his chest. “So level with me. You boys honestly think you can both pose as her lovers and not have it blow up in your faces? Knowing the lifestyle you’ll be submersed in? What the three of you might have to do to maintain your cover? Roman? You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who shares. Aiden, either.”
Roman glanced at Aiden, silently asking him how much he wanted revealed. Aiden smiled. Fuck. He hadn’t thought Roman would feel comfortable acknowledging the intimate side of their relationship. Not here. Not yet.
Powell groaned. “Ah, fuck. I’m an idiot. Does Scarlet know?”
Roman matched the man’s stance. “That Aiden and I are lovers? She has a pretty damn good idea. Does she know I’m not the only man in love with her? That might take her by surprise. Though she’d be lying to herself if she thinks she doesn’t have feelings for Aiden, as you’ve already pointed out.”
Powell nodded. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but…while I realize these are unique circumstances, what with the type of undercover work you might be required to perform… Are you sure this is wise? You boys seem a bit too close to be…objective.”
“Generally, I’d agree. But in this instance…” Aiden ran a hand through his hair. “The very basis of this assignment is convincing everyone there we’re involved. Intimately. The fact we have feelings for each other… It’s Scarlet’s life on the line if we don’t pull this off. And she has to trust us. Regardless of what occurs inside those walls. Know that we won’t let anyone hurt her, make her feel anything less than safe, no matter what’s happening or who’s watching.”
“Sounds like you have your work cut out for you after reading hers and Roman’s reports.” Powell moved behind his desk. “I’ll have that tablet and Ms. December’s belongings ready within the hour. I’ve been informed that the Feds will be dealing with any correspondence, since we won’t be able to simply call or text you. They’ve assured me they’ll use appropriate measures to ensure your covers remain intact. With any luck, you three will catch this sick bastard before he strikes again.”
“We’ll do our best.” Aiden turned then glanced back at the lieutenant. “We know how important this operation is, and I promise we won’t do anything to put Scarlet’s life at risk.”
“See that you don’t. Just watch your backs. You’re pretty much on your own in there.”
“There’s always the chance this guy won’t be able to get inside.”
“Right. And we all believe that.” Powell leaned back in his chair. “Oh, and, gentlemen… Tread lightly where Scarlet’s concerned. She’s still dealing with the fallout from that original case. And it’d be a shame for her to permanently damage anything…important…before you even get there.”
Roman smiled. “We’ll keep that in mind. We’ll be in touch.”
Aiden followed his lover out, hating the silence that stretched between them as they headed for their truck. He could tell by the stiff line of Roman’s back and the way he clenched and released his hands at his sides that the man wasn’t happy with Scarlet’s reaction.
He waited until Roman slipped into the driver’s side before turning and placing his hand over Roman’s as he slid the keys into the ignition. Roman sighed, glancing at him before collapsing against the seat, staring at the ceiling as if it held some kind of magical answer.
He shook his head. “Did you see the look on her eyes? Fuck, that wasn’t anger. That was pain. Betrayal.”
Aiden twisted so he could better face the man. “Can’t say I’m that surprised. She’s right. She deserved better.”
“Not helping.”
“Would you rather I lie to you?”
Roman spared him a quick glance. “You could cushion the truth a bit.”
“Sorry, buddy, not my style. Not when I’d be as pissed as she is if I were in her place. She lost both of us without so much as a satisfactory
Roman glanced at Aiden, silently asking him how much he wanted revealed. Aiden smiled. Fuck. He hadn’t thought Roman would feel comfortable acknowledging the intimate side of their relationship. Not here. Not yet.
Powell groaned. “Ah, fuck. I’m an idiot. Does Scarlet know?”
Roman matched the man’s stance. “That Aiden and I are lovers? She has a pretty damn good idea. Does she know I’m not the only man in love with her? That might take her by surprise. Though she’d be lying to herself if she thinks she doesn’t have feelings for Aiden, as you’ve already pointed out.”
Powell nodded. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but…while I realize these are unique circumstances, what with the type of undercover work you might be required to perform… Are you sure this is wise? You boys seem a bit too close to be…objective.”
“Generally, I’d agree. But in this instance…” Aiden ran a hand through his hair. “The very basis of this assignment is convincing everyone there we’re involved. Intimately. The fact we have feelings for each other… It’s Scarlet’s life on the line if we don’t pull this off. And she has to trust us. Regardless of what occurs inside those walls. Know that we won’t let anyone hurt her, make her feel anything less than safe, no matter what’s happening or who’s watching.”
“Sounds like you have your work cut out for you after reading hers and Roman’s reports.” Powell moved behind his desk. “I’ll have that tablet and Ms. December’s belongings ready within the hour. I’ve been informed that the Feds will be dealing with any correspondence, since we won’t be able to simply call or text you. They’ve assured me they’ll use appropriate measures to ensure your covers remain intact. With any luck, you three will catch this sick bastard before he strikes again.”
“We’ll do our best.” Aiden turned then glanced back at the lieutenant. “We know how important this operation is, and I promise we won’t do anything to put Scarlet’s life at risk.”
“See that you don’t. Just watch your backs. You’re pretty much on your own in there.”
“There’s always the chance this guy won’t be able to get inside.”
“Right. And we all believe that.” Powell leaned back in his chair. “Oh, and, gentlemen… Tread lightly where Scarlet’s concerned. She’s still dealing with the fallout from that original case. And it’d be a shame for her to permanently damage anything…important…before you even get there.”
Roman smiled. “We’ll keep that in mind. We’ll be in touch.”
Aiden followed his lover out, hating the silence that stretched between them as they headed for their truck. He could tell by the stiff line of Roman’s back and the way he clenched and released his hands at his sides that the man wasn’t happy with Scarlet’s reaction.
He waited until Roman slipped into the driver’s side before turning and placing his hand over Roman’s as he slid the keys into the ignition. Roman sighed, glancing at him before collapsing against the seat, staring at the ceiling as if it held some kind of magical answer.
He shook his head. “Did you see the look on her eyes? Fuck, that wasn’t anger. That was pain. Betrayal.”
Aiden twisted so he could better face the man. “Can’t say I’m that surprised. She’s right. She deserved better.”
“Not helping.”
“Would you rather I lie to you?”
Roman spared him a quick glance. “You could cushion the truth a bit.”
“Sorry, buddy, not my style. Not when I’d be as pissed as she is if I were in her place. She lost both of us without so much as a satisfactory
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