Page 23 of Healing Daddy

Beau looked Kylo’s way and then focused on JJ again. He winked, shocking the shit out of JJ. An invisible weight lifted from JJ’s shoulders. He saw the human side of Beau. Beau understood better than JJ how to be a daddy. He would give JJ the chance to do the same. JJ couldn’t wait to tell Leary the news—minus the bugging his dad’s home bit. For a moment, he wondered if he should surprise him at work. JJ shook off the idea. He had to pack first and get everything moved. Then he would launch himself into Leary’s life, no holding back.

JJ tucked away the envelope. “Thank you for this. I should get started.”

Beau waved him away. “Go. Find Fletch, and he’ll gather the team Henry assigned.”

JJ didn’t need to be told twice. He was on his way to a beautiful future.

JJ:I have a huge surprise for you when you get home.

Leary:Oooh, I can’t wait. Any hints?

JJ:Nope.

Leary:Dang.

As hard as Leary tried, he couldn’t do anything except think about his last text exchange with JJ. Traffic felt like the biggest nightmare he had ever dealt with. He caught every red light on the way home. When he finally pulled into his driveway, Leary was just confused.

A black sideboard van with no markings sat parked on the lawn and close to the front door. Men swarmed outside, heading in and out the front door like they paid the bills. Leary dodged bodies on the way to the door. Each person he passed smiled and nodded. When he walked through the door, he found Fletch mounting a camera.

JJ shot from the couch at the sight of him. “Hey, baby. You’re home early. I hoped all this would be done by then.”

Leary turned in a circle. “What is all this? Why are there cameras in my house?”

Guilt passed over JJ’s features. He took Leary’s hand and led him to the couch. Once they sat, JJ turned sideways and gave Leary his full attention. “Do you know how I promised you I would find a way to live here?”

A mixture of excitement and fear had Leary’s heart pounding. “Yes.”

JJ didn’t smile. He looked every bit as scared as Leary felt. “Well, this is the compromise. Beau says he’s fine with me staying here with you, as long as he has eyes on me. He doesn’t want to risk me being taken again. So, if you’re okay with high-level security in your home, I can stay.”

JJ looked so hopeful. Leary’s heart was bursting with love. “To keep you safe, I’d agree to anything. But to also get to keep you full-time, you were right not to even bother consulting me. I don’t care as long as I have you.”

A bright smile exploded across JJ’s face.

Leary couldn’t contain his happiness. He launched himself at JJ, uncaring of who watched. “Oh my God. I can’t believe it.” He kissed JJ everywhere he could reach. “You get to stay with me forever.”

JJ laughed. He swiped a kiss across Leary’s lips. “There’s more.”

“Shut the fuck up. What else could it be?” Leary immediately covered his mouth. It was rare for him to curse. “Sorry.”

JJ's smile never dimmed. He chuckled. “You’re funny. But guess what? He’s also moving me to first shift when I return to work.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me. Holy crap. I’m so freaking happy. I knew you would figure it out, but wow. This is better than I dared to hope.”

Fletch cleared his throat. “I hate to interrupt, but we have to talk.”

JJ nodded and stood.

Fletch handed a small box to Alexander, another daytime security guard. Fletch waited until Alexander walked outside before speaking. “That box was filled with bugs and a GoPro camera we found stashed around the house.”

“What the fuck?”

JJ said the words at the same time as Leary.

Fletch’s gaze swapped between them. “They’ve been deactivated, but I left one activated for a purpose.” He focused on JJ. “Here in a second, we’ll step outside and let whoever’s done this overhear us. I’ll tell you about finding the devices, and you just play along as I say they’ve been destroyed. I need you to tell me all about how there’s no way they have anything to do with you because you’ve never even set eyes on Beau. You’re a perimeter guard who’s positioned far from the house. You literally know zilch about the Bosi family beyond them signing your checks. Got it?”

JJ nodded. “I can do that.”

Fletch patted JJ's shoulder before squeezing it. “When I leave here, I’ll destroy the final bug and dump them. First, we just have to ensure whoever did this thinks you’re nobody.”