Page 99 of Broken Wheels

Dix couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, you look like you need some rest.”

He grabbed one of the bags Michael had left at the door, then returned to the living room, where Doc was already stretched out on the couch, dead to the world. The sweetest thing? Coby lay beside him, her tiny paw on Doc’s arm.

Yeah, this would work out just fine.

The room was dim when Josh woke. At first, he thought he was still in the hospital, but then he remembered Gary and Michael had brought him to his new home today.

A new home—with Dixon.

A snort to his left had Josh turning his head. Dixon was stretched out on the chair, which really didn’t seem to be built for a man his size. Josh wanted to wake him, to get him to move to the bedroom, but then he saw Coby had taken up residence in Dixon’s lap, and Josh melted.

I have a family. Is this what you wanted for me, Grandma? Because now that I have it, I will do my best to hold on to it.

Coby lifted her head, fixed Josh with a stare, and gave a soft meow. It was so weird this one tiny creature gave him heart palpitations. She slid from Dixon’s lap and bounded to Josh, who cradled her close. How could Dixon know he’d given Josh what he always wanted? A home. A pet. To be normal for once. To have what other people had.

A freaking life.

Then he realized there was someone out there with the power to take it all away. Someone who wasn’t above murder. Their motives so far escaped Josh, but he would find them. He would track these bastards down, and he would bring them to their knees.

They’d regret the day they fucked around with Josh Malone.

Chapter 29

Dix groaned as he sat up. Lord, he ached. Moving all the things from Doc’s place to their new one, plus lugging his stuff from his old apartment, provided a stark reminder that he wasn’t a kid anymore. Still, at least they’d gotten everything, and he now had a warm, sexy man in his bed as reward for his efforts.

Except he didn’t. The spot Doc should have been occupying was empty and cold.

Dix got out of bed and strode naked into the living room. Doc sat at the table, surrounded by stacks of papers, two laptops, and one vociferous cat demanding attention.

Her latest mewl brought a chuckle from Doc, who scritched behind her ears. “I need you to be patient, Coby. I’m gonna find out who the hell these people are, so that you and me can live here with Dixon and be a family.”

Dix swallowed the lump in his throat. Doc had said the words. So what if he’d said them to their cat? He’d still said them.

“How can I help?” Dix asked from the doorway.

Doc jerked his head in Dix’s direction, and for a split second, his gaze was on Dix’s cock, which had also woken up. Then he gave Dix a beseeching glance. “Coffee, please,” he said in a plaintive voice. “And put some clothes on. Having you walking around like that when I can’t take advantage of you is just cruel.”

He had a point.

Dix went back into the bedroom and pulled on a pair of shorts, not that they did much to hide his burgeoning erection. He glanced down. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered. “Nothing to see here.” Then he headed to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Once it was dripping, he leaned against the door jamb, his arms folded. “What time did you get up? Or should I ask if you’ve even slept?”

Doc rolled his eyes. “Duh. Why do you think I need coffee?”

“Doc—”

That earned him a hard stare. “No, Dixon. This isn’t open for discussion. These people have already killed so many others, they shot me, and we have no idea what they’re planning next.”

As much as Dix wanted to drag Doc back to bed and insist he sleep, he couldn’t. Not yet.

“You’re right.” He kissed the top of Doc’s head. “Sorry.”

Doc tilted his head upward and smiled. “No, don’t be. I can’t tell you how much I love that you want to take care of me, but I need to be sure you’re safe too.” He winced. “Can I have a couple of painkillers with my coffee?”

Dix fixed him with a narrowed look. “Is it bad?”

“It’s just there, and I don’t want it to get worse. Pain makes thinking more difficult.”

He returned to the bedroom and picked up the bottle of pills. His phone rang, and he glanced at the time. It wasn’t even five yet. This wasn’t going to be good news, and it sure as hell wasn’t gonna be someone offering Girl Scout cookies.