Page 56 of My Bodyguard’s The Boss

Dominic nodded. Levi might be twenty-five and spoiled, but he was a good brother.

“Thanks, Levi,” Dominic said quietly. “I know he’ll appreciate it.”

Levi looked up, surprised. “What?”

“I said he’ll appreciate it.”

“No, I know. But you called me Levi.”

It took Dominic’s sleep-deprived mind a few seconds to figure out what he meant. Ever since he got into modeling, Levi was known publicly as Lev. It looked better on billboards, apparently.

“Austin says you hate being called that,” Dominic said.

Levi blinked. His mouth curled up in the first real smile Dominic had seen from him since he walked into the hospital.

“Right, no, cool,” Levi said. “I do. Just nice to not have to correct you.”

They lapsed into a weary silence. The heart monitor beeped steadily.

Levi leaned back against his chair and closed his eyes. “What’s with the case?”

“What? Oh.” Dominic looked down at the velvet case resting by his feet. “It’s just something I got him.”

“Too big to be an engagement ring,” Levi said dryly. “What, you get him a necklace?”

“Something like that.”

Levi shot him a one-eyed look. Then he closed his eye again, head tipped up to the ceiling.

Dominic rubbed a thumb over Austin’s knuckles distractedly. He didn’t want to spring the collar on Austin if he didn’t want it. But he wanted to explain himself, to let Austin know he was in this. The rose petals were wilting in the passenger seat of his car, which was still back at Austin’s place. But he could at least bring the collar.

Dominic’s eyelids drooped. He couldn’t fall asleep. If Levi was going to nap, someone had to be awake just in case.

Austin groaned softly.

Levi sat up, immediately alert. “Was that a noise? Is he awake? Austin! Oi!”

Dominic shushed him and leaned closer, watching Austin’s eyes. They shifted under their lids, then cracked open.

“Hey,” Dominic whispered.

“Hey,” Austin croaked, barely audible. He coughed, and Dominic grabbed for the plastic cup of water that had gone lukewarm while he waited. He placed it against Austin’s lips and poured a thin stream of water between them.

Austin drank half the glass and pulled back, frowning. “What happened?”

“You got shot by your crazy stalker,” Levi said.

Dominic gave him a warning look and turned back to Austin. “What do you remember?”

Austin’s frown deepened. “I remember… Gail pointing a gun at you.”

“I’m okay,” Dominic assured him. “You’re okay, too. Or you will be. There’s no permanent damage.”

“Except a scar,” Levi added. “But everyone will loooove that.”

Austin touched his stomach over the hospital sheets. “...a cool scar?”

“So cool,” Levi said, relieved. He smacked Austin lightly in the arm, and Dominic had to fight the urge to push him away. “This will be great for your career, dude. They kicked you off that movie you’re supposed to shoot next month, but your phone’s been blowing up with offers for when you recover!”