Page 49 of Lost Boy

Mitch hadn’t told Byron why he’d been so worn out that evening but Byron had his suspicions that Mitch’s father was involved.

Mitch bit his lip.

“I swear it will be okay,” Byron said. This wasn’t how Byron had thought he’d meet Mitch’s father. But no matter what this late-night visit was about Byron wouldn’t allow Mitch to be abused.

Mitch nodded as he unlocked and opened the door. He barely stepped to the side in time to avoid the door slamming into him.

With a growl, Byron stepped forward. Mitch’s father’s attention was on his boy though.

“I warned you,” Mitch’s father spat. “I told you that I would reveal all your secrets if you fucked with me.”

Mitch held his hands up as he cringed against the way. “What the hell?” he yelled. “You can’t come barging into my-"

Mitch’s father stepped close to his son pinning Mitch to the wall. “There is no way that asshole could have gotten the information he has if he didn’t have help.”

“Step back,” Byron barked.

Both Mitch and his father froze.

“I said to fucking step back,” Byron repeated. He might be barefoot in only a pair of sweatpants but with his long hair and tattoos, Byron knew he looked like a big bad biker. He’d use that against Mitch’s father if he needed to.

Mitch’s father peered over at him. Byron didn’t miss the way the older man looked him and down or the appreciation reflecting in his gaze. “Who are you?”

“That’s not your fucking business,” Byron responded. “I won’t ask you again to step back from Mitch.”

Mitch’s father sneered but he did back off from Mitch. “Becoming a biker’s bitch?” Mitch’s father taunted Mitch.

Byron expected Mitch to shrink back. He should have known better though. He stood to his full height and rolled his shoulders. He closed the door to his condo quietly before walking over to Byron’s side.

“Would you like to come inside father? Discuss whatever has upset you like an adult? Or would you rather just toss accusations around until you feel better?”

Byron grinned. Hell, he wanted to fucking applaud.

Mitch’s father stomped past them and into the living room. Byron placed his hand on Mitch’s lower back and urged him to follow.

His father was pacing in front of the television, but Mitch walked to the couch and sat down. Byron took the cushion next to him and put his arm around Mitch’s shoulder.

“What’s going on father?”

Mitch’s father balked. “I’m not discussing this in front of him.” He pointed to Byron.

Mitch shrugged. “You barged into my condo, at eleven o’clock at night, when we were getting ready for bed. I don’t have secrets from my partner.”

“He’s in on this, isn’t he?” Mitch’s father accused.

Mitch was handling the situation just fine so Byron had to curb his instincts to interject himself. Byron would only step in if Mitch looked to him. His boy was smart and cunning. He didn’t need Byron to fight his battles. He needed support when he had battles to fight.

“No one in this condo has anything to do with anything that involves you,” Mitch said. “If you’ve gotten yourself in trouble it has nothing to do with us.”

“You know something,” Mitch’s father declared.

Mitch shrugged. “I’ve heard rumors about you for years. The entire firm. It used to bother me but not anymore.”

“You’ve changed,” his father said. “I bet it’s the biker’s fault.”

Mitch laughed.

“How is that going to look to the firm and our clients when they find out the type of company you associate with.”

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