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."
Really? You think so?"
"Yeah, do you see anyone That sexy around here?"
They continued giggling and discussing him, and Michael shook his head.
He wasn't sure if he was a bodyguard yet, though.
In fact, he had no idea what he was supposed to be doing tonight. They made a few more turns on the corridors, his feet sinking in the soft deep red carpet on the floor.
The walls were decorated with even more paintings than he'd seen downstairs and Michael realized he'd seen some of them before.
Online.
Some of them cost seven digits and Michael didn't want to think how many more there were in the studies and the rooms. Of course, Richard was more than wealthy, but seeing everything like this, in front of him, kind of gave him a pause.
And the manor- one of the gang's leaders manors, in fact-
it was one of those places that when if you looked at it from the outside and from a big distance, you weren't so impressed by its colossal sizes.
Because you only saw the front.
It was totally different when you were inside.
And it usually was the other way around, because as they said- one could appreciate things for what they were when they were being looked at from afar.
It was not like that here.
But then again- nothing was as per the usual, with Richard’s men or anything that had to do with him.
The facade was only the top layer.
And the further you wet in, the more you got involved with the gang, the more surprises were lurking in the dark corners.
Michael glanced through one of the tall French windows and saw the huge backyard that could fit five more houses like this.
It was crazy.
Richards’ men, Michael repeated in his head. Killian was not only one of them, not simply another underling, or a guy working for Richard.
He was the man, sleeping with Richard.
At first, Michael had thought it had been highly unlikely- when Benjamin gave him the information.
Now he was discovering that was exactly the truth and the information had been correct. The next thought came, this time it was the expected one.
Michael wasn’t indifferent towards Killian. Physically.
And it wasn’t just the wolf in him. The man, the human part in him, wanted the cold, intense eyes on him. He wanted Killian on some very primitive, physical level.
It had to be that. It wasn't like he was interested in him as a person- he knew what kind of person Killian was.
Everyone did.
Because besides the startling perfect face and body, Killian was insane.
His blue eyes weren’t the only thing Michael was thinking of, though.
To get himself out of his absurd trance, as he was already riding the “things not to think about” train, Michael asked.
"What am I supposed to be wearing, because I don't know if you'll be able to find anything my size?"
The servant walking in front of him glanced briefly backward before he turned to look back ahead again.
“Are you here in the place of Mr. Van Der Berg?”
“The Mr. Who?” Michael asked surprised and cursed himself internally. Those Englishmen with their names and high-class accents, and each one of them sounding like a member of the royal family.
Not only the owners of the fancy houses but their servants, too.
“Mr. Gareth’s place.Van Der Berg is his last name.”
So this was Gary's full name. Okay. It wasn't what Michael's information was saying, however.
"Sir."
The servant added.
The butler had pronounced “Sir” somehow mockingly as if he was saying it only because his stuck-up nature wouldn’t allow him not to say it, and as if it was obvious to literally everyone Michael was far from being a respected citizen, let alone a “Sir. “
“Oh… no…I'm not, no. “ Michael said simply. “At least I don’t think so.“
He remembered Garry being quite against him accompanying Killian but that was pretty much all of it.
“Really?”
The man asked, and Michael expected more questions to follow, but instead, the man only let out a short sigh and continued walking.
“Why?” Michael asked although he hadn’t sensed any change in the air between the two of them.
“Is it usually him who accompanies Killian?”
“Oh, no. It’s Mr. Gallagard who attends the official dinners. With rare exceptions, such as this one. “
”Richard?”
Michael asked again, stupidly, “I meant to say, Mr. Gallahard. So he doesn't go with Killian?”
“Ah, here we are, “ the servant chirped, making it sound like a dismissal.
They stood in front of a tall, wooden open door, and Michael didn’t need to peek inside to see it was something that resembled very much a dressing room.
They have dressing rooms, Jesus. What is this, the Plaza? or Casino Royal, maybe?
Michael thought.
“There’s an evening suit prepared for you, Mr….?”
“Scott. “
He provided quickly.
"Michael Scott."
It was the first time ever he’d given his real name on a mission. Well, this was most likely his last one, so he was starting to accept the facts for what they were.
Michael had assumed the gang would have already discovered his real name- considering how powerful and influential they were. What he counted on was the fact the Bureau and his superiors had managed to conceal his real records and files well, so that no one- even the gang, would be able to trace them or link the CIA to him as one of their agents.
“Right.“
The servant tipped his head and made a retreating step.
"I'll leave you to it then. Please call for me if you need any help."
He gave a curt not in Michael’s direction and made to leave. His eyes, on the other hand, were saying-
“What the hell is this peasant doing here?”
Yes, that was the look, Michael could very well say without having any unordinary abilities.
The man’s scornful look was obvious enough. And the entire time it had felt as if the butler was the one dismissing him, not the other way around.
“Sure,” he muttered and got in, “I’m starting to wonder what the hell am I doing here, too. “
His missions usually included gunfights and kicking assess, not getting dressed fancy or walking around in manors.
Michael glanced in at the fancy dressing room and the suit with a tie he had no idea how to make into a flawless knot.
***
He was given a perfectly made suit and after the whole struggle of putting the tie on, Michael went to find Killian when he was ready.
He was not going to be, as he'd assumed, a driver. Micheal was accompanying Killian to one of those super fancy dinners he’d only heard of, the ones we’d all had heard of, but never thought we’d actually attend for real. He’d most likely be presented as his bodyguard, and Michael checked the gun he was given.
Not that he couldn’t rip apart everyone in close range in less than five seconds, but he figured growing fangs and tearing people apart at a gala wouldn’t be something anyone was ready for.
Especially the CIA or his boss when they found out.
Michael walked the spacious corridors and wondered if he could search Richar’d office if it happened to be empty. There was still probably time before they left, so he could use the few spare moments chack whatever he could find in Richard's study.
He followed the scent and his nose helped him find the way to Richard's study very easily.
Only the room wasn't empty.
His senses told him he was approaching it, but Richard was definitely in there. And he wasn’t alone. Michael’s whole mind was flooded with Killian’s scent and Michael slowed down his pace and clenched his teeth.
Of course Killian was in there with Richard.
they're probably just talking
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
Oh, shitMichael thought.You don’t just want to, or can in any possible universe, touch Killian on a whim, that much he’d learned for the past weeks.The outstretched hand hung empty in the air.The guy- perhaps the leader of the gang dropped it eventually and took a retreating step.“Do you...do you want to see what we have for you?”He waved at two of the guys and they opened the van. What they took out from it was a big, heavy case.Michael realized with dread very well what this was. He’s seen similar cases get traded all the time between the Mexican cartels.Only this one looked bigger and better done. Which meant more deadly.The men placed the box in front of Killian and they opened it for him. Michael took a protective step closer to Killian.He was much faster than anyone here, and he could kill them all in a few practiced moves.Michael had done it. When he was still learning to control
Only he hadn’t, but everyone seemed to be equally freaked out to ask why he didn’t.Killian relaxed his hand and put the gun back in the case.“Tell the mayor I’ll consider the offer. “Michael heard the slow exhale each of the guys make and it was like they could breathe again.“Right, Sir. “the leader said.Sir.The man didn’t dare call Killian by his name anymore.That meant Killian accepted the gift and two of the guys put the case in the trunk of their car.Neither spoke or asked questions.What they’d just seen was most likely enough to give anyone a pause. Absolutely anyone, regardless of whether they were the cruelest criminals out there.Michael had learned two things.The mayor was also involved in whatever it was the gang was trading with.And the other one was- Killian was damn good at using weapons. **** When Michael checked last time, his watch showed 3 am. He got to his apartment and sent a quick message