“So, that’s how you do it?” he teased and climbed onto the couch.
Twenty minutes later, Diesel entered the room looking showered and sexy in worn jeans and a black t-shirt.
Diesel fed Molly and shortly after that, they sat down and ate as well. It was quiet, but it was a good kind of quiet, the kind where the bad guys had been beaten and the good guys had come out the winner this time around.
He hoped it stayed that way.
Triton
“She’s going to be fine,” the vet said with a smile.
Molly wagged her tail as if silently agreeing. Triton laughed and hugged her. They’d taken a quick trip into town.
The vet assured them it was not an imposition to squeeze Molly in. He and his wife were both happy Molly was found safe and sound. Memphis sent over a snapshot of the tranquilizer that was stolen from the surplus store. Thankfully, they’d been out of large game darts.
“Give her plenty of rest and make sure she takes it easy the next few days,” the vet said after several tests and checking her blood work.
“Thanks, doc.” Diesel shook the man’s hand, and Triton led Molly out through the rain to the SUV.
Reaching home, he curled up with a blanket on the couch. The rain continued as a small storm blew in, and Diesel started a fire when the outside grew gray. Lightning flickered the lights and thunder followed shortly after.
It felt odd living without fear. Sure, he feared that Auto and Clay would find him or worse, hurt Diesel, but for the first time since he’d left Clay, he didn’t fear for his immediate safety. He didn’t tense when there were footsteps in the house. He didn’t cringe when someone spoke.
Triton found his eyes drawn to Diesel, where he relaxed on the other end of the couch. It had built-in recliners on each end, and Diesel had kicked one up to elevate his leg.
Molly curled in a circle and was soon fast asleep on the rug in front of the fire. The past few days had worn the dog out.
He dozed and it was only Molly’s collar clinking against her water bowl that woke him. A few hours must have passed because the fire was low and the rain had stopped.
Stretching, he scooted around so he could lay on his stomach when a sound drew up his head. Finding himself examined by Diesel’s dark green gaze, Triton sat his chin on his folded arms.
“Why do you think he tranqed Molly?” His teeth worried his bottom lip.
“Nothing was disturbed at the house, so I suspect he wanted to lure us out so he could grab you.”
He stared at Diesel. “He’s not going to stop.”
“It won’t matter. I won’t let him take you.”
The words sent something warm swirling in his belly.
“I believe you.”
“You should. I know these woods like the back of my own hand. There’s no place he can hide that I can’t find him.”
“You come home a lot, don’t you?”
“Every chance I get.”
“You grew up here?”
“Yeah, my brother and I went to Fern elementary, middle, and high school with Ted, Bill, Memphis, and a few others.”
“Zane?” He smiled, remembering the big, broad shouldered younger brother of Diesel who’d come to the Triple R with the rest of Infinity.
“Yep, the pesky little brother.”
Triton smiled. “You love him, I can tell.”
Diesel smirked. “Zane and Mike are the only family I have left.”
“And you have your friends.”
“Yeah, I have them.”
“Does Zane live here with you when he’s home?”
“No, he has his own place farther back in the woods. Zane is a loner.”
“Is Zane gay?”
“Straight.”
“But accepting of you.”
“Yes.”
Triton picked at a loose thread on his jeans.
“I can tell it’s a tight knit community. Everyone knows everyone. I love it.”
“They like you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Where are your parents?” Triton asked.
“Dad was killed in a car accident when I was twelve, Zane was ten. Mom remarried, and we all lived with my stepdad, Tom, a few towns over.
“Is Mike related to your mom or dad’s side?”
“Neither.” Diesel smiled. “Mike is my step-cousin from Tom’s family.”
“How long did you live at home?”
“Until I joined the military at eighteen. Zane followed me two years later.”
“When did you move back here?”
Diesel stared at him for a long time.
“I’m asking too many questions, aren’t I?” He bit at his lip.
“No. I moved back here about fifteen years ago and bought this house.”
He stayed silent, staring at Diesel.
“Keep asking,” the older man rumbled.
“Any step-siblings?” He returned Diesel’s smile.
Diesel’s eyes grew empty, his mouth firm for a moment, and the smile he loved died. “A stepsister.”
Triton’s curiosity grew, but at Diesel’s closed off expression, he didn’t dare ask.
“How’s your mom?” He steered the topic to something that might be safer.
“She passed from a heart attack about five years ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” He lifted a hand and covered his mouth.
“Yeah, it was sudden.”
“Does your stepfather still live close?”
Diesel smiled. “No, but he’s happily remarried and lives in North Carolina last we talked.”
“Wow, he moved from Oregon to North Carolina?”
“Yeah, he has family there, and when mom died, he decided to head back home. I’m happy for him.”
“What about your parents?” Diesel turned the tables on him.
Triton blinked, and it was his turn for his smile to die. He drew a deep breath. It was only fair that he share.
“I don’t know. Like I said, they kicked me out.” He didn’t have a clue what his parents were up to. Nor if they ever thought about him. He hoped not.
“That’s the second time you said they kicked you out.”
“So?” He tipped his chin, heart thudding.
“So, tell me what happened.”
He sat up and drew his knees to his chest. Chewing on his cheek, he sighed and picked at the hole in the knee of his jeans. A look that the jeans’ designer assured the consumer would look sexy. He wasn’t sure if he could pull off the sexiness of it all, but he hoped.
He spotted the band around his wrist and snapped it.
“What’s that?” Diesel frowned, looking at his arm.
He held up his wrist. “Doc Vince said to snap this whenever I feel fidgety. Like when I want to crawl out of my skin or when I become worried.”
“Which one is it now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Triton. Do you trust me?”
“Of course.”
“Then quit lying to me. You can tell me anything. I’m not going to judge you.”
How long would it take for the ugly things his parents had done to him and his feelings of worthlessness to fade? He swallowed past the lump in his throat.