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Zane didn’t say a word as he walked over to the couch and sat down on one end. His back was ramrod straight, and he wrapped his arms tightly around himself as he kept his gaze on the floor, refusing to meet my eyes. I followed him and looked down at the couch. I knew I only had one chance to get this right and I didn’t want to scare him off, so I sank down at the other end, leaving the cushion between us empty. Minutes ticked by with neither of us saying a word. My mind raced with where I should start. I was terrified of saying the wrong thing and having him turn me away.

“Why are you here? Who sent you?” Zane asked, breaking the silence. His voice was flat as if he were asking about the weather, but I could see the tension in his eyes and the rigid set of his shoulders. I knew him inside and out and I knew that he was suffering.

My voice trembled as I began to explain, and I stopped to clear my throat. “I work for a place in Chicago called Hamilton Security. It’s a firm made up of all ex-military personnel, specifically those who served in the special forces and have particular skill sets. Mine is in search and rescue.”

Zane leaned back in his seat, but his eyes remained straight ahead. “So, that part was true? About you being a pararescueman?”

“Yes,” I breathed. “Everything I’ve told you about myself is true. I spent twelve years in the Air Force then decided to retire when my mom passed away. I went back home to Boston, but then I got a call one day from Micah Hamilton in Chicago. He was putting together an elite team of former spec ops and he wanted me to come work for him. I flew out, met him and his crew and decided to take the job.”

“What is your job exactly?” he asked. His eyes flitted over to me, briefly, but it brought a spark of hope to my heart.

“Pretty much anything Micah assigns to me. Sometimes I’ve installed high-tech security systems in rich people’s houses. Other times, I’ve acted as a bodyguard for politicians or Hollywood celebrities,” I explained.

Zane shook his head and he turned, holding my gaze for the first time. “Rich people and celebrities? I’m neither of those things, so how did you end up looking for me?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Micah asked me to. I don’t know why,” I answered honestly.

He looked away, running his hands over his face then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t even know where to start with all of this,” he sighed.

“Ask me anything you want. I promise, I’ll tell you everything I know,” I assured him. He grunted at that and I stared down at my hands, tightly clasped in my lap. I knew I deserved his distrust, but still, it stung. I missed the easy conversations and the laughter I was used to sharing with him. Will we ever have that again?

“Who is this Micah to you, other than your boss? He sounds like he’s someone important,” Zane said. I thought I detected a touch of jealousy in his words, but it may have just been wishful thinking on my part.

“Micah is one of the best men I know. He’s strong and intelligent and he’d do anything to protect the people he loves,” I told him.

“Does he love you?” Zane asked sharply.

“Yes,” I answered. Zane’s head swiveled, and his eyes widened. I held my hand up to stop him as he opened his mouth to speak. “It’s not what you think. Micah loves me the same way he loves all the men who work for him, like brothers. We’re a family there and Mary, the office manager, is like a mother to us all. I met them right after I left the military and had buried my mother. They’re really great people and they became my family at a time when I felt all alone in the world.” Zane turned his head and his eyes traveled over my face, looking for the truth in my words.

“What did you mean when you said you didn’t know why you were sent to find me?” he asked.

“I meant exactly that. Usually when Micah hands me an assignment to find someone, it comes with an extensive background on the person. With you, I only had the information provided in that file. I didn’t know anything about your parents or that you even had a brother. I knew from the hospital reports that you’d been beaten, but not who was responsible,” I told him.

“All I had was the basic information and a picture that’s at least ten years old. The assignment was different in another way, too,” I said.

“How so?” Zane asked. He’d pulled one leg up on the couch and turned to face me. His fingers still fidgeted in his lap, but he seemed to have let his guard down considerably since I’d walked in.

“Typically, when I’m sent to find someone, it’s because they’re wanted for some kind of illegal activity. We’re often hired, unofficially, of course, by the Chicago PD to help search for persons through channels that they can’t always use within the confines of their rules and regulations. With some of those people being dangerous criminals, Micah will tell me to bring them back using any means necessary. Except for killing, of course. We don’t involve ourselves in anything like that.

“With your case, however, I was told to find you and bring you back without using any force. That told me that this was more of a personal request from Micah. That he wanted it to be your choice to go back with me,” I explained.

Zane’s forehead scrunched in confusion. “But I don’t know your boss. I’ve never heard of Micah Hamilton in my life. What reason would he have for wanting to find me?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Do you have any friends from school who might be looking for you? Or maybe one of your grandparents had a change of heart and wanted to reach out to you,” I suggested.

“No, from what my mom told me, all our grandparents were old when my parents got married. They’re probably all dead by now. And I doubt it’s any of my classmates from school. I made a few friends on the team, but of course, I wasn’t ever able to hang out with them after school, so we never got close. Those friendships drifted away as soon as we graduated.” He shook his head, rubbing a finger over his bottom lip as he considered the possibilities.

“The only person I know in Chicago…” His eyes nearly bugged out of his head and he stood quickly. His fingers clasped behind his head and his elbows came together in front of his face as he began pacing back and forth.

I stood too, rushing to his side. I didn’t even think before I reached out and placed my hands on his waist. He was still wearing my shorts from the night before and I tried not to notice the feel of his warm, smooth skin under my fingers. Zane stopped pacing, but he didn’t push me away. I could hear his quick breaths as he fought his building panic.

“If your father is the one behind all this, we need to face him head-on and end this once and for all. He can’t be allowed to poison your life any more than he already has. It’s time he paid for the hell he’s put you through. He needs to be stopped once and for all,” I insisted firmly. Zane dropped his arms at his sides and stared at me. He looked so scared and unsure and it broke my heart. It was time to lay all my cards on the table.

“Baby, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth about why I was here. I was following orders. I know that’s probably difficult for you to understand, but I spent years in the military and regardless of what it is when your commander tells you to do something, you do it. No questions asked. So, I followed Micah’s orders and I searched for you. When I found you, I was told to get to know you because Micah wanted to be absolutely sure I had the right man before I took you back with me.” I looked directly in his eyes, making sure he’d hear me loud and clear. I just hoped he believe my words.

“I never dreamed I would find the most incredible man in the world. A man who makes me feel like I’m invincible while simultaneously bringing me to my knees. A man who makes my heart stop and start all at the same time. I never counted on finding my very best friend and my lover all in one. I never counted on finding you.” Zane’s eyes swam with tears and his bottom lip quivered.

My hand was shaky as I reached out and brushed his hair off his forehead, exposing his scars. I didn’t want him hiding from me, not any more. “I love you and it doesn’t matter if you go by Zach or Zane or a million other names. I am completely, one hundred percent in love with the person you are in here,” I said, laying the flat of my hand over his heart.

His face crumpled, and he bit down on his bottom lip. I could see the mixture of fear, worry and hope in his eyes. I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his scars, kissing them tenderly before I pulled back.

“Will you go back to Chicago with me, Zane? Will you let me stand by your side as you put an end to the demons that continue to haunt you?” I asked. He stared at me for several seconds and my heart sank when he began to slowly back away from me.

“I want to be alone. I need time to think before I make any decisions.” His chin came up a fraction of an inch and I saw the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t going to be strong-armed into doing anything he didn’t want to do. Pride filled my chest and hope soared at the fact that he wasn’t turning me away. Not yet, anyway.

I nodded. I’d give him the time he’d asked for. I’d give him all the time he needed because it was the least he deserved. He needed to feel comfortable with whatever decision he made and everyone else would have to either wait for him to reach that decision or deal with me. As difficult as it was to walk away from him, I respected him enough to do it. I turned and walked toward the door, but his voice stopped me just as I reached for the doorknob.

“So, how did you end up here? I look nothing like the boy in the picture anymore. How did you know it was me?” he asked quietly. I turned back around. His arms were wrapped around himself once again in a protective gesture and his face showed a raw vulnerability.

“I’d been searching for you for many months and I was starting to think that Micah had given me an impossible assignment. I was actually on my way to Columbus when I stopped to get a bite to eat at that truck stop. You walked in and when our eyes met, it was like all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. I’d spent countless hours staring at that picture, memorizing everything about the boy in it, but the thing that always drew me in the most was his eyes. As soon as I looked in your eyes, my gut told me that I’d found the man I was looking for. I just didn’t realize how true that was until I started falling in love with you. So, as for how I ended up here, maybe it was chance, fate or just plain dumb luck, but whatever it was, I’ll always be grateful.” I gave him a small smile and then opened the door and walked out.

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