The only thing visible was Auto’s hand holding his weapon.
It was enough.
Diesel had a split second to decide. The scope zoomed in. He released his breath, stopped breathing, and squeezed the trigger.
Auto’s hand flew off along with the weapon.
The thug screamed and stumbled forward away from the protection of the trash can.
Diesel’s next bullet entered his head.
Auto fell forward to the ground, his screams stopped.
The area grew still, the only sound that of the rain trickling from the roof, hitting the car’s hood.
Memphis sprinted forward and kicked the weapon away from the body. He needn’t have bothered. Auto was dead.
Diesel pushed up off the hood of the car and stood. His knee twinged. Damn it. He handed his rifle to Isaac.
“Diesel!” Triton came running toward him.
Diesel opened his arms and he caught the boy close, cupping the back of Triton’s head with a shaking hand. He never fucking shook before, during, or after a shooting.
The whole world slowed down. Triton’s breath rushed against his neck, his arms filled with the boy’s warm body, so thankfully alive. Diesel couldn’t have pulled away if his life depended on it.
With his face buried in Triton’s bright hair, he drew in a deep breath and smoothed his hands down the boy’s back.
“Thank you.” Triton’s breath swept against his skin. “Thank you for saving me.”
Diesel closed his eyes and brushed his lips against the boy’s soft hair.
Zane, Isaac, and Whip jogged closer.
“You okay, Triton?” Isaac asked.
“Yes, thank you all.” Triton’s voice trembled and he turned in his arms, but didn’t move from his spot tucked against him.
Diesel was glad for it, he wasn’t sure if he could let Triton go just yet.
Doc Parson came out the back door and walked over to join Memphis.
“Axel is on the way to Fern Community with extensive bruising, possible broken ribs. Thankfully, he was wearing a bulletproof vest,” the doc said.
“And Ted?” Diesel rasped, tightening his hold on Triton.
“He’s also on his way to Community. The bullet went clean through.”
Doc crouched over Auto and checked for a pulse. Glancing at his watch, Doc called the time of death.
Diesel turned Triton away from the scene and slowly limped toward his SUV.
Triton was crying. Silently, but still crying, and it hurt his fucking heart. Shit wasn’t over. Not with that bastard Clay still out there, but at least one was down. One to go.
“Diesel, I’m headed to Portland. You need to run by the station and give a statement to my deputy,” Memphis called out.
“I’ll meet him at the station.”
Triton
“So did that Auto guy tell your ex where you are?” Miles whispered, tiptoeing out of his bedroom and closing the door.
They were currently at Ted and Miles’ house, and Ted was sleeping again after saying hello. Thankfully, there was no permanent damage from the bullet wound and Ted was on his way to a full recovery.
Triton followed Miles down the hallway and into the kitchen.
“Yes.” He sank down into a chair, watching while Miles made hot cocoa. “Auto told Clay about me being here the day I arrived.”
Molly came trotting into the kitchen along with Miles and Ted’s six-month old beagle, Hank. The little puppy was all ears, and Triton thought he was the most adorable thing next to Molly.
Diesel had gone back to his place along with Zane and Isaac. The plan was for Zane and Isaac to stay at Diesel’s house so it looked occupied. Diesel told him it was better for Clay to think they were still at his house.
In reality, they were house hopping around. Triton had been settled into Miles and Ted’s spare room a week ago. He hated it. Oh, not the room, house, or men, but he hated being away from home.
And that was the root of his anxiety—Diesel’s house felt like home. A place where he could relax and feel safe, and he didn’t feel safe being away from it right now. Nor when Diesel was gone. He peeked out the kitchen curtain at the empty driveway.
“He’ll be back soon.” Miles smiled.
Triton felt his cheeks heat. “I know. I just miss being at home. I mean, at his house.”
“You can call it home, I won’t tell.”
Triton shared a smile with Miles. Too bad Fraser wasn’t there to meet Miles, he had a feeling the pair would have hit it off.
“How’s your wrist feeling?”
“It feels so much better.” He flexed his wrist and smiled.
Diesel had driven him into town yesterday to have the cast removed.
“Keep doing your ball squeezing exercises.”
Triton stifled a giggle.
“Bah, you know what I mean,” Miles laughed.
“I sure do.” He sighed. The only problem was he hadn’t been doing the ball squeezing. At least, not on the balls he wanted.
“Troublemaker,” Diesel said with a chuckle from the doorway.
“Diesel,” he squeaked and leapt from his chair, heading toward the soldier. Diesel smiled, making his pulse spike and his breath catch in his throat. He stood there looking at Diesel with a stupid smile on his face.
“You like my brand of trouble?” Triton gave the soldier a cheeky grin.
“I do.”
Diesel closed those massive arms around him and pulled him close, and Triton couldn’t stop the shudder of warm excitement that swept through him.
“It’s time to move. I don’t want you in one place for long. You and I are heading to Zane’s place for a week.” Diesel’s lips touched the top of his head.
It took a few minutes to pack and he met Diesel by the back door.
“Thank you,” Triton said to Miles and gave him a tight hug.
“You’re welcome here anytime.” Miles squeezed him back.
“You should come, bring Ted to Zane’s place,” Diesel told Miles.
“That sounds lovely. When he wakes up, I’ll talk to him about it,” Miles promised, holding Hank from following. The puppy set up a howling. Miles picked up the little guy and cuddled him before waving.
Triton waved back. Molly happily jumped into the back of the SUV, then Triton closed the door and climbed in the front passenger side.
“Zane won’t mind us staying at his place?”
“Nope, he’s got the setup.”
“What setup?”
“You’ll see.” Diesel winked.
“How’s Axel?”
“He’s doing okay, but Memphis said he makes a lousy patient.”
Triton laughed. “So says the world’s worst patient around.”
Teasing Diesel like this made him feel more alive than he could ever remember and he knew why. He loved him. Even if Diesel didn’t want to hear the words.
Diesel gave him a playful smirk. “Are you complaining?”
“Nope,” Triton replied with a cheeky smile.
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to a wrought iron gate and Diesel punched in a few codes in the panel. The gate opened and he drove through and then waited for it to close before driving down the road.
About a quarter of a mile in, the road ended and opened up to display a massive two-story home.