Page 65 of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang Us, Daddy

“I know,” Bennet agrees. “I couldn’t live with it, either.” He looks over at me, and it looks like someone’s sucked the fun-loving side out of him. He looks just as wrecked as Benji. “Willyou get Tatum and Kincaid? We need to figure out what happens next.”

I stand from my place on the carpet and give them both a decided nod. Taking a note from their books, I just look over my shoulder and call out Tatum’s name.

Bennet arches an eyebrow. “I could have done that.”

I wink at him. “Welcome to my world, little man.”

Thankfully, the quip earns me a smile. The next thing I know, Tatum’s footsteps are clopping down the staircase, then he’s standing beside me. His hand finds mine, and I don’t have the heart to tell him it’s the hand I just used to masturbate onto his ex-boyfriend’s face. Lord knows what kind of psychological trauma that might cause. Ahead of us, Bennet’s got an arm around Benji’s shoulders, and Abi’s standing over them, staring down into the box. He bends over and scoops Benito into his arms. It’s my first time seeing my sons’ tormentor in months. I only met the man once, when Tatum brought them all over for his birthday dinner. He sat in the corner scowling, and the Bens never left his side.

His head is lolled back, and he seems to be unconscious. I don’t know if he’s just pretending, or if he’s passed out from fear. Abi sets him down on the sofa and kneels in front of him, lightly slapping Benito’s face.

“You will cease this silly act, and you will open your eyes. Do not make me get the knife.”

Benito flinches, then he rolls on his side, facing the back of the sofa, sobbing softly.

Listen, I’m a man of conviction, but even I’m not strong enough to watch this. Benito’s formerly muscular body is essentially skin and bones. He’s got bruises on his arms and legs, and all he’s wearing is a tattered diaper. As he pulls his knees to his chest, he wraps his arms around his shins, but winces withpain as he does. Considering he has two rather large bruises on his shins, I shouldn’t be surprised.

Has my Tatum done this? As much as I hate Benito for harming the hearts of men who didn’t deserve it, I hate to see any human suffering this much.

I approach slowly, trying my best not to startle Abi. He’s always reserved around me, but Tatum and the Bens tell me he has a wild side I haven’t seen yet.

“Son,” I say, placing my hand on his back. When he looks up at me, there’s a look of hurt on him I know all too well. It’s the same look I had when Benji first saw Benito in the chest. “It’s enough now. No more.”

Abi clenches his fist. “He does not get to hurt them again. I will not allow it, Dad.”

My heart flutters, because I love the way he calls me dad. “I know, and he won’t. Benjamin and Bennet don’t want this, though.” I stare at Tatum. “Is this what you want? Do you want his blood on your hands?”

“He needs to pay. What can we do with him? We can’t just let him walk away,” Tatum says. He’s pleading with his husband, his hand latched onto Abi’s wrist. “What if he goes to the police?” He takes a step back and shakes his head, holding his hands up as if he’s trying to ward off the inevitable. “Absolutely not. If you don’t kill him, I will.”

Benito whimpers on the sofa. Benji approaches and slowly kneels behind him, resting his hand on the cowering man’s shoulder. The second they connect, Benito’s entire body shakes, and his trembling doesn’t subside.

“What about the agency?” Benji asks, not taking his eyes away from Benito. “Meadows might know what to do with him. Maybe they can keep him there. Kind of like jail, but?—”

“Benjamin,” Abi says. He places a hand on Benji’s back. “The Meadows you know is not the Meadows I know. You’ve yet to seebehind the curtain. He’s the most cutthroat killer I’ve ever met. The man would sooner slit this little one’s throat than see him rehabilitated.”

“Nuh-uh,” Benji argues. “He will if I ask him to. He likes Bennet and me. Probably more than he ever liked you, so don’t worry. Just let us handle it.”

Abi snorts a laugh. “If you say so.”

“Dad?” Benji calls out. “Can you call Meadows and ask if he can help? He’ll listen to you. Especially after the way you threatened to beat him up if he didn’t bring me home from work when you were sick.”

Abi arches a brow at me. “You threatened his life?”

“Dang right,” I say, nodding. “And I’ll do it again. No one upsets my boys.” I pull out my phone and unlock the screen. I won’t lie; every time I open my phone and see the image of Benji’s cock with a bead of pre-cum at the tip, it sends my insides spinning. When he asked me to set it as my background, I wasn’t sure why, but I knew my boy needed it, just like he needs me to wear his cum every day. There isn’t a single thing in this world I’d deny either of my boys, so setting his hard cock as my background was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.

I place the call, clearing my throat in case I need to unleash the paternal beast on agent Meadows.

“Meadows,” he answers. His voice comes through as a bark, and it’s enough to startle me, but I don’t let it get to me. “Who the fuck is this?”

The abruptness of his question startles me, but I push past it. “It’s Nathan St. James. Bennet and Benjamin’s . . .” I look at my boys, not sure how to answer at first. Bennet’s consoling our boyfriend with a hug, and the sight of them tangled up in each other makes my heart race. “I’m Bennet and Benjamin’s partner.”

“The Bens,” Meadows says, his voice taking on a cheerful tone. “Are they ready to come back to work? Like I said, the job’s open, whenever they need it.”

“I don’t think they’re quite ready for that.” They never will be, if I have my way. I hate the idea of them working for such a reprehensible corporation. Aside from the moral implications, it can’t be a terribly safe career choice, and keeping them safe is my life’s ambition. Maybe I can talk them into becoming kept men. I’m not hurting for money, and I think I like the idea of them getting to spend their days however they choose. No worries, no stress. Just days of endless slumber and relaxation. With as much heartache as they’ve been handed, I think they deserve that and more. “I’m with Abi Kincaid, actually.”

Meadows sucks in a sharp breath. “He lets you call him Abi?”

“I should hope so. I’m his father-in-law, after all. It’s not as if I’m going to wander around calling him Kincaid.”

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