Colton’s lips curled into a satisfied grin. “Ooh, big words for such a little man.”

  Ace’s eyes welled up at the memory of his fallen brothers, and he shoved away from Colton, hating he’d exposed his one vulnerability. “We came home because we lost half our unit. Good men torn away from their families. From their children and loved ones. They were heroes who fought for this country. Show a little respect.”

  Colton swallowed hard and looked away, shame washing over his face. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, wiping away the wetness in his eyes. “You’re right. That was uncalled for.”

  Ace nodded. He hardened his gaze and rounded his shoulders. “We’re leaving.”

  “I apologize for my callous words regarding your brothers-in-arms. That doesn’t change anything else. I don’t want you here. I won’t have anyone controlling my life. Not that sick bastard, not my father, and certainly not an entire team of armed men.”

  “Too damned bad,” Ace growled, infuriated with himself for letting Colton get to him. He knew better than to respond to provocation, and yet he had. “Are you going to cooperate?”

  Colton crossed his arms over his chest, chin lifted defiantly. “No.”

  “Okay. We’ll do things your way.” He grabbed Colton’s arm, ignoring the man’s yelp as he hoisted him up into a fireman’s carry.

  “What the hell?” Colton struggled against him, but Ace was stronger, and sober. He carried Colton through the crowd, which thankfully moved out of his way.

  “Put me down, you Neanderthal!”

  They passed the bar, and Colton yelled out at the bartender he’d flirted with earlier. “Seth, call Frank!”

  Shit. He had to get Colton out of here fast. “Excuse me. Boyfriend’s had a little too much to drink.” Ace winked at one particularly large man who looked like he was about to step in to help Colton out. “I forgot our anniversary,” Ace said loudly. The man looked uncertain.

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” Colton yelled furiously. “I wouldn’t date this man if he were the last dick left on the planet!”

  Everyone around them howled with laughter, and Ace cringed. “Come on, baby. Don’t do me like that. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Ace patted Colton’s ass, earning him an infuriated scream from Colton and a laugh from everyone around them. “Let this be a lesson to you, boys. Remember your anniversaries!” He carried Colton toward the front door when someone dropped a brick wall in front of him.

  No, wait, it was Frank. Ace smiled at him. “Hey, Frank. How’s it going?”

  Frank’s eyes were comically wide as he looked from Ace to Colton and back. “The fuck is going on?”

  “I don’t have time to explain right now,” Ace said, starting to feel Colton’s weight. “But I’ll call you.”

  “First he brushes me off, and now you?” Frank crossed his beefy arms over his chest, and Ace was sure he’d hear fabric tearing any minute now.

  “Frank, tell this brute to put me down!”

  “Ace, put him down,” Frank growled.

  “I can’t. I’ve been hired to protect him, and since he doesn’t want to cooperate and he’s drunk off his ass, I’m taking him home.”

  Frank’s head snapped to Colton. “You hired the Kings to protect you? Jesus Christ, Colt, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?”

  “One,” Colton said, holding out two fingers. Seeming to notice, he put one down. “One, I didn’t hire them. Two”—he kept one finger up—“my father hired them. Wait, that’s part of one, so, one A. Two, I’m not drunk.”

  Frank shook his head before turning his attention to Ace, who winced.

  “Frank, buddy, I love you, man, but Colton here is no delicate flower.”

  “Are you saying I’m fat?” Colton yelled right into Ace’s ear.

  Ace groaned and moved his head away. “And now I’m deaf. Thanks, Frank. Look, I’ll have him call you when he’s sober. His dad hired the Kings to protect him, so you know it’s serious. I have to get him home.”

  “Don’t do it, Frank,” Colton said.

  “Shit.” Frank rubbed his hands over his face. He looked worriedly at Colton. “Tell me. Is it true? Your dad hired them to protect you because you’re in danger?”

  Colton waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Some sick bastard sending me shit.”

  Frank seemed to think about it, then let out a resigned sigh. “I’m sorry, Colton, but you mean a lot to me, and I’d never forgive myself if I let you out of here without the Kings and something happened to you. You’re in good hands. I promise.” His gaze turned hard when he looked at Ace. “Keep him safe. If you need anything, let me know.”

  “Damn it, Frank!” Colton tried to wriggle free, but Ace held on tight, thanking Frank as he hurried out the club door. Red was in front with the SUV, and Lucky opened the back door for him. Ace bent over, shoved Colton inside, then quickly climbed in after him and slammed the door. Colton tried to open his door, but Red had control of the locks.

  “Get us out of here,” Ace told Red as soon as Lucky was in the passenger seat. They all strapped in, and Ace reached for Colton’s seatbelt only to have his hand smacked away.

  “I can put my own seatbelt on,” Colton snarled, jerking the seatbelt toward him. “You’re an asshole. Did anyone ever tell you you’re an asshole? I can’t believe Frank. Let me out of here.”

  “You do realize you’re trying to open the door of a moving vehicle while wearing your seatbelt?”

  “Shut up,” Colton snapped. He turned his attention to the front. “Who are you?”

  “The guy driving is Red,” Ace replied.

  Colton moved his gaze to Lucky, who was smartly keeping his big trap shut. “And who are you?”

  “That’s Lucky.”

  Colton moved his narrowed gaze to Ace. “I wasn’t asking you, was I? Ace, Red, Lucky. What are you? Vegas rent boys?”

  “Are you asking me or them?” This had to be the most fun he’d had on a job. Colton was shitfaced. His cheeks were red, his eyes glassy, and he was swaying. Here was a man who was about to take over a multibillion-dollar company, and he was acting like a drunk college brat. It was highly entertaining.

  “I’m looking at you, aren’t I?”

  “I’m not really sure.” Ace couldn’t help but tease. He pointed at Colton’s left eye. “This eye’s looking at me, but that one’s looking a little uncertain.”

  Colton slapped his finger away. “I hate you.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  Ace chuckled.

  “Is this how you treat all your clients?”

  Colton went off on a tirade, which Ace easily tuned out. He texted King to let him know they had Colton and were on their way back to his house. The car suddenly fell silent, and he looked up to find Colton slumped against the window, mouth wide open as he drooled on the glass.

  “Did he run out of oxygen?” Ace checked the man’s pulse. “Nope, still alive.”

  “This is not going to be easy,” Lucky said, meeting Ace’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

  “No, but it might be fun.”

  Chapter 4

  He was dying.

  At least it felt that way. Colton buried his face against his pillow. Why was his head trying to collapse in on itself? He shut his eyes tight before slowly cracking one open, then the other. The curtains to his room were thankfully still drawn. The last thing he needed was blinding sunshine coming through the wall of glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows on both floors of his bedroom. He adored his bedroom and spent more time up on his second floor sitting area than he did in his living room, especially when the cooler weather allowed him to curl up in front of the fireplace surrounded by the sounds of the crackling fire and the ocean outside his open doors.

  The moment his broker showed him the pictures of the house, he’d fallen in love. Two-and-a-half floors of high ceilings, wall-to-wall windows, and balconies outside almost every room. The vast amount of white gave everything a clean, elegant, and spacious look. It also brightened everything up, which he loved, but not at this moment. Bright white was not favorable to a hangover.

  With a groan, he dragged himself to sit up, his bare feet hitting the plush carpet. He frowned down at his white undershirt and red boxer-briefs. When had he stripped out of his club clothes? And how the hell had he gotten home? Considering his hungover state, it was no surprise last night was somewhat of a blur. He remembered being at the club, trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol and male bodies. One particular male body flashed through his mind clear as day, and he hung his head with a groan. Of course his brain would hang on to the one guy he wanted to forget most, and his cock was in cahoots with his brain. Colton glared at his dick.

  “Traitor.”

  Pushing to his feet, he lumbered into his bathroom and flinched against the brightness when he stepped inside. Grumbling, he brushed his teeth and splashed water on his face before getting undressed. Removing the only two items of clothing on his body shouldn’t have been as difficult or painful as it was. As soon as he was naked, he stepped into his shower and turned on the water as cold as he could stand, in the hopes of getting rid of his morning stiffness and the images of mesmerizing gold-green eyes, a chiseled jaw, and pouting lips. The man had freckles, for fuck’s sake, strewn across his nose. Colton remembered wanting to taste them, among other things. Who the hell gave that man the right to be so beautiful?

  “No. You are not doing this,” he scolded himself. His painfully hard erection had other plans, and Colton took himself in hand with a moan as he vividly recalled the gorgeous man who’d stolen Colton’s breath the moment he’d stepped in front of him. Ace. Fuck, he was gorgeous. Square-jawed, lush lips, intense eyes, and a hard body. Too bad he was off-limits. Considering Colton had no intention of seeing Ace again, what could it hurt? Leaning one hand against the stone tile wall, he closed his eyes, letting the cool water sluice over him as he stroked himself, his bottom lip between his teeth.

  Why was it his mind had no trouble conjuring what Ace felt like against him, the way his body molded perfectly to his? Those strong calloused fingers closing around his wrists and that low gravelly voice sent a shiver through him. His breath hitched, and his hand moved quicker over his searing flesh as he pumped his cock, pleasure rippling through his body. He knew nothing about the man who’d intruded on his life, but the more Colton tried to put Ace out of his mind, the more his brain tormented him with flashes of a cocky grin, long lashes, and the way he’d manhandled Colton. Fuck, he didn’t even know that kind of thing turned him on, and from what little he could recall, Ace hadn’t been completely unaffected. That was another tidbit of information his brain had decided to retain.

  “Fuck.” Colton gasped, feeling his muscles pull and tighten as his orgasm built and exploded in a white light in front of his eyes as he came hard, his body trembling. He dropped his head against the tiles and closed his eyes. “Happy now? Got it out of your system? Good. It’s over.”

  He finished showering, turned off the water, and dried himself before heading back into his bedroom. From his walk-in closet, he picked a slim-fitting taupe button-down short-sleeve shirt with striped cuffs, black slacks, and a brown belt that went with his brown brogues. Feeling better already, he fixed his hair, grabbed his wallet, keys, and a pair of aviators that matched his outfit, and headed downstairs in search of breakfast, and more importantly, coffee.

  Maybe it had all been a dream? The details were rather fuzzy, so it was possible. He remembered parts of being in a car with two other men. Maybe they’d dropped him off? Once downstairs, he neared the kitchen and the sound of voices, one of them a familiar low sexy growl that went straight to his groin.

  No. No way. He hurried into the kitchen and came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the sinfully beautiful man leaning against the breakfast bar counter, a mug in his hand. Colton’s eyes were drawn to the man’s right hand, and the small black spade tattoo between his thumb and index finger. He was dressed in black military cargo pants, a black baseball cap with the white Four Kings Security logo, black boots, and a black T-shirt that stretched obscenely over his muscular chest and biceps. Across from him sat the two men who had been in the car last night, both sporting card suit tattoos in the same spot as Ace on their right hands, one a red heart, the other a black club. One was big and broad with auburn hair and warm hazel eyes. Next to him was a slightly smaller, leaner Hispanic man. Colton remembered him speaking Spanish at one point to the other men. His hair was black, his jaw stubbled, and his eyes deep chocolate brown. The three men studied Colton intently. It was unnerving.

  “Good morning,” Ace said cheerfully. He pointed to the espresso machine. “There’s coffee.”

  Colton narrowed his eyes. “You kidnapped me.”

  “No. We—your security detail—escorted you home.” Ace picked up a tablet, then held it out to Colton, who marched over and snatched it from him. His stomach dropped and his ire rose with every word he read. It was a contract between his father, their company, and Four Kings Security. Oh, that sneak. If it had been between him and Four Kings, Colton would have been able to do something about it, but his father had brought the company into it, and company policy covered hiring outside security for Connolly’s executives should the need arise. How could his father do this to him?

  “I’d like to discuss the changes we need to make around the property.”

  “Changes?” Colton’s head shot up and he stared at Ace. When he spoke, his voice came out quiet. “You want to make changes to my home?”

  Ace’s gaze turned sympathetic. “I promise you, we’ll only make changes to what we consider essential, and no one will invade the privacy of your bedroom. Any changes we make are a direct result from the risk assessment we’ve conducted. It’s necessary to maintaining the security of both you and those under your employment here on the property. Your security system is good, but not up to our standards. We’d like to install thermal cameras and new biometric keyless locks that operate with approved retina scans and fingerprints. The new system will electronically monitor anyone entering and leaving the property and will keep an electronic roster we can access from anywhere. We already have three specially equipped SUVs on-site, one outside the property, one parked at the front of the house, and one at the back, ready twenty-four hours a day for a quick getaway. We’ll provide additional transport as needed. In case of noncompliance, changes can be made on your behalf. It’s in the contract. But I would rather run things by you and get your input.”

  Ace gently took the tablet from Colton’s hands, which was smart considering Colton’s hands were shaking. They’d come into his home, and now they wanted to take control and make changes. If he refused, they’d been given the go-ahead to continue.

  “Your panic room has been inspected and would need updating with the new system, but we also have a safe house ready in case of emergency evacuation, the location of which is disclosed only to me and my security team. Your home will be stocked with emergency supplies, including satellite radios and shortwave radios. You already have a top-of-the-line power generator, which is great. I’ll be showing you some nonlethal approaches to stopping and detaining someone. It helps keep the lawsuits to a minimum. If we deem it necessary, I can arrange lessons in close-quarter combat. King is running a thorough check into everyone at Connolly Maritime and anyone who does business with you. He’ll let us know the moment any red flags pop up. Nadine provided me with your schedule, so I’d like to sit down with you to discuss some of the concerns I have on events with a high-risk factor.”

  Colton walked to the cupboard, took out his favorite coffee mug, and made himself a latte while Ace continued to tell him how they’d be stripping Colton of his freedom piece by piece. Once his latte was done, Colton took a sip, then left the kitchen, heading to the stairs, Ace on his heels.

  “Colton, I know this might seem extreme, not to mention inconvenient, and I’m sorry, but we’re talking about the very real threat to your safety. It’s my job to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

  Do whatever it takes. Colton flinched at the words. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard those very words, and they’d destroyed him. Never again. He took the steps two at a time, stalked into his office, and slammed the door in Ace’s face. He locked it, ignoring Ace’s knocking.

  “Colton, please open the door. Let’s discuss this.”

  After placing his mug on his desk, Colton picked up the phone and called the only other person who would have known about this.

  His mother.

  “Colton, my darling. Are you—”

  Her soft voice filled with concern made Colton explode. “How dare he do this to me!”

  “Sweetheart, he’s your dad. He loves you.”

  “He promised me he would never interfere in my life like this.”

  “This is different. He’s trying to protect you, and quite frankly, I’m glad. When were you planning on telling me?”

  “It’s nothing,” he grumbled, feeling guilty for worrying her. They hadn’t always seen eye to eye, especially after she’d divorced his father. He’d been in high school at the time, struggling with teenage angst and coming to terms with his being gay when his mother decided she’d throw divorce on top of everything. A long line of therapists had tried to help him understand that although his parents had fallen out of love with each other, it did not mean they didn’t love him.

  “Nothing?”

  The hitch in his mother’s voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he braced himself. He needed far more caffeine for this, and his headache wasn’t helping any. Usually he could count on his mother to agree with him, since she had a tendency of being against whatever his father said, sometimes simply on principle. He should have known better since it concerned his safety.