Free Caught By Two Doms (Club El Diablo (Angel's Doms Book 2)) by Holly S. Roberts Page B

a man stood in front of him, but the outline was familiar, the voice even more so.
    “Zachary.”
    Monroe stood still, but even in shock, Zach looked around for more threats.
    Monroe, reading his mind, spoke again, “Stephens has the other one. There were three total, but they’re dead now.”
    “What?” It was all Zach could think to say. His adrenaline was too amped up to allow completely coherent thought.
    “Lower the gun Zach.” Monroe waited as Zach’s arm slowly sank and then spoke again. “Are the women in the safe room?”
    “Yes.” He felt Monroe’s warm palm against his cheek and, for just a moment, relished the feeling. “Am I dreaming?” It was the only explanation.
    “No, Zachary,” Monroe said with a sigh as he moved his hand away.
    “Then why the fuck did you do this?” Zach’s question was also a plea. This had to be a dream, but he desperately needed it to be real.
    For several moments there was no reply, but then a soft, “I’m sorry,” came from Monroe.
    “Sorry?” Fury replaced disbelief.
    “We can’t discuss this now. Can you walk with that knee?”
    Zach put the gun in the waist of his pants and used a table to stand. The low, steady throb would turn into full-blown pain within a few hours. His anger carried him toward Monroe, who was lifting the legs of one of the men and dragging him across the tiled floor. Resisting the urge to plant his fist in Monroe’s face, Zach managed to limp to the front door, draw his gun, and open the door slightly. He was relieved to see Stephens.
    The older man helped Monroe, while Zach stood by and watched the two of them get the bodies outside.
    Monroe looked at Stephens. “Bring the Range Rover around. We’ll load the bodies, then I’ll leave you both to clean up the foyer before bringing the women out.”
    Zach couldn’t have heard him right. “You’re fucking leaving?”
    “My assignment is not finished, Zachary.”
    Black spots of fury clouded Zach’s vision. “Yes, your fucking assignment is finished. Now it’s time for your family—the people who thought you dead this past month, you son of a bitch.”
    Monroe put his hand on Zach’s shoulder, but Zach jerked away.
    “Keeping my family safe is my job. Angel can’t know I’m alive until this is complete. If something happens to me, and it still could, she doesn’t need to go through this twice.”
    “Fuck you. She didn’t need to go through it at all.”
    Monroe’s mouth tightened and later Zach would realize how on edge the man was to actually show his feelings. But right now, Zach wanted something more. And Monroe leaving with no explanation didn’t work.
    “How long will you be gone, and if you die, who will tell us this time?” Pure belligerence poured out with the question.
    Monroe gave him his usual blank stare. “Two weeks. If you haven’t heard from me by then, it’s over and I’m not coming home.”
    Something broke inside Zach and more than losing Monroe the first time, Zach knew he couldn’t live through the “what ifs” again.
    The large SUV pulled around and Stephens got out and assisted Monroe with the bodies. When the men finished, Zach stood by, watching Monroe walk away again. He didn’t look back as his hand went to the driver’s door handle. Zach stumbled slightly, but used the car to keep him upright as he followed. He didn’t pay attention to where Stephens stood or if he could see or hear them.
    “Nathanial.” Zach placed his hand solidly on Monroe’s back and waited until he turned. Zach moved in closer, grasped Monroe’s shoulder with one hooked arm and grabbed the back of his hair with the other. His mouth slammed into Monroe’s in a desperately savage kiss using his lips, tongue, and teeth. Several moments later, he pulled marginally away and spoke against Monroe’s lips, “It’s not just Angel who can’t go through losing you again, you bastard.”
    Zach could have laughed at the stunned look on Nathanial Monroe’s face.