Chapter Eight

While Adam had his meeting with Quentin, a meeting neither would let Pink attend, Snow drove Pink back to Knight's to gather his things. He floated on cloud nine, but he also expected Snow would lecture him at any second. Pink felt like he should start the conversation first, but he didn't know where to begin.

Pink took a breath for courage.

"You're happy. It's nice to see."

Pink snapped his teeth together at Snow's words. He pivoted. "I thought you'd have something to say about the age difference."

Snow snorted. "I don't give a fuck about the age difference. Quentin is older than me."

That was true. He didn't know why he expected it to be different for him. Pink supposed it was because Snow had adopted him. Snow had gone from being his friend to his dad. It made certain things weird that hadn't been before.

"Adam is a good man. I know he never would've started anything with you if he didn't feel everything for you. I've known him for something like thirteen years or so, and I've never seen him date."

"He is a good man." The words were more for himself than Snow. There was nothing Pink wanted more than to spend his life with Adam, but he hoped moving back wasn't a mistake. All the reasons Knight had used to convince him to leave were still valid. He didn't want to go back to feeling like a victim. Pink had come too far. Plus, there was Knight. They had gotten incredibly close the past four months. Pink couldn't imagine not seeing him every day. He didn't know how he could be so happy and so sad at the same time. Pink didn't want to choose between the love of his life and his best friend.

He steeled himself for just that as they pulled into Knight's driveway. The four-bedroom house he had called home for the past few months looked welcoming, as always. Its happy light-yellow siding and bright white shutters always warmed Pink's chest, even in the dark. They went in through the back door, which opened into the kitchen. He found Knight at the refrigerator, getting a drink.

His face lit at the sight of Pink. "Hey. There you are. I wondered where you'd gone. It's not like you not to text all day."

Snow stepped inside behind him.

Something flickered across Knight's features—like he already knew.

Pink tried for a bright smile. "Yeah. It's been kind of a wild day." He glanced behind him and focused on Snow. "Would you like something to drink?"

Snow shook his head. "I'm good."

Pink took a breath and steadied himself. "Do you mind giving us a minute? I need to talk to Knight."

Snow gave him a reassuring smile and took a seat at the kitchen table.

Pink linked arms with Knight and headed down the hall. Knight pulled him to a stop before they made it to Pink's bedroom.

"What's going on, Pink? You've got me worried."

There was no avoiding it. "I've come to gather my things. It's time for me to get out of your hair and go back to my parents."

Knight glanced around. He snagged Pink's arm and hauled him inside his bedroom. Knight closed the door behind them and leaned against it. "You can't do that."

Confusion forced a chuckle from Pink. "What? Why?"

Knight seemed to almost physically fight for something to say. "What's changed there in four months? Do you plan to go right back to feeling the way you did before you came to live with me? What about living under the same roof as Adam?"

Pink shifted from foot to foot. "So, um. Adam and I are a couple now."

Knight pinched the spot between his eyes. When he dropped his hand, his eyes looked pleading. "Please don't do this."

It was so much worse than Pink feared. He had hoped Knight would be supportive. "I have to. You can't and shouldn't have to support me forever. Plus, one of these days, you'll meet someone, and they won't want me around." Pink's shoulders fell. "And I love him, Knight. There'll never be anyone else."

The back of Knight's head hit the door. He looked defeated. "You can't go back, Pink. Quentin is under investigation for human trafficking and Adam is currently suspected of murder. A case is being built against them."

"What?" Even Pink heard the horror and confusion in his voice.

Knight scrubbed his forehead. "You know that guy I introduced you to at the gas station some months back?"

Pink nodded.

Knight looked crestfallen, but he kept going. "We served together in special forces. He works for the FBI now. When I introduced you, he recognized you right away. When we got home from Panama City, he asked to meet for lunch. He told me your dad is under investigation and Adam was the suspect in an unsolved murder."

Pink couldn't wrap his mind around what he was hearing. "Who do they think he killed? Adam isn't like that, and Quentin hasn't trafficked a soul. He helps people."

Knight's hands rose and fell. "The law doesn't see it that way. As for Adam, I don't know. Cannon said something about Adam being seen on security footage with a gun pointed at some guy's head. They found his body a few months later. There's nothing to tie Adam to anything other than that footage, and he's pretty much shielded by Quentin's connections. But if they take Quentin down, then Adam will be next. Cannon said you're on that video footage too, but you looked scared. He said if I can keep you with me and out of any dealings with Quentin's troubles, then he would make sure you weren't drawn into things." Knight looked ready to cry. He was such a nice person with golden retriever energy. Pink knew this had to be a horrible position for him. "I had to promise not to tell you before he even told me all this. There was no way I could've guessed what he needed to tell me was this big."

Pink couldn't think or breathe. Nikola was dead. Adam knew it too because he had told Pink Nikola would definitely not show up in his life again. But Adam killing someone? That wasn't something Pink could see. He would love him, nonetheless. After all, Snow had killed countless people. Some people didn't deserve to live. Everything just felt like a fucking mess.

"I have to tell Quentin."

Knight looked like he might be sick. "I wasn't supposed to tell you, Pink. Cannon trusted I would keep my mouth shut and you safe. I like Quentin just fine, but I love you. You can't ask me to watch you walk into something this big."

Pink closed the distance between them and cupped Knight's face. He pressed a light kiss to his lips before pulling away to hold his chair. "I love you too. Don't watch." He gently pushed Knight aside and ran for the kitchen where he left Snow.

He grabbed Snow's hand. "We have to go. I'll explain when we get home, but we have to hurry."

Even though Snow looked baffled, he didn't hesitate. That was good. Pink couldn't think clearly. All he knew was he had to be with his family. If they went down, he would too.

Besides being a mark of his station, a fine and expensive suit was Adam's armor. He dressed for battle before heading out to find Quentin. He found him sitting at the kitchen table, staring into space. Adam cleared his throat as he came into the room.

Quentin looked his way. A sweet smile touched his lips. He was a handsome man. Always had been. Even two bouts with leukemia hadn't diminished his looks. Adam could see why Snow found him irresistible.

Quentin pushed a chair away from the table with his foot. "You should sit."

That didn't sound good. Quentin had said he didn't intend to lecture Adam about Pink. He didn't say he wouldn't fire him. Adam sat.

For a moment, he simply held Adam's stare. When he finally spoke, Adam nearly shot back to his feet. "I'm under investigation for human trafficking."

"What?"

A sad smile crossed Quentin's lips before falling away again. "Nothing will come of it. I was given a head's up a while back by a friend in the bureau. The case has been buried in so much red tape, it'll never see the light of day. Unfortunately, this means my days of helping anyone are done."

That broke Adam's heart. He knew how much it mattered to Quentin. It mattered to him too. "I'm sorry. Is there nothing we can do?"

Quentin made a helpless gesture. "I've been donating money to a fake charity that funnels money to Charon and Alastair. It'll keep them funded for their rescue and elimination efforts. Otherwise, we have to stay out of it now. The rest of our lives must be lily fucking white."

Adam nodded. "Understood. Why did you wait to tell me until now if you've known for a while?"

Quentin visibly hesitated. He blew out a sigh. "Besides the trafficking charge, they found Nikola's body. The last time he was seen alive was on video in Bare Studs' parking lot, with you holding a gun to his head. Unfortunately, that's also very near what they estimate to be his time of death."

"Damn."

Quentin nodded. "My friend wasn't as willing to bury that one until I pointed out we all spent the night at the hospital that night. There was video footage, records, a recording of the nine-one-one call, and an ambulance trail to back up that alibi. There was no way we could be connected. My friend agreed a lot of people wanted Nikola dead and he was no loss. I didn't want to drop any of this at your feet until I knew for sure we're all in the clear."

Adam couldn't believe Quentin had been under the stress of all this and had said nothing. "You could've talked to me. I can take it."

Quentin shook his head. "Not these past four months you couldn't, no. I saw the way it wrecked you to lose Pink. You couldn't handle both. I know. I clearly recall what it was like to lose Snow. It rocked everything. I've seen the way you watch Pink. Anything else would've sent you over the edge."

Despite the heavy topic, Adam chuckled. "What is it with everyone in this house? Can a man have no secrets?"

"It's a bit annoying, isn't it?" Quentin said, mocking his accent.

Adam shook his head. "I'm glad you're not upset about Pink. It was never my intention to fall in love with him."

"I know. He's irresistible. You saw how quickly I adopted him. I haven't done that for any other boy who's come through my door. He's special."

"That he is," Adam agreed. "A strange mixture of damaged but unbroken."

"A lot like another boy who once blew into my life. The first boy, Adam."

In an unspoken moment of vivid clarity, Adam realized Quentin knew everything. He knew Adam's age and what role he played for the society. He would never say it, but Quentin knew. Adam's throat swelled. "How very lucky Pink is to have you as a father."

Quentin took Adam's hand. A bright smile lit his face. "Don't worry. I know you'll marry Pink as fast as possible, so he doesn't slip away again. Then I'll be your father-in-law."

A laugh burst from Adam. "I hadn't thought of that."

"Yeah. Well—"

"Oh my god. Thank god you're both here," Pink said, bursting into the room. "Knight says his friend Cannon at the FBI told him you're under investigation for human trafficking and—"

"Damn. I wish Knight hadn't gotten dragged into things. He isn't safe with that much knowledge."

Pink froze. He looked adorably confused.

Snow squeezed his shoulders. "Is that what had you rushing me home? You should've said something on the way. I could've told you there's no reason to worry."

Pink glanced around the room. "All of you knew this already."

It wasn't a question, but Quentin treated it as one. "Yes. Well, I just finished filling Adam in, but I've been on top of things. I'll never let anything happen to our family."

Pink's shoulders fell. He blew out a tired-sounding sigh. "Would it kill people to tell me things? You're under investigation. Adam's suspected of murder. Nikola's dead. Knight is in danger. For fuck's sake. I'm part of this family too."

Quentin made a calming gesture. "I'll send someone to figure out things with Knight. It wasn't that I wanted to keep anything from you. I just didn't want you to worry. You were safely out of things with Knight and restarting your life. There was never anything to worry about."

Pink's gaze slid Adam's way. He looked like the day had kicked his ass.

Adam stood. "Let's find you something to eat. We forgot our food in the car earlier."

A tried-sounding laugh burst from Pink. "Damn. I really wanted that chicken."

Adam laughed. His face hurt from smiling. It took him a second to realize everyone stared at him in silence. "What?"

A smile exploded across Snow's face. "It's just damn good to see you happy. It'll take some getting used to, though. You're not a smiler."

With a shake of his head, he dragged Pink from the room. "We'll order something."

Pink beamed. "Okay."

He was so fucking adorable. Sometimes, Adam forgot to do anything except stare. The fact that nothing Pink owned was in their room as they entered dragged Adam from his obsessing.

"Did you change your mind about moving in with me?"

Pink huffed. "I was a little too busy racing to warn you to grab my things."

"I'll buy you new things."

A loud laugh burst from Pink. "Watch out with promises like that. I'll bankrupt you. You know I'm a diva."

Adam sat in the same chair where they first kissed. He drew Pink to stand between his knees. "I'd be happy, though." He ran his hands up the backs of Pink's thighs, luring him closer until Pink straddled his lap. "Have I told you how much I love that you'd leave behind everything to protect me?"

"You just did."

Pink's open happiness was the most beautiful sight Adam had ever seen. He made a silent vow to always keep him that way.