[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
dropped open in surprise.
Redmond was the first to recover. Russell stood at the door
barefoot, wearing nothing but the tightest pair of short cutoffs
Redmond had ever seen. Around his neck was a strip of black leather,
and he had a large gold ring dangling from one pierced nipple. Red lip
gloss and kohl-lined eyes made him look like he d just stepped out of
a club.
My God, Russell, what are you doing?
Russell shifted his bare feet uncomfortably and pouted his lips.
I m answering the door, what does it look like? He glanced behind
Redmond at Sloane and frowned a little, lowering his voice to a
whisper. You can t come in now, Red, go away.
Behind him, a deep loud voice called out. Russell, who s at the
door? Who are you talking to?
A big hand appeared on the door and pulled it open all the way. A
huge man wearing an expensive suit and tie looked them up and
down, stopping when he saw Redmond s face. You must be
Russell s brother. The resemblance is amazing. He stepped back and
motioned them forward. Come in, please.
When they stepped inside, he pulled Russell to stand behind him,
rather protectively, Redmond thought. Then he realized he was
peering around Sloane s shoulder himself as Sloane stepped forward
to shake the man s hand. I m Sloane Devereaux, Redmond s
106 Shannon West
boyfriend. Nice to meet you. We ve come to speak to Russell about a
recent incident involving loan sharks and a late payment.
Dan Gibson. I ll be glad to help you if I can, but Russell knows
nothing about any loan sharks, do you, Russell?
He turned to gaze down at Russell, who looked like he wanted to
sink into the floor. He cast frightened eyes up at Gibson and shook his
head back and forth. No, Sir. I don t know what they re talking
about. He dropped his eyes back to the floor, unable to hold
Gibson s gaze, but a meaty finger under his chin brought it back up.
Russell? The man s tone was actually quite calm, but Russell
began trembling all over. The man leaned down and whispered
something in Russell s ear and Russell burst into tears, covering his
face with his hands.
Gibson put his arm around the younger man and took him out of
the room, calling his apologies over his shoulder and telling them
he d be right back.
As soon as he left, Redmond turned to Sloane and whispered
furiously. Oh, my God, did you see that? What s going on? Should I
go check on him?
Sloane chuckled and squeezed his hand. He s fine, honey. The
guy wouldn t very well assault him with us standing in the next room.
I think he s just taken Russell out for a private little talk. It ll be
okay.
In another five minutes, the large man returned, without Russell
this time. He smiled and shrugged. Sorry about that. Russell needs a
little time alone to remember why he should never lie to me. He
smiled down at Redmond, who still looked worried. He s fine, I
assure you. He confessed everything, and told me he owes these loan
sharks some twenty thousand dollars. What I don t quite understand is
how you two are involved.
Then he may not have confessed everything, Mr. Gibson. Russell
talked his twin brother into trying to steal a watch for him that used to
belong to their father. When that failed, he made sure the loan sharks
Trading Places 107
thought Redmond was their target. Redmond was almost killed a
couple of days ago, by these very criminals, and they re both still in
danger. If the loan sharks are not paid right away, they ll try again,
and you can count on it. This time they may be more successful.
Gibson blinked a few times and looked even more stern than
before. I see, he said thoughtfully. Well, I think it s about time
Russell learned that complete honesty is the best policy. If you two
will excuse me for a little while, I ll get the names of these criminals
and how to contact them. I ll pay the bills myself, Mr. Devereaux, and
I assure you this little problem will never arise again. He nodded
toward the living room. If you ll make yourself comfortable, I ll
return shortly.
Sloane pulled Redmond into the living room and sat down beside
him. Redmond glanced at the door nervously. What do you think
he ll do to him? Will he hurt him?
Honey, you worry too much. He seems very concerned, and he
just doesn t like Russell lying to him. I got a feeling that your brother
may straighten up soon and become a very well-behaved young man.
Redmond whispered again. Is that guy one of those Doms?
Sloane laughed. Yes, I d say he definitely is. From a few rooms
away, they could hear someone yelling and a sound like leather
slapping against skin.
Redmond started to stand up, but Sloane pulled him back down.
Just wait. If it doesn t stop soon, I ll go in there.
After a few more minutes, the house became silent again, and
soon Mr. Gibson walked back into the room, straightening his tie. I
have the information I need, and I ll take care of this today, Mr.
Devereaux. Russell will be out in a moment. He has something he
wishes to say to his brother.
The door opened and Russell came in, looking red faced and
walking stiffly. He came over and stood next to his Dom, leaning
gently against him. The big man put his arm around him and patted
his ass, making him wince a little.
108 Shannon West
Glancing up at Redmond, he cleared his throat. I m sorry,
Redmond. I never meant for you to get hurt. I was just scared and
didn t know what to do. You ve always been smarter than me, and I
thought you could talk your way out of it. He stopped talking and
Gibson prodded him again with another little slap to his ass.
I know now it was dangerous for you and how wrong I was to do
it. Please forgive me.
Redmond opened his mouth a couple of times and then nodded.
All right, Russell. It was my fault too, in a way, for always letting
you talk me into things. I should have stood up to you a long time
ago.
Russell looked up at him again. Don t tell Mom, okay? Please?
You should tell Mom yourself, Russell. If you re really sorry and
want to change things.
Russell reached for his hand. Do you forgive me, Red? I m sorry,
really.
I ll try to, Russell. But you really hurt me. It might take a while.
He pulled his hand away and turned toward the door. He heard Sloane
talking to Mr. Gibson, and then they were outside in the hot Georgia
sun. Sloane put an arm around his shoulders as he dashed a tear from
his eyes.
I m okay, this sun is just too bright.
Sloane nodded. C mon, sweetheart. Let s go to our hotel and rest
a little. I m thinking one of your little naps might be in order right
about now.
* * * *
Sloane pulled Redmond closer to him on the sofa in the hotel
room and put his arm around him. Damn, stop touching me there, or
I ll have to take you to bed right now.
Promises, promises.
Trading Places 109
Okay, big boy, don t tease me too much or I ll give your butt
some of the same treatment Russell s got today.
Redmond smiled. Is it mean of me to say he deserves this?
No, darlin , not at all. He used you for a long time. He
shrugged. The hell of it is he ll probably enjoy every minute of it.
He stroked his hand along Redmond s cheek. By the way, you are
not all that identical. I d know you two apart anywhere, anytime.
You re much better looking.
Redmond kissed the side of his neck, and Sloane batted him away.
Stop it, or I ll take you to bed right now and you won t get any
dinner.
Is it really all over as easy as that?
Well, easy for you and me. I have a feeling Russell will be
paying for this for a long, long time in one way or another. And then,
too, I got to thinking on the way back to the hotel that I owe you some
punishment.
Redmond looked puzzled. What are you talking about?
Don t you remember the morning you almost burned down the
kitchen? You told me you were feeling guilty for all the lies?
Redmond smiled. Oh, yeah&
Oh, yeah is right. You asked me if I would give you a little [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
dropped open in surprise.
Redmond was the first to recover. Russell stood at the door
barefoot, wearing nothing but the tightest pair of short cutoffs
Redmond had ever seen. Around his neck was a strip of black leather,
and he had a large gold ring dangling from one pierced nipple. Red lip
gloss and kohl-lined eyes made him look like he d just stepped out of
a club.
My God, Russell, what are you doing?
Russell shifted his bare feet uncomfortably and pouted his lips.
I m answering the door, what does it look like? He glanced behind
Redmond at Sloane and frowned a little, lowering his voice to a
whisper. You can t come in now, Red, go away.
Behind him, a deep loud voice called out. Russell, who s at the
door? Who are you talking to?
A big hand appeared on the door and pulled it open all the way. A
huge man wearing an expensive suit and tie looked them up and
down, stopping when he saw Redmond s face. You must be
Russell s brother. The resemblance is amazing. He stepped back and
motioned them forward. Come in, please.
When they stepped inside, he pulled Russell to stand behind him,
rather protectively, Redmond thought. Then he realized he was
peering around Sloane s shoulder himself as Sloane stepped forward
to shake the man s hand. I m Sloane Devereaux, Redmond s
106 Shannon West
boyfriend. Nice to meet you. We ve come to speak to Russell about a
recent incident involving loan sharks and a late payment.
Dan Gibson. I ll be glad to help you if I can, but Russell knows
nothing about any loan sharks, do you, Russell?
He turned to gaze down at Russell, who looked like he wanted to
sink into the floor. He cast frightened eyes up at Gibson and shook his
head back and forth. No, Sir. I don t know what they re talking
about. He dropped his eyes back to the floor, unable to hold
Gibson s gaze, but a meaty finger under his chin brought it back up.
Russell? The man s tone was actually quite calm, but Russell
began trembling all over. The man leaned down and whispered
something in Russell s ear and Russell burst into tears, covering his
face with his hands.
Gibson put his arm around the younger man and took him out of
the room, calling his apologies over his shoulder and telling them
he d be right back.
As soon as he left, Redmond turned to Sloane and whispered
furiously. Oh, my God, did you see that? What s going on? Should I
go check on him?
Sloane chuckled and squeezed his hand. He s fine, honey. The
guy wouldn t very well assault him with us standing in the next room.
I think he s just taken Russell out for a private little talk. It ll be
okay.
In another five minutes, the large man returned, without Russell
this time. He smiled and shrugged. Sorry about that. Russell needs a
little time alone to remember why he should never lie to me. He
smiled down at Redmond, who still looked worried. He s fine, I
assure you. He confessed everything, and told me he owes these loan
sharks some twenty thousand dollars. What I don t quite understand is
how you two are involved.
Then he may not have confessed everything, Mr. Gibson. Russell
talked his twin brother into trying to steal a watch for him that used to
belong to their father. When that failed, he made sure the loan sharks
Trading Places 107
thought Redmond was their target. Redmond was almost killed a
couple of days ago, by these very criminals, and they re both still in
danger. If the loan sharks are not paid right away, they ll try again,
and you can count on it. This time they may be more successful.
Gibson blinked a few times and looked even more stern than
before. I see, he said thoughtfully. Well, I think it s about time
Russell learned that complete honesty is the best policy. If you two
will excuse me for a little while, I ll get the names of these criminals
and how to contact them. I ll pay the bills myself, Mr. Devereaux, and
I assure you this little problem will never arise again. He nodded
toward the living room. If you ll make yourself comfortable, I ll
return shortly.
Sloane pulled Redmond into the living room and sat down beside
him. Redmond glanced at the door nervously. What do you think
he ll do to him? Will he hurt him?
Honey, you worry too much. He seems very concerned, and he
just doesn t like Russell lying to him. I got a feeling that your brother
may straighten up soon and become a very well-behaved young man.
Redmond whispered again. Is that guy one of those Doms?
Sloane laughed. Yes, I d say he definitely is. From a few rooms
away, they could hear someone yelling and a sound like leather
slapping against skin.
Redmond started to stand up, but Sloane pulled him back down.
Just wait. If it doesn t stop soon, I ll go in there.
After a few more minutes, the house became silent again, and
soon Mr. Gibson walked back into the room, straightening his tie. I
have the information I need, and I ll take care of this today, Mr.
Devereaux. Russell will be out in a moment. He has something he
wishes to say to his brother.
The door opened and Russell came in, looking red faced and
walking stiffly. He came over and stood next to his Dom, leaning
gently against him. The big man put his arm around him and patted
his ass, making him wince a little.
108 Shannon West
Glancing up at Redmond, he cleared his throat. I m sorry,
Redmond. I never meant for you to get hurt. I was just scared and
didn t know what to do. You ve always been smarter than me, and I
thought you could talk your way out of it. He stopped talking and
Gibson prodded him again with another little slap to his ass.
I know now it was dangerous for you and how wrong I was to do
it. Please forgive me.
Redmond opened his mouth a couple of times and then nodded.
All right, Russell. It was my fault too, in a way, for always letting
you talk me into things. I should have stood up to you a long time
ago.
Russell looked up at him again. Don t tell Mom, okay? Please?
You should tell Mom yourself, Russell. If you re really sorry and
want to change things.
Russell reached for his hand. Do you forgive me, Red? I m sorry,
really.
I ll try to, Russell. But you really hurt me. It might take a while.
He pulled his hand away and turned toward the door. He heard Sloane
talking to Mr. Gibson, and then they were outside in the hot Georgia
sun. Sloane put an arm around his shoulders as he dashed a tear from
his eyes.
I m okay, this sun is just too bright.
Sloane nodded. C mon, sweetheart. Let s go to our hotel and rest
a little. I m thinking one of your little naps might be in order right
about now.
* * * *
Sloane pulled Redmond closer to him on the sofa in the hotel
room and put his arm around him. Damn, stop touching me there, or
I ll have to take you to bed right now.
Promises, promises.
Trading Places 109
Okay, big boy, don t tease me too much or I ll give your butt
some of the same treatment Russell s got today.
Redmond smiled. Is it mean of me to say he deserves this?
No, darlin , not at all. He used you for a long time. He
shrugged. The hell of it is he ll probably enjoy every minute of it.
He stroked his hand along Redmond s cheek. By the way, you are
not all that identical. I d know you two apart anywhere, anytime.
You re much better looking.
Redmond kissed the side of his neck, and Sloane batted him away.
Stop it, or I ll take you to bed right now and you won t get any
dinner.
Is it really all over as easy as that?
Well, easy for you and me. I have a feeling Russell will be
paying for this for a long, long time in one way or another. And then,
too, I got to thinking on the way back to the hotel that I owe you some
punishment.
Redmond looked puzzled. What are you talking about?
Don t you remember the morning you almost burned down the
kitchen? You told me you were feeling guilty for all the lies?
Redmond smiled. Oh, yeah&
Oh, yeah is right. You asked me if I would give you a little [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]