They were still no closer to knowing who had arranged the attack, but Joseph Holden had been added to the short list of suspects. He would talk to Dominic and get more information on the man. But first he needed to reassure Graham.
"I'm not worried about Holden. And the idea of you stepping back from the community is a ridiculous one, and you should know better."
Graham’s eyes widened at Craig's forceful tone. "I beg your pardon."
Craig leaned forward again and stared directly at Graham. "You are the glue that holds this community together. If it wasn't for you, there wouldn't be a community like ours. Many of us aren't around a lot. We move in and out, but you are always there. We need you. Not just the boys, but the daddies too. We need our mentor and that is you. Give me the name of one man who could take your place.”
There was silence for a long moment and Craig nodded his head. "Exactly."
"I’m getting older," Graham said, but Craig glared at him fiercely.
"If you want to retire, then train someone up to take your place. Because at the moment there isn't anyone. The only person I can think of is Quinn, and that's only if he stays with Cade. In fact, if he’s touring with Cade, that means he's not here either. You need somebody as your backup."
"What about you?" Graham said.
Craig gave a wry smile. "Once upon a time I'd have bitten your hand off for an offer like that."
"And now?" Graham asked.
"I couldn't stay here, if Louis was here too,” Craig said regretfully. “I couldn't watch him be with anybody else."
Graham closed his eyes. "Lord, save me from the oblivious."
Craig blinked at him. "What?"
“The only man your dear boy wants is you. No one else. When you're in the room, he doesn't notice anyone else. He loves you. Don't you realize that?"
"Yes," Louis said from the doorway. “Don’t you realize that?”
Craig looked over to see Louis resting against the doorframe, Ian at his side. Ian looked as if he was trying to hold back a smirk. “Louis.”
Louis ignored him and focused his attention on Graham. “Thank you for coming over, Daddy Graham. I’m sorry I was asleep. Someone was supposed to wake me up.”
Graham stood, holding out his arms, and Louis went into them for a hug. Craig gritted his teeth. If Louis had been his, Graham would have asked permission to hug him. But Louis wasn’t, and anyone could touch him. He felt a light touch on his arm and looked down at Ian who still wore a smirk.
Craig forced himself to smile, and Ian gave him a far-too-knowing smile in return. He would have to watch this boy.
“You can’t kill him, you know,” Ian said. “He’s mine.”
Craig huffed, not bothering to pretend he didn’t know what Ian was talking about. “This doesn’t bother you?”
Ian shrugged. “Why should it? Daddy Graham is mine. Louis would be yours if only you’d get your head out of your ass.”
Chapter 6
Louis
Once upon a time Louis would have checked with Craig before he hugged Graham, even though Graham was the head of the Daddies. But Craig was not his Daddy, and he could do anything he wanted. So he went willingly into Graham’s arms, but not before he'd caught sight of the anger on Craig's face. And maybe he took great satisfaction and a little guilt in that look.
"Don’t play games with him. You know he cares for you deeply," Graham whispered in his ear.
"But is it enough?" Louis asked.
"Only you can answer that, boy," Graham said before he stepped back, letting Louis go.
Craig pulled out a seat for Louis next to him and poured him a cup of coffee. "Graham and Ian brought red velvet cake for you."
Louis was touched by their thoughtfulness. His mouth watered as Craig placed a small slice in front of him with a fork. "It is my favorite."
"I know," Ian said. "Do you remember that huge red velvet cake you had at your fortieth birthday party? You were so overwhelmed, I thought you were going to dive into it."
Louis grinned, saying, "It took me weeks to eat that cake. I was giving it away to anyone just to get rid of it. I asked him for a small cake, not that monstrosity."
"Vera didn't make it for you?" Craig asked. He wore a tight look, and Louis remembered Craig hadn’t been at that party. It had been not long after they separated, and Craig