“Colton, the man is ex-Special Forces. He had a whole other life before you.”

  Colton shrugged. “Ace’s time in the military is no one’s business but his and those who served with him. If, and when, he wants to share that part of himself with me, then I’ll be there to listen.” Colton handed his father’s cellphone back to him. “I know this whole thing has been about you protecting me, and I’m sure part of that is down to wanting to atone for what your father did, but it’s not necessary. All I want from you is your trust.”

  Paxton sighed and nodded. “You’re right.” His frown deepened. “Our family does have a habit of being a tad emotional.”

  “And they call me a drama queen.”

  His father chuckled, and then a knock on the door drew their attention.

  “Come in,” Colton said, glad to see King. The man was impressive, no doubt about it. He had a presence about him. Despite being Colton’s height and not as muscular as Red, he was larger than life. He carried himself tall, his dirty-blond hair and bright blue eyes a stark contrast against his tanned skin. His eyebrows were thick, his stubbled jaw chiseled, and when he stood at attention, chin lifted high, it was clear that inside Ward Kingston beat the heart of a warrior. This was the man who’d helped piece his broken brothers back together.

  Paxton cleared his throat and took a step forward. “King, I owe you and your men an apology. I let my emotions get the better of me. Seeing Colton in the same room as those men who’d come to hurt him… I was beside myself. It was wrong of me to threaten you in the manner I did. The contract between Connolly Maritime and Four Kings Security is safe. Ace’s involvement with my son won’t be leaving this room. I’ll even make sure it becomes part of the confidentiality agreement in the new contract. Do you forgive me for my behavior?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive, Mr. Connolly. You had every right to be upset. I can assure you this is an isolated incident. No one in our employ has ever crossed that line with a client, and Ace will face the consequences of his actions.”

  “What does that mean?” Colton asked, pushing away from the couch.

  “When Ace became emotionally involved, he compromised himself, you, and our firm. He should have taken himself off the case, but he didn’t. Trust is everything in our business, Colton, and Ace broke that trust. We’re very fortunate that you and your father are good men and can forgive this indiscretion. Had it been anyone else, we may not have been so lucky. I can’t sweep this under the rug, and Ace knows that.”

  With the matter resolved with his father, Colton turned to Paxton. “Dad, can we have the room please?”

  Paxton nodded. He walked to King and put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “You’re an honorable man, King. You and all your men.” He patted King’s shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on Ace, son. Love makes smart men do stupid things.”

  King’s eyebrows shot near his hairline, but he simply nodded.

  As soon as Paxton closed the door behind him, Colton spoke up. “What are you going to do to Ace?”

  “It hasn’t been decided. I might call the shots in most cases, but the four of us are equal partners. As much as I would love to say he won’t receive special treatment, he’s our brother and co-owner. However, that doesn’t excuse his actions, and he knows that. We all do. The four of us will have a meeting and discuss how to move forward.”

  Colton nodded his understanding. “How you handle things in your company is none of my business, but like I told my father, I was the one who initiated things between us. Ace was reluctant.”

  “Yet he proceeded nonetheless.”

  “Do you know what scared him most?”

  King tilted his head, studying him. “What’s that?”

  “Disappointing you. He loves you, King. You’re his family. I mean, you all are, but you…. The way he talks about you. You’re his hero.”

  The only sign that showed King was upset was the way his jaw muscles tightened before he answered. “Then he shouldn’t have betrayed me or his brothers the way he did.”

  Colton marched up to King, indignant. “It’s not about you! It’s about us and what we mean to each other. I love him.”

  “What?” For the first time since entering the room, King looked stunned.

  “I love him. I don’t know when it happened, but it did.”

  It seemed to take a minute to sink in before King turned and ran his fingers through his hair. “Jesus.” He rubbed at his stubbled jaw before turning back to Colton. “You really love him?”

  “Do you think Ace would have risked hurting you for a fling? A one-night stand?”

  King shook his head and let out a heavy sigh. “No.”

  “I want to be with him. Make him happy. After everything you’ve all suffered, doesn’t he deserve to be happy? To be loved? You all deserve that, King.”

  “He told you?”

  It wasn’t said as an accusation. King sounded more curious than anything.

  “About what happened to your unit? Yes. About coming home and how you helped him and the rest of your brothers find their way. The way he lights up when he talks about you and his brothers—you’re his world.”

  “He should have come to me,” King said quietly.

  “He was going to. After this was over, he was going to ask for your advice on how we should proceed in public. Not once did he stop thinking about you or the others. We both fucked up royally, I know that, but it’s not every day you find someone worth risking so much for.”

  King nodded. “Thank you for the insight.” His phone buzzed, and he removed it from his inner suit pocket, looked at it, sent a speedy text, and returned it to his pocket. “The police have arrived. They’re taking Ace’s statement, so I need to go. I’ll let you know when it’s time to give yours. In the meantime, please stay here. Red will take over Ace’s duties. I’ll notify you when it’s safe to contact him.”

  “Okay.” Colton hated that he couldn’t talk to Ace, but he didn’t want to make things worse for him. As badly as he wanted to be in the man’s arms, he’d wait. Someone knocked, and King called out on his way over.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s me,” Red replied from the other side.

  King let Red in and spoke quietly with him before he turned and excused himself. Red locked the door behind him.

  “Hey.” Colton went straight for the minibar. He desperately needed something strong. After fixing himself a whiskey on the rocks, he carried his glass over to the couch and sank into the plush cushions. Red took a seat beside him, his expression filled with concern.

  “How are you doing?”

  “Miserable. But I’m alive, so that’s something. How’s Ace?”

  Red sighed. “Not good, but he’ll get through this. Whatever happens, he knows he’s still family.”

  Colton took a sip of his whiskey. “I’ve really fucked things up for him, haven’t I?”

  “Do you care about him?” Red asked, his hazel eyes intense.

  “I love him.” Colton frowned down into his glass. “That’s three people I’ve told, and none of them have been Ace.”

  Red placed a hand on Colton’s shoulder. “You’ll be able to tell him soon. I promise. In the meantime, you need to stop blaming yourself. Ace knew what he was getting himself into, but you obviously mean a lot to him. It’ll work out.”

  “Thank you.”

  A knock on the door had Red on his feet. “Yes?”

  “It’s me. Nolan.”

  Colton nodded for Red to let him in. Red opened the door, and Nolan ran in, practically shaking with worry. Colton stood and came around the couch to meet Nolan, who hurried over and checked him for injuries.

  “Oh my God, Colton, are you okay? Paxton said you were here. He told me what happened, and I came right away. Is it true a group of men attacked you? Here?”

  “Yes, but Ace took care of them. I’m okay.”

  Red chuckled. “Don’t sell yourself short, Colton. You did pretty damn good yourself.”

  “Thanks to Ace and the self-defense techniques he taught me. I’ll never underestimate a writing utensil ever again.”

  “I can’t believe this.” Nolan ran a hand through his hair. “Goddamn, Jeremy. I swear the man is a jinx. If he’d let Ace go with you and stopped being so selfish, this might not have happened.”

  “Hey, Nolan. It’s okay. I’m fine. How about a drink?”

  Nolan nodded. “I think that would be a good idea. I swear my son-in-law has been nothing but a pain in the ass since I met him. Ace should have gone with you. This shouldn’t have happened.”

  Colton poured Nolan a drink and turned as Nolan removed a gun with silencer from his jacket and pulled the trigger, shooting Red twice.

  “No!”

  Red dropped to his knees, his hands pressed to his stomach, blood seeping through his fingers as he gasped for breath.

  Oh God, no!

  “Red!” Colton dropped the glass and ran for him, but Nolan blocked his path.

  “What the hell did you do?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m going to need you to come with me, Colton.”

  “Please, Nolan. We need to get him some help. Oh God.” This had to be a horrible nightmare. It couldn’t be happening. “Red, please hold on.”

  “Colton, if you don’t come with me right now, the next bullet I fire will be into his skull.”

  “Jesus. Okay.” Colton put his hands up, and Nolan motioned him toward the door. “What do you want from me?”

  “If you don’t shut up and get us out of here without incident,” Nolan warned, “I can promise you someone else you care about won’t be making it out of this hotel. Think about your father.”

  “Okay.” Colton nodded. “I’ll cooperate. Just don’t hurt anyone else.”

  “Then move.”

  “Hey.”

  Ace took another swig of his beer before answering King, who grabbed a seat on the stool beside him at the bar. “Hey.”

  The police had Ace’s statement and were in the process of interviewing anyone and everyone who might have seen anything. They’d taken the men away and would be looking into who they were. Colton was safe with Red, waiting for his turn to give his statement. It was a clusterfuck. And yet Ace could only think of Colton. How he should be with his man, holding him, reassuring him. Colton was most likely blaming himself, and Ace needed him to understand he shouldn’t be. The severity of what could have happened probably hadn’t even hit Colton yet.

  “I’m prepared to face the consequences,” Ace said, taking another sip of his beer. His skin felt too tight for his body, and his muscles tensed with the need to be doing something, anything.

  “Are you?”

  “I fucked up, King.” Ace nodded, tears welling in his eyes, and he couldn’t help his choked sob. “I’m so sorry I disappointed you.”

  “Asshole. Come here.” King brought Ace in for a hug, and Ace clutched him fiercely.

  Ace had a huge family, with aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, grandparents, but not one sibling. As an only child, he’d often imagined what it would be like to have a sibling. Lucky had filled that role from the moment they’d met back in high school when Lucky came over. Ace had helped tutor him in English while Lucky taught him how to get into mischief without getting caught. When Ace said he was joining the Army, Lucky didn’t hesitate. Wherever Ace went, Lucky was at his side, and then they’d found brothers in King and Red.

  With a sniff, Ace moved away. “I think I’m in love with him.”

  “You think you’re in love?”

  Ace let out a soft laugh. “Okay, I am in love with him.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it was building up since we met. I kept trying to push it down, ignore it, walk away, but when he kissed me, I knew I couldn’t. Then I saw those assholes in there trying to hurt him, and the realization almost knocked me on my ass. I know I should have told you. I should have taken myself off the case, but I needed to be the one to protect him, King.”

  King arched an eyebrow at him. “Why? Lucky not capable? Red?”

  “Thing about Colton is, he’s a little stubborn.”

  King wrinkled his nose. “No shit. Looks like you found your perfect match.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing.”

  “I’ll talk to Paxton. He might punch me in the face, but I swear I’ll do everything I can to make this right.” He made to get up, but King stopped him.

  “No need.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your boyfriend went to bat for you, and let me tell you, he went in swinging and laid that shit down.”

  Ace stared at him. “Really?”

  “Oh yeah. First with his dad and then with me.”

  “With you?” Ace’s jaw dropped, and he couldn’t help the bark of laughter that came out.

  “Yep. I was impressed. We didn’t lose the contract, and Paxton’s even willing to add a clause to the confidentiality agreement. No one will know what happened outside the six of us. I’m still going to have to bench you for a while.”

  Ace nodded his understanding. “Of course.” He cringed. “Anything else?”

  “You’re going to have to make peace with your cousin. He’s real hurt over this, and you know how serious he takes his moping.”

  “I know,” Ace said with a soft laugh. “I’ll make it right with him.” It would take a lot of groveling. So, so much groveling. But eventually, Lucky would forgive him. “I think Red’s got a soft spot for Colton’s friend Laz.”

  The exasperated sigh King released as he let his head hang was epic. “You guys are killing me here.”

  “He’s not a client, though.”

  “Well, thank fuck for small miracles.” King squinted at him. “Has he done anything about it?”

  “No. Laz broke up with his asshole boyfriend, and he’s got… things to sort out. It’s obvious he’s got a little crush going on, but you know Red. He’s got his own demons to battle.”

  King nodded sadly. “I know.”

  “When’s the last time you got laid?” Ace sipped his beer, ignoring the full force of King’s glare.

  “Keep it up and you’ll be protecting teen pop stars from here until you retire.”

  Ace shuddered at the thought. “Duly noted.” King went pensive, and Ace turned his attention to him. “I can hear the wheels turning in that scary brain of yours.”

  “This was never about Colton’s sexuality.”

  Ace agreed. “These men were professionals.”

  “The hate mail was to redirect suspicion.” King stood, and Ace followed, tossing some bills by his empty bottle before walking with King through the bar toward the nearest elevator.

  “We need to talk to Colton,” King said. “This puts Connolly Maritime back on our radar.”

  “But we looked into everyone. No suspicious activity in their finances, contracts, associations.”

  “Doesn’t mean someone isn’t hiding something. My guess is that whoever’s behind this is going to regroup and try again. We need to investigate everyone on the guest list. Someone on that list let those guys in here.” His phone buzzed, and King pressed the button. He placed it to his ear as the doors opened and they stepped inside. “Hello?” King straightened, his face draining of color. “What? Stay with him. We’re on our way.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “That was Jack. Red’s been shot.”

  Ace’s heart lurched to a halt, or so it felt. When the doors opened, they bolted from the elevator and ran down the hall just as paramedics rushed into the hospitality suite. Images of Pip flashed through his mind, and Ace felt sick to his stomach. When he reached the room, Ace almost lost his dinner. It was like the world had gone silent. Jack was holding Red, his bloodied hand pressing down on Red’s wounds, shouting at him to stay with them.

  “Ace!”

  All Ace could see was himself, shaking and crying as he held Pip’s lifeless body, explosions going off around him, dirt and debris raining down on him, King screaming for him to move.

  “Ace!” King’s voice brought him out of the past, and Ace gulped a lungful of air. “Wait outside.”

  Ace shook his head. He pushed by King and dropped to his knees beside Red as the paramedics worked on him furiously. His eyes were closed, his face ashen. Ace looked up into Jack’s tearful gaze.

  “Is he…?”

  Jack shook his head.

  “Oh God. Red!”

  Shit. Ace jumped to his feet, grabbed Laz before he could reach Red, and started dragging him toward the door.

  “No! Red! Let me go.” Laz fought him, but he was no match for Ace. Tears streamed down his face as Ace picked him up and off his feet. “Red!”

  They lifted the gurney with Red strapped onto it.

  “I’m going with him,” Laz spat out.

  “Laz—”

  “I’m not leaving him.”

  “Ace,” Jack called, and Ace turned. Red was awake and fighting the paramedics. He tugged the oxygen mask off.

  “Ace,” Red croaked, and Ace released Laz and ran to Red’s side. “You have to… you….”

  “It’s okay, buddy. Take it easy.” Ace ran a hand over Red’s hair, trying to soothe him.

  “Colton. He took Colton,” Red said through a gasp for air. “Nolan took Colton.”

  What the fuck? “Was he the one who shot you?”

  Red nodded.

  “Get him out of here,” Ace told the medics, and they were off, Laz following, holding Red’s hand.

  “Laz, take care of him. We’ll meet you there,” King called out. Laz nodded fervently, then turned his attention back to Red as they disappeared.

  Ace spun to face King. “We need to find Colton. We need to get him back and make that son of a bitch, Nolan, pay for what he did to Red. If he doesn’t make it, I swear to God….” His voice broke, and King took hold of his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

  “Hey, Red’s made of stronger stuff, you know that. He’s going to make it through this.” He turned to Jack who was just standing there, staring down at his bloodied hands. “Jack?”

  Jack’s head shot up, his eyes glassy.

  “Go get cleaned up, buddy.”