Rowe grunted and even Noah frowned at that bit of information before he said, “The police should have mentioned it, at least to find out from the family what Jordan might have been doing in the area.”
“Unless, they think it might tie into another bigger investigation,” Rowe added. He lifted his eyes and met Snow’s gaze. “We’ll try to sneak a peek at the police report.”
“Is there anything else we can do to help?” Jude asked.
Noah rose and tore the piece of paper Jude had written on away from the rest of the pad. Rowe stood as well, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Honestly, just be there for your brother and wait for us to get back to you. Don’t go looking for these people or any other vigilante shit.” Jude glared at Rowe, but the security specialist just glared back at him. “I don’t want you to tip our hand to these assholes by you and Snow mucking around in places that you shouldn’t be. You want help? Let us do our job.”
“Fine. Thanks.”
Rowe gave a little shake of his head before he started for the front door with Noah. Snow rose and followed them out, rubbing the side of his neck as he walked. Jude wasn’t the type to be rude, but he knew that his lover was preoccupied with finding the people who hurt Jordan.
“Rowe—”
“Don’t,” Rowe said, holding up his hand and stopping his apology. “Just be there for your boy. He needs you.”
Snow hugged Rowe tightly. He couldn’t fathom what he’d do without Rowe, Lucas, or Ian. Those three men had become an integral part of his existence, saving him from his own self-destructive tendencies more than once. And now he was the one who was the pulled-together, level-headed one. The world had truly become a fucked-up place.
After Rowe and Noah left, Snow returned to the living room to find Jude slowly pacing the room, both fists tightly grasping his hair.
“What do you need?” Snow asked. He wanted to pull Jude back into his arms and hold him until the pain went away, but he knew from his own experiences that Jude might feel trapped instead of comforted.
“I…I want that fucker dead. I want the person who owns that website dead. I want everyone who has hurt my brother dead,” Jude listed in a voice that seemed to crack with every word he spoke. “But I’m afraid. Afraid of what you will think of me. Afraid…”
Snow closed the last few steps between them and roughly pulled Jude into his arms. He blinked back his own tears as he buried his face into Jude’s warm neck. “Don’t. You know every inch of my past and that includes all the stupid and horrible things I’ve done. Yeah, some of them have been justified, but a lot of them weren’t. And you have never judged me. Never stopped loving me.”
Jude’s strong arms suddenly wrapped around Snow, holding him so damn tight. “I will never stop loving you, General. Never. No matter what happens.”
“And I will never stop loving you, Jude. Whatever you need to be at peace again, then I support it.”
“Even if it means…?”
“Yes.” Taking a deep breath, Snow lifted his head and brushed his lips across Jude’s temple. “For now, one step at a time. We let Rowe and his team work. And when we find the culprits, you’ll make your decisions then. We can hand it over to the cops. Or we can put a couple of slugs in their heads and walk away. I can live with either.”
Snow would stand by Jude no matter what. He didn’t know where this dark turn in their lives was going to take them, but he wouldn’t leave Jude’s side. He protected his family. And if he was honest with himself, he was still sorely tempted to put two bullets in each of the culprits even if Jude decided to hand them over to the police.
But for now, they waited for Rowe to work his magic and for Jordan to heal.Chapter 11Jude couldn’t sleep that night, his fury and pain a living thing in his chest. He stared at Snow, passed out beside him. Moonlight filtered through the open blinds of their second-floor bedroom, glowing on the man’s silver hair. Strong, naked shoulders made him want to touch, but he looked peaceful in his slumber, which was the only reason Jude didn’t reach for him. He needed him, but he needed answers more right then. And tonight with Rowe…well, that had left him all out of sorts.
Instead of burying himself inside his boyfriend, he quietly got up and gathered his clothes. Snow had been trying so hard to be supportive, but all Jude could think about was his brother. He dressed downstairs, his movements jerky and unsteady, then let himself out of the house.