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“So how are you liking working with this one?” Zane asked me, nodding to Fox, who stood by my side.
He was always by my side.
“It’s been great,” Fox answered for me. I noticed he was wearing a massive grin. I wondered if Zane noticed as well. Judging by that playful smirk that was creeping onto his face, I would say yes.
“It’s been great,” I echoed, nudging Fox with an elbow, wishing I could do much more.
Zane’s gaze sharped, his smile growing. “Good. You two look like there’s some good chemistry happening.”
“Everyone keeps saying that,” I admitted.
Enzo walked over to us then, a cockiness in his gait, a friendly smile on his well-sculpted face. “Cazzo, this place is so much nicer than the Stonewall office in New York! Zane, they really fucked you, baby.”
We all laughed at the sudden observation. “Each office has its own charm, Enzo. I happen to like my red-bricked sanctuary back in the city, but hey, I’m not gonna judge, all right?”
“All right, baby,” said Enzo, “I will, though.”
More laughs. Enzo put an arm around Zane’s waist, pulling him in. They shared a quick kiss, leaving them smiling a little wider.
“So—” Enzo pointed between me and Fox. “—have you two hooked up yet?”
My jaw dropped. Fox snorted. Zane looked to his husband, shock mixing with laughter. “Enzo! Don’t ask my detectives if they’re banging, please.”
“What? I’m just saying, look at them. How they stand toward each other like that. Cazzo, that’s chemistry if I’ve ever seen it.”
Fox shook his head. “I thought Zane was supposed to be the detective.”
I could feel myself getting red in the cheeks. We were laughing, but Enzo wasn’t lying.
“Anyway, how’s the Dragon case coming along?” Zane tossed us a life raft.
“It’s coming,” I said, my grin not as wide. “We’ve been hitting some road bumps, but the leads are starting to shake out. We’re close.”
“Good, good.” Zane took a drink of his piña colada. “I saw the club got shut down. It was on the news, even in New York.”
I nodded, pursing my lips. “Yeah, I’m surprised the news hasn’t gone international yet. It means we’ve got some time to stop this thing.”
“And no one’s been able to figure out the chemical structure of this thing?” Enzo asked.
“No one,” said Fox, shaking his head. “I’ve talked to five different labs, all around the US. No one can figure out two of the chemical components in it. They’ve identified three things: codeine, sulfuric acid, and paint thinner. Two other compounds are a complete mystery to us.”
“Another good thing,” I chimed in. “Means no one else is replicating it.”
“Yet,” Fox added.
“Fuck… paint thinner?” Enzo asked. “Sulfuric acid?”
“Are you okay with the codeine?”
“Well, out of those three options, who wouldn’t?”
“Shit’s messed up,” I said. “And kids are still taking those things.”
“Well, hopefully with you two on the case, we can stop it before more kids take it. If you need any help from the NY branch, anything at all, you know to call me.”
“I know, Zane.” Fox nodded, and I sensed a strong respect between the two men in that moment.
“Hey, baby, should we, you know, break the news?” Enzo was speaking in a stage whisper.
Zane opened his eyes wide, excitement flooding into his expression. “Now?”
“Sì,” said Enzo.
“Let’s uh, go somewhere a little more private?” Zane looked around the patio, past the photo booth and busy bar.
Private? What did Zane possibly have to tell us that we needed somewhere more private?
“Sure, there’s an extension to our courtyard. Right over there, there’s a few seats next to the duck pond.”
“Duck pond?” Zane said as we started toward the wooden door. “Jeez, Miami really does have it better.”
At the duck pond, we each settled into one of the four chairs that faced the still water. The music was still pumping and the party was still going, but being out from under the fairy lights and separated from the group by a closed fence door gave us a good amount of privacy.
“So, what’s up?” Fox asked. I could tell he was as curious as me, both of us sitting straight in our chairs, unsure of what was coming next.
“Well…” Zane was smiling like a little kid, and Enzo, too. They were holding each other’s hand, faces glowing. “We’re going to be dads!”
“What? Holy shit, congrats, man!” Fox shot up and immediately pulled Zane into a hug.
I was equally as blown away and excited. “Congratulations,” I said, taking Enzo into a warm embrace. We had only just met, but I couldn’t help and feel as excited for them as if my own brother had told me the same news.
“Thank you, thank you.”
“Grazi,” Enzo added, beaming, rubbing his husband’s back.
“We’re going down the surrogacy route. She’s two months along, so it’s still really early, but everything’s been going great so far. Neither of us have been able to get much sleep lately because we’ve been so damn excited.”
