Chapter Eight

Sometimes Banks’ mind was clearer than normal. That was always when the rage settled into his chest. Unfortunately, he’d had a meeting today, and needed his head on straight. All bets were off now that he had ensured his attorney’s brother’s release from prison. He didn’t have to pretend anymore. Banks could get back to his regularly scheduled program of life. He had already swallowed a handful of pills. They weren’t helping.

Banks spotted Boone the moment he stepped inside The PlayPen. At a small table in the corner, he was having a tea party with Jupiter and a few of Jupiter’s friends. Banks loved that more of the Littles had warmed up to Boone. It had always been almost funny to Banks the way everyone feared Boone. While it was true Boone might do what was necessary for the family, in his heart, Boone was a gentle giant. Meanwhile, everyone saw Banks as the carefree younger brother. In truth, Banks was the crazy one. He stayed high for a reason. Sometimes, Banks scared even himself.

There was one empty seat at the table. Banks moved to claim it before anyone else stole it. “Hello, little ones, and Boone, of course. What’s all this?”

Jupiter excitedly spoke up first. “We’re having a tea party. See? We have cookies, and fruit, and juice boxes.”

“And wine,” Banks pointed out with a laugh. He genuinely liked Jupiter. He was perfect for Boone. Secretly, Banks had always hated Adan. He proved why in the end. Banks read people. He saw them.

Jupiter laughed. “Yeah, well. We had to have something to pour in our cups.”

Banks looked around the table. The boy with the pretty eyes enjoyed his cookies, obviously content to keep to himself. Kyson sat close to Jupiter and kept his head down.

“How are you, Kyson? You seem quiet.”

“I’m okay. How are you?” He spoke quietly and kept his gaze locked on his lap.

Banks’ gaze immediately skirted the room. He hadn’t forgotten what had happened the last time he had seen Kyson. Banks had suspended the guy’s Daddy from the club for a month. He hadn’t seen them since. Banks spotted the dude across the room, playing cards with a different group. His gaze returned to Kyson. There was no missing the way everyone kept tossing worried looks his way.

Banks eyed the fuzzy bat pjs Kyson wore. The pointed ears on top and Kyson’s chin were all he could see. Kyson didn’t have a drink. Only a lone cookie and some grapes were on a plate in front of him. They looked untouched. Something grew inside Banks.

He poured some red wine into one of the tiny white teacups. Banks pushed it toward Kyson. “Here you go. Even little vampire bats need their daily dose of blood.”

A smile snapped to Banks’ lips when a cute chuckle came from beneath the protection of his hood. “I’m not a vampire bat. I’m a fruit bat. See?” He lifted his head and grabbed a grape, chewing it a little at a time. It was fucking adorable, but Banks’ brain no longer worked.

Everyone at the table was frozen.

A deep rage rose inside him. Kyson’s neck was completely black in a way Banks recognized immediately. Someone had choked him. There was also a slight yellowness tinged beneath both eyes from nearly healed bruises.

Banks was on his feet before he knew it. The room turned muffled as the distance closed between the man who had hurt Kyson and him. The guy didn’t even see it coming. Banks’ punch sent him flying out of his chair. Then Banks was over him, his fist connecting over and over again until all he saw was blood. The insanity had already taken him. When he ran out of breath, he dragged the guy to the door. His guards scrambled to open the door. Banks tossed him outside onto the hot pavement.

“If I ever see you anywhere near me, my club, or Kyson again, I will tear out your intestines and show it to you before I slit your throat.”

“He will. I’ve seen him do it.” Boone’s calm presence at his side, having his back, was exactly what Banks needed. The roar in his ears lessened. His sight cleared at the edges.

Banks looked around, spotting a guard. He pointed toward the half-dead man on the front steps. “Do whatever it takes to make sure he never talks.”

With a nod, his longtime guard was out the door. Banks slammed it behind him. He turned to find everyone carefully avoiding looking his way, except for the tea party he left behind. All eyes were on him, except Kyson. He stared at his lap again. Banks ran his fingers through his hair, considering tearing it out. He closed his eyes and fought to calm the self-hatred set to beat him. This was why he stayed high.

Boone squeezed his shoulders. He knew Banks well enough to know where his head was. “You did good. It’s okay. You didn’t do anything that didn’t need to be done.”

Banks’ eyes opened again. This time, Kyson was the only face turned his way. He gave Banks a small smile. It saved him.

The silence in the car was just as heavy as Boone feared. Jupiter wasn’t accustomed to violence. In a perfect world, Boone would keep Jupiter as far from that side of life as possible. Unfortunately, sometimes violence was the answer. Kyson would have never been free without Banks’ intervention. Who knew? His dumbass daddy still might not stay away. Everyone was watching now, though. If he was smart, he would take Banks’ warning to heart. Banks didn’t make idle threats.

“How did I not know Banks owns The PlayPen?”

Boone shot Jupiter a quick glance at the question. He had been so quiet; Boone had suspected Jupiter was angry. He seemed fine. “You haven’t ever wondered why there’s so many armed guards there? We conduct business there all the time.”

A soft chuckle rumbled from Jupiter’s side of the car. “I’ve never noticed a single armed guard. Honestly, I just thought there was always a bunch of daddies wandering around. I mind my business.”

A snort of laughter escaped Boone. Jupiter truly was wholly unique. “To be fair, he keeps a bit of a low profile about it. He’s pretty hands off. There’s good management in place, leaving Banks free to… be Banks,” he finished lamely.

“I think he’s amazing. He definitely did exactly what I wanted to do the day Kyson got spanked. I feel so guilty. It’s been months. I don’t know what I could’ve done, but he’s endured it for months because I didn’t know what to do.”

Boone took Jupiter’s hand. “Everything will be okay. Banks will help Kyson. He started that place for a reason, and not just a cover that would make law enforcement uncomfortable. Trust him to know what’s best on this one.”

Jupiter was silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was soft. “Your dad really—somehow—produced two amazing sons, didn’t he? Miracles never cease.”

A bark of laughter burst from Boone without permission. “Amazing is definitely in the eye of the beholder on this one.” He shook his head. “I’m glad you care about Banks, though. Too few people do, and he deserves better.”

“Will he be mad you didn’t tell him about today?”

Boone winced. “I kind of did. He’s joining us as soon as he gets Kyson somewhere safe.”

“Oh. That’s great. We just can’t tell my grandmother he was there, and she wasn’t. She’ll never forgive me.”

“So call her and tell her to come. It’s probably important for her to see you get married.”

Jupiter didn’t respond right away. “Well. I hate to be the one to say it, but what about your parents? What happens if Banks lets it slip my grandmother watched us exchange vows, but they didn’t?”

Boone shrugged. “Honestly? I’m unbothered. In a lot of ways, that’s like asking how your parents would feel. Mom’s been too drunk to leave the house in years, and you know about Dad. He’d probably show up with Adan.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening.”

The bitterness in Jupiter’s voice made Boone smile. They were definitely a team. “It’s settled then. Your grandmother. My brother. That’s all we need.”

Jupiter brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed Boone’s fingers. “As long as we have each other.”

“Exactly.” As long as they both lived, Boone was complete. No amount of time or wishing had made his blood family better. This was what he needed. Jupiter was the family that chose him. Boone’s throat swelled. He couldn’t marry Jupiter fast enough. This was the best day of his life.

From the moment Boone asked Jupiter to marry him, Jupiter had known they wouldn’t have a wedding. The biggest reason was they didn’t want to wait that long. It had been irritating enough to wait until their appointment time. Jupiter had wanted to rush the door the moment the place opened to get their license. Plus, Jupiter hadn’t wanted to upstage Luca and Jarek’s wedding in two weeks. There was also an issue of Beau likely going overboard and the event drawing attention from law enforcement. Jupiter knew he would soon be under the same microscope as Boone. It was a sacrifice he was more than willing to make. So for Jupiter, today had been much better. A few spoken words and an exchange of rings. That was all it took to make Jupiter the happiest man alive.

“Banks was so cute flirting with my grandmother all day.”

Boone’s sexy laughter rumbled in the dark. He sounded exhausted. “She loved it.”

Jupiter couldn’t stop smiling. He was too pumped to sleep. “She really did. They should get together more often. I’m her only grandchild and I’m terrible at it. He doesn’t have many people. She would spoil the hell out of him.”

“I’ll bring it up to him when we get back from Tijuana.” His lips skimmed Jupiter’s neck. “You need to get some sleep. I don’t want you too tired to enjoy our honeymoon.”

“There isn’t a single chance in hell I’ll ever be too tired for you.” The most random thought hit. “Oh no. I meant to stop by the restaurant and say my final goodbyes. Everything has just been so hectic. Ross deserves a more formal explanation, though. I hate the way I just left him in a lurch.”

“Ross is in love with you.”

“What?” The question might have been a bit of a screech. It definitely startled Boone. Jupiter felt him jump when he assaulted his ears.

Boone chuckled. Despite being startled, he sounded closer to sleep by the second. “He’s not very subtle about it. Every time I picked you up, he was like a kicked puppy watching you leave with me. Even Banks commented on it.”

Jupiter wanted to argue, but Banks was observant as hell for someone who was never sober. It was as if he saw everything. Jupiter thought about all the times Ross took him home or offered. The way he had reacted to everything to do with Boone had been over the top. “Damn. That makes me a little sad.” Jupiter never meant to hurt him.

Boone didn’t respond. His deep breathing let Jupiter know he had lost him. Jupiter kissed his forehead. Tomorrow, they would leave for their honeymoon and be even more sequestered from the world. They were officially married. Everything he had begged the universe for nightly was in his arms. Everything outside this bedroom was a tomorrow problem. Jupiter was too in love to think about anything else. They were all he needed. This would always be enough.

Keep an eye out for the next Little Lost, Deadly Daddy .