Promises: Part I (Bounty Hunters Book 1) (2 page)

“Sounds like everything is going good, man.” Duke sat at his desk searching for an appropriate graduation gift while Judge updated him on the status of the PI side of his business. He’d been “Duke’s Bail Bonds” for almost fifteen years, but last year he added on “and Private Investigations” along with a separate office in downtown Atlanta. Even though he’d moved his businesses from Charleston, North Carolina because of their ancient laws regulating bounty hunting, he still rarely saw Judge. Which was okay with him. Atlanta was plenty big enough for the both of them.

“Yeah, we’re good. I’m going over this contract for a sales consulting firm. They suspect embezzling within their upper ranks.”

Duke’s eyebrows rose and he paused his Amazon perusal. “No shit.”

“Yeah, man. They’re offering a shit ton of money to retain us and even more if we find evidence.”

“Nice. You gonna outsource this job? All the guys are on other assignments, right?” Duke murmured.

“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry. I’ll find the right guys for this one.”

“Sounds good, man.”

“You alright, Duke? You sound a little… I don’t know.”

Duke shook it off. Tried to add some pep to his voice. Talking with Judge – though it happened rarely—always messed with Duke’s head. Not a lot, but some. That dark, brooding timbre that used to make his cock weep was wafting through his phone intercom system in Dolby. Made it sound like Judge was in the room with him. Duke wasn’t hard, but he sure missed those days sometimes.

“I’m gonna let you go, Judge. Sounds like you got everything handled.”

“Naturally.”

Duke laughed.

“Hey, you wanna come over to the house? Austin is having his team over for fight night on Saturday. You haven’t seen all the renovations we’ve made to our place yet.”

Our place
. Duke pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know. I’ve been meaning to. You guys have done a lot over there. But Quick’s son just came home and he wants me to get up with them on Saturday.”

“Well let me know when you wanna come by, alright.”

“Sure thing,” Duke said, and ended the call. He liked to think he wasn’t bitter. Judge had found someone who made him happy. Made him a different man if Duke was being honest… a better man. He wouldn’t hate on that just because it left him high and dry. Duke didn’t do jealousy.

With a resigned sigh, Duke turned back to his desktop and looked through graduation gifts. He wondered for the millionth time if it was a silly idea. Vaughan wasn’t some eighteen-year-old graduating from high school. The guy was a lawyer now. Duke turned his executive chair to face the full-glass patio door. He opened the top drawer of his wet bar and removed a fresh Cuban. He stepped from his home office out onto the deck that overlooked a dark, dense forest. He’d been working from home for the past few days. He’d sent a couple of his other guys on some bonds, but thank goodness they hadn’t had any jumpers this week. Duke needed the time alone.

He’d gotten a call from Quick that Vaughan’s flight had arrived safely and they were having dinner at one of Duke’s favorite restaurants, but he’d declined the invitation to join them, wanting to give them some bonding time. Which meant Duke was left to do what he usually did on any given night. Turn on an old movie and cook a meal for one. 

It was after two in the morning and Duke had enough of Die Hard for one night. “Damn. How many of those movies did he make?” he murmured, moving around his condo turning off lights and locking up. He could still hear the quiet, soothing sound of jazz music filtering through his neighbor’s wall and into his bedroom. From what Duke knew of his young neighbor, he played concert piano and saxophone, and was a music major at Clark University. Some variety of music could always be heard wafting from his place and Duke just thanked the gods that his neighbor wasn’t an aspiring rapper. Jazz he could handle.

He turned on the high-powered showerhead in his master bathroom and stepped in while it quickly heated up. He washed up efficiently, pausing just briefly to pay extra attention to his sensitive balls. Leaning against the warm tiles, he leaned his head back and let the water beat on his chest while he gently stroked himself. It wasn’t done with real purpose; it was simply make him feel a hint of euphoria. He hadn’t beat one off in weeks. Not in the mood. He actually wouldn’t mind a damn good release right then, but a part of his brain kept reminding him how pathetic he’d become and then like clockwork… there went his erection.

After drying off, he pulled back the covers on his king-sized bed and climbed in naked. Lying in the dark, listening to muffled sounds of jazz, his phone buzzed with a missed message. It was almost three a.m. It had to be a bond request. Scrubbing his hands over his face, he woke up his phone and saw it was a message from Quick. Not bothering to read the message, he immediately dialed his number, hitting the speakerphone.

“Hello, Duke. Long time no hear.”

What the
… “Who’s this?”

The sexy, deep chuckle that came through his speaker and resonated in his groin had him frowning at his body’s reaction.
It’s been way too long
.

“It has been a long time. My father is in the bathroom so I picked up when I saw your name on the screen.”

Shit. It’s Vaughan.
Nope. Definitely not the young-sounding, scrawny high school geek he remembered. “Damn. Sorry, Vaughan. I didn’t recognize your voice. You’ve grown… I mean you’re older. No. You just sure sound different.” Duke rolled his eyes at his ridiculous rambling.

“Interesting,” Vaughan said sensually, his voice a deep, melodic purr. “Although it’s been three years. You sound just like I remember, Duke. So how have you been?”

Duke’s mouth was hanging open and it took him a second to realize he was talking to his best friend’s son, not some phone sex operator. He had to clear his throat before he could continue. “I’ve been real good. Business is good, of course. I’m sure your dad told you all about it.”

“Yes, he did. But I’d like to hear it from you.”

Duke frowned again. Either it’d been a while, or he was imagining the flirtatious tone of the conversation. Had to be. Duke remembered those days. Guys or girls. It made him no difference. Vaughan was in his early thirties, he’d flirt with a damn mailbox if it was designed prettily enough. Duke finally got himself together. “So what was Quick calling me for at this hour?”

“He wanted you to come join in on the fun. We’re at Harry’s, but I think we’re gonna call it a night. I have an interview and I’m sure y’all have work to do.”

Duke couldn’t get over how mature Vaughan sounded. He’d been in the kid’s life since he was a teen. Since his freshman year in high school. He knew the guy would grow up to be amazing. He’d always had a level head. Never got caught up in the bullshit that so many kids did these days. He looked forward to talking to him again.

“Yeah. I’m going into the office tomorrow to wrap up for the week. I won’t keep your dad long, though. I’m sure y’all have plenty to catch—”

“Hold on one second, Duke.” Vaughan cut over him. He heard the smooth man talking to someone who he presumed was their server. “Thank you, honey. You were great.” Then that deep sexy chuckle. “Naw. I’m good. Just the check, love. Thank you… Okay. I’m back. You still there, Duke?”

Damn. Was he. Yep. Just like he thought. Thirty-year-olds loved to flirt and see if they could get a rise from you. “Yeah, I’m here.” Duke was ready to end this conversation; he was feeling some type of way for having wood while talking to Quick’s son. “I’m gonna hit the hay. I’m exhausted.”

“Mmm. I see. Boyfriend keeping you up late?”

Duke smirked. How cute. “Can’t exactly say that. I sure wish, though.”

His comment was met with silence and Duke thought that maybe he’d grossed the kid out until a moan almost too soft to hear reached his ears, and Duke wondered if Vaughan was doing something… maybe with someone else while he was on the phone. Until he spoke again.

“What else do you wish for, Duke?”

“W-what?” Duke stammered in response to the loaded question.

“Oh, never mind. I’ll find out soon enough,” Vaughan said casually.

Duke laughed, more so from nervousness rather than anything striking him as funny. There was no mistaking Vaughan’s coy tone.

“Good night, Duke. Sleep well.”

The next thing he knew, the line was dead. Duke was speechless.
Fuck
. And hard.

Vaughan didn’t bother telling his dad that Duke had called. He laid in bed that night thinking about his plan. He’d been attracted to his father’s friend since he first brought him around. Even then, Vaughan knew his true orientation, because Duke could make him hard as steel just by entering the room. All that before the man spoke a word in that deep-southern-down-home-drawl. He didn’t sound like a hick, but sort of like a hot cowboy. Vaughan shook his head as he ran his large hand down the smooth patch of hair in the center of his chest, all the way to his cock. He pulled on his considerable length a couple times, imagining Duke kneeling next to him, watching him pleasure himself.

When he was a junior in high school, he’d come over to his dad’s on the weekends praying that Duke would come by. Whenever he did, Vaughan would have to restrain himself from confessing his love, knowing Duke wouldn’t reciprocate. Would have nothing to do with a kid. At that age, Vaughan couldn’t have taken being laughed or cooed at for having a—what grownups considered—puppy love crush on the older man. Instead, he’d observed Duke from afar. Touched himself as he watched Duke and his dad play catch in the backyard. Daydreamed about Duke sneaking into his room while everyone else was downstairs enjoying the barbeque. Shit. He head a ton of jerk off material. He paused mid-stroke, his back arching from the intense feeling of anticipating having Duke soon. He wouldn’t beat off. Not now. He’d wait. Let all the pent up want and need for the man he was destined to have build until he got what he had desired for so long.

He’d just known that when he came home Duke would be playing house with that big bastard, Judge. Imagine his surprise when he called during finals last year and his father told him that Judge had fallen in love with someone else and chose to end the “arrangement” he had with Duke. Vaughan had wanted to pump his fist in victory, knowing that Judge had been his only real competition. But his celebration was short-lived when his dad told him how upset Duke was. He’d told him that he tried to hide it from everyone, but when he thought no one was looking, Duke got a real forlorn look on his face. It took everything in Vaughan not to leave school right then and run back to Atlanta to comfort Duke. He couldn’t, not then. He had to be a man when he went back, wouldn’t give Duke an excuse to associate him with the kid he was when he saw him last. He was tall like his father, six-two, built strong, with tightly packed muscles, cropped dark hair that required little product, and then his best asset… his mind. He was brilliant. “A force to be reckoned with,” his law school mentor would say.

Now he was back to finally claim his reward. While he wasn’t a virgin by any means—he needed to be good when he got Duke, wanted to know how to give him the pleasure he deserved, but Vaughan had never given his heart to anyone.

“You want breakfast?” his father called out from the kitchen after Vaughan had poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Sure. Just something quick. I have to be there by nine.” Vaughan smoothed down his pale pink and ivory striped tie. He opened up the newspaper already on the table and went for the finance section first to check on his stocks, that would be quickly followed by the real estate section, so he could find his own place.

“You’re dressed like a model, not a DA,” his dad said, setting a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs and toast in front of him. “Where’d you get that suit?”

“Barcelona. Why? What’s wrong with it?” Vaughan looked down at the charcoal gray, immaculately tailored suit. His light pink, collared shirt matched the tie perfectly. His gray Donna Karan lace-up oxford dress shoes set off the entire look.

“Nothing’s wrong with it. It’s nice. Real sharp.”

“You think Duke will like it?” Vaughan said cheekily.

His dad groaned loud, plopping down in the chair next to him. “You’re still intending on going through with this plan.”

“I most certainly am, and you said you wouldn’t intervene.”

“I know what I said. I just… I don’t….”

“Spit it out, Dad.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I can handle this.”

“Duke’s had eyes for only one man as long as I’ve known him. And even though Judge is gone, I haven’t seen Duke date anyone else, even glance at another man. He might still be pinning.” Vaughan watched his father run his hands through his overgrown hair. “I don’t want him using you as a rebound guy or some boy toy.”

Vaughan frowned, setting down the paper. “You really think that’s the kind of man your friend is?”

“No.” Quick sighed.

“Okay, then.” Vaughan went back to eating, careful not to get any crumbs on himself. “Just leave it to me, I’ll gauge if he’s still hung up on that dumbass.”

“Judge is far from dumb.”

“He left Duke for someone else… that spells dumb to me.”

“Boy, you’ve got it bad.” His dad laughed at him. “I can’t believe I gave you all those updates on Duke when I should’ve been discouraging this whole crush thing.”

Vaughan poured his dad some more coffee, getting his attention. “First off. This is not a crush. Second. I need you to support this, or else Duke will fight it.” Vaughan looked at his dad pointedly. “You promised.”

Quick waved him off. “I know. I know. I’m not against it, okay.”

“Not against doesn’t mean support.”

“Vaughan, I said okay. Go now. You’re gonna be late.”

Vaughan grabbed his briefcase. “Remember. Don’t tell Duke I’m coming by today.”

“You’re a tool.” His dad laughed again.

“Shut up,” Vaughan yelled on his way to the front door. “Catch you later, Pops.”

Vaughan drove back on I85 in his rented Audi taking the Peoplestown exit and heading towards Duke’s new office. He was glad to hear they’d relocated to Atlanta, because he wasn’t excited about going back to Charleston or being that close to his hovering mother, either. It’s why he chose to leave home right after high school, and why he chose a college in DC instead of Duke or UNC. He’d always wondered if his mom resented him for looking so much like his father. No mistaking she took good care of him, but she wasn’t physically affectionate. Couldn’t hug him, kiss him; hell, couldn’t stare at him too long without looking away. His dad had hurt her bad when he left, but Vaughan understood. They’d had a one-night stand that ended with her pregnant and her father holding a shotgun at Quick’s back while they stood in front of the justice and the peace. Quick had decided after Vaughan turned sixteen that he could still be a good father while not being married to Vaughan’s mom. As a kid, he had always been mature, so his dad explained it to him, and he quickly understood.

He parked in the almost empty parking lot. He recognized his father’s Range Rover and a large F350 with Duke’s logo on the tailgate. Had to be his truck. He was about to see Duke again, for the first time in… He was breathing heavily and trying to calm his racing heart. He couldn’t walk in and start swooning.

It’s game time. Get yourself together.