Niall (Vigilance 2)

I stared at him for a second, realizing he wasn’t playing. I’d seriously pissed him off without meaning to.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said like that. I don’t buy clothes like this either. We’re both perfectly well off, but we’re not in X’s league.”

“Fine, but remember you’re no better than me.” He let me go and stomped away.

I wanted to call after him and say I’d never thought that, but it wouldn’t be true. I had thought myself above him. Not for reasons of birth or the fact that he’d spent some time on the streets and had to make his own way, but because of the training I’d been through, the experience I had.

Maybe I’d been wrong. And maybe I should… No. I was a professional. This was a mission. I’d play my role, but otherwise I’d keep my distance.

11

Marco

Devil did a double take when he walked into my shop later that day. “What the fuck happened to you?”

“I got a haircut.”

“Yeah, no shit, a fancy-ass one and your beard’s all sculpted.”

“I get an all-expenses paid, fancy-ass vacation too.”

He nodded. “I heard about that.”

I frowned. “Wait. How?”

“My husband works with Vigilance.”

So that rumor was true. “I’d heard that. Does he spill all their secrets to you?”

“I have my ways of getting the information I need.”

I held up my hand. “I don’t need to hear about that.”

“Are you sure? I bet I could give you some pointers.”

I scowled. “I don’t need any fucking pointers.”

Devil laughed. “So you have to look classy for this trip, huh?”

“Yeah, but I got the better end of the deal.”

“Seriously?”

I nodded. “Niall had to get waxed, manicured, and spray tanned. An all-over tan.”

Devil gave a very feline smile. “That’s awesome.”

“I thought so too.”

“And you get to be your hairy old self?”

“Only the eye candy needs to be smooth skinned.”

“Take some video for me, please,” Devil begged.

“I might.”

Devil’s expression turned serious. “Be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Who would I have to argue with constantly if I lost you?”

“You piss off most people you’re around, so I’m sure you could find someone.”

“Niall’s good for that too. I don’t want to lose either of you.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to the uptight bastard.”

Devil raised his brows. “Protective of him now? Hmm.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m protective of anyone I’m working with. Besides, I need his contacts.”

“I doubt that’s all you need.”

“Fuck off.”

He leaned against the counter and studied me. “If you need relationship advice, give me a call.”

“Never.”

Devil smirked. “This is exactly how it gets you.”

“It?”

“Love.”

“I don’t even like Niall.”

“You’d like to fuck him.”

I shrugged, trying to keep my expression neutral. “He’s hot but not worth the shit I’d have to put up with.”

“Will you be saying that when you’re stuck on that island with him?”

“Unlike some people, I can keep it in my pants when I need to.”

Devil snarled. “I do not cheat on Joe.”

“You don’t need to. From what I hear, the two of you spend every spare moment naked. You’ve been caught more times than Lucien and Peter.” Devil’s cousin and his much younger boyfriend had gotten quite a reputation for exhibitionism, and Devil had complained about it endlessly until he’d gotten together with Joe.

Now he just grinned, not the least bit embarrassed. “Joe makes me crazy.”

“You were already crazy. You made him that way too, so now he’s just as reckless as you.”

“He was a mess before me. I made his life so much better by—”

“In any case,” I said, holding up a hand to cut him off, “it doesn’t matter because I have no intention of getting involved in a relationship and certainly not with Niall. Why would you even think that?”

“Because of the way you look when you talk about him.”

“Pissed off?”

He laughed. “A little.”

I wasn’t going to try to figure out the way Devil’s mind worked. Cheddar chose that moment to trot into the room and twine herself around Devil’s legs. He bent and picked her up. “Have you lined up someone to feed this girl?”

“Yeah. Frankie’s working the store full-time while I’m gone. He’ll take care of her.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want her to be too lonely.” He scratched her ears.

“Did you know Niall hates cats? Well, he says he hates them, but I think he’s scared of them.”

Devil laughed and tickled Cheddar’s chin. “Is the big bad G-man afraid of you?”

Cheddar meowed and jumped down to run to her food bowl.

“Get out of here. I’ve got to pack.”

“Your hospitality is what I love most about you,” Devil said.

I flipped him off as he headed for the door.

“Take care of yourself and your man, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“He’s not my man, and if that’s my only limit, I can do anything I fucking want to.”

His laughter echoed as the door closed.