Haven 1: How to Save a Life (44 page)

They both had.

Together they’d figure out the rest. Like they’d done since they’d met.

Epilogue

Walter slid a piece of cake onto the serving tray. With that one added, he had two trays filled and ready to take out to their guests. He didn’t plate the last piece of cake, though. That was for later. When they were alone.

While cutting and dishing out the dessert, he’d come up with all sorts of places he’d like to lick the frosting off Kevin’s body. He smirked as he set the knife in the sink. His libido sure hadn’t thought he was too old for Kevin at any time during the past year.

He spotted the bright blue bottle sitting on the counter with the other items Kevin had picked up for them that morning when he’d made a quick run to the store.

Walter lifted the bottle and couldn’t stop the smile from spreading.

Flintstone vitamins.

Whenever he was low, Kevin bought more.

A hand landed on Walter’s lower back, almost distracting him from the other hand swiping a finger through the frosting on the last piece of cake.

“Hey. That’s not yours.”

“It’s not?” Kevin laid his cheek at the back of Walter’s right shoulder and nestled his body against Walter’s ass. He swiped his finger through the frosting again and made loud, sucking noises as he devoured it off his finger. “I should get any leftover pieces. It’s my favorite.”

Walter set the bottle of pills down and reached behind him to grab Kevin’s ass. “I thought Twinkies were your favorite?”

“When was the last time you saw me eat a Twinkie?”

“Last week.”

Kevin glided a hand up Walter’s chest and pinched a nipple through his shirt. “You weren’t supposed to notice that. I’ve been eating all kinds of healthy stuff.”

“Trust me, you eat a Twinkie, and I notice. The things you do with your tongue are obscene.”

Kevin found the nipple again and pinched harder. Walter squirmed and bucked under the assault. “Okay. Okay. I didn’t see you eat a Twinkie. You’re only eating healthy stuff.”

Kevin laughed.

Walter would never get tired of hearing that sound.

“And I’m cursing less,” Kevin added. “Even if you aren’t.”

“Well, you’re rarely frustrated anymore.”

Kevin kissed the back of Walter’s neck. “That’s for sure.”

Walter turned around in his arms. Kevin had chocolate frosting on his upper lip. Walter leaned in and licked at the frosting, a long swipe of his tongue. Kevin pressed into the embrace, opening his mouth and meeting Walter’s tongue with his. The taste of the frosting lingered as the kiss went on and on.

“Hey, you two, isn’t the honeymoon phase over by now?” Vargas was leaning in the kitchen doorway. “You’ve got a room full of people out here waiting to try this famous cake.”

Reluctantly Walter released Kevin. “You better take one of those trays out there before there’s a revolt.”

Kevin picked up a tray. “Yeah, Toby might hurt someone if he doesn’t get his sugar fix soon.” He headed for the living room, Vargas stepping aside as he went by.

“He seems happy,” Vargas said as he approached Walter.

“He is. Long time coming.”

“For both of you.”

“Yeah.” Walter studied his friend. Vargas had put on some of the weight he’d lost during the months before and after the missing men had been found. The stress as he’d watched the men go through the trial had taken its toll on him. Walter understood the guilt. It had taken him a long while to let himself off the hook for leading Henderson to the club in the first place, which had led to Prescott finding the men there.

“You’re looking good,” he told Vargas. Dare he say, happy?

“I feel good.” Vargas bowed his head, and despite how unlikely it seemed, he had a definite blush to his cheeks.

“Something’s up with you. You meet someone?”

Walter had meant it as a dig, but Vargas didn’t respond, and the pink was definitely spreading.

“Really?”

“It’s not going to become anything. I don’t think. Oh hell, I don’t know.”

“Looks like it might be. Time to settle down, huh?”

“Hardly.” Vargas waved that off. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you before this party winds down.” His expression had changed. He was back to the all-business Vargas. “I know what today is, and I figured it’s as good a time as any to say what I should’ve said months ago.”

“Is this going to get mushy?”

“No.” Vargas hesitated. “Maybe. Just let me get this over with. That way we can go out there and have cake and forget we had this conversation.”

Walter let out a laugh, but he cut off the sound abruptly when Vargas continued, looking more serious than he had in a long time, if that was possible.

“That night you found Kevin in the tunnels, I had pretty much made up my mind to sell the club. I had pretty much made up my mind to buy a house in the middle of nowhere and take up worm farming.”

“Worm farming?”

“It’s a thing. Where I would’ve ended up if you and Kevin hadn’t gotten involved in finding those men. I’m not sure I could’ve lived with any other outcome but you finding them all alive.” If Walter hadn’t been looking directly at Vargas, he would’ve missed the slight tremble in the deep breath as Vargas leaned back against the countertop. “Some days I’m not even sure I can live with what happened to them—to Seth.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that. In theory.” He shrugged, possibly trying to appear nonchalant. Walter hated to tell him he was failing. Miserably. Then Vargas spoke again. “What I’m trying to say is you didn’t just save Dylan and the others. You saved me.”

“From the worm farm?”

“Yes.”

That one word was said so seriously Walter couldn’t help but laugh.

“Just shut up and let me finish. I’m trying to say thank you. To you and Kevin.” Vargas held out his hand like they were sealing a business deal.

“You’re priceless.” Walter clasped Vargas’s hand and tugged him forward into an embrace. “Let’s just call us even now.” He pulled back and tilted his head toward the living room. “How’s he doing?”

Vargas stood taller. “Better.”

Of all the men Prescott had abducted, Seth Fisher had come out of those cages the most traumatized. At first he hadn’t talked, barely left home. Over the last few months, things seemed to be improving. He’d been quiet through most of dinner, but he smiled every time Dylan or Vargas had leaned in to say something.

“How’s his therapy going?”

Vargas gave a nod. “Good. They don’t think he’ll need another surgery. He should be able to get rid of the chair for good soon. They want him using the cane most of the time. It’s just when he leaves the apartment…” Vargas shook his head. “He’s just not comfortable enough yet with his own strength.”

“You still driving him to his sessions?” Walter asked.

“Three times a week. The van with the lift’s been working out great. Thanks for giving me that guy’s number.”

“He got Seth a good deal, I hope.”

“Yeah.”

“You paid for the van, didn’t you?”

Vargas didn’t respond. There was a lot of guilt there. He’d probably be helping Seth, Dylan, and Aaron for years to come. He’d even made a point of keeping tabs on the other three men who’d moved away since the trial ended.

Vargas shrugged. “Seth can’t afford something like that. I’m driving him anyway and…” He shrugged again.

Walter let him off the hook and changed the subject. “I’ve got the specs for that upgraded alarm system you asked about. Remind me to give you the paperwork before you go.”

Vargas gave another nod. “Thanks.”

“You can tell me more about this new guy of yours then too.”

“Asshole.” The smirk on Vargas’s face proved whomever he’d been seeing, it was definitely becoming serious. “It’s…complicated.”

“If it’s the real deal, it usually is.”

Vargas examined him like Walter had all the answers about life and love.

He only had the ones he needed for himself, and they had everything to do with the klutzy, adorable man who’d carried the tray full of cake into the next room. Walter retrieved the last tray and said, “You can explain more later.”

Vargas swiped three forks from the tray and balanced two plates with cake in one hand. He jabbed the forks Walter’s way. “Just because you used to be a detective doesn’t mean you’re getting any answers from me.” He grabbed another plate and carried all three to the living room before Walter could offer a comeback.

Didn’t matter. He’d get his answers eventually. He always did.

The living room was overflowing with people. Matthew, Luke, and Richard sat in chairs opposite Kevin’s parents on the couch. Ryder and his grandmother were on the loveseat on the far side of the room, Myles, Toby, and Aaron in folding chairs beside them. Next to the fireplace was Dylan in another folding chair and Seth in his wheelchair with Charlie next to him, Seth stroking the dog behind an ear.

Walter served pieces of cake to Kevin’s parents, Matthew, Luke, and Richard. Vargas crossed the room and handed plates to Aaron and Dylan, then one to Seth.

Yep, he’d be looking after those men for the rest of his life.

Or maybe with one of them it was something more.

Vargas hesitated in front of Seth’s wheelchair, then reached down and ran the palm of his hand along Seth’s cheek. Seth closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. Slowly he looked up at Vargas. A relaxed, delighted smile spread across his lips, and as Vargas went to sit on the couch beside Kevin’s parents, Seth tracked his every move with the most interest he’d shown in anything.

Yeah, Vargas was coming clean later.

Charlie sped back and forth across the room, making his way between Seth and Matthew, getting a pat from each before taking off again, everyone laughing at the spastic dog as they ate their slices of cake.

Walter stood at the edge of the room with his plate in hand and grinned at the crowd gathered in his living room. The picture of him and his dad on the mantel over the fireplace caught his eye. He smiled at that too, and the one of him and Gary that Kevin had insisted they put up. Walter had never imagined he’d have a house full of people like this. Never thought his life would be getting started down an entirely new path.

He exchanged the plate for his glass of wine from the coffee table. “I’d like to say something.”

The chatter quieted as everyone focused on him.

“First, I want to thank you all for being here today. Especially when you don’t know the reason.”

“I thought it was for food.” Kevin flashed a wicked grin up at Walter from the new recliner they’d purchased. They’d made love the night before in that chair.

Right after the dinner with their family and friends, Kevin had raced to sit in the chair before anyone else could, like everyone would know exactly what they’d done the night before just by sitting in it. Walter had decided he’d wait until later to remind Kevin of all the times they’d had sex on the couch where his parents now sat.

Walter returned the smile and forgot all about who was there with them.

Someone cleared his throat from across the room. Vargas. “What did I tell you guys. They still act like a couple teenagers on their first date.”

Walter rolled his eyes—something else he’d picked up from Kevin—and hurried to say more before Vargas could get in another dig. “A year ago today, I answered a call from an old friend. I almost didn’t take the call, but I owed this friend a favor, no matter how big a pain in the ass he is.”

The room broke out in laughter, the loudest ones coming from the usually very quiet man in the wheelchair near the fireplace.

“What I didn’t know then was it would be the best decision I’ve ever made. Because when I walked out of the Haven that night, I was on the hunt for several men who had gone missing, and I knew I wouldn’t give up until I’d found them.”

He made eye contact with Aaron and Dylan, then waited until Seth looked his way. “I know you’ve been through a lot, and you don’t need me reminding you of that, but I wanted us all to remember that it could’ve ended very differently. Your lives are worth celebrating. Every day.” He raised his glass. “To life.”

Everyone followed suit, and they drank to the toast. Then a chorus of cheers rang out.

Walter crouched beside Kevin in the chair. “You know why else it was the best decision I’ve ever made?”

Kevin turned toward him. The friends and family and cheers surrounding them faded until it was just the two of them.

“That’s the night the man I was about to spend the rest of my life with tripped over my shoe.”

A smile hit Kevin’s lips. “It was a good trip.”

“And he punched me.”

“It was a good punch.”

“And kissed me.”

“It was a really good kiss.”

They came together, and their lips met. Since they’d first seen each other at the Haven, Kevin had never held back in private. But this kiss in front of their friends and family—this was the best one of all.

“You boys are adorable together.” Ryder’s grandmother giggled with her words.

Kevin pressed his forehead to Walter’s. “Did you hear that? She called you a boy.”

“She needs her vision checked. Maybe it’s cataracts.”

“Are you always going to be obsessed with your age?”

“Maybe. Let’s see what happens when
you
get as close to fifty as I am.”

Kevin grinned again. “We’ll see.”

“Yeah.” Walter returned the grin. “We’ll see.”