Collin's Awakening

Phoenix Rising 1

Collin’s Awakening Riojos and Collin were lovers, partners, and best friends. When Collin is killed in a senseless car accident, Riojos is sent into a drunken stupor. Unable to live without the love he shared with Collin, he’s ready to take his own life. Their lives change forever when Collin comes home…from the morgue. Collin has always heard a low buzzing in his head, but when the buzzing turns to voices, Collin must make sense of the path his life has taken. Coming back to life throws him into a world he never knew existed as his lover, Riojos, tries desperately to keep Collin alive. The two fight to make sense of Collin's rebirth and the people out to kill Collin again. They discover the love they have for one another runs deeper than anything they could have ever imagined as the wicked hunt them down and a phoenix rises. Genre: Alternative, (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 37,440 words

COLLIN’S AWAKENING Phoenix Rising 1

Lynn Hagen and Stormy Glenn

EROTIC ROMANCE MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove COLLIN’S AWAKENING Copyright © 2011 by Lynn Hagen and Stormy Glenn E-book ISBN: 1-61034-988-1 First E-book Publication: December 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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COLLIN’S AWAKENING Phoenix Rising 1 LYNN HAGEN AND STORMY GLENN Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 Gasp! Collin Phoenix’s eyes fluttered as pain rolled through him like a tidal wave. Bright fluorescent lights glared down at him from the ceiling above. Collin shielded his eyes with his hand as he blinked several times, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the blaring light. Once he could see without his eyes throbbing, Collin dropped his hand and glanced around. He was lying down on something hard and cold. He knew that at least. The second thing he knew was that the room he was in was fucking freezing ass cold. Collin turned his head to try and surmise where he was currently at when he saw a small piece of yellow paper sticking out of the edge of the next table over. He gasped again and jackknifed up from the table, the sheet falling away as he looked around the room. That stupid piece of paper was attached to a toe. He was in the morgue! Collin started to hyperventilate. He pressed his hand against his chest and tried to breathe normally. He could feel his heartbeat rapidly beating. He knew he wasn’t dead. He had a freaking heartbeat!

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Why was he in a morgue, though? What happened? Where was Riojos? Was he here, too, under another one of these white sheets? And why was everything fucking white? The walls, the floors, the ceiling, the sheets? Everything was fucking white! Now Collin knew why he was so damn cold. He just didn’t know why he was there. And what baffled him even further was the fact that he was lying on one of the exam tables. There were two other tables, and people who were completely nude, not even a sheet to cover them, occupied both. One had a bluish tint to his body. He had to be dead. Collin gulped and began to shake as he looked down when he felt something pinching at the circulation in his toe. Oh god. He had a toe tag on as well. He wanted to scream, but he couldn’t seem to find his voice. He wasn’t dead! Collin’s fingers trembled as he quickly pulled his foot up and yanked the damn tag off and then threw his legs over the side of the table, letting them dangle as he tried his hardest to remember how he had gotten here. He remembered leaving the restaurant with Riojos, but it kind of went fuzzy after that. Riojos! Collin jumped down off of the metal table, his knees nearly giving out as he grabbed the edge of the table for stability. His fingers curled around the cold metal as Collin waited out the lightheadedness. How long had he been lying there? As the dizziness subsided, Collin noticed one crucial thing. He was naked. Feeling the panic setting in, he looked around, trying to find something to cover his nudity so he could get the hell out of there. The only thing at his disposal was the sheet that had been covering him. Collin yanked it off of the floor and wrapped it around his body like a toga. He pushed the hair from his eyes, and then he walked toward the door. He wasn’t sure why he was here, but there was no way he was

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sticking around for his own damned autopsy. He was going to run hard and run fast, right out the first exit he saw. Collin heard voices coming from the hallway. His head snapped around as he looked for a place to hide. No matter how he had gotten there, he was very sure that anyone seeing him walking around would freak out. Hell, he was freaking out. As the voices drew near, Collin knew he had to find somewhere to hide. He spotted a door across the room, so he ran to it, snatching it open to find a utility closet. Collin quickly closed the door behind him just as he heard the voices come into the room. “Where’s the other cadaver?” someone asked, sounding totally baffled. “I swear I pulled him out of the freezer just a minute ago.” “Then where the hell is he?” another nearly shouted. Collin held his breath, praying they didn’t check the closet he was hiding in. Somehow he didn’t think Hi, I’ve come back from the dead so I’m just going to get going would suffice. Even to him it sounded insane. “Well, it didn’t just get up and walk away. We need to go see who took it.” Collin counted to ten before turning the doorknob and peeking out. When he saw no one, he hurried back across the room and through another doorway. It led to an outer hallway. He wasn’t sure which way to go, so he chose left. He darted around a few corners and down several hallways, praying he didn’t run into anyone. He saw the exit sign hanging from the ceiling after two more turns. Thank god. Collin ran for it, slamming his hands into the push bar as he shot out of the building and into a fucking cold ass night. He immediately started shivering but got as far away from the morgue as possible. Soon though, his toes began to freeze. If he didn’t get warm soon, he was going to end up back in the morgue. A blessing in disguise or just plain dumb luck, Collin spotted a homeless shelter several blocks from the morgue. He hurried to the

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door, numbness setting into his very bones. He reached out and pulled the door open, quickly stepping inside. “Oh my,” a man said from behind a desk that had seen better days. “What on earth are you doing out in a sheet on a day like this? It has to be freezing outside. Come in.” The man blustered about as he waved Collin in. “Let’s find you something warm to wear and get a hot meal in you.” “T–Thanks,” Collin tried to say but his teeth were chattering so badly that they began to hurt. The man hurried down a hallway, waving for Collin to follow. Collin trailed behind the man as quickly as his frozen body would take him. He stepped into a room with a few other men, all stopping what they were doing to stare at the man in a damn sheet. “Here you go,” the front deskman said as he held up some clothes. “It’s not a perfect fit, but it’ll keep you warmer than that sheet.” Collin’s fingers began to burn as the feeling started coming back into them. He raised his arm, reaching for the clothes being offered. He didn’t care if they fit or not. He was freezing his ass off. “Go in there and change into them.” The front deskman pointed to a door. Collin could only manage a nod as he scuttled across the room and into a bathroom. He let the sheet fall from his body as he shoved his legs into the denim. Next he yanked the turtleneck over his head, feeling the warmth of the fabric already. The thick wool socks were the best though. They warmed his frozen toes right up. Once dressed from head to socked feet, Collin picked the sheet up and walked out into the other room. The other men in the room stared at him curiously as he handed the sheet to the front deskman. “Thank you.” “You can thank me after we get a hot bowl of soup into your belly.”

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Collin smiled weakly at the stranger. He appreciated everything the man was doing for him, but Collin desperately needed to find Riojos. His partner would be worried sick about him. “Do you have a phone I could use?” The man grinned. “I do. You can use the one on my desk while I get that soup for you.” Collin watched the man walked through a door at the other end of the room. He wasn’t sure what he should do, so he went back the way he had come, locating the front desk. Collin picked the phone up and dialed his lover. He chewed on his thumbnail as he waited for Riojos to pick up. “Hello?” Collin was shocked to hear such sadness in Riojos’s voice. They had been together for three years, and he never remembered hearing anything close to the pain his partner was now speaking in. “Riojos, it’s me, Collin.” The silence stretched out for what felt like forever before Collin heard Riojos clear his throat. “I don’t know who this is, but it’s a very sick game you’re playing. Collin died three days ago. If you have any humanity in you, don’t ever call me again.” Collin pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it openmouthed when Riojos hung up on him. Died three days ago? Collin set the receiver down as he stared off into space. What the hell was going on here? What was Riojos talking about? Collin sat in the chair behind the desk as he wondered what he was going to do. He remembered the damn restaurant, but…oh hell! He sat there feeling like he was going to vomit. The car! Collin and Riojos were exiting their favorite restaurant, La Bella’s, when a car lost control and jumped the curb. Collin pushed Riojos out of the way and…oh god, oh god, oh god. That car had crushed Collin into the brick of the restaurant’s exterior wall.

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He remembered it hitting him, pinning him between the front hood and the brick wall. He had died within a minute of impact. Collin glanced down his body, pulling the sweater up and examining his torso. Not one single bruise, cut, or scrape was on his body. How? How had he survived? He hadn’t. He knew that. There was no way he could have survived an impact like that. Collin bent at the waist, grabbing the trash can and vomiting. He began to tremble so badly that he fell from the chair, falling hard onto his ass. There was no way he had survived. But he was alive. “Are you okay?” the deskman asked. “I have some hot soup for you.” He sat the steaming bowl on his desk. “Come, eat.” Eating was the last thing on his mind. He needed to see Riojos. Now he knew why Riojos had just freaked out on the phone. A dead man was calling him. Collin had to get to Riojos and explain everything…assuming he could figure it out on his own. He just needed Riojos. Collin scarfed down the soup, not wanting to appear rude to the man who had been so nice to him, but he needed to get going. He needed to get to Riojos and… Collin frowned. “Where am I?” “Earth.” The man smiled and held up his hand, parting his fingers. “We come in peace.” Despite the situation, Collin found himself chuckling. “No, I mean, what part of the city am I in?” “You don’t know?” The man’s dark eyebrows drew together as he frowned. “What do you remember, son?” Collin shrugged and glanced away. He wasn’t about to tell this guy he had woken up in the morgue. He wasn’t stupid. The guy might be used to dealing with strange people, but even that was too strange. “Do you know your name?” the man asked as he sat down in the chair next to Collin.

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“Uh, Collin.” The man smiled. “Hello, Collin, I’m Rutledge.” Collin raised his hand and gave the man a small wave. “You’re in a homeless shelter, Collin, in downtown Portland, Oregon.” Collin let out a relieved breath and slumped back in his chair. “Then I’m still home.” “Do you know how you got here?” Collin shook his head again. He so wasn’t going there. “Do you have someplace to go, Collin?” Rutledge asked then waved his hand behind him. “If not, we have plenty of bed space here. We’re not full up yet, so you came at a good time. We’ll be to capacity in the next few hours.” “No, no, I have a home to go to.” I think. Collin wasn’t sure he had a home to go to after speaking with Riojos. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe Riojos would never let him back into their little apartment again. Maybe… “I need to go!” Collin said as he jumped to his feet. “I need to get home and see if everyone is okay.” “Do you need bus fare, Collin?” Collin swallowed as he felt his face flush. He nodded solemnly. “Yes, please,” he whispered. He didn’t have any money. He didn’t even have ID. He had nothing but the clothes on his back, and those had been given to him. If Riojos didn’t let him come home, he had nothing. “Let’s get you some shoes and bus fare then get you on your way.” Rutledge got up and waved Collin down the hallway to another room. Collin’s mouth dropped open when he stepped inside. It was full of boxes of clothes, shoes, jackets, blankets, and other items that could be used by people that didn’t have anything.

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“You’re going to need a jacket if you plan on going out in the cold,” Rutledge said as he grabbed a couple off the rack. “Try these on and see which one fits better. I think the blue one is a closer fit.” Collin sighed when he pulled on the heavy down jacket. He might have been inside a building, and dressed thank god, but he was still cold. After waking up in the morgue, he was starting to wonder if he would ever be warm again. “Guess that one fits.” Rutledge chuckled then turned to a large cardboard box. “Okay, what size shoe do you wear?” Collin felt his face flame as he glanced down at his tiny feet. He hated his feet. They were small and delicate and would be perfect for a woman. Hell, they looked great with nail polish. He knew. His cousins used to torture him by painting his nails when he was asleep. “Collin?” “Size six,” Collin whispered. “Really?” Collin hung his head as he nodded it up and down. “Okay, maybe we need to look over in this box then.” Rutledge moved across the room to another box labeled boots. He popped the lid and started searching through it. After a moment, he pulled out a pair of the ugliest fake fur-lined boots Collin had ever seen. But they were better than going barefoot. “Sorry, I think these are women’s.” “I’ll take them.” He’d done it before. Sometimes it was impossible to find men’s shoes in his size. Apparently, every shoe factory in the world thought you had to have giant feet if you were a man. Collin sat down on the floor and pulled the shoes on. Damn! A perfect fit. He sighed again and climbed to his feet, raising his eyes to look at his savior. “Thank you.” “It’s no problem, Collin. We’re always here to help.” Rutledge held out a bus ticket and a business card. “This should get you

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wherever you are going. And here’s my number. If you need anything, just give me a call.” “I’ll pay this back, I swear,” Collin said quickly as he took the items from the man. “I have a job and—” “Collin, it’s okay. This is what we’re here for.” “But I’m not homeless,” Collin protested. “I just—” Collin slammed his mouth closed when he realized what he had been about to say. “Collin, is someone hurting you?” Collin’s head snapped up, his eyes widening at the question. He cringed under the speculative stare Rutledge was giving him. “We can get you to a safe place if you’re in danger.” “No, no, no one is hurting me,” Collin said quickly. “I just—” Wow, how to explain this? “Something happened and I got lost, I think.” “I think we all get lost once or twice, Collin,” Rutledge said. Collin could hear how careful the man was being with his words in the tone he used. He probably thought Collin was nuts. “If you need help finding your way, just give me a call. Maybe I can help.” Collin nodded. “Thank you.” “Can you get to the bus stop by yourself, or would you like someone to walk you down there? It can be pretty scary this time of night.” “No, I’ll be fine. I’ve ridden the bus before.” Rutledge nodded. “This is a safe place, Collin. If you need it, you can come here.” Collin grimaced. He knew Rutledge thought he was being abused. He’d heard this type of speech before, just never aimed in his direction. Hell, he’d said it to a few of his friends once or twice when they got themselves into a fix. “I’m fine, I promise. No one is hurting me.” Rutledge’s eyebrows drew together again. “Even if no one is hurting you, this is still a safe place to go if you need to get away and

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just think. Sometimes that’s what we all need, a place to just think for a while.” Collin was a pretty good judge of character. Rutledge was a good man and trying very hard to make Collin safe. He appreciated it, but he also felt a little funny about it. He’d been taking care of himself for a lot of years. He didn’t need someone to do it for him. “I really need to go.” “Okay, just remember—” “This is a safe place,” Collin finished for him. Rutledge smiled. “Yes, it is.” “I’ll remember.” Collin shoved the bus ticket and the business card into his pocket then zipped up the jacket. He already knew it was cold outside. As cold as he was, he knew a few degrees colder and he might not make it home to Riojos. He waved to Rutledge then pushed open the door of the shelter. The freezing cold wind blowing in from the river hit him instantly. Collin shivered and pulled the edges of the coat up more closely around his ears and neck then trudged out into the dark, bleak winter night. He was going to get home to his love if it killed him. Oh wait…been there, done that. He was still going to get home.

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Chapter 2 Riojos tipped a bottle of rotgut whiskey against his lips and took another gulp. He grimaced as it burned down his throat. Unfortunately, it was all he had left to drink. He’d already gone through the good stuff. Now he was stuck with whatever was left in the liquor cabinet. How he ended up having this crap in his liquor cabinet, he’d never know. But he was glad it was there. He had every intention of getting rip-roaring drunk. Riojos frowned. No, he had every intention of staying rip-roaring drunk. He had started drinking three days ago when his baby, the love of his life, died right before his eyes. He hadn’t been sober since. He didn’t ever want to be sober again. Riojos let out a little sob as he looked down at the picture in his hand. He’d been cradling it to his chest all night. His baby, his beautiful, sweet Collin who never said a bad word about anyone, would give anyone the shirt off his back, and made four walls and a roof into a loving home. He was gone. Riojos would never see him again, never touch his face or brush back his beautiful dark auburn hair from his cheek. He’d never see those bright violet eyes stare up at him in wonder as Riojos loved on the man. He’d never—Riojos let out another sob as he threw the bottle of rotgut whiskey across the room. It wasn’t fair. Collin was everything to him, and now he was gone. It should have been him. If Collin hadn’t pushed him out of the way when that stupid fucking car came shooting at them, it would have been him.

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He’d killed his beautiful baby. He was the strong one, the more powerful one. He was supposed to protect Collin. He always knew that. Collin didn’t have it in him to hurt a fly. He was too sweet. He cared about every life-form, great and small. Hell, he wouldn’t even kill a spider. He preferred taking them outside and letting them go in the grass so they could make new homes instead of squishing them under his shoe. Riojos would have just squished them and he knew it. Collin was by far the better man. He should have lived, not Riojos. Riojos wrapped his arms around his chest. It ached, like his heart had literally been ripped right out. He knew it would never heal. The man that made it beat was gone forever. He didn’t care what their friends said. He would never recover from this. He knew that. The anguish of losing Collin was just too great. Riojos grabbed another bottle off the floor next to him. He had two left, and then he would be out. Maybe if he stopped throwing them against the wall he’d have more to drown his sorrows in. He unscrewed the top and tossed it aside. Tilting the bottle up, he took a deep swig. He set the bottle on the table and reached for his gun. His friends had taken his service revolver when he’d started drinking. They didn’t know about his backup. He hadn’t pulled it out of the closet until after he made everyone leave. They’d just try and stop him. Riojos checked to make sure the gun was loaded then set it on the table again. He took another swig of alcohol then reached for the picture he hadn’t been able to let out of his sight since he got home after the accident. It was a picture of the two of them taken right after they admitted they wanted to be together for the rest of their lives. Collin looked so happy in the picture, his head thrown back as he laughed and looked up at Riojos with nothing but pure love in his eyes.

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Riojos hadn’t believed in true love or soul mates or love at first sight. He’d even teased Collin about his belief in them. It shouldn’t have taken losing Collin to make him see the light. He should have known before his lover died, and told him. Fuck! He had never even told Collin he loved him. He’d always thought it was unmanly to be emotional. He felt like it made him too girly. Now, he’d never get the chance to tell Collin the truth. Collin was his soul, his life, his very heartbeat. Riojos growled when he suddenly heard someone frantically pounding on the front door. He didn’t want to be interrupted. He wanted everyone to go away and leave him to his grief. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. Riojos ignored the pounding as long as he could. When it didn’t stop, he climbed to his feet and stumbled toward the door. Whoever was there was going to get an earful from him. He stumbled into the wall, righted himself, and then tried once more to reach the door. “How—” Riojos shook his head. That wasn’t right. “Who the fuck is it?” Like he really cared. No one knew how deep his pain was. No one knew that Riojos had died the day Collin did. His body just hadn’t caught on yet. It would, just as soon as he got rid of the invader to his mourning. The pounding continued as Riojos weaved his way down the small hallway. He stopped at a shelf that held Collin’s favorite books. Riojos ran his fingers across the spines as he recalled Collin sitting curled up on the sofa reading on lazy Sunday afternoons. A sob broke from his chest as tears slid down his face. What he wouldn’t give to have his baby back. Why hadn’t it been him instead? It should have been him, damn it! He’d gladly trade places with Collin. Riojos was brought out of his morbid thoughts when the pounding began again. His fingers gripped the neck of the whiskey bottle tighter as he turned toward the door, wishing it were Collin on the other side.

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He laid a hand on the wall to steady himself as he took a long swallow from the bottle before attempting to answer the door. Riojos pushed away from the wall and grabbed for the handle, missing it. He lifted his hand up and stared at it. He remembered holding Collin’s hand in his as he—Riojos roared and threw the bottle against the bookshelf. He wanted his Collin back. He dropped to his knees, the tears freely flowing down his cheeks as he sobbed loudly. “Collin. My sweet baby,” Riojos whispered. “Please come back to me. I can’t do this without you.” “Riojos!” Riojos fell on his ass at the sound of an all-too-familiar voice. He shook his head, trying to clear it of a voice he would never hear again. It had to be his inebriated state that was conjuring up that magical sound. “Riojos, open up.” Riojos got to his hands and knees, crawling toward the angel banging on his door. He wiped the tears from his eyes as he unlocked the door and then moved back. He held his breath as the handle slowly turned, the door squeaking as it opened. “Oh god!” Riojos covered his face as the vision of Collin’s sweet body stood on the other side of the threshold. It couldn’t be. There was no way. “Riojos,” his reason for living said close to him. Riojos dared a peek, seeing Collin kneeling next to him. “Riojos, love, have you been drinking?” “Get out!” Riojos shouted as he crab-crawled backward as fast as his body would carry him until his back hit the sofa. His heart thundered in his chest, part fear, part joy. “You’re not real!” Collin, or whoever it really was, just knelt there and began to cry. It tore Riojos’s heart in two to see Collin crying. No! He shook his head quickly. No, that wasn’t Collin. His baby was dead. No matter

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how badly Riojos wanted his sunshine back, he wouldn’t settle for figments of his imagination. “Please,” Collin cried. “I need you.” “You’re dead,” Riojos whispered. “I saw you die. How can you be here?” Collin shook his head as he stared down at his hands. “I don’t know, Rio.” Riojos slapped a hand over his mouth. His eyes widened and the blood drained from his face. Collin only called him Rio when he was making love to his baby. No one knew about that pet name except the two of them. “Collin?” “I swear, it’s really me,” Collin said but made no attempt to move closer. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m alive. I’m not dead.” Riojos started to reach for Collin, then hesitated. He was scared out of his mind. Terrified would be a better word. The man he loved with every beat of his heart, who had died right before his very eyes, was kneeling in their living room. Wasn’t he? “I can’t…I—” Riojos’s thoughts scattered to the wind as he stared at Collin in disbelief. “Is it really you?” “It’s me, Rio, I swear.” “How?” He knew he had to be dreaming. There was just no way Collin was alive. “I don’t know,” Collin said as he shrugged. “I woke up and I was in the morgue with a tag on my toe.” Riojos shuddered when he heard Collin say morgue. He knew this was too good to be true. His baby was dead. Tears started streaming down his face again. “I miss you,” he whispered. “Honey, I’m right here.” “You’re not real.” Riojos shook his head. “You’re a ghost, a figment of my imagination.” A soft sob escaped his mouth. “You’re my punishment for letting Collin die.” “Rio,” Collin’s ghost whimpered. “You didn’t kill me. I’m alive.”

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Riojos screamed when Collin’s ghost reached out and grabbed his arm. He pushed away and jumped to his feet then ran back down the hallway to the bedroom. His mind swirled with images of Collin as he grabbed the gun and checked it again to make sure it was loaded. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t go on without Collin, especially not when Collin had come back to haunt him. “Riojos!” Collin shouted from behind him. “What are you doing with that gun?” Riojos swung around and stared at Collin for a moment, memories of their life together quickly playing through his mind. “You look so beautiful, baby,” he whispered then realized what he had said. He pounded his hands against the sides of his head. The cold metal of the gun barrel striking against his temple reminded him what he needed to do. Collin took a tentative step forward, his hand stretched out in front of him. “Riojos, give me the gun.” “I can’t,” Riojos whispered as he slid down to the floor at the end of the bed and leaned back against it. “I need to be with you.” “Give me the gun, and I promise we can be together.” Riojos was mesmerized by the hand slowly reaching out to him. It looked so much like his baby’s hand—right down to the small freckle on Collin’s pinky finger. “Don’t you want to be with me, Rio?” Rio nodded, never taking his eyes off the hand held out in front of him. “Then give me the gun, love,” Collin’s ghost said. “I promise, we can be together always.” “But—” “Have I ever lied to you, Rio?” Collin asked. “Have I ever broken a promise to you?” “No.” “Then give me the gun.”

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Riojos frowned, his dark eyebrows pulling together low over his forehead. He was so confused. His head ached just from trying to figure everything out. He didn’t want to think anymore. He just wanted to curl up with his baby and forget the rest of the world existed outside of these four walls. “You won’t leave me again?” he whispered desperately as he wiped away the tears with the back of his hand. The ache in his chest reminded Riojos of what life was like without Collin. He didn’t want to feel that anymore. He wanted to be happy again with his baby at his side. “Never, I promise.” “You can’t leave me, Collin,” he murmured as he started to hold the gun out to the ghost of his dead lover. He didn’t much care anymore that Collin’s ghost was standing before him. He’d take what he could get. “I won’t, love. Just give me the gun.” Riojos pressed his lips together for a moment then slowly held out the gun to Collin. He watched as Collin quickly grabbed the gun and emptied the bullets out of it before getting up to set it on the dresser. When he came back, Collin dropped back down to his knees and held his arms out. Riojos didn’t even hesitate before throwing himself into Collin’s arms. He was so shocked that Collin was solid that he almost shrank back, but having his lover’s arms wrapped around him felt too damn good to let go. “You died, Collin,” he whispered with a shaky voice. “I watched you die right before my eyes.” “I know, love,” Collin whispered back. “And I’m sorry you had to see that, but I’m here now and I’m never leaving you.” Riojos growled and grabbed Collin by his arms, shaking him. “No, you can never leave me,” he snarled. “Never!” He leaned forward and smashed their lips together, following Collin down to the floor when the man…er…ghost fell backward.

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Riojos didn’t care. He had Collin back in his arms, and he was going to make sure Collin never left him again. Even if his partner was a ghost. All the anger, the pain, the guilt, and the raw mental anguish that had built up in Riojos in the past three days spilled forth as he grabbed Collin’s wrists in his hands and locked them above his lover’s head. “I won’t let you go,” he growled into Collin’s mouth. “Then don’t, Rio,” Collin cried out as Riojos kicked his legs apart with his knees. Whatever trick this was, Riojos was going to show Collin exactly what he meant to him when he was alive. He had another chance with his love. A second chance at something he couldn’t comprehend and Riojos wasn’t going to let it slip through his fingers. If this was his last chance with Collin, his only chance to say good-bye, Riojos wasn’t going to let it pass him by. As much as he was saying he wasn’t letting Collin go, Riojos knew he had no say in the matter. Riojos kissed his way down Collin’s neck as he let his lover’s hands go. He reached between them, unsnapping the jeans covering Collin’s beautiful body. He yanked Collin’s pants free as he continued to lay kisses onto his perfect skin. Riojos growled as images of the accident plagued him. “Collin. My sweet Collin,” Riojos murmured as he thrust his lover’s legs back, swallowing his cock down his throat. He remembered that taste, the manly taste that was all Collin as the precum spilled onto his tongue. Collin cried out as he grabbed Riojos’s hair. His hips left the floor as he writhed beneath Riojos. Riojos’s fingers smoothed over Collin’s legs as his tongue swirled around his partner’s cock, sucking him in deeply and praying he got to keep his baby, praying that this wasn’t their last time together. Riojos pulled back, sucking the head of Collin’s shaft as he wet his fingers and then slowly pushed them past the ring of muscles to

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ready his lover. Riojos felt like he was going to go insane. He wasn’t sure if any of this was real, if he wasn’t passed out somewhere dreaming all of this. Riojos released Collin’s cock, rolled his lover over, and then pushed his shaft deeply into Collin’s ass. He shuddered at the remembered tightness. Collin was much smaller than him, but his body was always a perfect fit. Riojos thrust deep, seating himself. “Rio,” Collin groaned as he rocked back on all fours, impaling himself over and over again onto Riojos’s shaft. Riojos’s hands landed on Collin’s hips as he watched Collin greedily take what he needed. There, on his knees, Riojos watched his cock being swallowed by Collin’s perfect body and prayed it could last forever. He skimmed his hands over the expanse of Collin’s creamy skin as he began to show his lover just what he meant to him. Riojos fell forward, blanketing Collin’s body with his own as he took them to the floor, wrapping his arms around Collin’s slim frame. “Te amo, mi corazón,” Riojos whispered. “I love you, my heart. I’m so sorry.” He could hear Collin’s breathing hitch, hear the small cry that fell from his lips. He was going to make sure his lover knew exactly how he felt if this was to be their last time together. He was going to tell Collin everything. “I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you, Collin. Your smile, your laughter, and even that little frown between your brows when you were mad meant the world to me,” Riojos crooned as his cock rocked in and out of his lover’s tight entrance. “I love you, too, Rio.” Riojos closed his eyes, a sob leaving his chest as he held on to his reason for living as tightly as he could. “Please don’t leave me.” “Never. I’m not leaving you, Rio. I’ll be with you always.” Riojos cried out as he buried his face into Collin’s neck. He inhaled the unique scent of his lover as he began to snap his hips.

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Riojos rolled Collin to his belly, his arms still wrapped around Collin’s frame as he slammed his cock into his hole. God, he never wanted to leave Collin’s body. He wanted to sink inside of him and live there forever. If Collin left him, if his baby moved on, Riojos was going to follow him. “Rio!” Collin shouted as his hole began to pulse around Riojos’s cock. Riojos slammed his shaft harder into Collin’s ass as his body exploded, brilliant lights shattered behind his eyelids as Riojos came inside Collin’s body. He panted heavily as he pulled Collin tighter to his chest, refusing to let his lover go. “I love you, Collin. Don’t go,” he whispered into Collin’s nape as the three-day drinking binge pulled him under and stole his consciousness.

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Chapter 3 Riojos groaned and grabbed his head. It felt like a sledgehammer had been used on it more than once. It throbbed, making Riojos’s stomach roll. He stilled when he felt a solid body in his arms, his nausea suddenly forgotten. Fuck! Had he gotten so drunk last night that he found a willing body at some two-dime bar? Riojos prayed that wasn’t the case. Even if his lover was dead, Riojos was devoted to Collin. He’d be heartbroken if he fucked some nameless stranger before Collin’s body was barely cold. Riojos growled, opening his eyes as he pushed the person away. He was going to tell them to get the fuck out of—“Shit.” Riojos scrambled away as his vision cleared and he saw his dead lover lying on the floor next to him. Collin was staring up at him as if he’d lost his mind. Maybe he had. “This can’t be.” Collin rolled onto his side and smiled up at Riojos. “Do we have to go through this conversation again?” Riojos shook his head as he sat up and pulled his legs to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. “Again?” What in the hell was Collin talking about? Better yet, how was Collin even talking? He was dead. “We talked about this last night.” Riojos heard Collin’s words, but he was too busy studying his partner’s face. He ardently gazed at every crease, every line, and every beautiful little freckle. “Collin?” he whispered, afraid to even voice his thoughts but needing to know. “Is that really you?”

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Collin nodded. “I told you I woke up in the morgue with a dang toe tag on. I don’t understand what’s going on, but I’m not dead.” Riojos wanted to believe, he was desperate to believe, he was just scared shitless to believe. His hand trembled as he reached out and brushed Collin’s dark auburn hair away from his warm cheek. “You are real.” Riojos didn’t waste any time. He flew over to his lover and pulled Collin into his arms, crushing him to his chest. “Oh dios.” “Too tight,” Collin squeaked. Riojos pulled back, a smile splitting across this face. “Sorry, I’m sorry. But I can’t believe this. It’s really you. I thought I had lost you forever.” Riojos felt the laughter seize his body and take over as he hugged Collin to him once again. “I’m not leaving you,” Collin said as he cupped Riojos’s face. “Ever.” “I—” Riojos cocked his head, looking over at the bedroom door as he heard a noise coming from the living room. He looked back down at Collin as his brows pulled together. “Did someone else come with you?” Collin bit his bottom lip as he shook his head. “No,” he whispered. Riojos pushed to his feet, walking toward the bedroom door. He looked back over his shoulder at his lover. “Stay here.” Collin nodded his head rapidly as he grabbed a pair of jeans from the dresser drawer. Damn it. Riojos had planned on playing all over Collin’s body. Too bad he was covering it up. He cracked the door, peeking through the sliver into the living room. What he saw froze his blood. Riojos held his breath as he turned around, staring at the love of his life. “Get dressed fast,” he mouthed. Collin paled but did as Riojos said, both of them being as quiet as possible. Once they had their shoes on, Riojos grabbed the gun that was lying on top of the dresser and plucked the bullets from the floor.

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He quickly loaded it and then shoved the gun in the back of his waistband. He held his finger to his lips and then pointed to the bedroom window with the fire escape just outside of it. Riojos grabbed a coat from the closet for himself and tossed another one to Collin. It was winter outside. He wasn’t taking any chances with Collin’s health. He slid the window open quietly, making Collin go first. His lover looked as though he wanted to argue, but Riojos wasn’t making the same mistake twice. He had allowed Collin to push him out of the way the first time. This time he was going to protect his love even if he had to toss Collin out of the window himself. Collin pouted but crawled through the window. Riojos couldn’t resist. He gave a light smack to Collin’s cute little ass before he began to climb through himself. Just as his other leg left the bedroom floor, the bedroom door flew open. “Run!” Riojos shouted as the two men with guns in their hands came running across the room. Riojos ducked when a bullet whizzed past his head. His heart thundered in his chest. “Shit!” Collin practically glided down each set of stairs on the fire escape as they both ran for their very lives. Riojos had no clue what was going on, but he wasn’t going to stick around to ask questions. Once their feet hit solid ground, Riojos grabbed Collin’s hand and ran down the alleyway, heading toward the main street. He prayed he could lose the two in the crowd. Although it was colder than a witch’s tit in a brass bra out here, people were walking up and down the sidewalk, doing their last-minute holiday shopping. Riojos knew a few places they could go, but he didn’t want to get any of their friends involved in whatever was going on. Hell, he didn’t even know what was going on. All Riojos knew was that he had to keep Collin safe. ****

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Collin had no clue why they were being chased or where they were going, but his heart was beating so hard he was afraid it would jump right out of his chest. People had shot at them. He so didn’t want to end up back in the morgue. Once had been more than enough. It was an experience he never planned on trying again. “Where are we going, Riojos?” “Somewhere safe until I can figure out why someone is trying to kill us,” Riojos replied as he pulled Collin around another corner. “Someone is trying to kill us?” Collin gulped. “I thought they were just trying to rob us.” Riojos stopped and swung around so fast that Collin barreled into him. He grunted softly at the impact then stared up at Riojos in confusion when his face was cupped between his lover’s hands. “What?” Collin asked when Riojos just stared down at him. “Bebé, they were shooting at us. They were definitely trying to kill us.” “But why?” Collin’s eyebrows drew together as his chest tightened with worry. “Why would someone want to kill us? We didn’t do anything.” Riojos was a police detective. There were dangers in having that job, and they weren’t always on the job. People that Riojos had put behind bars oftentimes carried a grudge. Riojos had warned Collin when they moved in together a little over a year ago that someone might someday come looking for Riojos for revenge. That had to be it, because Collin seriously doubted the people from the morgue were gunning for him to get their body back. Business wasn’t that bad, not in this neighborhood. “Could it be someone you put behind bars?” “Bebé.” Riojos’s lips pressed together for a moment and an agonized look made his eyes crinkle at the corners. “I think this has to do with you dying.” “But I’m not dead.”

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“You were, mi amor.” Collin frowned at the sudden sparkle of tears that gathered in the corner of Riojos’s chocolate-brown eyes. “After that car hit you, I held you in my arms. I felt the life leave your body. You were dead, Collin.” Collin swallowed hard. “I’m not dead,” he whispered, suddenly afraid that maybe he was and he just didn’t know it. Maybe this was heaven or hell or wherever he was supposed to go after he died. “I’m not, right?” He wasn’t sure anymore. Riojos looked perplexed but determined. “I don’t know what you are, mi amor. But dead or alive, you’re back in my arms, and that’s all I care about. I’ll take you any way that I can get you.” “What if I really am dead, Riojos?” Collin licked his dry, cracked lips as fear filled him. He prayed that wasn’t the case, but Collin wasn’t one to live in denial. He wanted the truth, no matter how much he didn’t want to hear it. “You are not dead!” Riojos growled fiercely as he pulled Collin tighter to his body. Collin’s mouth dropped open in shock, one, because Riojos never used that menacing tone with him before, and two, because Riojos grabbed his fingers and pressed them against the pulse beating in his neck. “Do you feel that?” Riojos asked. Collin nodded. “Then you’re not dead. You have a pulse, Collin. You have blood flowing through your veins. Your body is solid. You can think and reason and talk and…and…” Riojos made a deep rumbling sound in his chest. “And you’re not dead.” “But—” Collin blinked when Riojos quickly slapped a hand over his mouth. Riojos was always a bit domineering, but even this wasn’t something he had ever done before. “No! Don’t say it!” Riojos snapped. “We’ve been given a second chance here. I don’t know why, and frankly, I don’t care. I just know

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that you’re alive and we’re together. I’m not going to question the powers that be that gave you back to me.” Collin’s eyes widened at Riojos’s fierce words. The man was practically shaking apart right in front of him. Riojos was scared, really scared. Collin had never seen his lover quite like this. Riojos was always the self-assured one, the strong, confident one. He never lost it. To see him this terrified made Collin frightened. He didn’t like it. “We need to go,” Riojos said as he grabbed Collin’s hand and tugged on it, turning to start walking down the sidewalk again. “Where are we going?” Collin asked as he hurried to catch up. Riojos had much longer legs than he did. Riojos shook his head. “I don’t know exactly, Collin. I’m kind of thinking on my feet at the moment.” “What about the station house? We’d be safe there.” Even as Collin said the words he realized how stupid that idea would be. He was supposed to be dead, and he was sure everyone at Riojos’s precinct knew it. “Never mind.” Riojos chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry, bebé. We’ll find someplace safe.” “Okay.” Collin smiled weakly. He was beginning to wonder if any place would be safe. They couldn’t go home. They couldn’t go to the police. They were just aimlessly walking the streets, hoping not to be spotted. What choices were left to them? Collin stumbled to a stop suddenly. “What about your brother?” Riojos stopped and turned to look at Collin, his lover’s face lighting up. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Sal has a hidden room behind the bar we can stay in.” “He has a hidden room behind the bar?” Collin frowned. “Since when?” Riojos chuckled. “It came with the building. The former owner used it to spy on the patrons and hide liquor from the police during the Prohibition Era.”

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“What does Sal use it for?” Riojos glanced over his shoulder, wiggling his eyebrows. “What do you think?” “Eewww.” Collin wrinkled his nose in disgust as a picture of Salvatore Fernando, Riojos’s brother, fucking some faceless female floated through his head. As far as Collin knew, Sal was straight, which meant whoever he screwed around with had to be female. Collin had never seen him with anything other than females. “Come on, bebé,” Riojos said as he tugged on Collin’s hand again. “If we hurry, we can get to the bar before it opens for business. The less people that know we are there, the better.” Collin hurried to catch up with Riojos once more. He was all for no one knowing where they were until they could figure out what in the hell was going on. That was assuming they ever found out what was going on. As confused as Collin felt, he was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. But at least he had Riojos with him to help him figure it out. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what his lover had gone through over the last three days. Collin knew he never wanted to be in that position. If anything happened to Riojos, Collin was pretty sure he’d curl up and die—for real this time. And he wouldn’t want to come back. It took them more than an hour to reach Sal’s bar. Keeping to the streets was the easy part. Constantly watching over their shoulders for anyone who might be following them was exhausting. That didn’t even take into mind that they had no idea who was after them beyond the fact that there were two men with really deadly guns. “Wait, Riojos,” Collin said, pulling on the man’s arm when he went to open the door of his brother’s bar. Riojos turned to look at him, his eyebrow arched. “Do you think we should go running in there? Both of us? Sal’s a pretty open-minded guy, but I think even he would flip if he saw me.” Riojos’s face paled. “Oh, yeah, right. I forgot about that part.”

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Riojos glanced around for a moment then pulled Collin around the side of the building and down the alleyway to the service entrance. He pushed Collin back against the wall next to the large industrial Dumpster then pulled the gun out of the back of his pants and handed it to Collin. “If anyone bothers you, shoot them. Don’t ask questions, Collin. Just shoot them.” Collin nodded. Personally, he didn’t like guns very much. They were very loud. But Riojos had insisted that he learn how to shoot one when they moved in together, even if he wouldn’t carry one all of the time. He wanted Collin to know how to safely use a gun since one would be in the house. It made sense. “Stay there and stay low. Don’t make a sound. I’ll be right back for you.” Riojos leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Collin’s lips then pulled several empty cardboard boxes over in front of Collin before walking away. Collin slouched down next to the wall and pulled more cardboard boxes around him until he was totally hidden from view. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, pointing the barrel of the gun toward the ground as he tried to stop shaking. He was scared out of his mind. **** Riojos pounded on the bar door until he heard someone start to unlatch the lock. He knew Sal would be here at this time of day. The bar was due to open in a couple of hours. Sal always arrived early to make sure everything was ready for the new night of business. When the door swung open, Riojos cocked an eyebrow at the scowl on his brother’s face. As soon as Sal realized it was him, his face changed from one of anger to sadness and then resignation. “I’m not giving you any alcohol, Riojos,” Sal said. “You’ve had enough.”

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“I don’t want anything to drink, Sal. I want to talk to you.” Riojos nodded his head toward the bar. “Preferably inside and in private.” “Rio—” “Please, Sal.” Riojos could see his brother’s hesitation. “This is important. I swear, I won’t lift a single glass of alcohol to my lips.” Sal grimaced for a moment then slowly nodded, stepping back to let Riojos into the dimly lit bar. Once inside, Sal, relocked the door then turned to face Riojos, crossing his arms over his chest. Riojos quickly glanced around. “Is anyone here besides you?” “Not yet,” Sal replied. “Tibo should be here soon. The others will get here in another couple of hours.” Riojos nodded. Tibo was a good guy. He had worked for Sal since he bought the bar. Riojos pushed a hand through his hair and turned to walk a few feet away. His brother was going to think he was off his freaking rocker. “Riojos?” “I need your help.” “You have it. You know that.” Riojos did know that. No matter what, his family backed him. It was one of the reasons he had come to Sal. He turned back around to stare at his brother. “This is going to sound completely nuts, but I need you to listen to me with an open mind.” Sal watched him for a moment then nodded. “I’m listening.” “It’s about Collin.” “Do you need help paying for the funeral? I have some money in the bank and it’s—” “No, no, that’s not it, but that does have something to do with this.” Sal started to look more concerned. “Then get to the point, Riojos.” Riojos swallowed hard. “Collin isn’t dead.” He could immediately see pity blossom in Sal’s eyes. He held up his hand before his brother could speak. “He’s not dead, Sal. I swear.”

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“Riojos, I know you’ve suffered a great loss. I know how much Collin meant to you, but this isn’t the way to go about this. Collin wouldn’t want this for you. He would want you to be happy. He would want you to let him go and move on.” Riojos clenched his jaw. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. “Sal, I’m serious. Collin isn’t dead.” Sal wiped his hand down his face, looking at Riojos with sympathy and frustration. “How much have you had to drink, Riojos?” Riojos clenched his hands. “I am not drunk, Salvatore,” he bit out. “Prove it.” Riojos wanted to slug his brother, but he could understand where Sal was coming from considering the circumstances. Not only had he been drunk for three days, but Collin had died in his arms. Sal had been the one that had come and pulled him away from Collin’s dead body at the scene of the accident. He’d seen Collin’s crushed, lifeless body. He had reason to be in doubt. “We need to go to the service entrance,” Riojos said as he started for the back of the bar. “I hid Collin out by the Dumpster.” “Oh sweet hell, Riojos,” Sal snapped as he grabbed Riojos and swung him around, “did you steal Collin’s body from the morgue?” “No, but I probably would have if I thought about it. Collin came back to me on his own.” “Oh, brother, he’s—” “He is not dead!” Riojos clenched his jaw as his arm swung out, his finger pointing to the back of the bar. “Just get your ass outside to the alley. You’ll see.” Riojos walked through the kitchen to the small hallway that led to the service entrance. Once there, he unlocked the door and pushed it open. Peeking out and around the door, he checked the alleyway for signs of people. When he didn’t see anyone, Riojos stepped out into the alleyway.

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“Collin, bebé, come out,” he called out quietly as he headed for the Dumpster. “Riojos, come back inside. I can get you the help you need,” Sal said as he caught up to Riojos. “Collin?” Riojos ignored his brother as he made his way over to the Dumpster. He knew for a fact that he had left his lover right by this Dumpster. There was no other Dumpster in the alley. “Riojos. Stop this, please.” Riojos cocked his head to the side when he heard a noise over by the Dumpster. He knew he wasn’t imagining things. He knew that Collin had come back to him and that he was squatting on the side of the Dumpster at this very moment. “No!” Riojos shouted when he came to the side of the Dumpster where he had left Collin to see the two men from the apartment holding his lover, one of them with a hand over Collin’s mouth. His lover’s eyes were huge, terror evident in his violet eyes. “If you fucking hurt him, I’ll peel the skin from your bones.” “Sweet Virgin Mary,” Sal gasped from beside him. “Collin!” “I’m afraid you won’t be doing a damn thing seeing how we have him,” one of the gunmen sneered at Riojos. “Back the fuck away or he gets one to the head.” Riojos’s eyes quickly glanced at the gun pressing into the back of Collin’s head. Somehow he had a feeling that if Collin were shot, he wouldn’t be rising from the dead this time. They got lucky once, but he wasn’t willing to chance a second time. “Just let him go. I’ll give you whatever you want, but please don’t hurt him.” Riojos wasn’t used to begging. But for Collin, he would beg at the feet of the devil himself. “You don’t have what we want. He does.” The gunman gave Collin a small shake. “Now back the fuck up!” Riojos could feel Sal at his back. His brother was a wall of muscle as he inched closer. Riojos’s training kicked in as he assessed the situation. He knew he had to get the gun away from the back of

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Collin’s head. Once he achieved that, he and Sal could deal with these two assholes. And he was going to teach them about putting a gun anywhere near Collin’s body. He dropped his eyes quickly and then looked back up at Collin. His lover gave a slight nod. Riojos loved the fact that his baby understood what he was trying to convey. “Now!” Collin dropped to the ground, surprising the gunmen. Riojos took advantage of the situation. Collin crawled away as Sal and Riojos lunged at the men. Riojos wrapped one hand around the throat of the gunman who had held a gun to Collin’s head as he manacled the guy’s wrist. Riojos applied pressure until the gun clanked to the ground. He repeatedly slammed the man into the brick wall. His mind was gone, in a place of vengeance. “Riojos!” Sal shouted as he pulled Riojos away. “He’s unconscious. That’s enough.” Riojos had to shake his head to clear the fog. He wanted retribution for what the man had put him and Collin through. Knocking the bitch out wasn’t good enough for him. “Riojos. Let it go, man. Help me get them inside.” Sal placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “And then you can tell me how the fuck Collin is standing here.” Collin! Riojos snapped his head around to see his lover standing there shaking like a leaf. Riojos closed the distance and yanked Collin into his arms, resting his chin on Collin’s head. “Are you okay, bebé? Did they hurt you?” Collin shook his head as he let out a deep breath. “No. They just scared me.” Riojos kissed Collin’s forehead and then released him. He reached down and grabbed the bastard by the back of his shirt, looking up and down the alley to make sure no one was watching as he dragged the man inside.

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One of them was going to talk. He didn’t care which one, but he and Collin were going to get some answers. He didn’t like being on the run, and he definitely didn’t like his lover having a gun held to his head. Riojos dragged the man to the hidden room before letting him go. He walked back out into the bar and grabbed a bottled water before returning. Riojos unscrewed the cap, letting the water pour out onto the man’s head. When the unconscious man roused and then sputtered, Riojos cocked his arm back and punched the bastard on his jaw. “Now get to talking.”

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Chapter 4 Collin grabbed one of the crates from the far corner, using it to sit on as he rested his arms on his knees, waiting to hear why they were being pursued by guys with guns. “Fuck you,” the gunman who had water dumped on him growled. Collin jumped when Riojos punched the man again. “If you don’t talk, I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life,” Riojos threatened. Collin picked at his fingernails as he watched his lover rough up the bad guy. He wasn’t into violence. He actually hated it, but they needed answers—answers only this man could give them. He glanced over at Sal. Riojos’s brother was staring at him curiously as if waiting for Collin to say boo. “I’m real, Sal.” Sal shook his head, running his hand down his face. “No, you’re not. I’m still fucking sleeping and none of this is real. I’ll wake up and I’ll be in my bed.” Collin shuddered. “I sure hope not. That would mean I’m really at the morgue.” “Don’t remind me. Please don’t remind me of what happened to you. I’m on the verge of freaking out big-time here. Just give me a minute to join you in this parallel universe where dead men rise, and then I’ll be okay.” Sal grimaced. “I think.” Collin knew Sal had every right to look like he was going to crack at any second. If roles were reversed, he would be wigging out right about now, too. Collin and Sal turned their heads when they heard Riojos hit the man again.

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“That’s not how you get someone to talk.” Sal grunted as he walked over to Riojos. “Let an expert show you.” “By all means.” Riojos stepped back, waving a hand at the gunmen. “Be my guest.” Sal looked over at Collin. “You may want to turn your head, ghost man.” Collin rolled his eyes but did as Sal asked. He wasn’t sure what Riojos’s brother was going to do, but he didn’t want to witness it. He hugged his midsection and curled in when he heard a blood-curdling scream. “Okay,” the man begged. “I’ll talk.” Collin wasn’t sure what Sal did, but he made a mental note to himself to never piss the guy off. “I’m waiting and I don’t have much patience.” Riojos growled. “Mr. Donahue,” the man gasped. “He sent us to watch for Collin and then obtain him.” Collin turned back around, getting up from the crate. He took a step closer, not wanting to miss anything the man confessed. “Who is Mr. Donahue, and what do you mean watch for Collin? Did he know Collin was alive?” Riojos asked. When the man didn’t say anything, Sal reached over and twisted the knife that was buried in the man’s hand. Collin slapped a hand over his mouth and turned his back to them again. He knew he shouldn’t have looked. The scream came again and then subsided, making Collin shake with queasiness. He felt a hand slide around his waist, and then his face was pressed into Riojos’s chest. Collin clung to his lover as he listened to the man talk. “I don’t know. I swear. Mr. Donahue hangs out in the Old Town district. He’s a big man, about six-three and two hundred and fifty pounds. You can’t miss him. He wears suits. White suits.” Collin knew that area. It wasn’t even safe to walk through there in the daytime. That was where he was when he had run from the

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morgue to the homeless shelter. It was a scary place. He didn’t want Riojos going down there. Hell, he wouldn’t even send his enemy down there. “If you’re lying, I’ll come back and kill you,” Riojos threatened. “Slowly.” “I’ll tie them up and keep them back here then call Tibo to get down here early to keep an eye on these two while we go see Mr. Donahue.” Riojos shook his head. “You’re not going, Sal. This is my mess.” “Our mess,” Collin corrected him. Riojos glanced down at him, a soft smile playing across his lips. “Our mess.” Riojos looked back at his brother. “I don’t want you involved.” Sal leaned against a back wall, a smirk on his face. “You don’t want me involved, little brother? I hate to inform you of this, but too fucking late. I was involved when you came banging on my door, yanked me out into the alley, clobbered these two guys, and showed me ghost man over there was still breathing. What part of staying out of it don't you want me to participate in?” Collin covered his mouth, stopping the giggle from spilling out. Sal had always been a sarcastic man. That was one of the things Collin had liked about him. “Fine, but if shit hits the fan, vamoose. Understood?” Sal grunted. “Yes, mother.” Collin did giggle this time. He was so glad he’d come back to life. He would have missed the way Riojos and Sal interacted. It was entertaining as hell. “Then we need to get moving. I don’t want Collin seen by too many people. I definitely don’t want him seen by anyone we know. Telling them I found a lover who looked exactly like my dead one wouldn’t go over too smoothly.”

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Collin slapped Riojos’s chest as he growled. “You will not be replacing me. Even if it is a look-alike, mister. I’ll come back and haunt you—again.” “Oh, bebé. You know I would never do that. I can’t live without you.” Collin could hear the pain in Riojos voice and thought about the gun that had been in Riojos’s hand when he came home from the morgue. If he had been just a few minutes later… Collin shuddered, pushing the memory to the farthest place in his mind. “I know.” “Maybe you should stay here in Sal’s hidden room.” Collin arched an eyebrow. “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.” “Collin—” “I’m not letting you out of my sight. Deal with it.” Collin turned when he heard Sal chuckle. “You have something to add?” Sal quickly held up his hands in surrender. “No, no. I just don’t remember you being quite so…uh…domineering before.” “Things change, Sal.” Collin frowned as visions of the last few days flashed through his head. “I almost lost Riojos. I’m not letting it happen again.” Sal’s head cocked to one side as a curious expression crossed his face. “Is that why you came back from the dead?” he asked. “Because of Riojos?” “I don’t know,” Collin admitted honestly. “I just knew I had to get back to him.” The man that had been spilling his guts suddenly started laughing. Collin peered around Riojos, grimacing when small spittles of blood flew from the man’s injured mouth. Sal and Riojos had really done a number on the guy. Collin felt bad about that but not enough to get the guy a napkin. The buffoon tried to kidnap him at gunpoint. Sal reached over and grabbed the man’s jaw and yanked his head up. The man cried out in pain, but Sal ignored him. “You have something to say, meatball?”

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The guy laughed some more, and his eyes landed on Collin. “You idiots have no idea what he is, do you?” Sal tightened his fingers around the guy’s jaw until he winced. “What do you mean?” “He’s not human.” Collin shuddered at the conviction he could hear in the man’s voice. As far as the guy was concerned, he was telling the truth. And, considering everything he had been through in the last several hours, Collin couldn’t help but wonder if the man was right. “Rio?” he whispered softly as he turned back to look at his lover. When Riojos’s hand curled around his cheek, Collin gratefully leaned into it. There was a part of him that was afraid Riojos would freak out at some point and run, leaving him all alone. That thought scared him to death. “Mi amor, I don’t care if you’re the man on the moon, Casper the Ghost, or the grim reaper. You belong to me, and I refuse to give you up.” Collin breathed a sigh of relief and pressed his face into Riojos’s chest. He felt his lover’s arms encircle him, holding him close. A sense of calm came over Collin. He was in the safest place in the world at that moment, a place he never wanted to leave. “Never forget, mi corazón,” Riojos whispered against the top of Collin’s head. “Eres mi todo. You are my everything.” A small sob escaped Collin’s lips at Riojos’s heartfelt words. He felt tears prickle the corner of his eyes. He loved hearing Riojos’s words but he was a little confused by them. Not their meaning. He heard that loud and clear, but that Riojos was saying them at all. Riojos had never been one to be overly emotional. Had it taken him coming back from the dead for Riojos to realize what he felt? “Okay, enough of this sappy crap,” Sal said. “We need to get going.”

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Collin leaned around Riojos and stuck his tongue out at Sal. He grinned and looked up at Riojos when the man chuckled. “Careful, bebé. I know what you can do with that tongue and it’s been a while.” Collin’s face flushed when Sal snorted. He buried it back in Riojos’s chest. He had no problem using his tongue on Riojos. In fact, he looked forward to it. He just didn’t want it broadcast for everyone to hear. “Can we go?” he asked, trying desperately to change the subject. “Yeah,” Riojos said as he stepped back but kept one arm wrapped around Collin’s waist. “We need to go find out what this Mr. Donahue has to say. Sal, why don’t you go ahead and call Tibo while I tie these guys up?” Sal nodded and reached for his cell phone, stepping off to one side of the room as he talked to Tibo. “I still don’t know how we’re going to find this guy,” Collin said as he watched his lover tie the two men up. “Anyone wearing a white suit down in Old Town is going to stick out, Collin.” “You’d be surprised what doesn’t get seen in Old Town.” Collin snickered. Riojos paused in what he was doing and looked up at Collin, arching his eyebrow. “And that means what?” “They don’t let you wear clothes in the morgue, Riojos. I was naked as the day I was born when I woke up. The only thing I had on me was a toe tag. I wrapped a sheet around me and ran when I heard voices. And I ran all the way through Old Town until I found a shelter and got some clothes.” Collin suddenly frowned, tapping his lips with his fingers. “Which reminds me, I need to drop some money off to Rutledge when we have a chance.” “Rutledge?” Riojos growled. “Who in the hell is Rutledge?” “Rutledge is the guy that runs the homeless shelter. He gave me some clothes, hot soup, and bus fare to get home. And he didn’t ask

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any questions.” Collin frowned again. “Well, he did, but just whether I needed help getting out of a dangerous situation or not. He thought I was being beaten up. He had no idea what was really going on.” “Neither do we.” Riojos chuckled, the tension visibly leaving his shoulders. He finished tying the two men up then stepped around them to stand in front of Collin, cupping the side of his face. “All right, mi amor, if it means that much to you, we’ll drop some money off to this Rutledge guy.” “Thanks, Riojos.” Collin’s face flushed a little at Riojos’s gesture. He just wasn’t used to his lover being this attentive, but he liked it. “Rutledge was really nice to me when he didn’t have to be.” “Then I guess we really do need to thank him, especially me.” Riojos smiled broadly. “He took care of my love when I could not. That deserves a reward.” “Okay, you two love-struck birds. We can head out. Tibo is three minutes away,” Sal said as he pocketed his phone. Collin glanced down at the man with the bloody mouth. He narrowed his eyes at Collin, his lip curling back into a sneer. “They won’t stop until they have you.” “Shut up!” Riojos yelled at the man. “You don’t get to talk to him. Ever.” The man laughed harshly. Collin shivered at the menacing words. He wasn’t sure what they meant, but they made him feel like something wicked was heading his way. “Let’s go.” Riojos grabbed Collin’s hand and led him out of the hidden room. “How are we going to get there without anyone seeing us?” Collin asked as he watched Sal lock the door and then slide the wall back in place. As many times as he’d been here, he was amazed that he never noticed that misshapen panel before. “Very carefully, mi amor. We have to make sure you are not seen by anyone.”

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“Disguise him,” Sal suggested. “He could wear a wig and some dark sunglasses.” That wasn’t a bad idea. But where in the hell were they going to get a wig? It wasn’t like Sal had any lying around the bar. “There’s a store down the street that sells everything under the sun.” Sal finished his thought. “It may not be the top of the line, but it’ll do in a pinch.” “Go get it. We’ll wait here,” Riojos said. “I don’t even want him stepping out of the bar without some sort of disguise. The less people who know he’s back, the better.” Sal glanced at Collin and raised his brows, blinking a few times before walking out of the bar. “I think Sal is on the verge of a nervous breakdown,” Collin said worriedly. “He keeps giving me these weird looks.” Riojos chuckled. “Sal gives everyone weird looks. That’s just Sal.” Riojos pulled Collin into his arms, gazing down at him like the moon shone behind him. “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that you came back, mi corazón. I feel as though I’ve been given a second chance with you.” Collin felt the tears prickling his eyes. This was definitely not the Riojos he remembered, and he loved everything that came out of the man’s mouth. “Go on.” He wanted to hear more now that Riojos had come into touch with his emotional side. It had been sadly lacking over the last three years. Riojos grinned at him. “What else is there to say? You know how I feel. I was just never any good at telling you.” That was the understatement of the year. Collin had to agree. Riojos showed him in many ways how much he cared for him. He had just never verbalized it. It felt wonderful to hear the words finally. “Break it up, you—” Tibo stared wide-eyed at Collin, and then his eyes rolled to the back of his head as he fainted on the bar floor.

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“Oh hell,” Collin squeaked as he pulled from Riojos’s arms and ran over to the small, unconscious man. “I hadn’t thought about Tibo’s reaction to seeing me.” “I guess we found out,” Riojos said as he knelt next to Sal’s employee and friend. “It’s amazing how hard a small guy can hit the floor.” Collin swatted at Riojos. “It’s not funny. What if he had had a heart attack? Oh god!” Collin reached out and pressed his palm against Tibo’s chest, relieved when he felt a strong, steady heartbeat. “Aw man,” Sal whined as he walked through the door. “I forgot about telling him that ghost man here was alive. Shit.” Collin pinched his nose. These two were impossible. “Help me sit him up.” Collin shoved his hands under Tibo’s shoulders and strained to get even his blades from the floor. “Holy hell, he’s heavy. Aren’t you two going to help me?” For a small man, Tibo sure was solid. “I wanted to see if maybe you had superpowers now.” Sal chuckled as he tossed the store bag aside and heaved Tibo to a sitting position, his back against the bar. “Wake up, Tibo.” Tibo groaned and grabbed the back of his head and then winced. Collin felt terrible. Tibo’s eyes fluttered open as he looked right at Collin. “What in the fuck is going on here?” “Long story. Too long to sit here and retell,” Sal said as he grabbed the bag he had just tossed aside and handed it over to Collin. “But I need you to keep the fact that Collin is alive to yourself. Don’t tell anyone, Tibo.” “Do I look crazy to you? If I say a word about Collin being alive, they’ll lock me up,” Tibo griped as he pushed to his feet, his skin still a little peaked. Collin left the men to talk as he strolled into the bathroom. He pulled the wig out. It was wrapped in a thick display bag. He groaned when he saw the flaming red wig. He was going to throttle Sal. He could have at least gotten him a black or brown one, even a blond, but flaming red? Yuk.

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Collin blew out a long breath. He knew he couldn’t complain too much. After all, he was alive and able to wrinkle his nose at the color. Wasn’t that the important thing? He combed his hair back with his fingers and shoved the hideous thing on his head. Sal must have gotten him one for a child because it squeezed the shit out of his head. He tugged and pulled, making sure his own dark auburn hair was tucked away from prying eyes. “We need to get—” Riojos’s words cut off as he cocked his head to the side, staring at Collin’s snug wig. He turned his head and shouted over his shoulder. “Sal, you’re an ass.” Collin could hear laughter ringing in the bar. Yeah, Collin totally agreed. Sal was such an ass.

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Chapter 5 Riojos kept a tight hold on Collin’s arm as they walked through the darkened streets of the Old Town Neighborhood. The area was rife with hoodlums and gangs, not to mention the homeless and those out to earn a quick buck. He had lost Collin once. He wasn’t about to let it happen again. The first person that took a single menacing step in their direction was going to get all of Riojos’s anger. And after watching Collin die in his arms then having someone try and take him away again, Riojos had a lot of anger building up inside that needed a release. He was pretty sure any one of the shadows would give him exactly what he wanted. The Skidmore Fountain area of downtown was great during the day, and especially on the weekends when they had Saturday Market going on. People, music, and some of the best food possible on earth could be found there. During the nighttime, however, it was another story altogether. Riojos knew the police had upped their patrols in the area after a series of muggings, thefts, and attacks, but it didn’t make him feel any safer walking on the street. “Stay close to me, bebé.” “Oh, believe me”—Collin snickered lightly, but Riojos could hear the fear in his voice—“I don’t plan on going anywhere.” “This isn’t exactly the greatest neighborhood at night,” Riojos said. “I just want to get this over and done with then get someplace safe. Unfortunately, I haven’t a clue where to start looking for this dickhead.”

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“We could try asking Rutledge,” Collin said. “He works the shelter in this area. He would probably know who to talk to or where to go to look for this guy.” “That’s actually a pretty good idea, bebé.” Riojos chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Collin and hugged the smaller man to his side. “Good thinking.” Collin beamed. “Where’s the shelter?” “Uh…” Collin glanced down one side of the street then turned and looked the other way, finally shrugging. “I have no idea.” “You don’t know where the shelter is?” Sal asked as he caught up with them. “I kind of had other things on my mind at the time, Sal,” Collin snapped. “I was running in fear for my life wrapped in a hospital sheet. I wasn’t exactly paying attention to where I was going.” “Isn’t there a shelter down on Burnside near the bridge?” Riojos asked before his lover and brother could start arguing, because they would if they could. Sal swore he loved a good debate and would take the opposite side in argument just to have one. Sal could be a jackass sometimes. “Right, the one just down from the Chinatown arch,” Sal said. Riojos glanced at Collin. “Could that be your shelter, bebé?” Collin shrugged again. “Could be.” Riojos chuckled again. “Okay, then let’s head in that direction. If it’s not, we can keep looking. I figure we have at least another six hours before dawn. That should give us plenty of time to try and track this loser down and feed him his face.” “Riojos!” Collin’s mouth dropped open. “He’s after my baby,” Riojos said. “He doesn’t get any sympathy from me.” “Can we just—” Collin screamed as one of the shadows separated from the side of the building and attacked him.

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Riojos jumped toward the two, hearing his brother start fighting with someone behind him. He swung his fist at the man’s face as hard as he could. The man grunted and loosened his hold on Collin. Riojos grabbed his lover by his arm and pulled him out of the way of danger then pushed Collin behind him as he went at the man again, swinging his fists as fast as they would fly. No one was going to attack his love. “Riojos!” Sal snapped from behind him, grabbing his shoulder. “Enough! He’s down, man. You knocked him out.” Riojos stared down at the man on the sidewalk in surprise. Sal was right. The man’s face was black and blue and red with blood, and he was out cold. Riojos couldn’t help but feel a shiver of satisfaction that he had protected Collin this time. Last time had totally sucked. Riojos inhaled suddenly and swung around. “Collin!” He saw Collin sitting on his butt on the sidewalk, holding his hand over his side. He quickly scampered across the cold cement and knelt at Collin’s side. “Bebé, are you hurt?” Collin’s face was pale when he looked up. Tears were building up in his beautiful lavender eyes, threatening to spill over. “He…he…he s–s–stabbed me,” Collin whispered. Riojos’s stomach plummeted as he gazed down to where Collin had his hand pressed against his side. Blood was seeping out from between his fingers. “How—you—oh god, Collin. There’s so much blood.” Riojos ripped his shirt off over his head. He needed something to press against the wound to stop the bleeding until the paramedics could get to them. “Sal, call an ambulance.” “No, Rio, you can’t,” Collin whispered. “You can’t call anyone.” “I’m not going to let you bleed to death on the side of the damn city street.” “May─maybe it’s not that bad.”

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Riojos knew it was, though. There was just too much blood. “Move your hand, bebé. I need to put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.” Collin swallowed and nodded, slowly moving his hand out of the way. Riojos wasted no time in pressing his shirt over the bloody spot on Collin’s side. He closed his eyes for a moment and drew in a deep breath, but all he could smell was Collin’s coppery blood. When he opened his eyes again, Collin was staring up at him, misery filling his eyes. “I’m sorry, Riojos,” Collin whispered as tears began to fall down his cheeks. “I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough.” “It’s not your fault, Collin.” “But—” “Maybe you’re right, bebé,” Riojos said quickly. “Maybe it’s not that bad. You survived getting crushed by a car, which is much worse. You can survive this.” To prove his point, and see for himself, Riojos moved the shirt out of the way, wiping the blood away as he did. Riojos blinked for a moment then wiped his shirt across Collin’s side again, knowing he couldn’t possibly be seeing what he thought he was seeing, what he hoped he was seeing. “Collin.” Collin followed his eyes and looked down at his stomach. His sharp inhale filled the area around them. He started shaking as he gazed back up at Riojos, his face pale white, making his lavender eyes stand out. “What am I?” **** “Hey!” Sal spun around to see who was yelling like a fool this late at night and in this part of town. He placed his body between the men he

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cared about and the lunatic waving his arms. Sal wasn’t even going to think about how Collin didn’t have one fucking scratch on him. No, no, no. He was not going to even go down that road in this bizarre ass quest they were embarking on. Shit was getting stranger by the hour, and Sal could only take so much. “Stop right there or I’ll shoot your fucking ass,” Sal warned as Riojos shifted his form, squatting in front of Collin. “You need help,” the man panted, as he got closer. “I was sent to help you.” He placed his hands on his knees, taking in deep gulps of air. The dude seriously needed to exercise. No one should be that winded. “Rutledge?” Collin asked as he peeked around Riojos’s protective frame. “Is that you?” “Thank god I found you, Collin,” Rutledge said as he straightened. “That’s Rutledge?” Riojos asked suspiciously. “How the hell did he know we were out here?” That was what Sal wanted to know. Okay, maybe he didn’t. But no one was getting near ghost man. Not on his watch. Sal didn’t believe in the supernatural and things that went bump in the night, but ghost man was quickly changing his mind. He took a stance, his legs wide as he crossed his arms over his chest. “How do we know you’re really Rutledge?” “Sal!” Collin chastised him. Sal shrugged, splaying his hands in front of him, not looking the least bit apologetic. “With the way things are going around here, you can’t be too safe, ghost man.” “Will you stop calling me that?” Rutledge cocked his head to the side as he stared at the three. “Should I come back?” Collin pushed himself from the ground then laid his hands on Riojos’s chest to move him out of his way as he tried to step around

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him. “No, no. Don’t mind Sal. He was dropped on his ass when he was a baby.” Rutledge grinned as his eyes swung from Sal to Collin. “Don’t you mean he was dropped on his head?” “Nope.” Collin shook his head. “His brain is shoved up his ass right now.” Sal narrowed his eyes at Collin before turning his attention back to Rutledge. “Tell us how you knew we’d be down here. And don’t lie to me. I’ll know if you’re lying.” Rutledge took a step closer, looking over his shoulder as he did so. His face paled a little as he turned back around, his hands rubbing together in front of him. “Honestly? It was the strangest thing.” Sal grunted. “Figures.” Rutledge glanced around the area before continuing. “I got a call from someone who wouldn’t leave his name. All he said was that I should get down to Skidmore Fountain and get Collin to safety.” Riojos growled as he stepped closer to Rutledge. “He used Collin’s name?” Rutledge nodded. “Fuck,” Collin exhaled. “What in the hell is going on?” Rutledge shook his head, his eyes softening as he spoke to Collin. “I don’t know what’s going on, Collin, but I need to get you and your friends to the shelter.” “He’s my partner. Get it straight.” Riojos cleared up the mistitle. Sal slapped his hands onto his hips, looking between the three men. This shit was getting too bizarre even for him. Maybe he would take his brother’s advice and head back to the bar. It seemed they had help now. “No offense, but I’m not on the most wanted list. I prefer to sleep in my own bed tonight.” Rutledge’s head snapped around to Sal, a look of pity in his eyes. Sal wasn’t going to like this. “I’m afraid you are.” Sal gaped at Rutledge before sputtering, “What! How?” “I’m not sure, but the caller used all three of your names.”

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“Fuck, fuck, fuck. How in the hell did I get pulled into this shit?” Sal stomped around in a circle. “I told you staying out of it wasn’t an option.” “Are you sure this wasn’t some sort of a setup?” Riojos asked. “It seems pretty odd that someone just called you out of the blue and gave you this information. It just doesn’t seem right.” Rutledge shrugged. “I heard Collin was in danger, and I came. We don’t have much time. Come. We have to get going. I was told that Old Town had something wicked going on. It isn’t safe for you three to be out here.” Rutledge looked down at the unconscious men as if he were just noticing them. “Who are they?” “Dead fuckers if they come near Collin again.” “Oh.” Rutledge looked back over his shoulder. “That just proves that whoever sent me to fetch you was telling the truth. Come on, hurry. We need to get you indoors.” “But we came down here looking for someone,” Riojos said as they began to walk. Sal liked walking. It was better than staying in one place. He shivered and rubbed his hands up and down his arms as his skin started to crawl. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing at attention, telling him someone was watching them. “Not tonight, maybe in the morning. Just trust me, please. You three have got to get off of the streets,” Rutledge emphasized. Sal didn’t know about trust, but he knew the homeless shelter guy was right. They needed to get the hell out of there pronto. **** Collin was trying his best not to wig out. His life had taken a drastic turn in one week. Whatever happened to him and Riojos just living their lives, enjoying each other? What the hell was he that he was killed and now being pursued?

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And Collin knew for a fact that the car that jumped the curb was no accident. Not if the events taking place were anything to go by. As he thought about exactly what happened that fateful night, Collin was convinced it had been no accident. He curled his fingers around Riojos’s a little tighter, feeling as though the entire world was out to get him. He looked at every shadow, down every side street and alleyway as they followed Rutledge to the shelter. He couldn’t understand what was going on. What the hell was going on? Someone purposely killed him. He woke up in a morgue three days later after being shoved in a cold storage unit where he could have frozen to death. Wait a minute, he had been dead. Maybe he wouldn’t have frozen. Anyway, he went home only to have two gunmen break into the apartment. He got held at gunpoint by the Dumpster outside of Sal’s bar. And now people were popping out of the shadows to stab him. Collin was seriously considering revoking his stance on his nonviolent point of view. If one more person tried to hurt him, he was going to kick their butt! What was so special about him? He grew up in a loving family. He was an only child. His parents raised him the best they could off of their mediocre salaries. But he had been happy and loved. “Are you okay, bebé?” Riojos asked as he squeezed Collin’s hand gently. “I know this is all very strange, but hopefully we’ll have answers soon.” “I’m just trying to piece everything together. None of it makes any sense.” Collin chewed on his lower lip as the shelter finally came into view. He wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but he was afraid someone else was going to show up and try to kidnap him. “I know, love. But we’ll figure it all out together.” Riojos pulled his hand free from Collin’s and ran it over Collin’s wig. Collin wished he didn’t have to wear this stupid thing. It was starting to itch. He

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wanted to feel his lover’s hand over his real hair. The gesture was soothing nonetheless. “I hope so,” Collin murmured as they climbed the steps to the shelter. Sal and Riojos glanced around before pushing Collin and Rutledge through the front door. “Make sure it’s locked tighter than a chastity belt, Rutledge,” Sal said. “I’m getting tired of men jumping out and saying boo. Ghost man is attracting some strange creatures tonight.” Rutledge nodded as he engaged the dead bolt. “Let me show you to the rooms downstairs. No one is allowed to use those rooms, so it should be safe. Hurry before anyone sees you. While most of the people that stay here are okay, there are a few who would sell their mothers for money.” Collin hated all this cloak-and-dagger stuff. He liked to watch the movies, but playing an active role in them sucked. He had gained a new respect for those secret agent men in the last few hours. Rutledge led them down a set of dank steps. Collin could hear water dripping from somewhere and was reminded of all those countless horror movies he had watched. Now was not the time for his imagination to take flight. They descended into what felt like the bowels of hell as Rutledge turned on an overhead light that was bare and had a pull string. Collin liked this less and less. It was the perfect setting for one of those creepy stalker movies. And he was being stalked. Collin shivered and stepped closer to Riojos. “Here it is.” Rutledge pointed to a room with two cots. “It’s not much, but you are in a shelter after all. Try and get some sleep, and I’ll check on you in the morning.” “Thanks,” Riojos said as he looked around. “It’ll do just fine.” Collin narrowed his eyes at Sal. Riojos’s brother rolled his eyes to the ceiling and grunted. “Thanks.” “Thank you, Rutledge…again.” Collin shook the man’s hand before turning around to get a good look at the room. It really wasn’t

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much. It held the two cots, some storage boxes, and a lot of cobwebs. He wondered briefly what the room was used for. Whatever it was, it hadn’t been used for a while, judging from the cobwebs that seemed to be in every corner. Although he was against killing anything living, Collin really hated spiders. “Let’s try and get some sleep, bebé. We have a full day ahead of us tomorrow.” Collin wasn’t too sure about any of this, but as long as he had Riojos, he could deal. Maybe.

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Chapter 6 Detective Anthony Santano pulled his Crown Victoria in front of the apartment building that held the same address as the paper in his hand. He wasn’t sure what to think about this particular case. A dead man missing from the morgue? He had a feeling someone misplaced the body and was trying to cover it up. He swore some people were real idiots. Now he had the fucking duty of informing the man’s grieving partner that they couldn’t find the body. Just fucking peachy. Tony climbed out of the car, slammed the door, then looked up at the red brick building. The place wasn’t too bad considering it was located in a not-so-safe neighborhood. At least it wasn’t down in Old Town. Thank god for small favors. He climbed the steps two at a time as he tried to think of a way to break the news gently to Riojos Fernando. He had a feeling things were going to get ugly, and fast. Hell, he wouldn’t blame the guy if he took a swing at Tony. As he approached the top of the stairs, Tony slowed his steps down until he just stood there. Something wasn’t right. His instincts kicked in and he pulled his gun from its holster as he approached apartment 310. He glanced around the hallway, taking in everything he saw before looking back at the apartment door. The lock had been jimmied, and the door was slightly ajar. Tony crept forward until he could look through the crack left open in the doorway. Nothing moved inside the apartment. Tony used his

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shoulder to slowly push the door open until he could see every inch of the front room. It was empty. He made a quick check of the rest of the apartment. The bullet holes in the wall over the open bedroom window sent Tony into high alert. He radioed dispatch for backup and a crime scene unit. Walking back into the living room area, Tony started searching for clues as to what in the hell was going on. Detective Riojos Fernando was missing, as was the body of his dead partner, and someone had shot up their apartment. Every instinct Tony had was screaming at him that something really big was going on—and he was about to be dragged into it. Gee, wasn’t he the lucky cop today? **** “I’m scared, Riojos,” Collin whispered. Riojos’s arms tightened around his waist. “I know, mi amor. I’m scared, too.” Collin bit his lip. “Do you still love me?” Collin whimpered when Riojos grabbed his jaw and pulled his face around. He almost squeezed his eyes closed, afraid of what he would see in Riojos’s eyes. “What kind of question is that?” Riojos asked. “Of course I still love you. I will always love you. I told you that.” “Yeah, but…” “But what?” “But that was before you knew how much of a freak I am.” “Bebé, you’re not a freak.” Collin arched an eyebrow until Riojos chuckled. “Things are a little odd right now, but you are not a freak, Collin.” Collin scooted around until he lay on his back and could fully look up at Riojos. He yanked his shirt up and pointed to the smooth skin where he had been stabbed. “You don’t call that freaky?”

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“I call that a miracle.” “You’re nuts.” “No, I’m thankful.” Riojos’s chocolate-brown eyes started to sheen. “I’ve almost lost you twice. Whatever powers there are in the universe gave you back to me, both times, and I will be forever grateful to them. So, no, I don’t call this freaky. I call it a fucking miracle.” Riojos grinned, but Collin could see the worry in his eyes. He reached up and stroked his hand over the side of Riojos’s face. “You’re still worried. I can see it in your face.” “I am worried, Collin. Not about you coming back from the dead or healing from a stab wound but because I don’t know who is after you or if I can save you the next time. If… If…” Riojos pressed his lips together for a moment, and his eyes dropped away. When he looked back at Collin, they were full of tears. “If fate decides you’ve had your chances and someone tries to hurt you again, I’m afraid I won’t be there in time to save you.” “I’m starting to think that fate decided we belong together and nothing is going to keep us apart, not even death.” Riojos’s head tilted slightly, reminding Collin of a curious cat. “You really believe that, bebé?” “I do.” A slow grin broke out across Riojos’s face. “I love you, Collin. Have I told you that today?” “Once or twice.” Collin grinned back. “But it’s always nice to hear.” Collin swallowed hard when he felt Riojos’s hand slide under the covers and start unzipping his jeans. “What are you doing?” he whispered as his eyes widened. “Showing you how much I love you.” “Your brother is right across the room.” “Then I suggest you be very, very quiet, gatito.”

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Collin thought Riojos was out of his mind as the man began to nuzzle his neck then kiss him. How in the hell was he supposed to be quiet when Riojos was loving on him? It was almost impossible. When Riojos’s hand slipped under the waistband of Collin’s jeans and pulled out his cock, Collin moaned and arched into his lover’s firm touch. Nope, keeping quiet just wasn’t possible. Nothing that felt this good should ever be smothered. When Collin looked up at Riojos, his chocolate-brown eyes were smoldering. Collin groaned as he stared at his lover when Riojos’s thumb glided over the head of his cock. He pressed harder into his lover’s hand, wanting more, so much more than he could have right now. “Turn over,” Riojos mouthed. Collin glanced over his shoulder to see Sal had his back to them. Should he? Hell, that wasn’t even a question. Collin shifted around until his back was facing Riojos. His body began to hum as Riojos slid Collin’s jeans down his thighs. Collin had an urge to kick them off, but he knew they were restricted because of Sal. His eyes closed when Riojos’s wet fingers slid down his crease, pushing at his hole. Collin pushed back, wanting desperately for anything of Riojos’s to fill him. He hissed quietly when his lover’s fingers breached him. Riojos was only using spit. He needed to be a little gentler when sticking his fingers into Collin’s ass. “Te amo, mi corazón,” Riojos whispered to him. Collin felt goose bumps all over. He had that reaction anytime Riojos spoke to him in his native tongue. It was so damn sexy. Collin’s eyes snapped over to Sal as he felt Riojos shifting around, pulling his own pants down. Collin bit his lower lip as his lover slowly eased into him. His eyes closed briefly as Collin let the feeling of being filled by his lover overtake him. There was nothing in the world like it. Riojos was a large man, in every aspect, and that made Collin a very happy man. Riojos’s hand

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landed on Collin’s hip as he inched in. Collin quietly groaned as Riojos’s large cock filled him. “You are so tight, bebé.” Collin’s body shivered as Riojos continued to softly croon to him. It was a lover’s call that Collin would always answer. He pushed his ass into Riojos’s groin, feeling the cock that was buried in his ass graze over his prostate. Collin moaned. Riojos’s pace picked up as the bed began a soft squeak. They both smothered their laugh as Riojos tried his best to quiet it down. Hell, at this point, Collin couldn’t give a shit less if Sal were awake. Just as long as he continued to watch the wall, all would be good. Riojos leaned forward and nipped Collin’s ear. “I’m about to come in your ass, gatito.” Yes! Collin was all for that. What made it even better was when Riojos reached over them and grabbed Collin’s hardened shaft, stroking it as he snapped his hips, plunging deeply into Collin’s ass. Collin slapped a hand over his mouth as jets of hot seed shot from his cock. His eyes rolled back as Riojos continued to thrust into him. The bed was damn near walking across the floor as his lover punished his ass. Collin rolled to his hands and knees, not giving one ounce of care to who saw them. This was Riojos, his lover and best friend. Everyone else could kiss his exposed ass. Riojos’s fingers dug into his hips as a loud grunt left his lips. Collin could feel Riojos’s release pulsing into his ass. He pressed his shoulders into the mattress as he hitched his ass higher, wanting to feel his lover’s cock buried deeply. Riojos’s hand skimmed up his back as his lover pulled free. Collin whimpered at the empty feeling. Riojos chuckled and then pulled Collin down into his arms, yanking the discarded blanket from the end of the bed and draping it over them. Riojos kissed Collin’s temple. “Sleep.” “About fucking time,” Sal grunted from the other cot.

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Collin buried his face in Riojos’s chest, embarrassed as hell now that the lust fog had cleared his brain. He would never be able to look Sal in the face again. **** Riojos kept Collin tight to his side as the three walked through Old Town. Even in broad daylight the area was dangerous. There were a lot of shady characters hanging about, watching them as they made their way to Glisan Street and Fourth Avenue. That was where they were told Mr. Donahue conducted business. They had to ask more than one person. For some reason, no one wanted to give out any information on the guy. This made Riojos consider leaving Collin at the shelter with Rutledge. The man was large enough to provide protection to Collin, but his baby had thrown a snit about being left behind. He had a point when he said this concerned his life. He had a right to know. A small part of Riojos was relieved to have his partner in view anyway. He didn’t want to be separated from Collin. Not after everything that had happened in the past three days. “I think that’s it over there,” Sal said as he pointed to a rattylooking brick building. Half the windows in the place were broken, and the ones that weren’t had boards covering them. It was not a place Riojos wanted Collin walking into. His cop instincts told him to take Collin and run as far away as he could. But like his partner, Riojos wanted answers. “I think Collin needs to stay out here.” Sal voiced Riojos’s thoughts. “I’ll watch him, I promise.” Again, Riojos didn’t want to leave Collin behind. He felt a slightly better knowing Sal would be the one watching him. He knew his brother would protect Collin with his life. It was bad enough Riojos was walking into the unknown, but to take Collin with him was downright insane.

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Begrudgingly, Riojos nodded, releasing his lover into his brother’s care. “If anything happens, take Collin and run, Sal. I’m not fucking around. I’ll hand you your ass if anything happens to him.” “Uh, do I get a say in this?” Collin twisted his lips to his side and placed his hands on his hips. “No, love. I don’t know who or what is in there. It’s safer for you to stay out here with Sal.” “Safer for me, what about you? Do you think I could live without you?” Collin asked desperately, anguish laced through his words. Riojos cupped the side of his lover’s face, giving Collin what he hoped was a self-assured smile. “I’m a detective, remember? I’m used to situations like this. You’re not.” He could see that Collin wanted to argue further, but his partner rolled his lips in and looked to the ground, giving Riojos a slight nod. Riojos knew that was the hardest thing for Collin to do, but he wasn’t going to allow his man to walk into danger. He was already being hunted. To walk in with Collin would be like handing him over to the bad guys. Not happening on his watch. Riojos gave Collin a heated kiss before he walked away. They were a block away, his lover and brother tucked neatly beside a deli. Riojos blew out heavily as he left Collin behind. His police instincts kicked in as Riojos walked around the side of the building and then to the back. His eyes darted around as he looked at everything in his surroundings. He glanced up at the broken windows, spotting a few men watching him. One aimed his gun directly at Riojos, shouting down from the second floor. “State your business or eat a bullet.” Gee, was there really an option here? “I’m here to see Mr. Donahue.” The man raised the gun, closing one eye slightly as he looked through the scope that sat on top of the AR-15.

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Riojos’s hands automatically went up when the semiautomatic rifle was aimed directly at his head. “Tell him it’s about the person he is hunting.” The man’s laugh was void of humor. “That could be one of a dozen people. Try again, cop.” Riojos was going to neither confirm nor deny the cop accusation. In this area, that was a big no-no. “The morgue man.” The lookout man’s eyebrows rose slightly as a malevolent smile appeared on his face. “Wait right there.” Riojos had no choice in the matter. Another lookout was one window above the man who had just disappeared. He kept his hands in plain view as he waited. His eyes swept the entire building as he stood there. Riojos spotted three more men trying to be inconspicuous. He wanted to laugh. They sucked at it. He could pick them off easily, but that would negate his purpose of coming here. A back door creaked open, the lookout man that he had spoken with waiting just inside the door. Riojos didn’t like this. He knew he was walking into a trap, and there was nothing he could do about it. If he ran, they would chase him down. And there was an off chance that they just might spot Collin in the process. No, he needed to see this through. Riojos glanced up at the other lookouts as he made his way to the back door. If one of them moved a finger, he was shooting them all. His hands rose higher when he reached the back door as the wannabe gangster patted him down, relieving him of his piece. “You’ll get this back if Mr. Donahue says you can.” Somehow Riojos doubted Mr. Donahue would agree to Riojos getting his Glock back. The man led Riojos up a flight of metal stairs and down a hallway. The place had seen better days. The paint was an atrocious puke green, and the linoleum was peeling and cracked, years of grime covering its original color.

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Riojos took it all in as he trailed behind the bad guy. They stopped at a room with a heavy metal door. Riojos could tell the door was a recent addition. It was still shiny and stain free, somewhat. There were dark stains in the middle that he knew for sure were dried blood. “Wait here,” the man growled as he narrowed his eyes at Riojos. He had a strong urge to roll his. The man wouldn’t know a badass if he had his ass kicked by one. Some people needed to stay out of the crime business. Riojos kept a straight face as he nodded. As laughable as this thug was, the situation was dire. Riojos waited. He had a feeling things were being put into place inside the room. The guy who patted him down sucked at it, because he still had Lucille strapped to his ankle. Hadn’t the guy ever watched a cop movie before? “You can come in,” the man said as he swung the door wide. Riojos glanced around the room as he took one step inside. He stayed in the doorway, not allowing the thug to close it. He wasn’t going to be trapped. “Come in,” a man said from behind a very expensive-looking desk. The desk didn’t fit into the motif of the room. It was the only decent thing in the entire building. “I’d rather not.” The man in the white suit smiled. “A cautious man, I see.” Riojos nodded. “I am.” Mr. Donahue smiled. “Very well.” Riojos grunted when he was hit from behind with something hard. This was not his day.

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Chapter 7 Collin paced the floor of the corner deli. This was taking too long. Riojos should have been back by now. He walked back over to the large shop window, glancing out as he scratched his scalp. This wig was really starting to irritate him. “Get away from the window,” Sal warned quietly. Collin stomped back over to their table where his barely touched sandwich lay. “Something’s wrong. I can feel it.” Sal snorted. “Riojos can take care of himself. He’s one tough son of a bitch.” This did not reassure Collin. He wanted to see for himself. He paced around the table as he bit his thumbnail. There had to be a way to make sure his lover was okay. He glanced at Sal and then at the door. “Don’t even fucking think about—damn it, Collin!” Collin shot out of the door, running straight for the dilapidated warehouse. He just knew something was wrong. He could feel it in his gut. His feet faltered when a bullet whizzed past his head. Oh crap, he was being shot at! “Collin!” Sal shouted as he ran after him. Collin watched in horror as Sal was shot at. Thankfully the big man made it to Collin’s side unscathed. “I’m going to throw you over Riojos’s knee and demand he beat your ass.” Collin smiled up at him. “If you’re looking to punish me, that is not the way to do it.” He wiggled his brows. “TMI, Collin.” Sal shuddered. “Now that we’re here, what’s your brilliant plan, brother-in-law?”

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“We have to get inside and find Riojos.” “Duh. I meant how do we get past the gunmen?” Collin shrugged. “I was kinda hoping that you had an idea.” “What? Why you little—” Both their heads snapped around when they heard a squeaky door. Sal pushed Collin until they were in an alcove. Collin’s heart beat in his ears as they waited. A shadow crossed their path and Sal snap-grabbed the man, repeatedly punching him until the man slumped in Sal’s hand. “Remind me not to piss you off.” Sal grinned at him as he pulled the man into the alcove. “You never have to worry, ghost man.” That was a relief. Collin stuck his head out quickly. “Coast is clear.” They stepped over the downed gunman and headed for the door he had just exited. Sal went in first, reaching behind him and grabbing Collin’s wrist. Collin rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to treat me like this. I can walk perfectly on my own.” “Hush, squirt. Do you think I want Riojos kicking my ass because you got a boo-boo?” Collin giggled and then sobered as they crept around large stacks of boxes. He could hear shouting and thundering footsteps coming toward them. Sal pushed Collin behind a row of crates as he ducked as well. Collin was getting tired of Sal pushing him around. He was going to find a way to pay him back. Sal laid a finger over his lips and then pointed toward the ceiling. Collin swallowed when he saw a man walking a catwalk with a rifle propped on his shoulder. He prayed the man didn’t look down. The gunman would spot them right away if he did. Sal gave Collin a nudge. Collin smacked Sal’s hands as he tiptoed toward the back of the warehouse. If his theory was correct, he couldn’t die, but fuck if being shot wouldn’t hurt. He wasn’t too sure if a bullet to the head would kill him. A car smashing his body hadn’t, and neither had the stab wound.

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He just wasn’t too sure about a bullet, though, and he wasn’t willing to find out. Collin looked over his shoulder when Sal tapped it. Just as Collin was about to shout, Sal slapped a large hand over his mouth. They were carrying Riojos out of a room. He was either unconscious or dead. Collin struggled to break free of Sal, but Riojos’s brother had a firm grip on him. “Wait to see where they are taking him. It would be better to fight one guy than an entire warehouse,” Sal whispered in his ear. Collin could feel the tears falling. His Riojos was limp as he was pulled through the building like he didn’t matter. Collin wiped his eyes and nodded. Sal finally removed his hand as Collin looked around. He saw a pathway through the boxes that they could take and still be unseen. He started that way, Sal close on his heels. They walked around steel columns, weaving their way through the place until they were almost upon the man dragging his lover off. Collin had an urge to hurt that man really badly. Sal grabbed his upper arm, his head tilting to one side as he stared intently at Collin. “What?” Collin mouthed. Sal shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh. He pointed to Collin’s eyes. “They’re red,” he mouthed back. Collin reached up and felt his face, but he didn’t come away with any blood. He hadn’t a clue what Sal was talking about and at the moment, he could care less. He refocused on his partner, watching the man dragging him out of a side door. Both Collin and Sal looked around before creeping quietly toward the exit. Sal gently laid his hand on the push bar, cracking the door open as he, and then Collin, walked out. “Stop right there,” a man said who so happened to be holding a gun to Sal’s temple. “Not one false move.” Collin panicked. His lover was laid out on the ground, a few bruises on his face. He saw red when he realized his partner had been abused. Collin screeched as his hand swung out, long talon-like claws

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slashing the gunman across his throat. He stood there breathing heavily as he watched the man fall to the ground, blood gushing from his neck. Collin’s head snapped to his left as he looked over at his lover. “And you don’t want to piss me off?” Sal asked as he ran over to Riojos and lifted him up, tossing him over his shoulder. “You are one scary dude, ghost man. Come on, let’s get out of here.” Collin held his hands in front of his face, wondering what in the hell just happened. His fingers looked normal now, but he knew for a fact that a second ago, he had claws. If he didn’t find out what he was soon, Collin was afraid he’d lose his damn mind. “Let’s get moving before we have company,” Sal reminded Collin as they inched along the building. “I’m not even going to ask what just happened, and when you find out, don’t tell me.” “Okay,” Collin said as he examined Riojos’s face. He kept moving, but his hand reached out and brushed lightly over his lover’s bruises. Whoever did this was going to pay dearly. No one messed with his Rio. “Okay, when I say run, fucking run. Don’t look back, don’t pass go, and you better not collect two hundred dollars.” Collin cocked his head, smiling at Sal. “I really would have missed that.” Sal cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, stop getting sappy and shake a leg. They’re going to be shooting at us.” Collin nodded. “Got it. Where are we running to?” “Just follow me. Don’t lag behind, ghost man.” Collin grinned. The nickname was starting to grow on him. “I won’t.” “One, two, three, go!” ****

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Tony walked out of East Precinct. He hadn’t gotten anywhere in there. Detective Riojos Fernando was on leave, mourning the loss of his life partner, and not many of the other officers that he worked with would talk. It was like Riojos and his lost lover were a taboo subject inside the precinct. He walked over to his car, placing his hand on the hood as he looked around. There had to be a way to track the detective down. He couldn’t have just disappeared into thin air. Tony rubbed his chin as he thought of all the clues he had so far. The body was missing from the morgue. Riojos was missing from his apartment. The apartment was riddled with bullet holes. The bedroom window was opened to the fire escape. In the dead of winter, that told Tony that somebody used that as a means of escape. And there were whispers of increased criminal activity down in Old Town. He didn’t know if all of the information was connected, but Old Town seemed like a good place to start his investigation. Tony tapped the top of his car with his fist and then climbed in. He hoped he came across some clues soon. None of this was adding up, and now he had a missing detective. He took Burnside Bridge, turning onto Second Avenue. Tony drove slowly, his eyes scanning the neighborhood, as he looked for anything unusual. Okay, more unusual than what Old Town already offered. Tony hit his brakes, the tires screeching as two men ran in front of him, one carrying a body. “Fucking unreal.” He jumped out of his car, pulling his police-issued Glock. “Freeze.” The shorter man looked over his shoulder but didn’t stop. Tony’s blood froze when he recognized the man. The hair was off, but the face was something he had memorized from staring at the photos for so damn long. It was the dead man from the morgue. “Stop, police!” Tony shouted as he gave chase. He wasn’t sure what the fuck was going on, but he was going to get to the bottom of

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things. For a short man and a big guy lugging an unconscious—or dead—body over his shoulder, they were fast! “I said stop!” Tony was getting pissed. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on, and this case baffled him from jump one. He rounded the corner the other two had taken only to find an empty street. “Fuck!” Tony walked around for a minute, searching doorways and shops, but the two had disappeared. He begrudgingly walked back to his car. Amazingly, it was still there, the motor running. The hoodlums must still be sleeping. It was only dawn. He climbed in and slammed the door, angry as fuck. What started out as a simple missing body report had turned into a baffling case that Tony was determined to solve. **** Riojos groaned as his hand landed on the back of his head. Within a second he was on his feet, his gun, Lucille, in his hand, and alert. “Whoa, put your damn gun away,” Sal said as he shoved Collin behind him. “You’re at the shelter.” Riojos blinked, taking in his surroundings. He shoved his Walther PPK back into his ankle holster and then reached out and grabbed Collin, hugging him close. Collin’s hand swatted at him. “I may not be able to die, but having my breathing constricted burns the lungs.” Riojos released Collin, but still held his partner in his arms. “What happened?” Collin huffed as he narrowed his eyes at Sal. “I had to rescue you. Your brother was going to let them string you up.” Riojos grinned. “You rescued me, bebé?” Collin smacked Riojos’s chest. “Don’t sound so shocked. My Rio was in trouble, and I ran in and saved the day.”

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Sal snorted with laughter. “You almost got your skinny ass shot off, too. If it weren’t for me, the man at the door would have had you.” “Whatever.” Collin sniffed. “If it weren’t for me, you’d still have your large ass sitting at the deli waiting on Riojos to return.” Riojos was getting a headache. “Okay, it doesn’t matter. I thank the both of you.” Collin beamed up at him. “I did good, huh?” Riojos cupped his face. “You did.” He leaned forward, licking Collin’s bottom lip before taking his lover in a sizzling kiss. His tongue thrust into Collin’s mouth, making his partner whimper. “I just need a thanks. Come near me with those lips, and you’ll wish the bad guys had finished you off.” Sal grunted as the door swung open. Riojos had Collin behind him and his gun pulled…again when he noticed it was only Rutledge. “Hell. Put that away before you poke someone’s eye out.” Riojos cocked his head to the side, wondering what in the blue blazes Rutledge was talking about until he followed the man’s eyes. Riojos’s cock was hard and tenting his jeans, making itself known. He felt a blush sweep across his face as he shrugged. “Tells you it’s still working properly.” This gained him a cuff from Collin. “Okay, men.” Rutledge shook his head. “Word on the street is that Mr. Donahue is in an uproar. He has his men combing the streets looking for you, Riojos. I don’t know where he got his information, but he knows who you are and that you’re a detective.” “Fuck,” Riojos cursed. “There has to be a dirty cop involved. This Donahue jackass probably called someone at the precinct, gave them the serial number off of my gun, and found out who I was that way.” Riojos growled and slammed his fist into the wall. He felt like they were being boxed in, and Riojos didn’t like that. “I want my damn gun back.”

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“Riojos,” Collin whispered, sounding scared, and that just wouldn’t do. Riojos walked over and wrapped Collin in his arms again. He glanced over at Sal then Rutledge. “Thanks for your help, Rutledge. Maybe you should stay low and not let anyone know you’ve even met us. It might be safer for you.” “But I am involved,” Rutledge insisted. “I don’t quite understand what is going on here, but I think there is more safety in numbers. You all get some rest down here. I’ll head on upstairs and see what I can find out. Just keep your ears open.” Rutledge turned and left them alone in the dank basement without another word. Riojos looked around, thinking to himself that this was no way for his baby to live. If it took until his last breath, he was going to find out what was going on and who was behind all of this. “So, ghost man here grew claws and ripped some guy’s throat out.” “Uh…” Riojos swung around to stare at his brother. “Excuse me? Could you repeat that? I could have sworn you said that Collin grew claws and—” “I did.” Riojos stared at his brother for the longest time, seconds ticking by. He was just having the hardest time processing what his brother had said. It didn’t make sense. Riojos finally glanced over at his lover. Collin looked scared out of his mind. His lower lip was caught between his teeth, his eyes lowered as if he were afraid to meet Riojos’s gaze. “Well, you’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” “I’m sorry,” Collin whispered as he started to shake. “I’m not.” Collin’s mouth was hanging open when his head snapped up. “You’re not?” “No, if you can rip someone’s throat out then you are better able to protect yourself.” Riojos reached over and tapped his finger against

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the end of Collin’s pert little nose. “And I’m all about you being protected. I don’t care how it happens.” “Riojos.” Collin held up his perfectly human hand. “I grew claws out of my hand and killed someone.” “Good.” “Good?” “Yes, good,” Riojos replied. “If anyone tries to harm you again, I expect you to do the very same thing.” “Um…” Collin frowned and slowly lowered his hand. “Okay.” **** Tony sat down at his desk, grabbing the file on Collin Phoenix. He flipped it open and shuffled through the pictures of the accident. When he came across one that had a clear view of Collin’s face, Tony studied it intently. He’d bet his left nut that the man he saw running this morning and the man in this picture were one and the same. He set the picture aside and went through the report, tapping his finger on the item that he needed. Tony grabbed the phone on his desk and dialed the number. He picked the picture back up and studied it as the phone on the other end rang. “Hello?” “Hello. This is Detective Santano from the Portland Police Department. Am I speaking with Mrs. Phoenix?” There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment before Tony heard a sniffle and then a whispered answer. “Yes.” “I’m sorry to call you, but I was trying to close this case out and needed a little more information.” “What kind of information, Detective? My son is dead. What more is there?”

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God, Tony hated this shit. It was never good to remind a mother that a fucking runaway car crushed her son. “Did he have a brother? More specifically, a twin?” He heard a swift intake of air on the other end before Mrs. Phoenix started babbling. Just what Tony was looking for. “No. He was an only child. Collin never gave us any trouble as a child growing up. He was the model son. Collin worked hard in school, received excellent marks, and was kind and gentle.” She sniffed and then continued. “I just wish I had the chance to tell him he was adopted.” Tony’s sat up straight, grabbing a pen from a cup holder. “He was adopted?” “Well, yes. Why does that have anything to do with his death?” Tony wasn’t sure, but he’d bet his right nut that it had everything to do with his death. “Tell me about the adoption, Mrs. Phoenix.” She cleared her throat. “Lawrence and I tried a few adoption agencies, but we finally gave up when we realized we couldn’t afford to adopt. Twenty-something years ago, it all depended on your income. Well, one day a man came to our home and said he worked for an agency that didn’t look at income, but the credentials of the parents.” “Do you remember his name?” Tony held his breath, pen at the ready. “Why yes. His name was Mr. Cavalier. Reginald Cavalier. He said he worked for a private agency that was ready to help us adopt. We went through all of the paperwork, signed on the dotted line, and then we were given Collin. Why, Detective Santano? Wasn’t the adoption legal? We didn’t do anything wrong. We signed all of the legal documents and went through an extensive background check.” He just bet they did. “Do you still have the paperwork?” “Yes. It’s in our bedroom in a lockbox. Please tell me what’s going on.”

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Tony needed to take that desperation out of her voice. He had a feeling that if he uncovered what was really going on he wouldn’t tell her. She didn’t need to be involved. “It’s, uh, routine, ma’am. May I come by to collect the paperwork?” Again, Tony held his breath. “I can make copies and bring them back to you right away.” “Sure. I’ll go get it and have it waiting for you.” Yes! Now he was getting somewhere. Tony said good-bye and hung up the phone. He grabbed his jacket and practically ran out of the squad room. He wanted to get to those papers before they, too, mysteriously disappeared.

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Chapter 8 “What are we going to do, Riojos?” “At the moment, mi amor, stay low.” “Maybe we should go talk with my parents.” Collin pressed his lips together and stared down at his hands. He was so confused about every damn thing that was currently going on in his life. “Your parents?” Collin nodded. “Maybe they know what’s going on with me because this isn’t normal, Riojos. It’s just not.” Collin looked up when Riojos suddenly hunkered down in front of him. He couldn’t get over the acceptance he saw in Riojos’s face. “Not being normal doesn’t mean bad, bebé.” Riojos grinned. “Besides, normal is boring.” Collin chuckled at the grin on Riojos’s face. He couldn’t help it. Their lives were in total chaos, and yet Riojos was doing everything he could to make Collin feel better. “I still think we should go talk to my parents.” “Collin, while I think talking to your parents isn’t a bad idea, they don’t know you didn’t die in that car accident.” Collin felt the blood drain from his face as he thought of the pain his parents must be in right now. They thought he was dead. Tears started forming in his eyes. “Oh god, Riojos, we have to—” “We have to wait, Collin.” Riojos reached over and grabbed Collin’s hand. “I know they are suffering right now, and I would do anything to keep that from happening. Your parents are good people. But they could be put into more danger if we told them than if we let them suffer just a bit longer. We can tell them what’s going on soon.”

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“But—” “If they learn you’re alive at this point, Mr. Donahue can use them to get to you.” Collin swallowed past the lump building in his throat. It pained him to think of what his parents might be going through, but Riojos did have a point. “I don’t want anything to happen to them.” “I hate to bring it to your attention,” Sal said from across the small room, “but Mr. Donahue obviously knows Collin is alive. I don’t think he would care one way or the other if Collin’s parents know. And, while I understand your caution, Riojos, I don’t think ghost man’s resurrection should come from that slimeball.” “Shit!” Riojos snapped as he jumped to his feet and started pacing. He paused for a moment, rubbing his chin, then turned to look at Sal. “Okay, go ask Rutledge if he has a car we can borrow. We need to get over to Collin’s parents’ house as fast as we can and move them to a safer location until we can figure out what is going on here.” Sal nodded and raced out the door. Collin’s eyes widened when Riojos turned back to face him. He could tell from the hesitation written all over Riojos’s frowning face what the man was going to say before he said it. Collin stood up and started shaking his head. “Oh no, you are not leaving me here.” “Collin—” “No!” “It’s too dangerous.” Collin cocked his head to one side and stared at Riojos. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going with?” “It is too dangerous, Collin. You could be hurt or—” Collin held his hand up in front of him and wished for claws. When they grew right out of his fingertips, he wasn’t sure who was more surprised, him or Riojos. Still, before he could let the sight of them freak him out to much, he waved them in front of Riojos.

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“Okay, that”—Riojos pointed to Collin’s clawed hand—“is going to take some getting used to.” Collin almost recoiled away from Riojos when he leaned closer. The whole waiting to freak out was fading away, and he was moving into a full-blown panic. His chest started to feel tight. “But you’ll get used to it, right?” Riojos’s eyes snapped up to his. “Oh, of course. I’m just curious how well you can control them. Can you make them extend and retract at will?” Collin blinked then stared at his hand, watching as the sharp claws came and went with a thought. “Apparently, I can.” Collin almost jumped out of his skin when Riojos whooped, grabbed him around the waist, and spun him around. Riojos seemed ecstatic that he could control the weird ass shit going on with his body. Collin wasn’t sure what to make of that. “Why are you so excited?” Collin asked when Riojos finally set him down. Riojos grabbed Collin’s hand with the claws still extended and waved it in front of Collin’s face. “Because these mean that you have a way to defend yourself that no one can take away from you. As we’ve learned, they can take guns and knives and other things like that. These are attached.” Okay, that made a weird sort of sense to Collin. A wicked though occurred to him, and Collin smiled. He once again extended his claws, lifted Riojos’s shirt with his other hand, and then raked them down his lover’s chest. Riojos visibly shuddered. “Oh hell, querido. Do that again.” Looking over his shoulder at the closed door, Collin unsnapped Riojos’s jeans and freed his lover’s cock. It was already half hard. Collin let his claws glide over the silken shaft, watching Riojos’s eyes roll back. “You like that?”

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“Yes,” Riojos hissed as his hands yanked at his jeans, pulling them down further. Riojos spun around, planting his back against the door as he stared at Collin with smoldering eyes. “Suck me off.” Collin shivered at the command. He absolutely loved when Riojos got all demanding on him. It was such a big turn-on. He dropped to his knees, wrapping his non-clawed hand around his lover’s cock as he leaned in and swiped the weeping head with his tongue. Riojos was hard as a rock now. “Put it in your mouth, querido. Suck it.” Collin knew when to tease and when not to. Riojos was too close for foreplay. Collin parted his lips, taking his lover’s large cock into his mouth. The salty taste of pre-cum made his taste buds come to life. “That’s it, gatito, suck it.” Collin slid Riojos’s cock to the back of his throat, letting his tongue play with the satiny smooth skin. He took his clawed hand and lightly raked it over Riojos’s balls. His lover’s legs quivered as Collin starting bobbing his head, creating a tight seal and sucking vigorously on Riojos’s cock. “Sí, bebé, suck it.” Riojos’s voice was climbing, his thigh muscles tightening as his hands pushed the wig from Collin’s head and then ran his fingers through Collin’s hair. Collin was close himself. Being able to make Riojos lose control was a feeling of empowerment that was getting Collin off. “Why is the door locked?” Sal called from the other side. Collin glanced up at Riojos as he sucked his lover’s cock deeper into his mouth. If Riojos made him stop, he was going to claw the man’s balls. Riojos’s head snapped back and forth, telling Collin he was going to do no such thing. Riojos’s jaw tightened, his corded muscles in his neck straining as he cried out, hot jets of seed splashing the back of Collin’s throat. Collin sucked and swallowed, greedily drinking every drop.

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Riojos fell back against the door, panting as he pulled Collin up into his arms. He wiped his face and then reached to free Collin’s cock. He let him. “That is so fucking hot,” Riojos said when he saw the sticky mess in Collin’s pants. “Do you know how that makes me feel to know I have that effect on you?” Collin practically purred from the compliment. “No, tell me,” he said as he rubbed his still buzzing body against Riojos’s. “Okay, I heard him shout, so the show’s over. Do you want to get there or not?” Sal called out again. Collin rolled his eyes. “I think our bonding time is over.” He retracted his claws and then snapped his jeans closed. So much for an after-blow-job cuddling session. Riojos smiled as he placed his thumb and index finger on Collin’s chin, lifting it for a kiss. “We will cuddle in the car.” Collin loved that Riojos knew him so well. He took a step back, allowing Riojos to right his clothes before opening the door. “About time,” Sal grunted. “I swear danger must turn you two on.” Collin grinned up at Riojos. Danger didn’t turn him on. Riojos did. **** Riojos could see Collin worrying his hands in his lap as they turned down his parents’ street. He prayed to god that Collin’s older parents didn’t have a heart attack from seeing their not-so-dead son again. He placed his hand over Collin’s, stopping them from shredding his shirt. “I know you are nervous, but we’ll get through this. The important thing is getting them to safety.” He could see Collin relax marginally as he smiled weakly up at Riojos. “I just don’t want to scare the life out of them. What do I tell

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them, Riojos? I haven’t a clue what’s going on, so I have no answers to give.” “We’ll tell them the truth and work from there,” he said as Sal pulled into the Phoenixes’ driveway. He knew Collin was scared out of his mind, but Riojos wasn’t calm either. He had gotten to know Collin’s parents, had dined with them, watched sports with Lawrence, and had helped the elderly couple out on many occasions with tasks around the house that needed done that the father could no longer handle. He liked them. Sal and Riojos had grown up with just their mother and she spent their entire childhood working, so having Collin’s parents in his life felt like he had a real family, a whole one. He didn’t want to do anything to hurt them. “Stay in the car, Collin. Let me go break the news to them and then I’ll come get you. Sal will stay with you.” “Break it to them gently, Riojos. They’re older. They may not handle this so well.” Riojos nodded. “I’ll be very gentle with them, mi amor.” Riojos climbed out of the car and walked around to the back of the house. He glanced around, surveying the area before he rang the doorbell. Within moments Mrs. Phoenix answered the door, her cheeks flushed. “Oh, Riojos. I thought you were Detective Santano.” Riojos’s hackles instantly rose at Claire’s words. “You have a detective coming to see you, Claire?” Her bottom lip quivered as she nodded. “Come in, dear.” She stood back and allowed Riojos to enter. He stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking around. “Where’s Lawrence?” “He’s in the spare room resting,” she said as she walked over to the counter and lifted a mug, taking a sip. “Tell me about this detective, Madre.” Clair’s eyes misted as she turned toward Riojos. “I so miss hearing you call me mom.” She pulled a chair out and took a seat,

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recounting the story of the strange phone call and how the detective was on his way. Riojos had to work fast. He had to get the elderly couple out of there before Detective Santano showed up. It wouldn’t bode well for anyone. “I need you to listen carefully, Madre. Do you trust me?” Claire nodded. “With my life.” That was exactly what Riojos was about to ask her to entrust to him. “I need you to quickly pack while I wake Lawrence. There are some very bad men heading this way that will hurt you and papi. I have to get you out of here and take you someplace safe.” “You’re scaring me, Riojos. Please tell me what’s going on.” Riojos’s jaw clenched. He didn’t have time to go into details now that he knew another detective was on his way. “Collin survived the crash, Madre.” He reached out and grabbed her hand as her entire body began to tremble. “No,” she whispered. “Why are you doing this to me?” “Because it’s the truth,” Collin said from the kitchen door. Claire screamed and then jumped from the kitchen chair, her hand lying on her bosom. “Collin?” “Please, Mom. I need you and pop to hurry. It isn’t safe here. I promise to explain everything in the car.” Riojos wanted to paddle Collin’s backside for not listening, but his disobedience was getting results because Claire hurried toward the steps leading to the upstairs. “Go help your mom pack. I’ll go wake your dad.” Collin nodded as he raced upstairs, running into their bedroom. Riojos walked to the spare room Lawrence loved to nap in. He always said something about Claire not bothering him in the spare room. Claire said Lawrence snored so she allowed it. “Lawrence,” Riojos said softly as he walked into the room and knelt beside the old man’s chair. Lawrence wasn’t asleep. He was just staring out the window. “Papi?”

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Lawrence turned his head to stare at Riojos, blinking rapidly. “Oh, Riojos.” Lawrence smiled. “Is it Sunday already?” Riojos frowned. While it was true that he and Collin tried to have dinner with Lawrence and Claire every Sunday, Lawrence didn’t look like he was in touch with reality. His eyes were glossed over. Riojos decided to go with it. “Papi, Collin and I want to take you to show you something.” “Collin?” Lawrence whispered. “My boy is here?” “Yes, he’s helping Claire get some stuff together for our little surprise.” Riojos stood and held out his hand. “Why don’t you come with me? I’ll take you to him.” “That would be nice.” Lawrence slowly stood up as if his age and another twenty years were finally getting to him. “I’d like to see Collin. I miss him. You two don’t come to visit often enough.” “We’ll come more often, I promise.” And Riojos meant it. Collin’s parents were very important to him. When Riojos fell in love with Collin, the older couple became important to him as well. He was especially enamored of them because of the way they accepted his relationship with Collin. As long as he never hurt Collin, they didn’t care that they were two men. Riojos didn’t even have that easy acceptance from his own mother. She accepted that he was gay, but she was also constantly talking about his need to settle down with some nice young girl and give her a grandchild. Wasn’t going to happen. “Collin,” Riojos called out as he led Lawrence into the hallway. “Come help me with your father.” A moment later, Riojos heard Collin come running down the stairs. When Collin appeared in the doorway, Lawrence began to shake. Riojos laid his hand on the old man’s shoulder to steady him. “I know this is very confusing, Papi, but Collin didn’t die in that accident.” Riojos held out his hand to Collin, gesturing for his lover to step closer. Collin looked as close to tears as Lawrence did. “You see, Papi, Collin is just fine.”

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“But…but the police came,” Lawrence whispered as if he had just come out of his gloomy state. “They said Collin had been crushed by a car, that he died. We’re supposed to have the funeral in a few days.” “Pop, I—” Collin glanced at Riojos. Riojos gave a small shake of his head. “We’ll talk about it in the car. We need to get on the road.” “The road?” Lawrence frowned. “Are we going somewhere?” “Someone is after us, Papi,” Riojos explained. “They might come after you and Claire to get to us. We want to take you somewhere safe.” Lawrence’s frown deepened, and a deep, growling grunt type of sound came out of his mouth. “No one threatens my family and gets away with it.” Riojos blinked in surprise when Lawrence tore out of his grasp and stalked out of the room. The sound of Lawrence grumbling to himself slowly faded away. Riojos looked at his lover. “Any idea where he’s going?” “Oh yeah.” Collin chuckled. He folded his arms over his waist as if he was trying to hold his amusement in. “Did my pop ever tell you what he did before I was born?” “No.” “Then you really need to go down to the basement and help him out. Just don’t be surprised if not everything he has down there is legal.” Riojos had to see this.

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Chapter 9 Detective Anthony Santano pulled up in front of Collin Phoenix’s home. He really didn’t want to go in there. Seeing a woman cry, a woman as old as his own mother, was going to eat at him. He sighed as he cut the motor and climbed out of the Crown Victoria. He slammed the door shut and walked up the small stoned walkway. Tony noticed a car in the driveway. He wasn’t sure if the Phoenixes owned a car, but he knew for sure someone was sitting behind the wheel. Tony growled when the man turned his head, looking at something in the backyard, and recognition hit him. It was the man that had run in front of his car back in Old Town, carrying that body. He wasn’t sure what the fuck was going on, but Tony was about to get some answers. He was tired of chasing his tail. He pulled his Glock from its holster as he walked back around front of the house, quietly opening the screen door. He jiggled the handle to see that the front door was unlocked. Once he solved this case, he was going to come back and lecture the elderly couple about locking their damn door. For now, Tony used it to his advantage. He pushed the front door opened, his gun raised as he stepped into the house, not making a sound. He heard talking in the next room. Tony stilled when he reached the entryway, listening closely. “Then you really need to go down to the basement and help him out. Just don’t be surprised if not everything he has down there is legal.”

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Tony swung around the entryway, his gun held out in front of him. “Freeze. No one move a fucking inch.” “You must be Detective Santano,” an elderly woman said as her hands shot into the air. Tony wanted to roll his eyes. Of the three people standing there, the mother had to be the one to cooperate. “I am. Now I need both of you to raise your hands.” The larger of the two men shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t comply. I need to get everyone out of here, Detective. It’s not safe.” Tony wasn’t sure what to believe. This case stunk from the word go. He glanced at the dead man walking, wondering what on god’s green earth was really going on. “Talk to me, but don’t move a fucking muscle.” “Language!” the shorter man pointed to the elderly woman. “I won’t have you talking that way in front of my mom.” Tony felt a headache coming on. “Fine, I apologize, Mrs. Phoenix. Now tell me what’s going on before I shoot someone.” “It’s a very long story. One we don’t have time to discuss right now. I’m asking you as one detective to another to help me get my partner’s parents out of here and tucked somewhere safe.” Tony wavered. Nothing added up and nothing made sense. Should he believe Detective Fernando, or was the guy blowing smoke up his ass? His instincts were all over the chart. He saw the plea in the dead man’s eyes and the hesitant look on the older woman’s face. “Put your hands down, ma’am,” Tony said as he looked back over at the detective. “How do I know you’re not dirty and this conspiracy, or whatever it is, is legal? I just heard something about a basement and illegal items down there.” “Oh crap, the cops,” an older man said as he emerged from a door Tony assumed to be the basement. His gun came up higher as he checked the elderly man for weapons. And boy did he see plenty. “A grenade launcher?” The elderly man smiled. “Don’t bust my balls.” His head snapped over to his wife. “Sorry, hon.”

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She blushed but shrugged. Tony was really getting a headache now. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on before I arrest the lot of you?” “Condensed version,” the detective began, “is that Collin didn’t die. Okay, he did, but he’s back.” The elderly woman gasped as the husband scratched at his chin. “Now every freak out there is after him. I’m afraid Collin’s parents will be used against us. So are you in, Detective?” Tony mulled over what the man just fed him. Normally, he would call for a wagon and demand the whole bunch have a psychiatric exam, but he knew for a fact Collin had died. No one could fake those accident pictures. “Who’s out in the car?” “My brother. Believe me, he doesn’t like this either. He still thinks he’s in bed dreaming all of this.” Tony knew how the man felt. “Do you know who is after you?” He glanced at Collin, squelching the urge to walk over and poke him to make sure he was real. This just couldn’t be happening. Maybe he was being paid back for Donald. His ex said he would end up a lonely man, but he also said Tony was a cold-hearted bastard. Even though Tony agreed with Donald, he didn’t think this should be his penance. “How did he come back to life?” he asked as he nodded at Collin. The parents turned to look at their son as everyone waited on an answer. Tony’s gun flew back up, aiming at the large man standing in the kitchen doorway. “Hey, put that dang thing away.” The man snickered. “I just wanted to let you know we have company. Let’s go.” Tony ran to the living room, the other detective following him as the brother helped the couple with their bags. “Fuck,” Tony cursed as he watched a car pull up behind his. He knew the man climbing out of the back of a car parked on the street in front of the house. “That’s Leland Donahue. Is that who’s after you?”

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“Yeah. And he has already killed Collin once in his psychotic quest to get his hands on my partner.” “Whoa, let me get this straight. Collin’s died twice?” “Yep.” “When?” “Can we do this later, Detective? I promise to explain everything then, but I need to get these people out of here before they die, too. I’m not sure they will come back.” “Right.” The man held out his hand. “Name’s Riojos.” Tony eyed the man’s hand and then shook it. “Tony.” “Okay, Tony. We need to get Collin’s parents out of here. Any ideas?” “One. I can walk outside and stall them, question why they’re here while you get the couple out of here. But I want to know where you’re going. I’m not through with you.” “I didn’t think so. We’re heading to the family cabin up on Mt. Hood by Timothy Lake. Just follow Highway 26 until you see the Phoenix sign.” Tony nodded. “I’ll see you there.” Riojos’s hand patted Tony’s shoulder. “Thanks, and be careful.” Somehow Tony knew he was about to walk out into a clusterfuck. He steeled his shoulders as he nodded. “Just get them out of here safely. I’ll see you at the cabin.” **** Collin helped carry his parents’ luggage into the cabin. He hadn’t been here in ages. He took the suitcases to the main bedroom, but not before showing Sal and Riojos where the bathroom was. Riojos had checked the entire cabin out before allowing anyone to enter, so Collin knew his parents would be safe here. “Pop?” His father turned around from the large bay window. “Yeah?”

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Collin wasn’t sure where to begin. They had rode in silence the whole way, his pop stealing glances at him every now and then. Collin wanted to reassure his father, but he didn’t want to upset his mother. He knew them like the back of his hand. News like this, he would tell his pop and then let him tell Collin’s mother. She was too delicate for Collin to handle. Lawrence Phoenix insisted on breaking any bad, or in this case, bizarre news to his wife. It made growing up a little easier when pop always broke the news to mom. “I’m sorry about all of this.” “Never be sorry for coming back to us, son. I think your mother would have followed right after you in a few months. She needs you, Collin. She’s needed you since the moment she set eyes on you.” Collin nodded and moved to sit down in one of the plush chairs in front of the fireplace. His mother doted on him and he knew it. There was a time in his life when he hated it, but now he knew it for the miracle that it was. “Can you tell me what is going on, son?” pop asked as he sat in the chair across from Collin. “I’m not sure I know.” Collin leaned back and pushed his hand through his hair. “The last few days have been really crazy.” “Start at the beginning.” “The beginning, wow, um…I woke up in the morgue about four days ago without a scratch on me.” “So, you did die then?” “I think so.” Collin frowned. “I mean, I can’t seem to die now so…maybe Sal is right. Maybe I am a ghost.” Collin swallowed hard when his dad’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you can’t die now?” “Well, I’m not positive I can’t die, but we got jumped a couple of days ago and I got stabbed in the side. It healed right up.” “So, you can be injured then?”

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“Yeah, and it hurts like a bitch, too.” Collin rubbed his side, remembering the pain. “You feel pain?” “Oh yeah.” “Let me see where you got stabbed, Collin.” Collin jumped to his feet and stepped over to his father, pulling up his shirt. He stroked his hand down his side where he had been stabbed. “Right here. There was blood and everything, but when Riojos wiped the blood away, there was no injury.” Collin almost giggled when his dad’s hand moved over his unblemished skin. It tickled. “Collin, son, where’s your appendectomy scar?” “My what?” “You had your appendix taken out when you were two. There was a small scar right here.” Lawrence pointed to a spot on Collin’s abdomen. “I don’t know.” Collin started to tremble as his father just stared at him. Would the man believe him now? Be afraid of him? Call him ghost man like Sal did? “Pop?” Collin whispered. Lawrence glanced up then gave Collin a weak smile. “We’ll figure this out, Collin.” Collin pulled his shirt back down. “I hope so because—” “There’s a car pulling up in front of the house,” Riojos said as he came barreling out of the kitchen. “Collin, take your parents into the back bedroom until I know who it is.” Collin didn’t even question it. He grabbed his father’s hand and raced toward the bedroom where his mom was. His heart thundered in his chest as he shut the door behind him and leaned back against it, eyeing his parents. His father held his mother’s hand, both of them looking worried. “It’ll be okay,” Collin said. “Riojos won’t let anything happen to us. We’re his family.”

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**** Riojos leaned against the wall, his gun in his hand, then turned his head and peered out through the small slit in the curtains. He cursed when he didn’t recognize the man getting out. Riojos nodded to Sal as his brother moved to the other side of the window. “Friends of yours?” Sal asked. “No.” Riojos shook his head. “We need to find out how these assholes keep tracking us down. I’d like to take a day or two and decompress, but from the moment Collin returned home, we’ve been on the run.” Sal nodded. “I’ll go out the back door. Keep him in sight.” Riojos planned on it. He glanced back out through the slit, seeing the man just standing there looking around. Nothing was adding up, and Riojos was about to get some answers, even if he had to shoot them out of the stranger. In one smooth motion, Riojos had the door open, gun raised, and headed right toward the startled man. “State your name.” “Is Collin here?” “State your fucking name,” Riojos shouted. His gun was aimed at the man’s forehead, his finger on the trigger. Riojos wasn’t taking any chances with his entire family here at the cabin. They were his life, and he’d be damned if he lost any one of them. “I’m Geoffrey Dannenberg. I was sent to help Collin.” Riojos saw his brother from the corner of his eye. Sal crept around the trees outlining the cabin, finally moving in behind Dannenberg. “Who sent you?” “Is Collin here?” the man asked with irritation. “I must speak to him.” Riojos grinned when Sal placed the barrel of his gun to the nape of the man’s neck. “I’d answer his questions if I were you.” The man glanced from Riojos to the cabin.

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“Don’t even think about it. If you somehow manage to get past Sal and me, then you have to get past the crazy ex-military man in there. By the way, he has a grenade launcher. Now talk.” The man swallowed and then nodded. “Mr. Cavalier sent me.” “Who?” Riojos asked. “This is why I need to talk to Collin,” the man snapped. “Please, let me talk to him.” Riojos holstered his weapon and then walked over to the irritating fuckhead. He grabbed him by his collar, slamming him into his car. “I’ve had about enough of this cloak-and-dagger bullshit. You are not getting one damn look at my partner until you tell me what in the hell is going on.” Riojos’s forearm hooked under the man’s jaw, and Sal swung around to point his gun at the driveway when they heard another car coming their way. Riojos put a choke hold on the man as he dragged him to the back of the cabin. “Did you bring someone else with you?” The man’s eyes grew wide as he clung to the arm wrapped around his neck. “No, I swear it’s just me.” Sal plastered his body against the log cabin, peeking quickly around the corner. He sighed. “It’s that cop from the house.” Riojos relaxed his grip slightly as he led Dannenberg back to the front of the house. He pushed him onto the hood of the car as he waited for Tony to get out. The cop’s brows furrowed as he looked from Dannenberg to Riojos. “He just showed up looking for Collin,” Riojos informed the other detective. Tony nodded, walking over to the car Dannenberg had driven here and reached into the stranger’s back pocket, extracting a wallet. “Why didn’t you ask to see ID?” “I was more inclined to beat the shit out of him for being uncooperative,” Riojos answered flippantly. Who the fuck did Tony think he was questioning him?

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Tony smirked as he flipped the wallet open and dug through the contents. “There’s not much here. Some bills and a driver’s license that says he’s Geoffrey Dannenberg from Missouri.” Riojos inched the man’s arm up behind his back. “Now, why would you travel all the way from Missouri just to have a conversation, Mr. Dannenberg?” The man grunted, pulling at his arm as he narrowed his eyes at Tony. “Because, jackasses, if I don’t talk to Collin, he’s dead.” Riojos snorted as he leaned in closer. “In case no one has informed you, Collin is dead.” The man gasped as he looked at all three men from the hood of the car. “Then it has begun.”

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Chapter 10 Collin paced back and forth across the room as he glanced at his parents. He wasn’t sure what to say. Somehow he felt sorry for getting you involved in my life after death bullshit just didn’t seem adequate. “Tell him, Lawrence.” Collin looked over at his mom, wondering what she was talking about. “Tell me what?” “Claire, I don’t think now is a good time,” Lawrence said as he patted her hand. “He’s under enough stress.” “Hogwash. You tell him or I will.” His mom crossed her arms over her bosom. Collin didn’t think he had ever seen his mother put her foot down like this. He was proud of her. “Fine,” his pop said with a sigh. “Have a seat, son. You’re not done with mind-blowing surprises just yet.” Collin’s heart thundered as he took a seat on the floor, crossing his legs and resting his hand on his thighs. “Okay, give it to me straight, Pop.” When his father’s eyes misted, Collin had an urge to run from the room like a five-year-old with his fingers in his ears, chanting lala-la. “Your mother and I love you dearly, son. You know that, right?” Collin nodded, feeling panic setting in. “You’re adopted.” Nothing like ripping the Band-Aid off. His pop didn’t mince words, straight to the point. “I am?” Collin whispered as years of memories came to mind. He sat there blinking back the tears as he

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tried to process the news that his parents weren’t his parents. “Who am I?” His pop shook his head as he got up from the bed and crossed the room, taking a seat on the floor. Collin almost got up to help him, but his pop waved him off. “My bones are getting old, but I can still manage.” Collin worried his hands in his lap as he waited for the man he had called pop for so many years to get settled. “Your dear mother can’t have children, so we decided to adopt. No one would give us a chance at a happy life because our income didn’t qualify us. One day a man came to the door, telling us of a place…” Collin sat there and listened. He was hanging on every word his pop spoke. When he was finished recounting Collin’s adoption, Collin was stunned. “But no one knows who I really am?” His pop shook his head and then tightened his jaw. “You’re Collin Phoenix, son of Claire and Lawrence Phoenix. Nothing else matters. We wanted you from the moment we laid eyes on you, and we won’t give you up. So whoever is after you will have to get through me.” Wow. Collin had never seen his pop so fierce before. Guess it was a day for a lot of firsts. Collin threw himself into his pop’s arms. “You’re damn right I’m yours. Thank you for telling me.” His pop patted him on the back as Collin pulled away and wiped at his eyes. “No, thank you, son. Now go let your mom know that everything is okay.” His pop winked at him. Collin pushed to his feet, going straight to his mom and pulling her into his arms. He could feel her small body shaking from crying. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m not mad at you two. You took me in when you didn’t have to and gave me a loving home. Thank you.” His mom dabbed at her eyes as she smiled. “I fell in love with you from the moment Mr. Cavalier brought you to us.”

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“And apparently he wants Collin back,” Riojos said from the door. “There’s a man out here that says Mr. Cavalier sent him to talk to you, amor. Do you want me to just shoot him?” Riojos asked as he leaned against the doorframe. “Just do it out by the trees. I don’t want to have to clean the side of my cabin.” Collin gaped at his mom. “Really?” Her chin jutted out as her small fists landed on her hips. “No one is taking my boy.” Collin saw Riojos and his pop chuckling as he studied his feisty little mom. “Get some rest, sweetheart. The boys and I are going to see what this man wants.” His pop winked at his mom before ushering them from the room. Collin froze when he spotted the stranger sitting in a chair with two guns aimed at his head. Sal and the detective looked like they wanted to shoot him just on GP. The man leaned forward, but Sal pressed his gun into the man’s temple. “Please don’t think that I won’t do whatever it takes to protect my family. Sit back.” The stranger swallowed loudly and then pressed his back into the chair. Their eyes met and then the man smiled warmly at him. “Are you Collin Phoenix?” Collin grabbed Riojos’s hand, pressing his body into his lover’s. “I am.” “Can you prove it?” “Uh…” “You have a birthmark, correct?” Collin glanced over at Riojos, wondering how in the hell some stranger knew about the strange bird-shaped birthmark on his hip. He never showed it to anyone. The only reason Riojos knew was because they slept together. “Well, do you?” “Maybe.”

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“Please, I need to see it to confirm that you are who you are before I started talking.” “Oh, you’ll talk,” Riojos growled, “Or so help me…” “Just show me the damn birthmark!” the man shouted. “It’s the only way to prove who you are.” Collin glanced at Riojos again. When Riojos nodded, Collin rolled his eyes and unzipped his pants. He pulled the waistband down just far enough that everyone could see the little birthmark on his hip. The moment the stranger nodded, Collin yanked his pants back up and zipped them. “My name is Geoffrey Dannenberg, Collin. Mr. Cavalier sent me with to talk to you.” Collin glanced up at Riojos again and then looked back at the stranger. This man knew Mr. Cavalier? “I’m sorry, but I’m not familiar with that name.” Mr. Dannenberg’s eyes twinkled as he smiled. “No, you wouldn’t know Reggie.” Collin had a feeling the Mr. Dannenberg was more than just Mr. Cavalier’s messenger boy. There was fondness in his eyes when he said the name Reggie. “Go on.” “As you are aware, you’re not like everyone else.” Mr. Dannenberg waved his hand to encompass the entire room. Collin snorted as he tossed a hand on his hip. “I figured that out a few days ago.” This made Mr. Dannenberg chuckle. “I suppose you did. But did you know that you’re now immortal?” Collin gaped at the man. He knew his injuries healed right away, and he had guessed at the possibility, but to hear it spoken from someone who seemed to know more about what was going on than he did made it real. “How?” Mr. Dannenberg shook his head. “Reggie only gave me limited information. It seems it’s not safe for you to know everything.”

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“Bullshit!” Riojos shouted. “You get Reggie on the phone and let me talk to him. I want answers.” “I’m afraid that’s impossible. He’s gone into hiding. Not even I can locate him. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with what I have.” “What do you have?” Collin asked hesitantly. Mr. Dannenberg sighed. “I’m afraid not much, Collin. All I was told was that you are now immortal and that you are highly sought by the wrong type of people for what you have.” “Cryptic,” Sal said. “Why didn’t he just send us super spy rings and a decoder,” he finished sarcastically. Mr. Dannenberg’s jaw tightened as he narrowed his eyes at Sal. “I don’t even know you. Would you please refrain from your juvenile outbursts?” “Hey!” Collin shot across the room and put his body between Sal’s and Mr. Dannenberg. His brother-in-law was about to strip skin from bone. Collin could see it in Sal’s eyes. “Let’s not kill each other until we’ve heard everything. I, for one, would like to learn all I can. Without dying again to obtain the information.” Collin regretted his words when he noticed his mom had joined them and she whimpered. “Sorry, Mom.” **** Riojos had an urge to throttle the fucker. He was getting sick of learning what he already knew. He’d figured Collin was immortal or had super healing powers. It still shocked him to hear it though. “Tell us something we don’t know or I’ll whack you,” Sal grunted. Collin giggled. “Sal likes to think he’s in the mafia.” Sal narrowed his eyes at Collin. “You didn’t have to tell him that.” “Gentlemen, please,” Mr. Dannenberg huffed. “May I continue or do you want to squabble all afternoon?”

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“Continue,” Riojos growled as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. Mr. Dannenberg continued. “Well, I was told that Collin isn’t finished with his transformation yet.” He held up his hand. “As to what that is, I’m afraid I don’t know. I’m only relaying what I was told.” “Which wasn’t much,” Sal grumbled. “According to Reggie, Mr. Donahue isn’t who he seems to be. He’s very dangerous and shouldn’t be taken lightly. He’ll stop at nothing to get his hands on Collin. You’ll have to relocate now that he knows who you are and that you’ve gone through your rebirth.” “My what?” Collin screeched. “Rebirth,” Riojos repeated. “I got that,” Collin snapped, “but what does it mean?” When Mr. Dannenberg shrugged, Riojos rubbed his temples. He was getting such a fucking headache. “If you die on your twenty-first birthday, you will be reborn into what you are now.” “Which is what?” Collin asked. “I’m afraid I was not given that information.” “Fucking peachy!” Riojos snapped. “I’m not leaving my fam—oh god, Riojos.” Riojos frowned as he watched Collin’s face drain of blood. “What, bebé, what’s wrong?” “He…He said I was immortal now.” Collin’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t watch you and everyone I love die.” Riojos swallowed hard as he pressed Collin’s face into his neck. He never thought of that when this chaotic adventure started. If Collin was immortal, he would outlive them all. Riojos didn’t know if his baby was strong enough for that. “I don’t want to do this,” Collin whimpered. “I can’t live without you.”

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Mr. Dannenberg snorted, which Riojos thought was very rude considering the situation. “Shut your fucking trap before I shut it for you!” Mr. Dannenberg arched an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his chair. “Does that mean you don’t want to know about being mated and what that means to you?” “What?” Riojos moved away from Collin and grabbed Mr. Dannenberg by his collar, lifting him up. “If you know something and you’re not telling us, so help me…” “You really do have a temper, don’t you?” “Collin, I could use your assistance over here.” Collin’s clawed hand appeared in front of him. Riojos smiled coldly when the blood drained from Mr. Dannenberg’s face. “Now, we can do this one of two ways—” “If you’re really his mate and he’s claimed you,” Mr. Dannenberg said quickly, watching Collin’s clawed hand like it might jump out and bite him, “then you become immortal, too.” Riojos barely kept his mouth from dropping open as shock rolled through him. “And the rest of his family?” “Collin needs to make a cut over their hearts with his claw then drop one of his tears into the wound. It will make them immortal as well. But be very aware that he should not run around trying to make everyone immortal that he knows. His secret is very well guarded, and if people start suspecting that Collin or whoever he has dropped a tear into isn’t aging, things will get ugly fast. Choose wisely.” Riojos’s fingers uncurled from Mr. Dannenberg’s shirt. This was unreal. Immortality? Him? He glanced at everyone in the room, trying his best to wrap his head around all of it. He smiled at his madre and papi, a warm smile playing on his lips. He wasn’t going to have to lose them. “I really must be going now. I have a flight to catch. I am unfortunately on the hot sheet as well, but Mr. Cavalier asked me to relay this information to you.”

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“Where can we find you if we need you?” Tony spoke up for the first time. Mr. Dannenberg shook his head. “I’m afraid you can’t. You’re all on your own now. You must take on new identities and start over somewhere new. Keep out of sight, and for goodness sake, stay off of Mr. Donahue’s radar. If he gets what he is after, the world as we know it will cease to exist.” Hell if that wasn’t ominous. Riojos’s mind started working overtime trying to figure out what they were going to do. “You can go. Please be careful.” He wasn’t sure why he all of the sudden was worried about Mr. Dannenberg, but he was. The man had risked much to come talk to Collin, and Riojos appreciated it. “I wish you all well.” The man stood, heading for the door. He stopped once he reached his hand out and pulled it open, turning to look back at the room. “Remember to choose wisely who you decide to live forever with. Forever is a very long time.” “Thank you!” Collin shouted as he ran to the door, yelling out to a fleeing Mr. Dannenberg. “Thank you for coming to talk to me.” Riojos wrapped his arm around his lover’s…mate’s shoulders, watching the man get into his car and disappear down the driveway. “Riojos?” Collin whispered. “Yes, mi amor?” “I’m terrified.” “Me, too, love. Me, too.” **** “Claim me, mi amor, make me immortal so I never lose you, lose this.” Collin’s breath caught in his throat. “Are you sure, Riojos?” Riojos’s smile lit up Collin’s soul. “I'm sure, Collin.”

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Collin’s eyes widened as Riojos grabbed a knife off the nightstand, one he hadn’t seen before, and cut a small line in the skin over his heart. “Cry for me, gatito.” Collin didn’t have the foggiest idea how to make himself cry until he looked up into Riojos’s chocolate-brown eyes and saw the love shining in them, and then the tears came naturally. When the tears started to splash down on his cheeks, Collin leaned up and let them drip into the cut over Riojos’s heart. “Thank you, mi amor,” Riojos whispered. “Now I never have to lose you.” Collin wasn’t sure Riojos had it right. He was already immortal. This meant he was the one that never had to lose Riojos. He was the lucky one. Riojos loved him enough to become immortal for him. Collin just prayed Riojos never regretted it. He stared up at Riojos as his lover swooped down, laying kisses across his chest. He groaned, parting his legs wide in an invitation for his Rio to take him. “Make love to me, Rio.” “Sí, I am, gatito.” Riojos ran his tongue from navel to collarbone, making Collin’s entire body shiver. Collin raised his hands above his head, grabbing the headboard as Riojos kissed each hip and then nipped each inner thigh. His eyes rolled back when he felt a wet, warm tongue bathe his sac. “Rio,” he groaned his lover’s name. A deep chuckle rumbled below as Riojos settled between his legs, shouldering them apart. Collin pulled his legs up and then allowed his knees to fall to the sides. Riojos wrapped his hands around Collin’s ankles as the tip of his tongue trailed from sac to perineum and back again. Tiny fireworks exploded inside of him as his masterful lover ran his tongue up the side of Collin’s cock, nipping it along the way with his lips, making the flames inside of Collin grow hotter.

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Collin gasped when Riojos took his shaft into his mouth. He felt like he was going to fall apart at his partner’s touch. Riojos was such a skilled lover. Collin whimpered when he felt his tight muscle being breached by very large fingers. He groaned and writhed, trying to impale his body onto Riojos’s hand. He blew out heavily as Riojos added a third finger, stretching him wide, making his entire body quiver. Collin lifted his ass and then pushed down, begging with his body to be fucked. Riojos let Collin’s cock slip from between his lips as he growled. He got to his knees and pulled Collin’s body down onto the bed, impaling Collin’s ass onto his heavily veined shaft. “Yes,” Collin hissed as his fingers curled around the bedpost. His eyes fluttered as his lips parted, panting and mewling. “Mi corazón, mi amor. Le necesito. Te amo.” Collin’s head thrashed from side to side as Riojos crooned to him in his native tongue. His body was on fire, burning up from desire as his lover’s cock took him to new heights of pleasure. Riojos’s shaft grazed his pleasure spot over and over again, filling him to completion and making Collin cry out. “Make me come, Rio. Please,” he begged as Riojos wrapped Collin’s legs around his waist. “Believe me, gatito. I am going to make you explode with pleasure.” Collin cried out as Riojos thrust into his ass harder, deeper, and with longer strokes. His body felt like it was building up to momentous orgasm that Collin was chasing quickly after. His fingers wrapped around his cock, pulling at it jerkily as Riojos’s fingers dug into his flesh. Collin’s back arched as he whined and cried, his seed hitting his chest and chin, his cock throbbing out his release. Riojos’s nostrils flared as he slammed into Collin’s aching hole, determination written all over his face as sweat trickled down his face.

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He yanked the headboard, hearing it creak in protest as Riojos threw his head back and shouted to the wooden ceiling, his cock pulsing as his seed filled Collin’s channel. His lover’s breathing was ragged as he wiped his face, looking down at Collin, and then pulled free, stretching out beside him and pulling Collin into his arms. “Thank you for letting me change you, Rio, and make you immortal,” Collin whispered as he snuggled into Riojos’s arms. He could feel tears prickle the corners of his eyes at the thought that he might never lose the man he loved. There were still dangers in the world, but Riojos had a better chance now of surviving them. “The thought of spending one single day without you is unimaginable.” “I had no other choice. Besides, you promised me forever and you never break a promise,” Riojos said as he peppered kisses all over Collin’s face. “I love you.” “I love you, too.” Collin’s grin turned into a yawn as exhaustion overtook him. He curled his body into Riojos, falling fast asleep.

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Chapter 11 Tony stood on the back porch of the cabin trying to figure out everything that he had learned in the past twenty-four hours. It was mind-boggling to say the least, and this was going to be one case he wouldn’t be able to close. How could he write all of this in his report without being tossed into a padded room? Tony also didn’t like the idea of running. He was a man who never ran. He was a detective that solved puzzles and put the bad guys away. But according to Mr. Dannenberg, Mr. Donahue wasn’t an ordinary guy. He had a feeling that if he took on the crime boss, he was in for the fight of his life. “You’re thinking too hard,” Riojos said as he stepped onto the back porch. Tony continued to lean against the railing, looking out into the wilderness beyond. “I’m not going with you guys.” Riojos nodded. “I didn’t think you would. Sal isn’t going either. He also chose to not to become immortal. I have a feeling you’ve made that same choice.” Tony nodded. “I have. If I change my mind, I’m sure I can track you two down.” Riojos chuckled. “I hope not. That’ll mean I’m not doing my job protecting Collin.” Tony smiled as he stared straight ahead. He didn’t think being immortal was such a good idea. He didn’t want to live forever and alone. It wasn’t like he was going to find anyone who could tolerate his dominant ways and crazy work life either. Tony was a realist. He

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knew no one out there had patience enough to sit at home while he worked a case, being gone for days at a time. His ex couldn’t handle it, and Donald had the patience of a saint. No, it was best he live his life like god had intended him to, solving cases and going it alone. “Breakfast is ready,” Collin called from the door. “Mom whipped up homemade pancakes and sausage.” “Be right in, love,” Riojos said as he turned back to Tony. “If you do change your mind, we’re heading east. I think New York is the best place to blend in.” Tony nodded. “Thanks.” “Well, we better go in before Claire comes hunting us down. She’s a beast when it comes to her men eating properly.” Tony chuckled. He remembered his mother used to be the same way. God rest her soul. **** Riojos watched as Tibo drove the large SUV up the driveway. He was going to miss Tibo and Sal. Riojos knew for a fact that it was going to be a very long time before he saw his brother and friend again, if ever. “It’s done,” Collin said quietly from beside him. “How are mom and pop?” Collin watched Tibo pull the large vehicle to a stop and cut the engine, a wide grin on the man’s face. “They’re resting. I sure hope Mr. Dannenberg knew what he was talking about. I made pop make the small cut in mom. I just couldn’t do it.” Riojos wrapped his arm around his lover as Tibo got out of the vehicle and walked their way. He smiled, took two steps, and then a shot rang out. Riojos watched as if everything was in slow motion. Tibo went down, Collin screamed and tried to run to the downed man,

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and Tony and Sal came rushing out of the cabin, Sal roaring his anger when he saw Tibo face down in the dirt. And then everything morphed back to real time. Riojos pulled his gun and then ran with Collin to the SUV. He heard the spit of the gun hitting the vehicle as Riojos pulled Tibo’s body over to the safety of the SUV. Tony fired his weapon repeatedly as he raced toward them, as did Sal. Riojos cursed when he realized that Collin’s parents were in the house unconscious, going through some sort of change to become immortal. “He’s losing too much blood,” Collin cried as he yanked his shirt off and pressed the fabric into the wound. “He needs a hospital or he’s going to die.” Sal looked over the hood of the car, fired a few shots, and then ducked back down. His eyes went straight to Tibo. “Fix him, ghost man.” Collin shook his head. “I won’t do that to him without his full consent.” “Fix him, ghost man!” Sal’s face was pulled back in rage as Riojos and Tony fired off a few more rounds. “Yell at him again, and you’ll be the next one I shoot,” Riojos shouted. He knew they were in a life-and-death situation, but no one was going to talk to his gatito that way, no one. “Please,” Sal whispered, wiping tears from his face. “You gotta fix him.” Collin looked torn. Riojos laid his hand on his lover’s shoulder and nodded. Collin swallowed and then bit his bottom lip, looking from Riojos to Sal, and then down at Tibo. “He better not hate me, Sal.” Sal shook his head as Collin leaned forward. He didn’t have to fight to make tears appear. With Tibo close to death, they were freeflowing. Collin pushed Tibo’s shirt aside and saw the ugly gunshot wound. He hovered, letting the tears streaming down his face drop

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into Tibo’s wound. He leaned back, wiping his eyes as he fell into Riojos’s arms. “Thank you,” Sal said as he moved Tibo closer to him. Riojos caught movement from the corner of his eye. He threw Collin into Sal, twisted his upper body, and then fired. Tony must have caught the movement as well. He had fired at the same time Riojos had. Someone stumbled out of the woods, holding his midsection, and then fell to the ground. “Come on, we have to get out of here fast.” Riojos pulled Collin from the ground as he rushed his partner back into the cabin. He came to a halt when Claire and Lawrence were standing in the middle of the living room looking a little lost. “Madre, Papi? Are you okay?” Lawrence was the first to answer. “I’m not sure. I feel like I did forty years ago.” He narrowed his eyes at Riojos and then removed his glasses, rubbing his face, and then looked up. “Holy hell.” “What?” Collin asked worriedly. “What’s wrong, Pop?” Lawrence began to laugh. “I can see perfectly without my glasses.” Riojos took a closer look at the elderly couple. He was shocked to notice that their skin looked firmer, healthier, and had a radiant glow to it. They looked as though they lost thirty years of aging. “I feel like dancing.” Claire laughed as Lawrence placed his hands on her hips and began to swing her around the living room as if it were a ballroom. Riojos and Collin chuckled as they watched. Their elated mood came to an end when Sal carried Tibo into the cabin, Tony trailing close behind. “You guys should get your things and go. I have the information you gave me to sell the house, and I’ve arranged for a moving company to store all your items in a storage unit in Idaho, rented under a false name.” Riojos listened to Tony as Collin and his dad ran to their bedrooms and grabbed the meager items that they had brought with

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them. “Are you sure you don’t want to go?” Riojos asked Tony and Sal. He hated leaving them behind to the unknown. “I’m sure,” Sal said as his hand grazed over Tibo’s hair. “I’m not going to run. You should, though. Collin’s life is more important than taking a stand. He may not be able to die, but there are ways around that, like decapitation according to Mr. Dannenberg. Keep him alive and call me if you ever need anything.” Riojos pulled his brother from the couch and pulled him into a firm hug. “I’m gonna miss your ugly ass.” Sal laughed. “Same here. Stay safe, brother.” Riojos nodded as he released his baby brother. “I will. Take care of Tibo and Tony.” Tony snorted. “I have a feeling I’ll be watching out for them.” Sal flipped Tony off as he sat back. “I’m going to stay here until Tibo wakes and then tell him what’s going on and what Collin had to do.” Riojos turned to Tony and extended his hand. The detective gripped it firmly and shook it. “Keep Collin safe,” Tony said. “I’ll do what I can for your brother.” “Thanks. Check in on Rutledge down at the shelter. He helped us out tremendously. Sal will introduce you two.” Tony nodded as he walked out. Riojos figured the guy wasn’t going to say good-bye. He didn’t seem like the type. Riojos turned to his brother. “Well, I guess this is it.” Sal smiled. “No sappy good-byes. Get going and take care of our family.” “He will,” Collin said as he helped his dad carry the bags from the back rooms. “Or I’ll kick his butt.” Riojos winked at Sal before helping load the SUV. Tony drove his own car back to the city. Sal was taking his. The plan was for Tony to return the police-issued vehicle to the parking lot and leave the keys on the seat. There was going to be an investigation into Riojos’s

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disappearance, but with mourning the loss of Collin, they would eventually assume that he had just walked away. At least that was what they hoped would happen. Riojos stopped at the bank on their way out of town and closed his accounts. The Phoenixes did the same. They had a long life to live and would need the cash. Although Collin had changed Riojos, they had to think ahead. **** “Are you sure no one will notice that we all withdrew our life savings?” Collin asked as he looked at Riojos across the cab of the car. “Won’t it seem a little strange that mom and dad did the same thing as you?” Riojos shrugged. “Maybe, but if everyone thinks I went off the deep end and split, it would make sense for your parents to pay for your funeral and such. By the time people figure out that that didn’t happen, we’ll be long gone.” Collin frowned and turned to stare out the window. He hated to think that everyone he loved had to uproot their lives and go into hiding because of him. It wasn’t fair. It made him feel like shit. His parents should be enjoying their retirement, not running to New York City to start over. “You’ve never been to New York City, have you, bebé?” “No.” Collin chuckled a little and turned to look at his lover. “I’ve never been any further east than Nevada.” “Oh, then this will be quite the trip for you.” Riojos grinned. “We’ll have to make a few stops along the way. I’m thinking maybe Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park—” “This isn’t a vacation, Riojos.” “It could be.” “We’re running for our lives here. What’s vacationy about that?”

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Riojos shrugged again, keeping his eyes looking straight ahead. “We could stop along the way and get married, make it a honeymoon instead of a vacation.” Collin’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You want to get married?” Riojos turned and looked at Collin, a cautious look on his face. “Yeah, don’t you?” Collin had considered it. Hell, he had dreamed about it. He just never thought Riojos would ask him. Now that his partner had, Collin was stunned into silence. Boy, things were sure changing all around him. “Collin?” Collin turned to look over at the love of his life. “Yes, Riojos. I’ll marry you.” “Hot damn!” his pop whooped from the backseat. “Congrats, boys.” “I’m so happy for the two of you,” his mom said excitedly. “This could be a vacation as well. I’ve been thinking. If we travel all over before going to New York City, then it will be harder for them to find us.” Collin laughed and then grimaced when his elderly parents started kissing in the backseat like love-struck teenagers. “Gross,” he mumbled as he looked away. “That’s a good idea, Mom. You know, about traveling around.” He didn’t think he would get a response. He mock punched Riojos when his lover began to snicker from the driver’s seat. “What? They’re in love. Leave them be.” “It’s still gross to watch your parents make out.” Collin pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest and then remembered Riojos’s question. “Are we really getting married, Riojos?” Riojos nodded. “I know it’s only a piece of paper, but I want you as mine in every sense of the word.” Riojos leaned a little closer. “Mine,” he growled seductively, making Collin’s cock harden.

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Okay, now it was really gross. His parents were in the backseat making out like lovebirds, and Collin was in the front seat sporting a stiffy. Gross, gross, gross. As if Riojos could sense his discomfort, he chuckled and then glanced at Collin’s lap. “That is so not funny,” he groused. He turned, staring out of the passenger window as Riojos drove them to Las Vegas. **** Collin got out of the truck feeling stiff as a board. He stretched, hearing bones pop. He could use a good rubdown right about now. “Oh look!” his mom shouted as she pointed to a group of roughlooking men gathered around a vending machine. Collin knew right away that they were shady characters, but also knew that his mom had had a very sheltered life. She didn’t have a clue. This was not something he wanted her getting excited over. If he knew his mom, and he did, she would go over and ask the drug dealers for an autograph. That was so not gonna happen. “Come on, honey. Let’s get a room.” His pop wiggled his brows, making Collin want to vomit. His parents were not supposed to be having sex! They just weren’t. It had to be a law somewhere that said once parents have a child, sex ceases. “Come on, gatito. Let’s go get a room, too.” Riojos wiggled his brows, but that turned Collin on big-time. He wanted more of that brow wiggling. They walked to the motel office, Riojos going in and signing for two rooms. Collin stayed just outside the small, out-ofthe-way motel to keep an eye on his parents. They were acting like they had never experienced life before. He wasn’t sure he could leave them to wander on their own. “Come on,” Riojos said as he emerged from the office, dangling a key in temptation in front of Collin’s eyes.

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He blushed when he heard his mom snicker. This was so wrong on so many different levels. He spun around, feeling his face heat up as he snatched the key from Riojos’s hand and walked away. He could hear chuckling behind him. Whatever. As Collin approached the motel room that he had the key for, he noticed the men hanging around the outdoor vending machine watching him. He got a creepy feeling as one of them tipped his head in greeting, a malicious smile crossing his face. Riojos was next to him in seconds. He gave the punks his don’t fuck with us look and then opened the door to their room. Collin glanced back toward the office to see that his parents had gone into their room and closed the door. Feeling better about his parents being in their room, Collin stepped into theirs. The place wasn’t anything to write home about, but it was a motel that rented by the hour and Riojos talked them into the rooms rather than showing ID. “It’s not much, but it’s a place we can rest our heads. I have a friend that lives out this way. I’ll give him a call in the morning about getting us some fake identification cards.” “Hmm, you know some criminals?” Collin asked as he rubbed up next to Riojos. “That’s hot.” Riojos grinned widely as his hands circled around Collin. “You think so, bebé?” “Uh-huh,” Collin said as he unsnapped Riojos’s jeans. “I’ll show you how turned on I am.” “Will you now?” Riojos said as he moved his hands away, watching Collin fall to his knees. He pulled his lover’s cock free from his pants, inhaling his masculine scent as he took the hood into his mouth, flattening his tongue and rubbing it over the bundle of nerves just under the head. “Hell, bebé,” Riojos groaned.

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Collin took him all the way to the back of his throat as he sucked and licked, massaging Riojos’s balls at the same time. It didn’t take long before Riojos was shouting, hot jets of cum shooting to the back of his throat. Collin licked his lover clean, giggling when Riojos picked him up and tossed him onto the bed. “My turn.” Collin was all for that. He quickly divested himself of his clothes, grabbed his cock, and then wiggled it around. “Come suck me, Rio.” His lover growled as he crawled onto the bed like a stalker, his eyes filled with lust as he dipped his head and took Collin into his mouth. Oh hell. Nothing in the world felt better than having Riojos’s lips wrapped around his cock. He squirmed and whined, wanting his release badly. When Riojos stuck a finger in his ass, Collin shouted to the ceiling, his balls pulling tight as his seed spurted down his lover’s throat. Before Riojos could get up and walk to the bathroom, Collin was fast asleep.

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Chapter 12 Riojos woke to a noise. He lay there quietly listening as he held Collin close to his body. It sounded like someone was jimmying the handle to the motel door. He slipped from under Collin, pulling his lover from the bed and carrying him to the bathroom. When Collin woke with a start, looking up at Riojos, he pressed his lips to Collin’s ear. “Someone is trying to break into our room.” Riojos bent at the waist, setting his lover down into the tub. “Stay here and stay down,” he whispered. Collin bit his bottom lip as he nodded. Riojos hurried back into the room, grabbing his Walther PPK from the clothes that were pooled on the floor by the bed. Riojos yanked his jeans on and then crouched down on the other side of the bed as he waited. Slowly, the door came open. He could kick his own ass for not engaging the dead bolt when they first came into the room. Riojos had been distracted by his lover. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. Two men crept in, looking around the room. When they closed the door, Riojos cocked his gun, making sure he kept the bulk of the bed between him and them. “Take it nice and slow and keep your hands in the air where I can see them.” The two men froze for a moment then slowly raised their hands into the air. “We don’t want no trouble,” one of the men said. “Then you shouldn’t have broken into our room.” “We just wanted to play with the little twink we saw you with.” “He’s not a fucking toy!” Riojos growled. “He’s my fiancé.”

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“Dude, seriously, we didn’t know.” The blond-haired man that spoke was just as dirty looking as the other guy, only he looked scared to death. The darker haired of the two looked like he was trying to judge the distance between him and Riojos. Obviously, he was the idiot of the two men. “I suggest you just turn around and go right back out the way you came.” “Yes, sir,” the blond man said as he turned and tried to get to the door handle. The dark haired man blocked his way. “Come on, Stu, move,” the scared man said. “I want out of here.” “I don’t,” the idiot said as he crossed his arms over his puffed up chest. “I want the little twink.” “Stu, the man has a fucking gun!” “I do,” Riojos said, “and I’m not afraid to use it either.” “You can’t shoot both of us,” Stu grumbled. “Bet me!” Riojos braced himself, taking careful aim at Stu. He didn’t think he would need to shoot the other guy. He was too scared. At the first sound of a gun going off, the man would run. Riojos was sure of it. He needed to concentrate on Stu. “I’m going to say this one more time for the intelligence impaired. Leave, now, or I will shoot you.” Stu’s gruff stance wavered as he looked at the determination in Riojos’s eyes. He wasn’t fucking around, and he wasn’t in the mood for this bullshit. He’d had enough of Collin being in danger, and he was ready to shoot anyone dumb enough to come near his love again. “Come on, Stu. Let’s go.” The man waved his hands back at Riojos. “He ain’t kidding around.” Stu sneered at Riojos, rolling his shoulders and tilting his head to the side, cracking his neck before he raked Riojos with his eyes. “I’m leaving, but not because you have a gun. I don’t need the aggravation.” Smart man.

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As soon as the two thugs walked out, Riojos jumped across the bed and secured the door, engaging the dead bolt. He let out a loud exhale as the back of his head butted against the door. One day. Riojos wanted just one day to enjoy with Collin without some asshole invading their bonding time. “Is it safe to come out?” Collin asked from the bathroom. Riojos was getting really tired of this running bullshit. **** Riojos laid his hand next to Collin’s, admiring the matching silver wedding bands as Collin lay cuddled next to him. “I can’t believe you’re really my husband,” Collin whispered as he scooted in closer. “I guess some good has come from all this chaos.” Riojos hugged Collin close. “It does seem unreal, doesn’t it?” He ran his hand over Collin’s smooth back as he continued to stare at the bands. “But we need to get up and get moving. Mom and pop will be banging on the door any moment, raring to go.” Collin groaned. “But I want to stay in bed all day with you.” “I know, love. But we can’t stay in one place too long until we get to New York. Besides, we have to go meet Stoney to get our new IDs.” Collin huffed and then rolled away. “Fine,” he pouted. “But you owe me, husband.” Riojos felt a tightening in his chest at the word husband. They weren’t really officially married. They would have to wait until they reached New York for that, but Riojos felt better seeing the wedding band on Collin’s finger, and his lover was convinced that they were a married couple. It didn’t matter to his partner that they didn’t have a certificate. He felt even more protective than he ever did before for some reason. Maybe it was the wedding bands. Maybe it was something

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more. He wasn’t sure and he didn’t care. He just knew he needed to take care of Collin and keep him safe. Riojos rose from the bed and walked into the bathroom, taking a quick shower. They were ready to go in half an hour. Claire and Lawrence knocked on the door right on cue. Riojos answered it as Collin finished packing the clothes they had bought the day before. “We’re ready.” “Good.” Claire beamed, looking even younger than when they were at the cabin. “I can’t wait to get back on the road and see New Orleans!” Riojos chuckled as he watched Lawrence’s eyes light up at his wife. They were taking the scenic route, not only to throw off anyone that may be following, but his lover and his madre had never traveled before, and since they had no specific time to be anywhere, what the hell. “New Orleans it is,” Riojos said as he put his and Collin’s bags into the back of the SUV and then walked over to the office to return the keys. They were back on the road and heading east. Everyone in the car was starting to relax to a degree. Even Riojos was starting to have a good time. They stopped along the way, doing the tourist thing and buying souvenirs. Collin was like an excited kid half the time. Riojos didn’t mind. His lover showed his enthusiasm in their bed as well, so he had nothing to complain about. He pulled the vehicle into a diner parking lot. It was close to dinner, and all four were starving. Riojos laid his hand on the small of Collin’s back as he led his lover into the small restaurant. A shiver of something cold ran down his back as they stepped inside the restaurant. Something was off, but after a quick glance around the place, Riojos couldn’t figure out what it was. Nothing seemed off. It was just an average everyday roadside diner. Riojos kept his hand on the middle of Collin’s back as they followed a waitress toward a booth seat about halfway down the aisle.

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Riojos looked at the booth the waitress stopped beside then at the ones further on down. “Can we get that one?” Riojos asked as he pointed to a booth in the far corner. “I’d like to be able to stretch my legs out without anyone tripping over them.” Riojos almost shuddered at the long look the waitress gave him. He felt like he had been stripped naked from head to toe. Riojos pressed his lips together to keep from laughing when Collin stepped in front of him. Go, Collin! “I suppose that would be okay,” the waitress said as she turned and led the way to the booth on the far side of the restaurant. Riojos didn’t really like how far the booth was from the front door, but he was located right next to the kitchen entrance. There had to be an escape route through the kitchen if they needed it. Riojos made sure that he and Collin sat on the far side of the booth, facing the entrance to the restaurant. He wanted to see everyone coming and going. He tried to smile as the waitress handed them their menus, but it was hard. He could feel that something was about to go down. He just didn’t know what. And it was hard to fight what he couldn’t see. Riojos made quick work of looking over the menu, ordering the first thing his eyes landed on so he could get back to watching the door. “Really?” Riojos turned to look at Collin, confused as to why his lover was looking at him so strangely. “Really what?” “You’re going to eat eggplant parmesan?” Riojos winced. “Is that what I ordered?” Collin’s dark auburn eyebrows drew together. “Riojos, what’s going on?” Riojos shook his head and glanced back at the door. “I don’t know, bebé, but something feels off.” “Do you want to leave?”

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“No, not yet. We all need to eat. Just stay alert. If I tell you to hightail it through the kitchen to the car, do it.” Collin nodded, but his features were pinched and pale. Riojos sighed, feeling like the world’s biggest jerk. He had just sucked all of the fun out of Collin’s day in one simple sentence. He was a jackass. Riojos reached over and wrapped his arm around Collin’s shoulder then leaned close to his ear. “Sorry, bebé. I didn’t mean to ruin your day. Tell ya what, when we reach New Orleans, we’ll find us a hotel that has one of those really big two-person tubs and I’ll teach you about underwater blow jobs.” Collin chuckled and peeked up at him. “Underwater?” “Oh yeah, you’ll love them.” Riojos winked. “Promise.” Riojos breathed a sigh of relief when the tension faded from Collin’s shoulders. There was no sense in both of them being worried. Riojos was worried enough for ten people. The moment Collin started chatting with his parents, Riojos went back to watching the door. He was glad he had when three men walked into the restaurant and took a booth near the door, not even stopping to get menus from the waitress. Riojos watched them for a moment before deciding that they needed to get the hell out of there. He squeezed Collin’s shoulder and smiled widely as he leaned toward him. Anyone that looked would think he was just smiling at something someone had said. That was what Riojos wanted people to think. “Collin, bebé,” he whispered, “listen to me carefully but keep laughing and talking with your parents.” Collin stiffened but kept chatting away. “I think we need to go. I’m going to stand up and head to the bathroom. When I do, I want you and your parents to sneak out through the kitchen and get to the truck. Start it up and wait for me.” Collin’s smile was weak and strained when he turned to look at Riojos. “If you get yourself hurt I’ll kick your ass.”

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Riojos grinned. “Deal.” He leaned over and gave Collin a quick kiss then dug some money out of his pocket and slid it on the table. They might have to duck out on the food, but they wouldn’t steal. Their lives hadn’t sunk that far yet. Riojos’s nerves were frayed as he stood up and started making his way across the restaurant toward the bathroom. He tried his best not to look at the men sitting at the booth near the door but knew he had lost that battle when three sets of eyes watched him walk across the room. It was all Riojos could do to walk past them like nothing was going on. He wanted to jump them, smash his fist into their faces, and then maybe he would ask them what they wanted. He was so damned tired of having to hide and run and keep his baby safe. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it, but he was just damned tired of it. Riojos walked into the bathroom and headed right for the sink, turning on the water and washing his hands as he kept his eyes on the door. A quick glance around the small room told him that he was in the worst possible place he could possibly be in. There was no exit of any kind, not even a window. He’d either have to walk right past the men in the booth or wait for them to come in and get him. Riojos just hoped that Collin got his parents out to the truck and were waiting for him. He also hoped this didn’t take long. The more time that passed, the more edgy Riojos was becoming. After several minutes of washing his hands, Riojos turned off the water. He was sure his hands were clean by now—and maybe a little waterlogged. He tried to act casual as he pulled a towel out of the paper towel rack and dried them…and dried them…and dried them. Riojos grumbled to himself as he tossed the paper towel into the garbage. His hands were officially clean. Now what? Riojos started to pace the small room when the waiting got to him. He couldn’t stand it anymore.

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Riojos raced to the door and pulled it open. He started walking back toward the booth where he had been sitting when he noticed the other booth was completely empty. Hell, every booth in the place was empty. There wasn’t a single person in sight. Riojos swallowed hard then spun around and ran toward the front door, and hopefully Collin and his parents. Riojos pushed open the front door and ran out into the sunlight just as a loud explosion rent the air. He fell back against the door from the force of the blast, covering his eyes with his arm. When silence fell over the area, Riojos slowly lowered his arm. His heart started to pound in his chest when he saw his truck sitting in the parking lot in flames. Bits and pieces lay scattered across the ground. Riojos saw a more chilling sight when he looked closer, one that stole the breath from his body. A charred body lay smoldering just feet from his truck. It seemed to be burned beyond recognition. “C–Collin?” Riojos started to stumble toward the body when a loud screeching sound filled the air around him. It was so loud Riojos grabbed his ears and dropped to his knees. Riojos felt wind blowing heavily across his face like a fan. He glanced up and…

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Chapter 13 Collin rolled his eyes as much as he possibly could considering his current condition when Riojos’s eyes rolled back in his head and he fell to the ground. So much for the big bad detective. He was so not going to let Riojos live that one down. He flapped his large feathered wings and floated in to land on his clawed talons. It felt a little weird having bright red and yellow feathers all over his body, but the flying thing was fucking fantastic. He wanted to fly and fly and fly. It felt like coming home after being gone for years. “Collin, honey, you need to come back to us and help us out with your husband.” Collin turned his head to see his dad kneeling on the ground next to Riojos, cradling the unconscious man’s head in his lap. Collin’s mom stood right behind his dad, staring at him. Collin stood there for a moment, trying to figure out how in the hell he was supposed to shift back to being a human when he didn’t know how he had shifted in the first place. He blinked when he suddenly felt cold, and his mother inhaled sharply. Glancing down, he saw the reason for her surprise. Collin had shifted, and now he stood in the middle of some parking lot naked as the day he was born. Well, considering he had just shifted into a bird and then back to human, that might not be true. Collin was no longer exactly sure what he was, but he knew he wasn’t fully human. Hell, maybe he was born from an egg. It would make sense. He had turned into a freaking bird! “Here, son.”

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Collin’s face flamed as his dad literally handed him the shirt off his back. Luckily, his dad was built like a linebacker. The shirt almost fell to Collin’s knees. He quickly pulled it over his head then tugged it down as far as it would go. It wasn’t far. “Thanks, Dad.” “Go see to your husband,” his pop said. “I’m going to see if we can salvage anything from the truck.” Collin grimaced as he looked at Riojos’s truck. He was pretty sure the truck and all its contents were a total write-off. Riojos was going to be pissed. Thinking of his husband, Collin turned and walked over to where his mom was now cradling Riojos’s head. He knelt down next to her and took her place. “You’re not too freaked out, are you, Mom?” “Freaked out? Yes.” His mom smiled. “But you’re my son, and I told you that we love you no matter what. That includes freaky situations.” Collin felt tears gather in his eyes. He didn’t think anyone on the planet had parents as accepting as his. He didn’t care if he was adopted. No one would ever replace Lawrence and Claire Phoenix in his heart. “Thanks, Mom.” “You’re welcome, son.” His mom leaned over and placed a light kiss on Collin’s forehead then stood back up. “I’m going to go help your father. See if you can get your young man to come around. We still need to get to New Orleans by nightfall.” Collin nodded and watched his mother walk off and join his father. They really were the best. The last several days had shown him how much he really had to live for. He was just glad they had decided to become immortal so he would never lose them. Collin tore his attention away from his parents and turned it toward the man in his lap. He stroked the hair back from Riojos’s eyes and forehead then leaned down and kissed his lover. “Wakey, wakey, Rio,” he whispered.

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Riojos’s eyes almost immediately started to flutter. “Wha— how—” Riojos’s eyes suddenly widened and he sat up and whirled around, first one way then the other. “Did you see it?” “See what?” Collin asked before biting his lip. “It was huge!” Riojos exclaimed. “It had red and yellow feathers and—” Collin cringed when Riojos swung around to stare at him. He lifted his hand and waved his fingers at Riojos. “That was you?” Collin nodded. If anything, Riojos’s eyes grew even wider. “How?” “It seems to come out when people I care about are in danger.” “Like back at the warehouse when your claws appeared?” “Yep.” Collin folded his hands together in his lap. “Yep,” he said again. “So, what happened this time?” “Those guys were waiting out behind the diner for us when we ran out. They grabbed mom and put a gun to her head and well—” Collin shrugged. “It just kinda happened from there. One moment I was screaming at the guy to let mom go and the next moment I was flying through the air lighting shit up.” “You…” Riojos glanced over his shoulder at his smoldering truck. He was slow to turn and look back at Collin. He gestured over his shoulder at his truck. “You did that?” “Yeah, sorry about that. I was aiming for the bad guy.” “Oh, you got him all right.” Riojos chuckled. “He looks worse than my truck.” “So…” Collin twisted his lips around as he stared down at his hands. “How do you feel about being married to a bird that breathes fire?” When Riojos didn’t answer right away, Collin tried not to take it personally. Riojos had been pretty understanding about everything so

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far. Maybe this was just one too many things for him to take in. Everyone had a breaking point. Maybe this was Riojos’s. “I’ll tell you this much, birdman,” Riojos said. “You light up my next vehicle, and I’ll take you over my knee and paddle your ass.” **** Collin stood behind their burned vehicle, wondering what they were going to do now. He hadn’t meant to burn it all to hell. He was new at this. Collin watched as his pop patted the bad guys down, looking for god only knew what. “I found keys,” his pop announced proudly as he held up a set. He hit the fob, and a car three spaces down began beeping. Collin glanced around, wondering if anyone was watching them. They hadn’t gotten this far only to be caught. Stoney had provided them with new IDs. Now all they had to do was make it to New York without the bad guys catching up with them again. Riojos walked over to the car, opening the doors, shoving his hands in the seats, opening the glove box and searching under the seats. “What’s he doing?” Collin’s mom asked as the two watched his pop and fiancé practically tear the car apart. “You got me. It looks like they’re searching for something.” Collin glanced back at the restaurant, looking to see if any onlookers were watching. “Good god!” his pop gasped from behind the car. “What?” Collin asked as his pop and Riojos stared slack-jawed into the trunk. “Come look, amor.” Riojos pointed to the trunk as he turned his head toward Collin. “You’ve got to see this.” Collin scuttled across the lot, his mom close behind him as he rounded the car, looking into the trunk to see what the big deal was.

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His mouth dropped open as he stared at a duffel bag filled to capacity with bound money. His head snapped around, his eyes darting everywhere. “Let’s go, now!” Riojos slammed the trunk as the four ran for the doors. They jumped in as Riojos started the car, peeling from the restaurant parking lot. “Oh my goodness. Where did all that money come from?” his mom asked from the backseat. Riojos adjusted the mirrors as he grinned. “I’m guessing it’s payoff money those goons received to take care of Mr. Donahue’s little problem. Now it’s ours. Everyone thank the nice man for making sure our new life starts off without a hitch.” “Thank you,” everyone sang out and then laughed. Collin scooted closer to his fiancé, smiling up at him. “Do you think they’ll follow us to New York?” Riojos slid an arm around Collin. “With the money we just found, it’ll take them a long time before they even get wind of where we could possibly be.” Collin sighed. For the first time in weeks, he finally relaxed. His parents were safe, young again, and… “Yuk. Don’t make me turn a hose on the two of you,” he warned as he looked into the backseat. His pop chuckled, ignoring him as he went back to sucking face with his mom. Collin turned around, shuddering at the image that was now burned into his mind. Riojos leaned in a little closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Don’t worry, gatito. I’ll make you forget as soon as we find a motel.” Collin giggled as he looked straight ahead, ready for his new life with his parents and his fiancé. “I just bet you will.”

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THE END WWW.LYNNHAGEN.COM HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/LYNNHAGEN.MANLOVE HTTP://LYNNHAGEN.BLOGSPOT.COM HTTP://GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/LYNNHAGEN WWW.STORMYGLENN.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart. You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story. Stormy believes the only thing sexier than a man in cowboy boots is two or three men in cowboy boots. She also believes in love at first sight, soul Mates, true love, and happy endings. You can usually find her cuddled in bed with a book in her hand and a puppy in her lap, or on her laptop, creating the next sexy man for one of her stories. Stormy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website at www.stormyglenn.com

Also by Lynn Hagen and Stormy Glenn Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 1: End of the Line Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 2: Pax's Blues Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 3: Imlay's Cure Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 4: Adwaka's Blade Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 5: Tank's Tweak Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 6: Crank's Craving

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen www.bookstrand.com/stormy-glenn

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