25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Prince had a spot in the living room, surrounded by computer screens where he was working nearly day and night. Sel went to sit with him, helping him watch the hundreds of cameras for anyone who resembled Alex Brooks.

"Still nothing?"

"I pumped up the software. I figure he'll be disguising himself even better. And there's been nothing."

Sel commiserated with him. "Of all the faces it sees, how does it know?"

"It would take as long to describe it as it's taking to find him," he said tiredly. "Sorry," he finished.

"No, I get it. I know computers some, but this is far beyond my expertise. Prince, we'll catch him."

"Before someone else gets hurt? I can't stand to think of it. I wasn't just worried about Dex, Sel. I was worried about you too. And…I was mad at you."

"You and everyone else. I know what I did was scary, Prince, but if I hadn't…"

"I know," he whispered, smiling at Sel.

Binx came in then with Ruben and Mal and they all sat around the computer. Ruben asked, "Won't this signal you?"

"Yes, but I worry it won't find him, and maybe, if I'm looking, I'll catch him."

Mal set a hand on Prince's shoulder. "Honey, you've been on here a lot. You need some rest. Dex asked us to make sure you weren't sitting here the whole time."

"He's so sweet to me."

Binx took one hand while Mal took the other and they led Prince to the porch. Binx made him sit on the little couch while Sel took a seat next to him, asking, "Is it too early for a little wine?"

"No, I can't," Prince said. "What if the alarm goes off?"

"If it does, I'd bet you're sober up in a second. Just a glass or two, please?"

"Fine," he said, leaning over on Sel, exhausted. "You won me over."

Ruben ran in the house to get the wine and Mal followed him to grab the glasses. Binx sat hard in one of the chairs. "Man, I'm tired too. All this cooking! I know I have to get used to it, but it's a lot, cooking for more than just a friend or two and my Sirs."

"You're going to be so good at it," Prince said. "You whip this stuff up so fast! How you made all those Danish the other morning, I'll never know."

"I can show you some tricks."

"Well," Sel told him, "You will have time off. I'm going to make sure that my uncle hires some other cooks to help you out and take over when you need days off."

"That would be nice. My Sirs are rejuvenated here. Having his own office, Nathan is pumped. He's been talking to Roland almost every day, getting the office perfect, and Pappy helped him draw the prettiest little chapel. It's all coming together, if only this threat is taken."

"I've seen the pictures Dex has been taking every day. The buildings are going up fast. It's incredible. We've planned our house up in the compound."

Sel thought about it, how he was supposed to have a home there too, but suddenly it wasn't as exciting, knowing Indio wouldn't want to live there. "Maybe I'll buy a house nearby, you know, in town or something."

"You know your uncle will want you close, for your safety," Prince warned.

"Sure, but…I don't know."

Binx asked gently, "Is there a reason?"

His new friends already saw right through him. "Yeah, and it's stupid. I'm stupid, hoping for a future with someone who doesn't want that. I doubt he'll ever want to live with me, or even be called a boyfriend or partner."

Binx said, "You don't know that. You know, Sel, my Sirs weren't easily tied down either. They liked each other, but never thought they'd get along. I was given to Pappy, to be his sub until our friends could figure out what to do with me. I was a little…hyper back then."

Prince looked at Sel and they shared a moment, trying not to laugh. Sel asked, "Back then?"

"I've calmed down a lot! I swear!"

"Okay…"

"Anyway," he said with his own laugh. "I had to get them to come together. I already really loved Pappy, but I saw how he felt about Nathan."

"You were going to give him up so he'd be happy?" Prince asked him.

"Well, yeah. We want the guys we love to be happy, even if it's not with us."

"You're right, but…that was a terrible sacrifice."

"It ended up happily, though. I got them both, and they're…wow, they're so wonderful. I mean, look. They came here for me. Sure, they love it now, but they saw I was antsy for something new. See, all my friends were doing things…making businesses and having kids, for a long time now. My Sirs and I don't want kids, we like our lifestyle too much. So, there was not much we can do that is life-changing."

Indio didn't want kids. Sel didn't even know if he wanted them. What new adventures would they have in the future?

"Sel? You okay?"

"I'm good. I'm here with good friends, about to have some wine, and tonight, I'll get laid."

"For some people," Prince told him, "That is the start to something bigger."

"Yeah, I doubt it, but…it's enough for now. I promise."

After the first glass of wine, Ruben started telling them stories of the ranch before Harrison sold it, and had them rolling. Dallas was the butt of many of his jokes, mostly because he was in a constant state of frustration over the little Harrison was putting into the ranch.

Binx told some of his own stories, then Dex and Marius pulled up and Prince lit up like a Christmas parade float. Running down to greet him, Prince flew into his arms and Ruben was right behind hugging Marius. Binx whispered, "They're all very sweet."

"If I did that, Indio would likely punch me."

"Then I'd kick his ass all over the yard," Binx hissed. "No one better hurt you!"

"I'm not being serious, but…he wouldn't like that kind of greeting."

Binx reached over and took his hand. "Want to help me prep for dinner while all the love birds smoochie face?"

"Yeah," Sel said, laughing.

"I'll come too," Mal said. "Kirk's gonna be gone a while still. Him and the others are running around on four-wheelers, checking the perimeters."

"Dallas is too," Binx told him. "Ruben's been worried all day."

For two nights, Indio came in and ravaged his body, then left soon after, leaving Sel sexually satisfied, but not much else.

While he loved fucking, and no one in his life had done it better than Indio, it wasn't going to be enough for long.

He went to his uncles' that day after showering the cum off his chest that Indio had left with a laugh the previous night. It gave him chills to think of it, but he wanted more. If he only knew how to ask.

Indio met him in the hall by his room and said, "I'm taking you to your uncles' place."

"You are? Why?"

"Everyone else is busy, so Kirk told me to take you."

Nerves lit like fire as he thought of it, showing up there, Bruno, guns… "It's…weird. And Dante can…he can see through people. Indio, this makes me anxious."

"You? I'll be the one killed! Why the fuck are you nervous?"

Sel grabbed his hands and held them tightly. "Indio, I would never let anything happen to you. I swear I wouldn't. They'd never hurt me like that."

"How would it hurt you? I'd be the dead one."

Sel yanked his hands back from Indio and stormed past him. "You are the biggest fucking asshole I've ever met."

"Good, keep that attitude toward me and I might get through this alive."

Sel walked ahead of him the entire way down the stairs and out the front door. Mal ran alongside him before they got into the available SUV. "What's up?"

"Seeing my uncles."

"Why are you so mad?"

"Indio is a dick. Why else?"

"Oh. Got it."

The ride was silent, Sel pointedly looking out the passenger side window, wishing he'd really made a statement and rode in the backseat.

Not until they were nearly there did Indio say, "Look, I told you, we are…it's not like they have anything to worry about except your virginity, and I doubt you were a virgin."

"Go fuck yourself tonight, Indio. If you come to my room, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

"Yeah. Got it."

Indio had barely stopped the vehicle when Sel jumped out of it, calming himself as well as he could because Blaine was outside with the dogs. "Hey, Sel!"

Sel went to Blaine, avoiding a hug, knowing that if he got one, he'd likely break out in tears. "Uncle Blaine, the dogs look great."

Blaine kissed his cheek. "You're…okay?"

"I'm fine," he said with a fake smile plastered on his face. "Where's Uncle Dante?"

"In the trailer. The house is almost done, but he's sulking it's going to be a week later because of, well, that serial killer."

"He screwed up a lot of things, Uncle Blaine."

Blaine kissed his cheek again and then said, "You go in and talk to him. You usually cheer him up."

"I doubt that, but I will."

Petting Ming on the way into the trailer, Sel pointedly ignored Indio, realizing that was becoming a habit.

*****

Blaine called Indio into the yard. "Hey, how are you? Dante told me the news. You'll be the president of the new Aztecas motorcycle club."

"I am, yeah," he said, and his shy smile was rather sweet for a rough-looking biker.

Ming went to him as he crouched in the yard and started to lick his face.

The other dogs ran over to get their own attention from Indio and Blaine went to sit on the steps to watch.

It wasn't like the dogs were totally mean right off to everyone except those they knew well, but they didn't usually take to anyone that quickly. Oh, if Indio made a menacing move in Blaine's direction, they'd tear his skin off his bones, but for the moment, they were all three getting sweet pets from the stranger.

Watching it, Blaine learned a lot about Indio. Ming, especially, didn't like men that were cruel or had a deceiving way about them. She'd been Blaine's personal alarm to danger since his first boyfriend, the abusive Troy.

Ming lay on the ground, showing her belly to Indio, and that was the most shocking move of all.

What they'd heard was worrying, of course. Sel and Indio were having a sexual relationship. Rumors or not, it was pretty obvious just in the way they'd come that day, angry, a fire lit in Selestino's expressive eyes.

The beginnings of relationships were so rocky, fraught with energy, sexual and angry energy, that every moment was pure passion. How well Blaine remembered it. And how well he remembered sitting across from Antonio, his new boyfriend's brother, alone, being told to tread carefully.

He sat across from Antonio, being studied like he was a bug under a glass, the dark brow raising over the scrutinous eye of his future brother-in-law.

Antonio was gorgeous, like Dante, taller and leaner, but the man had a powerful energy around him that made Blaine feel like shrinking into the couch cushions. "Are you with my brother simply for some snub in Troy's direction? If you are, then you and he are playing a very dangerous game."

Blaine set his drink down and sat forward, fear making him stammer, "N-no! I really like Dante!"

"I will be the first one to say how foolish my brother can be at times, but he seems to genuinely care for you. If I ever suspect that he will be hurt, I will intervene."

By intervene, he made it clear that Blaine wouldn't be breathing long if he hurt Dante in any way.

"I understand, and I would never hurt him. If this seems too dangerous for him, then I'll give him up."

Antonio crossed his legs and it was the most casual movement he could make, but Blaine didn't calm at all. In fact, the air sparked with Antonio's power and seriousness. "See, there is the rub, Blaine. If you break his heart to save his life, then you are still hurting him. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, isn't it? Either way, you will lose."

So easy it would be for him to tell Indio much the same, but Dante would likely take care of that himself, and be as smooth as Antonio had, threatening the life of his nephew's intended.

Taking a different tack, Blaine stood and walked over, sitting in the dirt near Indio, petting Jasmine as she panted in the sun happily. "I feel the need to be honest with you, Indio."

"Honesty, okay," he said, stiffening.

"Selestino is a Carrillo. Maybe I should warn you, telling you to run now, but I can't. The Carrillo men are…special."

Indio side-eyed him. "Who snitched?"

"Doesn't matter. Even if we hadn't heard, I'd have seen it. The two of you…there's lightning around you."

Indio sat as he absently pet Ming. "I…don't know what the hell I'm doing. I don't know how to do this at all."

"Even if you were good at it, Sel isn't going to be easy. It's in their blood. His dad, his uncle and him, they're hard men to care about, but easy too, if that makes sense."

"It does. He's…a lot."

"It doesn't get easier, but it gets better. He's a beautiful person who loves fully. And I'm sure he'd do anything for you."

"He's not real patient."

Blaine laughed as he said, "Oh, that's the worst of them. Dante isn't either. Patience is hard for men determined to get their way, no matter what they have to do. Stubborn, beautiful and powerful. If you can't handle those attributes, you'll never last as a partner to him. But…I think you can hold your own."

"You think?"

"Yeah. You may be the only one who can. It takes someone stronger than they know they are to be with a Carrillo man. Take it from someone who didn't know what the hell strength was until I met Dante."

"I'm strong, but…not like that. I guess. I don't know."

Blaine laid his hand on Indio's arm. "I do. I see it in you. Hold on tight, Indio. It's a bumpy ride, but worth it."

*****

"What the hell were you thinking? I can't even believe you, Selestino!"

"Oh, using my whole name, Uncle. You must be serious."

"Don't get smart with me!"

Sel wanted to roll his eyes, Dante could tell, and if he were him, he'd have done it and likely sparked the ire of his elder. As it was, Sel kept his eyes straight on Dante, unflinching. "I don't know why you're even angry."

"I heard about you and the biker. That's why."

"What about him?"

Dante's temper was reaching its pinnacle, and he knew his blood pressure would have Blaine lecturing him for hours. Trying to calm himself wasn't an option, not with the smug face of his nephew glaring at him.

"Seriously, Uncle Dante, what about him? You've never fucked guys that were a little dangerous but hot? Are you trying to say that you were a virgin on your wedding night with Uncle Blaine?"

"Of course not, Selestino!"

"Then stop worrying! We're fucking around, that's it. Ask him! He'll be glad to tell you!"

Dante saw the hurt in his eyes no matter how much he tried to play it off as defiance. That did it, and his temper and blood pressure plummeted. Sitting next to his nephew, Dante sighed, "Oh."

"So, see? There's nothing to worry about. We're having some fun, that's it. Just because we can get married now doesn't mean all of us want to, you know."

Dante knew he had to casually step out of the discussion. Whether Sel felt more than he was declaring or not, Dante suddenly realized he'd stepped into something that was none of his business. "I'm truly sorry, Sel. I thought that you'd fallen for him."

Scoffing, Sel informed him, "That dirty fucking biker? How could I love anything about him?"

"Right. Well, I have a meeting. Go ahead and get back to the farmhouse."

Sel got up without another word and left the trailer. It wasn't a minute before he heard the SUV driving off and Blaine was coming through the door.

As soon as he sat next to Dante, he said, "Well?"

"They'll be together forever."

"Yeah. I know," Blaine said with a chuckle. "What a ride they're about to have."

"God, I'm so glad we're an old married couple. I don't think I'd have the energy for new love any longer."

"Remember that," Blaine said as he kissed Dante on the cheek and got up to get them both drinks.