Chapter 30

Once again,Zander found himself in the middle of a Vince and Scotty sandwich. They were in Zander’s bed, all three of them naked after taking a very long shower that included a whole lot of stroking and coming.

Now the men were asleep. It was clear that the two of them were exhausted, but Zander couldn’t make himself succumb to slumber despite his own tiredness. He wanted to finally take a moment to breathe and to fully appreciate the fact that he had Vince and Scotty back. After thinking he wouldn’t see them again, after trying so hard to make peace with leaving them behind, they were here with him. He wanted to celebrate that, but there was still so much that he had to handle.

How would he integrate Vince and Scotty into his life? How would he protect them? How would he ensure that Scotty remained well and that Vince didn’t come to resent Zander for having to leave his job?

Top of that list, though, was Zander having to deal with Derri once and for all. He’d never expected a moment like this to arrive—when the man he’d once loved would be a problem for him. But Derri was that and more, and Zander had to handle him. There was a glint in Derri’s eyes whenever he looked at Vince and Scotty. It was a glint Zander was way too familiar with. He’d seen it countless times back when he and Derri were out killing for his uncle.

The thrill of the hunt.

The anticipation of a kill.

He couldn’t allow that shit to fester for another minute.

So he carefully extricated himself from the arms and limbs pinning him to the mattress and rolled off the bed, dragging on the pair of jeans he’d discarded earlier and then grabbing a t-shirt from the dresser. He tugged that over his head, glancing back at the bed to make sure his guys were still asleep before leaving the bedroom. When he opened the door to the penthouse, he found Trem out in the hallway, at his post as Zander had requested.

“Aye.” He motioned for the bodyguard to step inside. When he did, Zander locked the door before turning to Trem. Out of all the men Zander could’ve had around Vince and Scotty, he trusted Trem the most. His large build and silent nature were scary as fuck, and Trem was kinda off his rocker, but he was good people under all that. And loyal to a fault. “I’m about to head out for a bit. I need you to stay here.” He pointed at the couch. “Watch over them.” He grabbed his gun and phone. “Protect them with your life, Trem.”

“I gotchu.” Trem cocked his head. “You taking guys with you where you’re going, right?”

“Nah, this is a solo thing.”

“Boss.”

He ignored the worry and caution in Trem’s voice as he stepped into the elevator waiting in the middle of the living room. “Your life, Trem. Protect them with your life.” The elevator doors closed on whatever Trem responded back.

Zander leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets and his chin tilted up. He could’ve let any one of the men who worked for him deal with Derri, but he wouldn’t. This one was personal and should be handled as such. He couldn’t deny still having a hell of a soft spot for Derri, but at the end of the day he was a problem and Zander was a problem solver.

He heaved a sigh and straightened when the elevator came to a silent stop. The doors slid open and he stepped out, walking the few steps to Derri’s door. While his ex didn’t technically live above the casino as Zander did, Derri had a place there that he spent more time in than the house he actually owned.

They’d lived together in that house at one time. Gone half on everything. A life that felt so far away now when Zander dared to look back. So much had happened that it felt as if a lifetime had passed between that person and the man who stood there now, knocking on Derri’s room door.

The door opened and Derri stood in front of him with a lighter in his hand and a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. Usually, he resorted to smoking when he was bored or agitated. He was shirtless, wearing only low-strung tight black jeans that exposed his hip bones, his feet bare. He’d always been on the skinny side, skin pale with a few scars and healed-up bullet wounds covering his arms and torso.

“What?” Derri asked.

“We need to talk.” Zander didn’t give him a chance to decline; he simply pushed past Derri and entered the dimly lit room. He wrinkled his nose at the heavy, cloying scent of weed and liquor.

“I figured you’d already said everything that needed saying,” Derri said from behind him. “Haven’t you?”

Zander faced him, really studying the other man’s features. He looked a little high, eyes and the tip of his nose red. There would always be a part of him that would want to go to Derri, to comfort him. To figure out a way to remove that deep-seated pain out of Derri’s eyes. But that was no longer his role. “We have two options.” He wasn’t about to beat around the bush. “You can leave. Or I can put a bullet in your skull.”

Derri’s expression didn’t change. “I’ll leave the choice up to you.” He flicked the lighter in his hand, bringing the flickering flame up to light the cigarette between his lips.

“Derri.”

“I’m not gonna make it easy for you.” Derri walked up to him, standing chest to chest as he took a deep drag on the cigarette and then exhaled. “I didn’t do shit wrong, that was all you.” He gestured at Zander. “You were the one who made promises to me.” He slapped a hand to his chest. “You promised me a life, a future together. You said we would do this together but you didn’t keep your word. Shouldn’t I feel a way about it? I have the right to feel fucked up and to be hurt that you broke my heart.” His Adam’s apple shifted when he swallowed. “I’m not leaving,” he whispered, lowering himself slowly to his knees, prostrating himself before Zander. “So do what you have to do.”

Fuck. He’d known the stance Derri would take, but he still bled having it confirmed. “I’m sorry that I hurt you. I didn’t set out to do that but I know I did.” Zander touched him, stroking his fingers over Derri’s short hair. “I wish I could’ve made it easier for you.” He inhaled, then released it slowly. “I don’t trust you around them,” he confessed. “I can’t trust you to protect them, to have their best interest and safety in mind, Derri. I see the way you look at them and I don’t trust that you won’t hurt them and that’s—” He trembled, legs unsteady suddenly, so he clung to Derri, clasping his head in both hands and bending forward to touch his forehead to Derri’s. “I loved you so much,” he whispered. “You were my best friend, my partner, my confidant. Without you, I wouldn’t be here. And I wouldn’t have them.”

“I only ever loved you.”

When Zander lifted his head, he found Derri gazing up at him with his blue eyes wet. The pieces of Zander that still loved him, that would’ve killed and died for Derri at one point, rebelled at the sight.

“I only ever wanted you. While you were gone, I counted down the minutes until I got to have you again.” Derri’s lips twisted, bitterness flooding his gaze. “But you found them and you forgot about me. You forgot about we…” He motioned between the two of them. “I can’t accept that. I can’t accept them. I never will.”

There was nothing left to say except… “I’m sorry.”

Derri stared at him, the cigarette between his lips forgotten. Silence spread around them, heavy but accepting. “I love you, Kian.”

“I love you too, Derri. Always will.”

Derri didn’t flinch when Zander drew his gun. No, he held Zander’s gaze as Zander pulled the trigger, putting a bullet between his eyes. His body jerked and dropped backward and Zander went to his knees, sitting on the floor and pulling Derri’s body into his lap, smoothing his hair down.

While tears dropped onto a dead Derri’s forehead.

The bedroom wasin darkness when Scotty rolled over and opened his eyes. Other than Vince’s snores, he couldn’t make out any other sounds. But they were alone, he and Vince.

No Zander around.

He got out of the bed, careful not to wake Vince as he made his way out of the bedroom, clad in only his underwear. Hesitant footsteps on the cold floor brought him out into the living room. The entire place was in darkness, though he easily made out the still figure seated on the couch, his back to Scotty.

“Zander?” Scotty approached him, turning on a nearby lamp as he took in the other man.

Zander was shirtless, dressed in just shorts, and he sat with his head thrown back, eyes closed. He could’ve been mistaken for sleeping except his body wasn’t relaxed at all. And there was a stillness to him that immediately put Scotty on alert.

“Zander?” He went down onto his knees between Zander’s parted thighs, touching his face. Dark lashes lifted slowly and Scotty almost gasped at the dark grief that stared back at him. “What happened? What’s wrong?” What could be the cause of the almost tangible heartbreak that bled from the other man’s eyes? It felt foreign, wrong somehow, seeing the expression on Zander’s face. He was the strong one out of the three of them. So what could have him looking like that?

Zander just stared at him. Violence seemed to seep from his pores, thickening the air around them. Scotty had to pause and catch his breath. And he had to also remind himself that despite the obvious danger that whirled in the air, Zander wouldn’t hurt him.

He would never.

That bolstered his courage. Made him ask again, “What’s wrong? Talk to me.” Softer this time, leaning forward to touch his forehead to Zander’s chest.

“You should go back to bed.”

He’d never heard Zander sound like that. Cold and detached. Voice like gravel. As if he were chewing on bullets, ready to spit them out. But maybe Scotty was crazy, because underneath the bloodied words Zander just uttered, Scotty swore he heard pain. Anguish. He shook his head. “I’m not tired. I want to be here with you.” This was where he was supposed to be after all. With Zander. “Tell me what’s got you like this.” There wasn’t much he could contribute to their unique relationship. Vince was the good guy, the cop. Zander was the powerful one, adept at solving problems, wrapped up in danger as if it were the most expensive and luxurious cashmere coat.

And Scotty was…Scotty.

He wanted to be more than that, though. He wanted Zander and Vince to see that he didn’t need hand-holding or to be treated like something breakable. He could be who they needed.

“Not now, Scotty,” Zander said, dismissing him. “I need to be alone.”

Maybe he should heed the warning in that statement, but… “No. I’m not leaving you like this.” Whatever this was. If Zander didn’t want to talk then Scotty would just sit with him and lend him his presence. He shifted to get up off his knees, but Zander’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat.

Scotty froze, eyes flying wide.

Zander lifted him, just by his throat, until they were face-to-face. The other man’s eyes blazed with an unholy light that should frighten Scotty. The tight grip on his throat should frighten him too. But all he felt was the hot pulse of arousal. He didn’t know he liked being treated roughly until that moment. Hadn’t known that he could taste the unchecked lust and darkness that Zander emitted and want more.

“I don’t want to talk,” Zander snarled in his face. “If you’re tryna stay, then I’m tryna fuck. Dassit.”

Scotty couldn’t hold back his moan. Not at those words. Not with the way Zander’s fingers tightened even more around his throat. He couldn’t breathe. No, he didn’t know what had put Zander in the state that he was in, but it was clear he needed an outlet. Scotty could be that. He wanted to be that.

Hell, he ached already.

“Nod if you’re on what I’m on.”

He gave Zander what he asked for, the gesture barely a nod due to the hand around his throat. And in a blink he found himself face down on the couch, face smashed into the cushion, Zander tearing off his underwear.

Rough fingers gripped his ass cheeks, pulling them apart, and Scotty whined, trying desperately to grip the cushions for balance. Breath washed over his skin and then Zander’s face was buried in his ass.

“Ahh!” Scotty cried out, body jerking. Zander wasn’t tender. He wasn’t careful. His tongue lashed at Scotty’s hole as if he were on a mission.

Scotty couldn’t do shit but take it, his pleasure-filled cries muffled by the cushion, body shaking as he tried to ride Zander’s tongue. Fingers pushed into him, no hesitation, digging deep and scissoring to stretch. He bucked, fucking the couch and moaning.

He was on fire, body hot, muscles straining. This was the roughest Zander had ever been with him and he couldn’t lie—he liked this. The pain of Zander’s nails cutting into his skin where he gripped Scotty, the flogging his slick tongue gave to Scotty’s hole. The grunts and groans Zander emitted were music to Scotty’s ears.

Zander lifted his head then, shifting slightly, then his cock was pressing against Scotty’s hole, slick with lube Scotty hadn’t even noticed. Zander slammed into him, ramming him into the couch, making the piece of furniture slide against the smooth floor.

Scotty lifted his head on a howl, screaming as Zander rammed in and out. The pressure, the fullness of him, was an exquisite blinding pleasure that whited out his vision.

“Oh God!” It was too much. The punishment Zander doled out was too good, too much, too everything. Scotty parted his lips to beg for mercy but only grunts escaped him. His tongue hung out of his mouth and he couldn’t say if he was drooling or not.

“Can you take it?” Zander growled in his ear. “You say you want it, but can you take it for me?”

Scotty tried to nod. He did. “Ye-yessss.”

“I don’t think you can.” Zander slammed in, circling his hips and then drawing back. “’Cause the way that thing is squeezing me? The way you tryna run from it?” He bit Scotty’s earlobe.

“Unngh.” Scotty pushed back on him, eyes crossing when Zander’s next thrust hit his spot. Over and over. “Fuck, Zander. Please!” The strokes overwhelmed him and he tried crawling forward, as if there was anywhere to go.

Zander held on to his hips, halting his movements. “Where you tryna go, Scotty? Huh?” Voice low, tone almost cajoling, he was holding a conversation while Scotty was losing his mind. “Thought you wanted it, baby. Thought you wanted me up in your gut. Didn’t you say you was on what I’m on?” Teeth in Scotty’s neck, he tunneled deep, making Scotty yelp. Making his body twist and tremble. “Arch that back for me, baby.” The way he spoke was something that should be studied. His words and their delivery—they unraveled Scotty.

“P-please.”

“Arch that back for me.” With a tight grip on Scotty’s waist, Zander reared back and slid in, angling to the right.

Scotty cried out, hips speeding up as he tried to ride it, his inner muscles clenching.

“That’s it. Fuucckk.” Zander moaned, low and deep. “Let me get in there, baby. Take it for me like a good boy. G’on and make that hole suffocate my dick.”

Oh God.Scotty shook. An earthquake rumbled in the deepest depths of him, helped along by Zander’s words.

“Push back on it for me. Let me see that hole swallow me down.”

Scotty leaned forward on his shoulders, bringing his ass up higher, opening himself up wider so Zander could do with him as he wished. And when Zander pulled back, Scotty plunged down on him. “Fuck!” he cried out. “Oh God!” It should be a crime, this kinda pleasure. The force of it ripped the air out of his lungs.

In response, Zander rammed in and out of him while he kept up the commentary. “Goddamn, that’s what I like to see. Fuck yeah. Dirty me up, baby.” He reached under Scotty’s writhing body, taking his dripping cock in hand for the first time, tugging, pulling on him none too gently as he pounded Scotty’s ass, battering his prostate.

Scotty’s soul left his body then. He blacked out, orgasm tearing through him like a train running off the tracks. He was lost, just a body for Zander to fuck, to rag doll as he pistoned in and out. Tears burned his eyes and poured down his cheeks and he loved it.

Loved every second of it.

Zander fucked him through the orgasm, then bit down on Scotty’s nape, hips jerking, movements suddenly uncoordinated, grip turning even more painful as he reached his peak with a curse.

When Scotty came back to awareness, Zander was limp on top of him, softened cock pulsing inside Scotty’s still clenching hole. A sound above them caught Scotty’s attention and he turned his head, catching sight of Vince standing at the back of the couch, watching them with a hand in his pants.

Scotty flashed him a tired, wobbly grin.

Vince winked.

And Zander rolled off Scotty with a grunt.

Scotty panted, turning around and sitting up with a grimace. He was tender as fuck, and Zander’s cum oozed out of him. “You’re gonna need a new couch.” He cleared his throat, glancing over at Zander. “Cum’s all over this one.”

Zander didn’t respond, so Scotty touched his shoulder. “Are you ready to tell me”—his gaze shot to the silent Vince and back—“us what happened?”

Zander didn’t speak for another minute or so and then he sighed, scrubbing a shaking hand over his jaw. “I killed Derri.”