After parking his bike in the garage beneath the house, Ryan made his way inside before sending an email to Kira, requesting that she send some additional clothes over. As a way to get closer to Jericho and to be formally introduced to Amahn, Ryan had reluctantly accepted an invitation for dinner tomorrow night. He and Z would be introduced to Jericho’s other half, and Jericho had promised them a personal invite to the gallery showing on Saturday. He figured that jeans and T-shirts weren’t approved attire, which meant they’d need more than what she’d already sent down.
Of course, as though dinner and the gallery weren’t enough, Z had mentioned to Jericho they were having a get-together on Thursday night, which required Ryan to shoot off a mass email to the Sniper 1 team, looking for anyone within driving distance who was willing to attend.
“I’m goin’ for a swim,” Z announced when he walked inside, sidestepping him as Ryan continued tapping out a quick text to his father on his phone. “Join me?”
Ryan looked up. “In a minute.”
The naughty smirk Z shot him didn’t do much for Ryan’s vow to keep his personal feelings out of it, but he pretended not to be affected, instead turning away from Z and heading into the kitchen.
As soon as he’d perched on one of the stools near the breakfast bar, Ryan’s phone rang.
“Hey,” he greeted his father.
“What’s up?”
“Casper there with you?” Ryan inquired.
“No, but he’s in his office. I can get him.”
“Do that.”
The discordant sound of Muzak replaced his father’s voice when Ryan was put on hold. Putting his own phone on speaker, Ryan leaned back in his chair and watched Z as he stepped out onto the deck. Shirtless.
It was a crime for a man to have a back that damn sexy. All hard muscle and sleek lines. And his ass…
“All right, I’m here with Casper. What’s up?” his father bellowed when he returned to the line.
Ryan jerked his eyes away from Z, embarrassed that he’d been gawking at the man. Clearing his throat, he regained his composure. “Z and I went to see Jericho today,” he told them before going on to explain everything that had transpired. Neither man said anything as Ryan proceeded to give them the details of the painting’s origin, as well as the status of the theft.
“So he’s hiding the original. I take it he suspects this Amahn person as well?” Casper inquired gruffly when Ryan was finished.
“I’m not so sure. I’d like to believe he thinks it’s possible, but the guy’s seriously infatuated with him.”
“But you think it’s Amahn?” Bryce asked.
“He seems the likely suspect. I find it odd that all of this started once Amahn came into Jericho’s life.”
“Based on what you told us, I’m inclined to agree,” Casper said. “What’s the plan now?”
“We’re having dinner with Jericho and Amahn tomorrow night, before the informal gallery showing. Then, as you know—I assume you got my email—Z’s promised a get-together on Thursday night. Aside from the small gathering at the gallery, the actual show is on Saturday, and that’s also the day the real painting’s being transported to resume its rightful place on the wall. Z and I aren’t privy to its current location, but we’re hoping to figure that out between now and then.”
“You mentioned there’s a second fake?”
Ryan laughed without mirth. “Yeah. Jericho is seriously paranoid. He had two fakes created once he took possession of the painting. One of them was stolen.”
“So it’s safe to assume he knows the value of the painting?” Bryce asked.
“Definitely. Though, according to him, no one seems to know how to decode, which helps us some.”
“What’s the plan?” Casper questioned.
“Z and I are still working on that. I think we’re gonna have to call in Trace or Clay, see if they want to lend a hand.”
“Doing?” Bryce asked.
Ryan didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Oh, hell,” Casper grumbled.
“I think it’s best if I don’t share the details with you,” Ryan admitted. There was no reason to make Casper and Bryce an accessory should things go to shit.
“I agree,” Casper stated firmly. “Just do what needs to get done.”
“We will,” Ryan assured them both. “As of right now, we’re building the relationship with Jericho. I need him to trust us, then we’ll know how to proceed.”
“Do you think you’ll have it wrapped up by Saturday?” Casper was the one to speak that time.
Ryan peered out the window. He could see Z standing in the ocean. “That would be nice,” he lied. “But I don’t think that’ll be feasible. I don’t think we’ll learn much of anything until we actually get a glimpse of the real painting. Once we know where he’s keeping it, we can—”
“Don’t continue,” Casper interrupted. “Like you said, it’s best we don’t know. I think it’s a good idea to pull in Clay or Trace. Either one. You can probably build a more solid cover if you get Trace. He can bring Marissa to the beach, which’ll explain why he’s there.”
“Agree,” Ryan said. “But…”
“But what?”
“I might not need Trace. I learned last night that Ally Shaffaer has a condo down here.”
“The girl who owns Percolation?”
“Yeah.”
Not only did Ally own the coffee shop on the first floor of the Sniper 1 building, but she was a writer. Apparently, according to his sources, she liked to disappear from time to time to write. He hated that he might have to interrupt her, but she could prove quite useful. On top of that, she was well known, so adding her to their cover would likely get them closer to Jericho.
“So you’ll get Clay then?” Bryce inquired.
Everyone knew that Clay had a thing for the sweet coffee shop owner, which made him the best candidate. “Yeah.”
“Smart,” Casper agreed. “It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. If you need anything, holler.”
Ryan wasn’t sure about the first part, but he knew if he needed them, they’d be willing to help. “Will do.”
“Go enjoy some time outdoors, Ryan,” Bryce said. “You deserve it.”
“Right. Talk to y’all later.”
Ryan disconnected the call, his eyes still tracking Z where he moved in the water. As much as he wanted to join Z, he wasn’t sure that was a great idea. The more time he spent alone with Z, the more of a temptation he was.
As much as Ryan wanted him, he knew better.
Not to mention, he had a company to run, and this assignment wasn’t the only one going on at the moment.
Instead of giving in to the lure of Z, Ryan resigned himself to checking in with all of his agents, leaving Z alone.
For once, he would’ve preferred to ditch work, but in the end, it would be best for them all if he simply remained focused on the task at hand.
FOURTEEN
AS THE SAYING WENT, PATIENCE was a virtue, right?
Z knew that, but he was having a damn hard time believing it. After the interaction between him and RT back at Jericho’s, it wasn’t as easy to stay away from RT as it had been before—not that he was bragging about his own willpower, because it hadn’t been all that easy then, either.
But now… Hell, he’d felt the man’s touch, which had reignited everything he’d experienced during that one night they’d spent together. How was he supposed to go forward and pretend he hadn’t?
However, during all the emotional back-and-forth, Z couldn’t forget what RT had said to him that morning at breakfast.
You’re a serial dater. You don’t use your real name most of the time, opting not to let the men you’re with know the real you, claiming it’s to keep your cover.
As he paced through the waves, allowing the water to crash against his calves, Z clenched his fists, trying not to let that frustration from earlier get to him.
Serial dater.
Right.
Because that was what he’d been doing for the past few years. Fucking random guys and pretending to be someone else.
That wasn’t the case at all.
Then again, the rumor was his own fault, because rather than share a critical piece of his life with those who cared about him, Z had allowed everyone to make their own assumptions. He’d known all along that he would eventually regret that move. Like now. With RT. The last thing Z wanted was for RT to have the wrong impression of him, to think Z was the one-night-stand type.
He wasn’t. Not by a long shot.