Page 10 of Specter
Duke snorted at Silas’ quick and confident claim.
Silas’ expression didn’t even twitch. “You are William Duke Wayne Jr., a thirty-five-year-old ranch owner. Your father, the original Duke, was a professional race car driver who died in a crash on the track when you were twenty, leaving you everything. You were the byproduct of a one-night stand, and your biological mother, Alicia Stevens, was happy to give up her parental rights for the right price. Everything you have is not—in fact—tied up in your ranch, but rather mostly in bonds. You have the means to care for Noah, and you will. Of that, I have no doubt.”
Duke shook his head. “That’s all likely public record and any half-assed detective could dig that up, but that’s not me. That’s just facts. You don’t knowme.”
Silas sighed. He settled deeper into his chair and ran his fingertips across his lips for a moment, as if thinking things over before speaking. “Fine. Two years ago, you found Noah playing with toys in your hayloft and immediately took him under your wing. You started teaching him how to move away from being a Little to becoming a Middle, because something inside you recognized that’s where he would be happiest. Probably because you found him playing with race cars rather than sucking his thumb and coloring. Nonetheless, you knew exactly how to care for him, and Noah responded. He fell in love with you first, I imagine. Probably because something in your gut said things weren’t right in his home. You likely feared him seeing you in the same light as he did Ted. But in the end, he’s a grown man, and you couldn’t resist him. Now, I’m guessing you’ve spent the last year in absolute agony, unable to find him. How am I doing so far?”
Duke wouldn’t lie. “It’s uncanny, really. However, I am surprised you didn’t bring up the fact that I recognized Noah as a Little immediately because of my membership at a fetish club.”
Silas shook his head. “That part is immaterial, so I didn’t bother bringing it up. But now that you have, that’s how I know you’d be a great addition here. The party I held last night is a regular event here. I’m always grateful for more hands. Plus, Noah is doing well in therapy here. I’m not sure he can get the same treatment in Nowhere, Montana.”
Duke’s stomach muscles clenched. “He’s in therapy?”
Silas nodded. “It’s a requirement for anyone I take in. Finding love doesn’t heal people. Healed people find love.”
“Good.” Duke was more grateful than he could articulate.
“Have you started therapy?”
Duke blinked. “Why?”
Silas’ eyebrows rose. “You were shot. You lost a leg and murdered a man. That sounds traumatic to me.”
“I killed a man who needed killing.”
Silas’ gaze moved over Duke’s face for a moment. “Still.”
Duke blew out a sigh. “I’ll consider everything you’ve said. As to staying here, I’d like to leave that up to Noah. He should be the one to choose.”
“Fair enough.” Silas stood. “We should head upstairs. You need to get back to Noah and I have a cuddly teddy bear to collect.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Noah tells me Benji is your husband. How long have you two been married?”
Silas led Duke into the hall before answering, “Just over eight years.”
Duke nodded as they headed for the elevator. With no one staring at him, Duke spoke without thinking. “You have no idea how much I resent this past year. I lost an entire year with the other half of my heart. Whatever Noah decides, that’s what we’ll do. Being without him isn’t an option for me.”
Silas flashed him a surprisingly understanding smile. “Actually, I know exactly what it’s like to think I’ve lost the other half of my heart. It’s one of the many reasons I do what I do. Someone has to keep an eye out for this community. Someone has to push people to pick up the pieces of their life.” He called for the elevator and then met Duke’s stare. “I could use some help. Someone solid and steady.”
Duke got it. He really did. Dealing with wild horses was the same. It took a steady yet firm hand. That was something Duke possessed. Still… “As I said, it’s up to Noah.”
The elevator door opened, and Silas stepped inside. “I’d be a little more accepting of that answer if you hadn’t smashed a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar sculpture against one of my custom-built cages.”
Duke’s eyes tried popping from his head. “You’re joking. That stone thing cost that much?”
The elevator headed up and Silas snorted. “Yeah, I’m joking. It’s worth half a mil, but I know the artist. He’ll fix it.”
Duke felt sick. He couldn’t believe he had smashed something that expensive. To be fair, loving Noah had made him half crazy. Their life had been one hell of a ride. But he wouldn’t choose anyone else for an ounce of peace. This was love.
The bed shifted and Noah’s eyes shot open. Light trickled through the window. He had obviously forgotten to pull the blackout shades before falling asleep. A weight across his stomach had him rolling to his side in a flash. It hadn’t been a dream. Duke slept cuddled against his side. Tears filled his eyes. There had been times when he thought he might have gone a little crazy. The possibility of it all being in his head was a real thing. But Duke was really there, and Noah’s heart could barely hold in his swelling emotions.
He buried his face against the crook of Duke’s neck and inhaled. That smell. Leather, man, and soap. He had missed it more than anyone could understand. Noah didn’t know how he had survived a year without it.
“Mhmm.” Duke grabbed his ass and hauled him closer. “My teddy bear.”
Noah smiled so hard, it hurt his face. Duke had played this same game with him a hundred times, pretending to be asleep while obnoxiously cuddling him.
Duke squashed him to the bed while pretending to burrow deeper into Noah’s body, as if he was a squishy stuffed animal. “Mine. So cuddly.”
