An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(75)

“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” he said, his voice soft.

Vic stilled at his side, his hand instantly at Rob’s back. “Why? I thought you were eager to come again.”

“I thought I was too.”

Vic pulled him in close. “Hey, forgiven and forgotten, remember? Everything will be okay as long as you remember the rules.”

Rob sighed. “No speaking unless spoken to. No eating or drinking unless I’m told it’s okay.”

“And the last one?”

Rob couldn’t hold back his grin. “No looking so bloody cute people will want to eat me up.”

“That’s my boy,” Vic said, kissing Rob’s head.

Rob’s chest felt as though it was fit to burst with pride.

Vic pushed open the door, and the smell of leather assailed Rob’s nostrils, the scent of sex hanging in the air. After what he and Vic had shared, this visit had taken on a whole new meaning for him. When he’d been in the club before, Rob had known the basics of the lifestyle, but now he was learning them up close and personal, with someone who seemed to be tailor-made for Rob.

That thought gave him pause. This really is different, isn’t it? Part of him still didn’t believe it was happening.

Vic took Rob’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s going to be fine, okay? Stick by me and everything will be okay. If you need to ask me anything, just whisper in my ear.”

A sharp nod was all the response Vic got. Rob could do this. He was certain.

“Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to Secrets.”

Two men approached them, and Rob recognized them immediately. He’d had unkind thoughts about them once before. Now his stomach knotted at the memory of the jerk he’d been.

“Hello!” Vic’s voice boomed above the general cacophony.

When they got to where Vic and Rob stood, the younger of the men held out his hand. “I’m Eli Jameson, and this is Jarod Pearce. We own the club.”

Vic shook Eli’s hand, then took Jarod’s in his and gave it a quick squeeze.

“Vic Prentiss. How do you do? I love what you’ve done with the place.”

“Thank you,” Jarod said, beaming. “We’re very happy with it.”

Vic put his hand on the small of Rob’s back and nudged him forward. “This is Rob Daniels, my guest for the evening. He’s formerly of Manchester, but thinking about making the move to London.”

Jarod’s eyes widened and his face flushed. He reached out to shake Rob’s hand, but held fast. “I know an Alex Daniels in Manchester. Any relation?” The grip tightened.

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“He’s my brother,” Rob said, hoping he wouldn’t be heard over the noise.

Jarod froze for a second, and then pulled his hand away as though he’d been burned.

Rob’s stomach cramped.

“Sir, I need to check on things in the kitchen,” Jarod said quickly.

“Pet? Are you okay?”

Jarod shot a glance at Rob, then turned away. “No, I don’t think I am. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go up to the apartment.” He headed away from them, Eli watching him with a concerned expression.

Rob couldn’t keep it in anymore. “Wait!”

“Rob, remember what we talked about,” Vic urged.

Rob barely heard him. Pulling free of Vic, he ran after Jarod. “Please,” he begged. “Wait.”

Jarod spun around, his face tight. “Wait for what?” His words rang out, and men turned in their direction. Rob caught murmurs about making sure Jarod was okay. Jarod’s face was like stone, his tone like iron. “Go on, tell me. What do you have to say that’s so damned important? What can you possibly say to me that would explain why you hurt one of the sweetest men on the planet? Maybe you have a good excuse for costing him his family because of your backstabbing and lies. Is that it?”

“No,” Rob replied, stumbling back as though Jarod had slapped him. “I can’t excuse what I did, but….” He sucked in a deep lungful of air. “I wasn’t the one who made him move out.” Rob clenched his fists. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to run, to fight, or to scream. Right now his center, Vic, had never felt so far away.

That seemed to rattle Jarod. “Alex said—”

“Alex doesn’t know. He blames me, and I deserve it. I was a shit brother, and a worse human being. So I get why he’s mad at me, and I’ll have to learn to live with it.”

The snakes that slithered in his belly were now squeezing the life from Rob. All he wanted was a fresh start, but that wasn’t about to happen. Jarod would get on the phone and call Alex, and the whole mess would start again.

Jarod’s anger seemed to crumble. He reached out and put a hand on Rob’s arm. “Are you okay?”

Eli and Vic came up from behind them. Eli was at Jarod’s side, glaring at Rob as though he was disgusted by him. He nuzzled Jarod’s hair, asking if everything was all right.

“What did we talk about, Rob?” Vic snapped. “I told you what the rules were, and you disobeyed them anyway.”

Fuck this. It’s all too much. He must have been crazy to think he could change a fucking thing.

“Fuck all of you!” he cried out. “You think you know me, but you don’t. Not really. I’m a shitty person who doesn’t deserve anything decent.” His gaze flashed in Vic’s direction. “No matter how you say the pretty words, not everyone can be saved. I did awful things in my past, and even though I regret it more than I can say, not one of you wants to let me forget who I was. Oh, you said I could make a fresh start, become a better person, but then you act like I’ve got some communicable disease. Fuck it. I’m out of here.”