Page 10 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
“Cody, sit, please.” As Cody sat across from him, he formed his words carefully in his mind. “I told you that I don’t want you to move. I meant what I said. My little joke was in poor taste. As far as Alejandro is concerned, you need not worry. I am far more aware, cunning and lethal than I appear.”
Cody looked away from his eyes and stared at the large modern painting on the wall. “You’re a strange contradiction, Trev.”
Trev laughed and smiled at the words that were not meant to be a compliment yet were nonetheless. “Would you like a drink? I will even share my prized stash.”
Those silver eyes met his, and his heart thumped as his cock stirred and stood at attention. Trev quickly pushed aside the memory of the last time he felt something even close to this. Memories were painful, and emotions led to mistakes. Mistakes led to people dying.
“I guess one glass wouldn’t hurt, especially if you’re breaking out the good stuff.” Cody smiled, two deep dimples showing and softening his normally square jaw. Trev took a moment to admire Cody and his ability to look so sexy and sweet one moment and in the next breath he was reminded that the Ice Man lurked underneath the surface. That would terrify most, but to him it meant Cody wouldn’t scare easily and that was a good thing in this world, in his world.
Trev reached into the bottom drawer, retrieving the new bottle of whiskey he’d purchased and two crystal glasses. “How do you like it?”
“Neat.”
“A man after my own heart.” Trev pushed the two fingers’ worth toward Cody. “So tell me something about yourself.”
Cody sipped the drink, his lips moist as the glass left his lips. Trev licked his own and visualized sucking the taste off Cody’s.
Cody gave a little groan as he stared at the bold and full-flavored drink. “Now that is the good stuff, damn that is good.” Trev shivered slightly with the deep timbre of his voice but managed to appear relaxed as he leaned back into his seat. “There really isn’t that much to tell about me.”
“You must have some interests. Something that you have a passion for or gets your juices flowing?”
Cody looked up from his drink, and there was no hiding the carnal look in the eyes staring back at him. “I think I should go.”
Trev cocked his head to the side. “You don’t need to go so quickly. I thought we were getting to know one another?”
“Trust me. I really have to go.” Cody gulped the rest of this drink down and placed the now empty glass on the desk. He quickly stood, his long strides eating up the distance to the door. Cody paused, his hand on the door and stared across the space at him. “I know you’re the badass and all, but be careful with Alejandro.” Cody slipped out the door, hearing it click into place as it closed behind him.
Trev was confused by Cody’s sudden departure. Had he asked something inappropriate? Maybe he’d been mistaken about the look in Cody’s eyes.
His phone vibrated as a text came in, and he sighed as he picked it up. It was just as well. He had an objective, and he needed to focus on that.
Cody couldn’t sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Trev’s way too sexy face and his tongue licking the whiskey off his lips. Those intelligent sky, blue eyes of his that could look right through your body—it was like Trev could see every scar and stain on his soul and didn’t give a fuck. And then there was the suit. Trev and his perfectly manicured suits that never had a wrinkle, like he fucking walked around with an iron in his pocket all day. How was it humanly possible to look that perfect? And why did that turn him on so bad? He had no idea, but he’d tried to ease the tension multiple times in the shower, and yet his cock still ached to be touched by more than just his own hand.
“Shit, this is pointless.” He swung his legs out of bed and dropped to the floor punching out fifty push-ups. Standing, he felt a little more at ease, maybe if he went for a run. He rummaged through his clothes and pulled on a pair of track pants and a t-shirt. The house was quiet when he stepped into the hall. Mind you, the house was so large it seemed empty all the time. He stuffed his feet in runners and earbuds in his ears before he slipped out the door. Cody paused to do a few stretches and leaned against the wall as he held his foot in his hand.
The sound of a garage door opening had him sneaking around the edge of the house just in time to see a blacked-out Hummer he’d never seen, pull out from a garage door he’d never seen open before. He jumped back around the side of the house and peaked around to watch the strange vehicle. It pulled out onto the street and headed for the city.
Not even sure why he marched for his car. “What the hell am I doing?” He mumbled as he pulled keys from his pocket and jumped in behind the wheel. He slammed the car into reverse and hit the gas hard. The wheels on the sporty little suped-up car squealed as it jumped into action. It was a good thing this area was fairly remote with the neighbors few and far between, he thought as the car reached the road, and he punched it, making it zip forward. He could just barely make out the Hummer’s tail lights in the distance.
He loved his car. Trev had asked him what got his juices flowing, and other than the man who’d asked the question, this car was the answer. He loved to race his car, the feel of flying down the street, the world a blur as you passed it by, the thrill of winning, and of course running from the cops.
It had been months since he’d last visited the Underground and longer still since he’d actually raced. He was trying to make a new life for himself. Getting arrested for street racing seemed like a bad idea, yet he couldn’t deny that the pull in his gut was there. He caught up to the Hummer on the freeway but stayed a good distance back. This had to be either Trev or Arek, and if so, they’d be used to spotting and shaking tails.
The shiny black vehicle traveled toward downtown and then continued on into the area of the city he’d grown up. The poorer areas of the city were dangerous to be roaming around at night, any time really, but worse at night. Ironically, he once was the dangerous thing to watch out for in this neighbourhood.
He continued his tailing and then darted toward the curb and pretended to park as the Hummer turned into the back parking area of a massage parlor strip. Once the Hummer was out of sight, he slowly pulled out of his spot, killed his lights, and crept closer until he could see into the parking area and pulled over again.
Cody opened his glove compartment and pulled out the small pair of binoculars—he’d had to spy on more than one person while working for Ty. It was dark, and the black vehicle blended into the shadows, but he was just able to pick out the glint of the driver’s side door window. He held his breath as the door opened, and much to his dismay, it was Trev that emerged. The brothers may look alike, but they were very different once you got to know them. He’d stared at that ass enough to recognize that walk anywhere, and holy fuck Trev looked the hottest he’d ever seen him.
Dressed in all black that clung to his body like a second skin. His bare arms flexed as he slung a large gun over his shoulder and placed another into the strap on his leg. And this is why there was army calendars, he suddenly had a new fetish. Trev’s face was lined with black paint, and a ball cap pulled low over his features. Those cool, calculating eyes took in everything. He scrunched down as low as he could in his seat when Trev began to turn in his direction.
“What are you up to?” Cody whispered and then swore as he spotted a cop car coming down the road. He was like a fucking magnet lately.
He grabbed the seat handle and pushed back until it was laid down flat. His heart hammered hard as the lights drew closer.Just keep going. The last thing he needed was to end up running from the cops tonight. The car's entire interior was illuminated, and he knew they were using some sort of a projection light to shine into the cars on the street. He closed his eyes tight and said a little prayer as he held his breath. The car began to dim, and he looked up and watched the light disappear further down the road.
He sat up and fixed the binoculars on the last spot he’d seen Trev, but the man had disappeared. Cody tapped his fingers on the top of the wheel as he debated what he should do.
“I’m gonna regret this.” Cody took one last look around, and satisfied that no one was watching, he got out and jogged across the street. He’d only made it to the second door when gunfire erupted from somewhere inside. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him toward the sound grabbing for the gun he never left behind. Of course, his new life didn’t need one, or so he thought, so his hand grabbed air. More gunfire, the sound muffled and further away.
