Free Saving Ren (Barretti Security Series, Book 3) by Sloane Kennedy

his head.
    “Liar,” he heard Jagger say softly.
    “What about you?” Ren asked.
    “No,” Jagger said. “I think some people like your brothers are lucky to have found the people they were meant to be with but I’ve seen the other side of love – the kind that’s ugly and cruel. The kind that takes but never gives.”
    The remark hit too close to home for Ren and he dropped his eyes.
    “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?” Jagger asked quietly. The man was either too damn observant or Ren really sucked at schooling his expressions.
    Ren snatched his plate off the table and carried it to the sink. He took his time washing it and stacking it in the drying rack but Jagger hadn’t moved when Ren was finally forced to turn around. And those unnerving eyes were still on him.
    “What’s next?” Ren asked. He glanced back at the fading daylight and felt an overwhelming need to examine every shadowy corner and check all the closets.
    “How about a walk?”
    Was the guy fucking crazy? But just as he was about to voice the question he saw the challenge in Jagger’s eyes. And God but if that didn’t feel a hell of a lot better than being looked at with pity.
    “Okay,” Ren managed to get out though even he could hear the fear in his voice. But Jagger didn’t call him on it. He just reached into a drawer and pulled out a single flashlight.
    “Let’s go,” he said with a grin but to Ren’s dismay, he kept the flashlight for himself.

 
     
    Chapter 4
     
    “We have a problem,” Declan said before Jagger could even get a word out. He took one of the grocery bags from Declan and ignored the bout of desire that surged through him as Declan’s unique, musky scent drifted over him. Neither of them had spoken since the day Declan had kissed him. After their discussion with Ren, Declan had quickly announced he needed to leave and had called only once later in the day to let Jagger know his whereabouts for the next several days.
    Part of Jagger had been looking forward to seeing Declan again just so he could try to get a handle on what had happened between them. He had no idea if Declan was gay or straight or questioning but Jagger couldn’t get that fucking kiss out of his head or the feel of Declan’s tight ass beneath his palms. Add in his increasing attraction towards the young man he’d spent the last five days with and Jagger was stuck with an endless loop of questions that he couldn’t figure out the answers to. But Declan’s worried expression and hushed voice had all of those thoughts drifting to the background.
    “What is it?” Jagger asked as he watched Declan close the trunk of his car.
    “Where is he?” Declan asked, his eyes searching the surrounding glade.
    “Still asleep,” Jagger said. “He had a rough night.”
    “Nightmares?”
    Jagger nodded. “We ended up doing a couple of perimeter searches before he settled back down. Happened again a few hours ago.”
    “You okay?” Declan asked.
    The question caught Jagger off guard but he managed a nod. “How about you? You look like shit,” Jagger said before he realized how obnoxious the words sounded. But Declan actually smiled briefly and Jagger felt his insides jerk at the sight.
    “Rafe’s back,” Declan said.
    “I know. Vin said he was hacking their system-” Jagger began to say.
    “No, he’s actually back. He showed up at the engagement party last night.”
    “Shit,” Jagger whispered.
    “No one even knew he was in town and then he was just there,” Declan said.
    “What happened?” Jagger asked softly as he heard the uneven tone in Declan’s voice.
    “It was bad, Jagger,” Declan whispered.
    Jagger couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and closing his hand around Declan’s upper arm. He was glad when Declan didn’t pull away from him. “Tell me,” Jagger said.
    “The guy who took him – his biological father – he pimped him out,” Declan said hoarsely. “Fucker let some trucker rape Rafe in