Leo

I t had been just over two weeks since his father had disappeared and no one in the office seemed to know anything about it. He questioned the security team, and no one could tell him who was with his father the night he went missing. Ross was right—it wasn't like his father to go anywhere without an army of guards, so why was that night different?

A part of him felt bad about the fact that his father was taken while looking for him. If he had just reported in after his meeting with Ross, none of this would have happened. He wouldn't be worried sick about his dad, and his mother wouldn't show up at the office hysterical about not being able to find him. But most of all, if his father hadn't been abducted, wouldn't have had to prematurely take over the business. He hated it almost as much as Ross did, but he had no choice. Like Ross, needed to keep the family business going for his mother's sake, and the employees who were counting on him for a paycheck.

had been moving his things over to Ross's place slowly, testing the waters to make sure that they were both ready for such a big step. He knew that moving into Ross's place might be a bit premature, but it was a good way to keep their new relationship a secret from the rest of the world. Sure, his mom knew but he wasn't ready to come out to the rest of the world, and especially his father if and when they found him.

It felt good to come home to Ross waiting for him in the kitchen. His guy did most of the cooking and loved the way he seemed to like to spoil him. When they were back at Ross's, they could be themselves with no prying eyes on them. Even at the club, they had to use private rooms or risk someone who knew them walking in to find them playing. The thought of 's father in the Kink Club made him sick to his stomach, but he knew that his dad wasn't the most faithful husband. It wouldn't surprise him at all if buying the club had been his idea since his parents' relationship was strained at best.

His mother knew that his father fooled around on her, but wasn't about to sit down and discuss all the dirty details with her. He hated that his father was capable of doing something like that to his mother, but he was. His father was a powerful man—he craved it and when it came to his family, he expected them all to fall in line when he commanded them to.

was just about finished unpacking his last suitcase when his cellphone rang. He rushed over to the nightstand, where it was charging, and answered it before the call went to voicemail. "Hello," he said, sounding a bit out of breath.

"Hello, ," a man's voice answered.

"Who is this," asked.

"That's not important," the man insisted, "what you need to know his this." He had a feeling that he wasn't going to like what the man had to say next, but if it had anything to do with his missing father, he'd hear him out.

"Go on," he spat, feeling impatient. The guy chuckled into the other end of the phone and wished that he could reach through the phone and strangle him.

"I'm getting to it," the guy assured. "I have your father."

"And you want money for his return, right?" asked.

The guy made a tisking noise into the other end of the call. "So impatient," he taunted. "And no," he said, "we don't want your money. We want you to come to your father's office, alone," he insisted.

"And if I refuse?" asked, sure that he already knew the answer to his question.

"If you refuse, we kill your father and then, we'll do the same to your mother, so I suggest that you follow instructions just this once." There was no way that the assholes who took his father would ever be able to find his mom. He and Ross had moved her to a safehouse after his father went missing. It wasn't easy to convince his mother that she needed protection. She was fierce and thought that she could handle herself, and maybe she could, but he wasn't taking any chances. His mother might be stubborn, but there was no way that she'd ever put herself in danger.

"Good luck finding them, asshole," growled into his cell phone. A notification chimed, telling him that he had a new text message, and for some reason, he suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

"Look at your text message, ," the guy insisted. "I can wait." He put the call on speaker and looked at the message that the guy had just sent him. groaned when he saw the picture of his mother sitting in the kitchen at the safe house. He'd recognize that crappy wallpaper anywhere.

"If you lay one finger on her—" started.

"You'll what?" the guy challenged. "I seem to be holding all the cards here, . You want your father back, you come to the office, alone. I'll be waiting for you there, along with your dad. If you bring that guy that you seem so fond of or anyone else, I'll kill you and everyone with you." believed him too. If he was going to such great lengths to find his mother and sister, he'd probably have no problem killing and everyone around him.

"Fine, I'll do as you have asked, but I want your promise that nothing will happen to my family," said.

"Just do what you're told to do and don't fuck it up," the guy growled, "and, maybe I'll keep your father alive. Understand?" knew that he had no choice but to play by the asshole's rules, even if he'd give him a fight when the time came. There was no way that was going to let this asshole take his family from him, and Ross was part of his family now. Losing Ross was going to hurt like a son of a bitch, but he knew what he had to do to keep him safe. He just hoped like hell that Ross wouldn't be able to see right through his lies.

"I understand," agreed.

"Great," the guy said, "I'll text you the time to be there, and I'm sure that you remember the place."

"Yeah, I do," grumbled.

"See you then, kid," the guy said just before ending the call. There was something familiar about the way he called , "Kid," but he couldn't put his finger on it. All he knew right now was that he had to break things off with Ross and make him believe that it was for good. didn't need his guy following him and getting them both killed. Then, he'd figure out how to keep his family safe, even if it meant sacrificing himself to the asshole who was waiting for him at his family's office building downtown.

walked into the kitchen where he knew he'd find Ross cooking. He could smell the delicious aromas from the bedroom and all he wanted to do was sit down at the table and tell Ross everything. In a short time, Ross had become his whole world—best friend, business partner, and lover. Lying to him was going to break 's heart, but he had no choice if he wanted to keep Ross and the rest of his family safe.

"I can't stay here," almost whispered. He hated what he was about to do to Ross, but it was the only way to get to see his father. The guy on the phone was very specific—if he wanted to see his father alive again, he needed to be down at his father's office in one hour, and not bring anyone with him. knew Ross well enough to know that if they were together, there would be no way that he'd allow to go to the meeting with his father's kidnappers alone. The only way that he'd be able to ensure his father's safety was to hurt Ross and that was going to destroy him too, but he had to do it.

"What, babe?" Ross asked, turning the burner off under the pot that he had been stirring. "I couldn't hear you." God, he was going to have to say it again when once was painful enough for him. cleared his throat and this time, when he told Ross that he couldn't stay with him, he knew that his guy had heard him loud and clear.

"What the hell is going on, ?" Ross asked. "What's happened?" Ross knew him too well, and he'd probably see through his lie, but needed to stick with his plan. It was the only way to get his father back.

"Nothing has happened. I'm worried about my father, and I think that I used it as an excuse to move in here with you. We rushed into things, and I've used you as a crutch. I'm sorry, but I can't keep doing this. I can't stay here with you." Ross sunk into the chair next to and he didn't miss the disappointment on his face. wished he could take back his words and take away that look on Ross's face, but he couldn't. He had said the words and now, there was no taking them back.

"This is bullshit," Ross shouted. He stood and paced the kitchen; a sign that he was feeling completely out of control—something that he hated feeling. knew how much Ross craved control and he was taking that away from him right now. He was making all the decisions for the both of them, and Ross wasn't going to take that lightly.

"I know that you're worried about your father, but you're not thinking things through. You're scared, , and you're running from us. I can help you. Let me help you find your dad and be there for you," Ross begged. Ross had been there for him through everything, but this time, couldn't allow him to tag along. If he did, he'd end up getting them both killed. Leaving Ross was the only way to keep him safe, no matter how much it was destroying .

"I won't change my mind," insisted. "I have to do this, Ross. I'm sorry," he whispered.

stood to leave, and Ross grabbed his hand, stopping him. "Please don't do this ," Ross begged. "I've been waiting for you for so long now. Do you know how hard it is to get your attention? Because I do. I've been trying to get you to notice me since our first kiss, and now that you finally have, I don't think that I can live without you. I love you," he breathed. took a step back from Ross as though he had physically slapped him. Had Ross really just said that he loved him? Were they even to that point in their relationship? knew that Ross was saying whatever he needed to say to get him to stay. Maybe he didn't even mean those words, and that thought broke 's heart.

"Listen I have to run over to my father's office for a few minutes. Can we talk more about this tonight at the club?" had no plans to meet Ross at their club tonight, as they did most evenings to check on things. He was going to have just enough time to follow the orders that the creepy voice on the phone gave him. He needed to get over to his family's office building by seven if he wanted his father back alive, and planned on following the orders to a tee.

"You'll be there?" Ross hopefully asked.

"I will," lied. He knew that he had broken Ross's heart and maybe giving him false hope was mean, but he couldn't help it. The minutes were ticking by, and he had to get across town during the evening rush. He leaned in to gently kiss Ross's lips, knowing that it was the last time that he'd ever do so. wasn't just going to break Ross's heart, he was going to break his own too, but there was no way around it.

sat in the parking lot at his family's office building and looked it over. Everything was dark inside and he wondered if he had the time wrong. checked his watch, noting that he was about ten minutes late, and cursed quietly to himself. Breaking things off with Ross had taken longer than he had hoped it would. Hell, he wasn't sure what he was hoping for, but breaking Ross's heart was the only way to get to his father's office on time. Maybe that was all for nothing if he broke his word by not showing up ten minutes ago.

He got out of his car and noticed a shadow moving in the front window. He wasn't alone and he suddenly felt very unsure about his next move. Should he walk into the building, as he had done so many times before, or should he knock on the front door and ask permission to enter his family's building? He went with his gut and pulled the front door open and walked into the dark lobby.

"Hello," he said to the shadow in the corner. When the shadow didn't answer, he took a step toward it. "I can see you there. Where is my father?" asked. "Is he okay?" The figure took a step forward and thought for sure that he was imagining things when he saw his father's face in the dim evening light.

"Dad," almost shouted. "Are you all right? How did you get away from your abductors?" he asked.

His dad crossed the lobby to stand right in front of and he didn't miss the gun in his father's hand. "I'm my abductor," his father said as though making his whole family worry wasn't a big deal.

"Why would you make us worry?" asked. "Why would you make Mom worry?"

"Your mother's tough enough to handle a little lie. As for making you worry, I really don't care. You see, I know about you and your cousin. How could you get involved with Ross? He's family." His father wasn't wrong—Ross had quickly become his family and had given up the love of his life to save a man who didn't need saving. He felt like a fool for falling for one of his father's schemes.

"He's not my cousin," shouted at his father. "And I got involved with Ross because I had feelings for him. Feelings that I had been denying because I was too worried about how you would feel about your son being gay, but I guess I know that answer now." His father looked at him with so much disgust and hatefulness, that he felt like a little kid who had disappointed his dad. But didn't have anything to be ashamed of this time. Being with Ross was the most natural feeling he'd ever had. Ross was a part of him, and he'd never be ashamed of that.

"But I'm still trying to figure out why you staged your own kidnapping," said. "Was it just to punish me for being gay?"

"It was to punish you for going behind my back and lying to me about being gay," his father shouted.

"And what would you have done if I had told you?" asked.

His father didn't hesitate with his answer. "I would have kicked you out of our family for good. You were trying to trick me into giving you the family business by lying to me about who you are."

"I never lied to you, Dad," insisted. "I just kept a part of me a secret." He would do it all over again because having to give up his relationship with his mother wasn't an option, and his father would make sure that they'd never see each other again.

"So, what happens now, Dad?" asked. "Are you going to have me killed to cover up the fact that you have a gay son?"

His father looked as though he was actually contemplating 's suggestion. "If you leave, and promise to never come back, I'll spare your life, for your mother's sake. But if you show up in town again, I'll make sure that you and Ross both pay for your disrespect."

"You won't lay a finger on Ross," shouted at his father.

His father barked out his laugh. "You're not calling the shots here, . I'll make this simple for you. If you want to keep Ross safe, you will leave him and leave town. So, what's it going to be?" his father asked as though he'd be able to make that kind of decision on the spur of the moment. There really wasn't much to consider. Protecting Ross was his only option and if that meant never being able to see him again, could find a way to live with that. Just knowing that Ross was alive and safe in the world would have to be enough for him.

"What will you tell Mom?" whispered.

"I'll tell her that you needed a break from this place and took off to find yourself, or some bullshit like that. I won't break her heart the way that you've broken mine," his father spat.

"Being gay isn't a crime anymore, Dad," insisted. "But it's okay that you can't see past my sexuality and love me for just being your son. Why would I ever expect that from you? Over and over again, you've proven yourself to be an arrogant fool and tonight is no different."

turned his back on his father leaving the building, feeling panic wash over him for what he was about to do. He was about to walk away from his life and the man he loved. "I need your promise that you'll leave town and won't contact Ross again," his father said. "He's my new business partner, for better or worse, and I'd really hate to have to kill him when things are working out so nicely between us." It always came down to business for his dad. His father was never a family man, and knew the score. His dad loved his business more than he loved anyone in his family, and that fact just made feel sad for his father.

"I'm leaving town and won't contact Ross," he agreed, hating the way that his voice cracked when he said Ross's name. The last thing he wanted to do in front of his father was cry. took a deep breath and headed for the parking lot, hoping that he'd be able to keep it together until he got to his car.

He didn't bother to say goodbye to his father, there was no point. needed to figure out where he was going to go because the one thing that he knew about his father was that he hardly ever kept his promises, but that worked for him because didn't plan on keeping his either. He needed to lay low for a few days and then he'd call Ross and tell him everything. Hopefully, his guy would be understanding and forgive him because he was the only family had left now. The one thing knew for sure was that he couldn't go home again. It was the only way to keep Ross safe.

It had been two days since he left his father's office and wasn't able to contact Ross. He knew that his father had men watching him, and taking a chance to reach out to Ross wasn't something that he was willing to do. Instead, he laid low and hoped that sooner or later, his father would get bored of playing the cat-and-mouse game that he was with him.

Honestly, didn't expect his father to keep his promise not to harm Ross or him. His father wasn't very good at playing fairly, and knew that better than anyone. He just expected his dad to give him a little bit more time before sending men after him. For now, he was safe, but for how long was the question?

He had called his mother to fill her in on what was happening, and she asked if he'd meet her. wasn't sure if that was a good idea or not. He never thought that he couldn't trust his own mother, but a part of him worried that she was made to choose a side, and she'd chose his father. headed out an hour before their meeting, knowing that he'd have to lose the tail his father had probably put on him, and drove around in circles until he was sure that he wasn't being followed.

The house that he was staying in had great security, but leaving the place put him at risk, and he knew it. His father's men couldn't get to him once he was barricaded in the house, but out in the real world, they were a threat.

pulled into the parking garage where he had agreed to meet his mother and parked his car. He quickly looked around, double-checking that he hadn't been followed, and when he decided that he was safe, he cut his engine and waited for his mom to show up. Ten minutes later, he was about to give up on her showing up and leave. When he saw her car pull around the corner and park next to his, he almost breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't been a little boy for a long time, but there was something about his mom coming to his rescue that made him feel that way again.

He jumped out of his car and waited for his mom to open her door. When she didn't, he panicked, looking inside to find her crying. She cracked the window and sobbed something about being sorry, and worried that she had set him up.

"Get out of the car, Mom," he shouted through the cracked window.

"I'm not supposed to get out of the car," his mother cried. "Your father left me no choice. He said that he wouldn't hurt you if I did as he asked and lured you here."

"Shit," he cursed. knew that his father's men were going to be there any minute and that he was just about out of time. "Dad is a liar, Mom. You should know that better than anyone. He's cheated on you his whole life and you're going to just believe him now?" knew that standing in the parking garage, fighting with his mother would get him nowhere. He needed to get back to the safehouse before his father's guys showed up.

"I'm sorry," his mother sobbed again, "I love you, ." He didn't bother to give his mother back those words. He didn't believe them when she said them to him—not now. Ross had said those words to him, and God, he should have believed him. Instead, he threw those words back in Ross's face by leaving him without a word. He was an ass, and all he wanted to do was tell his guy those three little words because he did—he loved Ross, and now, he might not be able to say those words to him ever again.

He got in his car, starting to back out, when a black SUV pulled up behind him, blocking him in. He thought about pulling his gun out of his glove compartment, but he knew that it would do him no good. His father had sent about six guys to bring him in—or worse, and trying to stop them wouldn't end well for him.

Everything seemed to start moving in slow motion around them as his father's men surrounded his car. His mother jumped out of her car, shouting for them to not hurt him, but he knew that her please would fall on deaf ears. The head of his father's security team told his mother to get back into her car, and she complied as soon as he showed her his gun. He didn't expect her to put her life at risk for him, but he never imagined that she'd sell him out this way. One thing was for sure—his father wasn't going to just let him go again this time. And promise or no, planned on going down fighting.