Page 15 of Toxic Devotion

Ty blew him a kiss, so he flipped him off in return.

Being stuck in France for months used to be exciting for him. It used to be something he lived for. Now, though? He couldn’t wait to go home. To Marco.

A phone buzzed and after Ty checked the message, he said, “We’re a go for the rendezvous point.”

Ty had been working his agent for almost six months, getting vital information about a terrorist group that was planning attacks on US soil, and now they were waiting for the big score. Ty’s agent had found a way into the inner circle and soon they might be able to dismantle the whole organization.

The worst thing about flipping someone to your side was that you had to make promises you likely couldn’t keep. Promising them that you’d bring them to the US. That you’d keep them safe. They just had to get information one more time. Then one more. And it kept going because the second you moved your agent out, you lost the stream of intelligence they were bringing you and they would no longer be of value to you or your country.

He’d always hated that part. As much as he understood it, it never sat right with him. The people he flipped, his agents, they were real people with real families who risked everything to help the CIA. He always did what he could for them. He always tried to ensure the Agency would keep up their end of the bargain, but it didn’t always go to plan. Things changed. People’s value diminished too much if they were removed from their situation.

Four years ago, he’d been successful. As much as his agent didn’t want to, he’d agreed to spy for Neil. The man he’d turned on and given irrefutable evidence on was very dangerous. No matter which hole the Agency dropped him in, his men would still find Neil’s agent, and if he went home to be with his family, he would only continuously be putting them in danger. Cade had agreed to a new life and making him a CIA operative was the only way Neil had been able to make it happen.

Convincing his superiors to take Cade on hadn’t been hard, though. The man grew up in a family of con artists and thieves, and while Cade had wanted to distance himself from that side of his upbringing, he still had all the skills necessary to become a wildly successful operative.

Cade had become a cop in his civilian life which had turned out to only help their situation. He knew the man was working toward becoming a detective and considering Cade’s sense of justice, he knew anyone would be lucky to have him on their roster.

“Ten minutes,” Ty said, tapping his watch.

Neil nodded and raised his arms above his head to stretch before he got up. Meeting with Ty’s agent wasn’t without risk, but the man had called Ty yesterday saying he had a ‘big gift’ to hand over which meant he had found valuable information and Ty wasn’t about to sit on that for longer than he had to.

Ty was packing up, ensuring that they had everything needed if they were walking into an ambush. He looked at Ty. Really looked. The crow’s feet, the white scar on his cheekbone, the exhausted look in his eyes. Neither of them had been there when they’d met at the farm. That first week, they’d bonded through the harshness of the CIA training. Neither of them had a family then, so they’d become the ghost of one.

Ty had been married to his wife for almost a decade now and he knew the job was taking a toll on their relationship. He knew Gia wanted kids and so did Ty, but he would have to take an administrative role at the Agency in order for Gia to not be a single mother most of the year, and he wasn’t so sure Ty was ready for that. At least, not yet. He understood that better than most. They’d become field operatives for a reason. They liked the danger, the rush. It was hard to give up.

Perhaps that was why his heart had settled on Marco. Being with the man would never lessen the danger or rush. On thecontrary. Being with Marco was probably the most dangerous path he could’ve taken.

Marco

What did it say about him that the only thing that made him happy after his father’s death was a secret relationship with a spook of all people? No matter how he looked at it, Neil had brought a spark to his life. One he couldn’t imagine being without. Even when he didn’t see him for a month, just the knowledge that Neil would come back to him was enough.

This time had been the longest so far. Almost two months. He missed Neil and not just because of the sex. He didn’t want to admit it to himself, but he missed the man’s company just as much as the orgasms. Neil understood him like no one else ever had. Neil never judged him. Neil looked at him and saw him as he was, faults and all, and still wanted him.

Rome had been an annoyance as of late. He was sure the man could feel his impatience and while Rome knew he was seeing Neil, he doubted he knew the depths of his feelings. He was probably worried it was something else. Something bad for business.

He gave Rome a cross look and walked into his room, shutting the door behind him before Rome could follow. He needed some time alone. Or, perhaps, if he was lucky, Neil would answer his texts.

He dropped onto his bed, drawing one leg under him while he pulled out his phone. He opened his text thread with the number Neil had given him for emergencies. He’d misused it plenty of times before and today would be no different. He missed the man too much.

He sent off a text, head snapping up at the sound of a phone beeping close by.

“We really need to work on your security.”

His heart did a flip in his chest when he saw Neil leaning against the wall by his dresser, a wry smile on those lips he’d missed kissing, the lips he’d missed feeling on his body. He was wearing charcoal gray pants and a long-sleeved white dress shirt with the top buttons undone. He looked sexy as hell. Sinful.

Fuck, he’d missed him.

He held himself back and put his phone down on the bed, standing slowly.

“Rome’s been letting you in,” he said.

Neil hummed, then looked down at Marco’s phone, saying, “You know that number is for emergencies only.”

“Itwasan emergency.” He smiled wryly at Neil as he took a step forward. “I missed you.”

For a second, he thought Neil might be angry with him, but then the man dropped that expressionless façade and smiled back at him. He started toward Neil and stepped right into his embrace, relief hitting him when he buried his face in the man’s neck and took a deep breath.

Neil was his comfort in a cruel world.