or she is rolling in the big bucks and laughing their butt off.”

Mika chuckles softly, probably amused by my mini rant, and leans back, watching me with that infuriatingly smug grin of his. I grunt as I finally rip the plastic apart, dropping the knife onto the floor in the process.

“Careful, babe,” Mika says, his voice tinged with genuine concern. “Don’t want to poke yourself with that thing.”

His words are so sweet and sincere, but damn if they don’t make me want to smack him. I narrow my eyes and jab an elbow into his side—not too hard, just enough to make my point.

“Ugh!” Mika lets out a mock groan, clutching his ribs like I’ve mortally wounded him. “I just didn’t want you to get hurt, Gabriel. It would kill me if you got hurt.”

There’s no mistaking the sincerity in his voice, and guilt hits me like a brick.

I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment to gather myself. “It’s okay, things have been bitch-inducing the past few days. Got it plugged in?”

I nod, giving Gabe a moment to turn on the phone. “What do you want me to check first? Calls or texts?”

“Calls. Incoming and outgoing. We need to see who he might have talked to after his argument with Adam. Then texts.”

“Okay, let’s see…” Gabe scrolls through the incoming call list. “I only see two numbers here after Adam left. One’s Kaufman’s, the other’s listed as ‘Folks’, so I’m guessing that’s his parents. Each call’s brief, under a minute.”

I grunt, trying to make sense of the calls. “What about his outgoing calls?”

Gabe punches a few buttons, pulling up the list. “Okay, there are calls to… huh. He called Kaufman and his parents before their call time on the incoming list. He called them first, they called back. But the calls Todd made were several minutes longer than the ones he received.”

Gabe places a hand on his stomach, pausing as he looks at me. “You know what I think, Mika?”

I glance over at him, meeting his eyes. “Probably something along the lines of what I think. What do you think?”

Gab e rubs his stomach and looks out the windshield. “I think maybe Todd wanted Adam enough to do what he asked. Maybe he called his parents, called Kaufman, told them. It’d have been easier on the phone, and if he acted on impulse…”

“Yeah, I think something like that happened, too. Can you check his texts?” My gut twists. Something about Todd’s phone feels like it might hold the key to who assaulted him. Whether it’s desperation or a gut feeling, I’m not sure.

Gabe opens the messaging box. “Nothing new in here, just some messages between him and Adam, talking about the dogs and stuff.” He presses the back button. “Huhn. Let’s see what his draft sa—oh.” Gabe lowers the phone to his lap.

“What is it, Gabe? You okay?” Gabe looks flushed, which only makes me more curious. Must be some message.

He clears his throat. “Yeah. It was just a draft of what… fuck. Yeah, what he wanted to do with Adam. Kind of more than I needed to know.”

I snatch the phone, trying to read and drive at the same time. Oh. Well, holy shit. Didn’t know Todd had it in him —though if he had his way, he’d’ve had a certain part of Adam in him days ago, according to the date on the draft. I set the phone down and glance at Gabe.

“After reading that, I have to say, I hope Adam knows what he’s getting into.” I laugh at the double entendre.

Gabe grins, linking his hand with mine. “I think Adam knows exactly what he’s getting into, and he’ll love every minute of it. Just like you will, as soon as we get home.” His hand slides away from mine, over my hip, and straight to my dick.

I slam the gas. “Oh yeah? You mean I’ll know what I’m getting into, or I’ll love every minute of it?”

“ Exactly, caveman,” Gabe laughs, and I floor the pedal. “I think you and I are both up for a bit of deviance, don’t you?”

We make it home in record time and find a very satisfying way to spend the rest of the day.