AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you think Carter would let Matteo do this if he thought that’s what would happen?” Ford asked.
Carter laid a hand on partner’s thigh, then looked at Worth. “We’ve got this. Trust us.”
“I want to come with you.”
“No. That’s not?—”
“I’m not giving you a choice,” Worth said. “I’m in on this. I’ll stay back. I can hang with Ford and take care of communications, but I want to be there. I want to see my brother the minute we get him out.”
Again, Miles and Carter exchanged a look.
“Stop trying to say things to each other and leaving me out.”
Miles scoffed. “We didn’t say a thing.”
“You did! You did the eye thing.”
“Fine, you’re coming with us, but only under very specific conditions.”
“I’ll come too,” I said. “I want to help. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Beck.”
“Absolutely not,” Worth argued. “You’re going to stay here with the guards. I’m not going to let you put yourself at risk. Beck wouldn’t want?—”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get him back safely. If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. His friendship is a large part of the reason I had the strength to leave Tommy.”
“We have all the people we need,” Carter said. “Unless you have some kind of training in this sort of operation, I can’t allow you to take part.”
“Please stay here,” Worth begged. “I know my brother’s life is on the line. I don’t want yours to be as well.”
I reluctantly agreed, and Worth began interrogating Carter about the details of their plan. Slowly, he let go of my hand, leaning forward, bracing his arms on his legs. I watched them speaking to each other, feeling like they were in their own bubble.
They’d been friends for a long time. I’d worried about coming to New York and feeling like I couldn’t fit into a world of such opulence. I didn’t know how to live like Worth did. I’d worried I could never be the man on his arm as he went to elegant parties and charity auctions, but that wasn’t the biggest problem. I could never be fully part of his life because I wasn’t part of this, his group of friends and the craziness of their lives. I was on the outside.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t even notice Miles getting up and moving my way. “It looks like your glass is empty. Let’s go get a refill in the kitchen.”
His words startled me and my heart began pounding, but I rose and followed him. What was he going to say? Was he going to tell me to leave Worth alone? He’d seemed friendly before.
Once we were in the kitchen, I refilled my water from the door of the fridge while Miles poured himself a measure of bourbon. He was obviously familiar with where everything was.
“Worth told me about the two of you,” he said.
I nodded, too afraid to say anything, not sure if my voice would work even if I tried.
“He’s happier than he’s been in a long time. I’ve never seen him look at a man the way he looks at you.”
“But his brother, he’s in so much danger.”
“I’m not saying Worth’s not worried about Beck. I can tell you both are. But I can also tell that he’s content with you.”
“I don’t belong here in this world with all of you.”
“Has Worth said anything to you to make you feel that way?”
“No. But I don’t think he would.”
Miles snorted. “You have no idea. He would happily tell a man when it was time to leave.”
“Beck told me how he is. He didn’t want me to get involved with him, and he would’ve called Worth when he was in danger if it hadn’t been for what happened between us.”
