Full House (7 page)

Kent
released Marco’s cock and gripped him by the shoulders. “The reason I said that stuff about you dating around was because it hurt! I wanted you!
Me!
But I knew you’d never settle for an old man when I thought you had a different stud in your bed every night.”

Marco took a step and plastered himself against Kent’s chest. “You’re not too old for me, just too good.”

“No.” Kent wrapped his arms around Marco. “You’ve sacrificed more of yourself than I would have.”

“That’s not true and we both know it. You’ve just never been in the same position. I did what anyone would have done.”

Kent
still wasn’t sure of that, but he knew there would be time later to discuss it further. He made sure the soap was rinsed from Marco’s body and turned off the water. “We’d better hurry or we’re going to be late.”

* * * *

Kent
loaded a large laundry basket of clean clothes into the trunk of Angelo’s car before going around to the front passenger door. He wanted to lean in and devour his lover’s mouth, but with a cute pair of ten-year-old eyes staring at him, he knew it wasn’t possible.

“You remember the security code, right?”

Marco grinned. “It’s my birth date. How could I forget?”

Kent
nodded. “Just make yourselves comfortable. There’s a media room in the left wing along with some candy and stuff.”

Marco covered Kent’s hand where it rested on the door. “Thanks.”

Kent
leant down, stuck his head through the open window and whispered in Marco’s ear. “Thank me later. Please.”

Marco chuckled. “Don’t forget to pick up Bruno at nine.”

“I won’t. You told him I’d be coming after him, didn’t you?” Although he’d met Bruno the night he’d shown up at Marco’s house, they’d yet to be formally introduced.

“Yeah. Don’t sweat it. Bruno’s a good kid.”

Angelo started the car, and Kent started to step back. Marco reached out and grabbed Kent’s hand. “Be careful.”

“I will. You four have a nice dinner.” He felt suddenly alone when Marco released his hand and Angelo drove off. Kent continued to watch the luxury sedan until it was out of sight.

“You sure you’re up for this?”

Kent
walked towards Moody. “No, but I’m glad you’re here. Left up to me, I’d probably do something…unlawful.”

Moody chuckled and stepped back into the house. “I don’t think what I’m planning is exactly on the up-and-up.” Moody reached into his back pocket and pulled out several folded sheets of paper. “Here. I thought it might be a good idea to know what we’re up against.”

Kent
took the pages. “Eduardo De La Santo.” He glanced at Moody. “Eddy’s rap sheet?”

Moody nodded. “If there was a school for thugs, Eddy’d be their valedictorian.”

Kent
scanned the list of offences. It went back years. It appeared that a gang had played a huge part in Eddy’s life. “The Dominions. How do I know that name?”

“You’ve probably seen their tags spray painted around town. They’ve been around for years selling drugs, robbing, killing rival gang members. Although I don’t think Eddy’s an active member, he was once their leader.”

Kent
continued reading Eddy’s list of crimes. Most of the items listed were things Eddy had been arrested for but not convicted of. The man had done time twice though, once for assault and once for… “Contributing to the delinquency of a minor? Call me naïve, but I wasn’t aware you could get seventeen months in jail for buying some kid beer.”

Moody shook his head. “He didn’t. That was the result of him pleading guilty to a lesser charge. He was running prostitutes. The cops knew it, but they couldn’t get any of his whores to testify.”

Kent
handed the pages back to Moody. “If he’s got a stable of prostitutes, why does he need money from Marco?”

“The whores belong to The Dominion. When Eddy lost his position, he also lost his income. He’s been shacked up with a stripper in Santa Clarita until recently. I talked to the cops down there. Let’s just say they were glad to be rid of him. The guy’s a grade A asshole with a temper.”

“Okay. So what’s the plan?” Kent sat on the worn, lumpy couch. He couldn’t believe Marco slept on the damn thing.

“We wait. If Eddy shows up, I arrest him on a few outstanding warrants and the beating of his son. With any luck, he’ll resist, and I’ll have something else to charge him with. We also make it clear Marco and the kids are not to be contacted in any way.”

Kent
wasn’t sure if he was happy Moody planned to arrest Eddy. He’d already prepared himself for a good old fashioned ass whipping. He heard Rufus barking at the back door which reminded him. “You sure you don’t mind taking Rufus for a couple days?”

Moody shook his head. “I certainly don’t mind. I just hope he leaves Angelo’s flowerbeds alone.”

Kent
felt bad his home wasn’t equipped to accommodate a dog the size of Rufus. “Maybe I’ll look into fencing my yard.”

Moody chuckled. “Damn. From what I’ve heard, the two of you’ve been at each other’s throats for years. Amazing what one day of opening up can do.”

Kent
knew the detective was making fun of him, but he didn’t care. “I’m only following your advice. You told me to make up my mind before it was too late.”

Moody laughed louder. “None of us expected you to move Marco and the kids into your house within twenty-four hours, though.”

“It’s just until I know Eddy won’t be a problem,” he tried to excuse himself.

“Yeah, right.”

* * * *

“So what’s up with you and this new guy?” Nicky asked.

Marco swallowed the bite of hamburger in his mouth and took a drink of his milkshake. “His name’s Kent Baker and you’ve all heard me talk about him for years.”

“Yeah, but…like…you seem to be more than friends.” Nicky ducked his head after saying it.

Marco was sure his sexuality was a cause of embarrassment for his brothers, but he’d never really shoved it in their faces. “I like him, always have.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” Maria asked.

Marco’s gaze flicked to Angelo. His friend grinned. “Would that be okay with you, sweetheart?”

Maria seemed to think about it for several seconds. “I guess.”

“You guys aren’t gonna mess around in front of us, right?” Nicky asked.

Marco set down his burger and leant across the table towards his brother. He understood the question, but how much of his personal life did Nicky expect him to give up. Hell, he was a twenty-four-year old man and had never even spent an entire night with a man. He opened his mouth to lay into Nicky when Angelo kicked him under the table.

“What?” he asked.

Angelo nodded towards Maria. “I think I’m going to take Maria into the arcade.”

Marco nodded, thankful his friend had been thinking of his sister, even if he hadn’t.

As soon as Angelo led Maria into the brightly lit arcade adjoining the burger joint, Marco addressed Nicky. “I will try my best not to make out with Kent in front of you guys, but there will be times when you’ll see me kiss him. I also plan to sleep in Kent’s room while we’re over there.”

Nicky made a face. “Just make sure it’s as far away from where I’ll be sleeping as possible. The sound of you getting boned during the night makes me want to puke.”

Marco was shocked. He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or get pissed.

Evidently, Nicky knew it and tried to soften the statement. He reached across the table and jabbed Marco in the arm. “I know what you’ve given up to take care of us, and I want to see you smile for a change, but I’m just a little uncomfortable with it.”

“Fair enough.”

“He’s the reason you went back to school, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. Partially.”

Nicky narrowed his dark brown eyes. “Why?”

Marco sighed and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Kent is everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner, but he’s also incredibly successful. I guess I just didn’t…”

“Feel like you was good enough,” Nicky finished for Marco.

“Yeah. To be honest, I still don’t, but he wants me anyway.”

“I only met the guy for about ten minutes or so, but he seems cool. Not as cool as you are, but he’s all right.” Nicky stood and tossed his napkin on the table. “You don’t see half the things we see.”

“What’re you talking about? What things?”

Nicky grinned. “The good things about you. The shit money and education can’t get a person.”

Marco watched as his fifteen-year-old brother sauntered into the game room. He scowled when he noticed the top of Nicky’s boxer shorts prominently on display. “Kids.”

Chapter Five

The ballgame on TV was in the third inning when Rufus started barking. Kent and Moody jumped to their feet at the same time. “You think he’s trying to come in the back?”

“I don’t know, but someone’s out there.” Moody readjusted the shoulder holster under his light-weight jacket. “Stay here, I’ll go look out back.”

Kent
moved to the doorway leading into the kitchen. The sound of something slamming against the back of the house was heard over the dog. “See anything?”

He’d no sooner got the words out of his mouth as gun fire erupted, peppering the front of the house with a spray of bullets.

Kent
heard Moody shout something as he dropped to the floor. The television set exploded in a flash of blue light.
Shit.
He heard the sound of tires squealing on the pavement and Rufus’ continued barking. “Please tell me you’re not dead?”

Several moments later, Moody walked into the room with his cell phone to his ear, and blood running down the side of his face. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Might’ve pissed myself though.”

Moody chuckled and disappeared back into the kitchen, still on the phone.

Kent
stood and dusted the broken glass from his clothes and hair. He felt something on his face and reached up to discover a trail of blood running down his forehead. “I’ll be in the bathroom.”

Passing Maria’s bedroom, Kent entered the small bathroom and turned on the light. He found a washcloth and began cleaning the small cuts. They all looked superficial, so he didn’t think a doctor was in order, but he knew the few cuts he had would be enough to scare Marco.

After rummaging around under the sink, he came up with a box of cartoon character bandages. “Great,” he grumbled.

Moody stuck his head into the bathroom. “Sure you’re okay?”

Kent
nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Police are on their way. Eddy blind-sided me.” He wiped at the small cut under his eye. “Bastard got away when the gunfire started.”

“What the hell
was
that?” Kent asked, bandaging the last of the nicks on his face.

Moody turned and walked back into the living room with Kent close behind him. “I think Eddy brought company.”

Kent
’s chest tightened. “You think he was trying to have his family killed?”

Moody rubbed the back of his neck. “No. I think Eddy was coming around back because he knew he was being followed. The gun spray was probably from whoever he was trying to get away from.”

Kent
studied the room. In a matter of seconds, Marco’s living room had been trashed. Kent’s gut clenched when he noticed the sofa. How many bullets had found their way into that piece of crap?

An image of Marco sleeping peacefully on the couch assaulted him. Kent shook his head. This time of night, the whole family probably would have been sitting around on the furniture watching television.

Sweat began to pour from Kent’s neck and forehead. “Do I need to be here?”

Moody glanced around the room. “No. I’ll take care of it.”

Kent
nodded and went through to the kitchen. He grabbed the long leather leash from the kitchen table and opened the back door. “Rufus!”

* * * *

By the time Angelo pulled into Kent’s driveway, they still hadn’t heard anything from Kent or Moody. Marco really wanted to call, but he’d promised he wouldn’t.

“Is this the place?” Nicky asked from the backseat.

“Yeah,” Marco answered, checking his phone to make sure it was on.

Nicky whistled. “Please marry this guy.”

Angelo and Marco both began to chuckle at Nicky’s change in attitude. “Just don’t get too comfortable. We’ll probably only be here for a couple of days.”

Nicky got out of the car and grabbed the laundry basket out of the trunk.

Marco opened his door. “You coming in?”

Angelo shook his head. “I’ll leave you guys to get settled.”

Marco reached across and squeezed Angelo’s arm. “The dog food’s in the trunk. If you run out before we can get back home, just call and I’ll get you some more.”