by Kate Lowell
“I’m going to take a shower.” It was a statement, not a question. Julian spun on his heel and disappeared behind the bathroom door. A few moments later, Leo heard the hissing sound of the shower running.
He stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes, letting his subconscious work away at the problem of the database. If they didn’t keep it on-site, then there were only two options: the cloud or a physical space elsewhere. He wished he had time to sit and comb through the copy he’d made of the hard drive. The best he could do was drop the USB off to his contact in Las Vegas. There were no racetracks here except for the NASCAR, but there was a sports book at the Ranchero where he could meet up with someone during the morning and another at a hotel on the Strip if he needed someone in the afternoon. Tomorrow morning he’d head down and play the dogs for a while. He didn’t like the idea of leaving Julian alone here, but the sooner the bureau got the USB, the sooner they’d know if they were done.
He turned his head to stare at the bathroom door. Julian had been in there for a long time. The shower was still going.
Leo rolled off the bed and went to the door. He knocked.
“Come in.”
Leo opened the door and was engulfed in steam. He felt his way into the room and flipped the lid of the toilet down so he could sit. “You okay?”
The shower curtain slid back. Julian crouched in the middle of the tub, his arms wrapped around his legs and his hair streaming water all down his face. “Not particularly, but I’ll get better.” His mouth pinched off the last word, as if he didn’t quite believe himself but was trying really hard.
“I have a copy of the hard drive.”
“Is it on there?” Julian shoved his hair out of his face. His expression brightened, and he leaned toward Leo.
It felt like betrayal to say, “No,” and watch the light die in Julian’s eyes.
“Shit,” Julian said. “How do you know?”
“Files aren’t big enough.”
Julian stared at him, water running down his face and dripping off his chin. “So we’re here for a while longer.”
Leo clasped his hands between his knees and looked down at them. “Maybe. I made a copy of the hard drive—there might be a trail we can follow off there. I’ll have to leave you here alone in the morning to drop the copy off. Or I can sneak you out with me, and we call it all off and send the team in to clean up after. That’s up to you. I know I asked you to give me some time, but after this afternoon—”
“Yeah.” Julian put his hands to his head and grimaced. “I feel like a rapist.”
“You’re not!” Leo slid off the toilet to the floor and reached in under the falling water to grab Julian’s wrist. “You did what you had to. No one can fault you for that.” He shook Julian’s arm gently. “I was worried that you would feel like you were being raped.”
“I got hard. And you’re getting wet.”
“I think there would have been trouble if you hadn’t. And I can fix the water issue.” Leo peeled off his shirt. He looked up and was caught in Julian’s gaze.
Julian pressed his lips together. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m sitting here trying not to think about this afternoon, and you’re there looking like that, and I—” He broke off, his voice shaking. He licked his lips and wiped water away from his eyes with the heel of one hand. “I hate these people.”
Leo leaned over the edge of the bathtub again. “It’s not just your first undercover, is it? This is your first operation.”
Julian nodded, avoiding Leo’s eyes. Leo put his fingers under Julian’s chin, steadfastly ignoring the thrill that ran up his arm. This wasn’t the time for inappropriate reactions. “It’s okay. This was a hell of a deep end to get thrown into. I’ll call in HRT tomorrow. We’ll get them some other way.”
“Will we? You’re forgetting I know how long it took to get you in here. And about the two agents who didn’t make it this far.” His gaze was steady on Leo’s, though the lines of stress still marred his face. “Can you promise me there’s some other way to get that information?”
Hard to lie with those eyes fixed on him. “We’ll find something.”
“When?” The silence between them stretched for several uncomfortable moments, and then Julian shook his head. “Half of me wants to take your offer and run. The other half…” His voice trailed away. He took a breath that shifted his entire body, and clasped Leo’s hands in his. “I just need to process a bit. I’m not bothered for me but for them. It’s so wrong, I can’t even find words for it.” He bowed his head. “I’m sorry I’m bleeding all over you.”
“We’re partners. Bleed all you want.” Leo squeezed Julian’s hands. “I can’t make this choice for you.”
Julian frowned. “When is he planning to do this thing?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
“Can you find the database before then?”
“I don’t know. I’ll drop the copy I made off to the bureau tomorrow. They might be able to tell me more.”
“Can you arrange a raid or something if this takes until Friday night?”
“I’ll let them know. Worst-case scenario, I grab you, and we run.”
Julian nodded. “I’m okay with that. Play it by ear for now.”
At that moment, DeGraff bellowed in the other room. “Leon!”
The two men stared at each other, frozen. Then Leo shook himself free of the stasis. “What?”
“Where are you?”
Julian lunged for Leo’s jeans, fingers feverish on the fastenings. The look he shot Leo was full of urgency, and the message was clear. The men here didn’t talk to the victims—the only reason for them to be in the bathroom together was if Leo was taking advantage of Julian.
Leo stepped out of his pants as they fell to the floor, and let Julian pull him into the shower. The water was still burning hot, and he gasped as it prickled over his shoulders. Julian looked up at him, pupils dilated so wide his eyes looked black. An inadvertent glance down Julian’s body showed that his eyes were at least in part due to arousal. Or maybe they were both from fear.
He pulled the shower curtain across, and moments later DeGraff’s footsteps sounded in the doorway.
Julian grabbed Leo’s half-aroused cock and held it as if he was about to deep throat him. Leo gasped and tried to step back, but then the shower curtain went rattling away on its rod, and DeGraff stood there, his face going from irritated to entertained.
“You didn’t waste any time.”
“Do you have something important to say? I’m kind of busy,” Leo drawled. Julian bowed his head and snatched his hand away from Leo, hunching his shoulders under the water.
“I’m going into Vegas for a bit. I need to get some clothes for him for Friday and arrange a hotel room. And a beer or three. After all the shit with the move and trying to get Rambo there into shape, I need a night out.”
“You won’t have the customer come here?” That complicated things.
“No. Clients never see this place. You might as well come with me Friday night, get a feel for how we do business.”
“Okay.” Not so bad, as long as he could get the address before then.
“I need you to cover the cameras while I’m gone. It should be Kittridge, but he’ll be hours coming back from dropping Lucas off. Bring your boy with you, if you want. He did well today—feed him. And not just your cock.”
Leo snorted. “He’ll have to take that sometime.” He felt dirty talking about Julian like that. Later. You can apologize later. Leo stepped out of the shower and grabbed for a towel. “I’ll cover the cameras. You go do your stuff.”
DeGraff moved to the doorway. “You know the drill. Don’t play with him until I get back and relieve you.”
“I’m not a child.”
“No, but that’s a hell of a toy sitting in your bath.” He tapped the wall. “See you later.” He left, and Leo waited, his whole body tense, until he heard
the sound of the bedroom door closing. Then he sagged against the wall and sank down to the floor.
“Fuck. I can’t wait to be done here.”
“You’re not kidding.”
“Sorry about the ‘take it’ comment.”
Julian turned off the water and climbed out of the bathtub. He grabbed Leo’s towel and began to absentmindedly pat the water off his chest and arms. “Honestly?” A smile curved his lips, though he never looked up. “In other circumstances, it would have been hot.” He walked over to sit beside Leo. “If it has to happen, don’t worry. As long as it’s you.” He shivered. “Can I stay with you tonight?”
Leo wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. “Yeah. I wouldn’t let you stay anywhere else.”
“Good.” Julian lifted his face to Leo’s, and the kiss that followed was as sweet and natural as any Leo had ever experienced. Julian’s lips were warm and inviting, parting easily to welcome Leo’s tongue within. He wiggled closer, ending in Leo’s lap, his arms draped loosely around Leo’s neck.
Leo wrapped his arms around Julian’s torso, pulling the younger agent tight against his chest. It was a relief to let go of his tight control, to explore the tension that had been building between them since Julian had arrived.
Julian made a small, needy sound far in the back of his throat. Then he broke the kiss and pushed himself away from Leo. “I hate to say it, but they’ll be expecting you in the common room, won’t they?” His voice was hoarse. He was hard again too, but Leo thought maybe fear wasn’t the cause this time.
“Good thing I have you here to remind me.” Leo stole another kiss. “We’ll have to talk about this.”
“I know.” Julian got to his feet, staggering slightly, then held out a hand to help Leo up.
Leo took it, a small indulgence that he couldn’t say no to. “I’ll find your shorts.”
Blue Rare
The night the winner of the auction was to claim his prize arrived. DeGraff arranged a private check-in on the twenty-eighth floor of the Grand Crystale Hotel, just off the Strip. Leo didn’t know how much they were paying for the suite they were led to. It had to be in the mid-four figures, which made him wonder how much Julian’s fictional virginity had gone for and how they were going to squirm out of this if the bureau didn’t come through on their promise.
Once the paperwork was done, they were escorted up two floors, down a hall, and through a door that led into a narrow marble foyer. A door opened onto a half bath to their right. Directly ahead, Leo could see the back of a leather living-room set and, beyond that, an oversize television mounted above a fireplace, crackling flames adding their own version of cheer to the room. The rest of the wall was all windows, looking out over the neon skyline.
The hotel employee smiled and handed over their keys, promising immediate assistance for the price of a phone call. DeGraff thanked him and slipped him a tip, then saw him out.
Julian had retreated to a chair in the corner near one of the windows. He looked nervous, and Leo couldn’t blame him. Leo had passed on the information about the auction at the same time as he’d dropped off the USB, but all they’d been promised was help. He could only hope that if the bureau couldn’t find a way to salvage the operation, they’d raid the hotel and the warehouse and put an end to it. But just in case…
He turned to DeGraff, in the middle of pouring himself a drink. “Both of us don’t need to be here. Why don’t you have a night out?”
DeGraff gave him a sharp look. “The same could be said for you.”
“You’re higher in the organization. I’ll see it through.”
“Me too. This is an employee evaluation.” The look he sent Leo’s way was both mocking and amused. “I need to see how he handles himself, if your style of training works. If it does, then I’ll take the night off. But until then, I need to be here to deal with any issues.” He finished mixing his drink and made himself comfortable in front of the television. The conversation was obviously finished.
There was nothing to be done with that, so Leo nodded shortly and pulled out his phone to peruse the odds on some horse races the next day.
Twenty minutes after they arrived, a sharp knock echoed through the suite. Leo suppressed a nervous twitch and cast a quick glance at Julian. The other agent’s face revealed nothing, his expression completely blank. Leo met DeGraff’s eyes.
At DeGraff’s nod, Leo went to answer it, praying it was help, ready to act if it wasn’t.
Ever cautious, he checked the peephole before opening the door. His vision wavered a moment while he got lined up with the lens. His jaw dropped, and he gaped like an idiot.
He knew that man.
Terence Mauer waited in the hallway, a genteel smile on his face. Leo’d worked with him—it must have been ten years ago—on an antiterrorism case that had kind of petered out into nothing. But this wasn’t the Mauer he remembered. He opened the door and ushered the agent inside.
Mauer blew past him with a wink and a pat on his chest and walked straight up to DeGraff. “Nate Diallo. So sorry I’m late.” Mauer’s voice lilted like he was talking to a three-year-old. “I ran into Bill Dowe this afternoon, and he said he couldn’t make it, so he offered me his invitation.” He reached into the jacket of a suit that probably cost more than Leo spent on rent in a year, and produced a stiff rectangle of paper with a flourish.
Leo closed the door behind Mauer’s two bodyguards and came to check out the invitation. It looked like the kind of thing you’d get for a wedding—heavy cream paper, embossed writing, metallic ink. He glanced over at DeGraff and raised an eyebrow.
DeGraff plucked the invitation from Leo’s hand and peered at it, rubbing the paper between his fingers. “Dowe, hmm? What did he say was keeping him busy?”
Mauer waved a hand in the air. “Some legal thing. I really didn’t pay attention to the details after he told me about the splendid parties you boys throw. And when he told me you’d obtained some previously untouched merchandise, well.” He leered and spread his hands. “I could hardly say no, now could I?” His accent was Boston snob with a hint of Louisiana redneck. “Now, if you’re uncertain, you can call Dowe, of course. Not that I think he’ll be able to answer. I believe he’s had to leave the country for a…sabbatical of sorts. Or”—he patted the middle of Leo’s chest—“you can have this delightful gentleman keep a very close eye on me for the duration.” He winked at Leo. “You didn’t think I remembered you, did you, Dale darling? How could I forget a man who refuses to come work for me?”
Leo frowned at him. What the hell was Mauer playing at? Damn the lack of communication in this operation. He was still trying to get his mind around the change in Mauer’s appearance. The man he’d worked with had been tough, one step above thug on the evolutionary scale. He could have joined any gang in any big city in the U.S. and not been looked at twice. Leo wondered what it had taken to get him to put on this character.
Because where Mauer himself was the antithesis of flaming, this character could set a house on fire just by walking past it.
Mauer watched him expectantly, humor warring with tension in his face.
Fuck it. Go with the flow. “You still have Meshkova working for you?”
Mauer’s smile widened. “He’s down in the car. Don’t tell me you two are still at war?” He turned a conspiratorial grin on DeGraff. “Dale here tried to arrest Henry once upon a time, when he was on the other side of the fence. And he’s such a stubborn man that he just can’t forgive Henry for refusing to let Dale put cuffs on him.” He threw a sly look Leo’s way. “I’d let you cuff me. Under the right circumstances.”
Leo put on his stone-faced expression and pretended to ignore the aside. “Do we let him in?”
DeGraff took another look at the invitation, grimaced, and pulled Leo just out of earshot. “I’ve never heard that name before. You know him?”
“Unfortunately.” Ha, take that, Mauer. “I’d name you some names that do work for him, but I li
ke my head attached to my body.” He was on a roll now. “He really believes in plausible deniability.”
“Is he going to be a problem?”
Leo shook his head. “No, he’s well behaved in public. Just don’t get on his bad side. What he can’t do directly, he has more than enough money to buy.” Leo paused and lowered his voice. “He could be a steady income stream, if we play him right. He looks after the men under him.” He gave DeGraff a significant look. “And we definitely don’t want to piss him off.” DeGraff still looked unconvinced. Leo racked his brain for some other way to convince him. A name floated up from the depths of his mind, a name long dead.
“Do you remember Jermaine Larendo?”
“Drug lord, right? Disappeared about four years ago?”
Went into WITSEC, but DeGraff wouldn’t know about that. “He didn’t exactly disappear.”
“Was it…”
“Rumor says he keeps Larendo’s head in a jar of alcohol as an incentive to the rest of his crew.”
DeGraff looked startled, and Leo worried for a moment that he’d overplayed his hand. DeGraff gave him a hard look. “I see. Where do you know him from? You two seem awful familiar with each other.”
“I worked for someone once who got on his bad side. I very quickly needed a new job. He’s been trying to hire me since. One of these days, I expect he won’t accept me saying no.”
“Why do you say no?”
“He’s not my type.”
“A man with the power you say he has doesn’t need to accept no.”
“I’m aware of that. Someday, his patience will run out, and I’ll have to make a decision.”
DeGraff pursed his lips and thought for a moment. “An income stream, you said?”
Leo nodded. “If the boy impresses him, long-term rental isn’t out of the question. And he offers bonuses for men who please him. You could work out a deal.”
DeGraff’s eyes widened, and a smile spread across his face. “Then, yes, I believe we can afford to be flexible in this case. We do already have the money for tonight, after all.”