Chapter 9

Alan called a halt to the work. “There’s plenty of food and drink for everyone,” he added as the guys hurried to stow their tools in the trucks before filing around to the patio. Chip manned the grill, and Maureen carried out bowls of salads and sides. It was quite a production as everyone lined up, filled plates, and then sat down. Tank couldn’t ever remember a gathering of almost thirty people that was this quiet with everyone eating.

“We got the outside of the building done,” Collin said, bumping against Tank’s shoulder. “I’ve watched shows on telly where they build a house in a day, but I never thought I’d see it.” He returned to eating, and once he was done, he leaned against Tank’s side with a yawn that he tried to stifle.

“We’ll get ready to go soon,” Tank said, and Collin nodded.

Tank finished eating. Then they gathered up their things and said goodbyes, receiving hugs from Maureen and Alan, as well as Chip, before heading back to the ranch.

Collin went right inside, but Tank checked the barn and made sure the horses had water and feed. Then he went into the house, where he let the dogs outside. They were all excited to see him, and Tank played with all three of them before heading to his room. Collin lay on the bed, breathing evenly. “You did really good today.”

“Thank you,” Collin mumbled.

“I know it was a lot, and you held in there to the end.” Tank went to the bathroom and started the water, then stepped under the shower. There was no way he was going to go to bed dirty.

He had planned a quick clean, but Collin slipped in behind him and wrapped his arms around Tank’s waist. He didn’t say anything, and Tank maneuvered him under the water before grabbing the soap to lather his hands. The fact that Collin was half asleep on his feet was no surprise.

Tank washed him gently, stroking his chest and back. “Oh, Tank…,” Collin mumbled, “that’s good.” His legs trembled as Tank ran his soapy hands over them. Then he turned Collin around and ran his big hands over his smooth back and down past the curve, filling his palms with Collin’s pale, firm buttcheeks. Then he stood and tugged Collin to him, back to chest, holding him up as the water washed over them both. He gently stroked Collin’s chest and over his flat belly.

“It seems not all of you is sleepy,” Tank whispered, slipping his fingers over Collin’s balls and then along his upright shaft. After grabbing the soap, he lathered up once again and turned Collin out of the water before stroking along his length. Collin leaned back against him and slipped his hand behind him, gripping Tank’s throbbing cock. He didn’t stroke but held it tight as Tank continued his motions.

“God, Tank,” Collin said as he stood still. “I can barely move.”

“Then let me take care of us.” Tank kissed his shoulder, then tweaked a nipple as he stroked harder. Collin shook in his arms and gasped before stiffening from head to toe, coming over Tank’s hand in a nearly silent explosion.

Collin sighed softly and seemed to lose the last of his energy. Tank rinsed him off, letting the water run over both of them for a minute. Then he turned it off and grabbed towels, wrapping Collin in one before quickly drying himself. Collin got himself dried off, and Tank hung up the towels. “Go climb into bed. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Collin left the bathroom, and Tank thought about jerking off. Having Collin in his arms like that, giving over his pleasure completely, was so hot, and Tank had loved it. There was something about the trust in that action that really set his heart racing. Collin’s trust was important and something he wanted to keep.

Tank pushed thoughts of Sullivan and his accusations to the back of his mind. A single thought of that man was enough to send his dick running for cover. He turned out the bathroom light and went into the dark bedroom. The pups were all curled up in their bed, and Tank slipped into his own. Collin snuggled up to him, and Tank held him tightly.

“You’re a good man, Tank,” Collin mumbled and then seemed to sink more deeply into slumber.

Tank’s mind tried to put up a fight, but he was too tired and gave himself over to exhaustion. He wasn’t sure what to do about Sullivan, and he couldn’t help wondering if that bastard had weakened the work platform. If he had, what was he trying to accomplish? The answers weren’t going to come tonight, and Tank finally slipped into an uneasy sleep. Leaving things unsettled ate at him. Tank liked things wrapped up neatly. But this was becoming more of a mess as time went by.

Tank had been working for a couple of hours before he saw any sign that Collin was up. He caught up on the work that had been left from the day before and rode out to check on the herd. The men were coming in late because of the super long day yesterday, but Tank knew there were things to do.

His ranch wasn’t huge, but there was always work, and letting some things go for a day was fine, but more than that and it was too easy to get behind.

“You never stop.”

Tank stepped out of the equipment shed after putting the ATV away. He knew Sullivan’s voice before he saw him striding over. “You know I never do.”

“Yeah. You’ll do anything to get rid of me and try to keep me quiet.” Sullivan stepped closer, his eyes wild, and Tank wondered what the hell had happened to him. His hands shook, and he seemed pale, yet wired all to hell. Tank took a step back, instinctively wanting distance. “I worked hard yesterday, and you got me fired.”

“I did no such thing,” Tank said.

“You and your friends,” Sullivan spat.

Tank felt his anger rise, but he kept it under control. “And you damaged the work platform.” That was a bluff. He didn’t know for sure, but there had been a message from Alan that morning that Sullivan had been seen hanging around the platform when he should have been working elsewhere. “What I want to know is why?” He hoped if he acted like it was common knowledge, then maybe Sullivan would cop to it.

“I….”

Tank drew closer, smelling weakness. Sullivan had always been a weasel, and Tank wondered what redeeming qualities he had ever seen in him. The idea that he had entertained getting involved with him all those years ago turned his stomach. “I know what you did. There were too many people around. Why the fuck would you do something like that? People could have been hurt.”

“Like I got hurt,” Sullivan yelled as he lunged at Tank, who stepped out of the way. Sullivan overbalanced and ended up flat on his face in the dirt. “You were supposed to have my back. You were supposed to fucking care.”

Tank leaned down. “I was following orders, and you went off on your own.”

“You were supposed to care for me,” Sullivan said. “You should have thought of me first.” He scrambled to his feet. “I was the one who should have come first,” he reiterated and squared his shoulders. “But Tank puts no one before himself. Your little boyfriend in there will figure that out soon enough, and when he does….” He grinned stupidly, but Tank was tired of trying to figure Sullivan out. “I want to be there to see that.”

Tank shook his head. He had wondered just how twisted the reality had gotten in Sullivan’s mind, and now he knew. “You need to get yourself some help.”

“Yeah, you do,” Collin said firmly as he turned the corner. He stopped with his arms folded over his chest. “What the hell were you thinking with that little stunt you pulled? Harry was nearly hurt. Why would you do that?”

Sullivan narrowed his gaze at Collin. “Harry wasn’t the target.”

“Me?” Collin asked, his eyes widening. Tank stepped to the side, getting between them. He didn’t want Sullivan even looking at Collin.

“Get the fuck off my land and never set foot here again.” He swore if Sullivan pulled anything, he’d rip the man apart.

Sullivan seemed to be reaching the end of his rope. The man was a snake, and Tank was well aware of when they were at their most dangerous. He stood his ground, but Sullivan’s eyes grew even wider and wilder. Tank braced himself, expecting Sullivan to rush at him. But instead he pulled a knife, and Tank backed up. He was even crazier than Tank had first suspected.

“Don’t you even want to know why?” Sullivan asked with an unhinged grin. “Huh?” He seemed to be directing this to Collin, which Tank thought strange. What business could Sullivan have with him?

“What did I ever do to you, other than become friends with Tank?” Collin asked.

Tank kept an eye on Sullivan as the man lunged forward. Tank backed away and dodged his clumsy motion, watching the knife.

“Is that what you think?” Sullivan asked. “It’s not hard to get work finding people or delivering messages.” He took another swipe, and Tank jumped back just as Collin raced around him. Collin knocked Sullivan’s feet out from under him with a beautiful roundhouse kick, sending him flying and landing flat on his back with a thud that had to hurt. The knife skittered away on the grass, and Tank moved it away, not wanting to touch it. That way the sheriff could use it as evidence.

“Collin, stay back,” Tank snapped, but Collin already had Sullivan by the collar.

“What did you mean?” he asked, shaking him slightly. “I spent six years at an all-boys boarding school. I know how to defend myself, and I certainly know half a million ways to make you hurt. The bullies at Eton were experts, and I learned from the best.” He grabbed Sullivan’s nipple and gave it a merciless twist.

“Fuck!” Sullivan shouted.

“You think that hurt? Wait until I do it three or four more times.” He repeated the motion, and Sullivan tried to pull away, struggling like crazy. “Now what the hell did you mean?” Collin leaned closer. “I can squeeze your bollocks until you scream in terror.” Collin gave Sullivan’s chest another twist. Tears ran down Sullivan’s cheeks. “Now tell me.”

“I do favors for people. Paid favors, and it didn’t take your father very long to find out where you were staying. He wanted someone to cause some trouble and get you to come back home. The fact that you were staying at Tank’s was just a happy accident for me. Sort of a twofer.”

Collin pushed Sullivan back down to the ground. “My father sent you here?” he asked. “What the hell for?”

Sullivan propped himself up on his elbows. “He doesn’t like having a poof for a son—his words. And he was looking for someone to keep an eye out and make enough trouble here that you went home. It seems Daddy has someone he wants you to marry.” Sullivan sneered. “Like a queer like you was going to marry a woman.” He rolled his eyes. “I took the crazy man’s money and did what he asked. Then I found out that you and old Timmy here were shacking up, and suddenly the job didn’t seem so bad.” He tried to get up, but Collin kept him down using the heel of his boot in the center of his chest.

Collin seemed livid, and Tank worried he’d do something he’d regret. “He isn’t worth it,” Tank said and tugged Collin back. “I’m going to call the sheriff, and he can pick him up. I’ll press charges for him coming at me with a knife, and then Sheriff Donaldson can deal with him.” At the very least, he’d be behind bars.

“Yes, sure,” Collin said softly. “But we should also check that everything is okay. This arsehole has probably been causing trouble before he found you. God knows what he did.” Collin held Sullivan down as Tank made his call.

The men began arriving and seemed amused by the man Collin kept on the ground. They looked at Collin with a certain amount of respect and went about checking on everything. Damned gates were open , one of the men reported through text. Closed them. Checking for escapees.

Tank sent a thank-you and glowered at Sullivan. “You know, you were a failure as a soldier. You always thought you knew best and listened to no one. You still think you know what you’re doing. If you got hurt, it was no one’s fault but your own.” Tank looked at Collin. “We were in a firefight and ordered to back out to get a better position. I followed orders. Sullivan here decided to go his own way. He was shot, and I ended up going in to pull him out, though the asshole doesn’t remember any of that. All he thinks is that I left him out there.” Tank leaned over Sullivan and flipped him the bird. “You were a dick all those years ago, and you still are today.” Damn, that felt good. He was so tired of taking shit from him.

“Why didn’t you say so before?” Collin asked. “The only shame in this story is his.”

“We’re supposed to have each other’s back. I know that, and so does he.”

Collin shook his head. “That’s bullshit. Where was his back-watching when he went out on his own and put everyone in danger? Answer that one for me.” Tank thought he was going to spit on Sullivan. “You are so messed up that you can’t even see the truth, can you? And how do you get these jobs of yours? Place an advert on some website, maybe Assholes for Hire?”

Sirens sounded, and Tank went out into the drive, met the sheriff, and led him back to where Collin waited. “Step away from him, please,” the sheriff said, clearly amused.

“Of course,” Collin said with as upper-crust an accent as Tank had ever heard.

“And you are?” the sheriff asked Collin as he cuffed Sullivan. “I know who he is. I already got a report from Pettigrew, as well as Maureen up the road. Your actions have become quite well known.”

“And he confessed to damaging the scaffolding platform. Both Tank and I heard it.” Damn, Collin was impressive. “To answer your question, I’m Collin Northington, Viscount Haferton, heir to the Earl of Doddington. You may call me Collin if you like.”

“Well, your viscountness, can you tell me what happened?”

“Tank will. He was here longer than I was,” Collin said. Tank took over, letting Collin fill in some details that Tank might have missed. “The knife he pulled is over there. We kicked it away and haven’t touched it.” He turned to Collin, who nodded.

“It also seems that my father might have hired him to cause trouble here,” Collin told the sheriff. “I’m afraid he’s still in England, so getting to him is going to be difficult.”

The sheriff’s eyes boggled. “I see.”

“But any evidence you gather to that effect can be presented when I return.” Damn, Collin was smart. If the sheriff uncovered anything, Collin could use it as leverage with his father. Maybe even get the miserable old man in trouble with the law. After all, what kind of man hired someone to scare his son just to try to get him to come home?

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

“I can get the local police in touch with you so you can handle things police officer to police officer. That’s up to you.”

“Well, we’ll see what we find.” The sheriff got Sullivan off the ground and into the back of his car. “I’ll need a statement from each of you.” He asked questions of both Tank and Collin. They answered them and gave him all the information they had. Finally the sheriff left with Sullivan, and Tank could finally relax.

“At least we know what Sullivan was up to,” Tank said.

“No, we don’t. Not entirely. Sullivan gave us part of the story, but there are a bunch of questions that need answers. Until yesterday Sullivan didn’t actually do anything. He hung around and was a bigmouth arsehole, but that isn’t going to get me to return home. He got the scaffolding to collapse, but that wasn’t going to send me home either. So whatever he said, there’s more to it than that.”

Tank shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I,” Collin said softly, but then he headed toward the house. Tank wished he knew what Collin meant, but maybe it was Collin’s turn to play it close to the vest.