Chapter 17

"Boss, we have a problem." Carson stormed into the makeshift office in the rental house like the proverbial marine storming a beach, his face as dark as a thundercloud. He held his own personal laptop under one arm, and that either meant a bad email or that someone had cut off his Pornhub subscription.

"What's up, Kit?" Sterling asked, trying for noncommittal. He was hoping it was some sort of glitch he could be calm about despite Carson's anger.

Carson opened the laptop and laid it on the desk, then hit a key to play whatever it was that was on the screen. "This is from the security patch on your office camera."

He frowned. "My office?" He only turned that on when he was in a meeting so he had a record of what he agreed to and could remember to do follow-ups and such.

"Your office. Watch."

For the security cameras to come up, that required Geoff to hit a button, for Carson to be notified was another button.

The last button called in security en force.

A pair of strangers sat in the office—a man and a woman both in suits and very serious faces. Lawyers? Possibly.

"—as you can see, the images that we have come into possession of are incredibly graphic."

Like magic, Geoff started sharing his computer screen, and there were photos of him in Durango, of Ben at work, at the daycare, holding the baby.

Then there were pictures of them in Ben's house, making love on the sofa before the fireplace, Ben writhing in his lap.

His eyes widened. "Who the hell are these assholes?"

"Reality TV execs," Carson said, voice flat as a flitter. "They want you to do the show."

Onscreen, Geoff sounded totally composed. "I'm afraid Mr. Jordan responds poorly to blackmail. Also, these photos constitute a violation of Colorado's peeping Tom law, section 18-7-801." Then Geoff offered the pair a milquetoast type of smile. "You will be hearing from our lawyers, of course, and should any photos of a minor be released, for any reason, we will not hesitate to go to the law."

"You can't speak for—" the man started.

Geoff waved his hand, cutting him off. "Oh, honey. Believe me, you have absolutely zero idea what I can or cannot do, and protecting my employer is my most important and valued job. Don't cross me. I will have your head on a pike."

"That's so fucking hot, huh?" Carson's eyes were glued to the screen.

"I'm glad that he knows what the fuck I'm mad about." Ben and Xavi were off-limits. Period. He was used to some of the public eye falling on him, but he wouldn't put them in danger.

"I know." Carson eyed him. "How do you want us to proceed?"

"I want Ben and Xavi at the ranch. Protected. I want protection for his horses. I want those motherfuckers destroyed."

Carson's eyes gleamed with amusement for a moment. "There he is. You got it. Do you want to talk to Ben before you make any official moves?"

"Yes. Let me text him, let him know this is serious."

"Okay. I'll be on standby." Carson crossed his arms over his chest, clearly not willing to move.

So Sterling grabbed his phone and texted Ben. Need to talk asap. Call when you can. Serious>

It took about ten minutes before his phone rang. "What's wrong?"

"Hey, babe. I need a minute. Are you somewhere private?" He didn't want Benji popping off in front of his co-workers, assuming that was what might happen. He knew it would if it was him.

"I'm in the breakroom by myself. Are you hurt?"

"No. No, but we have a real situation." He took a deep breath. "That TV crew, babe. They took a bunch of pictures of us together. They brought them to Geoff today."

"What about Xavi?" God, Ben made him proud. Lord help the person who tried to hurt that baby. Ben would tear them limb from limb.

"There are some pics of him when we're out in public. Nothing at the house." Which was a damn good thing. Not that he wasn't going to kick ass and take names.

"So, what? Pictures of us at supper? What did they want from Geoff? Doesn't that prove you'd be a bad fit for a single dude reality thing?"

"No. They were trying to blackmail me into going on the show. I respond poorly to that, honey. But I wanted to check with you before I do anything."

"Sure. I mean, I'm not ashamed of—" There was a knock on the door. "Hold up, babe."

Whoa. Babe. He'd hit babe status.

"—there's a what? What the fuck? What do you mean? No. No, I'm not talking to anyone!" Then Ben's voice came back, clear. "Sterling, there are a half dozen news crews in the parking lot."

Shit. That was the same lot that had the daycare.

"Fuck. They're pushing. And I'm getting the lawyers involved, but we're going to have to mobilize I think. I want you where I can protect you and Xavi. This is my fault."

"So, what the fuck am I supposed to do? They're just sitting out there. Mom's in class, so she can't come. It's her last week of school. We have to protect Xavi. This is wrong, Sterling." Oh, his lover was pissed.

"Yes is it. Carson is on his way. He'll get Xavi from the daycare. Call and let them know. He'll meet them out back." He waved, and Carson high-tailed it. "Your office needs to call the cops and report harassment. Then you can come meet me. Do you have any vacation time?"

"Not a ton, no. I took six weeks paternity leave to bond with Xavi." Ben blew out a hard breath. "I can get the rest of today, for sure. The kids don't need this mess."

"No. And I can talk to your office about getting someone on as a temp if we need to. They're playing hardball, and I imagine that means they made a promise to someone—an investor or a studio exec—that I was on board. I don't want them running you off the damn road or something." He'd heard worse stories.

"Sterling, man…" Ben's voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't afford not to work. I have diapers, a mortgage, and critters to feed."

"Okay, don't get upset at me, huh?" He knew it might be hard for Ben to accept his offer. "But this is my fault. So let me cover that until we get this figured out. I want you safe." Then he played his ace. "I want Xavi safe."

"I'll take the afternoon off and come to you. What if they follow me?"

"Then we get rid of them. Trust me. That is what I pay Carson for. And we can hit the airport and go to Aspen." He would start getting stuff ready now. He had a plan. The pilot and plane were in Houston as a decoy, but he would charter a flight. "Come here. We'll send Carson to your house to pack for you and Xavi this evening, and so you have someone to feed the animals and watch things for a day or two."

"I'll be there in a few. I need to know Xavi's okay, so I have to call them at the daycare."

"Okay, honey. I promise; we got this." Carson would get Xavi, make sure he was safe. "Tell them about Carson."

"I will. I'll call when I'm on the road. It'll take me half an hour or so to get out of here."

"Be careful, okay? And if you need me to come and do plan B, you let me know. I don't want you getting hurt trying to dodge them." He wanted to rip heads off, dammit.

"I'll be fine. I was in combat, remember. See you within the hour. Xavi will need a bottle and a diaper change. I trust you."

"Thank you." That made him breathe easier. Ben trusted him, even after all the damn trouble he'd caused. After all this shit today. He could do this.

When Ben hung up, he called Geoff, who he'd been texting furiously. "Sit rep."

"Stella and Mark are shutting things down. Jeremy is working PR. I have a charter flight waiting for you at six p.m.. Jenny has baby formula, diapers, and supplies coming in, and enchiladas for supper at eight. Terrance is going to head out in the morning to work Ben's place so that Carson is with you where he belongs."

God, Geoff was a miracle worker and worth every dime he paid.

"Good man. I'm just— Jesus, I'm losing my shit."

"I know." Geoff sounded icy cold and furious, a tone most people wouldn't believe he was capable of. "I swear to God, Boss, if they put you and Ben and that baby in any real danger, I will eat them for breakfast with my granola."

"I believe you, buddy." Geoff would go after them like a lion.

"All right. Where are all the players? You're at the Airbnb, Carson is heading to pick up the baby. Where's Ben?"

"He's discussing the situation with his office, and then he's going to slip out and meet me. He assures me after bombers in a war zone, these guys are a piece of cake." And he had to trust Ben. It went both ways.

"All right. Good. I have you coming home in a black SUV; Greg is driving. There will be a baby seat in it. Your bedroom has fresh sheets and a crib will be in your dressing room until you both have made decisions. Your father has been contacted, and all the gates are closed, with extra security."

"Okay. So all I have to do is get us to the airport."

"Yes. If I could get someone there now, I would, but I think it's best for you and Ben to be proactive."

"Then that's what we'll do."

"Excellent."

"We'll need to have Carson meet us at the airport with clothes and things for the baby. Can you help coordinate that with Carson?"

"Of course. I'll arrange it as soon as we get off the phone." Geoff tapped away at some kind of keyboard. "What else can I do right now?"

"Are you kidding? You'll think of stuff long before I do."

"Fair enough. I'm right here, a text away. No one will harm them."

"I appreciate you, Geoff. Call me if anything else comes up." He hung up, then got packing. He needed to be ready to hit the ground running. Goddamn he hated when shit went tits up.

He was going to beat someone to death—he'd managed to find a balance with Ben, and now this?

It was asinine.

He guessed he was going to be able to take Ben and show him the ranch even earlier than he'd intended. He needed to find some good in this, and maybe that was what he needed to focus on.

Tonight he'd be in his own bed, and there would be no way for anyone to get to his family.