Cloak and Silence (The League #6)(21)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

“You sound like Drake.”

“Yeah, I think the little bastard’s starting to rub off on me. Since you’ve been spending so much time with Ture, you’ve forced me to start actually talking to my brother. I owe you a serious ass-beating for that.”

He laughed. “You love Drake.”

“In small doses.” Darling leaned forward as he finally noticed the small tablet on Maris’s tray table. “What’s that?”

Maris turned it toward him so that he could see the kitchen. “Ture refused to go to work unless I went with him. This way, we can keep an eye on each other.”

Darling waved at Ture who still couldn’t hear them. Smiling, Ture waved back then ran to put out a small pan fire. “I always knew you’d fall for a cook.”

“Yeah, I know.” Maris drew a ragged breath as he returned the tray to its original position. “Thanks, Darling. I appreciate the talk.”

“Not sure I did anything.”

“You did what you always do, gave me hope. And you talked sense to me.”

“Anytime, brother.”

Maris felt the familiar sad emptiness as Darling let go of his hand and left the room. He’d never really thought any other man could make him feel that sensation.

Not until Ture.

Turning the sound on, he moved his hand so that he could trace the line of Ture’s jaw while he went around the kitchen with unparalleled grace. He could watch that man move all day long. Nothing gave him more pleasure.

How can I even think about leaving him?

But the real question was— how could he endanger him by staying?

* * *

Ture froze as he glanced at the monitor and caught the unguarded expression on Mari’s face. For a full minute, he couldn’t move for it. No one had ever looked at him like that.

Like he was the air Maris breathed.

I feel the same way about you, baby.

And the last thing he wanted was to be here tonight without him. He missed being with Maris more than he would have ever thought possible. Even though he could see Maris on the monitor, it wasn’t the same as stealing a quick kiss from him as he passed by. Of Maris walking up behind him for a drive-by hug while Ture held a spoon out for Maris to taste what he was working on…

Love you, he mouthed at the screen.

You, too, Maris mouthed back.

“Ture?”

He turned at Ana’s voice. “Yes, sweetie?”

“Can I lay T in your office while he naps?”

“Of course. I had a small crib put in there yesterday for him.” Since she’d been running things for him again while he stayed with Maris, he’d thought it the best way to make her and the baby more comfortable.

She gaped at him. “Did you really?”

“Of course. Least I could do for my boyfriend’s son.”

Laughing, she rolled her eyes. “Remind me later that I have the custody papers for Maris to sign in my diaper bag. They came in today and you can take them up to the hospital later.”

“Will do, sweetie.” He turned back to Maris. “You’re about to be childless again, hon.”

Maris pouted. “Tell Ana I still want visitation rights to my boy.”

“I’m sure she’ll let us babysit.” Ture paused as he saw Maris bite back a yawn. “Are you tired?”

“I’m good.”

He narrowed his gaze on him. “Turn it off and go to sleep. I’ll be back as soon as we close.”

The reluctance in those dark eyes touched him deeply. “I’d rather stay with you.”

“As would I, but I don’t think you want everyone to know what a loud Snore-a-saurus you are.”

Maris laughed. “I don’t snore. You do.”

“Hmm-mmm, go on and believe the lies you tell.”

“Fine. I’m going. I’ll see you later, sweetie.”

Ture blew him a kiss before he shut the feed off. But as he did so, a wave of tears choked him as he felt Maris’s absence like a physical ache. It’s just a few more hours. He’d lived most of his life without Maris in it. So why was this so hard now? In the past, he’d been eager to have time alone. While he’d enjoyed his time with his boyfriends, he’d also needed time to himself every so often.

He never felt that with Mari. The more he was with him, the more he had no desire to be alone. Ever. He wanted to share everything with Maris.

It made no sense, but he couldn’t deny what was in his heart.

Trying to put it out of his mind, he forced his thoughts to cooking and running his restaurant.

* * *

“Is he still asleep?”

Ana nodded as she rejoined Ture at the sink. “I just checked to make sure he was breathing. He’s never napped this long before. But he seems fine. Granted, it’s weird and unnerving.”

“Guess he was tired.” He finished rinsing out the sink. “Did you get the orders entered?”

“All done. You?”

He wiped his hands on his towel then pulled his apron off. “Done. Finally.”

“Then I’ll go get Terek and we can call it a night.” She took a step away from him and froze.

Ture opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but the words choked him as he saw three uniformed League assassins with his brother.

Bristol tsked at him. “I finally realized why your current boyfriend looked so familiar to me, and why neither of you would tell me his name… Maris Sulle. He must be able to suck the plating off a starship for you to not give him up for the credits his ass is worth.”

Dread tore through Ture at those words and what his brother had obviously done. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“I did, and you should have given me the money I asked for, Ture. It would have saved us both a lot of trouble.”

CHAPTER 12

Maris jerked awake in his bed. “Ture?”

“Darling.”

He turned to see Darling sitting in the chair Ture often slept in. “What time is it?”

“Just after one.”

He went cold with that answer. “Where’s Ture?”

“Is he supposed to be here?”

“Yeah. He was coming over after closing. He should have been here hours ago.” Maris started to climb out of bed, but Darling caught him.

“Don’t panic. Call him.” Darling handed him his link.

Maris made the call.

There was no answer. His breathing ragged, he met Darling’s worried gaze as he tried to call Anachelle who’d been closing with Ture.

Again, no one picked up.

His panic grew even more. “He wouldn’t have gone home, Dar. And even if he had, he would have answered my call.”

“Okay. You stay here in case they’re on their way, and I’ll go check the restaurant and his apartment.”

Maris desperately wanted to go with him, but Darling was right. He needed to stay in case they were in a low reception area while en route to the hospital. Satellites occasionally malfunctioned and went down…

It could be nothing. Terek might have gotten sick and they could be at a twenty-four hour pediatric clinic with him,

“Please hurry.”

Darling inclined his head to him. “You know I will. I’ll call as soon as I get there.”

Maris nodded as Darling left. Hauk came in a second later.

“What are you doing here?”

Hauk grinned. “Sitting on you while you panic. Making sure you don’t do something stupid. Are you planning to be stupid?”

“I try to avoid it.”

“Good for you. I don’t. Rather I embrace my natural stupidity with both arms.”

In spite of his panic, Maris laughed. He loved the grouchy Andarion. Hauk was always worth his weight in laughter. But still, he was worried. “They’re okay, right, Hauk?”

“Of course. You know we’re not going to let anything happen to your family.”

Maris was desperate to believe that. But as he waited to hear from Darling, he cursed himself for ever turning the monitor off. How could he have gone to sleep and left Ture alone?

Please be all right…

He’d never forgive himself if something had happened while he slept.

Time dragged until he finally saw Darling calling him. He picked up and heard a baby crying in the background. “Is that Terek?”

“Yeah.”

His stomach pitched as Darling fell silent and he heard nothing other than the baby. “What is it?”

“Is Hauk with you?”

This was bad…

“I’m right here. Why?”

“I need you to hold on to Mari for me.”

“What!” Maris snarled. “Darling, tell me what the f**k’s going on.”

When he finally spoke, his voice was tense and deep. “Anachelle is dead in the kitchen, and it’s obvious there was a bad fight here.”

“Ture?”

“No sign of him. By the looks of it, I think he was taken.”

Maris couldn’t breathe as those words slapped him hard.

“Terek seems to be fine. For some reason, they left him in his crib in Ture’s office. I’ve already got everyone on this and Jayne’s taking Terek home with her while we mobilize. We will find him, Mari, you know we will.”

But in what condition?

Terror consumed him. It was so foul and biting that it made his ears buzz. His sight dimmed as his blood rushed thick and hard through his veins. He locked gazes with Hauk. “Get your hands off me or lose them.”

“Maris—”

“Hauk . . . have you ever seen what a Phrixian can do when cornered?”

“Maris, don’t!” Darling snapped.

“If this was Zarya?”

Darling cursed. “Let him go, Hauk. He’s right. As badass as you are, in the mood Mari’s in, you’d need backup. Phrixians are like rabid animals when wounded. They’re three times as strong as normal, and don’t feel pain until their adrenaline stops rushing. Think of Nykyrian with a shot of Prinam in him.”

And right now, Maris felt nothing except the desire to rip the throat out of whoever was dumb enough to take Ture from him.

Hauk stepped back then gaped as Maris pulled the monitors off and stood without flinching. Like Darling said, he felt no pain and wouldn’t until he calmed again.

He headed to the bag Ture had brought from home and dressed. The last time Maris had felt like this was when the Resistance had kidnapped Darling. He’d been insane until they found him.

As soon as he was dressed, he returned to Hauk and stripped him of his weapons. Hauk didn’t say a word or try to stop him. He merely handed them over, one by one.

“You’re going to need a ride.”

Maris strapped the blaster to his hips. “I’ll drive.”

Hauk hesitated. “You suck at driving.”

“So do you.”

He flashed a fanged grin then surrendered his keys. “Oh yeah, I do.”

Maris headed out with Hauk and Fain flanking him. He was going to find Ture, and he planned to tear anyone with his boyfriend into small, bloody pieces.

CHAPTER 13

Ture watched the blood dripping from his nose and mouth as it splattered against the white floor beside the chair he was tied to. He hurt so badly, he couldn’t draw a breath without his eyes tearing up.

The League officer buried a gloved hand in his hair and snatched his head back so that Ture was forced to stare up at the bastard. “Either tell us where he is or call him!”

“Fuck you.”

The soldier backhanded him again. “Answer the question, you stupid faggot!” He struck him again.

Ture laughed. “I might be g*y, but you’re the one who’s going to get publicly butt-fucked when Maris gets here. He’ll tear all of you apart for what you’ve done.” For the first time in his life, he believed that. He had no doubt that Maris would come for him.

The soldier hit him again and again. Finally, he pulled back. “Had enough yet?”

Ture scoffed. “You hit like a girl. Who taught you to fight? Your decrepit grandmother?”

Shrieking, the League soldier kicked his chair, knocking him over. Ture groaned as pain slammed through his entire body.

“I’m sick of this.” The other assassin opened the door and spoke to someone in the hallway. “Bring his brother in here.”

While they waited, the assassins set him back up in the chair. Blood suffused his mouth as his vision dimmed. They’d been at this for hours. It was like being held with Zarya all over again, except this time he did know the answer they wanted.

But he’d die before he gave them Maris.

The first round of torture had been water and electrocution. Then they’d moved to drugs and purges. Choking.

Now, an old-fashioned beating.

None of it mattered as he finally understood how Zarya had managed to go through everything without speaking. And to think he’d criticized her for it.

He’d laugh at the irony if it didn’t hurt so much to breathe.

Another League soldier brought Bristol into the cell and forced him on his knees in front of Ture. His hands were cuffed behind his back and someone had gagged him. Eyes wide with fear, he tried to say something to Ture, but he couldn’t understand a single word.