Page 9

S unday night rolled around more quickly than Azrael anticipated.

It had been one night since the stranger’s attack outside the club.

But more importantly…it had been two nights since the kiss heard around the world, and he still couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Azrael silently scoffed.

No, that kiss hadn’t been heard around the world. His big move had been a fizzle of disaster, like a deflated balloon.

He shook himself, which helped to get his mind off of Real.

Earlier, he had finally gotten his hands on the list of assassins.

Getting into the communications room and the computer had almost been too easy.

The password had not changed, so accessing the Genesis database had been done in seconds.

He got his hands on the list of people who took jobs via the dark net and downloaded it on his phone.

With that done, there was no longer any grounds to linger at Dave’s place.

Except, there was every reason to stay…and it all had to do with Real.

It had to do with the lingering feel of his mouth against Real’s. The feel of a real kiss from the warrior. It may not have lasted long, but it had been a real kiss.

When his stomach rumbled, Azrael made his way on silent bare feet into the massive downstairs kitchen. He hadn’t eaten since grabbing a sandwich from the tray on the table this afternoon.

He flipped on the light over the kitchen stove to keep the glow to a minimum.

Dragging a spoon from the drawer, he opened the freezer and brought out the container of ice cream. Not the most nutritious, but it would do the trick.

Vanilla caramel with chocolate chunks was his favorite, and Dave seemed to always keep it in stock. Sliding onto a bar stool, Azrael popped open the container and scooped out a bite.

Closing his eyes, he savored the sugary taste.

A sound popped his eyes open to find Real standing in the doorway.

Azrael licked the cream from his lips. Real’s eyelids narrowed.

Azrael scooped up another bite of ice cream and slowly slid it into his mouth.

Real’s hands fisted.

Azrael slid his tongue over the back of the spoon.

Real stared. From here, it looked like the warrior’s whole body was carved from granite.

Azrael liked to think that it was a reaction to him, but there must be something else going on.

“You’re up late.”

His words seemed to snap Real out of whatever had held him in the doorway, because the warrior literally shook himself.

“I have an errand to run.”

An errand? More like a booty call, Azrael thought snidely.

“What errand?” he asked.

Real suddenly stalked closer and took the spoon from his hand. Surprised, Azrael let go of the handle and gazed wide-eyed when Real scooped out a bite of ice cream and held it out to his lips.

Dutifully, Azrael opened his mouth and took the creamy goodness from the spoon.

“What happened to your hand?” Real’s intense gaze glittered when he zeroed in on his wrapped fingers.

“Nothing.” Azrael tipped his chin up. “What errand?” he asked again.

Real sighed and handed him back the spoon. “Eat your ice cream and I’ll be back before you know it.”

That was a dodge to his question if ever there was one, and Real had used feeding him to do it. The distraction had worked, but only for a second.

With his heart in his throat, he watched Real until he left the kitchen.

Where was he going?

He knew he wouldn’t sleep until Real came back. Was he just supposed to sit here and wait?

Screw that!

Azrael was up and running to the cabinet where Dave kept the keys to his fleet of vehicles. The man owned a multitude of cars and SUVs and had several that they were allowed to use.

Azrael took the keys of a black SUV and ran out without his shoes to the underground garage. Starting the vehicle, he drove out of the garage just in time to see Real’s jeep pull through the front gate.

After the jeep turned onto the street, Azrael pulled up, and the guard waved him through before the rolling gate could start to close.

Azrael wasn’t experienced at tailing people, but he would give it a try. Anxiety made him nervous and his palms grew sweaty around the wheel.

It was busy, but then any city in California had traffic pretty much all night long. He stayed behind Real’s jeep with a few cars between them for the next several miles.

Where was Real going? Why had he taken that spoon and fed him ice cream?

Didn’t Real know that was right out of his fantasies?

Azrael wanted to bathe them both in the cold creamy stickiness and be fucked senseless until they couldn’t move.

His cock went hard imagining all the different ways they could use ice cream…ways that had nothing to do with normal consumption. If he had his choice, he would slather Real’s dick thickly and then swallow it dow—.

A car got over in front of him, and Azrael realized his distraction had cost him.

He had lost sight of Real’s jeep in the thick traffic.

Where was Real going?

Azrael’s heart suddenly pounded when an idea occurred to him. The instant hurt made it difficult to breathe.

Oh, hell fucking no.

Real wouldn’t dare go there!

Would he?

Azrael squeezed the steering wheel.

Turning the SUV down the upcoming boulevard, Azrael drove with his heart in his throat.

Arriving at the address he knew by heart, he parked down the block from the apartment building.

Sliding out of the SUV, Azrael did something he hadn’t risked doing before. He slipped through the night and up to the third-floor landing of the apartment building he’d been to several times.

He had located this place by following Real on several of his many visits. Through research, Azrael had found that the man living here had been here for a few years.

Each time Real came here, something inside of Azrael died just a little bit more.

Darkened shadows clung to the far end of the landing and Azrael tucked into them.

He felt like a stalker.

Before long, Real made his way up the steps and onto the third floor.

Azrael held his breath.

Real pulled out a set of keys and shock filled Azrael. Real already had a key to the guy’s place? That meant this was no longer a casual hook up.

They lived together.

They fucking lived together and Real hadn’t said a word.

Something must have alerted Real to his presence. Maybe it was the tiny sound of agony that Azrael couldn’t hold back.

Real pulled a Sig Sauer P365 with incredible speed and pointed it in his direction.

It was now or never, Azrael thought. Was he going to step out and confront Real for living a normal life or was he going to walk the fuck away?

Azrael stepped out.

Surprise flickered in Real’s glittering gaze under the bare bulb that hung overhead.

Azrael wanted to say something, anything, but what was there left to say? He was sure that the hurt and betrayal was once again reflected in his eyes and on his face, but he wouldn’t give voice to the hateful words he wanted to spit in Real’s face.

He didn’t have the right.

The only thing to do now was to walk away with dignity and let Real live his life.

Azrael gave Real a small crooked smile even though he was dying inside. It was all he could manage before he moved toward the top of the stairs.

Vaulting over the railing, Azrael grabbed the bar on the second-floor stairs. He hung there for a moment and then dropped to the hallway below. It wasn’t a long drop.

He didn’t glance up, nor did he look back.

The door had shut firmly on his dreams, and it would stay closed on that part of his life as he finally let go of Real.

It was fucking hard to do.

From the first moment he had felt Real’s arms around him, he had fallen hard. The first time Real touched him had been very brief. Azrael had been hauled over Real’s shoulder and carried to the man’s vehicle.

But the second time Real had held him, it had been what started the catalyst of hunger.

And it all began during a really fucked up time in his life.

Real had snatched him up after Azrael had leaped from a madman’s lap.

The lap of Solomon Mercer.

Azrael hated that motherfucker with every ounce of his soul so he had made plans to do what other people might not be able to do, and that was to get close enough to kill the leader of Erebus.

Azrael’s gut told him that nobody else could get close enough to Solomon without dead bodies piling up.

Except for him.

Azrael had trusted his gut. He knew that Solomon wouldn’t think twice about letting him come close.

With that thought in mind, Azrael entered the Erebus headquarters’ warehouse just behind Ice and Real.

Azrael was fast, and the others had no hope of catching him as he flew past them and up the stairs.

Slamming into Solomon’s office, Azrael was ahead, but only by seconds.

The Erebus assassin known only as Echo was already inside. Solomon opened his arms, but Echo grabbed him.

Azrael had a brief argument with Echo when the guy tried to stop him. Of course, Echo didn’t know why he was there. Jerking away, Azrael left a surprised Echo and launched across the room to land in Solomon’s lap.

Trying not to shudder at Solomon’s touch, Azrael gazed at Echo and snuggled into the Erebus leader.

Horror grew in Echo’s eyes, and Azrael saw the exact moment when Echo realized that Solomon had sexually abused him.

Solomon closed his arms tightly around him and that gave Azrael an edge to do what he needed to do.

The next second changed his life forever.

Ice and Real burst into the room behind Echo.

Simultaneously, Azrael pulled the corkscrew from his pocket and shoved the metal spiral end up into Solomon’s jugular, embedding it deep.

The man gurgled like a fish. Eyes stunned, gazing at him.

Azrael felt nothing save a rush of relief.

Blood sprayed from Solomon and covered him, and Azrael stared frozen at the sight of the dark gushing stream.

What if the corkscrew wasn’t enough to do the job? When fear spiked in his chest, Azrael gripped the wooden handle and drove it deeper.

Solomon gasped and died, staring into his eyes.

And even though he knew that Solomon was dead, he kept shoving and twisting for seconds longer before he let go.

Leaping from Solomon’s lap, Azrael stumbled when his legs gave out.

Real had snatched him up, but Azrael didn’t realize it. He screamed and clawed at the arms holding him until Real spoke against his ear. The warrior’s deep voice vibrated through his soul.

“He’s dead,” the big soldier soothed. The slight scent of cloves and musk poured over Azrael.

That was when he finally broke down in tears.

That was the day he had fallen head over heels for Real.

A hard hand clamped on his shoulder and ripped him from the past.

Azrael dropped low. With his hands on the concrete sidewalk, he did a leg sweep behind him to take out whoever had grabbed him.

A quick glance over one shoulder showed it was Real.

Real was wickedly fast and dodged his leg sweep. Azrael knew he would get nowhere if he swung because Real was a master at blocking. Azrael had hung around the Genesis training facility long enough to know Real’s fighting style.

Azrael lunged up and jabbed, his fingers hit Real in the clavicle instead of his intended target of the throat. Pain shot through his fingertips when he hit bone instead of the neck—hurting like a bitch.

Azrael danced away. His only chance now was to run.

Real was too close, though, and he didn’t get more than a step before those big beefy arms closed around him, locking his arms at his sides.

Azrael had no hope in hell of escaping.