Home > Raising the Ante(3)

Raising the Ante(3)
Author: Charlie Cochet

“Frank! Frank!”

What the hell? Frank turned, his frown deepening at the panicked look on Seth’s face as he hurried through the crowd toward him. Seth didn’t panic. The man was a study in control. And why wasn’t he using the com? Frank calmly left the bar and stood to one side, away from anyone who might overhear. When Seth reached him, he said the two words no club owner ever wanted to hear.

“Police raid!”

Fuck! Frank rushed toward the front doors just as they slammed open and a small hoard of uniformed police officers flooded in. His stride didn’t falter as he growled at Seth. “Call Mason, and get Cory down here.”

Seth ran off to call the former officer turned detective who now worked for Four Kings Security, and Cory, Frank’s lawyer. Frank did his best to reassure his clients as he headed for the detective in charge, one he didn’t recognize. Frank prided himself on maintaining good relationships, especially with local law enforcement. Many of them knew him from his days with the fire department. If they didn’t personally know him, they knew of him.

“What’s going on?”

“Frank Ramirez?” The sneer on the guy’s face told Frank all he needed to know. Whoever the hell this hotshot was, he’d already formed opinions of Frank and his business, not that Frank gave a shit. What he did give a shit about was the police raiding his club and upsetting his clients.

“Yes. What’s this about?”

“We’re shutting you down.”

 

 

Two

 

 

Absolute perfection. It was a thing of beauty, really.

“I’ve outdone myself,” Joshua said to no one in particular. Or at least he thought no one until someone loomed over him.

“Wow. That’s… that’s impressive.”

Joshua preened under his boss’s praise. “Thanks.” He took joy in knowing he did a good job, and no one appreciated his skills more than Colton Connolly, president and CEO of Connolly Maritime Enterprises and Worldwide Shipping Solutions. Joshua had been an executive assistant for Connolly Maritime for over two years, but it was only a little over four months ago that he’d been promoted to Colton’s executive assistant, right in time to help the man with his insane wedding schedule.

There’d been a few close calls and several sleepless nights, many of which included coordinating events with Four Kings Security, where Colton’s husband, Ace, was part owner. But they’d made it through, and it had been everything the couple hoped it would be, sans complications.

Being the right-hand man to a billionaire was challenge enough. Being the right-hand man to Colton and his makeshift family of former Green Berets and their boyfriends was a whole other level of challenge. At times Joshua wanted to strangle them, but he wouldn’t change a thing. Colton wasn’t just his boss, he was a friend, and because of that friendship, Joshua had been brought into the Four Kings family.

“I didn’t think it was possible,” Colton said, sounding a little awed, “but it’s even bigger than mine.”

“Words I never expected to hear come out of my husband’s mouth while bent over another guy.”

Joshua lifted his gaze to Ace as he walked toward them. He snickered and shook his head. Never a dull moment when Anston Sharpe was around. Ace and Colton shouldn’t have worked. The two were as different as night and day, and yet somehow, they were perfect together. Not that Colton didn’t have days where he also wanted to strangle his husband, but Ace always found a way to soothe Colton.

“Impeccable timing, as usual,” Colton teased. He straightened and waited for Ace to reach him.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Ace brought Colton into his arms for a kiss, one that required him to stretch a bit since Colton had a few inches on him. Despite Colton being almost six and a half feet tall, Ace had a way of projecting a bigger presence. As a former Green Beret, he was big and muscular, but his personality made him seem that much bigger. Rarely was the guy without a smile or smart aleck remark.

“So what’s got you two so excited?” Ace asked.

“That.” Colton motioned to Joshua’s computer screen.

Stepping behind Joshua’s desk, Ace peered over his shoulder. “Is that… a spreadsheet?” He threw Colton a questioning glance. “Are you two seriously drooling over a spreadsheet?”

Colton rolled his eyes. “It’s not just a spreadsheet.”

Joshua agreed. He thrust a hand toward the screen. “Look at all the color coding! There’s tabs, formulas, and hyperlinks. Hyperlinks, Ace. It’s a masterpiece.”

“Not gonna lie, I’m a little concerned right now.” Ace studied the screen again. “Hold on.” He leaned in. “Is this what I think it is?”

Joshua beamed brightly. “If I’ve learned anything in my time around the Kings, it’s to always have a strategic, military-grade plan in place. I did all my research, compiled the data, entered it into my spreadsheet, and boom! Joshua’s Guide to Getting His Man or Operation Cuban Missile Conquest. I’m still working on the title.”

Ace stared at him for so long, Joshua worried he’d broken him. His lips twitched, and Joshua could tell he was trying hard not to lose it. “Did you just refer to his penis as a Cuban missile?”

“I absolutely did. What? You don’t think my plan will work?”

“Not that I don’t have faith in your man-obtaining mission, or your disturbingly detailed fact-gathering that I can safely assume Colton helped you with, it’s more about the man all this”—Ace made a circling motion at the screen—“is for.”

“What about him?”

“It’s Frank.”

Joshua peered at him. “Well, yeah. I thought you knew that.” He moved his gaze to Colton, who looked amused for some reason. “I thought he knew that?”

“Of course I know,” Ace said with a huff. “Everyone knows. My mother knows.”

Wait, what? “How does your mother know?”

“That’s not important. What I’m saying is that all your planning is great, and had it been any other guy, I dare say it might work, but we’re talking about a man who frowns at puppies.”

“He does not frown at puppies,” Colton said with a laugh, playfully shoving Ace’s shoulder.

“Fine. Maybe he doesn’t, but when he does smile, it’s very stern. I think I’ve seen him smile, like, a handful of times in the many years I’ve known him.”

Colton shrugged. “He smiles at me all the time.”

“And why is that?” Ace asked, eyes narrowed.

“Because he’s my friend? Also, because I wanted to get into his pants when we first met.”

Ace slapped a hand over his heart. “Ooh, ouch, right in the ventricle.”

“You’re ridiculous and I love you.” Colton kissed Ace’s cheek.

“I love you too. I can’t blame Frank for smiling at you. You’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you, love. I’m not the only one Frank smiles at. He smiles at Joshua too.”

“You’re right. He’s also forgotten how to people when he’s around dear Joshua, which brings up my next point.” Ace grinned knowingly at Joshua. “The two of you have a habit of short circuiting around each another. Your Cuban Missile Conquest calls for you to be able to form full sentences when speaking to him.”

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