Gio might be Chip’s favorite human, but Chip guarded Leo like no one else, especially from strangers. Like he knew Leo was a precious snowflake who needed to be protected at all costs. Speaking of…

  Joker turned to Leo. “I didn’t think this was your kind of scene.” Outside of their family, people in general were not Leo’s scene, much less a loud arena packed with thousands of people. It was the opposite of Leo in every way.

  Leo snapped his attention away from the guys moving computer equipment. He pointed up and behind them to the owner’s skybox.

  “I’ll be watching from up there. As for being here, are you kidding?” His eyes went all huge and sparkly. Uh-oh. Leo was about to have one of his nerdgasms. “Do you know the kind of coding and tech that goes into a Nia show? She’s got her own dream team who make her ideas a reality through coding and engineering. All of it perfectly in sync with her dance choreography and music. Her use of holograms is state of the art! And the best part is, Gio’s going to introduce me to her team. A couple of them used to work for NASA! I have so many questions.”

  Joker nodded. “I bet.”

  “Oh, I brought you a new snack.” Leo reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small packet of something. He held it out to Joker, his smile bright. “Plantain crisps. I know you’ve had plantain chips, but these are thinner and crunchier. They’re so yummy. Not as epic as Goldfish Crackers, but then nothing is.”

  Joker took the bag from Leo with a wink. “Thanks.” He stuck the bag into one of the pockets of his black tactical pants as a bark caught their attention. Chip, the traitor, was losing his furry mind, as per usual. Because, of course, his dog’s favorite human had to be the one guy Joker preferred to avoid.

  “I’m so happy to see you too,” Gio cooed as he made his way over, laughing and conversing with Chip, who shared his woes with Gio through a combination of barks, whines, and howls. His whole body wagged as he licked whatever part of Gio he could get to with his doggie tongue. If they’d been at Colton’s house or anywhere else Chip had toys, he would have brought Gio a toy or one of his bones, because he loved the fucker that damned much. Asshole.

  Gio stopped in front of Joker, his smile soft. “Hello, Sacha.”

  “Giovanni,” Joker said through a grunt.

  Gio gave Chip one last ear scratch before Chip returned to sit at Joker’s heel. Gio opened his mouth to say something as Ace and Lucky appeared to say hello to the guys, or more likely because they couldn’t be at ease if they weren’t breathing the same damn air as their men.

  “You look handsome,” Gio told Joker.

  Joker peered at him. “You’ve seen me in this before.” Same black tee with the Four Kings Security logo on the front left breast pocket and the company name on the back in bold white letters, black tactical pants, and boots. “I’m wearing the same uniform everyone else is.”

  Gio leaned in, his lips quirked at the corners in that roguish way of his. “But no one looks as good in it as you do.” His voice was low and silky, not that Joker was paying attention to the throatiness of Gio’s voice.

  Joker glanced toward the end of the stage, where Saint stood, the sleeves of his T-shirt straining against his bulging biceps. He was over six feet tall, all broad shoulders, thick thighs, and sculpted male perfection. The guy looked every bit the Navy SEAL he’d once been. Gio turned his head to see what had caught Joker’s attention, then turned back to Joker, his smile knowing.

  “I stand by my statement.”

  Joker snorted. “Right.” Not that he had any hang-ups about his body. He was toned, fit, and had twice the stamina most of the guys at Four Kings had, even the guys younger than him. He could run circles around all of them. He was agile, adept at sports, and a natural gymnast. Maybe if the universe hadn’t been such a dick, he’d have been given a little more height, but whatever.

  “Will you and Chip be at Colton’s tomorrow for the barbecue?”

  Joker replied without thinking. “Well, yeah. Obviously.” Shit, wait…

  “Great! I’ll see you then.”

  Damn it. Joker should have known. Fuck it. At first, he’d avoided any event where Gio might be but quickly realized there was no point. Gio was back for good and a part of their lives whether he liked it or not, even if Joker couldn’t figure out why the sudden return. The guy had traveled the world for years doing who knew what in the name of charity, and out of the blue, one day he calls Laz up and says he’s coming home for good? Why?

  “Sacha?” Jack’s voice came through his earpiece.

  Joker sighed. He hated to be called by his real name, but Jack had known him for decades, long before one of their fallen brothers-in-arms had given them their nicknames. “What?”

  “One of the stagehands bumped camera three with a prop he was carrying onto the stage. Must have knocked it pretty hard. It’s out of alignment. Can you go check it out?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Aw, what a shame. “I need to go. Duty calls.”

  “Stay safe,” Gio said, his expression sincere.

  Joker nodded. He ignored the way his heart did a stupid little flip. None of his friends understood why he was such an asshole to Gio, which was funny, considering Joker was pretty much an asshole most of the time, but something about Gio got to him, and that pissed Joker off like nothing else. From the moment they’d first spoken, Joker had a visceral reaction to the guy, and he hated it. No one was going to have that kind of control over him. No one.

  “Come on,” he told Chip. They headed backstage, where he removed the small tablet from his pocket and signed into the secure event portal Jack had created for this job. He located camera three and frowned. It was just outside Nia’s dressing room. Giving the command, Joker sent Chip to sniff around.

  They’d already checked this area several times, but over the next few hours, they’d be making several more rounds. His earpiece came to life, and King’s low grumble sounded in his ear.

  “Listen up, guys. Nia and her crew are on their way. Check in with your teams.”

  “Copy that,” Joker replied, along with Ace, Lucky, and Jack. He followed Chip as his partner left no corner unsniffed. Joker stopped in front of camera three outside Nia’s dressing room and peered up at it. The camera hung at an odd angle. “Jesus, what did he hit it with, a brick?” He’d just returned the tablet to his pocket when Chip gave his low warning growl. Turning, he found Chip with his nose pressed to the bottom of Nia’s closed dressing room door. Joker tapped his PTT button. “Jack, is Nia onsite?”

  “Not yet, but members of her entourage have started arriving.”

  “Copy that. Chip’s not liking something in her dressing room. I’m going in to investigate.”

  “Let us know if you need backup.”

  “Will do.” Joker hissed out another command in German, and Chip swiftly returned to Joker’s heel. They slowly approached the dressing room from one side. He silently turned the knob, but found it locked. This couldn’t be good. He knocked on the door. “Security. Is everything okay in there?” No answer.

  “Security.” He pounded on the door. “I need you to respond. Now.” Still no answer.

  Chip growled again, his hackles up, and Joker took a step away from the door.

  “Okay, if you don’t answer or open this door, I’m coming in. You have five seconds. Five, four, three—”

  The door cracked open, and a pair of blue eyes glared at him. “What do you want?”

  Joker arched an eyebrow. “Who are you?”

  “Who are you?” the guy snarled. A low growl rumbled from beside Joker, and the guy snapped his gaze to Chip. His eyes went huge, and he swallowed hard. “I mean, uh, hi, sorry. Can I help you?”

  Joker grabbed the edge of the door with a smirk. “Yeah, you can tell me who you are and what you’re doing in there.”

  “I’m Jiles. I work for the props department.”

  “Doesn’t answer why you’re in this dressing room, Jiles.”

  The guy opened the door and stepped to one side so Joker and Chip could enter the room. Chip immediately began sniffing everything, and Joker remained alert as he scanned the huge room. The doors to the two bathrooms were open, the curtains to the changing rooms also open. It was a brightly lit space decorated in black and white with pops of bright pink. Multiple mirrors and vanities were positioned across the seating area.

  Something red blinked from a vase of flowers on the bigger vanity, and Joker strolled over. Considering Chip hadn’t given him the signal, he was confident it wasn’t an incendiary device. He reached into the flowers and pulled out what looked like a small camera. Turning, he held the camera up to Jiles, who’d gone so pale Joker wondered if the guy was about to pass out.

  Jiles didn’t pass out. He took off running like someone had shot him out of a cannon.

  “Fuck!” Joker shoved the camera into his pocket as he shouted a command to Chip, who bolted after Jiles. Upon seeing the black demon dog on his heels, Jiles shrieked loud enough to shatter glass and plowed through the curtains onto the stage.

  Jiles’s first mistake had been to run. His second and biggest mistake had been to run toward Leo, who was so absorbed in whatever was on his phone screen he didn’t hear Joker shouting at him. Gio, however, did hear Joker and sprang into action, putting himself between Jiles and Leo right as Chip tackled Jiles.

  Jiles plowed into Gio, knocking him off his feet, the two hitting the stage hard, with Chip’s jaws around a mouthful of Jiles’s cargo shorts. Where exactly Jiles thought he was crawling to with a Belgian Malinois attached to him was anyone’s guess. Jiles yelped as Chip dragged him away from Gio as if he were nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

  Several of their guys reached Jiles, so Joker gave Chip the command to disengage and then turned to help Gio, only to find Saint with his arm around Gio’s waist as he helped him to his feet.

  “Shit, man. You okay?” Saint asked, a hand to Gio’s chest.

  What the fuck? Gio hadn’t been hit that hard. There was no need for him to be held. Either way, Gio was up now, so Saint could let go.

  Okay, this needed to stop. Joker shook himself out of it. First of all, who the fuck cared if Saint was touching Gio? Saint was Joker’s friend. He was also straight.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” Gio replied, running a hand through his hair. “Thank you, Saint.”

  Saint smiled brightly, his cheeks looking a little… flushed. “You’re welcome.”

  That was not how a straight man smiled at another man. Wait, what? The adrenaline must have gone to Joker’s head, because that thought had to be the most ridiculous thing to ever cross his mind. With a snort, he turned back to Jiles. Behind them, a large figure emerged from the shadows, and Joker grinned. King had walked on stage, and he looked pissed.

  Joker patted Jiles’s shoulder. “Nice knowing ya.” He waited while King went straight to Leo, gently moving him to one side so he could talk to him privately. He took hold of Leo’s chin and murmured something to him. Leo nodded, his cheeks pink as he said something in return that led to King hugging him tightly. It was a quick hug, but enough for those who knew King to know he’d been shaken at the possibility of Leo being hurt. King stopped next to Gio and put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Thank you for protecting him.”

  Gio shook his head. “No need to thank me. Any one of us would have done the same. I was just closer.”

  “Regardless, I appreciate it.”

  Joker groaned. Great, because Gio wasn’t on a high enough pedestal already. King patted Gio’s shoulder, then stalked over to Joker, who handed him the camera he’d found.

  “This was in some flowers on Nia’s vanity. My guess is Jiles here was the one who took out camera three, then locked himself in her dressing room to plant it. I’d have someone sweep the room in case there are more in there.”

  King took the camera, looked it over, then lifted his icy-blue gaze to Jiles. “Bring him to the security office,” he growled as he stormed off.

  They hauled Jiles away, and Joker was pretty sure that before the police arrived, Jiles would be all too agreeable. Whether he was a perv or had been intent on making a quick buck by filming Nia, he was in for a world of hurt. With that handled, Joker headed over to Leo, who now stood with Gio.

  “It’s okay, Leo,” Gio said, placing his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “I’m fine. I promise.”

  Leo nodded, but he still looked upset. Only one thing—or rather one fur ball—could change that. Joker scratched Chip’s head and murmured, “Go give Leo a kiss.”

  Chip bolted over to Leo and repeatedly jumped like a kangaroo so he could assault Leo with doggie kisses. There was no way to keep a serious face as Leo laughed and giggle-snorted while he attempted to stop Chip, who was determined to give Leo all the kisses in his canine arsenal.

  Joker stopped next to Gio, who laughed at Chip’s hijinks. “Thanks for doing that,” Joker grumbled. “Though maybe next time, just move him out of the way instead of turning yourself into a human shield.”

  “Were you worried about me?” Gio asked, his smile reaching his eyes. Joker was about to squash that sentiment, but Gio went pale and threw a hand out, gripping Joker’s shoulder.

  “What’s wrong?” Joker asked. Not even thinking about it, he wrapped an arm around Gio’s waist, his free hand going to Gio’s chest. “Talk to me, Giovanni.”

  “I think I’m a little dehydrated.”

  Gio needed to sit before he fell.

  “Over there.” Joker motioned to a closed steel trunk a few feet away.

  “Gio, are you okay?” Leo asked worriedly. Chip whining at Gio’s side was not a good sign.

  “I’m fine. Simply a little dehydrated.”

  Joker helped him over to the trunk and pressed his PTT button. “Saint, bring me a bottle of water.”

  In no time flat, Saint returned with the water and handed it to Joker, who twisted the cap off and held it out to Gio.

  “Drink.”

  “Thank you.” Gio took the bottle from him, his fingers covering Joker’s, surprising a shiver out of him. Pretending he hadn’t felt the jolt and ignoring Gio’s knowing look, Joker took a step back. He turned to Saint.

  “Thanks.”

  “Everything okay?” Saint asked, concerned.

  “Yeah, he needs water. You can get back to it.”

  Saint appeared momentarily shocked by the dismissal. Why? Joker had no idea. It wasn’t the guy’s first time working with him. He had a job to do, and it wasn’t to hover around Gio. “Oh, right. Sure thing.” With a nod, he walked off.

  “Are you sure this isn’t my fault?” Leo asked quietly, his boyish face filled with worry.

  “Not your fault,” Gio assured him. “I promise. I had a charity brunch this morning that was outdoors, and I should have hydrated more.” He lifted the bottle of water. “I’m feeling better already.”

  “Okay.”

  Colton called Leo over, and Leo excused himself.

  Not wasting any time, Joker frowned at Gio. “Not drinking water while outdoors is stupid.”

  “Agreed.”

  “You’re in Florida now. Hydration is important. Even when it’s cloudy, the sun will still bake you.”

  Gio nodded. “I know that now.”

  “Well, make sure you don’t forget it,” Joker growled. “Drink the whole bottle.” It wasn’t like this was Gio’s first trip to Florida. The man had been born and raised here.

  “Yes, sir.” Gio saluted, and Joker rolled his eyes. Smartass. At least the color had returned to his face. Gio lifted his eyes to Joker’s. “Thank you.”

  “For what? Sending someone to get you a bottle of water?” Joker waved a hand in dismissal. He wasn’t that much of an asshole. Not even to Gio. Springing into action when something was wrong was his default, and had been since his years in the military. Just because he and his brothers weren’t serving anymore didn’t mean they forgot years of training or life experiences.

  “You must know a lot about dehydration, working these kinds of events,” Gio said.

  “Yep. It’s serious shit. August will be the worst. Our guys spend a good deal of the time bringing people water at outdoor events because people forget how fucking brutal the heat and humidity can be.”

  Gio finished the bottle of water and stood. Much to his annoyance, Joker caught himself reaching for the guy. He quickly dropped his hand.

  “All good?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Gio smiled sweetly, and Joker forced himself to avert his gaze. He was going to say he had to get back to work when someone called out from across the stage.

  “Gio!”

  A gorgeous woman with flawless tanned skin and waves of shimmering black hair, dressed in a black silk robe precariously tied around her slim waist, hurried toward them.

  Nia was even more stunning in person than she was on screen, with ample curves and long legs that put her at least four inches taller than Joker, and that was without the three-inch heels she had on. Her lips were full and pouty, her eyes so dark they were almost black, and her presence was so raw it seemed to sucker punch everyone she swept past. She looked more like a goddess than a pop star, and she headed straight for Gio, arms wide.

  “When they told me what happened, I couldn’t believe it!” She threw her arms around Gio, hugging him. “I was so worried! Are you okay?” She pulled back enough to cup his face.

  “It was nothing. Really. It’s so good to see you.”

  “I’ve missed this face.” She kissed one cheek, then the other, her smile dazzling.

  Well, that was his cue. Joker turned to leave, but Gio called out to him.

  “Wait! Sacha.”

  Joker stopped and rolled his eyes. Now what? All Joker wanted was to get through his shift and have a couple of beers after work, and maybe a steak. Was that too much to ask? He turned, his expression telling Gio exactly how unimpressed he was.