Page 7 of My Addiction
Taylor is a retired Marine. He was part of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. His responsibilities include special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, and offensive operations. Taylor also knows about our family’s business. He’s one of only a handful who do.
“I’m dropping you a pin. I want the man and child in room 112 watched. No one gets into the room. If he leaves, I want him followed. Shadow him and stay unseen. I want hourly reports.”
“Yes, sir.” He hangs up. That is another reason I work well with him. He does as he is asked and doesn’t waste time. His sister was killed by her abusive ex-husband. She had taken refuge at the shelter run by Mom’s foundation. He found her when she left the building. It pissed Mom off, so Dad was tasked with making the fucker pay. He met Taylor while loading the ex into the trunk of his car. Instead of adding Taylor to his body count, he allowed him to take his own revenge. A job was offered, and Taylor accepted.
Fifteen minutes later, I get a text letting me know security is in place. Colton will be safe until he is back in my sight. If security fails as they did with Xavier, I will kill them all.
With that handled, I spend the next few hours at the center pretending to care about what I’m doing. I don’t hear a word anyone says. Every thought circles back to Colton.
By the time I get back to the penthouse, my skin feels too tight again. My phone rings just as I’m putting away my shoes. Hitting the Bluetooth in my ear, I answer. I want to get the call from my dad over with so I can find out more about Colton.
“Hello,” I answer impatiently.
“Ronan, why do you have a detail watching some motel on Riverside? Are you going off-book? I checked with your mom, and you’re not on anything right now.”
“They’re there to keep Colton and Ollie safe.”
“Who are Colton and Ollie, and why do they need protection?”
“Colton is a computer programmer I met today, and Ollie is his baby.” There is silence on the other end.
“Explain.” Dad sighs into the phone.
“I was working at the center when Ollie fell asleep in my lap. I met Colton when he found him. He’s a computer programmer and needs a job, so I’m hiring him tomorrow. He just moved to town with his baby and is staying at that shithole. Until I can move him in here, I need to make sure nothing happens to them.” How hard will it be to get him here? Will he come willingly? I’m running scenarios in my head and almost forget that I’m still on the phone. I never lose focus like this.
“What the fuck is with you boys? Your mom and I are just leaving dinner, we’ll stop by your place in about 15 minutes so that you can explain this to us.”
I hear the disconnect in my ear. Why do they need to come here for me to explain? Didn’t I just do that on the phone? I go into the kitchen to make myself a sandwich and wait for my parents — more wasted time. I want to start my background on Colton. I barely kept myself on task at the center because I wanted to do it then. My hands itch with the need to open my computer and dig. But if I do that, I won’t be able to stop when my parents get here. The doorbell rings, and I let my parents in.
“Explain this situation to me,” Dad says as soon as he steps into my apartment. I look down at his shoes and then back up at him. Rolling his eyes, he toes them off.
“I already did.”
“What he is trying to ask, poorly I might add, is the why of all of it. You met this boy and his baby, and now you are not only hiring him, but you mentioned moving him in here.”
“Yes. That is what I already said. And as to the why, it’s because he is mine.”
“He has a child, Ronan. You can’t just decide that someone is yours and you’re moving them in.” Dad says.
“Declan did, and you allowed that.” I stop myself from telling them it will happen with or without their approval. My mom studies my face. I’m not sure what she is looking for.
“When you say he is yours, do you mean the same way as Xavier and Declan?”
“Yes.”
“You said he had a baby. How do you know if he would even want a relationship with another man?” I shrug; it is a moot point.
“Jesus fucking Christ. Do you know how crazy that sounds?” Dad walks over to my couch and sits down.
“I’m not sure how to make you understand this. All afternoon, after I left him at that shitty little motel, I’ve been going crazy. My skin is too tight. I need him here with me.” My mother rubs her hand over my shoulders. It is the same as a hug. Of all her boys, I’m the least inclined to hug. I only allow it on special occasions.
“Okay, start with the job first. I wonder what he is going to do with the baby while he is working.”
“I told him to bring the baby to the office with him.” My mother smiles widely.
“What time?”
“He will be there by nine.”
