Page 29 of Risky Taste
Seth resumes checking identifications as well while picking up the conversation I’m not trying to have. “It’s obvious you’re not a part of it. Which is great. However, I heard one of the higher-ups talking—” Seth starts, and I cut him off, my glare sharp enough to slice.
“How the fuck do you know all this? You’re not supposed to know this.”
He lets out a heavy breath, twisting his body slightly to face me. “My dad’s one of those higher-ups, and he does a very badjob at whispering. They’re all pissed, but I’m assuming at least one of them is guilty too. Has to be, you know? How else would Kurt have that kind of reach? You got any thoughts? Who do you think it is?” Seth’s words tumble out, all at once and I just glare at him, silently telling him that this isn’t the time or place.
Of course someone higher than Kurt would have to be involved, but it didn’t really dawn on me until right now. For some reason that makes it both better and worse that it’s not entirely Kurt and Heath’s operation. Still, it has my mind reeling as I avoid Seth’s curious stares and we work in silence. It isn’t until a little while later that an ID I recognize is being thrust into my hand.
“Victor?” My entire face scrunches up in confusion before I look up to see a former squad mate, his camera slung across his body. He throws me a grin before gesturing off to the side, asking if I can leave my post for a minute. Unlike with some of my other positions, stepping away from the door is an easy ask. I follow him a few paces away, frowning when he stops out of earshot of everyone else. “Yeah?” I mutter, crossing my arms, bracing for whatever he’s got.
Victor glares, his tongue running along his cheek, his usually soft gray eyes hard and unforgiving. “What’s this I hear about Kurt doing the dirty? Thought I trained you guys better than that.” It’s sometimes easy to forget that this man barely over 5’7” was the one who helped shape the four of us at one point before an injury sidelined him, trading guns for a lens. “Still get to shoot something,” he adds when I glance down at the camera.
I’m a little terrified at how fast the information has spread, but it seems like everyone is just more comfortable talking about it now that the report has been filed. “I didn’t know anything and you did train us better than that.” I drag a hand down my face, trying to find words to better explain what the fuck is going on, but I come up with nothing.
Victor steps a little closer, the menacing expression on his face sending a tendril of terror through me. “Unfortunately, I’m not surprised. Kurt always wanted things easy. However, if Ieverfind out that you or the other two were part of this shit, I will come back to haunt you. The investigation is about to be blown wide open, and I need to know that you’re going to be nowhere near this shit.”
I nod, swallowing hard, my voice little more than a rasp. “We’re not a part of it.”
“See that it stays that way,” he mutters, patting my shoulder.
“How doeseveryoneknow already? We only found out this week!”
The man sighs, his shoulders falling, something between understanding and sadness lurking in his expression. “Sebastian, Kurt must have done a damn good job keeping you three in the dark. There were whispers, bits and pieces that something was rigged. Nobody really knewwhountil someone higher up started digging. Kurt’s name came up a dozen times, easily. And you know how secrets are, they’re impossible to keep when the wrong person gets a hold of it. The report posted today just made everything we already suspected public. Stay out of trouble. Excuse me while I grab some wine and look at overpriced art.” He throws me a wide smile before heading inside.
Chapter twenty
NOAH
We make our way out into the parking lot, Declan leaning against a rental. He holds out his arms much the same way Logan did and I gratefully fall into him, his lips pressed to my temple. “Fuck, Noah, you really scared the shit out of us.”
The ride back to my house is silent except for asking them what happened to staying at the clinic. Logan doesn’t answer until we’re upstairs in my bedroom. “Noah, as much as we’re grateful for that space, not entirely sure I want to discuss all this bullshit around them. Not to mention that it seems like word’s gotten out about the scheme from some of the whispers I’ve heard and not everyone believes the three of us—or you—are entirely innocent. I’d have gone to Sebastian’s room but thought you might want a little familiarity and since Kurt is god knows where, I thought it was safe.”
I plop onto my bed, nodding. “Wonderful. Oh, hey, one of the doctors mentioned that people are talking about how your groupsplit up? They said Kurt was at the bar with other guys. I’m not sure I smoothed it over, but… I think my brother might be doing damage control in his own twisted way.” It feels awful knowing how fast Kurt threw away his buddies.
Declan sits beside me, shrugging. “I should probably feel terrible, but it makes it easier to explain we weren’t a part of it if he’s ditching us.” He leans in to nuzzle my cheek, his thoughts obviously somewhere else but interrupted by my phone.
I swear to god if it’s Heath or Kurt, I’m going to kill someone. Not bothering to look at the screen, I pick it up. “Yeah?”
“Is that how you talk to your Lieutenant?”
I clear my throat, sitting up straighter. “Sorry, no. Sir. I—sorry.”
A chuckle meets my stuttered response. “Calm down, Noah. You’re not in any trouble. Well, depends on how you look at it. Your name came across my desk for an assignment. They need a doctor, and you’re the only qualified individual available.”
I don’t even ask for details as he drones on, my entire body shutting down. I don’t want to go back, not after the last time. I also don’t know why I’m being askednowof all times. For a moment, I think it’s someone looking out for me the same way like Sebastian’s Sarge did for them but then I wouldn’t be sent overseas. They’d find a local position and stuff me into a corner that Kurt wouldn’t be able to reach.
Sudden sounds above a certain decibel set me off. It’s why my office is far away from the surgical unit and the psychiatric ward. The worst part is that I have no idea what will actually set me off. It always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times but going back overseas? I wouldn’t be able to escape it.
“Noah? Did you hear me? You’re supposed to report at the beginning of the week, son.”
I mutter something agreeable, enough for him to hang up and leave me in shock. There’s no fucking way this deployment is acoincidence. If Kurt and Heath have the power to fuck with this part of our lives, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is part of it.
And now he’s not just threatening me, but his best friends. Dragging their names through the mud was one thing but sending me away is a different thing entirely. Not to mention that it just cements how much he cares for me.
None.
None at all.
I wonder if this happened at some point or it’s always been like this. If I’ve clung to some sense of family and he’s never seen me like that. All those excited ‘hey little bro’s’ fall flat now because I can’t tell where this version of my brother started, and I hate the fact that maybe I never really had one to begin with.
