Chapter 22

Benji sat at the edge of the tub. Xavi was in the most amazing, soft, inflatable baby tub. It was green, shaped like an insane frog, and Xavi was fascinated.

Xavi splashed as he squealed, so happy.

"Oh, look at you! You like that, don't you?"

Xavi slammed both hands in the water.

"Yep. I know. Splish splash." He chuckled. "I gotta tell you, buddy, they know how to make life easy around here."

Supper had been easy and delicious. He'd offered to do dishes and had been shooed away, and now he was hanging out with his baby, and simply being here. It was like a vacation.

But not, if he was fair. Sterling was right there with him most of the day, and he'd been so sweet. Benji wasn't bored. He just felt… weird.

He'd never been in a situation wherein he didn't have a job…

It was the weirdest thing?—

A series of quick flashes lit up the bathroom window, and Benji bellowed, "Sterling!"

"Ben!" Sterling came racing in. "What's?—"

More flashes went off, and Sterling shouted. "Carson! The bathroom window! Motherfucker!"

Carson had been having a beer with Sterling and his dad.

He grabbed Xavi and ran, moving deeper into the house, searching for a safe space to keep his baby.

Geoff met him in the hall. "Come on. The media room doesn't have windows."

He followed Geoff, wrapping Xavi in a towel as he started to cry. "Shh. I have you. Daddy has you."

"I'll get you a diaper and a blanket and a bottle. You hang out here." Geoff's cheeks were bright red.

"It's safe."

"I swear. We're locking this bitch down. No one sneaks pictures of my sweet baboo."

"Thank you." Jesus, his heart was racing so fast he felt like he was about to pass out. How did anyone get out here on the ranch? This place was locked down tight.

They would have either been on the ranch already or they would have had to walked and walked in here for miles.

"Hey." Sterling strode into the room. "Are you okay? Carson's people caught the guy. We're waiting for the police. Fuck, I'm sorry, honey." Sterling's face was tight-lipped, the frown grim.

"Did you know them? How did they get here?"

Xavi screamed, reaching for Sterling, the sound hysterical, furious.

"Oh, baby. Hey." Sterling moved in close, putting an arm around him and sheltering Xavi between them. "It's okay. It's gonna be okay."

He cradled Xavi. "Oh God…God, Sterling, what the fuck is wrong with these people?"

"I don't know. This isn't something media people do. Someone has to have a personal agenda in all this."

"I think that there's someone that suggested money could be made." Bodie came in, a diaper and a bottle in hand. "That wasn't one of ours. Let me have my grandson. You're both pissed off."

"I have a reason to be!" Benji argued. "This is insane. No one does this!"

Bodie nodded. "You do have reason. I'm suggesting that little bit needs some calmer energy. We'll stay right here while you explain how we're going to keep them safe, son."

Oh.

Oh, okay.

He nodded, letting Bodie take Xavi. "Sorry. I'm?—"

"Furious."

"And a little scared."

"Come on, love. Come sit with me until the cops come. I'll need you to tell them what you saw. But we can talk about it," Sterling said.

That made sense. "Sure. Sure." He took a couple of deep breaths, hoping his hands would stop shaking. "I'm so fucking mad, Sterling. How did they get here?"

Xavi was supposed to be safe, dammit.

"They had to have walked in. We've had people on all the gates as well as the cameras. I bet we find a cut section of fence." Sterling's eyes burned with blue fire.

"Oh, assholes. That's…that makes it serious, right? Worse than trespassing?"

"Yes. That's criminal trespassing. And I'm sure there's some sort of invasion of privacy charge too. Because a cease and desist has already been sent to the production company." Sterling stroked a thumb over the back of his hand.

"Endangering the animals. Attempted rustling. And taking photos of someone in the bath? Gross?"

"Yes. It's ridiculous and awful." Sterling sighed. "And I'm trying to convince you it's good to be with me, and now this."

"Well, I think I'm going to discuss this with Carson. He needs to take better care of you. Of Xavi and me, by extension."

"Oh, that's a good idea." Sterling winked at him, squeezing his hand.

"I bet no one is harder on him than him, huh?"

"Oh my God, you have no idea."

They heard sirens then, and he was relieved. He wanted this over with.

"I want to press charges, and I want to talk to those producer people."

"You got it." Sterling would move heaven and earth to make that happen, Benji could tell.

Carson knocked, then poked his head in the door. "The police are here to take statements."

"Did they catch him?" Benji wasn't leaving Xavi in here. Bodie was older.

"Yes. We did." Carson's wolfy grin spoke volumes. "Fucker."

"Thank you. I just…want Xavi safe, you know?"

"Me too. You, Silver, and little Professor X."

Oh, that was so cute. Xavi's first nickname. He grinned. "Oh, I love that. Thanks, Carson."

Sterling rose, pulling him to his feet. "Come on, honey. Let's get this over with, huh?"

"Yes. Yes, I want this dealt with. I have had enough."

"I like him, son." Bodie didn't so much as glance away from Xavi.

"I do too. A lot." Sterling drew him out of the room. Jenny passed them the other way, carrying a little bottle.

"You two be good." He was going to hit that photographer hard for interrupting bathtime.

"You got it," Bodie called out.

They walked to the main living area, the more formal one where Sterling said only people who were at the ranch for business were asked to wait. There were a pair of uniformed police, two of Carson's guys, and a very dusty-looking man.

It sort of made Benji happy that the cowboys weren't letting the bastard sit on the furniture.

"Sterling, how goes it?"

"Hey, buddy." Sterling shook the man's hand. "Ben, this is Sheriff Alder."

"Tony, please. Me and Sterling have known each other a long time."

"Tony. This man took photos of my son while he was in the bathtub, through the bathroom window."

"Did he now?" Tony stared at the man who stood, hunched, hands tied with a zip tie. "How did you get on the ranch?"

"I walked," the guy said sullenly.

"Here's his camera," one of the guards said, handing it over.

"We need to know whether he cut any of Sterling's fence, too. Those cattle could get into the road." Benji was not letting these bastards get away with anything.

"I have a man checking the highway fence line." Tony stared at the asshole. "Tell us where you parked, and that will be a lot easier."

"I—" The man glanced side to side as if he was going to try to run. Then he slumped in again. "It's a rental. Will you tow it?"

"Yep."

"Who hired you? Why are you bothering us?"

"There's a call out there, offering cash money for candid photos. I need a job, man. I'm trying to break into the business!"

"By taking photos of babies in bathtubs? Of trespassing on private property and scaring people? What the hell is wrong with you?" Benji couldn't believe this.

He half expected Tony or Sterling to step in, but they let him have his say, staring the guy down.

"I— I'm sorry?"

"Once more with real feeling, you skeeze."

"Hey! I didn't realize there would be a baby. Okay, I am sorry for that."

"So what did you think? You were going to take a picture of me taking a shit?" These people were insane. "What the fuck is wrong with you? This is private property, you ingrate!"

The guy opened his mouth again, but Tony cut his hand through the air. "Where's your car?"

"On the next ranch road over."

"The school bus road?" Tony's eyebrows rose. "Jesus. Jon, get someone out there to get that car. He could kill any number of people leaving it there."

"Will do, Sheriff." The deputy headed off at a run.

"You are a fool, aren't you, son? I sure hope you got you a good lawyer."

Personally, Benji didn't give a shit whether the asshole did or not. He kind of hoped he got the worst public defender.

"Come on, now. Let's get you out of these people's hair. I'll make sure any pictures are destroyed as soon as possible, Silver."

"Thanks. I appreciate it. Keep me in the loop."

"Mr. Ben. Pleasure to meet you. Hope to do it again under better circumstances."

"Yes, sir. I look forward to it." They'd have to have a…a cookout or something.

Tony hauled the guy out, and Benji blew out a breath.

"I know. I'm so sorry, baby. But Tony is damn good at his job. As many famous people as have property in this valley? He deals with this shit a lot."

"Oh. Oh, you—God, you have a point, don't you? I bet he's got it down." That actually made it a little easier.

"Yeah. He really does. He'll get this guy, and it will go up the chain to the production company, too." Sterling gave him a warm, strong hug. "Now. Let's go get Xavi and we'll all have some quality snuggle time on the big couch in the media room. Maybe put on a silly movie."

"Okay. Yeah. I might need a beer later. That…sucked."

"It did. We'll have a beer after the old man and the baby go to bed, huh?" Sterling waggled both eyebrows at him.

"Yeah. I need one. Please." His nerves were jangling like one of those tuning forks.

"Hey. It's okay. I swear, it's going to be okay." Sterling stared into his eyes, the promise ringing with truth. He knew Sterling meant it, that he would do everything he could to make it true.

"I believe you. This isn't your fault." Not that he would have ever been photographed without Sterling, but still…

"It is. But I'll make it up to you." He got another kiss, then Sterling led him back to the media room to see Xavi. Who was sound asleep, wrapped in a blanket, lying on Bodie's chest again. He could see this was going to be a thing.

He had to smile. Had to.

"Xavi deserves a grandfather," he whispered. "I'm so pleased."

"So am I. Come on. Beer." Sterling nodded to Geoff, who was on his laptop, headphones on, and Benji knew Xavi was in damn good hands. Jenny was also in there, knitting.

So he could leave Xavi and go unwind.

Maybe text his mom and let her tell him he'd done the right thing.

Love on Papa Smurf.

The important things.