For the millionth time since Nolan had met Laurel’s brother, he wondered what it would be like to be in the sort of relationship the guy had with his husband and wife. Or one like Jordan had with his spouses—unwavering, fully committed, and hella hot. Nolan had been low-key obsessed with Laurel from the moment he’d seen the drawing of her, and watching her with Jace now wasn’t dampening any of his curiosity. Something about them pulled him to the edge of his seat. Of course, these were the two last people in the world that he should be letting pique his interest. He knew enough about their history to realize that his purpose was to shelter them, not to mack on them.
Nolan reined in his inner horndog even if, for some reason, they made it harder than any other victims he’d ever interacted with.
He’d made a terrible first impression, practically mauled an abuse survivor, and didn’t doubt for one second that they had some sort of intense yet dysfunctional relationship going already. The looks they shared were full of love, and angst, and far more drama than he preferred from the people he hung with. And yet…
He wished he could forget all this bullshit and help them hash out whatever was off between them. Huh. He shook his head and returned his concentration to his mission.
“Yeah, you should. I mean, if I was planning to hurt you or scam you or some shit, would I still be sitting here shooting the shit with you even though I untied myself from this chair like five minutes ago?” Nolan shrugged, then slowly, very slowly, brought his open hands around to rest in his lap.
Jace’s eyes went wide and Laurel took a step back. Jace angled himself so that he was between Nolan and Laurel.
They were so cute thinking they could detain him. Or keep him as their prisoner.
Well, shit, they were smoking, period, now that he got a good look at them side by side. Laurel he’d known would be a stunner from the moment he’d spied the artist’s age-up of her. But her roomie—because the pictures of them magneted to the fridge proclaimed this was their joint apartment—could melt the snow that had started falling outside with just one look. He was defiant, rough around the edges, and obviously a loyal companion even if he made shitastic decisions.
For effect, and because his balls still ached, Nolan settled one ankle on the opposite knee. They really needed to work on their knot tying skills if they were going to truss up their guests in the future. He’d love to show them how sometime, if they were ever up for it.
“So you’re what? Some kind of private investigator? Or a super spy or something?” Jace asked, making Nolan grin.
“That sounds a lot cooler than what I actually do for the Shields.” Probably he shouldn’t mention how efficiently they took out targets or that they were kind of into vigilante justice. “Her brother, though, he’s legendary. Made our whole office his bitch in a matter of weeks. Everyone loves James. And he misses you. Is worried about you, Laurel. I could call him for you so you can talk to him directly.”
Laurel’s lower lip wobbled for a moment before she drew herself up tall again. “I wouldn’t recognize the sound of his voice today. It’s probably different than when he was eight. If you really know James, then I’m sure you’re aware I haven’t spoken to him in decades.”
“Well, quiz me then. I know him decently well.” Nolan hoped he was up to the challenge. He thought back on the late nights they’d spent in the office while prepping for operations or the times he’d chilled with James, his spouses, and the rest of the Powertools crew off the clock.
Laurel tapped her chin for a second, then smiled. “Who was his favorite comic book character?”
“Easy. Still his idol. Robin.” Nolan’s grin spread slowly as he thought about the stories James had told and how he compared his work with the Shields to his childhood aspirations.
“Robin? Come on. That’s the best you can do?” Jace huffed. “No one would pick him.”
“James would.” Laurel’s eyes grew misty and Nolan wasn’t sure he was going to be able to keep his hands to himself if she started to cry. He tucked them under his thighs, flat on the cracked seat of the chair as Jace gathered her into his arms and stroked her hair while never once taking his stare from Nolan over her head.
“You believe this guy?” Jace wondered.
“I do. Am I dumb?” Laurel obviously struggled with cynicism and wariness, which made perfect sense. What else could Nolan do to prove it to her?
“You’re not,” Nolan insisted, his tone a little rougher than usual. “James also told me he used to do your hair and how he put that ponytail with the baby-blue ribbon and white polka dots in it for school picture day. It was the image they circulated when you disappeared. He told us your mom would leave you alone when she worked a second job at night and how you protected him from your uncle, even if he didn’t realize that’s what was happening at the time.”
Laurel clutched Jace and sobbed. She sagged, but he was there to brace her and prop her up. He glared at Nolan even as panic flashed in his gorgeous brown eyes shot through with gold flecks. “She never cries. If you’re fucking with her, I will kill you.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you tried.” Nolan kicked back in the chair, balancing on the two rear legs until it creaked ominously and he set it down carefully lest he break one of their few furnishings. “But you won’t have to because I’m not screwing around. If you’ll let me reach into my jacket, I can get James on videochat, and when you’re comfortable, I’d like to take you somewhere safe. Somewhere you can meet him and verify for yourself that what I’m saying is absolutely true.”
Laurel froze. “Oh. I don’t know. What if….”
She looked up at Jace and he brushed the hair from her face. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
She slammed her eyes closed but, after a few seconds, nodded.
“Do you have a gun in that coat somewhere?” Jace asked.
“Nah, it’s in a holster under my shirt, near the small of my back. And there’s a second strapped to my calf. You should have checked that as soon as you had me tied up.”
Jace’s eyes went wide.
“Not because I’m going to do anything with them.” Nolan held his hands up. “But because it’s what you do when you take someone captive.”
“Jesus,” Jace muttered. “I don’t plan on doing this ever again.”
Nolan chuckled. “Come and get them.”
Jace nodded curtly, then stepped closer. Laurel took a frying pan from a hanging rack nearby and cocked her arm just in case Nolan so much as breathed wrong. He liked her style. Nolan gritted his teeth as Jace ran his hand beneath the hem of his T-shirt then along his abs, around his side, and into the small of his back. He hoped both Laurel and Jace were too shell-shocked to notice his cock twitching in his pants. He struggled to get his body to understand this was for business, not for fun.
Before Jace’s explorations had hardly begun, he withdrew as if singed, the gun in hand. Then he crouched to retrieve Nolan’s spare weapon too. Of course, he had a knife and a few other goodies left on him, but Jace had only asked about guns and they didn’t have all night.
It wouldn’t be long before the Shields raided this apartment if Nolan didn’t check in and he didn’t want anyone breaking what tentative truce he’d managed to negotiate.