Page 59 of Hold Back
“You’re a born Biker Daddy Bodyguard even if you don’t think you are.”
“I’m not.”
Mo raised his hand. “One—” He counted the points on his fingers. “You took the job despite your reservations.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Red growled.
Mo ignored him. “Two, you went full Daddy on his ass at the club.”
“I protected my client.”
“And you took care of the twink.”
“He was scared and alone.”
“Three, you fed Kit, put him to bed, what else…oh yeah, searched?—”
“I’m a bodyguard. That’s what I do,” he pointed out. “Losing your client isn’t good for your reputation.”
“You’re a Daddy.”
Red threw his hands up in exasperation. “So what if I did all these things. I’m here to protect Kit. He’s alone and in danger and he needs me. You employed me to do that. But I’m a bodyguard.Youassign details tome,remember?”
“This team ain’t like the others,” Mo said. “That’s why Quinn and Craig are very cautious about who they approach.”
“It seems to be a fucking dating service for Daddies and boys,” Red grumbled.
“With added danger,” Mo agreed.
“Why don’t you just let me do my job of taking care of Kit and quit trying to play Cupid?”
“Because I need to know you understand what you’re doing.”
“I do. He’s safe with me.”
A broad smile spread over Mo’s face. Red squinted at him, wary now. He didn’t trust that smile. Then he realized Mo was looking over his shoulder. He turned to see Kit staring at him, a cautious but hopeful expression. Ronan was attempting to hide his smirk.
Red sighed inwardly. He was talking. No one was listening. He’d try again later. He held out his hand and Kit came to stand beside him. He tangled their fingers together, wanting to ground Kit, but to ground himself just as much.
A loud belly rumble broke the silence and Kit blushed. “Sorry.”
“I think that was me,” Red admitted. “We didn’t have breakfast. He turned to look at the food on the counter. “Do you guys want breakfast?”
Mo shook his head. “We’re going on patrol.”
Kit raised his eyebrows. “Are you Sergeant Patrol too?”
Ronan let out a belly laugh. “He’s the worst.”
“Come back for coffee?” Red suggested.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to entertain a hyperactive chaos demon all day. Talking to other people would help.
“Sure,” Mo agreed.
“Daddy Red.”
Red flinched at Ronan’s word. It had been a long time since someone had called him that. “Just Red.”
