The Prince's Narc

Chapter 16

"When you said you'd monitor everything, I didn't think you meant in my security room," Luke bitched.

Jud could only smile. Since they'd left the house, all Luke had done was gripe at him. He hadn't wanted Jud to leave the house, but the officer had insisted. Luke had nagged him down the stairs to the garage. They'd taken separate vehicles so he'd gotten some reprieve. Once he was in the back door of Bennett's, it started all over again.

Earlier in the day, Raymond had allowed Iain and Smith into the building to set up microphones and extra cameras. Luke's cameras didn't have sound and only went to his system. These new ones had sound and were recorded to both the main system and to Jud's phone. It would give them extra time to look over things they may have missed in real time.

Jud reclined in the chair as best as he could without pulling on his side. He understood Luke's reticence about being out in public. To everyone, he was dead. He had to act like he was. He couldn't do the things he normally did on a mission, and that made his nerves even worse.

Luke stood behind him with his hands on his shoulders. He could feel the tension rolling off the man. He didn't like this, and Jud knew it very well. Not because he'd heard about it for the last two hours, but because he could see it in Luke's face and posture. If he could come up with a different plan, he would. But this was the only way he knew he could be involved without giving himself away.

"When is your friend coming?" Luke asked.

"He'll be here at midnight. He said he'll be in the appropriate attire. You'll be able to recognize him easily," Jud said.

"Do you know how many people I see on any one night?"

Gibby laughed. "You'll be able to recognize him," he reiterated. "He's hard to miss. Even if he's in the proper attire, he'll find a way to make it outrageous."

Luke's fingers tightened in agitation. Jud reached up and put his hands over Luke's. He drew his arms around his neck and rubbed them gently. Luke nuzzled his face into his hair and sighed. He was scared and nervous. The last time he'd physically been in the club had been the night Jud was shot. The night after the incident the club was closed, and the last four nights he'd stayed home. Raymond had run it in his stead. He was bound to be nervous.

"Do you have to be here?" he asked. His breath whispered over Jud's skin, sending goosebumps skittering along his body. "Can't you just go home and wait?"

"I would, but I'd be worried about you," Jud said.

"You could have watched the camera from home."

"Luke, arguing about it won't make me go home. Too many people will see me. So I'm here until close."

Luke turned his head and pouted at him. Jud did everything he could not to smile. Luke needed to see how serious he was about this. He couldn't help the twitch of his lips as the blue eyes turned molten.

Gibby cleared his throat. "If you both can't behave, you should just go home."

Luke's face beamed at him. "Let's go."

Jud laughed at his excitement. "Go do your job and I'll do mine." Luke's smile faded so Jud kissed him. It was a quick peck. "Go, but don't forget your ear piece."

Luke slipped the little black nub in his ear. He tapped it once and heard the buzzing that told him he was too close to the speaker. The distortion made them all wince. He backed towards the door while rubbing his ear. He cast Jud one last look then disappeared.

Gibby glanced at Jud, noting he was watching the door. This was the first time he'd seen his captain and friend act this way with anyone.

He had seen Jud with Luke before, but it had never dawned on him that the two would be dating. He'd seen Jud look at the man like he'd hung the moon, and Gibby had always wondered what was between them.