huffed out a breath. “Louis insisted you wouldn’t come if I called.”
Craig said nothing and Quick nodded. “He refused to stay behind.”
“Who am I working for?” Craig demanded. “You, CDR, or Angel Enterprises?”
“Quickfire Securities on a freelance contract. CDR is providing security backup because I’m based in London. You know them, which helps. Josh is just interfering.”
Craig snorted. “Same old, same old.”
“You know him well?”
“I met him when he worked for CDR. He’s got a reputation.”
Quick’s interest in Josh Cooper faded when a sedan pulled up in front of them. “Here’s our car.”
Craig let Quick take his bag while he manhandled a sleepy Louis into the back seat. He slid in next to Louis who buried his face on Craig’s shoulder. Craig left him there, pretending he hadn’t heard the soft, “I missed my daddy.” Louis probably didn’t know what he was saying.
Quick sat next to the driver and they pulled away, leaving behind Craig’s brief life in Paris. He hoped he would be back soon.
Craig stared down at the sleeping man now more or less in his arms. “Who the heck did you annoy to end up in this state, baby?”
Craig insisted Louis be checked over by the doctor before they took off. When he was given a cautious thumbs up, they went wheels up. Craig appreciated the ease of traveling when he didn’t have to go economy. Louis made a valiant attempt to stay awake, but the effort was futile, and he was soon asleep in one of the huge leather seats.
As soon as Craig was sure he was sound asleep, he turned to Quick. “Sitrep.”
The man didn’t blink at his demand. “There’s little information I can give you. It’s obvious Mr. Romero is in danger, but I don’t know who from. The men who assaulted him had no idea. CDR is tracking down intel.”
“He called you because you impressed him. Why need me at all? You have backup in Seattle. You could have organized his security.”
“I run a business in London,” Quick said. “We liaised with CDR. Your name came up. Mr. Romero was reluctant at first.”
Of course he was. The only reason Lou had probably agreed was because he had been lying in a hospital bed, barely able to think.
“But he told me that the only person he trusted apart from me was you. CDR agreed. You come with an excellent reputation, and you were available.”
“If I’d said no?”
“I’d have handled that issue when it arose.” Quick’s expression said he’d been relieved he hadn’t had to resolve that thorny issue.
“You know there’s history between us?” Craig demanded.
“I do.”
“Messy history.”
God, messy was like saying a tornado was a summer breeze. Their history was catastrophic.
Quick gave a brief nod. “I know.”
“Then why are you agreeing to this?” Craig demanded.
He would never have agreed to let a bodyguard take care of a client if they had a relationship, let alone a failed one.
“One, because I checked your background before I agreed. Two, because it’s a short assignment, and others will be involved. Three, because I needed someone who could ride bikes.”
He paused and Craig scowled.
“Go on. There’s clearly a four.”
“He needs a Daddy, if only on a temporary basis, and the bodyguards who can fill all three requirements are few and far between.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“I’m gay. I’m not a prick or judgmental. I don’t give a shit what you do as long as you keep my client alive. He’s in danger, and that’s all I care about. The question is, can you do your job?”
Craig gave him a cool look which didn’t seem to faze Quick. “I can do my job.”
“Good.”
“What’s the event?”
“It’s a spin-off from the bike show. He’s providing the VIP after-party, schmoozing them for next year.”
“Which one?”
“The Bike Live Expo from last month.”
Craig gave a low whistle. Louis had obviously expanded his interests since they had parted company. Craig was sorry he’d missed the Expo. He’d gone with Louis a couple of times, and they’d spent hours drooling over the high-end luxury bikes.
Louis gave a snort-snore he remembered so well. Craig smiled fondly at him, then looked up and caught Quick’s smirk. He scowled but Quick’s smile deepened. Nothing was going to faze the man.
Craig turned his attention back to Louis. Could he be Louis’s daddy and walk away at the end of the assignment with his heart intact? He’d fallen apart the first time. He wasn’t sure he could do it again.
Chapter 2
Louis
Louis woke up before the plane landed, roused by the change in