Hold Close (Biker Daddy Bodyguards #2) - Sue Brown Page 0,45
all the questions with his usual charm. Craig seemed to have a sixth sense when the questions got too personal and would guide him away on a pretext of meeting someone else.
He was deep in conversation with one of the guests about his Hog, Louis was known for his love of Harleys as well as the club, when he noticed Jace approaching, his expression troubled.
Jace whispered something in Craig’s ear. Immediately, Craig’s expression hardened. He said something Louis couldn’t hear to Jace. The bodyguard nodded and vanished.
“Is something wrong?” Louis asked.
Craig gave a polite nod at the man Louis was talking to. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but I need Mr. Romero for a moment.”
The man waved his hand. “Of course. Thanks for the party, Romero.”
“You’re welcome.”
Craig guided Louis away from the crowd and to the back of the club.
“What’s wrong?” Louis asked.
“Eric Strada is here,” Craig said.
“You’re joking.”
There was no way Cade Connolly’s ex, who had abused Cade and a string of boys, would have been given an invite to this party. In fact, Louis had specifically mentioned to Jamie that if his name appeared on any lists, he was to be refused an invitation. Jamie knew the history. He wouldn’t have gone against Louis’s word.
“I’m not. We have two men with eyes on him.”
“Where is Jamie?” To his relief, Jamie was heading toward him with the same grim expression.
“News travels fast, I see,” Jamie said. “He was a plus one. That’s why we didn’t have his name. If we throw him out, it’ll make the news.”
“He probably expected to see Connolly here,” Craig said.
“Who’s he with?” Louis asked. As far as he was concerned, they would never be invited to Romero again.
“He’s come with Jem Peacock,” Jamie said, checking his list. Then he looked up and saw Louis’s and Craig’s expressions. “What?”
“Peacock is like me,” Louis said tightly.
“Oh fuck.”
“How the hell did Peacock get into his clutches? I thought everyone knew about him.”
“Peacock stays off the scene,” Louis said. “He had a bad experience and has stayed away ever since.”
“He’s about to have his second bad experience, unless we do something about it. We need to work a diversion tactic.” Craig looked at Jamie. “You’re the only one Jem doesn’t know. Can you think of something and bring him to Louis’s office?”
“On it,” Jamie said and went back to the crowd.
Craig looked at Louis. “Are you okay to handle Jem? We’re going to remove Strada.”
“I can do that. Poor boy. I hope Eric hasn’t gotten his claws into him already.”
Craig furrowed his brow. “I thought Eric liked really young boys. Jem is almost your age, isn’t he?”
Louis gave him a wry smile. “He tried me too, remember? I imagine his pickings are slim these days.”
“With respect, thank fuck for that. I’ll see you in a few minutes, once Mr. Strada is safely off the premises.”
Louis quickly leaned in and kissed Craig’s cheek, then he headed to his office for what was going to be a very awkward conversation.
Louis stared out of the window. Seattle lit up at night never failed to inspire Louis. He’d never had any desire to live elsewhere. But if he was going to stay with Craig, maybe he’d have to.
The door opened, disrupting his thoughts, and a very confused-looking Jem Peacock was ushered in by Jamie.
Louis smiled at his manager. “Thanks, Jamie.”
Jamie smiled and left the room.
“Jem, it’s good to see you.”
He walked over to shake Peacock’s hand. Jem was nearly forty, a man who had been a stunning twink and had matured into an exceptionally handsome man with the deepest green eyes Louis had ever seen. How did one man get so blessed with the gene pool?
“It’s good to see you too, Louis, but what’s with the cloak and dagger routine?”
Louis pressed his lips together. Why was he always left with the difficult conversations?
“Come over here, Jem. We need to have a talk.”
He sat on his couch and after a brief hesitation, Peacock joined him.
“I shouldn’t stay away for long,” Peacock said. “I’m with someone.”
“It’s who you’re with that’s the problem.”
Well done, Louis. That was fucking tactful.
“I beg your pardon,” Jem said icily.
Louis sighed. “There’s no easy way to say this, Jem. Eric Strada is an abusive shit, and you need to stay well away from him.”
Craig
Craig opened Louis’s office door to loud shouting.
“Just because he didn’t want you. Oh yeah, Eric told me about you, and Cade Connolly. And all the others who’ve hurt him.”
Jem Peacock stood over Louis, his face contorted