Page 38 of Wicked Games
“Fine,” Percy said. “From the top, but don’t be mad at me if I drop some bombs then make you wait to learn more because it would be ‘changing directions.’ As I was saying, I’m really good at—” He didn’t get to finish his sentence because Lucien and I leaned into each other, laughing over his usage of air quotes. “What’s so funny?” Percy demanded to know.
“It’s the air quotes,” I said, wiping moisture from my eyes. “It’s just a thing between us.”
“Kids, can we focus?” Percy asked, clapping his hands. “Our dinner should be here any minute, and I don’t want to ruin it with a discussion about unsavory characters. Ryder wants the details given in order, so let’s give them to him.”
“Okay,” Lucien and I said.
“I’ve talked to Banks enough times to know something is different in the way he speaks about Lucky and how he micromanages him. Dev and I were talking about it after you left the other day, Lucky. I—”
Dev cleared his throat.
“Wethink Banks is obsessed with you,” Percy said. “It’s no accident you work for him, and it’s no accident he’s tried to keep you away from Ryder. He knows Dev and I are a couple and doesn’t care.”
“Really?” Lucien asked. “You didn’t get the spiel about relationships destroying your focus?”
“He only said he didn’t care as long as I kept my head in the game,” Dev said.
Percy grinned slyly and said, “Your head isalwaysin the game, darling.”
“Maybe I misunderstood what Banks was surprised about when we talked about the two of you working together. I had no business mentioning it anyway.”
“It’s okay, Lucky,” Dev assured him. “I trust you.”
“Wetrust you,” Percy corrected. “While we let the new information settle, let’s clear the air about my supposed ‘affair.’”
“Do you want to jump him too?” I whispered when Percy used air quotes again.
“No, love.”
Percy waved us off and continued. “Dev, I can’t believe you didn’t set Lucky straight once you learned the whole story.”
Dev brushed away a nonexistent piece of something on his pajama bottoms before looking up and smiling wickedly. “Lucky already had a low opinion of you, dear. I thought it would be worse if he learned I’d found you in bed with your cousin.”
“Kinky,” Lucien said.
“Quite,” Dev agreed.
“Shut up, the both of you,” Percy said, turning pleading eyes on me. “We weren’t naked. We were simply sharing a bed like we’ve done since we were babies. Our mothers delivered us three days apart. I’ve bathed and slept with Quinton more times than I can count.” Beside me, Lucien started to laugh. “I haven’t seen him naked since we were small children. Anyway, I was pouting because Dev was out of town and going to miss my birthday. Quinton took me out to celebrate, we both got drunk, and tumbled into bed with our clothes on. Dev came home early to surprise me and jumps to all kinds of conclusions.”
“So, what happened?” I asked.
“I snuck out without waking them and took another assignment right away so I could lick my wounds in private.”
“I just happened to be his partner for the next recovery mission,” Lucien added. “We had to pose as a married couple, which we managed to pull off.”
Deverish threw his head back and laughed. “We were supposed to be a suave, sophisticated couple, but I was still so mad at Percy and kept picking fights with Lucky.”
“One lady said it was nice to see same-sex couples had the same troubles as straight couples did,” Lucky added. “We used it to our advantage and staged bickering to distract those around us. I didn’t know they had patched things up until I stopped by to see Dev after the botched recovery and Percy answered the door.”
“I was furious with Dev for thinking so little of me and doubting my feelings for him. He tried to speak to me about what happened once he’d had time to calm down and think about what he really saw, but I was too busy being petty to listen. Let’s just say Dev’s hit and run accident opened our eyes,” Percy said, caressing Dev’s cheek. “I could’ve lost you.”
“You didn’t,” Dev said, capturing Percy’s hand and kissing his palm.
“Hit and run?” Lucien asked in a grave tone.
“My freak accident was no accident, Lucky.”
“Fuck,” Lucien said. “Someone tried to take you out, but we’re not sure if it was to kill you or take you out of the game. I happen to be the only recovery specialist available to fill in on short notice. Carmen Sandiego appears without warning and steals the fanyi vessel but without her usual tactics.”