“Leo, stay with me, buddy,” Red said gently. “Come on.”

  Fitz kneeled beside Leo and gently lifted his head to place his folded-up sweater underneath. Then he took hold of Leo’s hand and laced their fingers together, smiling through his tears.

  “You’re going to be okay, sweetheart.”

  Leo’s lips trembled, but he smiled anyway. “In about seven to ten minutes, I’ll most likely bleed out and go into shock.”

  “Why do you have to be so smart?” Fitz asked, running his free hand over Leo’s head.

  “Why do you have to be so pretty?”

  Fitz sniffed and laughed. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”

  Time seemed to slow as they waited for the ambulance. What had felt like hours had only been minutes, but every second counted. The ambulance finally arrived, with the police close behind. Paramedics ran in, and Red explained in his medical jargon what had happened and the extent of Leo’s injuries. Officers rushed inside, several seeming to recognize Mason as they headed straight for him and began talking to him.

  Saint stood, barely aware of Val wiping the blood off his hand. He watched with his heart in his throat as they placed Leo on a gurney, an IV in his arm. Leo was terrifyingly pale, his lips a purplish color. Saint shook his head as he paced and ran a hand through his hair.

  Fuck. This couldn’t be happening. Saint had grabbed Leo and dropped to the floor the second he heard the pop. So had the rest of them. They were all too familiar with the sound of gunfire, so there’d been no hesitation. But Saint hadn’t been fast enough.

  “How?” Saint asked softly, not really addressing anyone. “I used my body to shield him.”

  “Sweetheart,” Val said, cupping Saint’s face and rubbing away the wetness. “The bullet missed you by millimeters.”

  “What?” Saint frowned, then followed Val’s gaze as he lowered it to Saint’s T-shirt. There was a hole in it. He lifted his T-shirt, revealing a very thin red line. The bullet had grazed him.

  “We’ll meet at the hospital,” Ace said as the paramedics loaded Leo into the back of the ambulance.

  “The question now is, who’s going to tell King?” Colton asked worriedly.

  “I should do it,” Saint said, removing his phone from his pocket only to have it snatched away by Ace.

  “The fuck you are. He has to hear this from me. No one else.”

  Saint had never seen Ace look so deadly serious. He quickly nodded as Ace shoved his phone back at him and then ran out. Everyone hurried out, and Val handed the tavern keys to Mason. He took hold of Saint’s elbow and led him to his SUV.

  “Come on.”

  As Saint sat in the passenger seat of Val’s SUV, he felt numb. None of this felt real. He glanced over at Val, whose jaw was clenched so tight he might break something.

  “What am I supposed to tell King?” Saint asked, his voice coming out as an unsteady whisper.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong,” Val said as he sped through a yellow light. “You heard the shot, your instincts kicked in, and you protected Leo.”

  “Protected him? Did you see him? What if he’d bled out?”

  “That never would have happened. The second we realized Leo had been hit, Lucky ran out to grab Ace’s fancy, fast-as-fuck sports car. If the ambulance hadn’t arrived when it did, you bet your ass Ace would have broken the damn sound barrier getting Leo to the hospital.”

  “What if—”

  “No.” Val shook his head. “No what-ifs.” He grabbed Saint’s hand and squeezed his fingers.

  The ride to the hospital was a blur, and Saint tried his hardest not to think of worst-case scenarios. He knew better. Normally, he would lean on his experience, on his training, but all he could think was… it’s Leo.

  With the exception of Mason, who’d stayed behind with the police, the rest of the guys were there in the emergency room waiting area when Saint and Val arrived. He could tell that the Kings, Jack and Joker, were keeping it together for the sake of their partners. Laz leaned against Red, his dazed stare on the floor. Colton was speaking with the nurses at the front desk, no doubt doing what he could to ensure Leo got the best care possible, no matter the cost.

  Ryden stood leaning against the wall at the other end of the room, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular. Jack sat comforting Fitz, who was in tears. When he saw Saint, he jumped to his feet and hurried over, pulling him into a fierce hug. When he pulled back, he looked determined.

  “It’s not your fault, you know that.”

  “Fitz….”

  “I know you. You’re like them. Always trying to shoulder the weight of the world on your own. You risked your life to save him.”

  “But he was still hurt.”

  “Again, not your fault.”

  Ryden appeared beside Saint and squeezed his shoulder. “Listen to him.”

  Val’s phone rang, and he quickly removed it from his pocket. He held it up to Saint. “It’s Mason.” Excusing himself, he walked away to take the call. Over Fitz’s shoulder, Saint spotted Ace. He was talking to Colton, shaking his head about something, and Colton nodded. With a visible sigh, Colton walked over.

  “Saint, you should go home,” Colton said gently.

  “What?” The words were like a lead pipe to the stomach. He was being kicked out? “I can’t go home. I…I need to stay here. I need—”

  Fitz cupped Saint’s face. “Sweetheart, you can’t be here.”

  “Why?”

  Colton sighed again, his expression sympathetic. “King is on his way.”

  Saint’s blood turned cold. Fuck.

  King.

  With everything going on, Saint hadn’t even thought about how King might react when he got here. He was probably beside himself.

  “But it wasn’t his fault,” Val said, joining them again.

  “We all know that,” Colton replied. “Saint saved Leo. If he hadn’t shielded Leo when he did….” He shook his head. “All King knows is that Leo was rushed to the hospital with a gunshot wound. We don’t know how he’ll react. Ace is worried, and if Ace is worried….”

  “I can’t be here,” Saint conceded. The last thing he wanted to do was make a shit situation even worse. “I understand. If anyone needs anything, please let me know.” He turned to Ryden. “Please let me know how he’s doing.”

  Ryden nodded. “You got it.”

  “What did Mason say?” Saint asked Val as they turned toward the exit.

  “They’re going to have a squad car parked outside the house for a few nights while the investigation gets underway, just in case.”

  The doors to the emergency room slid open, and a lump formed in Saint’s throat. Everyone got to their feet, and a room filled with former military personnel and badass bodyguards looked on in panic because the one man who never lost it was about to go nuclear.

  Saint was so fucked.

  King thundered through the double doors like a hurricane ready to level everything in its path. His blue eyes were like ice, the pain and rage in them squeezing Saint’s heart until he couldn’t breathe.

  “King, wait!” Ace darted in front of King and put his hands up to stop him.

  “Stay the fuck out of my way, Anston,” King snarled, shoving his friend to one side.

  “Damn it, King. Please.”

  Saint shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have—”

  “You son of a bitch!” King lunged forward, and the other Kings appeared out of nowhere, throwing themselves at their brother.

  Saint flinched and stepped back as King shouted and struggled against them. When it looked like Red, Lucky, and Ace wouldn’t be able to hold him, Jack, Joker, and Ryden joined the fray. Saint had never seen anything like it.

  It took five former Green Berets and a Marine to stop Ward Kingston from getting his hands on Saint.

  “You’re done,” King roared, his skin flushed red. “Do you hear me? You’re fucking finished! Get the fuck out of my sight!”

  “King,” Ace pleaded when King grabbed a fistful of Ace’s shirt and practically lifted him off his feet.

  “You get him the fuck away from me,” King ground out through his teeth, “Or I promise you I will beat the living shit out of him and put him in one of those fucking rooms!”

  “And you think that’s what Leo would want?” Ace asked quietly, wrapping his hand around King’s wrist, his gaze never wavering.

  King gritted his teeth and shook his head, tears in his eyes. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

  “Am I wrong?”

  King inhaled deep through his nose and released Ace. He rolled his shoulders and shrugged his brothers off him, a tear that he seemed unaware of rolled down his cheek. Meeting Saint’s gaze, he thrust a finger at him. “So help me, if he….” Pressing his lips together, King shook his head and stormed out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

  Saint looked down at his hands, only just then realizing they were shaking. He dropped onto the closest chair, leaned his elbows on his knees, and dropped his head into his hands. What the fuck had he done?

  “Hey.”

  The soft word made Saint jump, and he lifted his head to find Ace kneeling in front of him.

  “Give him time.”

  Saint shook his head. “He’s right. I don’t deserve to be here.”

  “Save me from stubborn assholes,” Ace said, shaking his head. He met Saint’s gaze, his expression brooking no argument. “Now, you listen to me, Cavallero. What happened was not your fault. We all know that, and deep down, so does King. He’s not himself right now. Just give him time. He’ll come around.”

  Saint opened his mouth to argue, but Ace put a hand up.

  “This isn’t up for debate. I’ll extend your paid leave, okay? We’ll keep you updated on how Leo’s doing, but for now, take care of yourself.” Ace looked up at Val. “Can you keep an eye on him?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m sorry, Saint.” Ace squeezed Saint’s shoulder, his eyes glassy. “I really am. No one should be in this position.”

  Saint nodded. He stood and headed out with Val at his side. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to run into King outside or not, but he was glad he didn’t. What could he possibly say that would alleviate any of King’s pain right now? Nothing.

  In the parking lot, Saint reached for the door handle but stopped. “I’m going to stay at mine tonight.”

  Val walked around the front of the car and took Saint’s hand. “Please, don’t pull away. You shouldn’t be on your own right now. None of us should be.”

  “I know, I just…I need some time alone.”

  “Saint….”

  “Please.” Saint’s voice broke, and he cleared his throat. “I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  Val was clearly reluctant, but he released Saint. “Okay. Please, be careful, and if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  “Thanks.” Saint kissed Val’s cheek, then headed back to order himself a ride. Just when the car arrived and Saint got in, someone else climbed into the backseat next to him. “What the hell?”

  “Hey, Bestie,” Ryden said, smiling wide. “Where are we going?” He buckled his seatbelt, and Saint frowned.

  “What are you doing here? Go back inside.”

  “I don’t think so. The guys have this covered. I’m here for you.”

  “Val called you, didn’t he? What are you, my chaperone?”

  Ryden side-eyed him. “Do I need to be?”

  “Ready to go?” The driver asked, looking between Ryden and Saint.

  “Yeah, fine. There’s no getting rid of him,” Saint grumbled.

  “That’s right,” Ryden said. “I’m like one of those lovebugs. Once I’m on your ass, I don’t let go.”

  Saint stared at his friend. “That’s disturbing.”

  “No less true. Where are we off to?”

  “A bar.”

  Ryden nodded but didn’t say anything, which Saint appreciated. Right now, he just needed some time away from everything. Fuck, why, when he thought he was finally getting his shit together, did his life unravel into a hot mess? He stared out the window as the car drove toward St. Augustine’s Historic Downtown, where even on a weekday, the bars and restaurants would be filled with tourists and locals. He could get lost in the crowd and have a few drinks.

  A few drinks somehow turned into several. At least for him. His best friend was suspiciously sober. Was Ryden even drinking alcohol? Had he ordered any alcohol? Not that it mattered. Saint was the one who didn’t know which way was up.

  Saint leaned an elbow on the bar. They’d taken a seat at the end because even though the place was super busy, Saint wanted to be away from people. Maybe a bar in the Historic District at this time of night wasn’t the best place to get away from people.

  “What am I doing?” he asked Ryden.

  “You mean other than getting shitfaced? I don’t know. What are you doing?”

  “I’m asking you.”

  “If you don’t know, how am I supposed to know?”

  “You’re no help.”

  Ryden chuckled. “Okay, how about we start with what you’re referring to? What are you doing about what?”

  “Everything. My life. I tried dating, you know. That was a fucking disaster. I thought, maybe I just haven’t met the right girl. I never even considered that maybe I just hadn’t met the right guy.”

  “Or maybe you had met the right guy, and that’s why none of those dates worked out.”

  Saint gasped. “Holy shit. You’re right.” Why hadn’t he thought of that? Wait, hadn’t he just thought that?

  “See. I’m not just a pretty face.”

  “You do have a pretty face,” Saint agreed. “Jay is prettier, though.”

  “Um, what?”

  “Jay. He’s pretty. Well, he’s cute. I always thought so. With his perfectly coordinated outfits and those cute little bow ties. And his lips. You ever notice how full his lips are or how soft his hair looks, and why are you glaring at me?” Saint reached out to poke the crease on Ryden’s forehead, but Ryden moved his hand away. Rude.

  “Why are you talking about Jay?”

  “I’m not talking about Jay. You’re the one who likes him.” Saint put a finger to his lips. “Sorry, is that a secret?”

  “What is happening right now? We’re not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about you.”

  “I think I might love him,” Saint murmured, staring down at his glass and frowning. “There’s no mint in my drink.” What the hell? “I’m mint-less.”

  “You’re something all right. You don’t get mint with brandy.”

  “Brandy? Why the fuck am I drinking brandy? I don’t even like brandy.”

  “You ordered it,” Ryden said.

  Saint took a sip of his drink and cringed. Gross. “Brandy,” he snickered. “Like the song. It’s a sad song, isn’t it? I mean, she loves this sailor, and he can’t be with her because he loves the sea more, and oh my god, that’s why my marriage fell apart.”

  “Ooookay, I’m just going to take that glass from you, buddy.” Ryden reached over and took Saint’s drink.

  “I don’t like it anyway,” Saint said. “There’s no mint.”

  “Have some water.”

  Saint took a sip from the bottle Ryden handed him and cringed. “Ugh, it doesn’t taste like anything.”

  “Because it’s water.”

  “Can I get mint in my water?”

  Ryden hung his head and laughed. “Sure.”

  “I think…I think I’m falling in love with him,” Saint said. Or at least he thought he said it. What time was it? Val. Oh. Val was home, all alone. Saint had left him alone.

  “You think you’re falling in love with him?”

  Saint sighed heavily. “I know.”

  “Pretty sure he feels the same way, so what’s the problem?”

  “That night at Sapphire Sands, he was there. He asked me if I would introduce him to my family as my boyfriend.”

  “And you said…?”

  “Nothing. I said nothing.”

  “Which said it all.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re afraid of what your family will do?”

  “I mean, it’s not like I don’t have gay cousins and stuff, and my parents accept them and love them.”

  “But you think it will be different because you’re their son.”

  Saint leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “When did you get so smart?”

  “I don’t know whether to be touched or offended.” Ryden shook his head. “I wish I had the magic answer for you, my friend. I really do. But this is a decision only you can make. What I can say is that with a guy like Val, you’re either all in or all out.”

  “I know.” And Saint did.

  A decision was looming, and Ryden was absolutely right. Saint had to decide whether he was all in or all out. How much was he willing to sacrifice to have a future with Val? Did Val even want a future with him? Saint sure as hell hoped so.

  There was only one way to find out.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Weren’t things supposed to be slowing down? Val had retired for a reason. To put this kind of shit behind him. His life was supposed to be more peaceful and relaxing. He should be working on his tavern, catching a game on the weekends, and attending barbecues. The danger was supposed to be behind him, not on his doorstep.

  Even with everything going on, Val couldn’t help but worry about Saint. He hadn’t expected to feel this deeply about the guy this quickly, but everything about Saint just felt right. Val was happier when he was around, lighter. He laughed a hell of a lot more. With a heavy sigh, Val sat back on his couch, only then just realizing he’d been sitting here worrying in silence for hours.

  No doubt Saint was annoyed with Val for sending him a chaperone, but Val didn’t care. Saint shouldn’t be alone. He was taking what happened exceptionally hard, and it wasn’t even his fault. Everyone knew Saint had done the best he could. He’d reacted how he’d been trained to do and protected Leo. There was no way any of them could have prevented what had happened.

  King’s arrival at the hospital had made a bad situation worse, but Val couldn’t fault the guy. The man he loved, the man who King would do anything for, had been shot. All King knew was that Saint had been the one protecting Leo and therefore had failed. Something told Val there was more to it. King was a rational man. His rage may have been justified, but his reaction to seeing Saint spoke of something deeper.