Chapter 16

 

Rio

 

Once home, Rio flipped on the lights as he opened the front door. Rake had fallen asleep on the drive and had woken with a yawn when the truck stopped. A soft light glowed from the kitchen. He didn’t think anything of it, but he stopped when an unwelcome smell reached him. “Cinnamon?”

“Hmm?” Rake nuzzled at the back of his head.

“I smell cinnamon.”

Rake moved to his side. “And?”

“I’m allergic to it.”

“Oh.” Rake frowned and sniffed the air. “That’s weird. Let’s see where it’s coming from.”

Rake walked toward the kitchen and flipped on a light. “Rio, run!”

He started at Rake’s yell, but he didn’t run away. He ran toward Rake with his heart in his throat.

“Now, wait a minute.” The voice was carefree, friendly even, but with an underlying edge that made Rio’s spine stiffen.

He skidded to a stop, and Rake tried to shove Rio behind him. “Who are you? What are you doing in my house?”

A gun sat snug in a holster at the man’s side, but he didn’t reach for it. He sat on a stool, with a takeout cup of coffee. That was where the smell came from.

“I’m allergic—”

“To cinnamon. I heard you.” The man walked over to the sink and poured the coffee down the drain and rinsed it out. “Better?”

“Yes, thanks. Now answer my question.”

He turned and leaned against the sink with his arms crossed over his chest. “I’m a PI. My name is James Kairo. I was sent to find you by Damian Corsetti.”

“Shit.” Rake fell back a step and took Rio’s hand. “Get out of here, Rio!”

“No.”

“Goddammit!” He put himself in front of Rio and tried to block him from the PI’s sight.

Rio studied Kairo as he, in turn, studied Rake. The same height as Rake, he had solid muscles, though he wasn’t as ripped as Rake. His shaggy brown hair fell into his eyes, and he whipped his head to the side to move it. He had on a blue Hawaiian shirt, worn jeans, and—Rio looked at his feet—flip-flops.

“Rake, relax. Listen to what he says.” He stepped around Rake to stand at his side.

Rake glanced over with a beetled brow. His instincts likely told him to run, but Rio’s were calm. This man wasn’t a threat. No matter how big his gun.

“Thanks.” Kairo nodded with a small wink and gave Rio a slow, deliberate once-over and a smirk.

Rake rolled his shoulders and stepped forward, but Rio kept hold of him. “Why don’t we sit?”

Rake put himself between Rio and Kairo, and Rio let him. Rake chose a seat at the far end of the kitchen table, while Kairo sat in the chair closest to the nearest exit.

“I can make some coffee, since you had to dump yours.”

“I’d appreciate that. Thank you, gorgeous.”

“He’s not your ‘gorgeous.’ ”

That lethal stare aimed to protect Rio made his dick twitch.

“As far as I can tell, he isn’t yours either. You’ve only known him, what, two or three days? When did you get here?”

“Fuck you. That’s when.”

Kairo chuckled and a dimple showed in his left cheek. This aggressive Rake was new. He wasn’t sure how to take it, but his libido decided it was hot. Go figure. He stood and walked over to make a pot of coffee. He also grabbed a couple of bottles of water and a plate one of his family members had made. He peeked under the tinfoil. Cheese and Vienna sausages.

He set it out, grabbed the cream and sugar, three mugs, and carried it all over as the fast-brew pot sputtered to a stop. He glanced at the table. They both sat with their arms crossed, but Kairo only had eyes for Rio.

“Why didn’t you run?” Kairo asked.

“Huh?” Rio glanced over. Kairo was so close, the dark ring around his green irises was visible.

“Why didn’t you run when he told you to?” Kairo nodded at Rake without taking his eyes off Rio.

“Well, first, because I wasn’t about to abandon him, and second, once I saw you, I didn’t get a dangerous vibe.”

“Vibe?” He chuckled. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” Also, he’d been around firearms his whole life, and that one was fake. He didn’t say it out loud. He didn’t want to back Kairo into a corner.

“I like that.”

“How did you find me?” Rake broke into their conversation. Rio poured the coffee and distributed the cups.

“Easy. You didn’t turn off your phone.”

“What?” Rake’s mouth sagged open. “Shit. Is that a real thing?”

Rio shrugged when Rake glanced at him. He barely used his phone.

“Oh, it’s real. If you know who to go to.”

Rake took his phone out of his pocket and shut it off. He threw it on the table and ran both hands over his face. “So? Now what? You found me. Are you going to take me to Corsetti?” He dropped his hands and glared at Kairo. Clearly, he wouldn’t go without a fight.

“I don’t know yet.” He drank some coffee and looked out into the inky night through the patio doors. Rio followed his gaze and saw the studio lights were on. Shit. Someone’s here.

He must have made a noise, because Rake’s hand smoothed over his forearm. He smiled into Rake’s eyes. Having him stay was Rio’s new number one priority. For Rake, he’d be calm and sturdy.

Kairo’s sigh brought their eyes back to him. “You shouldn’t have run, Rake.”

“Fuck you,” Rake said. “You don’t know what he wants me to do.”

“I can guess,” he said in a serious tone. “Look,” Kairo leaned forward, “I don’t want to take you to him. I have to.”

Rio straightened his spine. “He’s forcing you too?”

Wary, Kairo’s eyes shuttered and he pressed his lips together. “I can’t get into it.”

“I have a friend. He’s a US Marshal. He can help you.”

Kairo snorted. “Yeah, right. The only people they want to help are themselves. Oh, sure, they start out all nice as pie, but as soon as it looks like their case might be in jeopardy, or their career, they write you off to fend for yourself.”

Rio faltered, stunned at the outburst. Rake glanced at him with wide eyes.

“Okay, well, this one won’t,” Rio said. “He’s going to help Rake as much as he can. If they get Corsetti, it will help you too, so it’s probably in your best interest to cooperate.”

Kairo now had inside information and a chance to warn Corsetti, but Rio’s gut told him he was trustworthy. Kai’s eyes screamed how badly he wanted to leave Rake alone.

Calmer, Rake asked, “What does he have on you?”

Kairo scowled. “None of your business.”

“Fair enough.”

Rio took his own phone out of his back pocket. “I’m calling Judge.”

“No. Hey.” Kairo made a move toward his gun, and Rake’s hand shot out so fast that it blurred in the corner of Rio’s eye.

“Don’t you fucking move,” Rake growled. He gripped Kairo’s arm, and he winced and tried to pull away. Rake kept his hold.

Rio left the room to make the call. “Judge,” he said when the line opened. “I have to tell you something.”

“This isn’t Judge.”

“What? Where is he?”

“Is this Rio Danvers?”

“Yes. I was just there talking to him about my friend.”

“Yes, I have that information.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Gannin West. Alvarado’s boss.”

“Why are you answering his cell?”

“He’s missing.”

Rio’s heart jumped into his throat. “What? But…we were just with him.”

“It seems he disappeared shortly after you left.”

“Oh, God. Does it have to do with those men who jumped us?” He ran a hand over his mouth.

“We don’t have information yet. I can’t get into it now. Listen, I know you’re worried about da Silva, I’m going to start looking into Corsetti.”

“Well, something’s come up. That’s why I called.” Rio rubbed his chest. Rake’s hand landed on his neck and he leaned into it. His knees wobbled, and Rake pulled him to the sofa where he collapsed.

“We have information on Corsetti, but there are some people I need to coordinate with before we can do anything. This isn’t going to be solved overnight.”

“No, we know that. It’s just that when we got home, a man was here.”

“What?” West barked. “Who?”

“He’s a PI. Corsetti sent him to find Rake. He’s in my kitchen.”

“Actually, he’s right here.”

“Was that him?” West asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Let me speak to him.”

Rio held the phone out, and Kairo took it with a frown. He walked off and Rio didn’t listen.

Rake kissed his temple. “What is it, Rio? You’re scaring me. Hell, you even scared Kairo.”

“Judge is gone,” Rio croaked. “He’s missing, I mean.”

Stunned, Rake asked, “Was it those assholes that jumped us?”

“I don’t know. His boss wouldn’t tell me.”

“Oh, babe. I’m so damn sorry.” He kissed his shoulder.

He shook his head and held on to Rake’s hand. “He’s okay. Judge has been through a lot worse than anything those idiots could do to him.”

“I believe you.”

The conviction in Rake’s voice settled some of Rio’s worry.

“You do?”

“Yes. He wiped the floor with me in that ring, and that’s no easy feat.”

It made Rio smile a little. “You did look wiped.”

“Hey, now.” He nudged him with his shoulder. “I held my own pretty well.”

Rio relaxed into Rake’s arms. His family needed to be told. Rio checked the time. Two a.m. He’d tell them in the morning. “You’re the one that said it—”

Rake’s kiss cut off the rest. “I know,” he whispered. “I like being right.”

Rio let himself sink into Rake’s kiss until a cough broke them apart.

Kairo fidgeted with the phone and scowled. “Well, West was convincing. He’s asked me to go to Salt Lake and talk to him.”

They stood and faced him.

“And Corsetti?” Rake asked, muscles tense.

Kairo gave an apologetic grimace. “I haven’t told him where you are.”

Rio took the phone. “I think we can trust him.”

Rake gave him a resigned smile. “Really?”

“Yes. My instincts rarely steer me wrong.” He dismissed thoughts about the last time they’d done exactly that. This was different.

“I’ll leave first thing in the morning,” Kairo said.

“You can have the guest room.” Rio moved ahead, and Rake caught his arm.

“Whoa. Wait. What’s wrong with a hotel?”

Kairo looked between them. “It’s fine. I can go to The Bluebird.”

Rio frowned. “It’s no problem. People use that room all the time.”

Rake blew out an exasperated sigh. “Rio!”

He looked at Kairo, then Rake, and leaned in. “We want him on our side, so be nice to him.”

Rake licked his lips and stared at Rio’s mouth while his pupils expanded. “Yeah, okay. Whatever. But I’m not being quiet.”

Kairo laughed and tried to cover it with a cough. “Thanks. I appreciate it. You won’t even know I’m here.”

Rio made sure the house was locked this time. The lights in the studio had gone out. Whoever had been there had left. He showed Kairo his room while Rake went ahead to the master bedroom.

“You’re a, uh…an interesting man, Rio. Anyone else would’ve kicked up a fuss, tossed me out, or called the cops.” He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

Rio handed him a stack of fresh towels from the linen closet. “I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt before I condemn them.” He held on when Kairo grabbed the towels and caught his eyes. “I don’t trust blindly, but I’m a good judge of character. And I think you want to do the right thing here, James. If not,” he shrugged a shoulder, “you’ll find out how interesting I can be when I make you wish you’d never come to Riverbend.”

Kairo held his stare for several tense seconds before he relaxed into a flirtatious grin. “So, you and the knuckle-bruiser, huh?”

“Yes.” Rio restrained an eye roll and headed for the door.

“Any chance I could convince you—”

“Nope.” Rio cut him off and shut the door on his snort of laughter.