Kyou’s hands tightened even further around the wheel. Yes, she was the reason. One of the reasons. The other was…entirely more personal. “Part of it.”
“Okay, I’m less mad at you now. The safety of a child always takes precedence.”
“So you were mad at me before?”
“Obviously. I was getting really tired of this long-distance. If I’d known that imminent danger would make you fly to my rescue, I’d have tried it before now.”
“God, don’t you dare! I have enough grey hairs because of you as it is!” Kyou gave him a dirty look because he could just feel the smugness radiating off of Brannigan.
Despite the fact that people were out for his blood, Brannigan was all smiles as he leaned in, trailing light fingers along Kyou’s arm. It left a tingle dancing along his skin, despite the cloth barrier. “I promise I will stop. As long as you don’t pull a disappearing act on me ever again.”
“What is this, blackmail?”
“It’s only blackmail if it’s working. Is it working, Kyou?”
“You’re being very smug right now, and I don’t appreciate it.”
“Of course I’m fucking smug. I finally get to see you, touch you, and I have a proper name for you. So the K really was attached to your real name, huh? What’s your last name?”
“I don’t have one.” Kyou glanced down at the fingers tightening over his arm before he looked at Brannigan’s face. The man looked entirely stubborn, with his jaw clenched. He didn’t believe Kyou. “No, seriously, I don’t. Some social worker gave me a last name as an infant. I was a foundling, dropped off at a fire station. Once I was free of foster care, I didn’t want to hang onto any of the names other people had given me. They were meaningless. I have a couple of fake identities, but I don’t need a last name with my…family.”
“So it’s only Kyou.” Brannigan looked thoughtful, his fingers relaxing although they didn’t leave Kyou’s arm. “Okay. Where is Safe House 4, Kyou?”
“You’ll see shortly.” Heaven help him.
7
Brannigan
Brannigan didn’t quite know what to feel at the moment. On the one hand, heart-stopping terror at being the target of hitmen. On the other, joyous elation that he’d finally met Kyou and had him at hand. He finally sent both emotions to a back alley to duke it out. He had to focus properly on the here and now.
Safe House 4 was on the outskirts of the city, a cream-colored duplex that looked like an old-fashioned gabled house. It was attractive with its bay windows on both stories, the red brick skirting around the bottom, and the brick stairs leading up to the doors. This wasn’t at all what Brannigan expected Kyou to pull up to. When they said ‘safe houses’ in the movies, it was always some abandoned warehouse or a house in the middle of nowhere. But this looked very upscale and nice. Kyou pulled them into the garage smoothly, keying something into his phone to do so, and it was only after it was closed that he unlocked the doors.
Then he sat there, head resting on the top of the wheel.
Brannigan stood by the words he’d said earlier. Kyou was startlingly attractive. His short, inky black hair wasn’t styled, and he’d obviously dressed in a rush, but that didn’t detract from the man’s overall appeal. He looked like one of those Korean actors his sister drooled over. (Brannigan would only privately admit to also doing some drooling.) He was…cute. Brannigan hadn’t expected the man to be cute.
He also looked to be at his wit’s end and was obviously exhausted. The panda eyes were serious enough to look like bruises. Brannigan felt like apologizing for wearing him out, but really, it was Kyou who had taken everything on. He’d never listened to Brannigan.
It still felt strange and surreal that he could reach out, run a hand up and down the man’s back. “Hey. Breathe. I’m okay, aren’t I? And the guys are coming.”
Kyou let out a long sigh. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
“Why?” Brannigan firmly stamped any trace of amusement out of his voice.
Turning his head, Kyou stared at him steadily. “You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m really happy right now,” Brannigan said, mostly apologetic. “I know that you moved to protect me, but you still came for me yourself. I’ve been wishing for this day for years. You finally trust me enough.”
Kyou’s expression twisted up in a grimace. “It was never about trust. Hell, Bran. You’ve never betrayed a person in your life. I know that. But I’m not a safe person. People know me—I’ve got enemies. If you’re known to be with me, that makes you a target too.”
“Is that what this has been about?” Brannigan’s overall picture of the situation took a sharp dip and twist. “You’ve been keeping your distance this whole time to protect me?”
“Did you really think it was because I don’t trust you?”
“You never gave me any other reason for it.”
The grimace turned into a wince. “God, I didn’t want you to think that. I just…worried. I’m still worried. And I know you’re happy to meet my family, but they’re crazy. Ivan especially is crazy. You really don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Excuse you. I deal with wealthy, empty-headed socialites most of the time. You know exactly how ridiculous most of those people are. I’d much prefer your brand of crazy over that. Either way, die’s cast now. No changing the situation.” Brannigan slipped out of the Jeep and around to Kyou’s side, opening the door and drawing the man out. “Come on. We’ve got, what, twenty or so minutes until they catch up with us here?”
“Probably closer to thirty.”
“So that means you can have a thirty-minute nap.”
“That obvious I want a nap, huh?”
“You’re exhausted. You were obviously asleep before this shit show started.” Brannigan felt pangs of guilt about that. “Come on, inside. Is this place furnished?”
“Bare necessities,” Kyou said with a long sigh, allowing Brannigan to tow him in. “But I can’t rest until they get here. I won’t be able to. This place is secure, but we need to warn your family and people about what’s going down.”
“Shit, with all that’s happened, I didn’t think of it. I’ll call them.”
Brannigan stepped through the garage door, his hand still on Kyou’s. The hacker seemed amenable to being led along, and Brannigan wasn’t going to let go until he had to. Kyou’s hand was soft, yes, but curiously there were some calluses here and there. He did something on a regular basis to put those on his palms. He ran a little cold, too.
The house was white on white with black accents. The walls, ceilings, even the floor was a shade of white. Only the backsplash of the open concept kitchen had any hint of color to it—grey, in this case. It looked very modern, not really matching the Victorian concept going on outside. Kyou was correct that it had bare necessities, as there was a table in the kitchen, a sectional in the living area, and a TV, but not much else. It looked like a showroom.
Kyou’s phone rang in his hand, and he answered it with a grunt. “Ari. Yeah, we’re here. I don’t think we were followed, so we have a few hours to figure this out.”