Saving Ren (Barretti Security Series, Book 3) (11 page)

Declan looked at him with concern but finally nodded. “Sure. Did you have a place in mind?”

“Town.” His response surprised even himself since the whole point of coming up here had been to get away from people.

“You sure?” Declan asked worriedly.

Ren nodded. “I need this, Declan.”

Declan swallowed the rest of his coffee down and put his mug into the sink. “Let’s go.”

***

Declan leaned back against the seat as the GTO’s engine rumbled as he let the car roll to a stop at the last light on the way out of town. It was the first time Ren had let him drive the car though he suspected that stemmed more from the fact that driving seemed to relax Ren in a way that nothing else could. And with the stress he’d put himself through this past week, Ren had needed to take advantage of anything that would help him remain in control. But today it seemed like everything had caught up with Ren and he’d handed the keys to Declan with a tired smile. And within minutes of Declan putting the car in gear, Ren had fallen asleep.

Declan glanced over at the young man whose head lolled to the side. Warmth spread through Declan at how at peace Ren looked and Declan had to resist the urge to reach out and run his fingers across his cheek. Since the day Jagger had left, they’d been following the same routine of driving into the small town at the base of the mountain but Ren had pushed himself a little more every day. The first day had just been parking the car near the small harbor and sitting there while Ren tried to process the noise and commotion as cars and tourists accessed the marina. After that, they’d driven to the coast and walked along the beach before hiking to a small bluff that overlooked a lighthouse at the entryway to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a waterway that led from the Pacific Ocean to the San Juan Islands.

Day two had been a repeat of day one but by day three Ren had insisted on getting out and walking around the harbor. He’d tensed up as people walked towards them and had always looked over his shoulder as they passed but he hadn’t had any episodes. Day four had been walking around the town itself but the sound of a car backfiring had almost destroyed the progress Ren had made. Declan had managed to talk him down before his anxiety caused him to react violently to the people that moved past them, completely unaware of the danger they were potentially in. And today…today had been a fucking miracle because Ren had insisted that they sit in a restaurant and eat a meal. The sound of several dishes crashing to the floor as two wait staff collided had put Ren on edge momentarily, but then he’d smiled at Declan and said he was okay before Declan could even ask. They’d still walked along the beach but Ren had been so relaxed that Declan had actually felt tears sting his eyes. Because for the first time since this nightmare had started, Declan saw a glimpse of the old Ren. The Ren that smiled for no reason. The one whose eyes shone with pleasure because of something as simple as a beachgoer’s friendly dog coming up to say hi.

“You like the car,” Declan heard Ren murmur. Declan gave him a brief glance and felt his stomach drop out at the soft look on Ren’s face. He looked…content.

Too overwhelmed to speak, Declan managed a nod.

“It looks good on you,” Ren said. His silky smooth voice had Declan’s whole body tightening up and it wasn’t until the car behind them honked its horn that Declan realized he’d been staring at Ren…or rather, they’d been staring at each other. Declan managed to press the gas pedal down enough to get the car moving.

“I always wanted a car like this,” Declan admitted.

“Why didn’t you get one?”

“Too flashy I guess.”

“You think I’m too flashy?” Ren said with a laugh and the sound actually caused goosebumps to skitter across Declan’s skin.

“No,” Declan responded with a chuckle. “I think you can pull this kind of car off. Even when you were a kid.”

“You didn’t know me when I was a kid,” Ren said with confusion.

“I guess you seemed that way when we first met.”

“I remember. It was at Sylvie and Dom’s wedding.”

A flicker of pain went through Declan at the mention of his sister but he forced it away. “You were the life of the party,” Declan said softly.

“And you stayed in the shadows,” Ren countered.

Ren had him there. The only pleasure he’d found that evening among a group of virtual strangers had been in watching Ren.

“Crowds have never really been my thing,” Declan said.

“I guess we have something in common now,” Ren said. Declan gave him a quick look but relaxed when he saw that Ren didn’t seem upset by the observation.

“You’ll get there,” Declan said. “You’re making amazing progress.”

Ren was quiet for so long that Declan looked over at him once more. He was startled to see Ren’s blue eyes studying him with curiosity.

“What?” Declan asked, unnerved by the intensity in Ren’s gaze.

“If I get back there…back to who I was – will you still be there?”

Declan had no clue what Ren was talking about so he said, “We’ll always be friends.”

“Friends?” Ren said quietly. “Is that what we are?”

Was that disappointment in Ren’s eyes? Declan’s phone rang suddenly and whatever tension had been in the air was broken. He glanced at the Caller ID but didn’t recognize the number. As much as he wanted to clear up whatever confusion was going on between him and Ren, Declan knew he couldn’t risk missing a call from work. He’d handed most of his cases over to Adam Dwyer and he didn’t want something to get thrown out of court on a technicality because the new guy didn’t follow protocol.

“I need to take this,” Declan said as he reached for the phone and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“Hello?”

“Detective Hale?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“Detective Hale, this is Connor Talbot.”

Declan’s gut seized as he recognized the name. Jagger’s friend.

“I’m not sure if you remember me,” Connor started to say.

“I do. Is Jagger okay?”

Ren went on alert next to him but Declan didn’t dare take his attention off the call.

“Um, he told me not to call you but I think he needs some help.” The man’s voice was unsteady and Declan forced himself to keep his own tone calm and collected.

“It’s okay, Connor. Tell me what happened.”

“He’s in jail. He shot someone.”

Chapter 6

“Where is he?” Declan snapped as he shot past Dwyer and began searching Dwyer’s desk until he found the file he was looking for.

“Lock up.”

“What are the charges?” Declan asked just as he found the file. When Dwyer didn’t answer him immediately Declan looked up. “What the fuck are the charges, Dwyer?”

“He hasn’t been charged with anything.”

Rage went through Declan as he pulled up a program on Dwyer’s computer and began typing. “Then what the hell is he doing in lock up?”

“Captain…” Dwyer began to say but stuttered to a stop.

“Spit it out Dwyer,” Declan shouted as he quickly scanned the screen in front of him before closing the program out. He strode towards the back of the building and wasn’t surprised when Dwyer fell in step behind him.

“Captain Mitchell said to put him there. He said he’d deal with him in the morning.”

“And you didn’t think to speak up?” Declan bit out. “The prosecutor tells you the shooting was justified and he’s not pursuing charges yet you still put the guy in lock up.”

“Captain said-”

“Fuck, Dwyer. You ever going to grow a pair?”

“Captain said the guy’s bad news. He’s going to talk to the prosecutor about additional charges – evading arrest, leaving the scene…”

Declan slammed through the door leading to the cells and flipped open the file in his hand. “Did you get his statement?” he snapped.

“He wouldn’t give it to me.”

Declan shoved the file at Dwyer and didn’t wait to see if he would take it. He found Jagger in the last cell and winced at how wrong it looked to see him confined to the small space. How the hell had he ever thought Jagger was the type of guy who belonged in a place like this?

“Open it,” he said to Dwyer though he kept his eyes on Jagger. He had no doubt that Jagger wasn’t pleased to see him.

When Dwyer didn’t move fast enough to suit him, Declan grabbed the key from his lax fist and opened the cell.

“Detective,” Dwyer began to say.

“Let’s go,” Declan said to Jagger. Jagger didn’t argue with him but he knew that the second they had more privacy, all hell was going to break loose. Little did Jagger know that Declan was more than ready for the fight.

“Sir, you can’t-”

“The hell I can’t,” Declan snarled. “This man is in my custody now. If Mitchell wants to try and press some bullshit charges, tell him to contact Mr. Varos’ attorney.”

Declan stomped past Dwyer and led Jagger from the room. He was glad Jagger kept his mouth shut until they reached the car but he was surprised at how calm the man sounded when he finally spoke.

“Where’s Ren?”

Declan started the car. “With Connor.”

“You shouldn’t have come here, Declan. I was handling it,” Jagger said with obvious irritation.

“Is that what you were doing in that jail cell? Handling it? Did you even think to call a lawyer at least?”

“I don’t need a lawyer. Mitchell would have backed off,” Jagger stated.

“Oh yeah? Like all the other times?”

Jagger’s head whipped around and he finally looked as enraged as Declan felt.

“What the hell did Connor tell you?”

“Just that Mitchell’s had it in for you for years. He wouldn’t tell me why. I looked up your record. Multiple arrests for shoplifting and vandalism when you were a kid. Two for disorderly conduct and assault after you turned eighteen. One of those assaults was against Mitchell himself.”

Jagger turned his head away and stared out the window but kept silent.

“So that’s it? I don’t get any explanation?”

“I don’t owe you anything,” Jagger responded.

The comment both infuriated and stung Declan at the same time. It had been ridiculous to think that he and Jagger would ever be anything other than enemies to one another. Declan put the car in gear.

“I need to go back to the hospital,” Jagger said when they reached the parking lot exit.

“Tell me about the shooting,” Declan said.

“You know Cade Gamble?”

“He’s one of Dom’s men. He was protecting Logan last year when we realized Hamilton was still alive.” He and Cade hadn’t really gotten along, especially since Declan had initially struggled with the knowledge that Dom had moved on from Sylvie so quickly – something he knew now not to be true because he had no doubt that Dom continued to love Sylvie even as he built a future with Logan.

“Cade found Rafe in L.A. and brought him back to Seattle a couple weeks ago after someone took a shot at him. He asked me to watch Rafe this past week while Rafe did some volunteer work at Logan’s foundation.”

Declan couldn’t help but be surprised not only that Rafe was back, but that he was working with his brother’s lover. He had a ton of questions that he wanted to ask but kept silent as Jagger continued.

“Cade had me shadow him and Rafe this weekend when they went to Friday Harbor. We got back a few hours ago. I guess Dom and Vin were waiting for them in Cade’s apartment when we got back but I don’t know what happened – I just saw them leaving. Less than an hour later I see Cade come running out of the building yelling Rafe’s name. Turns out Rafe took off on Cade and had exited the building through the garage so I wouldn’t see him. He was crossing the street when a car came out of nowhere and tried to run him down. Cade got to him in time and took the brunt of the impact.”

“Fuck,” Declan whispered. “Is Cade okay?”

Jagger shook his head. “He was unconscious after the car hit them. Rafe was banged up pretty bad too. Fucker got out of the car and pointed a gun at Rafe. I got him before he could pull the trigger.”

“Jesus.”

“The ambulance got there before any cops did so I followed it to the hospital so I could stay with Rafe until I was able to reach his brothers. I asked the security guard in Cade’s building to stay with the body and to let the cops know who I was and where I’d gone. Rafe was a fucking mess when he got out of the ambulance – I guess Cade had a seizure on the way there. Dom and Vin got there about a half an hour later. Cops showed up a few minutes later and arrested me.”

Declan’s phone rang and he glanced at the Caller ID. “It’s Vin,” he said to Jagger. “Yeah,” he said into the receiver. “No, I already got him out. I’m bringing him to the hospital now. How’s Cade?” he asked. He felt Jagger’s eyes on him.

“And Rafe?” It took only another minute to get the information he needed and when he hung up he spared Jagger a glance. “Cade’s in surgery – they needed to relieve the swelling in his brain. Rafe’s okay but he’s pretty fucked up about Cade.”

Jagger sighed and nodded. As Declan pulled into the hospital parking lot and stopped in front of the Emergency Room entrance, Jagger gave him an odd look…regretful almost. “You shouldn’t have put Ren at risk to come here.”

Disappointment went through Declan at the criticism. “You know what, Jagger. Fuck you,” he snapped. “You want to handle this shit by yourself, you go right ahead. Get yourself a lawyer because you’re going to fucking need it because I’m done.”

Jagger didn’t respond and the second he was out of the car and the door slammed closed, Declan hit the gas. Maybe Jagger didn’t need him but Ren sure as hell did.

***

Ren watched Connor move slowly behind the bar as he stocked bottles of liquor in the rack behind the bar. Something about the man’s gait wasn’t quite right.

“Lost it to an IED,” Connor said and Ren looked up and realized he’d been staring.

“Sorry,” he said.

Connor shrugged. “I find it easier just to get it out there instead of watching people try to figure it out for themselves.”

“When?” Ren asked.

“Two years ago. One minute I’m doing a sweep of some shitty little building on the outskirts of Kabul, next minute I’m waking up in a hospital bed and the doctor’s telling me my leg’s gone below the knee and that I’m lucky to be alive. The two guys doing the sweep with me weren’t so lucky.”

Ren studied Connor and figured they were close to the same age. He was quite attractive but Ren didn’t feel the same sexual pull that he did towards Declan and Jagger which served only to confuse him more. The man had been extremely welcoming when Declan had dropped him off, but it had been his boss, Mags, who’d caught Ren off guard when she quickly told the few patrons in the bar to get out. There had been a few grumbles but no one had argued with the big woman when she shoved them out the door and locked it and then turned off the
Open
light. She’d then made herself scarce, but not before telling Connor she’d be in the back if he needed her.

“How did you and Jagger meet?” Ren asked. Part of him really wanted to know but another part of him was concerned he wouldn’t want to hear the truth.

“We met in Iraq about a year before he was discharged.”

“You served in the same unit?”

“No, just on the same base. The only thing we had in common was that we were both gay. But somehow it just worked out and we hit it off. It was easy to keep in touch after he left the service. I didn’t have any place to call home after I got out so I picked Seattle in case he ended up coming back here after his merc days were over.”

It was the first time Ren had heard confirmation that Jagger was gay and the fact that Connor was too only made Ren wonder more at the true nature of their friendship.

“We’ve never been together,” Connor suddenly said and Ren glanced up from the countertop he’d been idly rubbing circles into with his finger.

“None of my business,” Ren murmured though the relief that went through him was ridiculous.

“You sure about that?” Connor asked as he slid a few wet glasses across the bar and handed Ren a towel.

He automatically began drying them as he contemplated how much to say. The man across from him was a stranger but the fact that Jagger clearly trusted him had Ren already feeling comfortable around him. When Declan had told him that Jagger was in jail, Ren had been beside himself with worry and he’d been the one to insist that they go and get him. But he’d been smart enough to know that he wasn’t in any shape to go into a busy police precinct or to even wait in the car so when Declan had suggested they ask Connor to keep an eye on him, he’d readily agreed. He hadn’t expected to like the guy and he certainly hadn’t thought he’d be contemplating discussing something as sensitive as his sexuality with the best friend of one of the men he was obsessed with, but maybe having someone to talk to about it would help him figure out the jumble of emotions he couldn’t seem to escape.

“Can you tell something about me?” Ren finally asked and he winced at how childish the question sounded, especially since he was asking it in such a roundabout way.

“You mean is my gaydar going off?” Connor said with a chuckle.

Ren couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I didn’t need gaydar to see the worry in your eyes when you told Declan to go get Jagger. Or the jealousy when you thought he and I were something more than friends to each other.”

“Shit,” Ren muttered. “Connor, I’m sorry…”

“Sorry for what?” Connor said. “It’s about time that Jagger found someone who cares enough about him to be jealous. But that’s not the only problem, is it?”

Fuck, he
was
completely transparent. Except to the two men who mattered apparently.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think they’ll ever be able to see me as anything other than damaged and broken. And that’s not even taking into consideration the fact that Declan is probably straight. Or that Jagger’s loyalties lie first and foremost with my brothers.”

Connor began collecting the glasses Ren had been drying. “So let me make sure I’ve got this straight,” he began. “You managed to join one of the most elite units the armed forces has to offer and spent the better part of ten years completing missions that saved countless lives. You lived through what I can only imagine was pure hell for more than a year and when you finally escaped, you had the guts to walk away from the only family you have to keep them safe. But you won’t fight for what you want with Jagger and Declan? Hell, fight’s not even the right word considering you’re not even willing to step into the ring.”

Why did the way Connor said it make it sound so simple when the emotions that were running through him were anything but?

Ren handed Connor the last glass and shook his head. “I gotta say Connor, your talents are wasted behind that bar.” He’d meant the comment as a compliment but the sudden sadness that came over Connor’s features caught him off guard.

“Hey man, I’m sorry-”

His words were interrupted when there was a sharp rapping on the door. Ren instantly jumped to his feet and automatically put his back against the bar so he’d have both his hands free to defend himself.

“Ren, it’s Declan,” he heard Connor say from behind him, his voice low and soft.

The panic in Ren’s chest eased somewhat but he couldn’t make himself fully relax. Footsteps came around the bar but he was glad when Connor didn’t touch him.

“I’m going to go let him in now, okay?” Connor said quietly though he didn’t actually move until Ren managed to nod. Then Declan was standing in front of him, his big hands running up and down his arms.