Chapter Three

Eric

"Why are you pouting?"

Eric scowled at his best friend. "I am not pouting. I don't pout! What the hell?" Damn it, when did Dane arrive? Eric had been doing just fine sitting at his desk, thinking.

"You're totally pouting," his lieutenant and other best friend said as he joined them.

Eric threw the pen he'd been staring at down on his desk. Great, now both guys were there. And they could read him like a book. They were detectives, after all. "Am not!" Okay, maybe he was a little. But Ezra had been off the last two nights and Eric wanted to see his boy. Not that he could admit that to his friends because they didn't even know about Ezra. Or the feelings that Eric had for him. Although acting like a three-year-old probably wasn't the best bet to get them off his back.

"This is about a guy," Dane declared as he leaned over Eric's desk and into his face where he blocked everything and everyone else from view.

"Dude!" Eric leaned as far back in his chair as he could. "Personal space!"

"Yeah, totally a guy." Dane's cinnamon breath from the gum constantly chewed, an addiction that he'd picked up when he'd quit smoking, drifted into Eric's nostrils. It wasn't an unpleasant smell.

"What guy?" Remi questioned. He grabbed the back of Eric's chair so Eric couldn't wheel away.

Why had Eric decided to come into the office? Oh yeah, Brandon was at work so the house was too quiet. And he was pouting about not seeing Ezra. Ezra was always at work! Two days! Where was the boy?

"He's not denying it," Dane said.

"What?" Eric said. If he didn't get his friends to go away, he might break down and tell them everything.

"The guy," Dan repeated.

"What guy?" Eric could pretend that he had no idea what Dane was talking about. It might work.

Now Remi was leaning over him.

Eric huffed. "Fuck off."

"This must be serious," Dane pushed Eric's chair back until it was against Remi then slid to sit in front of Eric. A little too close.

"I think we need to discuss boundaries again," Eric quipped.

Remi snorted behind him. "I've seen you naked more than the person in my last relationship."

Laughter rang around the room.

Eric peered around Dane's large body to glare at the other officers. "Doesn't anyone have work to do?" he demanded.

"No!" chorused around the room.

"Yes, you do!" Remi barked. "Anyone still in the room in ten minutes gets to change into their uniforms and do street patrol."

It was comical how fast the cops could move when threatened with the one thing they all dreaded. Going back to patrol. It could be boring work right until it wasn't.

"I should—" Eric tried to rise from his chair.

Remi's fingers dug into his shoulder as Dane narrowed his eyes.

"My office!" Remi declared. He forced Eric from his seat and started to direct him across the room, Dane at their heels and Dane's new shadow staying by his master's side. Brandon was really going to love Maverick.

He could make a break for it. Eric ran three to five miles every morning. Yes, it was more for necessity instead of fitness like Brandon had accused. He would never live it down from his fellow officers if he allowed a suspect to get away.

"I'm faster," Dane whispered in his ear.

Eric jerked away. "Dude! I'm going to get your dog to eat you."

Dane's low chuckle was not a surprise. Eric didn't know much about the K-9 program but from what he'd witnessed, the canines were the best trained in the country. He doubted he would ever get Maverick on his side. It was still fun to tease.

And Eric was trying to think about anything other than being dragged away by his friends so they could interrogate him.

Remi opened his office door and Eric stepped over the threshold before going straight for the mini fridge. He pulled out a bottle of water then flopped onto the couch in the corner.

Dane sat next to him as Maverick settled on the side of the couch. Remi moved around his desk, sitting down. They both stared at him. Slowly Eric twisted off the top of his water and took a long drink. Maybe his friends would get bored.

"I have all night," Remi told him.

"Well, I don't. I need to be in the field with my team in thirty minutes. Spill."

Eric drained half the bottle. He could talk to his friends. There would be no judgment. Not with everything they'd been through together. Looking around the office that Remi had been promoted to, Eric saw the space held small reminders of their past. Photos in frames hung or walls or sat on shelves, with Eric and Dane in most of them.

For years they'd been a tight team. Eric trusted these two men with his life. More, he trusted them with Brandon's.

Dane snatched the bottle out of Eric's hand.

Pushy bastard.

"There is this guy," Eric started.

"Yeah, figured that out. Who is he?" Dane asked.

"Just a guy from the coffee shop at the casino," Eric said.

"We both know it's more than just a guy," Remi commented. "That look on your face gives you away. What's going on?"

"I…" It was time to come clean. "He makes me feel things that I haven't before," he confessed.

Dane hummed, drawing Eric's attention.

"What?"

"You're interested in more of a unique relationship with him," Dane said. It wasn't a question.

Leaning forward, Eric braced his elbows on his knees. "It's all I can think about. Which is crazy since I've never been interested in a relationship like that before."

Dane was nodding. "Brandon isn't the only one that opened your eyes. When we were in Rocky Lake, you saw how the LT was. Sam had the LT wrapped around his finger before they were even together."

"Carson was always into a Daddy and boy relationship though."

"But he kept that part of himself from us. It wasn't until you saw Lincoln and Caden together though that you saw another side of the lifestyle. Before that you believed you needed to get Brandon away from any relationship like that."

"It was nice to see how Caden responded to Lincoln. How protective Lincoln was," Eric shared. "Eventually I understood why Brandon needs that." It had taken many long talks with his brother and help from their therapist.

"Then what's the problem?" Remi inquired.

Eric wished he knew. Leave it to Remi to ask the hard questions.

"You don't understand how you missed such a big thing about yourself," Dane said.

That was it. Eric had always considered himself a pretty self-aware kind of a person. He knew he had faults, but he was mostly a good man. "Yeah." Looking up, he met Dane's gaze. There was something there that showed Eric might not be the only one having these feelings. He had promised himself not to push and let Dane come to him. His suspicions were confirmed by this conversation though.

"That's not necessarily true. For either of you," Remi said. "Or me."

Eric looked over as Dane leaned closer. Remi had both their attentions. That was for damn sure.

"What?" Dane asked before Eric could get the word out.

Sitting behind the tall wood desk, Remi looked perfectly in place. Remi hadn't wanted to take the position of the new lieutenant but honestly there was no one better. Remi had worked closely with Carson when the man headed up their division. The last lieutenant had been more interested in filling his pockets with favors and pay-offs, leading to his dismissal. Remi slid right into the job, and it was where he should be. Eric still missed working on the streets with him though.

Remi rubbed the bridge of his nose as he studied them for a long moment. Finally, he sighed. "Can we all admit that in the last six months we've all researched Daddy kinks?"

"Yes," Eric agreed. They both knew all about Brandon. They'd offered to help in any way. That had been reason enough for Eric to learn more about the lifestyle. He might have dug deeper than what was actually necessary, but Eric had been curious.

He caught Dane nodding from the corner of his eye.

"Me too," Remi admitted.

"This isn't much of a secret. We've discussed this a few times," Eric pointed out.

"Except we haven't admitted that all the research we've done wasn't all for Brandon's benefit. At least not since you both started to see the therapist and he was able to communicate what he needed."

Eric ducked his head. That was true. Brandon was able to clearly and precisely share with Eric what he needed to help him heal. It was better than Eric guessing and accidently triggering his brother. "Okay."

"From what I've discovered, there are many aspects of this lifestyle that call to different people for different reasons. All three of us share similar traits that I've noticed within the Dom community."

"Just how far into the Dom community have you gotten?" Dane asked.

Eric wanted to know that too. For himself he was more interested in the dynamic of having a partner.

"I've spoken to a few Doms online and even met with one in person," Remi shared.

Wait. "Are you saying that you're looking for a Dom?" That shocked Eric. Remi was so put together, independent, bossy.

Remi shook his head. "Not how you're thinking. Although I can recognize why someone searches out a Dom. I'm more interested in seeing how I would do as a Dom."

This was more than Eric had expected. It made sense though. When Remi got an idea in his head, he threw himself all-in. He researched and dug deep until he was satisfied.

"Are you being trained?" Dane asked.

Trained? Eric looked from one man to another.

"I am. I've only had two sessions so far, but I believe I've found my place."

"What are you talking about?" Eric demanded.

Remi rose and walked over to him. He sat on the table in front of Eric. "I was going to bring this up once I was sure I would continue this path. We've both been extremely busy, and I didn't want to have this conversation over the phone."

There was a sense of betrayal, but Eric couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from.

"I've been exploring my dominant side. I have a mentor that I met online, and we have a contract where he agreed to show me the ropes of the lifestyle. He has his own sub who's volunteered to fill in until I find…a partner of my own," Remi explained.

Eric stared into Remi's eyes as he let the words sink in.

Dane moved closer to him until their thighs touched. They were supporting him. Ready for him to freak out. He'd done it before. Eric did not have the desire or the energy to fight what he was feeling.

"There's a guy that I see almost every night. I…I want to make him my boy," he confessed quietly.

Remi gripped his knee as Dam threw an arm around Eric's shoulder.

"You want more than a hookup?" Remi pressed.

"I want to dress him up in Brandon's play clothes and make sure he has everything he ever needs. I want to baby him and make him laugh and giggle. I also want to sit and talk to him for hours. I don't only want to care for him. I want something real with him. I want a relationship. A true partnership. I know subs are really the strong ones in the relationship. I can tell he's been through some shit times, but he's strong. I can see it in his eyes. I want to know everything about him."

Remi smiled. "Sounds like you found yourself a boy."

Eric shook his head. "At first, I thought I was looking for something that wasn't there. Brandon doesn't need me as much as he used to. But this guy…his name is Ezra. He calls to something inside of me."

"Do you have any idea if he's interested?"

"I think so." Eric found himself smiling. "There have been some issues at work with my suspect. I intervened and gave him my number. I was hoping he'd call."

"You need to romance him," Dane said.

Eric turned his head to stare at the other man. "Seriously? Romance."

Dane shrugged. "It's not like you can confess to wanting to be his Daddy if you haven't even shown him that you're interested."

Dane wasn't wrong.

"I can speak to my mentor. If you'd be interested in talking to him?" Remi offered.

Eric shook his head. "No, I have an idea on that. Jesse Lambert has a private club attached to the casino. We meet there to discuss the case."

"What kind of club?" Dane asked.

"It's called the Teddy Bear club," Eric replied. "It's a kink club that focuses more on littles, pups, and the softer side of the lifestyle. There are some more hardcore nights, but I haven't been there during all of those."

"My mentor, Damon, is a member. I haven't been there yet. I haven't done any scene other than in private, but Damon has his own dungeon that I train in."

"What kind of training are you talking about?" Dane asked.

Good question.

Remi met Eric's eyes. "Impact play. Shibari. The reason I met with Damon is because he's been studying shibari for over ten years. I want to learn from someone who has experience."

Eric understood something he'd missed earlier. "You didn't say anything because you were afraid of how I would react."

Remi squeezed Eric's knee. That was response enough.

"I was an asshole to Lincoln and Caden when I first realized what kind of relationship they had. I was wrong." Eric had apologized!

"That doesn't mean that you'd support me wanting to explore—"

"No!" Eric blurted. "I mean yes. I will support you. I know there's a difference between a consensual relationship and the abuse that Brandon suffered."

"It's okay to have doubts," Remi said.

Eric snorted. "I don't have any doubts about you." He turned to Dane. "Or you. I don't think that I'll ever be able to practice impact play. I have read about alternative punishments though." And those had been hot as hell. "Jesse practices a softer side of Daddy kink. I think I'll ask him for some advice."

"Good idea," Remi agreed. "You're going to make such an amazing soft caretaking Daddy. Your boy will have you wrapped around his finger in no time."

"He already does. Ezra just doesn't know it yet."

Dane chuckled.

Eric refused to blush.

"Good." Remi seemed to relax. "This conversation got off track."

"It's good though," Eric said. He didn't want any secrets between them. And he'd needed someone to talk to. Thinking about Jesse Lambert might open up another avenue as well. Jesse was well known in the community and his club was both exclusive and inclusive.

"Yes, it is," Remi agreed.

"Now you just have to go after your boy," Dane said.

Remi looked at Dane and raised a brow. Eric knew that look. Remi was challenging Dane, but Eric didn't know why. Did Remi suspect what Eric did about the feelings Dane had for Brandon?

"What?" Eric asked. Maybe he could push a little.

"Nothing," Dane said quickly. His watch beeped and he jumped.

Eric nearly laughed out loud. Maverick even perked up from beside the couch to peer at Dane.

"I need to go," Dane said standing. Maverick rose up from where he was resting next to Dane's legs.

"Wait!" Were they done with this conversation?

Dane grinned. "You want to get some time in the field?"

Oh, fuck yeah. Eric missed field work. He had been undercover for months now. He missed action. Building the case took time. What he was working on was important, but he wanted to feel the adrenaline of a good bust.

He glanced at Remi.

Dane laughed and put his face next to Eric's.

"Please!" Eric and Dane said in unison.

Remi shook his head.

"Pretty please," Dane said.

"I need action," Eric whined.

Remi sighed.

"I promise to make him behave," Dane said.

Eric snorted. That wouldn't convince Remi. "I'll be back up."

"Do you have street clothes with you? You can't go in that suit."

Eric grinned.

"Fine," Remi responded, rising and going back to his desk. "But no hands-on. I don't want your name on the paperwork. You have an assignment."

And Eric would get back to his assignment the next day. Hopefully Ezra would be back to work by then as well.

"Come on!" Dane tugged on Eric's arm. "I've got to meet my team. You can follow us. Just make sure you let my team take the lead."

At least he wasn't sitting alone in his house worrying about his brother or thinking about Ezra.

* * * * *

Ezra

Swaying back and forth, Ezra hummed under his breath.

The loud party a few apartments down had been going for hours at this point. He really needed to find a better apartment. He had enough saved for first and last month's rent plus a deposit. Now he just needed to find a place that would take him.

Ezra had a good job. Money. The past was the past and his new life was going to be wonderful. If he said it every day maybe he could manifest his happily ever after.

Bright headlights flashed into his living room through his thin curtains. More vehicles pulled into the small parking lot.

"Great, more people coming to party," he mumbled.

Ezra was exhausted. He'd been awake for nearly twenty hours at this point. He'd had to call into work sick for the first time since he started.

In his arms, his baby girl whined.

"I know," Ezra soothed. He rubbed his cheek against the top of Annabelle's head. She was no longer running a fever so that was something. "It'll be okay, baby girl."

He could have sworn the music was turned up louder.

Ezra wanted to cry himself. He was so tired and taking care of a sick three-year-old had depleted every ounce of his energy. He didn't know how much more he could do. And if he was being honest with himself, Ezra was a little worried that he might have caught the bug from his baby girl as well.

A loud siren blasted through the night and Ezra jumped. Annabelle began to cry immediately. There was some banging from outside. A lot of banging. More sirens.

What the fuck! Ezra nearly screamed.

Annabelle did start to scream.

"No, no, baby girl. It's okay." Ezra bounced his little one. Patted her back. But she was pissed now.

Shouting and yelling had replaced the loud music. Cops. Some kind of bust? Maybe the neighbors would finally get arrested, and Ezra could get a few hours of peace. Not that another neighbor wouldn't just move the party to their place. Ezra was really looking forward to some uninterrupted sleep for a few hours. Cops were not unusual in the complex and after they left, it normally took a few hours before the neighbors felt safe to act up again.

Ezra would totally take any amount of quiet he could get.

Until a shot rang out. Fuck! Not good. There weren't usually gunshots! Ezra panted as he raced from the living room and into the bathroom. He closed and locked the door behind him as he clutched Annabelle to his chest. That was it. Ezra was moving out. He didn't care where they ended up. He'd get a motel room or something. He was not allowing Annabelle to spend one more night in this dump.

Crouching between the toilet and shower stall, Ezra rocked while singing to Annabelle.

"You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray."

He repeated his words over and over until Annabelle was softly snoring on his shoulder. The poor thing having cried herself to sleep.

Ezra had no idea how long had passed.

Had it been an hour? More? He wanted out of the cramped bathroom but was it safe to take Annabelle out? Was it the cops that fired the shot or one of the many criminals that lived in the complex?

Not that it mattered. First thing in the morning and Ezra was out of there. Dom had offered more than once to let Ezra stay with him. Ezra had resisted, knowing that it was too much to ask when he had Annabelle. It was one thing to put Ezra up for a few nights but a whole other ballgame when he had a three-year-old.

Maybe it was time that Ezra learned to lean on someone else for help. Dom never held back what he wanted to say and if he had offered help, he probably meant it. Anything was better than keeping Annabelle in this environment.

His legs were cramping and his feet numb, so he nearly fell flat on his face when he moved. Using one hand on the wall, Ezra managed to stand. He slowly exited the bathroom.

It might be better to lay Annabelle down in her little toddler bed but Ezra was afraid that she would wake again. He needed to get some sleep, if he was going to find a new place to live the next day. Later that day? Damn! Ezra was fucking tired. He also had no idea what time it was.

Walking into his living room, he wasn't surprised to find that the entire space was lit up with blue and red lights flashing across the walls from outside. At least the cops had quieted the place down.

He strolled over to the couch to lay Annabelle on the blanket he'd placed earlier. Her favorite fuzzy purple monster blanket. It had been a present from Dom for her third birthday.

Luckily Annabelle remained asleep as he straightened back up.

He nearly leapt out of his skin when there was a knock on his door. He swung around to glare at the door before rechecking on Annabelle. Thank fuck, she was still asleep.

As quietly as he could, Ezra stomped to the door.

He undid the chain and the two deadbolts before yanking the door open.

Ezra yelped at the man standing at his doorway. A man he knew. The gold police badge around his neck sure the hell didn't belong though.