Colorado Hitch (6 page)

“So mom, did she ever… What did she think of this?” Davis’s heart squeezed and he almost didn’t want to know what his mother thought.

“Once we were back home, she broke down for about a week. She mourned Sheila but she never neglected you. You became her pride and joy. Later, when you were in high school—this was just before your momma died—she told me that she never regretted raising you as her own. She felt like you really were her kid and she never once wished you away after the week of mourning. You were a joy, and she loved you.”

“What about you?” Davis asked.

“I loved you so much, son. At first, I was sad and torn up over the death of Sheila, but you were so helpless and trusting. At one point, you held onto my fingers and looked up into my eyes, your gaze holding me as you cooed and laughed. I knew then that I would never think of you as anything but my own. You were my child, my boy, and I raised you as my son.”

“We had issues at times, like with the art stuff,” Davis said.

“If you had told me you were working for the CIA, I wouldn’t have had those issues. I think I was angry that you weren’t using your full potential. Now that I know you were using the art dealings as a cover, I understand.”

“So the anger you had, that was because you thought I was wasting my potential and not because I’m not your son?”

Duff shook his head, sadness filling his eyes. “In my mind, you are my son. And yes, it was all because I didn’t understand how you could be so lazy. Now I know you weren’t being lazy.”

Davis scoffed and took a sip of his coffee. “I was far from lazy.”

“I-I know that now.”

“I guess we both kept secrets.” Davis took a bite of the warm muffin, moaning as the flavors burst on his tongue. “This is good.”

“Thank you,” Duff said. “And yes, we’ve both been keeping secrets.”

“Are there more?” Davis asked.

Duff shook his head. “Not big ones.”

“Small ones?” Davis watched Duff for any deception, wondering if his father was still trying to hide things from him.

“Most of the travel I did when you were a kid was for covert operations. Yes, I was in the Marines, but I was also an operative for the intelligence branch. They don’t do that as much anymore. If you’re military, you’re military and not an operative.”

“Is that why you opened the ranch?” Davis asked.

Duff nodded and shrugged. “Yes. I was in a unique position. I know a lot of people in high ranking positions. Wild Bluff is special, and we can do things the government can’t. It’s scary sometimes how much power we have.”

Davis had an idea of what these people could do. He hadn’t been here long enough to see everything, but he’d seen enough. “What keeps this group from doing something wrong and abusing the power you have?”

Duff drew in a long breath. “Well, Craig did a lot of stuff wrong. He really screwed us over, screwed the world over.”

“Okay, so I guess some of the people working for you have messed up. But how can you do this—justify your actions?”

“It’s difficult.” Duff took a bite of his food, staying silent as he chewed. “We try hard to pick people who are good, who believe in the cause, and who have a strong sense of justice. Craig was chosen early in the process. We messed up on him. We’ve changed.”

“Do you really think Ryan is as committed to the cause as you say?”

“You like him, don’t you?” Duff asked.

“I’ve fallen for him, Dad. He’s the one.”

Duff smiled and reached across the table. Davis paused before taking Duff’s hand. They stared at each other for a long moment before Davis could return the smile. Some of the anger he’d felt the night before chipped away as warmth from Duff seeped through him.

“I’ve only wanted what was best for you. When Volikov’s wife handed you to me, I promised her that I would raise you as my son, and I swear I did. I have loved you like you were mine. You may have come to us in an unconventional manner, but Davis, you are my child, and I love you like I would have if you would have shared my DNA.”

“If Sheila would have survived, what would you have done?” Davis needed to know.

“I guess we would have raised you as twins. Medicine was different back then. Sure, there were ultrasound machines, but not everyone got a scan, and the machines and medicines weren’t as good as they are now. We could have easily passed you off as twins, and neither you nor Sheila would have ever known any difference.”

“Why tell me now?”

“I didn’t want to die and have you find out, thinking that maybe your mom screwed around on me or that we adopted you. I wanted you to know the truth.” Duff cleared his throat and smiled. “And about Ryan, yes, we trust him. He’s a good guy. In the last few weeks, I’ve checked him out and done a ton of research on him. He’s solid.”

Davis nodded and took another bite of the muffin. Roger cleared his throat and stepped into the room, stretching before grabbing a mug for coffee.

“I’m going back to bed for a bit,” Davis said as he stood.

“I’ll see you later. And son, anytime you need to talk, I’m here for you,” Duff said.

He paused and stared at the man who he’d thought was his biological dad. Duff had saved him from certain death, and as shocking as it was to find out they weren’t really related, it was even more shocking to find out that he may have died when he’d been a baby. A lot of crap had happened and he’d had no clue about any of it. He was angry, but he’d be able to forgive his father eventually. It might take a while for his anger to go away, but he could feel the ice around his heart melting because Duff really was his father, even if they didn’t share the same DNA.

“Thanks, Dad,” Davis said.

The smile Duff gave him was beautiful and amazing, making him feel like maybe, just maybe, he really did accept and agree with what Duff and Beth had done. He didn’t want to be angry, but he still had emotions to work through. Logically, he knew that what Duff had done was wrong, but maybe he would have done the exact same thing in a similar situation.

When he stepped into the bedroom, Ryan snorted and turned over. He smiled and slid under the covers, wrapping his arms around his man. Being with Ryan was right. His life had taken turns he hadn’t expected, but together they could handle almost anything.

Chapter Eight

The news that Duff wasn’t his real dad didn’t seem like such a big deal later in the day when another health scare hit them. Duff was rushed to the hospital with chest pains. Davis stayed with him overnight, wondering if maybe he’d overreacted to the news of being born in Russia to Russian parents.

The next night, he was in his bed curled into a ball. Ryan lay behind him, running his hands over Davis’s back, soothing him with soft touches. “I feel like it was my fault,” Davis said.

“No, it’s not your fault. He’s been under stress and it wasn’t anything you did.” Ryan ran his hand down Davis’s spine and over his hip before sliding his fingers up Davis’s back to his neck.

He glanced over his shoulder, wondering how he’d found such an amazing guy. He turned, pulling Ryan against him, brushing his lips over Ryan’s. Slowly, they began to move against each other. The hurt, pain, anguish, all of the confusion and moments of not knowing how to deal with the truth, not understanding how things could go so wrong, were stripped away as he laid his soul bare, allowing Ryan to see into the deepest part of him.

Ryan lay underneath him, their bodies one as he searched for and found peace in his lover’s arms. The act wasn’t as important as the connection he felt with Ryan. They came together, eyes open, heart exposed, love flowing.

Spent, he dropped to the mattress and sucked in a breath. Ryan rolled to his side and snuggled close, placing a kiss on Davis’s shoulder. There was no need for words, no need to discuss what had happened or what could be. They were content to just be.

After showering, they headed to the kitchen for food. Davis felt better, his mind wasn’t so clouded. He could survive this, and he contributed his good mood to being with Ryan.

Each hour was easier than the last. Every day was an exercise in learning to appreciate what he had and not focus on the negatives. Somedays, he could barely come to terms with what Duff had done. Other days, he felt like he and Duff had come to a new understanding, growing closer in the process.

The material arrived for the obstacle course and excitement spread. Zander, Marshal, and Roger had blueprints pinned to a board near the barn. Everyone except Duff had been assigned a building task. After a couple of days, they had most of the support pillars up and were working on building out the slide for life structure when Duff came out to watch. Davis could tell his dad wanted to be deep in the thick of the action but exhaustion was still an issue.

“You ready for the next board?” Grant called from the ground.

“Yeah,” Ryan yelled.

They’d rigged up a pulley system to lift the material, since they were three stories up. The wheels of the pulley squeaked as the lumber rose from the ground. Excitement over the course had been building since the first support logs arrived. He’d done similar courses during his time in the military, but this would be a bit more difficult than anything he’d ever attempted. He wished he’d had something like this when he’d been a CIA operative.

They already had five of the obstacles fully finished and would have the rope for this one installed by tonight. Doing the rope slide was frightening, but he wanted to learn how to slip down a rope headfirst without falling to the ground.

Zander was one level below them and pulled himself up, flipping his legs over the edge before he rolled to sit up. As Davis understood it, there were multiple ways to work his way up the four-story structure to the rope that stretched from the top to a pole about fifty feet away. The whole set up was intimidating, but he would rather be intimidated here on this ranch than out in the field where someone could be shooting at him.

Roger seemed pleased with their progress. They would have the full course finished by the next afternoon and were planning a cookout to celebrate. He finished nailing in the last board and sat back, staring at what they’d accomplished. Many of the guys started their descent, leaving he and Ryan alone at the top.

Even though Duff had lied to him, he didn’t want to leave Wild Bluff. This was home, and he had grown closer to the guys. Ryan and he could really build a life on this ranch.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Ryan asked.

“This place. I love it here. I know we haven’t gone out on any missions, but this is amazing. It’s like the best of the military without all of the bad parts. Maybe when the guys get focused on what needs to be done, it will be worse, but this is nice.”

Ryan’s smile made it all the way to his eyes before he tugged Davis close and wrapped him in a huge hug. “Thank you.”

Davis chuckled. “You’re welcome but what are you thanking me for?”

“Wanting to stay. I love it here. The guys are cool. I’ll go if you want to leave, but I can’t imagine just walking away from this place. This is home now.”

“It is, isn’t it,” Davis said.

“Hey, you two, get back to work,” Roger called out.

“Slave driver,” Davis whispered so the rest of the guys couldn’t hear them.

Ryan snorted a laugh then dropped to the deck before lowering to the next level. Davis made his way down and began working on another obstacle. By the time the sun had set, they were done with the slide for life and had completed another four obstacles. He felt pride in what they’d accomplished. His muscles were sore, but he’d come by the soreness with honest work. He felt more alive than he had in ages. Dinner was a quiet affair and he was in bed with Ryan not long after they’d finished their meal.

They woke early, the excitement intensifying each hour as they grew closer to completing the course. Around noon, Roger nailed in the last board on their final obstacle. A cheer went up and backs were slapped. After a fast shower that involved kissing and more, he and Ryan took a nap before the festivities began.

They sat around the newly built fire pit, dinner settling in their bellies as they sipped on beer and tequila. A chilly wind blew off the mountain, and Billy had brought out jackets and sweatshirts for them all. He had no doubt that this was where he was supposed to be. His gaze settled on Ryan, the firelight catching in his eyes as he laughed at something Marshal had said. Ryan turned to stare at him, heat filled his gaze. Warmth spread through him and he felt lucky to have found this place and these men.

Ryan stood and held out his hand, tugging Davis to his feet. A few of the guys made raunchy comments and wolf whistles sounded when Ryan pulled him into a kiss. Roger and Grant got up too, grabbing their empty bottles. He picked up his empties, tossing them in the trash before he followed Ryan inside. This little slice of heaven was the perfect place for he and Ryan to get to know each other. Soon, he and Duff would need to have another discussion, but for now, he was at peace with everything he knew to be true.

Chapter Nine

Life at Wild Bluff had been quiet for the last few months. It seemed that many of the political manipulations had disappeared, which led to fewer requests for assistance. Spring turned to summer then slipped to September. Grant wondered if news had spread about Duff’s desire to leave his leadership position at the ranch. It was silly to think anyone else knew about Duff’s departure from his old role, but they’d not received one request for help.

The days began to tick by like a loud clock set to signal their demise due to pure uselessness. Men like Zander, Tucker, and Billy needed action to keep them entertained. The obstacle course had served its purpose. They were stronger, but no one was taking it as seriously as they had in the beginning. New rules for running the course were implemented. When someone suggested running the course blindfolded, he put his foot down. At the moment, they were on a kick to best the current group of men enrolled in the BUD/S SEAL development program in California. How they’d found the scores and not gotten caught wasn’t something he cared to know.

Grant was about ready to go looking for something to get them some action when Duff received a request for a mission. The lead had promptly been turned over to Grant and Marshal to research. They were huddled together in the control room studying maps and the phone logs of a man who had spent years manipulating the government in Saudi Arabia. The dude had done some rather nasty stuff, but Grant didn’t think his crimes should be punished by death, nor did he think the guys of Wild Bluff should be the ones to deal with him.

“I don’t like it,” Grant said for the third time in the last hour.

Marshal threw up his hands and blew out a harsh breath. “Fuck, sitting around here is going to drive me crazy.”

Grant sat back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. “I know. I’m not sure what we can do.”

“Research who was helping Craig,” Marshal said.

Pain knifed Grant in the chest, twisting through his heart. That Craig had been manipulating the system and them for years was a crap-ton of terrible to have to face. The guy had used all of them, but mostly he’d used Grant to further his own gains.

“Sorry to bring it up, but you know we eventually have to look into it,” Marshal said.

Grant nodded and stood, moving to the other side of the room before he turned back to face Marshal. “I hate this.”

“I know, but we need to look into it. We’ve ignored the Craig angle long enough.”

He nodded then made his way over to his seat before dropping into his chair. “You’re right and I hate it. So we agree that we’re not taking this mission?” Grant asked.

“Nope, we’re not going to take this one. I think the reasoning isn’t strong enough. Their government can take care of him, and we don’t need to bother ourselves with this type of trash.”

Grant squared his shoulders, ready to take on the one thing he didn’t want to deal with. “Okay, so Craig, where do we start?”

Marshal rubbed his neck and leaned back in his chair, chewing on the end of the pen as he thought about what he wanted to say. “Before we involve anyone else in this discussion, I need to make sure you’re willing to go the distance on this without running off to jump on some wild trail on your own.”

Grant nodded, angry with himself for going off halfcocked the last time. “I’ll be good and I won’t go chasing half-formed leads.”

“Good. We’ll inform the current contact that we’re saying no and then tomorrow we’ll call a meeting and explain what we want to do with Craig.”

“The first phase needs to be information gathering,” Grant said.

“I agree, which means some people will need to go on road trips.” Marshal bit his lower lip, looking at Grant like he wanted to add something.

“You want to go, don’t you?” Grant asked.

Marshal smirked, and Grant shook his head. This was just the type of trip Marshal could go out on. They wouldn’t run into danger, and no one would have to get into a physical fight. It would be perfect for him.

“Most likely there won’t be any guns, so yeah, I do.”

“I’ll think about it, but I don’t foresee any problems.”

He understood Marshal’s desire to be in the field. It must have been hard for him to accept that he would never be able to go on a mission again. They needed men who could perform at their best out in the field. Having one of the guys incapacitated was hell. If an injury happened when they were on a mission, they would deal with it, but going out already hobbled wasn’t smart. Plus, Grant knew that having Marshal in the field would keep him here and out of trouble, because where Craig was concerned, Grant easily got into trouble.

Grant sent the email turning down the job in Saudi Arabia then started cleaning up, shredding the paper trail and deleting files before storing their computers. Marshal must have texted Zander at one point because he came in about the time they'd finished with the shredding.

“Hey, Grant, Marsh, I beat my time on the O Course today.”

Grant laughed a little and shook his head at their antics. “That’s great, Zander. Who else ran it?”

“Davis, he and Ryan had a race. That’s what started it today.” Zander took a swig from his water bottle before he dropped into the chair, rubbing his thighs with one hand.

“I don’t know what we would have done this year if we hadn’t built that thing,” Grant said.

“It’s provided hours of entertainment.” Marshal rolled his shoulder and smiled. “I’m slow on it but I’ve gotten stronger since I started running it.”

It was good to see Marshal proud of his work again. The O, as they were now calling it, had improved all of their strength. Working on the Craig problem would put them back behind the computers, but if they went into the field, they would be stronger because of the O.

Grant left the control room, searching for Roger. He found him outside, digging in the dirt around the porch. “What are you doing?”

Roger looked up, sweat beading on his brow. “I’m planting bulbs.”

Grant raised his eyebrows and leaned against the porch railing. “Really?”

“Yeah. I figure I’ll be here next year and I want them here in the spring.”

Grant shook his head. “I had no idea you liked flowers so much.”

Roger slapped his hands together as he shook off some of the dirt before moving to stand in front of Grant. “My mother used to plant them when I was a boy.”

Grant nodded and reached out, his hand trailing down the center of Roger’s chest. “You miss them?”

“Yeah.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips over Roger’s before he stepped away. “I didn’t come out here to start something. I was wondering if we wanted to do a movie night tonight.”

Roger shrugged then nodded. “Sure.”

“I’ll tell everyone.” He turned to leave.

“Hey, Grant?” Roger’s low voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Yeah?”

“You may not have wanted to start something, but you did. I want you naked and in bed when I finish this shower. Be ready for some fun.”

Grant sucked in a breath and nodded. His dick grew hard as Roger’s gaze travel down his body. He turned toward the barn before realizing he wasn’t going out there but back inside. Roger laughed at him when he passed by and mounted the stairs, taking them two at a time.

“I’ll only be about five more minutes,” Roger called out.

He glanced back as excitement zinged through him. Life had been stressful the last few months after Duff had confessed the truth. No one else knew and he wasn’t going to tell Roger, but his man knew something was up.

After he told the guys that he planned on doing a movie night, he headed to the room he shared with Roger, pleased to hear the shower already running. He shed his clothes quickly and shoved the covers low before hopping into bed. When Roger came out of the bathroom, he was on the bed, his cock hard, his ass lubed. Roger gave him a crooked smile and climbed up the mattress, licking Grant’s chest before going up on his hands and knees, staring down at him.

In the last year, they’d grown closer, to the point that he knew he would never leave this man. Roger kissed him long and hard, leaving no doubt in his mind that what they had was special. Craig may have fooled him, but Roger was the real deal, and they were a solid couple with years of love ahead of them.