Harley's Achilles (The Rock Series Book 3) (7 page)

~*~

By late afternoon, the doctor was releasing Harley. He looked a little banged up, but he was walking on his own. I still held him around his waist as I helped him into the waiting wheelchair. He gave me the stink eye as he sat down.

“Not my rules,” I explained.

I hadn’t talked to him about leaving with me yet. I wanted to get him home before we sat down and talked about it. My truck was waiting out front as I wheeled Harley out of the hospital. I helped him in and then shut his door, turning to find the nurse there with a smile and a bag of Harley’s belongings.

“You take good care of our guy, yes?” She grinned.

“Of course.” I took the bag and gave her my best smile.

Harley was looking out the passenger window as I got in and pulled out of the hospital. After five minutes of silence on the drive, I finally couldn’t take it anymore.

“Harley?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?”

“Oh yeah, sure. I busted my brother’s motorcycle and ended up in the E.R. where my dad went bat shit crazy and slapped me. I’m all good.”

“Holden’s motorcycle is not busted. I had it sent to a garage. It will be perfect when they’re done with it.”

“Yeah, right,” Harley snorted.

“Don’t you trust me, Harley?”

Harley turned in the seat to look at me. I glanced over at him and was shocked to see a look of anger on his face.

“Of course I trust you! You saved my life!”

“Good. Now, shush,” I chuckled.

“Excuse me?” Harley narrowed his gaze.

I pulled into Harley’s driveway and cut the engine. Harley was out the passenger door before I could even shut mine. I followed him up the walk and waited patiently for him to unlock the front door.

My eyes strayed to the living room window and I grabbed Harley’s bicep.

“What the —” he began.

I placed a finger over my lips and pointed to the window. Harley looked back at me in shock and I pulled him behind me, removing my gun from the waistband of my jeans. I motioned to him to give me the keys and I unlocked the door, keeping Harley behind me as I entered. I left the lights off and peered around the semi-lit house. Everything was quiet, but the ripped screen on the front window did not make me comfortable. I dragged Harley to his room and shut the door. After checking the closet, under the bed, and anywhere else someone could hide, I threw Harley his suitcase.

“Stay in this room and pack,” I said quietly. “I’m going to check the rest of the house. Lock the door behind me.”

“Wait, what if someone’s out there?” Harley whispered.

I showed him my gun and Harley’s eyes widened.

“Stay put!” I ordered.

I did a thorough check of the rest of the house, but didn’t find anything. Nothing was even out of place or missing. The window was cracked open just enough to get a finger through and I shut it and locked it before going back to Harley’s room. I knocked softly.

“It’s me.”

Harley let me in and I shut and locked the door behind me. He was packing his clothes into his suitcase just like I’d asked him to.

“Where are we going?” Harley asked.

“Greece.”

“Isn’t that a little far? I mean, a ripped window screen doesn’t call for a trip across the Atlantic.”

“Just finish packing, we’re going to my house tonight and we’ll leave in the morning.” Harley stood there with his mouth hanging open and I sighed in frustration. “What?”

“What’s really going on?” Harley sat down on the bed.

“Look, I wanted to talk to you about this anyway. My dad isn’t doing so well and I would like it if you came to Greece with me.”

Harley looked down at his lap and wrung his hands. I sat down next to him and playfully shoved his shoulder.

“What is it?” I asked. He mumbled under his breath and I leaned in closer. “What?”

“I don’t like to fly,” he mumbled.

Well, that was interesting.

“But you fly all the time on your tours,” I pointed out.

“Well, I’m usually asleep when I fly. I take, um, stuff to knock me out.”

“Okay, so you’ll take it. Are you afraid of flying?”

“I’m afraid of crashing.” Harley peered up at me through his lashes. “You’re not going to make fun of me?”

“Why would I do that? There’s nothing wrong with how you feel. You’re not the only one, I’m sure. You can pack your coloring books if you want. That will help too, right?”

“Yeah, I guess. I want to bring my guitar.”

“That’s fine. You need help?”

“Nope.” Harley stood up and then looked down at me. “Thanks, ya know? For everything.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t want to go to Greece,” I admitted.

“Who doesn’t want to go to Greece? I’ll just make sure I bring my pills.”

I helped Harley pack the rest of his things and then opened the door slowly. I peeked out into the house and moved forward, keeping Harley behind me. We left the house and I made sure I locked the front door. I kept my eyes on the neighborhood as I helped Harley into my truck. Once we pulled away, I relaxed a bit. I was going to have to call Axel and have his guys do a sweep of Harley’s house. I had no idea if someone had broken in or not. Harley had some fans, but deranged? I wasn’t so sure.

I pulled up to my house and realized both Hammer and Buster were home. This should be fun. I helped Harley with his bags and walked behind him as we headed to the front door.

“So this is where you guys live, huh?” Harley looked around appreciatively.

“Yes, for now. Eventually, we’ll buy our own place.”

I unlocked the door and ushered Harley in. A sinful smell was emanating from the kitchen and I headed in that direction with Harley close on my heels. I stepped into the kitchen to see Hammer in his apron cooking what looked to be spaghetti. Buster was at the table working a crossword puzzle. I cleared my throat and they turned to look at me.

“Guys, we have a guest for tonight.” Both Hammer and Buster nodded and I turned to Harley. “Why don’t you get set up in my room, okay? Come on out when you’re done and you can eat. It’s at the end of the hall on your right.”

“Okay.” Harley nodded. “Thanks.”

Harley left and I checked to make sure he was down the hall before turning back to Hammer and Buster.

“I think someone broke into his house. Can you guys go over there after we’re gone? I’m taking Harley to Greece.”

“Does he know about your fear of flying?” Buster cocked a brow.

“Shut up.”

Harley

I stepped into Achilles’ bedroom and dropped my bag. Scenes of Greece were everywhere. A breath-taking picture of the Temple of Aphaia took up most of one wall and the Acropolis of Athens took up another. Right in the middle, above Achilles’ bed, was a picture of the New York skyline. I tilted my head, studying it. It seemed odd amongst Greek photos. I shrugged and headed back to the kitchen. Low voices met my ears and I crept up the hall silently. I could make out three distinctive voices; two were extremely deep. My mouth dropped as I realized Hammer and Buster were talking. I jumped into the kitchen and pointed at them.

“Ah HA! You
do
talk!”

Hammer folded his arms across his chest and gave me a pointed look. “We’ll deny it.” He turned back to the stove.

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

“He is a lot to take in, eh?” Buster got up and pulled a chair out for me. “Don’t mind the Santa apron.”

“Fuck off, Kirk,” Hammer threw over his shoulder.

“Kirk, huh?” I grinned as I took the seat Buster offered.

“Yes, and that guy over there,” Buster pointed to Hammer. “Is Marcello Balboni.”

“Gareth said he thought you were Italian,” I chuckled.

“I’m Kirk Kendrick, and you know Achilles.”

“What’s your last name, Achilles?” I asked.

“Castellanos,” Hammer answered for him.

He put a plate in front of me and my mouth watered. “What is this?”

“Spaghetti with Italian sausage, onion and green peppers.”

“Marc here is the cook for us,” Achilles said as he dug into his own plate.

“Yes, although I know Achilles can cook. Kirk burns water.”

“I do not. I can make that noodle shit.”

My head was ping-ponging between the bodyguards. I was still in shock that they actually spoke in my presence. I kind of felt, I don’t know, honored? The three of them dwarfed their little round kitchen table. I felt closed in, like I was in some weird Tetris game.

“So, Achilles tells us you’re going to Greece with him,” Buster mentioned between mouthfuls of food.

“That’s what he says.” I shrugged.

“I think it will be nice for Harley to get away for a while. Let his wounds heal.” Achilles leaned into me, eyeing my arm. “Feel better?”

“It’s okay, kind of itchy,” I admitted.

“Stitches will do that,” Buster agreed. “Good thing it wasn’t worse.”

“Well, my guardian angel was looking out for me.” I glanced up at Achilles.

“And I always will.” Achilles touched my arm carefully.

I was certain every sound in the room stopped. I glanced at Hammer and Buster and found them staring at us. Achilles cleared his throat and went back to eating. I lowered my head and began to eat. The spaghetti was fucking awesome! I hadn’t had food like that in a long time.

“This is really good, Hamm — um, Marc? What should I call you?”

“Asshole suits him well,” Buster chuckled.

“Well, you can call me Marc while you’re here. Unless you prefer Hammer.”

“I get the nickname.” I motioned to Hammer. “But you?” I pointed to Buster. “Not so sure about.”

“I’m the one they call in when something needs to be busted.” Buster grinned, twirling his fork in his fingers.

“Why don’t you have a nickname?” I glanced over at Achilles.

“Oh, he does, he just doesn’t like it,” Hammer answered.

Achilles seemed to stiffen next to me and I searched his face.

“Why don’t you like it?”

“Thanatos,” Achilles said quietly. “The Greek god of death.”

Huh, I was going to have to look that one up.

“Achilles could take a guy out from over a mile away,” Hammer continued. “Still can, actually.”

“Like I said, you and Rebel need to hang out.” I tried to smile at Achilles, but he wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

“Well! I’m stuffed.” Buster pushed away from the table. “If I don’t see you in the morning, have a great flight and enjoy Greece, Harley.”

I shook Buster’s hand and gave him a grin. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell the others you guys actually speak.”

Hammer grunted at me and Buster gave me a nod before placing his dishes in the dishwasher. Hammer excused himself as well, and that left a silent Achilles and me.

“Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?” I asked.

“It’s nothing.”

I turned in the seat to face him and gripped his chin, pulling his face around to mine.

“That’s a load of shit. Talk to me.”

“I just don’t like talking about who I was, or still am.”

“Because you think I’ll somehow look at you differently? We went over this in my backyard.” Achilles cast his eyes downward and I lifted his chin higher. “Look at me.”

Those gray eyes met mine and I saw pain etched in them. I didn’t understand why Achilles felt the way he did. I looked at him and all I saw was a guy who put up with my shit, carried me home when I’d had too much to drink, and who had always been right at my side when I needed him. Damn, he had gorgeous lips; plump bottom lip and a hair away from a Cupid’s bow, not to mention that sexy stubble across his upper lip and jawline. I blinked and realized I was staring at his lips. I lifted my eyes to find mirth in his. I coughed and sat back in my chair, releasing his chin.

“You are one hell of a guy, Achilles Castellanos, and don’t you ever forget it.”

“Yes, sir.” Achilles chuckled.

“Now eat up. We have a long flight tomorrow.”

After cleaning up, Achilles escorted me back to his room and made sure I knew where everything was. When I asked him where he was going to sleep, he merely shrugged and bid me goodnight. I laid there, in his bed, imagining what it would be like to be with him. The more time I spent with Achilles, the more I wanted him. He was so much more than a soldier or bodyguard. He genuinely cared for all of us. Jinx told me that Achilles had gone off on him in California. I didn’t really believe it until now. I remembered the night of the crash, how he yelled at me on the side of the road. He said he cared.

I rolled to my side and sighed. I vaguely remembered he and my father getting into it, the security guards trying to remove Achilles from my room and the fight that ensued. How anyone would be stupid enough to go up against Achilles was beyond me. Even after he went after my father, he came back less than two minutes later. I’d never been so happy to see him. Achilles was becoming a solid fixture in my life, and I realized I was starting to have inappropriate feelings for him. The guy was straight and just watching out for me.

I needed to reel in how I was feeling before he walked out of my life, too. And then I would be alone.

Again.