Page 43 of Just a Bit Guarded

Will wrapped his arms around him. “I agree that it isn’t a good look, but—”

“He lied to me, Will. I thought I had at least Zain—I thought there was at least someone in my family I could trust, but—” Gadiel choked on a sob, burying his face harder against Will’s chest, as if trying to crawl inside it. It was heartbreaking. Will hugged him tighter.

The elevator door opened again, and Zain stepped into the penthouse.He stopped, staring at them with his dark, piercing eyes.

Will went still, suddenly aware of how strange they must have looked to him. It wasn’t every day one found one’s younger sibling in his bodyguard’s arms.

But he refused to drop his arms quickly. On this occasion, he had nothing to feel guilty about.

“Gadiel,” Will said, meeting Zain’s gaze over the top of Gadiel’s head. “Your brother is here.”

Gadiel tensed up. “Tell him to go away,” he said into Will’s chest. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

“Stop with the hysterics and listen to me, Gadiel.” Zain glanced at Will. “Leave us.”

Will didn’t move. He didn’t care for the man’s bossy tone. This man was clearly so used to instant obedience that he didn’t even bother being polite.

“Don’t go,” Gadiel said, grabbing Will’s shirt. “Please. I don’t want to talk to him.”

Will murmured into his ear, “I won’t leave if you don’t want me to. But I think you should talk to him, love.”

Gadiel shivered, squirming closer to him, and Will realized belatedly that it was a reaction to the endearment—the endearment he hadn’t meant to use. Fuck.

Looking up, he saw that Zain was studying them with narrowed eyes.

“Need I remind you that I’m the one paying your salary?” Zain said, his voice deceptively mild.

Will held his gaze steadily. “You’re paying me to keep Gadiel safe. He doesn’t seem to feel safe alone with you.”

Zain’s lips thinned. “I would never hurt him.”

“You already did,” Gadiel said, turning around and glaring at his brother. “You hurt me every time you stayed silent and pretended to be a straight man when I needed someone who would understand me!”

“Iama straight man.”

Gadiel laughed sharply. “Are you for real? I found you in bed with the sex slave you allegedly bought for me!”

Will frowned. What?

Glancing at him, Zain said something sharply in Arabic.

“No, I will speak English! Because I have nothing to hide! I’m not a lying hypocrite like you!” Gadiel scoffed. “Straight! Ha!”

Zain’s expression became pinched. “I’m not lying. I don’t consider myself gay. Aiden is the exception.”

“Right,” Gadiel said, snorting. “Why would he be the exception?”

Zain’s expression became even more sour and uncomfortable. He said nothing, his jaw locked tight.

Gadiel looked at him for a moment before laughing. “Wait a minute... Did my heartless, unfeeling brother actually catch feelings?”

“You’re hilarious,” Zain ground out. “That’s enough, Gadiel. I’m done tolerating—” His phone went off. Zain answered it with an air of impatience, but whatever the caller said made him freeze—and then go pale. He said something in Arabic and all but ran out of the penthouse, barking something over his shoulder.

“What did he say?” Will said. “What happened?”

Gadiel met his gaze, his eyes full of confusion and concern. “I’m not sure. He mentioned something about an attack and shooting. Zain told me not to go outside.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “This day is getting better and better.”

“Shooting?” Will said, frowning. He checked his gun and made sure it was loaded before holstering it again.

---