With that many security teams in place, they had a high risk for fuckery, which was why he was glad King was in charge. If anyone tried to give him or any of their team shit, it only took one look from his friend to send them crying home to momma. The guy might bake his boyfriend cookies, but he’d also been their unit’s second-in-command. No one was stupid enough to fuck with Ward Kingston, and if they did, they’d be regretting their life choices real quick.
“I’ve never been in an arena before a concert,” Fitz said, taking in all the scaffolding, scattered equipment, and various pieces of machinery.
Joker shrugged. He’d been working the entertainment side of security for years now. He’d seen it all. “It’s not much to look at right now, but in about another six hours, it’s going to be pretty impressive. Speaking of six hours, what are you guys doing here so early?” He’d been here several hours already, and the last thing he needed was Gio hanging around while he worked. If he’d known Gio was going to be around, he wouldn’t have volunteered to work a fucking twelve-hour shift. For events this size, overtime meant he got to take the next couple of days off.
“After the backstage tour, we’re all going out to an early dinner to some fancy VIP restaurant before Nia’s got to come back for the concert.”
Joker frowned. Dinner for who knew how many at a restaurant with one of the hottest singers on the planet? Talk about a logistical nightmare. “Whose bright idea was that?”
“Nia’s manager. Nia wanted a private dinner with us, but he didn’t want her to miss such a big promo op.”
Gio laughed, and Joker’s eyes darted to him on instinct. “Promo op?” He forced his gaze back to Fitz, who blinked at him.
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Gio was the one who discovered Nia. Every few years he travels to Greece to visit the village his mother was from.” Fitz waved a hand. “Anyway, he was in a little village in Greece a few years ago. I can’t remember its name, only how heartbreaking it was to hear Gio describe the poverty there. It’s an amazing story. You’ll have to ask him to tell you one day.”
Not likely. Joker didn’t say as much, but Fitz rolled his eyes like he knew what Joker was thinking. They’d gotten to know each other pretty well since Fitz started dating Jack. If it concerned Gio, Joker didn’t want to know. Everyone might have fallen for the guy’s charms, but not Joker. If it was too good to be true, it always was. No one was perfect. No man could be beautiful on the outside and inside, be a billionaire and a saint. Gio was hiding something.
As if sensing Joker, Gio turned in his direction, his smile widening and reaching his dark eyes, forming little lines at the corners because the guy was always fucking smiling. Who the fuck smiled all the time? A curl of Gio’s pitch-black hair fell roguishly over one side of his brow, the rest of his hair untamed. It happened whenever his hair got a bit too long. Not that Joker paid attention to that sort of thing.
Like every other time Joker had seen him, Gio looked impeccable, from his designer shoes to his charcoal-gray dress slacks and slim-fitting black button-down shirt. His naturally tanned skin—thanks to his Greek roots—wasn’t flawless like so many of the hot young models Joker had fucked over the last few months. Not that Joker had given any thought at all to Gio’s subtle freckles and tiny nicks, or that his top lip was fuller than the bottom. He must have made a sound because Fitz poked him in his side.
“What?” Joker growled.
“Behave,” Fitz told him.
Joker arched an eyebrow at him, making him laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a fucking paragon of politeness.”
Mason and Leo arrived in time to hear his remark, and Mason threw his head back, letting out a booming laugh.
“What’s so funny, cowboy?”
“Nothin’,” Mason replied in his thick Texan drawl. “Just where Gio is concerned, you have a habit of squattin’ on your spurs.”
Mason and his damn cowboyisms.
“I don’t know what that means, but I’m gonna respond with this.” Joker flipped Mason off, making him laugh again. “What the hell are you doing here, anyway? I thought you listened to shit country music.”
“Fuck off. I listen to good country music.” Mason scratched his stubbled jaw. “And I’m here because certain individuals insisted I come along.” He tilted his head toward Colton, who stood a couple of yards away talking to Laz and Gio.
“Still haven’t figured out how to say no to him, have you?” Joker snorted at Mason’s wide eyes.
“That man is terrifying.”
Leo tilted his head in thought. “Really?”
Oh, sweet Leo. So oblivious. But that was part of what made him Leo. He was like a tiny fluffy bunny—a fluffy bunny who happened to be the most dangerous man in the room because of his brain. The guy had been kept a secret from the government by his Army general dad out of fear of what they—and any other government—would do to get their hands on Leo, and they would have succeeded if it hadn’t been for King.
Gio might be Chip’s favorite human, but Chip guarded Leo like no one else, especially from strangers. Like he knew Leo was a precious snowflake who needed to be protected at all costs. Speaking of…
Joker turned to Leo. “I didn’t think this was your kind of scene.” Outside of their family, people in general were not Leo’s scene, much less a loud arena packed with thousands of people. It was the opposite of Leo in every way.
Leo snapped his attention away from the guys moving computer equipment. He pointed up and behind them to the owner’s skybox.
“I’ll be watching from up there. As for being here, are you kidding?” His eyes went all huge and sparkly. Uh-oh. Leo was about to have one of his nerdgasms. “Do you know the kind of coding and tech that goes into a Nia show? She’s got her own dream team who make her ideas a reality through coding and engineering. All of it perfectly in sync with her dance choreography and music. Her use of holograms is state of the art! And the best part is, Gio’s going to introduce me to her team. A couple of them used to work for NASA! I have so many questions.”
Joker nodded. “I bet.”
“Oh, I brought you a new snack.” Leo reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small packet of something. He held it out to Joker, his smile bright. “Plantain crisps. I know you’ve had plantain chips, but these are thinner and crunchier. They’re so yummy. Not as epic as Goldfish Crackers, but then nothing is.”
Joker took the bag from Leo with a wink. “Thanks.” He stuck the bag into one of the pockets of his black tactical pants as a bark caught their attention. Chip, the traitor, was losing his furry mind, as per usual. Because, of course, his dog’s favorite human had to be the one guy Joker preferred to avoid.
“I’m so happy to see you too,” Gio cooed as he made his way over, laughing and conversing with Chip, who shared his woes with Gio through a combination of barks, whines, and howls. His whole body wagged as he licked whatever part of Gio he could get to with his doggie tongue. If they’d been at Colton’s house or anywhere else Chip had toys, he would have brought Gio a toy or one of his bones, because he loved the fucker that damned much. Asshole.