Page 26 of Lucky Boys
“That leads to where we should go next. We need more information on the Covingtons. I don’t believe in coincidences, and it’s way too much of one that the day Fieldburg paid Brooks to steal information, he turned up dead and your home was attacked.”
“Not to mention that their kid has been MIA for over a year and they’re fucking mistresses and going on spa days. It’s sus,” Brooks chimed in.
Sus? Damn, I felt old.
“I have a contact in Berlin,” Maverick commented. “They’re checking on where Leah Covington is staying, to confirm that her son isn’t with them.”
Yesterday, after we’d gotten back to the manor, Luca had filled me in on everything they knew. It was so hard to believe that the kid they’d been raising as their child was missing and there was just . . . nothing. I would’ve killed for the opportunity to watch Riley grow, and every day I battle with the guilt that he’d suffered and I’d had no idea. How could these people just go on with their lives . . . unless they knew exactly where Matthew was.
“Thanks, Mav. In the meantime, I think it’s time to do some legwork.” He eyed Brooks. “How do you feel about a stakeout?”
“It sounds boring.”
Skye broke out in laughter. “It is. But you can come with me if boss man says it’s cool. We’ll have fun.”
Luca smiled softly, glancing at Skye fondly. It made me feel . . . strange. Not jealous exactly, I had no right to feel that way, but I just wondered what it would be like if Luca looked at me like that.
It was odd, though, and had no part in this. I focused on the plans. “That’s fine with me. Skye, Brooks, I want you on the wife, Michelle. Mav and I will check out Lewis. We’ll start tomorrow. Spend the day getting your teams prepped, and it’ll give Diego time to do his thing and hopefully find more information. Which, by the way, Diego, can you start looking into their financials? See if anything looks suspicious.”
“No problem.” Diego glanced up at me for a split second before clearing his throat and looking back at the computer.
Luca tapped the desk twice. “Alright guys, plan sounds good. Let’s get to work.”
Brooks hopped off the table and walked up to Diego. He squatted down next to him and whispered something quietlyin his ear. I wanted to get closer, but it wasn’t my business, so I somehow refrained. I did see how Diego shrugged and brushed Brooks off before turning back to his work. Brooks said something else to him, but he was ignored. With a long, dramatic sigh, Brooks stood up and walked over to me.
“Hey, man.” He scrubbed the back of his head, looking a little uncomfortable. It was cute, honestly. It was the first time I’d really paid attention to Brooks. I’d been too focused on Diego and the situation yesterday, and then today I’d been wrapped up in the meeting and trying to figure out what was going on with Luca.
“Hi, Brooks. How are you doing?” I had been worried about Diego, but it occurred to me that it was Brooks’s house too, not to mention he’d walked in on a dead body, which wasn’t a normal occurrence for him.
He smiled slightly and fiddled with his lip ring with his tongue. “I’m alright. I, uh, just wanted to say thanks about yesterday. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”
It was a weird reaction, I barely knew the kid, but I was overcome with the urge to give him a hug. He looked like he craved physical affection, and I didn’t know if he was getting it.
“Can I hug you? You can say no. I won’t be offended.” It was a random question from a virtual stranger, so I wasn’t sure how Brooks would react to it.
Brooks eyes widened in surprise, but instead of calling me a fucking weirdo, he threw himself at me, his arms tightening around my shoulders.
It took me by surprise and nearly knocked the breath out of me. I’d expected it to be awkward, I’d felt awkward asking, but it wasn’t. Brooks slotted next to me perfectly, like he’d always been there. I tightened my arms around him.
“Shh, it’s alright, sweetheart.” I rubbed his back, and he buried his face in my collarbone.
Someone cleared their throat, and I suddenly remembered we weren’t alone. Brooks pulled away sheepishly and glanced over his shoulder at the guys. Maverick and Skye were looking at us with amusement, Diego seemed pleased for some reason, and Luca? Well, I couldn’t even begin to decipher Luca’s expression, which left me uneasy.
“What?” Brooks snapped. “I’m a cuddly little shit, and I don’t see any of you fuckers offering me a hug.” He pointed at Diego. “Except you, you have an excuse.”
Skye started to laugh and looked like he was walking up to Brooks, but before he could get there, Mav approached him, impressively fast for such a big man, and swept Brooks up in his arms, tight enough that his feet were dangling off the floor.
“All you gotta do is ask, brat,” Maverick told him affectionately. “Consent is important around here.”
We all started to laugh as Brooks melted into the hug. Then Skye was there, his front around Brooks’s back, squishing him between him and Maverick. Mav grumbled but kissed the top of Skye’s hand, his gaze full of love.
Warmth spread through me. I’d never seen anything like this before. I’d had comradery with the men in my unit when I’d been in the SEALS, but that had been more of a necessity. I didn’t know if I’d have been close to any of them if we hadn’t been stuck in the environment we’d been in.
Then there was my current position. I knew some of the other agents, but it was a surprisingly solitary job. I spent most of my missions alone, with my handler as my only contact for weeks or months at a time.
It was getting to me, which was one of the reasons I was retiring. I needed something more. Something Luca’s team had. I felt Luca watching me and I raised an eyebrow in question. Thesmug bastard just smirked at me from across the room. I wasnotjoining their team. I only helped a friend out. That was it. I was done with this life.
Maybe if I kept saying it, I’d believe it.
