Free Cowboy Gangster 02 - Gunnin' for Love (CMS) (MM) by CJ Bishop Page B

mean…” he nudged Cole with his elbow. “…This guy never gave me a cool buckle and a puppy.”
    Cole rubbed his ribs. “Well, you didn’t give me any of those things either.”
    “Hey,” Gabe held up a finger. “I was the one who got down on one knee and proposed. I did my part.”
    Clint stared at them. Proposed? He raised an eyebrow, quick to change the subject. “You’re getting married?”
    “Yeah,” Gabe smiled. “I told you that, didn’t I?”
    “No.” Clint chuckled. “Congratulations.” Without thinking, he stood and hugged Gabe. “To both of you.”
    Gabe hugged him back then withdrew, a puzzled –although amused –look on his face. “This is a new development.”
    Clint dropped down on his stool, eyes averted. He rubbed his mouth and downed the rest of his drink.
    “I do believe the kid is having a positive effect on the rough and tough cowboy,” Cole grinned.
    “Don’t push it,” Clint growled.
    Dane stepped back and shook his head, laughing. “You two are cruising for a serious bruising.”
    “Got that right,” Clint confirmed.
    The veiled warning went unheeded as Gabe quipped, “Do you bring him wine and roses, too? ‘Cause I could totally see you doing that.” He grunted as Clint’s fist socked him in the gut. “What?” he coughed and laughed. “Who doesn’t love a man who brings them wine and roses? I brought wine the night I proposed, and Cole fucked my brains out.”
    Clint chuckled and shook his head. But the thought of wine and roses pulled him away momentarily as he imagined the look on Axel’s face if he showed up at his door in such a romantic gesture. Surely even some gay men would balk at the idea, possibly even take offense at a gift of roses, especially. But not Axel. The boy craved intimacy and romance, that much was evident. And what wouldn’t Clint do to inspire that special smile? The smile that lit up Axel’s face when Clint handed him the pup.
    “Earth to cowboy.” Gabe snapped his fingers in front of Clint’s face.
    Clint blinked and looked at him.
    Gabe grinned. “In case you’re feeling inspired,” he mused and winked. “I know a great flower shop.”
    Incorrigible , Clint scowled, suppressing a smile. He twisted around on the stool and watched Axel with Angel.
    “All joking aside,” Gabe said, sobering. “What happened to Axel’s face?”
    Heat instantly filled Clint’s veins and his face tightened. He looked at Gabe. “A couple nights ago…” he released a barely controlled breath. “He was assaulted on his way home from work.”
    “What?” Gabe stared at him. “Shit. Was he…hurt?”
    Clint shifted his eyes back to Axel, his chest squeezing with pressure at what could have happened that night. “No. frightened mostly,” he murmured. “But it could have been bad. Help came before they could…” He swallowed hard, his jaw clenching.
    “Fuck,” Cole mumbled. “That’s all he needed. Especially after what happened to him at the apartment.”
    Dane stood rigid. “Were they going to… rape him?” His voice strained and rage simmered behind his dark eyes. After busting in on Angel getting raped –clearly any mention of sexual assault was a trigger for the man.
    “Yeah,” Clint whispered sharply.
    “Did you deal with them?” Dane asked. A hard frown cinched his brow.
    “Not yet,” Clint admitted. “But I have them in custody .”
    “What’re you waiting for?” Gabe asked.
    Clint looked at Axel again. His prime objective had been to make sure Axel was okay. “Just giving them a moment to anticipate their fate,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on Axel. “Let them stew in their own shit for a short while.” He twisted on the stool and looked at the three men. “That’s why I gave him the buckle. So the motherfuckers on the street would see it and know not to fuck with him. He…” Clint rubbed his mouth. “He needs to feel safe. And…” Clint shifted his eyes to Axel once more. “…I need to know