"Are you kidding me, what the hell was that?"
Flynn was pacing around, throwing his hands in the air. Michael lived in a small apartment in the worst possible part of London, but it was something that in a very weird way reminded him of the places he was used to back in NY, that’s why he’d chosen it.
Flynn had warned him he’d eventually have to move out from there and somewhere closer to the group, but for now, this worked well. Michael lived alone- he always had, and he and Flynn had agreed to avoid meeting just the two of them unless something really big was going on.
Judging by the tantrums Flynn was throwing, the big thing had happened.
“I can’t believe you told them your actual name and ...and the cop thing, I mean…” Flynn ran a hand absently through his hair and immediately pulled it back, probably scraping the burn Killian had made earlier. Now that he saw it better, Michael noticed it was quite deep. The man wasn’t kidding.
Michael propped himself on the edge of the table- his apartment didn’t have much anyway- a small bed with a nightstand, and the kitchen consisted of a table with two chairs and the usual household utensils.
He was pretty sure the dishwasher didn’t work, but neither did he know how to cook, nor did he eat in any way.
In a nutshelll- this was a shithole.
He'd seen worse, but not by much.
Michael preferred it that way, he never needed much, since he never knew how much time he’d have on a place, and packing wasn’t something he’d have time for in case of an emergency. He also wasn’t sentimental. Flynn eventually stopped walking around like a caged animal and sagged in the nearest wooden chair.
Michael glanced around in search of his cigarettes and when he didn’t see them anywhere near, he just decided to direct his attention elsewhere, and not to the raising need to just be left alone and put his thoughts together. Too much was going on for him, and that didn’t include only the task at hand.
“Well, “ Michael tried, “whatever it was, I got to go with him, this is what we wanted, right? Get closer to the guy , so that we can have more on Richard. “
“This is too risky and dangerous. The plan was for you to just be introduced to them today. Maybe get you to run a few errands here and there, not to.. “
“But that’s even better, right?”
“I...I don’t know. “
Flynn folded his arms and bit his thumb. “Killian’s unpredictable, you saw that for yourself today. How do you know he won’t just go off and shoot you?”
Michael shrugged.
“I don’t. “
Flynn groaned and leaned further in his chair.
“Jesus. You guys all from the CIA are insane, aren’t you? “
“More or less. But I guess it’s not much different with MI6, right?”
His new partner said thoughtfully.
“No, actually now that you mention it, there are a few psychos here and there. “
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, there’s always one in the pair. “
“It’s me in ours, then. “ Michael said and this time they both laughed.
“What do you think the task will be?” he asked after a while.
“No idea. As far as I know, Killian doesn’t have bodyguards or anything, let alone someone he takes around with. “
“No? What about the older guy, today, “ Michael asked, “He seemed quite, you know…”
“Overprotective? Yeah, that’s Garrey.”
Michael shifted. He’d wanted to ask about the man ever since they left the office, and he could swear the man seemed to be watching every single step everyone in the room made. But there was something different about the way he never let Killian’s moves go unnoticed.
“Garrey? Who’s he? There wasn’t anything in the information I was present with before coming here. And I’d remember if there were.”
He tried to sound casual, nothing in his tone betraying what he’d noticed and that maybe his curiosity wasn’t just something to do with the job.
No, he wasn’t jealous, or anything- that would be beyond absurd, but he preferred to know more.
Flynn dropped his arms and draped one over the armrest of the chair.
“He’s an ex-agent, just like he told you. “
“And everyone knows that. “
“Naturally. “
“How do they know he’s not on the force still? “
Flynn looked at him amused.
“No, right- he’s probably known Richard all his life. “
“Yeah, Mike. And Garrey’s more of the kind of guy you never want to cross. “
“Like Killian. “
“Like Killian. “
“Do you know what he wants me for? “
“It could be anything, “Flynn said, “ From taking you to get his car washed, to ordering you to shoot someone. “
Michael must've made a face because Flynn hurried to explain.
“Well, you saw him today. “
“Yeah. “
“Look, the thing with Killian is he was raised by Richard. “
“Raised?’
“Well, yeah. They say he took him in when Killian was like fourteen- fifteen, or something... “
“Took him, from where?”
“I don’t know, Mike. But Garrey is Richard’s right-hand man, I’d assume he’d send him to watch over his most valuable asset. “
“And his successor. “
Michael offered.
“Yeah, especially over his successor.“
They looked at each other and their eyes met. Michael felt like all his fears were confirming. Killian wasn’t just Richard’s protege, just as his boss back in the US had said. Everything was getting worse and worse by the second.
“Well, I guess I’ll soon find out, “ he said eventually.
“Just be careful, all right. “ Flynn wriggled in his seat, most likely interpreting his mood wrongly. “We can't have you get killed in the first month of your work, you know. Doesn’t speak well about us in MI6, okay?”
“I can’t promise. “
“Nah, you won’t get away that easy, we’re just starting. “
Flynn pushed away from his seat and got up, still smiling.
”Right. I’ll be going. Call me if anything happens, okay. “
“Okay. “
Flynn was already heading towards the front door when Michael said.
“Hey, Flynn?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. “
The guy glanced back at him and winked.
“Nothing to thank me for, that’s why we’re partners. I’ll see you around. “
“Yeah, you too. “
Michael followed to see him off, trying not to think what would happen next.
For the first time since he’d come here, he felt that things might work out, and he wasn’t on the other side of the world without knowing whether there would be a tomorrow.
One never knew, especially in the world he lived in, but Flynn looked like someone he could count on, even if the guy didn’t agree with his ways.
Killian was a different thing, though, and Michael braced himself and the idea he was going to meet him again sooner than he was ready for.
One can never be ready for Killian.
He was instructed to wait for Killian at the main manor of the group. Michael was pretty sure Killian lived somewhere else, however, he had no idea with who, where, or why he was to meet him here. Most likely it was because half the time the group members spent time here, and most of the meetings happened here. It was a safe bet- Richard had the advantage in any case since after all -well, this was his territory. As far as the information he was given was saying, Richard always got what he wanted. Always, and there were never exceptions. Michael’s thoughts inevitably drifted towards Killian. The fact Killian could be his mate was absurd. Perhaps he was mistaken, and most likely he was just attracted to the guy. After all, Killian was exactly Michael’s type. With or without that ridiculous feeling that Killian was his, Michael would have been attracted to him anyway. No, not his, he shook his head. No one was anyone’s an
The place was way bigger than what he’d initially thought. Enormous, and it felt bigger the more he was walking on the long corridors, following the servant. How many servants did Richard have, anyway? Thirty? As he was walking with the servant, they passed by at least five more. Two of the maids they passed by eyed him and cast their eyes downwards when Michael tipped his head to greet them. As soon as they were out of earshot (or at least they thought they were) Michael heard one of them saying: "He is SO hot, I wonder if he's the new bodyguard Mary told me about."
Michael paused and listened.He clenched his teeth even harder when he imagined Richard touching Killian and he resisted the urge to break the door in.No, he couldn’t do it.For some reason, Michael couldn’t get any sense of what Killian was feeling, but he could very well tell what Richard was - and that was a pleasure.Blinding anger filled his vision.They were really together.He knew that. Always had known it, but now it was happening on the other side of the door and only a few feet were separating him from his mate.His mate who was with another person right now.Michael tried not to imagine Kilian on his knees, or naked, or anything like that.Killian is Richard’s lover.He repeated in his head.And obviously Killian wasn’t resisting whatever it was they were doing.Michael felt more pleasure coming from Richard and that was it for him.That’s why Michael too
Michael didn't recognize the trace and couldn't put the scent to a face in in his head. It was totally new. Yet... The scent was getting stronger as Michael moved closer to the door of his flat. Michael’s senses were instantly alert and he moved even closer, almost touching the metal grid protecting his front door.In neighbourhoods like that one a metal door wasn’t enough to save you from thieves, but there also wasn't anything much to steal.Another thing was Michael could rip them all apart if he decided.Michael listened and heard rustling from the inside.The only person who knew where Mike lived was Flynn.And the man inside was definitely not Flynn.Michael's hand was on his gun in an instant, and although he wouldn't need it, it was a gesture, a kind of human reaction he'd trained himself into when he had become a secret agent.It was mostly for the sake of people - doing human things the way they would.Michael c
The blond guy was still smiling, looking up at Michael.The gang had another werewolf working for them and no one had said anything about it. Michael was well aware he was far from having all the information he needed on the gang. Yet, something like this was mojer.And he hadn’t had any idea about it.“What?”Jess asked, the smile dropping from his face.He really was cute.“You are their dog?” Michael asked eventually, lifting an eyebrow.“Why do you want to put a leash on me?”Jesse moved to sit on the table. He acted as if he was home, or owned the place. Jesse had a very light air around him, and it was like he brightened the whole place simply by being there. He definitely didn’t look like someone who worked for a criminal gang. Especially not for someone like Richard. And that got on Michael's nerves even more for some reason.“Just shut up and eat your...whatever. “ Michael growled, “I’m serious enough with the clowning.““Yeah, okay.”Jesse
"Isn't Richard married or anything? ““Where did that come from?”Flynn asked bewildered and Michael waved a hand.“Just a random thought. ““Uhh... No. At least not that I know of. He might have been before, but you know how it is with those people. He can't really have a nice, little wife waiting for him at home. ““Of course.”Keeping a woman, or a mistress would mean unnecessary trouble. No one wanted that. Women wanted children, and security and family. They wanted someone they could wait for who was Actually going to come home after work.It wasn't that men didn't want that with their partner either. It was just easier for men to say they didn't need it."Kids?""I guess not. Kids are another vulnerability. Besides, he has someone to succeed him and the empire, right?""Right."Michael tossed the remainder of whiskey in his glass and waved at the bartender for another one. Flynn gave him a confused look, but didn’t ask any questions about the f
“Will you stop showing up in my apartment ?”Michael asked with a slow exhale. Jesse pushed past him and tossed the plastic bag on the small kitchen table of his place.He closed the door behind him and glanced at the numerous candy bars, spilling from the bag Jesse had brought.The blond wolf fished one chocolate bar out from the plastic and opened it.“What?”“You’re unbelievable. “Michael shook his head.“What, I brought those as a pay back that I ate yours the other night. ““They weren’t mine and I asked what the hell are you doing here? Again.”Michael was already getting frustrated. On top of everything he hadn’t spent last night sleeping. Instead, he’d been searching anything he could possibly find on the mayor and what his connection to Richard and the gang might be.And just as he'd expected he found nothing.He couldn’t find anything on them, there weren’t even photos of the two men together at galas or other official events where they mi
He moved towards Killian. And saw it.A bruise was colouring the skin just above Killlian’s sleeve and it cost Michael physical efforts not to move further.His eyes were still on the bruise, however.It might have been deep purple, or dark blue, but it had now started to fade away and the blue had started turning green to become yellow until it disappeared.Michael always thought he was one of those wolves, people, or whatever he was, who could perfectly control themselves.Granted, the wolf part in him was that piece of his being that was more temperament, that was always faster to react, his body reacting before his mind did.Michael had always known his wolf was very, very easily angered.But he’d also learned how to control it.And if Michael had to think of himself as two different pieces, that were supposed to function as one, he believed he would be able to find the balance one day.The problem with Michael, however, wasn’t that his two “pi