Why was it suddenly so quiet out there? Adrian was up to something, and that could only mean bad things for him and Pete.

  Chip crawled the rest of the way out, stood, and poked Saint in the chest with his pointy snoot. What the hell? Chip turned, and Saint scratched him behind the ear, whispering, “Good boy.” He pulled the Glock from the holster Velcroed to Chip’s tactical vest and quietly took the safety off.

  Time to get moving.

  Saint hoped Chip knew what to do because Saint was a little rusty on his German commands. Taking a deep, steady breath, Saint readied himself. And then he caught the scent of smoke.

  Are you kidding me?

  That’s what Adrian had been up to. He was setting the whole fucking place on fire, and considering all the harsh chemicals in here, this place could blow any minute. Saint pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Joker. This was bad, very bad.

  Recall your dog and get everyone away from the building. Now!

  Saint readied himself, and when Joker shouted in German, Saint jumped to his feet, shooting Adrian in the shoulder as Chip leaped from table to table toward the window he’d come in through. Adrian’s shot went wide, preventing him from shooting Chip as Saint suspected the asshole would try to do. He ducked, a shot ringing out over his head.

  “Give up, Adrian. This isn’t going to end well for you,” Saint said, getting ready to make his next move.

  “You’re right. It’s not going to end well for me, but at least I’ll take you with me. Stand up, or Pete gets a bullet in the head.”

  Pete made a whimpering noise, and Saint cursed under his breath. Damn it, why hadn’t Pete stayed hidden?

  Something popped at the end of the factory, and Saint had a decision to make. If he didn’t make his move, none of them were going to make it out of there.

  “Stand up!”

  Saint slowly stood and put his arms up, gun in hand. “Just let him go, Adrian. I’m the one you want dead, remember? Leave Pete out of this.”

  “If I can’t kill Serrano, at least I know he’ll suffer at having lost you.”

  Everything happened in a heartbeat.

  Instead of pulling the trigger, Adrian’s head snapped back, a hole appearing in his forehead. His body seemed to float before he crumbled to the ground. Saint spun around to find King standing there, still as a statue, gun in hand. It seemed like time had stopped until King met his gaze.

  “Grab Pete. We need to get out of here.”

  Saint nodded. He put the safety back on his Glock and tucked it into the back of his waistband. Jumping over the table, he hurried to grab Pete, who sat on the floor staring at Adrian’s lifeless body.

  “Come on, Pete,” Saint said, grabbing his arm and pulling him up. He was about to ask King about Adrian’s body when another explosion sent a huge iron shelving unit falling forward, blocking their path from Adrian.

  “Let’s go, Sailor. Move,” King ordered, and Saint hurried after him as they ran toward the front entrance of the factory. Bottles of chemicals exploded behind them as they ran. Even once they were outside, they didn’t stop running, and it was a good thing they hadn’t. A blast knocked them off their feet, and Saint landed hard on the grass several feet away. He rolled, then curled himself into a ball, shielding his head as debris and pieces of the building rained down around them.

  When it seemed to have stopped, he heard someone call his name in the distance. Moving his arms and opening his eyes, he saw Val running. Saint pushed himself to his feet, opening his arms in time for Val to run into them.

  “You’re okay,” Val murmured against Saint’s hair as he hugged him close. He pulled back and cupped Saint’s face. “You are okay, right?”

  Saint nodded. “I am now.” His heart swelled at the love in Val’s eyes and the beautiful smile on his face.

  “I’m so sorry,” Val said, letting his brow rest against Saint’s.

  “No.” Saint lifted Val’s chin so their eyes could meet. “There’s been enough blame going on. You’re not responsible for the choices he made.”

  “You’re right. I’m so happy you’re okay.” Val kissed him, and relief swept through Saint’s body.

  It was finally over.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  All Val wanted to do was get Saint home, but they couldn’t leave the crime scene. The owners of the upholstery factory had been notified of the fire when the fire truck arrived, and the crew got to work putting out the fire. Officers questioned them, taking their statements and confirming details. They were lucky Mason still had some connections at the police department from his former detective days.

  Thankfully, Pete had witnessed everything, and his story matched up with the information the officers had gathered from Saint and the rest of them. The first thing Pete told the police about what the man Adrian had hired to take his family hostage, and the police called it in immediately.

  SWAT officers arrived at Pete’s house to find a man holding Pete’s wife and son at gunpoint. Poor Pete was beside himself, pacing while SWAT tried to de-escalate the situation and get his family out safely. An hour later, they were informed the gunman was in custody and had confessed to being hired by Adrian Floyde.

  Saint refused to press charges against Pete, and the police let Pete go home to his family. While the police wrapped things up, Val stood to one side with Saint, who’d told him everything that happened inside the factory.

  “The guys didn’t say it,” Val said quietly, “but I could tell they were worried. When you told Joker to get everyone away from the building, we did, and when we turned around, we realized King was missing.”

  “I have no idea how or when he got inside,” Saint said, frown deep. “But he got there just in time. Took Adrian out with one shot.”

  Val cocked his head to one side in thought. “Do you think he could have taken Adrian alive?”

  Saint met his gaze but didn’t reply, which was answer enough. As far as the police were concerned, Adrian had taken hostages, and King had the shot, so he took it, saving both Pete and Saint. Pete confirmed that if King hadn’t taken Adrian down, he would most likely have died in that explosion along with Saint. The kill was justified.

  Would King still have taken Adrian out if he hadn’t taken Pete hostage? Guess they would never know.

  Several hours later, they were all free to go home, and Val couldn’t be more relieved.

  “I can’t believe it’s over,” Val said as he walked with Saint and the others to the parking lot where they’d left their vehicles. The fire department was still there, but the fire had been put out. He tried not to think about how Saint had been in there. Val stopped and turned to face their friends. “Thank you for everything. I hate to think how all this might have turned out without you all.”

  Ace patted Saint’s shoulder, his smile warm. “Of course. You and Saint are family.” He looked at King, who nodded, his expression grim.

  “That’s right. And we take care of family,” King said.

  Val was grateful and lucky he was considered a part of this nutty yet wonderful family. He could tell Saint was moved by King’s words, and Saint smiled wide when King stretched out a hand. Saint took it, and King pulled him into a fierce embrace, patting his back before letting him go.

  “What are you going to tell Leo?” Saint asked quietly. “You know he’s going to want to know.”

  King’s lips quirked in the corners. “The truth. You know he won’t accept anything else.”

  “And he’s going to be okay with that?” Val asked, concerned. Leo wasn’t a soldier. He had a very different way of looking at things.

  “Leo understands difficult choices,” King replied. “He’s had to make some himself. He might not like it, but he’ll understand it. And he’ll be happy that you two are no longer in danger.”

  Val couldn’t disagree. They reached the parking lot and parted ways, Saint opting to go with Val in his SUV. They’d pick his truck up tomorrow. Everything felt surreal. Even as he drove them home, Val couldn’t believe everything they’d been through tonight.

  Neither of them spoke on the ride home, each one lost in his own thoughts. When Val pulled into the garage, he turned off the engine and just sat there.

  “Hey,” Saint said softly and covered Val’s hand with his. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know,” Val admitted. “I almost lost you. Twice in one night.”

  “But you didn’t. Remember, no what-ifs.”

  Val chuckled. “I remember. Come on. Let’s go inside. It’s been a long night.” He locked the car and closed the garage door on their way inside the house. It was so good to be home.

  “I need a shower,” Saint said as he walked into the hall. He turned and waggled his eyebrows. “Yours or mine?”

  “Mine.” Val’s reply was so quick that it made Saint laugh. They started undressing on the way to the bedroom, dropping their clothes into the hamper. Val would have preferred to burn them in the hopes of forgetting tonight and how close he’d come to losing Saint.

  Shower running and both of them naked, they got in, and unlike other times, neither jumped into initiating sex. They didn’t say a word at first, but they didn’t have to. Val had a feeling they were both on the same page. Tonight could have ended so differently.

  “I’m here,” Saint said quietly as he lathered up Val, his soapy hands slowly running up Val’s arms, then over to his pecs and down his chest. They took the time to caress each other, to let it all sink in. It was okay, they were safe, and they were together. Once they’d finished showering and dried off, they headed into the bedroom.

  Before they climbed into bed, Saint took hold of Val’s hand and turned him around. He smiled sweetly and brushed his lips over Val’s.

  “You know, I get tested at work quarterly and just had one done recently. I can bring the results up on my phone.”

  Val blinked at him. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Because I can bring up my results in a heartbeat.”

  “No condoms, then?”

  “No condoms.” Val kissed Saint, moving him toward the bed until the back of Saint’s legs hit the mattress. He dropped down onto it with a chuckle, and the look he gave Val was sinful.

  “Ooh, that look means I’m going to like whatever comes next.” Val knelt on the mattress between Saint’s open legs and leaned in for a kiss.

  “I want to try,” Saint said, and Val pulled back, noticing the flush on Saint’s face. What was he talking about?

  “Try what?” It took Val longer than it should have for him to realize what Saint was asking. “Are you sure?”

  Saint nodded and slipped his hand around Val’s neck, tugging him close for a kiss. It was slow, sweet, and Val could have stayed there all night just kissing, but Saint had other ideas. He stopped kissing Val and motioned toward the nightstand.

  “Let’s go, Chief.”

  With a playful growl and a kiss to Saint’s lips, Val got up and grabbed the lube from the nightstand, turning and almost coming right then and there at the sight of Saint on his back, his knees drawn up as he slowly jerked himself off.

  Val groaned. “You started without me.”

  “Better hurry up then,” Saint teased.

  This guy. Val shook his head and jumped onto the bed, making Saint laugh. He crawled over Saint, between his knees, and kissed him, their tongues tangling as their kisses grew heated. All of Val’s emotions over tonight poured through him as he kissed Saint. He moved his lips to Saint’s neck, loving the sound of Saint’s panting breath.

  Saint thrust his hips up, his erection trapped between them. He let out a moan as Val nipped at his skin and then trailed kisses down his neck to his collarbone. He made his way down Saint’s body, stopping at his nipple where he sucked it in between his teeth, loving the way Saint sucked in a sharp breath.

  Val continued his sweet torture, caressing Saint’s body while licking, sucking, and nipping at first one nipple, then the other. Saint threw his head back, his fingers grabbing fistfuls of the sheets.

  “Val….”

  “Not yet,” Val said as he kissed his way down Saint’s torso. He was going to make sure Saint knew he was loved and cherished. He licked a stripe up the crease between Saint’s groin and his leg, smiling when Saint cursed under his breath. Before Saint could say whatever he’d been about to say, Val swallowed Saint’s cock.

  “Holy fuck!” Saint looked down at Val and groaned. “Fuck that’s so hot.”

  Val replied by sucking harder, chuckling around Saint’s erection when Saint dropped his head back onto the bed. Everything about Saint was beautiful, every curved muscle, every scar, every inch of tanned skin. Val couldn’t get enough of him.

  Placing some lube on his finger, Val kept his gaze on Saint when he pressed the tip to Saint’s hole. Saint jumped, his knees instinctively tightening around Val.

  “Keep going,” Saint pleaded, and Val did as he asked, slowly pushing his finger against Saint’s hole until he’d breached the tight ring. He continued to suck Saint, his erection having softened slightly. Saint nodded, and Val pushed his finger in. He slowly moved it in and out so Saint could get used to the feeling a little, then he pushed in and crooked his finger.

  Saint cried out, and he punched his hips up. Confident that Saint wasn’t uncomfortable, Val added a second finger and slowly fucked Saint’s ass. The noises Saint made spurred Val on, and he was already leaking precome, knowing he would soon be inside Saint.

  It took some time and gentle coaxing, but soon Val had managed to stretch Saint enough. He took more time than he normally would, even with Saint writhing beneath him and begging him for more. He didn’t want to overwhelm Saint; wanted to make it as good for him as possible. When Saint looked as if he might come apart, Val popped off him and lined the tip of his cock up with Saint’s hole.

  “Put your hands behind your knees and pull them to your chest,” Val said.

  Saint did as Val instructed, and Val groaned.

  “Fuck, you’re beautiful.” Val moved slowly at first, his eyes on Saint to make sure it wasn’t too much too soon. When Saint winced, Val paused.

  “No. Don’t stop,” Saint pleaded. “Keep going.”

  “It’ll get better,” Val promised as he gingerly pushed himself inside Saint inch by inch. “So fucking good,” he groaned. He buried himself inside Saint, the tight heat unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

  “Move. Please,” Saint groaned as he palmed his cock and started jerking himself off again.

  Val pulled out almost all the way out, then slowly pushed back in, and Saint growled.

  “Fuck me, Val. Please.”

  If that was what Saint wanted, Val would give it to him. He took Saint’s left leg and put it over his shoulder as he covered Saint with his body and pulled almost all the way out, then thrust in deep and hard.

  “Oh fuck! Yes, fuck, yes!”

  Val couldn’t help his ridiculous grin or the way his heart swelled. He pumped himself inside Saint, sweat beading his skin as he thrust over and over again, pushing in as hard and as deep as he could, his groin smacking against Saint’s ass.

  Saint’s hand motion became quicker, just like his panting. His brow was beaded with sweat, his skin flushed as the sinful sounds of his jerking off and Val’s body smacking into Saint’s filled the room.

  The fire inside Val ignited, turning into a scorching inferno that exploded through him as he lost his rhythm and he thrust wildly, pegging Saint’s prostate. Saint screamed his name, his body tightening around Val and nearly pushing him over the edge as ribbons of come hit Saint’s chest.

  Unable to hold back any longer, Val’s thrusts became short, fast, and hard. He came so hard he almost doubled over. He filled Saint, his body wracked with shivers as he pumped himself inside Saint a few more times, then slowly pulled out, his dick twitching at the sight of his come leaking from Saint’s hole.

  “Fuck, Baby.” Val was breathless as he dropped onto his side next to Saint. They both lay there staring at the ceiling as they caught their breath. When Val thought he could move again, he rolled onto his side to face Saint. “You doing okay?”

  “I’m not sure. My brain was just fucked out of me.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “As long as you don’t need me to, like, do any math or anything.”

  Val laughed. “Math after sex? I could never be so cruel.”

  Saint rolled onto his side to face Val, his smile wide and eyes filled with so much love. “I think I like the butt sex.”

  “That so?” Val tried to hold back his laughter. “You like the butt sex, do you?”

  “Yes, very much. We should do more of that. Butt sex for both of us.”

  Val couldn’t hold it in anymore and laughed. “Is that what you’re going to call it from now on? Butt sex?”

  “I mean, it’s sex. In the butt.”

  Val snickered. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Must be a side effect of the butt sex,” Saint teased, his eyes alight with amusement.

  Val hummed. “There’s a pill for that, you know.”

  Saint fell onto his back with a laugh. It quickly faded, and Val placed a hand on Saint’s stomach.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I may need to borrow some clothes.”

  “Oh shit!” Val sat up, a hand to his mouth. “Baby, I am so sorry. Fuck, I feel like such an asshole. You just lost everything, and I haven’t even said anything.”

  Saint sat up and shrugged. “What is there to say? It’s gone. But I’m not worried about it. I mean, it sucks, but it’s just stuff. I have renter’s insurance, and all my important documents are in a safety deposit box at the bank. Anything with sentimental value is at my mom’s.”

  “So why do you look so sad?”

  “The same can’t be said about my neighbors. Some of them have been living there for decades. They’re older, and I’m sure everything they owned was in their apartment.”

  Val’s heart went out to those poor people. An idea occurred to him. “What if we have a charity event to help them? Raise some money to get them back on their feet?”