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“What did you find?” I asked, clearing my throat. Asa brushed his thumb against my hand, soothing me more.
“I don’t have enough time to get into that now, but I was able to shut it down. I never told Dex that I was responsible. I graduated college a year later, and I came here for training. Things had been weird with us since that night, and I didn’t do anything to make them better. We talked off and on, kept up to date with one another, and occasionally would get together for a meal when one of us was visiting. As far as he knew, I worked at a security firm in Colorado. I never would’ve imagined he could’ve done all of this. He wasn’t very assertive and would often wilt under pressure. It doesn’t fit with the man I know.”
“If it’s not him, then we’re back to it being you. So, what’s it going to be?” I asked, crossing my arms. I narrowed my eyes at him, letting him know to not even entertain the idea it was me. There was no world where I would volunteer to get myself arrested.
He smirked, holding up his hands in defense. “I know, I know. The Occam’s razor principle—the simplest answer is probably the correct one. If it’s not you and it isn't me, then it has to be Obsidian, aka Dex. It’s the only other explanation unless we’re entertaining the theory a ghost planned it all?”
I furrowed my brow, taking lessons from Rhett. Ryker chuckled, the sound deep, making me want to roll around in it. Ugh, stupid sexy man with his sexy deep voice.
“So, how do we get ahold of Dex?” Cohen asked from the side where he’d emerged, leaning in the doorway.
“I’ve been trying to since you mentioned it yesterday. He’s not answering.”
“And what does he have to do with MKG being back?”
“I’m not sure that he does. Right now, I’m not jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts. First, I’ll talk to Dex and figure out why he would pretend to be me and send you to the wrong location. In the meantime, we focus on MKG as a separate entity. I was being honest when I invited you to join our ranks. We could use someone of your skill set. There’s a training class that starts today. If you’re interested, then Cohen can show you where to be.”
“And if we’re not?” I asked, trying to hide the thrill that had run through me at the prospect.
“Then we go our separate ways. I’ll have to brainwash you so you forget our location and everything.”
“Fuck that!” Asa shouted as Milo joined in with, “No way!”
“Funny,” I deadpanned once the boys had quieted. “Be serious, Ryker.”
A grin spread across his face, and he leaned forward a little, enough to bring the intoxicating scent of his closer to me.
“I like hearing you say my name, little hacker.” He licked his lips, his eyes dilating a little.
Huffing, I crossed my legs, trying to ignore the throbbing between them. “Yeah, I’ll remember that then. Answer the question before one of my boyfriends loses it on you, and your team has to rush in here again because your monitor shows you peed your pants.” I smirked, his eyes narrowing at the use of boyfriends, plural.
“Then we’ll discuss this on neutral grounds. Until then, you have a decision to make. I hope to see you at dinner. I’ll have a private one set up for us.”
He stood, his phone clutched back in his hand as he began to walk to the door, already typing on it.
“You owe Cohen an explanation too. Not just me.”
He tensed, stopping briefly as his step stuttered before continuing to the door. I didn’t think he would respond, but he turned, meeting my eyes and then Cohen’s briefly, saying, “Fine,” and then was out the door. The sound of it latching and then beeping as it relocked was the only thing we could hear for a solid thirty seconds until someone moved.
“Boyfriends?” Milo asked, looking at me sheepishly.
“Oh, um, yeah, sorry, I kind of lumped you into that. I’m um, well.” My face heated, and I realized the pile of dog poo I’d just stepped into.
“How about Cohen and I get some laundry started and check out the gym for a bit?” Asa said, getting up from the couch as he pulled Cohen with him, barely remembering to pick up the basket we’d dropped yesterday before they left.
The quiet filled the air, and I forced myself to turn and look at Milo. He was watching me and thankfully didn’t look upset.
“So, um…” I mumbled, not knowing where to start.
“I’d love to be your boyfriend, Fin. I think we should get to know one another better, though. I know you have something with Cohen and Asa, and I’m still trying to figure out my place in your life. I like you and think we’d be good together, so maybe we just start there?”
“I think I can get on board with that. So, we’re kind of dating?”
“Sure.” He smiled, moving his hand to cup my face. “As much as we can in an underground secret bunker.”
“Oh, I imagine we can be creative. But first, how about we just start off with a kiss?” My question came out hesitant, not sure how he’d respond. When he smiled, it felt like my heart might beat out of my chest as it raced to catch up with what was happening.
Milo leaned forward, his hand gripping my face firmer as he neared my lips. I watched every movement, cataloging them so I could remember this later. The feel of his hands, soft against my skin. The stubble on his jaw. How his eyes shimmered in the light. How it looked like he held his breath as he moved closer. But my favorite was how his eyelashes fluttered closed at the last second behind his glasses as his lips met mine.
