to my business! My hard work destroyed because they don’t have the fucking balls to say something to you like a normal person. When’s it going to end?”
Jack stood and quickly went to Fitz, who turned away from him. It hurt, but Jack understood. He could see Fitz was on edge, his nerves frazzled, and who wouldn’t be? Jack had faced worse situations, but navigating the emotions of someone he loved wasn’t something he was accustomed to.
“I know, sweetheart, I know,” Jack said softly, relieved when Fitz turned and walked into him, allowing Jack to hold him.
“I’ll start the investigation,” Val informed them, “but even if we find evidence this wasn’t an accident, and it’s becoming pretty obvious we’re looking at arson here, we may not find evidence of who was responsible. Even if we do, you might not be able to connect what they did tonight to what they did previously.”
“As long as we get them for something,” Fitz growled. “How long before I can start putting things back together?”
“Depending on what we find and what your insurance company says, it could be several weeks before the scene—your salon—is released.”
Fitz closed his eyes and nodded. “I understand.”
This wasn’t going to go well, but Jack had to try. He rubbed Fitz’s arms in the hopes of offering comfort. “Sweetheart, I know you don’t want a bodyguard, but please let me assign you one of our guys. You won’t even know he’s there. His job is to protect you without being intrusive.” Jack held his breath as Fitz seemed to consider it. At least he hadn’t outright refused.
“Who?”
“Santos Cavallero. He’s ex-Navy Seals. One of King’s best.”
Val’s head shot up. “Saint?”
“You know Saint?” Jack asked, bemused.
“I, um, met him at Frank’s. Saint was working a job that night.”
Jack waited for Val to elaborate, but he didn’t. He just stared down at his tablet before shaking his head. Okay, Jack had no idea what that was about. Turning his attention back to Fitz, he continued to rub his arms.
“Please, sweetheart.”
Fitz let out a heavy sigh but nodded. “Okay. What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. The man who this person is obsessed with. Who’s going to watch your back?” Jack opened his mouth to respond, but Fitz narrowed his eyes. “And if you’re about to tell me you don’t need anyone because you’re a big tough Green Beret, I suggest you rethink that response.”
Jack held back a smile. Fuck, he loved this man. “I was going to say, I have five other big tough Green Berets to watch my back. Believe me, King’s going to make sure of it.”
“Why don’t you two go home. There’s nothing you can do here,” Val said. “I’ll call you as soon as I have any information.”
Jack escorted Fitz downstairs. They walked outside to the small parking lot where Jack had parked Fitz’s Galactic Aqua Mica Toyota Camry Hybrid. He reached for the passenger side door, but Fitz’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“Would you be upset if I stayed with Laz and Red tonight? I can drop you off at Joker’s.”
“Oh, right. No, of course I’m not upset.” Jack opened the passenger door and climbed inside. His heart hurt from the awkwardness that had settled between them.
“Are you sure? You look upset.”
“Just tired,” Jack promised. “I know you are too.”
The car ride over to Joker’s was uncomfortably silent, and Jack hated it. He wasn’t upset with Fitz. It was perfectly natural that he’d want some time on his own to process all this. First someone had invaded his privacy and taken photos of him without his knowledge or consent, then they drugged him and put him in a dangerous situation, then they endangered his life in a car accident before setting fire to the business he’d poured so much of himself into.
“Text me when you get there so I know you made it, okay?” Jack said, turning in his seat to kiss Fitz. He cupped Fitz’s cheek and tried to convey all the love he felt for him in that one kiss. The words were there, a breath away from tumbling out of him.
“Goodnight, Jack.”
Jack nodded and got out of the car. He stood on the sidewalk as Fitz drove away, waiting until he’d turned the corner and disappeared, then headed upstairs to Joker’s tiny apartment on the second floor of the converted beach house. Chip’s quiet bark alerted Joker to Jack’s presence. It was amazing how Chip always knew it was him or one of the guys before they