Page 102 of His Boys to Protect

“Seriously?” Ward asked. “You never leave this quickly.”

“Yeah, well, gotta get home and tell my man that we need to start learning sign language, don't I?”

Ward couldn't help grinning at that.

Vaughn strode over to the door and pulled his boots back on. “You guys have a good night,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “Love you, bro.”

“Love you, too.”

Vaughn quietly let himself out, locking the doors behind him as he went.

“Hhnn.”

“Hey, buddy,” Ward murmured. “You okay?”

Loud, Charlie signed, pointing at the door.

Ward chuckled softly. “Yeah, he can be.” Even when Vaughn was being quiet, he definitely had what the boy would consider a loud presence.

Charlie rolled his head, glancing all around. After a moment, he rested his head back down, his gaze intent upon Skylar.

Ward smiled, looking at them. Despite all the tension of the morning—despite knowing the reason for Skylar's current exhaustion—Ward couldn't help thinking that this moment was perfect. The kind of quiet intimacy he'd always wanted with someone.

He soaked it up while it lasted, which wasn't long. After about an hour, Skylar woke with a start, looking lost and confused. Once he relaxed, he got up and rushed away to relieve his bladder. Charlie followed him, waiting his turn to do the same.

Ward used the opportunity to grab his phone and call John.

“Hey, it's Ward,” he said when the man answered. “I'm so sorry to bother you on the weekend, but I need a huge favor…”

Chapter 37

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SKYLAR

SKYLAR RAN down a narrow hallway with dozens of doors on either side. The doors all stood open, each one revealing a client of his. The clients reached for him as he ran, their hands stretching out, fingers curling, snagging his clothing, ripping it to shreds, leaving him naked and exposed.

He couldn't run fast enough. They were all going to catch him. Pin him down. Take turns. He tried to scream, but there was nobody else around to hear him.

A door opened at the end of the hallway. Even though it was far in the distance, Skylar saw Ward and Charlie standing there, reaching for him, calling his name, begging him to hurry. Skylar tried. He ran faster, lungs burning, heart racing.

But they were so clean. And he was filthy. Every brief, glancing touch from the grasping hands left a hideous stain on his skin. Then the men grabbed him. All at once. Ward and Charlie beckoned him closer, but Skylar couldn't fit through the door. Not with all those men clinging to him.

He'd never escape.

Skylar woke with a gasp. He flailed and struggled, but movement was impossible. Something pinned him down. Had him trapped.

Something warm. And soft.

“Sky?”

Skylar sucked in a breath and went still. That was Ward. Or was he still dreaming? He tried to move again, then paused. He wasn't naked. If anything, he had way too many clothes on, the fabric twisting and tangling around him as he moved under the blankets of Ward's bed.

Ward's bed. Skylar let out a shuddering breath.

“Hey, kitten,” Ward murmured. “It's okay. Just a bad dream.”

Skylar trembled. “Ward?”

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