Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(101)

“How much?”

He didn’t pretend to misunderstand as he took his place in the line of crowded traffic on West Davis Street. Instead, he took a page from Key’s playbook and remained silent.

Key lifted his thumbs, keeping his whole concentration on the screen. He didn’t say another word as Alec tried hard to remember his way back to the highway while keeping an eye on the road and slyly trying to see who Key texted.

At the red light, Alec reached over, taking the crumpled sheet of paper sitting in Key’s lap. Key’s gaze followed as Alec read the quickly written note. “Who’s this from? Dev?”

“Yeah,” Key answered and lifted his phone, waving it at Alec. He refused to play the guessing game with Key right now, and reached over, grabbing the cell phone, quickly scanning the text conversation.

Key: “You got my bike?”

Dev: “Locked up at your place. We need to talk.”

Key: “Yeah?”

Dev: “No more bullshit. Come to my shop in the morning.”

Key said nothing more as Alec held the phone and another text came in.

Dev: “I always got your back. You’re my brother.”

Alec’s gaze collided with Key’s who looked up at him with what he could only describe as deep relief in his eyes. His heart clenched and he gave a small involuntary smile. The last fifteen minutes was forgotten as he got lost in the beauty of his guy. The honking from the car behind them had Alec looking over to see the street light had turned green, and he quickly grabbed the wheel, accelerating through the intersection.

“Can we go by my uncle’s place? It’s like fifteen minutes from here. I gotta get something,” Key asked, taking the phone, rising enough to push it back into his jeans pocket.

“Sure, Olivia’s babysitting Nash,” he added and got the desired result from his admission.

“No fuckin’ way. You did not hire a babysitter for a puppy.”

Alec’s grin grew. Say what he would, Alec could hear the relief in Key’s voice for that decision.

“I did. I didn’t know how late we would be, and it just felt like the right thing to do. He’s on his schedule, and he’s not pottying in my shoes anymore. I’ve read that when they’re left alone for long periods of time, they’ll fall back into the patterns of being destructive. I decided a babysitter is less expensive than buying new shoes.” Since he had no idea of the direction to Clyde’s, Alec should be focused on the navigation, but instead, he took Key’s hand in his. Key was slower to thread his fingers with Alec’s, but when he did, it felt very much like Alec might be Key’s life preserver. “Please stop being angry with me. I love you. I’d risk anything to help and protect you.”

Key didn’t say a word, but his lips lifted in a soft smile as he waved a hand to point Alec into the right-hand lane. Alec took the turn, heading toward Cedar Hill.





“That’s Clyde,” Keyes said, using his key to unlock the dead bolt to the shop door as a clicking noise of the outside camera disrupted the quiet of the night.

“He’s vigilant,” Alec said.

“He’s smart.” Keyes tossed out the dig and looked back over his shoulder to see Alec lifting the collar to his suit jacket, wrapping it tighter around him to ward off the chill in the air. Keyes pushed open the door and walked inside ahead of Alec. Normally, he would have either had Alec wait in the car or ushered him into the room first, but even with Dev’s assurances, paranoia ate at him. He went straight for the lights, flipping the overhead switch before doing a full-turn scan of the room, checking every corner to make sure they were completely alone.

“Come stand by this,” he said, walking over to the small heater and flipping the lever to high.

He left Alec standing there, going for the safe he had in the corner. He removed the old tarp he used as covering and bent at the knee. He turned the combination until the door popped open. He had four items inside. Keyes pulled out his pistol and tucked it inside his jacket pocket. Next came two boxes of ammunition, which he stuffed in the both pockets. While he trusted Dev with his life, he couldn’t say that faith in Dev extended to Alec’s safety. He was too precious to him to risk on assumption.

Keyes stuck a hand in the very back of the safe and pulled out a heavy metal box full of his cash. He rose, kicking the door of the now empty safe shut, listening for the automated lock that secured it back in place. He again started for the overhead light when he looked up to see Alec’s concerned gaze on him.

“I’m not necessarily opposed to guns…” Alec started and Keyes cut him off. Of course, they’d never talked about weapons. He didn’t see Alec as someone who would ever own a gun, but these were drastic times, and Alec was just going to have to learn to live it.

“Precautionary. If they were comin’ after us, they already would have made a move.” He adjusted his path, erouting back toward the heater. He reached down, shutting it off as he eyed his guy who hadn’t taken his eyes off him since they’d walked inside. Alec looked uncertain and maybe hurt. Keyes had put both those looks on his face. Taking the moment wasn’t the right decision, but hell, he’d been making bad decision after bad decision since he’d met Alec. Keyes caught Alec by surprise, cupping the back of his neck and drawing him forward for a hard, insistent press of lips. Alec eagerly reached for his waist, holding him there, kissing him again in just the same way.