Chapter One
Snooke opened his mouth as the hot meat passed his lips. He moaned at the taste, his tongue licking across his lips as he looked at Kane. Hot lust coursed through him as the taste exploded in his mouth.
“Move over, I want some ribs, too.” Chris chuckled as he bumped Snooke’s hip.
Snooke dropped his eyes from Kane’s rugged handsomeness to look over at Chris.
“Is it always like this?” Snooke asked as he tossed the rib bone away and piled his plate for the second time. He turned around and stared out into the backyard at all the laughing faces and listened to the shouts from the kids when the warriors chased them around.
“Always,” Chris said as he turned to face Snooke. “You’re welcome here anytime. You know that, right?”
Snooke looked down at his plate, shrugging his shoulders. He didn’t deserve Chris as a friend. “I do now.”
“Hey, babe.” Hondo ran up beside Chris and pulled him up into a tight hug. Snooke wished he had someone to love him like that.
“Do you know why the waiter attacked you?” Snooke asked as he took a bite of his burger.
“He wants Hondo.” Snooke couldn’t believe what Chris was saying. Someone actually attacked his friend because they wanted to poach? Snooke became angry at the thought of Chris being hurt.
“I’ll be back.” Snooke set his plate down and walked into the house. If that waiter thought he was going to get away with treating his friend that way, then he had another thing coming.
Snooke walked out of Chris's front door, heading to where the waiter worked. He was going to teach him a lesson the bastard wouldn’t soon forget.
Chris was quirky as hell, but he was still Snooke’s friend. He fisted his hands at his sides as he talked himself into a snit. No one was going to mess with his friend. The Pancake House came into view as Snooke stomped toward it. He was enraged by the time he walked into the restaurant.
Now if only he knew what the guy looked like.
“Can I help you?”
Snooke eyed the waiter, seeing nothing that would indicate this man had been in a recent fight. Maybe he should have asked Chris for a description before he went on his ass-kicking vengeance.
“I’m looking for the waiter who tried to beat my friend into an early grave and steal Hondo.” Snooke wasn’t going to beat around the bush. He wanted revenge.
The waiter’s eyes widened as he took a step back. “You must want John. He’s obsessed with Hondo.” The man’s head snapped back and forth as he looked around before leaning in. “But don’t tell anyone I gave you his name. He’s an ass, but I don’t want any trouble my way.”
Snooke gave a slight nod. “So where is he?”
“He just clocked out, so I don’t know.”
Well, that didn’t help him. Snooke mumbled thanks before turning around and heading back outside. He’d catch the guy sooner or later, and when he did, he was going to teach him a lesson. Snooke walked back down the sidewalk until he saw someone standing behind the Pancake House smoking a cigarette. He’d never understand how someone could have such a filthy habit.
Snooke squared his shoulders as he set his jaw. It was time John met his match. Snooke rolled his sleeves up as he headed behind the building. He hated that he was about to ruin a very expensive shirt, but Chris was worth it.
“Hey,” he shouted as he rounded the corner. “I owe you for—” His steps faltered when he noticed someone lying on the ground and a man standing over the body. Snooke took a step back as his eyes took in the unconscious man.
Snooke grunted as a heavy object struck the back of his head. He grabbed his midsection as someone started beating the hell out of him. The edges of his vision blurred as he watched the man walk away.
* * * *
Kane walked into the house looking for Snooke. He hadn't seen him in the backyard for a while and wondered where he’d gone off to. Had he ever met a man that intrigued him so much? He couldn’t think of anyone that made his skin feel alive like Snooke did. He hardly knew the man but was willing to change that.
Kane couldn’t get Snooke out of his mind. The slim and handsome man had been the guest star in Kane’s dreams lately, and he wanted to get to know him better. The kitchen was empty, so Kane searched the rest of the house.
Damn it. Why did Snooke always disappear? Kane walked back outside to see Chris still standing by the table. They locked eyes as Kane crossed the yard. “He fucking took off again.”
“Who?” Chris asked.
“Snooke,” Kane growled. “What did he say to you?”
Chris ran his tongue across the inside of his lower lip as he looked like he was lost in concentration for a moment. “He asked if it was always like this.” Chris nodded at the backyard. “And then he asked if I knew why the waiter attacked me.”