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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.”

~ Plato

Saros

I was in the middle of a conversation with Cosmo when I noticed Em fast asleep on the couch in my office. There weren’t a lot of people in here anymore, and at some point Em had gotten up and relocated to look at some things on Mike’s tablets.

“It’s late—take your man to bed. If anything happens, I’ll come get you.”

I patted Cosmo on the shoulder and moved over to Em. I kneeled and kissed his forehead. His lids fluttered open and he smiled.

“I’m sorry, I fell asleep.”

“It’s no problem. Let’s go to bed.”

He sat up and surveyed the room. “Did you get them?”

“Not yet, but Cos will find me as soon as they do.” I held out my hand, which he took without hesitation.

We walked together out of the study. A few people were milling about but it was almost midnight, so mostly everyone was asleep. When we got to the bedroom, I tugged Em with me to the bathroom.

“Shower with me?”

His cheeks reddened, and he nodded. I could almost forget all of this was so new to him. I loved giving him all these firsts, but not at the cost he’d had to pay.

We stripped, and I turned the water on. Once it was hot, I entered first, dragging him in with me. He chuckled into my kiss, and for a few minutes we just kissed under the spray.

“Your splint’s getting wet.”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I have an extra, and it’s feeling a lot better.”

We were silent after that; he let me wash him, and he did the same to me. It was more intense than fucking. And I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t question it.

Em got on his knees, and I thought it was to wash my feet, but when I opened my mouth to ask, I gasped.

“Jesus, Em.” His lips were wrapped around the head of my cock, suckling it tenderly. It was both the greatest feeling and also killing me a little.

He hummed and started taking more of me in. His hands gripped the top of my legs and I had to flatten my hands on the shower wall to stop myself from grabbing his head and face-fucking him.

This was his first time giving a blowjob, and however he did it, I was going to love it.

He fisted the base and began jacking me as he enthusiastically sucked my soul out of my cock.

“Fucking fuck, Em!”

The second he cupped my balls, I was a goner. I tried to pull him off when words failed me, but he slapped my hand away and doubled his efforts. My orgasm roared through me.

“Shit.” I looked down, and Em was rinsing his mouth.

“Clearly an acquired taste.” He laughed, and I kneeled beside him.

“That was amazing.” I reached for his cock, but he shook his head.

“Nope, this was for you…and for me, if I’m being honest. I loved sucking you and, I already came.”

“Let’s get dried off and into bed.”

Morning arrived with very little fanfare. The second group was now hiding in the woods, waiting for Ramsey and Frazee. Em was beginning to question himself, which I had to put a stop to immediately.

“I wasn’t expecting my guys to get there and for one of them to stroll right into the trap. These things take time. Plus, since I haven’t retaliated over Paulo yet, they are likely panicking a little bit.”

“I just hope I didn’t mess it all up. Maybe I can look at the tablet again; I might have missed something.”

“Em, you didn’t, trust me. You and Mike were thorough, and he agrees it is a solid strategy. Don’t worry, okay?”

“Okay.”

Everyone was on edge for the entire day. Waiting was the worst, and while I had patience for Em, I had so little for anything else.

Benny’s phone buzzed just as we were sitting down to eat. He read the text and smiled.

“We got Frazee.”

It wasn’t Ramsey, but it was enough of a hit that he’d begin scrambling. That meant he’d make a mistake. “Keep eyes on the complex, get Frazee here, and send more to the woods.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Em seemed shocked when I started cutting into my chicken.

“What?”

“You’re going to eat? He’s on his way. Aren’t you, like, going to prepare?”

I chuckled. “I’ll need my energy for Frazee.” I pointed my fork at his plate. “You need to eat too.”

He stared at me as if I had three heads, but eventually he started eating. The room was quiet, Uncle Andrew and Aunt Penelope whispering softly to each other. I’d already planned on asking my uncle to come with me to talk to Frazee. He had every right to ask Frazee anything he wanted, and I wouldn’t stop him.

Dafni was helping Maeve eat and while I was sure she had some choice words for Barrett, she didn’t step over into this part of the family. She knew I’d take care of things.

After dinner Dafni, my aunt, and a few others left. Em remained. If he wanted to come I’d let him; he had a right to make his own choices.

“Uncle Andrew, would you like to join us?”

“Absolutely.”

I nodded and looked at Em. “You’re welcome to come too. A lot of this affects you. It won’t be pretty but if at any time you want to leave, you can go. No one will stop you.”

He bit his lip. I could tell he was trying to decide, and I’d wait forever for his answer if I had to. It wasn’t like Barrett was going anywhere.

“I…can I come? I don’t know if I’ll stay.”

“Of course.”

When we walked through the house to get to the basement, there wasn’t a soul in sight. Penelope and Dafni had done it, likely some sort of magic those women wielded.

The door to the lower level was like any other—it opened, and there were stairs. But at the bottom was a far more secure door, and it was soundproof. Benny went down first, followed by Cosmo and my uncle Andrew.

“You stay behind me.”

Em nodded, and I descended the stairs. Mike would make sure the doors were shut behind us.

The room had six guys in it and Frazee. He was chained to the wall, not caged, and not on the cross. It wasn’t as if he could run anywhere.

I grinned at him and opened my arms. “Barrett Frazee, you son of a bitch, where the fuck have you been hiding?” I moved closer, balled up my fist, and punched him square in the nose.