Leo (Vigilance #3) - Silvia Violet Page 0,3
you look at Marco. It’s like Giorgio and Lane all over again.” A few months ago, Giorgio had been assigned to guard X’s son, Lane, and they’d been inseparable ever since.
I couldn’t help but laugh at Niall’s offended expression. “No! We’re never that bad.”
I thought Niall would keep pushing, but he didn’t. He pulled a USB from his pocket and handed it to me. “Here’s the information I told you about.”
I needed to get him out of there so I could focus on revenge, not adorable waiters who were much too tempting. “Great. Now go see your man.”
He raised his brows. “Why do you assume I’m going to see Marco?”
I looked him up and down. “You’re all fancied up, and your hair is perfect.”
He kept protesting, but I finally got him out the door. After he left, I stared across the street as I turned the thumb drive over and over in my hand.
I couldn’t see Ezra through the window. I was fairly sure he wasn’t working today, not that I’d memorized his schedule or anything. If I happened to go in and sit down for breakfast on the days when he worked the morning shift rather than calling for delivery, that was just a coincidence.
Was I truly going to consider what Niall had suggested? Could I trust Ezra? Surely even in the most twisted game, no one would have been able to predict that I’d get to know him and want to hire him. He’d only been in Boston since the start of summer when he’d moved in with his aunt after deciding not to return to college for his senior year. He was Cathy’s nephew, and I trusted her. She even knew some of my secrets.
Unless I had it all wrong, and she was working for Swain too.
No. I couldn’t be that off my game, and if Cathy or Ezra had been assigned to watch me, my former receptionist would’ve squealed on them. He’d been willing to tell me everything he knew in his last moments. He’d have given up anyone for even the tiniest chance I would let him live. Too bad for him, that chance had never existed.
Did I dare offer Ezra the job? Could I resist temptation if I did? I’d tried to fight it, but I’d finally given into letting myself fantasize about him—his lean body, his dark hair, his bright blue eyes, and his sinfully plump lips—as I jerked off. The thought of those lips wrapped around my cock…
I needed to stop imagining that. I wasn’t right for Ezra. He seemed so lost sometimes. He needed someone to take care of him and protect him. From what Cathy had told me, his parents didn’t understand unconditional love, and he deserved all of it he could get. I could protect him from danger, but I couldn’t give him the kind of tenderness he deserved. I fucked men. I didn’t fall in love with them.
The CIA had taught me to hide myself, to never let my feelings get involved. I’d learned those lessons too well to be any good for a man like Ezra. He deserved the whole package, someone dedicated just to him.
Even if I did want a relationship, I was considering hiring Ezra, and I didn’t fuck my employees. I’d learned the hard way what a disaster that could be.
In the CIA, I’d survived plenty of missions that were a thousand times harder than resisting the lure of a sweet, adorable twink. And yet, I wasn’t sure my self-control was up to the challenge. Every time I saw Ezra, I wanted to wrap him in my arms and keep him from ever being hurt.
If he were mine, I’d make sure he never got so much as a paper cut. The problem was, I would likely be the one to hurt him by breaking his heart.
On the other hand, I was already tempted by him, maybe hiring him would actually be a good thing. As my employee, he’d be completely off-limits.
I ran a hand over my short hair and sighed. It was almost time for my first appointment. I’d have to think it over later.
When I had a break that evening, I slipped across the street to talk to Cathy. I wasn’t going to poach Ezra from her without making sure she wouldn’t be left in a tight spot.
The café didn’t serve dinner, so it was already closed. I knew Cathy’s habits, though. She would still be there working on prep for tomorrow’s offerings.