With address in hand, they were on the road. Austen could barely breathe. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Rain was in his car. They were together. Technically, Rain was his patient, but still. They were alone. Horror washed through him each time he recalled that Rain knew he had been to every performance. He looked like a stalker. Rain didn’t seem upset, though. Damn. They were really together. Even the silence between them was nice.
“So, you’re friends with Kylo.”
A laugh burst from Austen. “Sorry. It seems so strange. Before tonight, we met that one time when I was with Kylo and said less than a handful of words to each other. Yet I’m just sittinghere in silence, like you’ve known me forever. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Yes, I’m friends with Kylo. I’m also his doctor, which came first. That’s probably not ethical, but I work for myself, so whatever.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. It’s odd to have such a personal relationship with a doctor yet be divided by ethics. Also, I’m not uncomfortable. It’s impossible to rattle me. I’ve spent my entire life under the harshest of scrutiny on stage. Kylo tells me you saved his life.”
Austen supposed that was true. Kylo had been stabbed during a mugging outside a grocery store. His now husband, Beau, had called Austen. Since Beau was the biggest weapons dealer on the west coast and a major source of income for Austen, Austen had immediately dropped everything. Still… “I’m fairly certain, if I hadn’t helped, Kylo would’ve just hiked up his shirt and stitched himself closed.” Austen couldn’t help the humor in his voice. “He’s easily the strongest and most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”
“You like him.”
The comment confused Austen. He had just said they were friends. “Of course, he’s my friend.”
“No.” The denial was quiet—like Rain studied him and assured himself of whatever answer he had found. “You like him in a sexual way.”
Austen nearly steered off the road in his surprise.
Rain didn’t stop there. “That’s to be expected, honestly. Not only is he extremely beautiful, as you said, he’s strong. But he’s also gentle and a nice place to land in a cold world.”
As Austen listened to the variance in Rain’s voice, the truth struck him. It was a bit devastating. “You love him.”
A soft chuckle rumbled from the passenger seat. “I do. We’ve spent many nights together, working and talking. He’s quite amazing in countless ways. But I don’t think I love him in the way you meant. He is family to me. I learned quickly over the years to appreciate the people who make me a part of their lives like I’m just as good as blood. He’s always cared for me. I’d kill for him.” A soft chuckle followed the words, and a chill ran down Austen’s spine. He wondered how fucked up in the head he was. The night he had gone with Kylo to see Rain, Kylo had gone there for exactly that reason. He had asked Rain to kill someone. Austen hadn’t been horrified then, and he wasn’t now. Maybe he was desensitized after all these years of stitching up criminals. Whatever the reason, not only was he completely unbothered, he found it hot that such a perfect porcelain doll was also what Kylo described as the world’s deadliest assassin. He didn’t know how safe he was with that info.
Austen chose to be open about himself and hope that helped ease the way to freely speaking in the future. “As to your accusation, when I first met Kylo, yes. He impressed the hell out of me with everything about himself, and I wanted more. Then he fell for Beau, and I lost my chance. That’s how my life goes, though. My job is so busy, it wrecks everything. Like seeing your performance,” he added with a laugh. “I’ve been called away every single time I try to see it.” Austen started to add hesupposed with Rain hurt, he wouldn’t get to see it now. Another thought hit, redirecting him. He had been so thrilled to have Rain with him, he had pushed aside the reason he was there. “Are you in pain? I should’ve asked that first. We can swing by my place and go ahead and get those X-rays. While there, I can get you some pain meds.”
Rain didn’t respond right away. Finally, he sighed. “As much as I’d love to say yes and keep you for myself longer, I don’t like the idea of pain medicine. It could make me slow and I—” Rain stopped dead, as if almost saying too much. He started again. “I don’t take medicine like that unless absolutely necessary.”
It could get him killed. That was what Rain couldn’t say, and Austen got it. He spent his days around dangerous people. In fact, he worried that was exactly why his home had been broken into. He, too, spent his time with criminals. Austen was way more concerned about it than he cared to admit. In fact, he seriously considered taking the matter to Kylo’s husband. He knew Beau would know how to handle this.
“I’ve made you quiet. It wasn’t an insult against your profession. I know you’re only hoping to help.”
Austen flashed a smile Rain’s way. “No. It’s not you. I’m just tired, I suppose.” Thankfully, Rain’s house came into view, saving him from saying anything else. In fact, his entire brain wiped. The place was massive. He supposed murder paid well. The dwelling was only about half the size of Beau Bosi’s residence. Once again, proving crime paid, Beau’s place was a compound, spreading out over acres. He couldn’t say that about Rain’s house. It looked like a home. Still, a nervous laughescaped him at the luxury of it. “Your skills are showing. This is a beautiful place.”
Musical laughter caressed his ears. “Don’t be too impressed. I don’t live alone. When I moved to this country, my brothers came with me. We share a home.”
Austen nodded. He didn’t feel better. The house was still enormous. Unless Rain had twenty brothers, it seemed excessive.
Rain pointed toward an almost hidden secondary driveway next to the five-car garage. “Follow that. It will end near a back way inside. We can avoid the family. They can be overwhelming.”
At least there was that. He didn’t relish meeting any overprotective brothers. No matter how deadly Rain might be, he was also delicate-looking. No doubt his family watched over him like pit bulls. Austen parked where told before he had Rain in his arms again. He knew he could have helped him limp, but Rain was tiny, and Austen wanted to hold him.
Austen stood at the back door while Rain used his thumbprint to unlock the door. After Rain pushed the door open, Austen carried him inside and kicked the door closed behind him.
Rain pointed at a staircase that looked like one used for employees, so they weren’t seen. “I’m upstairs. If you want, I can hop.”
A wicked-sounding chuckle slipped from Austen before he could stop it. He headed up the stairs. “I’ve got you.” Austen felt Rain’s stare, but he kept his gaze focused ahead. He couldn’t see Rain’s reaction to that laugh. It had sounded like all the naughty things Austen wanted to do to Rain. He had to reel it back in.
At the top of the steps, Rain pointed left and then right when he reached a bedroom. It was oddly… lacking in comfort. Austen didn’t know how to explain the empty plainness. Everything was very monochromatic. Austen carried him to the bed and reluctantly got him settled.
“Tell me what else you need before…” Austen’s gaze locked on the chair near the bed. A familiar black jacket and an electronic mask stared back at him. For a second, he spaced out. He focused on Rain.
Rain chewed the side of his nail, looking nervous. That said everything Austen needed to know.
The air left Austen’s lungs. Rain killed people. He had been in Austen’s house. Austen would wonder if this was a ruse, but the injury was real. Still, Rain could have used the injury to lure Austen into a trap.
“I just wanted to see you,” Rain said, finally breaking the silence.
“You just wanted…” The rage hit without warning. Why couldn’t he just meet someone nice? “Why didn’t you ring the doorbell? I swear to God. All men are the same. Did it ever occur to you to try not manipulating me? I would’ve been fucking thrilled tosee you. Is this all a ploy?” Austen swiped his hand through the air. He was beyond upset. “Don’t answer that. It doesn’t matter.” Austen headed for the door. He was done. Rain had left him fearing for his life. He knew Rain didn’t understand. Austen lived in a precarious place. He always expected exactly what happened and Rain had only wanted to see him? Fuck. He had spent the whole day feeling sick.
