Murder and Mayhem (33 page)

“It’ll be good. He won’t be tearing this place apart looking for God knows what.” Rook’s attempt at a smile was feeble but better than he’d had all week. “And hey, we’ve already agreed that if we break up, I get to keep him in the divorce. So, there’s that.”

“Charming,” Dante drawled. “Speaking of God knows what, you have any idea about a satchel of stolen jewelry dropped off at the main station today?”

Rook’s face was a flawless mask of curiosity and innocence. “Nope. Not a clue. Why?”

“Because one of the stones was an exact match for the fake Dani had in her pocket. Huge stone. Couldn’t miss it ’cause it’s an odd cut, so the evidence people recognized it as soon as they opened it up.” He leaned over, placing his hands on either side of Rook’s hips, trapping him against the counter. “Funny, huh? That someone would have a change of heart and return it. After all these years.”

“Yeah, funny,” Rook replied, his expression unchanged. “Huh. Well, I don’t know about you, but every time you and I are in here together, someone shoots this place up. So, do you want to go upstairs, fuck, and then eat cold Chinese food while we watch a movie? Doesn’t have to be in that order.”

“You’re going to be the death of me,
cuervo
.” Laughing, Dante captured Rook’s mouth in a deep kiss, then whispered, “You know you can trust me. With… whatever. With anything. You know that, right?”

“Sometimes it’s better if some things are left unsaid, Montoya. It’s hard, you know? Habits? Dying hard? All of that shit.” Rook bit Dante’s lip hard, then let go when he yelped. “Maybe. Almost. Yes. You’re too… I don’t want to break this. And I know that’s stupid, or you think that it’s stupid, but not to me. So, just a little bit of… time, okay?”

There were whispered fears in Rook’s voice and shadows clinging to his luminous eyes. A lifetime of doubt lay beneath the surface of his skin, his soul burdened by abandonment and loss. He was asking a lot of the former thief, and with the thick lie strung between them, Dante could see Rook fighting the urge to flee, his first instinct always to run.

Instead he stood firm, cradled between Dante’s thighs, his mouth warmed from their kiss.

“As you wish,
cuervo
.” Dante pushed into Rook until they were pressed in tight, their bodies growing hot with the contact. “As you wish.”