Chapter Two

Rocky

Why couldn't he take his eyes off the sexy ass of the younger man moving from the room? More to the point, why was it taking every ounce of control to not stand up and follow? Rocky knew something was upsetting Pup. He didn't like the fact that Pup's eyes were bloodshot and rimmed underneath with dark smudges.

He was working too hard, running himself down. Rocky didn't like that at all. It reminded him too much of someone else who had become run down. Comparing the two was like comparing apples to oranges and, logically, Rocky knew that, but a part of him still didn't recognize the difference.

Rocky wasn't quite ready to admit to why he cared so much about Pup's health and wellbeing. He'd like to say it was because they were brothers in the MC and as close, or closer, than any family out there; but Rocky couldn't deny any longer that the feelings he had toward Aiden Sheppard were anything but familial.

If all Aiden was to Rocky was a brother, Rocky wouldn't have an immediate urge to adjust his pants every time the other man entered a room. If all Rocky felt was brotherly love, he wouldn't feel an obsessive-compulsive twitch to spank Pup's ass every time he caught the boy eating Goldfish crackers instead of dinner. If Pup was just his brother, Rocky wouldn't have to force himself not to gather Pup up into his arms and put him to bed to ensure the boy got some sleep.

Rocky wasn't certain Pup was even a Little, though he had a sneaking suspicion. Hell, Rocky wasn't even sure that Pup was even gay, much less into him. That didn't even touch on the fact that Rocky wasn't completely certain he was ready to find out any of these things about Pup, or that he ever should.

He was much older than Pup and Rocky knew he'd already had his forever love. Would it be fair to Pup to start something romantic without knowing if he was capable of being everything Aiden might need if the things Rocky suspected were even true?

"Something's buggin' him." Richy-Rich's words were barely a sound and yet, because they involved his boy, Rocky heard them as if they'd been shouted into a megaphone.

Turning his focus from the retreating form of the man who'd featured in way too many of Rocky's recent fantasies, Rocky lasered his focus on Rich and asked the only question currently screaming in his mind. "What's up with him?"

"I don't know, man. He hardly ever talks about himself or what he's doing, half the time I don't even think he's paying attention to conversations. But lately, it's been worse. He's been downright withdrawn, won't even talk about computers and that's usually about the only thing he'll talk about for any length of time."

It was true that Pup had always been one to focus more on his computer than on his surroundings. He didn't add anything to a conversation unless he had something useful to say. Rocky had always wondered if part of the reason was some form of neurodivergence, but he'd never asked. If Pup wanted them to know, he'd tell them. That's how it worked. All the guys would be there for one another, through thick and thin, no matter what. What they wouldn't do was push someone to talk about things they weren't ready to talk about until it seemed those things were affecting them physically or mentally. Then, it was all gloves off and no holds barred.

The thing about his brothers was they didn't want to run each other's lives, but they also weren't going to stand idly by while someone they cared about sunk into themselves or withdrew. They'd do what it took to get to the bottom of it. That was a more difficult task with Pup since he was naturally quieter and, while not necessarily distant, wasn't as prone to showing his affection. That meant they had to be more on the lookout with him. Somehow, they'd all missed the signs, though. All but Rich.

For some reason, the fact that Rich was the one to notice and bring it up pissed Rocky right the fuck off. It didn't matter that he'd been avoiding Pup since finding him napping in his office, thumb in his mouth, rubbing his fingers over some sort of stuffy in his bag, looking like Rocky's dream partner. It didn't matter that he'd been keeping his distance so he wouldn't do something stupid. He should have seen it. He should have been the one to know.

Rocky was the one who'd become the Pup expert over the years. He'd been the one to watch him and learn and try to be what Pup might need at any given time. He should have been the one to see something was bothering his boy. Not some new friend he'd made less than a year ago.

Now that Rocky was aware of what was going on, he stood from his seat, repeated his words from earlier, "We'll figure it out," and started to head in the direction Pup had taken. At the last minute, Rocky veered off down the side hall that led to the bathrooms. He couldn't follow Pup now. He'd push too hard and cause Pup to shut down. He needed to consider how to approach it before he went charging in trying to play white knight.

A pang went through Rocky's heart as thoughts of knights slaying dragons entered his mind, sending Rocky into a place he'd missed for four years now. A part of him recognized that the pang of grief was becoming sweet. Blending with the good times. More and more his thoughts of his previous life were happy ones. Memories of the good times outnumbering the memories of the bad. Rocky rubbed his chest and took a glance in the mirror above the sink. Grief still shadowed his gaze but there was a spark of humor, and the corners of his lips were curved up in an amused smile.

"Thanks, Josh. I know, I've told you, but I don't think you truly know how much I appreciate everything you do." Rocky held his phone between his ear and his shoulder as he sauteed some spaghetti squash in a garlic pesto sauce, rotating the pan to keep the contents in constant motion.

"You don't need to thank me. Jules and I were y'all's friends too. We love and miss you both. When you went away, it broke our hearts but neither of us could blame you for it. You sound like you've found what you need, though, and that's amazing."

"Well, miss me or not, and I'm sorry I broke your hearts by the way." Rocky plated his food, rinsed the pan, placing it in the dishwasher, and carried his plate to the table as he spoke. "You didn't have to help close up the house, or help maintain it then, and definitely not four years later."

"You ever going to sell it?"

A tear gathered in his eye as he considered it, but no, he wasn't ready yet. "I can't. Maybe one day, but not yet."

"I get it."

"Daddy!" Jules cried out in the background, "You promised!"

"Shit. I gotta go. I promised pool time to Jules along with a swimming lesson."

"He still hasn't figured out swimming?" Rocky laughed at the thought of the five years of swimming lessons not taking.

"Oh, he figured it out years ago. He pretends he doesn't, because he loves my brand of teaching."

This made Rocky laugh outright as he urged his friend off the phone and picked up his fork. His smile faded some as he watched the chair across from him, as if an eating companion would suddenly materialize before his very eyes. When they didn't, Rocky put an elbow on the table and rested his head in his hand as he twirled some squash onto his fork.

"I know we're focused on trying to find the traitor and Cynthia Blaire is still needing our assistance," Cynthia was a woman who Sheriff Blake had brought to their attention. He'd seemed certain that if she didn't get away from her abusive husband it would soon be too late. Aiden had been working just as furiously to formulate a plan for the guys to get her out of there without anyone getting hurt. He knew all the guys were anxious to get her out, but experience had taught them all that they couldn't rush the process. "That isn't what I want to focus on first, though." Blade paced the back office of The Hell Hole as he spoke.

Blade had been agitated quite a bit lately and if he didn't come out with it soon, Rocky knew he'd have to intervene. He couldn't let Blade continue down his current path much longer. Rocky had an idea of what was bothering his brother but until Blade said something, Rocky would avoid the topic. For now.

"Look," Blade went on, facing the other men gathered directly, "This place is a shithole. How many of y'all would be willing to bring your Littles around here?"

One hand raised in the air, as Spike declared, "I have brought mine. Sure, it looks like a hellhole, and it's named for one, but for the most part, it's our members and prospects who frequent it and they'd never hurt her."

"For the most part being the key word there." Stone cut in, "No way am I letting Sapphire through those doors. How many times has a rival club, or a pissed off husband come in hoping to start trouble?"

"I haven't let Jane back in these doors since she became mine," Ham added. "I know she'd been here before and I know she can handle herself, and god knows I want her with me as much as possible, but I'm not willing to take even the smallest risk with her safety. Hell no."

"Exactly. When I claim my Little girl, I know I'm going to want her here with me when I need to be here. I'm going to want her close. No chance in hell would I ever let her spend her days in some place that looks like a dump and is named Hell Hole."

Rocky noted the fact that Blade hadn't said, "find my Little", he'd said "claim"; those were vastly different things. It seemed more likely that Rocky was right about what had been troubling Blade.

"So, what's the plan?"

Rocky had asked the question on everyone's mind because he couldn't offer input into the ‘bringing a Little around' discussion. If Rocky ever did find a Little, he knew that the person he had in mind would constantly be around.

"I've talked to a contractor. We're shutting the bar down for a while. It will be loud and dusty, and our offices will probably smell like new construction for a while but we're renovating. Classing the place up. We're also adding a playroom for the Littles."

"Dude," Rocky interjected, "You're hardly ever around anymore. Don't know what you're doing 'cause you won't tell us but with you gone all the time, who's overseeing this shit?"

"Glad you asked." The gleam in Blade's eyes gave Rocky his answer even though it wasn't the one he wanted. "The people here the most are you and Pup. So, you'll oversee it. The contractor will be here to spruce up the outside today. That should only take a day or so..."

Rocky lost track of what Blade said after that. He was too focused on the fact that he was being paired with the one club member he'd been avoiding, who tested his resolve, set his blood on fire. Rocky had one thought circling his mind as Blade droned on about plans and contractors.

I am so fucking screwed.