Page 7 of Single Greatest Threat (Atlantic City’s Most Wanted #6)

Joesph hated the way Shaw obviously dreaded seeing his own father.

He would give anything to see his again.

Joesph got it, though. Their dads were nothing alike.

They passed two workers on the way inside.

One looked to be doing laundry. The other was kitchen staff.

It was hard for Joesph to wrap his mind around growing up this way.

Shaw never hesitated to cook or clean. Joesph had no clue how Shaw had turned out the way he had.

While the guy was still spoiled, he didn’t expect others to do everything for him.

Joesph wondered if he would ever do anything for himself if he had been raised in the same wealth.

Maybe he would have turned out to be a piece of shit.

At least he would be a shitty person without a hundred thousand dollars in college loans and almost as much in medical bills.

Joesph took a breath. He couldn’t think about that.

They found Shaw Sr. in the dining room. He looked surprised to see them. It was obvious Shaw hadn’t called ahead. “What are you doing here? Who’s at the office?”

Joesph stayed silent. He let Shaw handle everything.

“I closed for the day so we could come and discuss something with you.”

Senior looked between them. “I can’t believe you green-lit this laziness, Joesph. Now Shaw is always useless, but you’ve never let me down.”

Fuck. The rage was real. Shaw looked closed, but unfazed.

Thankfully, Shaw didn’t give Joesph time to speak and ruin his life.

“Yes. I’m the disappointment. Anyhow, I found something unfortunate while going through some paperwork.

” He pulled out a chair and sat. “It seems Kayla has been skimming off every transaction for years. I haven’t made it through every file yet and it’s already up to nearly six figures. ”

Senior’s dark green eyes—so much like his son’s—slid from Shaw to Joesph and back again. “Joesph, please wait in the kitchen.”

Joesph didn’t hesitate to back his chair away and find his way to the kitchen. The tone had left no room for argument, but Joesph pretended to struggle a bit so Shaw could have time to stop him if he wanted Joesph to stay. Shaw didn’t speak up, so Joesph left them alone.

He wheeled his way inside the kitchen and was immediately met with overly helpful staff.

They offered coffee and homemade donuts, but Joesph didn’t have time to answer before Shaw was there.

His expression was colder than Joesph had ever seen.

He took control of Joesph’s chair before Joesph had time to ask a single thing.

Joesph let it happen. He had questions, but he kept his mouth shut until they were a good five miles from Shaw’s dad’s house.

Joesph had never seen Shaw so thunderous.

“I’m guessing that didn’t go well.”

Shaw had one hand on the wheel and the other propping up his head. His elbow was braced on the door. He looked ready to blow. “You could say that.”

Joesph tried to be quiet. Silence wasn’t quite so comfortable anymore. “Okay. Well. I’m here whenever you want to talk.”

Shaw suddenly veered off the road and into the parking lot of a closed night club. He put the car in park. “It seems my dad has always known about Kayla.”

That one threw Joesph. “Okay. What?”

Shaw looked his way. Joesph saw the fire inside that Shaw tried to keep at bay. “She takes money. He turns a blind eye. She doesn’t tell my mom about their affair.”

Holy hell. Joesph was flabbergasted. He was beyond speechless.

All he could do was stare at Shaw and try his damnedest to process.

Shaw’s openly downward spiral was what rescued Joesph.

He had to save him. “Tell me what to do. How can I help? Let’s fix it.

” Joesph was just that guy. They knew the problem now. He could help Shaw face it head on.

Shaw’s hands rose and fell. “I just—”

Joesph got it. “Okay. Get out and let me drive.”

He watched Shaw’s throat work as he swallowed. “I don’t know where to go.”

Shaw’s phone rang. “Dad” showed on the car’s system screen. Shaw angrily hit reject and then turned off his phone. Joesph’s phone rang.

He dug out his phone and stared at Shaw Sr’s name. Joesph didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t Shaw. Joesph couldn’t ignore his boss.

Shaw grabbed the phone from his hand and rejected the call before turning off Joesph’s phone.

He climbed from the vehicle and circled the car.

They swapped sides. As Joesph pulled back into traffic, he had no clue where he was headed or if he would still have a job when the day was done.

He would be here for Shaw, though. It seemed the time had finally come to let Shaw completely destroy him.

The way Shaw’s mind swirled terrified him.

He was so angry and hurt, he didn’t know where to start.

They couldn’t go home. His dad had to know Shaw might choose to tell his mom everything.

Since he couldn’t reach either of them by phone, Shaw imagined he would try their houses next.

Thankfully, Joesph obviously had the same realization.

He seemed to drive around town aimlessly.

An old idea took root and grew. Shaw just needed time and space to figure out a solid plan and find his footing before presenting it to Joesph. “How do you feel about Aspen?”

Joesph shot him an odd look. “What? Why? You know I’m too poor to have ever been to Aspen. What would I do there? It’s not like I can ski.”

Damn. He had sounded terrible. “Yeah. Sorry. I’m just trying to think of somewhere to go so I can have a few days to think and figure this out.”

Shaw watched Joesph’s shoulders relax. “Oh. We have to work tomorrow.”

He really didn’t want to point out the obvious.

“I just rejected my dad’s call to you. We maybe don’t have to work tomorrow.

” Joesph’s shoulders fell a little more.

Guilt ate at him. Shaw couldn’t fail him.

“Don’t worry. I know it’s asking a lot, considering how big of a fuck-up I am, but can you just trust me this one time?

I promise I’ll make sure you’re fine. Okay? ”

Joesph cast a quick glance his way. That was all it took to see the loyalty. “I’m always on your side. Don’t worry about me. I already had another job lined up before I came back. It’s less money, but whatever.”

Goddamn it. Joesph had already accepted Shaw would ruin him and had a backup plan. He didn’t get a chance to reassure him again.

“Your dad knows you. If you run away to any of your usual spots, he’ll just show up there. Why don’t we go stay with my mom? Of course, I need to grab my meds. We can’t avoid going to my place. Just leave me somewhere and I’ll take a cab home. You can go wherever you want.”

“No. We’ve probably got a couple of hours before he comes after me.

He’s too used to me falling in line. There’s no reason for him to think I won’t this time too.

Let’s be quick. Your place first. I’ll run in and grab everything.

Then we’ll hit my place. Staying with your mom sounds great.

My dad would never think of her. He’s used to parents being like him. ”

Joesph reached over and took his hand. He squeezed. Once Shaw had him, he refused to let go. Maybe it was shitty to use a situation like this, but he couldn’t stop. Joesph willingly touched him. He needed that.

Joesph headed for his place, rattling off a list of what he would need. It got a little extensive. When he hit a list of toiletries, Shaw cut in. “Stick with your meds and clothes. I’ll grab all the toiletries from my place. There’s no sense in having two sets for one bathroom.”

Joesph bit his bottom lip.

Shaw wished he hadn’t pointed out that detail. Haven’s house was small. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bathroom was in her room. They would have to sleep together in the spare bedroom and share the bathroom. He held his breath, expecting Joesph would take it back.

Joesph surprised him. “Yeah. That makes the most sense, especially since your stuff is way better than mine.”

Shaw wanted to growl. It was like Joesph only thought about their differences now. Almost like he constantly listed the ways Shaw was better in his head, and he couldn’t see Shaw was actually less. Shaw didn’t know how to say any of that.

Then words just fell out. “I don’t know. Maybe I should grab your stuff instead. You always smell amazing. Sometimes I hold my breath when you’re close, so I don’t forget we’re friends.” Even Shaw heard the longing in his voice. He wouldn’t take it back.

Joesph didn’t respond. He kept his gaze locked on the road like his life depended on it, but he still didn’t take back his hand. Shaw would take what he could get.