Daddy's Adorable Assassin (Daddy's Little Deviants)

“This is Cosmo,” I said. “He’s a key witness in the case I’ve been helping the FBI with.”

“You—Mr. Straitlaced Proper Cop, who’s never been late with a report—are fucking a witness? Even I’m not that dumb, Hunter.”

“It’s not like that. Just calm the fuck down, and I’ll explain.”

I helped Cosmo to his feet, making sure he was decent with the throw around him, and placed his shorts and tank top in his arms. “Go on upstairs and get dressed.”

“Okay.” The word came out softly, but his eyes gleamed, and I knew he was about to do something. Still, I didn’t shy away from his kiss. I lowered my head, an arm over his ass, as I kissed him hard.

“Go. Now.”

He scampered up the stairs, and I dropped the envelopes on the coffee table. “What are those?”

“Stuff from the police station. Some of your mail got mixed up with mine. Some from a week or two ago. Didn’t realize until I was going through them today.”

“Thanks, man.” Sometimes former victims I’d helped would mail me a postcard or a letter, and since they didn’t know my home address, they sent it to the police station. At Christmas I would get so many, other officers made a bet each year, trying to guess how many cards would end up on my desk.

“Are you crazy?” Barney demanded. “You said you were into twinks, but is he even legal?”

“He’s twenty.”

“Are you sure? Because he looks a few years younger.”

“I’m positive.” I sat on the couch and propped my elbows on my knees. “Look, it’s not ideal, and if I could, I would leave him alone, but it’s gone too far, Barney. I fucking love him.”

Barney shook his head. “I can’t decide if you’re fucking with me right now.”

“I’m not. It was unexpected. At first, it was all about the case, and then it was just him.”

“This is gonna ruin your career, man.”

“I know. I’ve already started working on my resignation letter.”

He swore under his breath. “You can’t be serious. You wouldn’t even leave your job for Petra, and she was your wife, not just a little opportunist you just met.”

“He’s not an opportunist.” But wasn’t he, though? He’d used every opportunity to get things to work out in his favor. He was supposed to be paying for his crimes in prison, but instead, he was being protected by me and the FBI.

“This boy has completely changed you, man. You don’t check in with anyone anymore, like he’s all you need. When was the last time you spoke to your son?”

“I’m just fulfilling his wish. He wanted me to stay away to keep him and his partners out of trouble.”

“When has that ever stopped you from trying to get closer to him? I’m telling you, man, that I don’t like this at all. Think twice about what you’re doing.”

“I already have.”

“Then I give up. You’re just different. This isn’t the Hunter I know as a friend nor the Hunter I know as a cop.”

“But this is what I am with him.”

“What has he done to you? He’s the first guy you’ve been with, so you get obsessed? There are men out there who would bring fewer complications than him. What you have going on here—keeping house with a witness—is you playing with fire. I can’t believe the FBI lets you get away with this shit.”

He stalked out of the house, and I winced as the front door slammed. He had a point. I should stop this madness before it got out of hand.

“Daddy?” Cosmo descended the stairs, dressed once more, concern etched on his face. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t come near me but shuffled his feet at the bottom of the stairs. I smiled at him and stood. He’d been honest about everything with me, and we could move on beyond the past. Cosmo was my future now.

“Yeah, still want to help me make dinner?”