Chapter Thirty

Fighter pouted up at Brick.

Okay, he was laying it on thick, but he didn’t see why Brick couldn’t take care of his business after the sun rose. It was one o’clock in the freaking morning!

“I’ll only be gone a few hours,” Brick said, pulling him close.

They stood near the front door of Suwan Guardians and warmth was just feet away, but Brick was much warmer than inside the building and Fighter huddled closer.

“It’s cold, go inside and relieve Bishop,” Brick murmured against his ear.

“Anyone tell you that you’re bossy?” Fighter kept hugging Brick. His voice muffled against the man’s thick wool overcoat. But Brick was right, he hadn’t dressed for winter and he was damned cold.

Opening the door, he stepped inside. Holding the door, he slowly inched it closed while keeping Brick in sight. It was a high school thing to do, but he’d never felt like this. For some reason, he didn’t want Brick out of his sight. His heart ached at the thought of being away from him even for a few hours. His brain must be muddled from the alcohol he’d consumed.

Brick winked and pulled the door all the way closed with a smile.

“Lock it,” Brick voice came muffled through the wood and Fighter turned the deadbolt on the new lock Brick had changed out last week.

With a sigh, Fighter started on his tux tie and vest as he entered his office. He changed back into sweats he’d worn earlier. Hanging up the tux, he admired the fabric and thought about returning it. He’d keep it, the tux was the most expensive piece of clothing that he owned. and he was sure he’d wear it again now that he was dating Tyler Brick III.

Bishop was dozing in the rocker beside Emma’s bed when he cracked open the door to the kids’ bedroom. The man’s eyes popped open.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Thank you for this,” Fighter said.

“No problem. I told Brick everything.” Bishop looked guilty.

“It’s okay. I should have told him myself.” Fighter leaned on the door jam.

“Yeah, you should have.” Bishop stood.

Emma shifted on the bed and Fighter put a finger to his lips.

They left the room and went into the kitchen, and Fighter fixed them a late-night snack. It was something they’d done since opening the business. While Bishop didn’t have a stake in the company, the man was a big part of their success.

They carried the heated up left-over pizza and a few cans of soda into his office. Fighter settled behind the new desk in the expensive leather chair, and Bishop dropped into one of several new office chairs nearby.

While eating, Fighter went over the two jobs that were going to bring in a good deal of money. Which reminded him that he needed to call his landlord and get an extension on the rent. He was depleting his savings just to keep the bills and groceries paid, the rent would need to wait until he got the retainer fee from the event job Bishop would handle.

They’d killed an hour, but there was still another hour to go before Brick came home.

This place was starting to feel like home now that Brick stayed here with him and he wondered if Brick might consider renting a home together. Certainly nothing like Mrs. Brick’s massive estate. No, he pictured a cozy home with a backyard where the kids could play.

“What are you going to do about Cook?” Bishop dragged him out of his fantasy about hearth and home with Brick.

“I have no idea. I’m hopeful now that I’m dating Brick, Cook will back off and let me make payments.” Fighter wiped his fingers on a paper towel.

“You know… I was digging into information about your man.” Bishop said around a bite of pizza.

“Why?” Fighter’s brows lifted, chewing thoughtfully.

“I’ve been looking out for you my whole life, why wouldn’t I investigate the man you’re with?” Bishop smirked. “He’s filthy rich.”

“I saw that tonight.” Fighter explained about the impact both Brick and Syn had on the people at the fundraiser. “I swear, Bishop, the crowd was falling over themselves to just say hello to them.”

“I bet.”

“Do you remember what Brick said the night I first met him?” He had previously shared with Bishop, but he wasn’t sure if the man recalled the hurtful words.

“I do.” Bishop grimaced.

“Well… it’s kind of understandable. I know, I know.” Fighter held up a hand to stop Bishop when he opened his mouth to argue. “It was a dick move, but I’m telling you, Bishop, I saw it tonight. Every single person, men and women, married and single wanted to be with him or Syn. I can see why they became bitter and jaded, not knowing if they were wanted for who they are or their money.”

At the mention of Syn, Bishop squinted at him and sent restless fingers through his dark hair, sending the strands askew.

“So…” Fighter frowned. “I know why you investigated Brick, but what did you find out?”

“He’s a billionaire.”

“When you said he was filthy rich, I kind of figured that’s what you meant. What else?”

“He’s got real power. The kind that can corrupt men.”

“Don’t you think if he was going to be corrupted by power it would have already happened?”

“Who’s to say he’s not corrupt?” Bishop argued.

“Are you kidding me?” Fighter said, his voice filled with disbelief. “He’s one of the most honorable men I’ve ever met.”

“He left you in jail for three days,” Bishop reminded him.

Fighter snorted and filled Bishop in on what had actually happened. “Which reminds me, we need to fire Carl Withers.”

“That fucker. Taking credit for what Brick did.”

“See? I told you, Brick’s noble. He’s not corrupt.”

“What about him underbidding to take our jobs?”

“It was one job. And I did stab him.”

“Okay. Well, what about his brother?” Bishop said.

“What about Syn? Are you saying he’s corrupt?”

“No!” Bishop barked at once, then looked uncomfortable at having defended Syn.

Fighter frowned at his best friend and leaned his elbows on the glass desk. “What’s with you and Syn?”

“There’s nothing with me and him.” Bishop scowled.

“You act like there is.” Fighter lifted his brows when Bishop turned away. Finished with his pizza, Fighter tossed the paper plate into the trash next to his desk.

“I’ve got to get going.” Bishop fiddled with the last piece of pepperoni pie on his plate.

“Deflect and avoid as usual.”

“Am not.” The man took an angry bite and chewed with aggression.

Fighter huffed a slight laugh and rolled his eyes. “You know…Syn is very hot.”

“I’m telling Brick you said that.” Bishop dropped his pizza, crossed his arms, and his boots at the ankles.

“Go ahead.” Fighter laughed. “Brick won’t care. He knows he’s my man.”

“Your man?” Now it was Bishop’s turn to roll his eyes.

“You’re changing the subject.”

“So?”

“Syn was there with Hayden’s brother.”

“Wyatt?”

“Does he have another brother?” Fighter snickered.

“Are they dating?”

“I suppose they are?”

Bishop looked at him through tortured eyes.

“If you want him, don’t wait too long,” Fighter said, leaning back in his chair.

“Brick said something similar to me,” Bishop murmured.

Fighter lifted his hands. “See? I’m not the only one who’s noticed you have a thing for Syn.”

Bishop stood abruptly and dropped his plate and uneaten food into the trash. “I really got to go.”

“Okay.” Fighter let the subject drop. It was Bishop’s deal. He wasn’t sure what happened between Syn and Bishop, so he was in the dark. Maybe nothing had happened and Bishop was feeling the strain between the rich and poor. It was a very real thing and some people just shouldn’t mix.

Fighter checked the clock on the wall. Brick should be back in fifteen minutes if he wasn’t the type to be late. Fighter didn’t think he was, but they hadn’t really known each other that long.

When Bishop reached for the door, Fighter grabbed his jacket from the coat hanger nearby and walked out with the man.

The damp, icy air blasted them and even though he wore the heavy coat Brick had bought him, Fighter shivered. He waited until the van backfired and Bishop drove away before he turned around and stopped.

A shadowed figure stood blocking the door.