Free Run This Town 03 - (Watch Me) Unmask You by Avril Ashton Page A

did they call Tek’s shit anyway? Either way, despite not understanding Elias and Tek’s preferences, Israel hadn’t kicked them out of his life when he’d gotten out of prison. He was straight, but had completely changed his tune from the intense hatred he’d had for them, Tek especially, inside the walls of Rikers Island. Elias appreciated it and after what they’d been through in that place, Tek and Israel had his unbreakable trust and friendship. They didn’t get to see each other, not with Elias always away, but at least they knew why.
    “No violence,” Tek said into the phone. “Let him come to you on his own.”
    Elias didn’t know if he could. After waiting so long for Elias, it seemed Lucky had given up on him.
    “Doing anything to the boyfriend might come back and bite you in the ass,” Tek said. “Let’s not add that to the list of things you’ll have to atone for later.”
    Tek was always the calm one of their trio. Where Elias and Israel were quick to go the bloody route, Tek much preferred the alternate route. Violence was always the last resort for the Chinese-American. For now Elias chose to listen to Tek.
    “Okay. No beating up the boyfriend.” Which meant what, he’d just have to sit and wait for Lucky to feel for him what he’d felt three years ago? No way. “Doesn’t mean I’ll just sit on the sidelines, though.”
    “What are you gonna do?” Tek asked.
    “And please keep in mind that details aren’t necessary,” Israel said quickly.
    Elias laughed. “I’ll spare you the details, Is. But suffice it to say, I’m not giving up.”
    He spoke with the men a little while longer then hung up and pulled out of the parking lot, headed to his hotel. He needed to think about what he’d do the next time he saw Lucky, because he would, there was no doubt.

Chapter Seven
     
    Lucky didn’t sleep the night before. He lay in bed next to Chad hardly daring to breathe. His mind was a jumbled mess and he couldn’t stop thinking. Elias was back. Three years later he was back and this time…
    This time Lucky wasn’t sure what he wanted. At twenty he’d been sure he wanted Elias, but as much as he hated to admit it, Elias was right. Lucky had needed to be with himself, to think, to figure out what he wanted. To live. He’d had a lot of time to do that. And he’d built something of a life with Chad. The paralegal was a good guy, a dependable guy. Lucky cared for him.
    Did that mean he didn’t feel what he once felt for Elias?
    He wished that were the case. Really wished it, because no, his heart still set off at a stampede when he looked into Elias’s eyes. His palms still got slick with sweat. He still forgot to breathe. When Elias failed to show up over the past three years, Lucky had hoped his feelings for the redhead would go away.
    He’d hoped.
    Of course Elias’s return proved that no, Lucky hadn’t escaped those feelings. What was he supposed to do, though? He couldn’t trust Elias. He couldn’t count on him to be there, and that was what Lucky wanted.
    Someone to be there.
    He went to work, opening the shop even though that was the very last thing he wanted to do. He’d have much preferred to stay home and hide. He didn’t have to work, not after the inheritance he’d gotten from his father’s estate. The first half at eighteen and the other at twenty-one. A whole heck of a lot of money that he doubted he’d ever be able to spend. But just because he had the money didn’t mean he wanted to sit on his ass all day. He needed purpose. So he put on wrinkled clothes and forced a brittle smile over the rim of his coffee cup.
    “You didn’t call me.” Pia’s accusing eyes glared at him from across Joe’s desk in the back office.
    “Not now, Pia.” He looked away.
    “Who was that guy last night?” Obviously she was choosing to ignore him. “And why do you look like someone died?” She narrowed her eyes and reared back. “Did someone die? Did you kill him?”
    Lucky