Page 78 of Doc

“I’m assuming they’re queer as well? Which is why you’re worried about them, and why this information is important.”

“Yes. Vonny is a med student, Nico is working to be a physical therapist, and Dima is a bodyguard.”

“All useful skills,” Cristian muses. “Bring them in. If they’re amendable, I’ll speak to Petrov on their behalf.”

I don’t allow it to show, but the relief running through me is so fierce, if it wasn’t for my hold on Doc, I think I would have stumbled.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t thank me yet, there are no guarantees, but we’re looking for more people we can trust, and your recommendation could get them far.”

“Understood, sir. I don’t have siblings, but these three are as good as brothers to me. Any help I can give them, to put them in an environment that won’t kill them for being themselves, I’m going to take it.”

“I admire that. Though, I’m surprised the bodyguard can’t find his way. Even if they hate him because he’s queer, it’s a much-needed, highly desirable skill.”

I try hard not to scowl. “They’re judgmental pricks and refuse to give Dima a fair chance, but I’d trust very few people to watch my back, and as the Pakhan’s nephew, I’ve had my share of bodyguards over the years, so I want to say I have some knowledge on that subject.”

“Fair enough. As I said, I make no promises, but I won’t say no to bringing in more reputable people, so long as Petrov and I can come to an agreement.”

I nod my understanding, though I don’t think Uncle Ivan will have a problem with it. He knows as well as I do that the road for the trips will be a very short, hard-fought one, should they stay with the Bratva.

I am also distinctly aware that Cristian doesn’t have to say yes, even if Uncle Ivan agrees to allow them to come over. Just because he’s willing to humor me now, doesn’t mean anything. There’s time to change his mind, or he could meet them and decide their special brand of crazy isn’t what he wants in his organization. Not that I believe the latter would happen. After all, he employs Tennant, for fuck’s sake. But, there’s still no guarantees in this life. For them, though, I’m willing to take that risk.

“Come,” Doc says, bringing me from my thoughts. “Let’s go break it to them that if they want to stay with Jude tonight, they have to listen to my rules. It’s late, and I want to get some shitty sleep, wrapped in your arms on the shitty cot.”

I smile at my boy before turning to Cristian and Carter. “Did you want to see Jude?”

Carter shakes his head. “No, mostly we were here in support, but we can wait until morning. If you can ask Tennant to step out for a moment though. Hollis too, if he’s amendable. Otherwise, we’ll speak to him tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Come see me in a few days, Soren,” Cristian says. “We’ll speak more about your friends’ future employment.”

“Yes, Boss.”

I follow Doc back into the office, the whole time fighting the urge to pull out my phone and text the trips with the—hopefully—good news.

Forty-eight hours after saving Jude’s life, James and I drag Doc back home. Doc doesn’t flinch when James climbs into the shower with us, nor does he say anything when I force both him and the bodyguard into bed.

I expected us all to pass out after the long days of very little sleep, but what has to be mere hours after falling into bed, I wake to find Doc and James have changed places in bed, with Doc now sitting against the headboard on the other side, James between us.

“Hey,” I whisper, careful not to wake the other man.

Doc looks up from his book and smiles a little. “Hey, yourself. Go back to sleep, it’s only been three hours or so.”

“What about you? And how’d I end up on the other side of a James sandwich?”

Doc snorts and lifts his book. “He must have moved when I got up to go downstairs. Sorry. I didn’t want to risk waking either of you in order to move him.”

“It’s fine, it’s not weird or anything. But, why aren’t you asleep?”

He shrugs. “I told you I have sleep issues. You’ve only seen how hard it is for me to wake, not the nights where it’s impossible for me to sleep, no matter how tired I am. It’s one of the reasons I read so much. It gives me something to do in the middle of the night when the rest of the world is asleep, and my brain and body aren’t cooperating.”

“Insomnia’s a bitch, huh. I know my cousin and Dima both have it, and they’ve whined enough about it.”

“Yeah, I’ve struggled for a long time, but especially since… Well, when Cristian and Tennant found me, it got worse.”

“Nightmares?”

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