Taming Them (Sample)

Chapter 2

Tuesday, January 8, 2019; 10:15 AM PST

Jay sat in Jude's living room, laptop open and scrolling through apartment listings for high-security complexes while Jude paced the kitchen. On the phone with an irate baby-mama.

"I know, Tash," he groaned. "I know I told you he was safe and I thought he was. How the fuck was I supposed to know that the front desk lady was a lunatic?" There was a pause, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course we did a background check. We ran background checks on the entire fucking staff. She'd never been in trouble or had any psychiatric care." Another pause, and Jude raised one eyebrow. "What the fuck do you mean that should have been my first clue? Not everyone can afford to see a shrink, Natasha, and not everyone needs one either."

There was a pause, and Jude's posture softened along with his expression. "It's okay. I know you're just freaked out. I'm freaked out too. I don't think I've ever been more glad to have Caesar. Look, I just called so that you're in the loop. We've got a guy coming to change the locks today, and the complex has agreed that our keys won't be available at the front desk until we move. Jay's here now, and we're looking for a new place. He'll be safe for the rest of the month, and we'll talk about what to do from here when I bring him back to you. We go on tour next month, anyway.

"Yeah. I'll talk to you tonight. Bye." He hung up the phone and flopped down on the couch next to Jay, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. His long, broad frame stretched out so that his feet were on the coffee table and his arms were behind his head. His shrewd brown eyes zeroed in on the laptop that Jay was staring at, and he asked, "Any luck?"

"No," Jay said, running a hand through his shaggy black hair. Jude watched as his long, lean muscles bunched and forced himself not to bite his lip. "This was the most secure place in the county. I don't know what to do from here."

"Fuck," Jude's hands covered his face, and he sat forward so that his elbows rested on his knees.

"It'll be okay, buddy," Jay said. He gripped Jude's shoulder, and the larger man felt the zing he always felt when Jay touched him go up his spine. Another sigh left his lips, and he stood up and began pacing again.

After Jude's fourth circuit, the front door opened and his and Levi's older cousin, Joseph Yang, walked in, followed closely by Joe's best friend, YoHan Cho. Both carried grocery bags full of food and went straight to the kitchen, where they started pulling out pots and pans.

"What are you two doing?" Jude grumbled.

"Cooking," YoHan deadpanned.

"I see that. Why?"

"Because Ky, and Min and Levi will be here soon and we didn't think you wanted them to raid your fridge."

"What I want to know," Joseph interrupted, "is how they got in. You didn't say over the phone."

"Front desk lady was a psycho fan," Jay said, leaning back into the couch and closing his laptop. "She gave her psycho friends keys, and here we are."

The front door opened again, and Levi and Min walked in, followed by the youngest group member, Kyler Jeon. "Please tell me you're having more luck than we are," Levi said, flopping down next to Jay. His long, broad frame he shared with his cousins, taking up half the couch, while Min went to help the other two in the kitchen.

"Nope," Jay sighed. "This was the most secure place we could find last time, and it looks like nothing's changed."

"This is getting stupid," Jude grumbled. "I'm seeing why most celebs have huge fucking estates in gated communities. I just don't want that big of a fucking house, though. I need two or three bedrooms and a yard. Not a giant fucking mansion."