Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(104)

“That’s what I figured when I was sittin’ in that jail cell. I should’ve fuckin’ thought about that before I went.”

“No.” Alec couldn’t hold the direct stare any longer. He dropped his gaze as he shook his head, his leg double timing it now. “I should’ve fucking told you so you could be prepared if he ever got out. I realized that today. We’ve always been clouded where each other’s professional lives are concerned; we’ve been so damn protective of matters that hold no real importance.” Alec, frustration eating at him, lifted his gaze back to Key. He was just so damn sorry for what he’d done. “I ultimately caused this to happen. Staying with the DA was the wrong move. I should have told you, given you the heads-up that this could happen so you’d be on the lookout yourself. I don’t know why I never considered that option.”

“Because you’re a good damn dude. You try to fix all the wrong. This ain’t your fault or your fight, Alec.” Key got to his feet, moving around the bar toward Alec.

“I wish that were true. I wish I could have seen past my own wants and desires and judged this appropriately,” he said, the helplessness he’d fought against won as he stopped the movement of his leg and rested back on his heels, turning as Key came toward him. Key gripped his biceps in strong hands, running them from elbow to shoulder, trying to give him comfort. Alec couldn’t lose Key, he just couldn’t. That wasn’t an option. It couldn’t be an option.

“So he got some sort of immunity to rat us out?”

Alec stepped into the circle of Key’s arms, seeing the wheels turning in Key’s head as he stared down at the photos from the file. After a second, one of Key’s hands went to the photos he’d scattered around, getting a good look at each one while his other hand drew Alec against his side, keeping him right there where his hand caressed across Alec’s lower back.

“I ultimately don’t know, but I’m certain he did. It’s the only way he could have gotten out like he did,” Alec said, picking up his beer bottle and taking a drink.

“This skank was at his house last night. I think she’s also the one who was fuckin’ my old man one night I went home. I didn’t recognize her last night,” Key said, flipping Keely’s mother’s mugshot around to face Alec.

“She’s Donald’s wife. She has a warrant for her arrest—skipped bail,” he explained, looking over the young woman who looked harder and older than her years.

“Where’s their kid now?” Key asked, back to examining the rest of the file.

“Even though it might appear I was waiting on you all day, I did leave for a while to take care of them when Marc had another appointment offsite. A friend of Janice’s, Betty—the woman you might have seen on the news walking with me while leaving the courthouse last night. She’s an attorney in the criminal division of the DA’s office and she’s agreed to take the case against you…and theirs. I like her. She’s sharp and didn’t waste any time taking care of the family. I feel confident she’s their best hope. I’ll make sure they know that Donald’s wife is local and with him.” Alec watched as Key dug deeper in the file, and any hope he’d had that these answers would be enough for Key faded. Alec stepped backward the couple of steps to the refrigerator and pulled out two more beers. He opened each one as Key continued his search. Alec put the beer close to Key’s hand as Key found the information on his father. How could he not? It was the largest stack of stapled papers in the folder.

He also found the unopened envelope with his name scribbled on the front. Alec remained silent as his heart drummed in his chest. Key went back to the barstool, thumbing through the stack, looking over each page in his father’s file. The wait was a killer. Alec’s anxiety was eating him alive.

“Please don’t be angry. I didn’t open your file, not because of the invasion of privacy, but because I couldn’t take the pain of your life while reading your father’s criminal history.”

“They still have all my records on file?”

Alec couldn’t help going around the bar any more than he could help reaching out and touching Key. Thankfully, Key put the file down and turned enough that Alec angled himself to stand between his parted thighs.

“They do.” Alec ran his hands across Key’s broad shoulders, cupping his neck, his thumbs massaging the soft hair covering Key’s jaw. He saw vulnerability in Key as his lover reached for Alec’s thighs, drawing him in closer. Key leaned forward, his forehead landing on Alec’s.

“I never wanted you to know all that,” Key’s said quietly.

“We kept so much from each other—you more than me. I’m naturally inquisitive. I just didn’t think I could handle it. I love you so much it hurts me to think of you being abused.” Alec pulled back, then bent to kiss Key’s still bent head as his fingers caressed across Key’s long hair.

“He wasn’t my father,” Key said in little more than a harsh whisper, not looking him in the eyes.

“I suspected as much. When I saw him, I decided he couldn’t be your biological father,” Alec said, lifting Key’s head to move closer. He held Key who wrapped those strong arms around him, pulling him as close as he could. Key’s arms tightened as he rested his cheek on Alec’s shoulder.