12. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

L andry couldn’t look at Enzo without getting hard. It was as if something had opened inside him, flipping a switch. He couldn’t shut it off. Not that he wanted to.

Enzo sat in a chair, reading something on his device. Landry pretended to watch a movie, but was really watching Enzo’s thighs. Even through his jeans, they looked thick. Landry remembered the way they’d felt beneath his ass when he’d sat on them.

The distance felt bigger as the time passed.

Enzo met his gaze with a smile. “Are you okay?”

Landry nodded. “Can I sit with you?”

“Here in the chair? Or would you like me to sit next to you?”

Landry’s cheeks grew hot. “I would like to sit on your lap again.” Which translated to Landry wanting to make love again.

Based on Enzo’s knowing smile, he understood what Landry wanted.

Enzo set his e-reader on the side table before sitting on the couch with Landry.

“Will you…Will you take off your pants?” Landry wanted to see Enzo’s thighs bare. He wanted to feel them on his ass. He could always safe-word if it became too much, but he didn’t think it would. He knew he could trust Enzo.

Enzo stood before doing what Landry asked. He kept his underwear on. He wore red boxer briefs that molded to his body.

Landry stood to take off his pants. His leg wound pulled a bit when he walked, but he didn’t need the crutches anymore. Enzo thought it was because they had partially bonded. Landry appreciated being able to move without pain.

Just when Landry had them off, Enzo’s phone rang.

Enzo met Landry’s gaze, as if asking for permission to answer the phone.

Landry nodded. It could be important. Maybe someone needed a doctor.

Enzo frowned and answered, saying, “It’s Daruss.”

Landry heard what Daruss said, thanks to his dragon hearing.

“Casper’s missing,” Daruss said.

Landry stiffened. “What do you know?”

He should have had his phone. Casper had probably tried to call and Landry hadn’t answered him. If he needed help, Landry had failed him.

“He never came into the club to tend bar. I sent Nash and Ronin to his apartment. He’s not there either. I’m sending Avit to look for him, but his disappearance is suspicious, given it’s just days after you getting shot. And Casper was with you that night.”

It was a message from Ellis. Landry could feel the truth of it in his gut. “It’s not a coincidence.”

“I don’t think so either. That’s why I’m calling. I need your expertise.”

Enzo’s frown held questions, as if asking what expertise Landry had. It was something Landry would explain after the phone call.

“I’m on my way.”

Enzo ended the call a second later. He grabbed his pants and put them back on. “I have four-wheel drive. It’ll be slow-going.”

“I have to get to my apartment first.” Landry went to the door. He forgot he’d been wearing sneakers the night of the shooting. It hadn’t been snowing. There had just been a promise of it. But Mother Nature always lived up to her promises. He hadn’t left Enzo’s house since, so he hadn’t needed winter gear.

Enzo handed him a pair of his boots. “They might be a size too big, but they’ll keep your feet warm.”

“Thanks.” Landry put them on and then grabbed his coat.

They were out of the door in seconds and headed toward Wingspan.

“What are you an expert in?” Enzo waited longer to ask than Landry had thought he would.

“Daruss thinks Ellis took Casper.” Landry stared out the window without really seeing anything. “Ellis probably did it to send a message to me.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, baby.”

No, it didn’t, but they were at the point where Landry would have to help with a rescue. Enzo wouldn’t like it. Landry wasn’t delusional about it. It was when Enzo would realize his own prejudice toward Landry and his family.

“I fight. Better than most. And I can breathe fire even when I’m not in my dragon form.” Being able to use his fire was the real reason Landry almost always went on missions. He’d gotten proficient at it in recent years. Daruss and some of the other guys had helped Landry understand how to use what nature had given him to his advantage. Landry had excelled at each lesson.

“Fire is rare.” Enzo seemed contemplative, as if he were rolling the information around in his mind, trying to draw some sort of conclusion.

“So I’m told.” Not very many people had lights on their houses in that part of Wingspan. Landry wasn’t sure why. But he could see Christmas trees through the windows as they passed.

“You were too young to learn how to control it when you were victimized.”

“I was too young to even shift, and then I shifted way later than normal. But Daruss and Izzy helped get me through the worst of it. When we discovered I had fire, Nash and Avit taught me how to use it. Avit helped me channel the fire even while in human form. And Skippy and Seryn taught me how to fight. At first it was how to defend myself, but then it turned into how to eliminate a target.” Landry knew Enzo wouldn’t like that last part. Just so Enzo knew where he stood, he added, “Some people deserve to die.”

“The people who hurt you certainly do.” That Enzo agreed with him came as a surprise. But then Enzo added, “But you shouldn’t have to decide how justice is exacted.”

“That’s usually circumstance.” Enzo’s truck created chaos in the stillness. Little bits of snow fell from the trees as they passed. Landry watched the powdery whiteness swirl behind them in the rearview mirror. “This one time we were raiding a warehouse in Duchester. This man was in the middle of assaulting a woman. I eliminated him instead of allowing the assault to continue until the cops came.”

Enzo sighed. “I get your point.”

“Good. Because I will not defend my actions to you again.” Landry didn’t have to. He could have allowed Enzo to think whatever he wanted. He continued to have the same conversation out of courtesy to Enzo. Landry felt as though he was spinning his wheels, not making any progress. At some point, they might have to agree to disagree.

“You’re not healed yet.” So the whole discussion was Enzo’s gentle attempt at talking Landry out of going.

“I’m healed enough. Casper doesn’t deserve what happened.”

“I agree, but why do you have to be the one to save him?”

“It’s my job. Not only that, but Casper is my best friend. If Ellis took him, then he did it to get to me.” Landry didn’t have evidence to support the claim. Or at least not much evidence. It was more of a gut feeling. Daruss was right. It was too coincidental.

“Why can’t this guy just leave you alone?” Enzo growled every word.

Landry didn’t answer. The question was rhetorical. Landry understood that. But he also didn’t have the answer, anyway. He could speculate, but that wasn’t knowing for sure. Ellis was the only one who knew.

Landry laid his hand on Enzo’s thigh. “I’m capable.”

“Fine, but I’m going with you.”

Landry shrugged. Daruss would have a bigger problem with that than Landry did. But knowing Enzo, he’d likely get his way. It would give Landry a chance to demonstrate his abilities.