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.“It was front-page news for quite awhile, and it kind of felt like being attacked all over again.I received hate mail, threatening phone calls, and people followed me on the streets.I got fired from my job because of the publicity.I wasn’t even allowed to attend Thomas’s funeral because his parents blamed me for his death.”“You didn’t kill him!” Ruben snapped.“No, but if we hadn’t been holding hands, then it never would have happened.”Ruben inhaled sharply.“That’s why—” Elijah started nodding before Ruben even finished.“I have no problem being gay or loving a man in private, but it scares the daylights out of me to do it in public.If someone saw me and decided that they didn’t like what they saw”—Elijah shook his head—“I can’t lose someone else I love.”Elijah’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head when Ruben let go of his hand and climbed onto his lap, straddling him.He stared up at Ruben in shock when the man grabbed his face.“Ruben.” Everyone was watching them.“We’ll take it slow,” Ruben said.“We can start with PDAs here at the ranch and work up to the more public stuff.”“PDAs?”“Public Displays of Affection.”“Jeez, there’s an acronym for it?”Ruben grinned.“Yep.”Elijah rolled his eyes when everyone around the table laughed.He felt a little self-conscious and exposed with Ruben straddling his lap, especially considering nearly every member of his family sat there watching.But little by little, Elijah began to notice that no one was looking at them like they were doing anything wrong.In fact, most of them were sitting as close together as they possibly could.Even Ma and Da sat with their shoulders touching, their hands entwined together, resting on the table.Elijah was still uncomfortable, though.He was surprised when Ruben seemed to realize it.Ruben just smiled, leaned down to give him a light kiss, then climbed off his lap to sit back in his chair.Elijah quickly grabbed his hand and folded it between his.That gesture gained him a smile, and that was good enough for now.Elijah cleared his throat and looked around the room.It was an impressive group of people sitting at the table.It only lacked Brody and Neason.“We need to make a plan to keep Ruben and Alani safe from whoever is after them.I suspect he is right and that it is Janice, but at the moment, there is no way to prove it.”“Just what do you have in mind, Son?” Da asked.“There’s a private investigator that I use from time to time.I’d like him to find out exactly what Janice is doing, who she is seeing or talking to, but mostly where she is at.If she has anything to do with this, I want to know.”“Well, it’s not like she’s just going to say she’s involved,” Matty said.“No, but my PI friend can look in places that I can’t.” Matty frowned.“Why can’t you?”Elijah’s lips twisted a bit.“Because I’m legally bound to uphold the law.”“Oh.” Matty’s eyes were wide when he looked up at his husband.“Are you bound by the law, too?”“Hell, no.” Quaid chuckled.“I’m a rancher, not an attorney.I can string her up by her feet and call it culling a cow.”“Quaid Blaecleah,” Ma snapped.“Watch your mouth.”Matty covered his mouth with his hand as he laughed.Quaid just grinned and pulled Matty closer to his side.“Yes, Ma.Sorry.”Ma nodded and went back to drinking her tea.“Why don’t you call your friend, Elijah,” Da said.“The sheriff should be here soon, and we can make a police report.In the meantime, I don’t want Ruben going anywhere without one of us at his side.”“Aahhh, Da,” Ruben whined.“It’s not up for debate, son.You have a daughter now.What would happen to her if you were hurt or worse?” Elijah felt Ruben shudder against him.He quickly wrapped an arm around Ruben’s shoulders and pulled him as close as possible without pulling Ruben onto his lap.He leaned over and pressed his face into Ruben’s sweet-smelling hair.“Your da is right, baby.What would happen to Alani or me if something happened to you? Our number-one priority needs to be keeping the two of you safe while we figure out what’s going on.” Ruben tilted his head back.“I’ll make you a deal.” Elijah didn’t like the wicked gleam in Ruben’s eyes.“What?”“I promise to keep someone with me at all times if you promise to hold my hand while we’re out in public.”“Ruben.” Elijah groaned and dropped his head back.“Ruben, you should know better,” Da said.“That’s emotional blackmail, and it’s not nice.Elijah is worried about you.Don’t use that against him to get what you want.” Ruben’s head dropped down to Elijah’s shoulder.“Sorry,” Elijah heard him whisper into his ear.Elijah sighed.Ruben was bound and determined to drag him out of the closet, just like Thomas had.Elijah just hoped he could keep this lover alive when it happened.And he knew it would eventually happen.Ruben wasn’t going to let there be any other outcome
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