They’d been right on the precipice of sexual awakening, of attraction and puppy love—if they hadn’t fallen already—when his dad uprooted their lives. That was a terrible, fatal time.
“Do you think Dad was onto me back then? Is that why he wanted me to come with him to the mainland?”
Koa let his head rest on one hand. “What are you asking?”
Theo stroked his scratchy jaw. “I had all these feelings about you back then that I didn’t understand.”
Koa’s expression warmed. “I used to dream about you and wake up sticky.”
“How embarrassing.” They kissed languidly. “What do you think will happen next?”
Koa shook his head. “Freddie was supposed to be here when I got here, and you—nobody expected you. So far we have only half the puzzle. The original plan was I meet the boss, Zhang—”
A knock on the door startled them both. Koa turned the radio off. “Yes?”
Albert entered with Carlito. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir. Mr. Ito wishes to speak with you about your boy.”
Though he was speaking to Koa, Carlito only had eyes for Theo. “I hoped we could make an arrangement before Zhang returns.”
“He’s gone out?” Koa blistered the air with curses. “Where?”
Theo could well understand his dismay. “Show’s over, baby. Take me home?”
“Zhang will be back. Your partner is downstairs.” Carlito looked toward the en suite bath. “Trouble, I suggest you get a quick shower before you join us. And you should keep an eye on your clothes. This one here will go through your pockets.”
“You lie,” Albert said hotly.
“May I speak with him?” He formally asked Koa for an audience with his boy. Koa nodded, and Theo sighed.
“I hope you’re as well as can be expected, Officer Hsu?” Carlito smiled.
“I feel….” Being called by his real name unnerved him. “Unhappy. May I have permission to ignore him, Special K?”
“Yes.” Koa smiled. “But not me. Get in the shower.”
The words forced Theo to rise naked from the bed and walk past all three of them to get to the bathroom, so he put on a little catwalk show. Work that body, work that body… just hope I don’t hurt nobody. Lithe Theo could swing his yoga ass, mm-hmm.
Koa followed him, and at the last second, administered a barehanded swat to the tippy-tops of Theo’s thighs that burst like a grenade of pain and spread outward to flood his whole body with fire.
“Don’t get cocky,” Koa grumbled.
“Hey!” Theo soothed his red skin with both hands while he scooted past. “Not cool, man.”
“Don’t dawdle.”
Theo turned to glare at Carlito and Albert, who finally opened the door and sauntered out. Carlito gave him a backward glance that chilled him to his core. Theo knew guys like him. They liked to break the other kids’ toys more than play with their own.
“Carlito bears watching,” he said as he slipped into the bathroom. Yeah. He knew people now. He had moments of clarity; when his heart wasn’t clogged by fresh fear or residual anger or any other stupid emotion that didn’t serve him, he saw into people’s hearts. He saw things as they were, not as he hoped they’d be.
Kind of like now. If he didn’t think any further than the next step, there was nothing to worry about. Before he closed the door, he saw Koa pick up his clothes and smooth them out again. He was going through the pockets. Looking for what?
“What do you need?” he asked archly. Perhaps things were different for Koa, but to Theo, a hand job didn’t mean you could go through a guy’s pockets, no matter how well you thought you knew him. “Maybe I can help?”
“I don’t know. I guess just…. Nerves.” He pulled Theo’s phone from his jacket and looked it over. “Your battery’s dead.”
Of course it is. Shit. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“If we get out of this”—Koa’s black gaze glittered with heat—“I’m going to fuck you through the core of the earth.”
“Okay.” Theo hovered in the bathroom doorway.
“Bet you didn’t know that,” Koa said happily.
Theo couldn’t let it go. “It’s so cute how you believe any of this was your idea.”
Chapter Fifteen
FRESHLY SHOWERED and dressed in what he guessed were Albert’s slinky yoga pants and silky white tank—no underwear—Theo allowed the Frosty Prince to lead him back to the grown-ups. They walked along the gallery above the great room, where several men milled around, drinking.
“You know these guys pretty well?” he asked when it didn’t seem like the kid would volunteer anything.
“Some.” He slid a glance Theo’s way. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-two. How come?”
“Lost a bet.” Albert grimaced. “Mr. Ito thinks you’re younger.”
“So how’d you lose?”
“I went over.” Albert pressed his lips together unhappily.
“Over thirty-two?” Theo couldn’t help asking. “How much over?”
He shrugged. “I said forty.”
“Forty?” That stung. “You and Mr. Ito can suck my perfectly mature adult—”
“Shh,” Albert cautioned, glancing at the room below. “Better not to say incautious things.”
“Fine.” Theo followed him down the stairs. “So what do you do here?”
The kid frowned. “I live here.”
“No, I mean. For work. Wow.” Theo got a look at the view from the second floor—furniture and rugs sat on the massive sun-bleached wooden deck. Flames from torches and fire bowls filled with sparkling bits of glass gave the space warmth, and beyond, the ocean. Nothing but the sea and sky out there. This is nice, huh? Imagine having this kind of money. It’s a palace. You get to live in a palace, you lucky boy.”
“The house is something, all right,” Albert murmured.
Koa dominated the room, and not just because he was dressed in unrelieved black. “Here you are, Te. Come, sit by me.” Suppressing a smile, he indicated some seats in front of the window.
Whether it was what Koa intended or not, Theo made himself comfortable on the bleached flokati rug at Koa’s feet. Ow. God, this would teach him to mind his own business forever. Koa sat in a leather club chair, knees at Theo’s back, fingers idly playing with his hair. In the reflection on the window, Theo watched the action behind him.
Across the room, Freddie stood by the bar, doing the honors with a bottle of wine. This seemed out of context for him as Theo understood him—the badass biker, the partner known for being volatile reading the label, and running the cork under his nose, eyes closed to appreciate the aroma of a good wine.
Nothing is what you think it is.
Albert looked on from behind the bar’s gleaming stainless-steel counter. If Theo focused, he could make out movement beyond the glass—the sway of palms and cresting sea-foam and torch flames moving in the background like they were superimposed over the scene.
“Zhang still out?” Theo asked.
“He’ll be back shortly.”
“And Carlito?” Carlito didn’t concern him, necessarily, but there was more to him than anyone said. Or maybe Theo was simply anxious to get out of there, and everything was making him jumpy.
Koa shrugged. “Somewhere. I don’t keep track.”
Albert came by with a tray of canapés.
“What are those?” Theo pointed to triangles he thought might be filled fried wonton wrappers.
Albert said, “Spanakopita.”
“Glad I asked.” He took his hand back.
“You have something against the Greeks?” Koa asked after Albert moved on.
“Spanakopita is a kissing cousin to that scourge of the Midwest, the fried pierogi. Which admittedly some people find very delicious. I don’t miss them.”
The rest of the appetizers—stuffed mushrooms, and sausages in puff pastry blankets—while all perfectly turned out, had a desperate office cocktail party feel. Theo passed, and Koa was to
o busy making grim faces to eat.
Theo watched them both closely when Freddie brought over three glasses of wine. He surprised Theo by offering him one. Odd, considering the roles they were all supposed to be playing, but he took it. Sipped it. He liked wine, and this one was good. Koa placed his on the table next to his chair.
“I need a word.” Koa stood. “Outside.”
Theo got up to accompany them, but Freddie held his hand out to block the way. “Grown-ups only.”
“You’re not the boss of me.” Theo’s tone was just right, because Koa turned with an exaggerated frown.
“But I am.” Koa glared.
“Yes, Sir.” Note, to self. Make Koa growl-whisper like Batman, often.
Theo lowered his gaze and continued on the course he’d chosen—that of brat—because he sensed people found it amusing, Koa included. He hoped it disarmed them too. “My Sir wouldn’t leave me alone in a room with sketchy strangers. I can be very useful.”
Albert sniffed loudly, but Koa tilted his head, allowing Theo to precede him and Freddie out the door and onto the vast deck. Balmy wind whipped the palm trees around. Moonlight rode the water like a glassy black monster. Theo forced himself to behave until the door closed behind them. No point in overselling the part—any more than he already had. Mentally, he stuck his tongue out at Freddie, but only mentally.
“Where’s Zhang?” Freddie stalked across the deck before speaking again. “And what the fuck did you bring Hsu for?”
“I didn’t bring him. He followed me.”
“Jesus, K. He’s going to blow this whole thing. I thought you talked to him.”
“I tried to talk to him, but there wasn’t time—” Koa’s shout blew apart in the wind. The waves made hearing the rest of his words impossible.
“Okay, just chill.” Freddie knocked Koa’s pointy finger away. “We’re in this together, in case you’ve forgotten. If we can’t pick this lock, you know what’s at stake. They will not hesitate to kill the two of us and look for another key.”
“What lock?” Theo demanded. “What key?”
Koa sighed wearily. “Hsu’s not an idiot, O. He’s a cop and he won’t—”
“This is next-level shit, K, and you’re legit gonna get us killed with amateur hour there.” Freddie turned to Theo, shaking with some kind of weird adrenaline and rage. “That’s what you’re here for, right? To be like us? One of the big-dick-swingers?”
“No.” Theo had never spoken a truer word.
“Then what the fuck are you doing here?” Freddie grabbed him angrily by the collar. “You want to help? Let’s take your little plan all the way.”
“Jesus.” He jerked away when he heard Albert’s shirt tear. “What’s wrong with you, Ortiz?”
Freddie hauled him closer to shove him to his knees. “I don’t know how you tricked your way into this gig, but trick you did, so trick you are. Suck my dick”—the leer Freddie gave Theo made his skin crawl—“bitch. No teeth.”
“He doesn’t know you’re kidding, O.” Koa pushed between them.
“Maybe I’m not kidding this time.” Freddie gave Theo a hard shove. “Maybe I’m sick of this shit and I want something out of the deal. I’ll fuck his mouth, you take his ass. Maybe then he’ll leave us alone to do our fucking jobs next time.”
“Albert’s in there watching us,” Theo reminded Koa. “I get the feeling he’s not too thrilled with what he’s seeing.”
“Albert.” Freddie cursed luridly. “If it wasn’t for that little brat getting all—”
“Shut. The fuck. Up!” Koa drew back, snapped, and head-butted Freddie. Their foreheads smacked together and their heads caromed off each other.
“Ow.” Freddie drew back, cupping a bright red mark with both hands. “The hell, K? Why you gotta always be like—”
“Enough.” Koa rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know what your problem with Te is—”
“My problem is you don’t have your head in the game,” Freddie accused. “Plus, he talks shit about me to Calista every day. Bad enough she thinks—
“Shut it,” Koa hissed.
“—I like dick. I’m fucking friend-zoned for life now and this idiot’s got her wondering if I’m also a dirty cop.”
“Newsflash.” The pilots of passing planes could spot Koa’s eye roll. “Now whose mind’s not on the game. Hsu’s a hiccup. We stay the course. At least he thinks fast on his feet. His presence reinforced an impression we’ve been trying to sell for a month, dumbass. It’s all good.” He paused. “I wouldn’t lie to you, O.”
Theo asked, “What impression, exactly—”
“A’ight.” Freddie gave Koa a grim-lipped nod. “All right. You’re right. Just like that thing with Spi—”
“O.” The single sound was enough to shut Freddie up at last. Damn it.
“What about Spider?” Theo asked. “What have you done with him?”
“’Nother ‘hiccup,’” Freddie said, with air quotes.
“Fred, for the last time,” Koa said darkly, “knock it the fuck off.”
Theo didn’t necessarily want to know, but it seemed likely he was going to find out. “How is Spider connected to this shit?”
“I swear to God, Ortiz, next time I get you on the mat, you better pray I don’t remember this moment.” Koa hooked Theo’s neck and brought him close. “Theo, look at me. Look me in the eyes. We’re gonna be fine. You gotta trust me.”
“No, I don’t gotta.” Vulnerable Koa made him sorry to have to say it, but Theo Hsu didn’t lie anymore. “A little honesty would have done wonders to build trust between us, but you haven’t said one true thing since I got back. I get my role here, Woodie. I’m an attractive nuisance, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep that cover in play. But I don’t have to trust you to do that.”
“Pfft. Cover.” Koa snorted. “You look up attractive nuisance in the dictionary—”
“Sure, sure.” Theo waved that away. “Now, if one of you big-swingin’ dicks will please let me have your backup, I can handle myself.”
“There, now. See?” Freddie grinned like a hyena. “And you said he was a dumbass. Suck my dick, baby. You can take my ankle rig while you’re down there.”
“You seriously said that?” As intended, Freddie’s words set off a depth charge in Theo’s gut.
“He’s fucking with you, baby.” Koa gave Freddie the finger. “Cut it out, Ortiz. Neither of us thinks this is as much fun as you apparently do.”
“A’ight.” Freddie sat on one of the deck chairs. He put his feet up on an ottoman and patted the chair next to his—an invitation for Koa. “C’mon. Albert’s always following me around, and that Mr. Ito…. Dude’s pono, man. Stay out here with me until Zhang comes back, and then we can blow this joint and get a beer. Drop the kid back off with Mom, yeah?”
Koa kicked Freddie’s feet off the ottoman before sitting on one side and motioning for Theo sit next to him on the other. “Work first.”
“Am I even allowed to know why we’re here?” Theo sat. Because if they didn’t tell him, how could he help?
They exchanged glances, and seconds passed that felt like hours. Koa finally said, “I told you we caught a body? Prints weren’t linked to AFIS, nobody reported anyone missing. There are reasons to believe the girl’s a Chinese national. We start looking into it, and right after that, somebody hacks the department’s personnel files. Next thing I know, I get an invitation from Elaine Gao to enjoy some private entertainment, all expenses paid.”
“Ah.” That meant high-stakes gambling or something sexual. BDSM practices meant compromising information. Providing married men an opportunity with a pretty young playmate—or worse, making underage individuals available—was a time-honored way to get a cop on the blackmail hook forever.
Even the most letter-of-the-law types will look the other way before losing their careers and their families over blackmail. “Koa’s not out and proud, but it’s not like he’s married. He won’t lose his family or his job.
Why not find a married guy on the down low? Somebody cheating or—”
“Everyone’s some kind of freak,” Freddie said easily.
“So you’re saying somebody hacked the files, studied them, and found you two were into spanking each other? And they figured you might be easy to extort?”
Freddie’s face darkened. “Wait—”
“The key tag you noticed?” Koa admitted. “You were right. It’s a private club. Brass told us to see where the offer leads.”
“So where? Fancy club?”
Koa’s brows lifted. “With all the ups and extras.”
“And here?” Theo asked. “A mansion with a playroom and those two? Somebody’s fucking with you. I’d stake my—well, I don’t have shit. But it seems likely Zhang’s fucking with you.”
“You’re not here to think.” Freddie glared at Theo. “You’re here because you’re hot for special, Special K. Try not to get us killed.”
Having visited a fresh outrage on Theo, he sat back, looking pretty pleased with himself. Theo mentally repeated the affirmation he’d learned to use in times of absolute desperation: Slowly and patiently, I always prevail.
It was one thing to do something stupid, like follow a guy around or whatever. Guilty as charged, Detective Ortiz. It was another entirely to be without any resources whatsoever—which Theo was most assuredly not.
“Koa.” He dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his head. Perfect form, fuckers. Koa was no wannabe, so maybe only he’d know, but he’d see Theo’s display and know it was picture-perfect, and his admiration would grow along with the cock currently trying to burst through his jeans like an alien. “Is Albert still watching?”
“Yeah,” Koa answered uncertainly.
Theo lowered his chin and gave Koa a stern glance. “Tell me to suck your cock, Koa.”
Koa swallowed audibly. “Suck my cock, Te.”
Slowly, sinuously, Theo slipped to all fours and crept toward them like a slinky cat. He rubbed against Koa’s legs, his mouth watering to lick Koa’s booted foot. When he did, it elicited a shivery release of pent-up breath from Koa’s throat—a helpless little sound that made Theo’s spine clench with raw need. Yeah, baby. I did that. Nosing his way up the inside of Koa’s leg, Theo mouthed his dick through his jeans before tugging the belt from its buckle with his teeth.
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