Sacha Wilder needed to be his.
“Are you fucking listening to me?”
“Always,” Gio replied with a smile.
Sacha grunted. “Why are you so annoying?”
“Why are you so delightful?”
“You know what the worst part is? Most guys would say that and I’d know they were fucking with me, but you actually mean it.”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”
“Hence why you’re annoying.” Sacha snorted. “I’m a lot of things, pal, but believe me, delightful is not one of them.”
Gio chuckled. “If you say so. The answer to your question is none. I have no security detail.” He shrugged. “Why would I need security?”
Sacha’s eyebrows flew up, and he thrust both hands in the direction of Gio’s bandaged arm. So dramatic, his sweet man.
“I’m sure this was a one-time incident. There’s no need for a security detail. I’ve faced far more dangerous men than that.”
“I don’t want to know, and I don’t care. You’re getting a security detail. I’m assuming you have a whole itinerary of saintly do-goodery events scheduled?”
Gio smiled, captivated by Sacha’s wrinkled nose. He was too endearing. “I have several charity events scheduled over the next few months, yes.”
“Send me your schedule. I’m going to put a security team together, and you’re getting assigned executive protection.”
“That’s not necessary.” While traveling abroad, he’d had security with him at all times, naively believing they’d keep him safe. He’d been foolish, and it had cost him. He quickly pushed that thought away. It didn’t matter now. He was back in the United States with his friends and family. Round-the-clock security wasn’t needed.
“Gio!” Laz’s frantic cry broke through the crowd, and Sacha’s evil grin was not lost on Gio.
“Not necessary, huh? We’ll see about that.”
Gio sighed, knowing the argument was over before it began. With a warm smile for his little brother, he opened his arms, and Laz threw himself against Gio, who made the mistake of wincing when Laz accidentally brushed against his injured arm. Laz jerked away, his eyes huge and his gaze locked on Gio’s arm.
“Oh my God.”
“I’m okay,” Gio promised, bringing Laz back into his embrace and squeezing him with his uninjured arm. He hated worrying Laz. His little brother had been through enough. The familiar guilt of not having been there when his brother had needed him most tried to overwhelm him, but he remembered his therapist’s words. You can’t feel guilty for not being somewhere you didn’t know you needed to be. You couldn’t have known. Sometimes it helped, but even if he hadn’t known what Laz was going through at the time, he still felt that if he’d been around more, maybe Laz wouldn’t have landed in the hands of that predator.
Sacha’s voice intruded on his thoughts. “I’m putting a security team together for your brother.”
“Oh, that’s perfect! Thank you so much, Joker.”
“Laz, that’s not—” His little brother’s glare could have turned him to stone. Gio cleared his throat. “Right. I suppose a little security wouldn’t hurt.”
Sacha snorted and smacked Gio in the abdomen. “Not like you can’t afford it.”
“I’ll accept any security proposal from you, on one condition.”
Narrowed eyes met Gio’s. So much suspicion. Gio had noticed a trust issue with Sacha from early on, more so than with his brothers-in-arms. What had happened to cause such deep-rooted distrust?
“I’m not going to be a part of it,” Sacha replied, arms crossed over his chest. “So don’t even think about it.”
“Not you. Chip.”
Sacha looked endearingly puzzled. “What?”
“I will accept any security you decide, providing Chip is part of my security detail.”
“Is that so?” Sacha said, one thick eyebrow arched.
“Yep.” They both knew Chip only worked with Sacha.
“I see.” Joker widened his stance; his chest puffed up as he seemed to consider it. Laz turned to Sacha, big eyes pleading.
“Please, Joker. I’ve been trying to get him to hire security for eight months now. He’s already had the press show up at his office. How much longer before all the media outlets find out he’s back for good and where the new house is? It wouldn’t be the first time they’d show up wherever he was staying.”
“Jack installed a very robust security system in the new house,” Gio reminded his brother. If anyone so much as approached his property without the proper credentials, a security team would be alerted.
“And I suppose the house is going to secure you when you’re not in it?” Laz asked, looking unimpressed. He turned his attention back to Sacha. “Please.”
“Fine,” Sacha said through a grunt. “I’ll let you know when the proposal is done.”
“Wonderful,” Gio replied cheerfully. “And thank you for coming to check on me.”
“Yeah, um, okay.” Sacha turned to Laz. “He staying with you guys tonight?”
Gio frowned. “That’s not—” The warning look he received from Sacha had Gio holding back a smile.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Of course,” Laz said, scowling at his brother.
“Good. I’ll discuss it with King, and we’ll have someone assigned as your executive protection first thing in the morning.”
Executive protection? “I really don’t think—”
“Well, I think it is. Now, how about you go home with Laz and stay out of trouble.” With that, Sacha stormed off.
Laz continued to fuss over him, and Gio sighed. “Laz, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
His brother’s glare told him he disagreed. Feeling a little dizzy, Gio didn’t have the energy to argue, so he simply nodded, even if the only thing he wanted to do right now was take a nice hot shower and get into his own bed, though it was probably best he not be alone. Twice in one day. He needed this kind of excitement not to become a habit.
Colton appeared and gently placed a hand on Gio’s shoulder. “Why don’t you come home with us,” Colton said, then moved his gaze to Laz. “We’ll look after him.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Gio replied, perking up. “Then I’ll already be there for the barbecue.”
Colton blinked at him. “You don’t want to reschedule it?”
“Are you kidding? No. I’ve been looking forward to it. Starting next week, I have a full schedule of events.” Now that his move back was official and his affairs were all in order at home and the office, it was time to get back to it.
“Are you sure?” Laz asked, uncertain.
“Positive.” Gio hugged his brother once more. “Give Red a hug from me and tell him not to worry.”
“You call me if you need anything, you understand?” Laz demanded, and Gio promised he would. When had his little brother become so forceful? It was good to see. At one point, Laz seemed to have lost all his self-confidence. Or more likely, it had been slowly stripped away by his bastard ex-boyfriend.