***

Hector invited him to step into his office. The thick carpet, the heavy mahogany desk, the tall windows, they all made Jake slightly dizzy. His eyes couldn’t stop at one object that they needed to jump to the next.

All the while, he needed to show his employer that he wasn’t there to steal things, as others might’ve easily feel tempted to do, surrounded by so much luxury.

“Mr. Bones, that is quite the figure you cut,” Hector said joyously, extending a hand to point at a lavish chair, while he plopped down in his. His hands moved all the time, the sign of an energetic man, who couldn’t stand still. “I’m impressed. Alphas are usually the only people gifted with this kind of physique.”

Would Master Salazar ask him about his omega status? What if he already knew? Jake’s mind was racing.

“But you are a beta. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am to have found you. Well, Rico found you, but I am sure you will be an asset to the family.”

“Thank you, sir,” Jake said. “However, I must ask. How can I be of service? Truly? I have no training as a personal bodyguard, and despite my… size, I do not easily engage in brawls.” Although, as far as the Salazars knew, he was actually a fan of brawls. The one time Rico had met him – was Rico short for something else? – it had been during a brawl, and he couldn’t deny that.

Hector waved benignly. “That is for the best. Erin tends to be rambunctious and incontrollable. While we all take turns in the family to take care of him, we have a lot of business to tend to. We need someone strong enough to keep him out of trouble.”

It was a lot like his former boss had predicted. Erin needed a personal bodyguard not to be protected from the world, but to protect the world from him.

“We have tried so many people. Erin is deceptively strong for his age. He’ll grow more, which, for me, as his father, is a joyous prospect. However, because he lacks discipline, unlike his brothers, he gets into plenty of… hairy situations.”

Jake would’ve begged to differ, at least regarding Rico. That man loved to get in trouble, too. He couldn’t say anything about Matteo. The oldest brother was the most like their father and the one who seemed to fill in his role the best.

He wanted to know if Rico was around, but he couldn’t ask directly. He wasn’t here to ask questions, anyway. Only to listen to orders.

“So you want me to make sure that he doesn’t get hurt?” he asked, noticing the lull in conversation. Hector was slowly examining a cigar, as if he’d forgotten he had company.

A short, healthy laugh was the answer. “Alphas heal fast. I advise that you let Erin get hurt, at least once in a while. He will get in trouble anyway. But I want you to make sure that he doesn’t end up a lot worse than getting hurt.”

The smile faded from Hector’s face. He gave Jake a hard look.

That could be a clue that he needed to press for more information. “Are there any particular threats I should be aware of?” Jake asked.

Hector nodded slowly. “Despite your looks, you seem quite an intelligent young man. How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-eight, sir.”

“Have you been working at the steel mill for how long?”

“Ten years, give or take.”

“I bet that made you even stronger. You don’t have training as a bodyguard, that’s true. But you have something rarely met in our world.” Hector pointed his cigar at him. “Honesty. I see it in your eyes. You will be tested, of course.”

Jake felt a lump growing inside his throat. Honesty? He was lying about being a beta, for goodness’s sake.

“This could be good for you. If you do good by us, we’ll do good by you. I’m talking about a permanent position. There is always something to do for people as strong as you.”

Jake knew he had to intervene before things got out of hand. “I mean no disrespect, sir, but I would like to return to my former employer once our contract is over. If you don’t mind, of course,” he added quickly.

Hector did give him a long stare, quirking an eyebrow. But he burst into laughter the next moment, a raucous, healthy laughter that made him not so much different from his youngest son. Yes, Jake could see the father in Erin, since they both seemed to have a playful side. There was hope for Erin yet, then. Not that it was any of his business.

“You are truly an honest man,” Hector commented with obvious satisfaction. “Let me tell you what we’re going to do. You work for us these six months, and if by the end of your contract you still feel the same way about returning to your steel mill job, then I’ll let you go with a hefty compensation. Tell me, what’s about metalworking that you love so much?”

Jake hadn’t expected this interview to go like this. But, despite his nerves, knotting in his stomach like snakes, he was enjoying the big honcho’s company. Not many people asked him a lot of questions, usually. He had never bothered to wonder why.

“It’s good work. I am strong, as you noticed, and I like using my strength for something good. The things we make, they go to people who need tools in their work. I’m contributing to something,” he confessed. “Since I was cursed with this big body, I’d rather put it to good use. For something good, I mean.”

“Cursed?” Hector gave him a startled look. He then offered the cigar to Jake.

Jake shook his head. “Thank you, sir, but I don’t smoke. It would be wasted on me.”

Hector nodded. Still, he was examining Jake’s face carefully now. His eyelids dropped, and his intelligent eyes flickered. “You’ve got a gentle soul. I’ll be damned.”

“If I disappointed you--” Jake hurried to say.

“No, not at all. It’s surprising. But it’s good. Actually, it’s excellent.” Hector was perking up the more their conversation went on.

“How so, sir?” Jake couldn’t hide his puzzlement.

“That’s what Erin needs. Without his mother around, surrounded by hard men, day in and day out, he risks growing up too harsh,” Hector said.

Jake didn’t dare to point out that at eighteen, Erin’s growing up was closing to an end. Many changes were unlikely to appear as he was already a man. A young one, but still a man.

“Don’t hesitate to influence Erin by teaching him what you know.”

“But sir, what could I possibly teach your son?” Jake asked in disbelief.

Hector got up and walked over to Jake. He patted him on the shoulder hard. “You love hard work. I’ll give you two something to do. Pester him to work as hard as you. Do what you must. And if by the end of the day, instead of sharing a beer, you two need to smell the flowers or some other stuff, do that.”

Jake was absolutely stunned. It looked like the head of the family had a certain impression of him, which Jake didn’t believe to be responsible for. “I like beer, too,” he said, unsure of what more was expected at him.

Hector laughed again. “Then do that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to get to.”

Jake jumped from his seat. “Of course. Thank you, sir.”

Hector surprised him by catching his arm. He looked mighty pleased. “You’re a good strong lad. Take care of our Erin.”

***

Jake walked in a bit of a daze. He didn’t know what to do, but one thing was sure: he needed to find Erin. As the boy’s bodyguard, supposedly, he needed not to let him out of his sight. At least for the most part of the day.

He climbed the stairs, to head over to Erin’s room. If the young Salazar wasn’t there, he’d have to look for him elsewhere.

The scent reached him first, like that time in the bar. His head filled with his conversation with the head of the family, he hadn’t even thought of him for the last half hour.

Rico was standing in front of his bedroom door, leaning against it, his legs crossed at the ankles. He wore blue jeans and a tight black t-shirt. Jake stared at him in disbelief, a new kind of terror blooming inside him. He had no idea what to do. It would be absurd to go running down the stairs, away from this dangerous, delicious man.

“What’s up, babe?” Rico asked, grinning and winking.

Jake hurried to him. “You pulled the strings to get me to work here.”

Rico frowned slightly. “You make it sound like an accusation. You don’t like it here?”

Jake realized his mistake too late. The closer he got to this alpha, the more he risked losing his head. Surreptitiously, he took a couple of small steps back. Rico, however, was of a different mind. He wrapped an arm around Jake’s waist and pulled him close.

The scent was alone enough to drive him crazy with lust. Rico’s sudden closeness made him tremble. Jake was vaguely aware that he’d be able to hold his own, due to his superior strength and size, but in this alpha’s arms, he was turning into a useless version of himself.

Rico moved his lips along Jake’s jaw. “You know, I’ve been dreaming of you.”

“That’s… that’s not true,” Jake whispered. What if he started letting out his scent, despite the pills he was taking? That would lead to disaster.

Rico chuckled. “Don’t you like me? Beta boys usually find me irresistible.”

“It’s not a matter of like,” Jake argued. “I’m here to protect your brother. We can’t… do this.”

Rico laughed. With one hand, he opened the bedroom door and pushed Jake inside. “Who says that?”

With the door closed behind Rico, they were alone. Jake walked backwards until his calves met the bed and he fell on it. He stared at his tormentor, marching towards him with what had to be only dirty thoughts on his mind.

In the afternoon light, Rico looked even more handsome. There was a boyish playfulness in his features, making Jake see how he was related to that imp Erin, as well as his older brother, Matteo.

“Your father,” Jake squeaked. “I mean, he might not like it.”

“My father encourages us to sow our wild oats as often as we wish.”

Jake felt his throat going dry. Of course, those were just words, but he couldn’t help thinking: what if Rico managed to sow his wild oats literally? If they ended up in bed, and the pills didn’t work somehow—

“We should stop,” he mumbled.

Rico laughed and climbed on the bed on top of him. He boxed Jake’s head in with his big arms, inadvertently offering Jake a strong whiff of his armpits.

“Why?” Rico asked. He pushed his crotch against Jake’s. “It looks like you’re enjoying the attention.”

“But it’s wrong,” Jake whispered. “I’m your father’s employee. That means that I must… that I should…”

Rico watched him from up close with growing amusement. “You’re not a very good liar, babe.”

“Don’t call me that,” Jake protested meekly.

“Why?” Rico bit Jake’s chin playfully.

“Because my name is Jake.”

“Okay. Jake babe, I’d like to play with your cock. And you can play with mine in return. What do you say?”

What could he say? He mumbled something incoherently, and Rico shut him up with a long, hot kiss.

tbc