Cut and Run 5 - Armed and Dangerous

Deuce said in relief.
    “Deacon!”
    “I know!”
    “You can’t do that to Ma, she’ll kill you. She’ll kill me! Not to mention seriously bad relations with your future in-laws.”
    “Now you see my problem,” Deuce said as he waved a hand through the air and sat on the end of his bed.
    “I’m assuming this wasn’t planned. How does that happen, anyway?”
    “I think you’ve been doing dudes for too long if I need to answer that.”
    “Touché,” Ty murmured with a frown. He grimaced and shook his head, bypassing half a dozen smartass remarks as he sat down beside Deuce. He really gave the question some thought, as much thought as he was capable of when being hunted down like a dog by the CIA.
    “I mean… Deacon, if this is what you really want to do, then I’ll cover your play. I’ll do whatever you need to take the heat off after. Unless you do it without me there, and in that case I’ll disown you.”
    Deuce smiled and nodded, and he put his arm around Ty’s shoulders. “I knew I could count on you,” he said quietly.
    “But… if you’re asking for my advice?”
    Deuce nodded.
    “Wait. Tell everyone, let them be excited about a baby, let them know you’re committed to her whether you’re married or not, and go from there. Don’t go… sneaking around and trying to hide things from your families. You’ll… you’ll regret it.”
    Deuce looked at him in silence, his eyes sympathetic and warm. If anyone understood how well Ty knew what he was talking about, it was his brother. “Thanks, Ty.”
    Ty nodded, and they sat in silence for a long time, long enough that the pump to the air mattress stopped its loud whine and the light coming under the bedroom door turned off.
    Deuce took a deep breath. “I’m going to be a daddy.”
    Ty smiled as he watched his brother’s profile in the dim light. He could hear the mixture of excitement and fear in Deuce’s voice. Then the smile faded as cold realization began to seep through him. “You’re going to be a daddy,” he echoed, almost to himself. He stood suddenly, looking around the room and patting his jeans as if he’d lost something.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “We have to go,” Ty said as he looked at Deuce with wide eyes.
    “What? Why?”
    “If someone tracks us here, I mean they shouldn’t, but if they do—”
    “Ty, it’s okay. I knew someone was after you when you broke into my house. I know it’s a risk for you to be here.”
    “No, but it’s not just about you now, and this isn’t just someone after us.” Ty was already heading for the bedroom door.
    Deuce hopped up to follow him, barely able to keep up on his bad leg. “Ty!”
    “This isn’t up for discussion, Deuce, it really isn’t,” Ty said. He banged on the bedroom door as he passed by, and Zane had turned the lights on again by the time they got to the living room.
    “What’s wrong?” Zane asked as soon as he saw Ty’s face.
    “We can’t stay here, we need to move.”
    Zane looked between the two of them, seeking some clue in Deuce’s face before he met Ty’s eyes again.
    “He’s being ridiculous,” Deuce told him.
    “What’s this all about?” Julian asked from behind them.
    Ty turned to look at him. He was still wearing his jeans and T-shirt, but it was obvious that he’d been asleep.
    “We can’t stay. We need to move.”
    “No. No! One of you, talk some sense into him,” Deuce said to them.
    “What’s wrong?” Zane asked again, more insistent. Ty met his eyes and tilted his head toward Deuce. It wasn’t his secret to tell, and he hoped Zane would just trust him.
    Deuce sighed in exasperation. “My girlfriend is pregnant. We found out yesterday.”
    Julian snorted. “That is the most remarkable non sequitur I think I’ve ever heard. You’re right, he is Grady’s brother.”
    Cameron jabbed Julian in the ribs, causing him to double over and groan pitifully.
    Ty glared at him for a minute, but he could see that Zane knew exactly why Ty wanted to leave. “It’s not just you we’re jeopardizing by being here now,” Zane said, looking from Deuce to Ty. “You’re going to have a family. He’s right, we have to leave.”
    “Come on,” Deuce said as he stepped closer to Zane. “I know damn well that if Ty thought there was any danger to me with you coming here, he wouldn’t have come to start with.”
    Zane looked between them again. Ty held his breath as they waited for Zane to respond. He silently pleaded with his