by Avery Katz
He sighed and opened a folder labeled Raplen. My brother in law was a neat freak, and his organizational skills put mine to shame. I hated doing paperwork which was one of the reasons why I quit my job at the CIA. Working as a field officer was far from exciting when you were stationed in Washington of all places.
Gathering intel and spending hours logging it into the system was too damn boring. I thought switching careers would help me get rid of my restless leg syndrome and constant boredom. Newsflash, it didn’t. I tapped my foot against the carpet and waited for Chad to fill me in on our newest client.
“Prince Rupert is quite well known and is somewhat of a celebrity among his people.”
“Just what I need, another celebrity to coddle and hold his coffee while he takes a dump in the toilet. No. I’m done with celebs. Just assign him to somebody else. Someone like Elliot, who enjoys partying and has selfie-taking experience. Socialites are all about their selfies.”
“We’re going to need more than just one of our guys to guard Prince Rupert. Elliot is not a match for this particular client, you are. The Prince is constantly hounded by the paparazzi. As heir to the throne, his safety must always come first. This is serious, Justin. You asked for serious. This is considered a high-risk job.”
“Fine. I’ll read his file and take charge of this operation. If he turns out to be an asshole, I will hand him over to Elliot. He has experience dealing with entitled brats.”
Chad raised his eyebrow at me. “The prince is older than you, so please treat him with respect.”
“Please, I’m all about respect and loyalty.” I got up from my chair and heard my stomach growl. It was time for lunch. “I’m going to go grab a bite to eat. Do you want something from the mall?
“No. Thanks. Just make sure you read the file.”
I nodded and left the office in a hurry. Chad looked more like a college professor than a private security boss in his vest and glasses. I contemplated getting him something less uptight on my way to the nearby shopping mall. The food court had enough restaurants to curb my appetite. I had to stay in shape for my job, so burgers and protein shakes were my best friends.
I was busy recording a voice note on my phone when I ran smack dab into a tall stranger. I watched as he dropped the bag he was holding. Baby related items fell to the floor. I crouched down to help him and was instantly drawn to his lilac blue eyes. He was fucking gorgeous. He wore a cap that hid his hair from view and appeared to be in a hurry.
“Sorry.” I quickly apologized for bumping into him and concentrated on placing the baby items inside the bag. The handsome stranger smiled and told me not to worry about it. He cradled the bag in his arms and rose to his feet. He was almost my height with a jawline to kill for. He quickly walked away, leaving me standing there with a dumb grin on my lips.
He glanced back at me one last time before exiting the mall. That final glance left me feeling lighthearted and weird on the inside.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Since when do you get caught off guard and tongue-tied by random eye candy?”
The old man to my left gave me a funny look on his way to the escalator. He probably thought young men were in the habit of talking to themselves. I cleared my throat in embarrassment and chose to ride the elevator instead.
I needed to get out more often. I really did.
Chapter 3
RUPPY
Spring in California was my favorite time of year. It felt good to be back even though I had to wear my usual disguise to avoid the paps. My black Giants hat and aviator shades were my constant companions during my trip. I also wore jeans and a baseball shirt to appear like a local. That was what men wore at sports bars during Major League baseball season.
I knew nothing about American baseball but Quin did a good job filling in the blanks for me. He was a San Francisco native, so he was familiar with California and its great bars. He recommended we visit the Golden Gate Tap Room, so we did. It overlooked the Golden Gate bridge and had vintage and modern arcade games. There were more than twenty flat screens in the sprawling establishment. Greg chose a table by the window while his husband ordered drinks at the bar.
I loved the overall atmosphere and the eighties music that floated from the speakers. It was exactly what I needed after spending twelve hours watching cartoons with Adley. She turned the private jet into a dictatorship, monopolizing the television and forcing us all to eat cookies and drink milk with her.
Quin returned to the table with our drinks. They both looked exhausted.
“You two look like you are about to pass out.”
Greg took a long swig of his beer before answering.
“It took us two hours to get our baby ready for her sleepover at her grandmother’s house. Two hours.”
“Yep. It feels so good to have the night to ourselves.” Quin said. “We love Adley to bits, but our little princess is quite a handful. She walks around with a list of questions like a reporter. Her inquisitive nature can be exhausting, especially after a long flight.”
“Last week, she asked me about Lockridge Palace and the red woman that lived in the garden. Tommy must have filled her pretty little head with ghost stories. Our cousin has no shame.”
“Typical Tommy.” I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my Napa Valley wine. Californians were experts at making Cabernet. I was especially fond of their wine and their Rocky Road ice cream.
“She really loves you, Uncle Ruppy.” Quin grinned at me. “You have restored her faith in humanity. You taught her how to say the words diplomacy and democracy. She takes her spelling and vocab very seriously.”
“Adley is a smart cookie.” I replied. “She makes me want to have children of my own. Sometime in the future that is. You two hit the jackpot. I predict a bright future for your baby.”
Greg and Quin exchanged weird glances. I could tell that they were surprised by my admission.
“Well, Danny and Nathan are using a surrogate’s help to become parents.” Quin pointed out.
“True. I can’t wait to become an uncle again.”
“Me too.” My younger brother shared my enthusiasm and my love for playing pool. We finished our drinks and called dibs on the empty pool table at the back of the bar. We were short one player, so Greg told me to choose a candidate from the baseball crowd. There were plenty of hot men to choose from. The three of us scanned the bar for a friendly face to join us.
I suddenly spotted a familiar face leaning against the marble counter. He was the same guy I ran into at the mall. His eyes were the perfect shade of emerald green. They reminded me of the lush green landscape of the Raplen Alps. His blond beard was neatly trimmed and complemented his bad-boy looks. He towered over most of the patrons who were ordering drinks at the bar. He had such a strong, commanding presence. I was instantly drawn to him just like I had been at the mall.
“Him. I want him.” I nodded towards the bearded blondie with excessive enthusiasm.
Greg gave me an amused look before exchanging glances with his husband. Those two communicated without words, and it was kind of unsettling. I hated it when they did that. They were well attuned to each other. Tommy pretended to throw up every time he saw them. He said their chemistry was sickeningly sweet.
“What? The guy looks like he could play pool.” I explained. Not that they cared anyway. They were busy making googly eyes at each other. I got my pool stick ready and racked up the balls. In the meantime, Greg walked over to the hot beefcake and flashed him a charming smile. Seconds later, he returned to the table with the guy in tow. He was that good.
“Justin, this is my brother Ruppy and my husband, Quin. We are tourists in dire need of an excellent pool player.” Greg introduced us without mentioning our real identities. I stared unabashedly at the handsome blond standing in front of me. So far, no one had recognized me, so I smiled and shook his hand. It felt good to be anonymous for one night. Here, I was an ordinary man without any titles or responsibilities. I was simply Ruppy wit
h a pool stick in his hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Justin smiled, showing off his perfectly straight teeth. He was a fine specimen with an aura of confidence that trumped mine. We gathered around the pool table and chatted about the weather and San Francisco in general. Justin was originally from Washington, but he moved to the Golden City to start his own business. He was polite and articulate. He was also left-handed judging by the way he held his drink.
I watched Quin make the first shot and decided to ask our pool companion a few questions of my own.
“So, do you enjoy living here?”
“Yeah. Aside from the techie invasion, the city is super entertaining. You can find anything from touring Broadway shows to local restaurants and dive bars.”
“Nice, and how do you spend your free time?” I asked. The striped ball Quin had targeted earlier fell into the hole. He grinned and smacked Greg’s ass. “I apologize for what you are about to witness. My brother and his husband are heavy on PDA.”
Justin laughed.
“No problem. I actually spend most of my free time biking and working out. Staying in shape is necessary in my line of work. How about you?”
“I dabble in magic and Ouija boards,” I said jokingly. “Sadly, my travels allow for minimal downtime, but I do stay in shape by running up and down any staircase I come across.”
“Lucky for you, San Francisco is home to hills and steep stairs. The one on Sixteenth Avenue is decorated with all sorts of weird shit like mosaic and shells.”
“Good to know.” I nodded. Quin nudged me and told me it was my turn to play. I lined my pool tip up with the cue ball. I could feel a pair of curious eyes on me. Justin stood beside me as I hit the ball. It was hard to focus with such a Hottie watching my every move. Being in the limelight made me immune to shyness and self-consciousness, so why was I nervous all of a sudden? We both watched as my striped ball missed the hole and rolled off to the side.
“Better luck next time, mate.” Greg patted me on the shoulder.
“Thanks.” I circled the table, and Justin followed. More people filtered into the already crowded bar, so the air was a bit stuffy. Mr. Eye Candy propped his stick on the wall before taking off his jacket to reveal a pair of sculpted arms and strong biceps.
“How is the weather in Europe this time of year?”
“Chilly in the evenings but overall perfect for skiing and hiking. We own a cabin in the mountains where my cousins and I spend our summers fishing and hunting werewolves. Unicorns have also been spotted in the forest once or twice. They usually leave a trail of glitter in their wake.”
He tossed his head back and laughed, revealing a very sexy Adam’s apple. I loved his laugh. It was deep and rumbling like the engine of a Ferrari.
“Your sense of humor is adorable.” He said. I beamed on the inside but maintained a friendly yet distant façade. He might be an undercover reporter or a fan pretending to be clueless about who we were. It was hard to trust people right away when cameras and random strangers nipped at my heels.
Luckily, we had a healthy relationship with the paparazzi back in Raplen. They respected our privacy and received exclusive photos and access to special events as a result. The paparazzi here, however, were ruthless and demanding.
“My turn.” Justin rubbed his hands together before grabbing his stick and taking his first shot. His ball fell straight into the hole. “Yes! High five!” He raised his hand in the air and encouraged me to do the same. I smiled and high-fived him. His tanned skin made me look like a vampire. I really needed to get some sun. Thankfully, we were in California, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
We played for a long time. Long enough for us to get more comfortable around each other. Quin and Greg were scoring more points than us. They took a shot of vodka every time they scored.
“You do realize that this is just a game of pool, right?” I reminded them just in case they had forgotten.
“Yes, Captain Obvious. You should let loose for once. Stop being such an older brother.”
“Damn. How old are you?” Justin asked. “You look younger than Greg.”
Greg snorted and had the audacity to look offended. “What? Bullshit. Grandpa over here is thirty-two.” He told Justin. “Just ask his cosmetic surgeon.”
“Yes. My boyish good looks are the result of botox and fillers.” I rolled my eyes at my brother.
“See? Those high cheekbones magically appeared one day. It has nothing to do with our family genes. Not at all. Not one bit.”
“For real?” Justin asked. Of course, he was clueless about the art of banter my brother, and I had mastered over the years. Our sarcasm was dry and hard to grasp at times. We used to make up stories that sounded believable to everyone’s ears. “You don’t seem like the type at all.”
“They’re kidding. Trust me. It takes a while to get used to it.” Quin explained.
“Oh. You guys are good. My sister pulls pranks on me all the time, but our banter is silly and immature.” He told us. “Do you guys have sisters?”
“I do,” Quin answered. “Twin sisters are great until they crash at your house over the weekend, invade your living room and give your husband a makeover.”
“Well, technically speaking, it was a hair makeover, not a full-on style makeover.” Greg clarified.
I shook my head in amusement and watched them drink and use their sticks as lightsabers. My brother in law was such a nerd, and he seemed to have infected his husband with the same virus. Justin went to order drinks for us at the bar and came back with two vodka cranberry cocktails. I loved anything with cranberry in it and apparently so did he.
“We need to move this party elsewhere. How about the gay club next door? I hear it has snazzy retro decor and adorable tiny stools with penises on them.” Quin suggested.
“Sounds like a plan. Ruppy, are you in?”
I glanced at Justin and decided to stick around instead of roaming around town with those two. Quin was already dancing while putting on his jacket.
“No. You guys go have fun. I’m not in the mood for clubbing. Men over the age of thirty-one lose the ability to dance and let loose. I also turn into a pumpkin after midnight, so there’s that.”
“Fine. Suit yourself. The night is young, unlike you.” Greg said while placing his pool stick on the green table. “We shall take advantage of our freedom and squeeze every last drop of fun.”
“Good for you. Just make sure you call an Uber once you’re done.”
My brother and his husband eyed each other for the hundredth time that night. They had a silent conversation which probably revolved around me before saying goodbye and leaving. I took a sip from my drink and watched them giggle on their way to the exit door. They turned into loved up teenagers after drinking four shots of vodka. They were one drink away from remarrying in Vegas again.
“Am I the only one who gets annoyed whenever they do that? Communicate privately, I mean.” Justin asked from beside me. I laughed and almost snorted out my drink through my nose.
“Thank God I’m not the only who noticed this annoying habit. It really does grate on one’s nerves, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. Big time.”
“It must be a love thing because my other brother Danny and his husband Nate do the exact same thing. It really is uncanny.”
“So, are all your brothers gay?”
“Yes. We should be sponsored by Grindr.”
It may well have been my imagination playing tricks on me, but I swore I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes when he looked at me. “So, you’re gay?”
I wanted to say yes, but the words froze on my tongue. The impact such an answer had on my life weighed heavily on me. “No. I’m the odd one out. The black sheep of the family. Come to think of it, Tommy, my cousin, claimed that title years ago, so I’m just going to call myself the odd duck rather than the black sheep.”
Justin did not look too convinced thanks to my constant babbling. Being in his presence was messing with
my head. I downed my drink and changed the subject as fast as possible.
Chapter 4
JUSTIN
After two hours of hanging out with Ruppy, I could almost read him like an open book. Almost. I was a human lie detector. It was part of my job as a field officer to recruit trustworthy informants. Gang members who shared intel with me were honest people stuck in a fucked up situation. Some of them were born into that lifestyle, so they had no other choice but to follow in their siblings’ or parents’ dirty footsteps.
Ruppy was no drug dealer, but he straight up lied to me about not being gay. For someone so confident and regal, he sure was a bad liar. He mumbled something about being the black sheep of the family. He was no black sheep. He was one of the hottest guys I’d ever met. The combination of lilac blue eyes and dark chestnut hair was dangerous. Too bad he wore that hat though. He was definitely not a baseball fan. What did Europeans know about baseball anyway?
There was something else about Ruppy that made me question his identity, but I chose to ignore it. I chalked it up to my CIA past and the paranoia we all carried around with us as ex-agents. I finished my drink and ordered another round for the two of us. Ruppy undressed me with his eyes. He was pretty low key about it, but I could sense his eyes on me from a mile away. Operation seduction was underway, and I was the officer in charge. This time, I ordered steam beers, which were a California staple and brought them back to our cozy pool corner.
“So, what is your home country famous for?” I asked out of curiosity. I still had no idea where he was from, and he seemed reluctant to spill the tea. His English was perfect, but I detected a hint of an accent when he spoke. It was very subtle.
“Horse racing, gambling, and outdoor festivals.” He replied. “We also have more than twenty museums. Most of them are castles. Back in the day, everyone wanted to build his own castle. I guess they were jealous of the Pharaohs and their pyramids. Did you know that Egypt has more than a hundred pyramids? I find them to be quite fascinating.”