“Sure, she’s really soft.”
Rich ran his hands over the soft fur and smiled a bit, but something about it was off, sad somehow, “She really is.”
“Hey, baby. Are y’all ready?” Rocky’s voice caused both men to jump, not having noticed him in the doorway.
“I am,” Rich answered first as he stepped away from the desk and put his hands in his back pockets.
Aiden wasn’t sure, but he felt like there were things he should maybe be talking to Rich about. He didn’t want to be a bad friend, but he also wasn’t completely sure what Rich needed from him. He’d ask Daddy about it later. Maybe he’d know what Aiden should do.
For now, Aiden rose and grabbed his bag, following the other two men from his office and locking the door behind him.
“Ralf’s okay with y’all?”
“Sure, I’ll meet y’all there,” Rich replied and took off before Aiden could give his own answer. That was okay though, he loved Ralf’s.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rocky
When they reached the diner, Rich was already in a booth in the back of the restaurant, away from any other patrons. Rocky felt his stomach tighten. Something was up, and he wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing. He did know he was glad he’d insisted on being here. They’d just started their campaign to trap the traitor, but he wasn’t taking chances no matter how unlikely it was that Aiden would be in danger yet.
He kept his hand at the small of Aiden’s back as they wove through the dining room. Ralf called out from the window that allowed him to see out from the kitchen, quickly waving at the couple before turning back to flip something on the grill.
Rocky smiled to himself wondering if Ralf knew, judging by the wide shit-eating grin and the wink he’d given them before he’d gotten busy with the food again, Rocky would guess the answer was yes. This was a small town so it wouldn’t surprise him if the entire town was aware of the shift in his and Aiden’s relationship by dinner. Or, more likely, the end of the dinner rush. Ralf wasn’t exactly known for his tendency to keep quiet. He’d opened a small-town diner for a reason, after all.
Rocky helped Aiden slide into the booth across from Rich and slid in next to him, before picking up a menu he didn’t need in a bid to give the two friends a moment.
“What can I get y’all to drink?” Suzy, a long time waitress at the diner asked before he’d even had a chance to glance at the menu.
“I’ll have an unsweet tea with lemon.” Suzy didn’t even bother pulling the pad from her apron, everyone knew she didn’t need it. Suzy was a lovely woman in her mid-thirties who had a mind like a steel trap. Locals often joked that she’d remember what they ordered a decade ago if she’d been asked. They were probably right.
“I’ll have a coke.”
“...a Coke?”
The fact that Suzy finished Aiden’s sentence with him was just more proof that popular beliefs about Suzy were likely truer than people realized.
“I’ll be back with those in just a sec. Can I get you another coffee, hun?” Suzy’s quick question was aimed at Rich, who nodded before she rushed off to fill the drink order.
As soon as she’d gone, Rich looked at Aiden, then Rocky, then cleared his throat. Looking directly at Rocky, he took a breath and said, “I’m glad you came.”
“And why is that?” He couldn’t help his suspicious tone–he was suspicious.
“Well, first I want to say that I thought I was doing the right thing and I’m sorry.”
Well, that didn’t sound ominous or anything. It sure as shit didn’t make him feel any better when he looked down at his hands which were fidgeting with a napkin, ripping it to shreds.
“Sorry for what?” That question came from Aiden and Rocky fucking hated that Rich looked pained and wouldn’t look at Aiden. Something was definitely up and Rocky was believing less with each passing minute that it could be anything good.
“I thought I was helping the club, he had me fully convinced it was for the club, but I don’t think it was and I don’t know what to do.” The more he talked the higher pitched Rich’s voice became and the faster his fingers worked.
Fuck, this sounded like club business. Maybe he should get the other guys here. Before Rocky got the chance to suggest that, however, Rich continued speaking and Rocky’s thoughts went from concern to rage in the blink of an eye.
“He told me you were working against the club,” Rich was finally looking at Aiden, so he couldn’t have missed Aiden’s face going pale, or his rapid breathing. Rocky sure as shit hadn’t missed it and he didn’t give a fuck what else Rich needed to say. Right then he needed to get his boy calmed down.
Rocky held up a finger telling Rich to wait a minute before turning to Aiden and gently gripping his shoulders to turn Aiden to face him. “Look at me, baby. Just at me.” Rocky cupped both of Aiden’s cheeks as he continued speaking, “Good boy. That’s my good boy. I need you to breathe slower for me, baby. Deep breaths or you’re going to pass out.” He took one of Aiden’s hands in his and placed it over his own chest. “Can you do that for me, baby? Big, deep breaths. Breathe with me.”
Rocky took a deep, slow breath, gratified when Aiden followed suit. It took a couple of minutes of talking Aiden through some breathing before he seemed to be fully himself again. Rocky wanted nothing more than to get his boy out of there and be sure he was okay but whatever it was that Rich needed to confess was important.
