Page 64 of Leo, My Partner

Ty nods, shooing me away as he wipes tears from his cheeks. “Go. I’ll be here when you get back so we can talk about Tessa and Ray’s.” His grin is fucking gorgeous. I can’t resist bending to steal a kiss before I go back to my office. I don’t need privacy, but I’ll be speaking in Russian, and I don’t want Ty to feel like I’m saying something secretive about him.

Once the door is shut, I answer the phone. “Ded.”

Instead of greeting me in Russian, he speaks in strongly accented English that’s as familiar to me as breathing. “Leo. I need help. There is job, and I need extra hand.”

I raise an eyebrow. Ivan never asks for assistance. When he brought me in when he was training me, it was for the experience, not because he required my presence. “Details.”

“Two target that need gone at same time, so they don’t run. Extra hand necessary because I cannot be in two places at once. Understand?”

“Understand, Ded. When and where?”

“Three days. London. Can you hop flight?”

“I can.” I smile, stuffing a hand in the pocket of my sweat pants. “Your English is getting better.”

The pride is evident in his voice. He may be a psychopath, but he’s a sucker for compliments. “Practice has been working. Russian is still superior language.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. It’s an argument we’ve had plenty of times. I taught him some English when I moved to Russia, just as he taught me Russian. Most of our conversations were held in Russian because Ded said English hurt his ears.

A thought pops in my head, and I rush to ask, “Can I bring someone?”

“You have friend?”

“I have a boyfriend, Ded. And he works with me. I’d like to show him what an organized job with you looks like.”

Ivan is silent, probably absorbing what I said. In Russia, traditional values are what they live by. And Ivan is old. He grew up in the era where being gay was against the law, then it was decriminalized, then harsher treatment was placed back on the community. I didn’t care one way or the other, since I planned to leave Russia at eighteen and because I wasn’t dating when I lived there, men or otherwise.

Surprisingly, Ivan hums. “Bring boyfriend if you are training him. I want to see what he knows. Three days. I will send you information on hotel.” With that, Ivan hangs up.

I’m not sure what his easy acquiescence means, but whatever. Ivan doesn’t have to agree with who I’m with, he just needs to keep any biased opinions to himself. I would hate to have to fuck my grandfather up for saying some slick shit and hurting Ty’s feelings.

Ty is right where I left him, except he’s taken off his dress shirt and slacks, lying on the couch in his undershirt and briefs, watching something on YouTube. “Everything okay?”

“It’s great. By chance, do you have a passport?”

“Yep. Sam and I went to the Canada side of Niagara Falls right after my mom died so I could get my mind off things. It’s still current for a few more years.”

“What do you say about going to London?”

“Uh, fuck yes.” He sits up quickly, excitement brimming in his eyes. “When?”

“A few days. My grandfather needs help with a job and asked me to come.”

Ty deflates a little. “Your grandfather? You want me to meet your grandfather? Is he okay with that?”

“He’s fine with it. I told him about you already. Besides, he doesn’t get to clear who I bring with me on a job. He needs me, not the other way around.”

He perks back up, getting to his feet and wrapping his arms around me. “I’ve never been to London. Are we only going to kill someone or can we go sightseeing?”

“Whatever you want, kotenok.”

“You always call me that. What does it mean?”

A smile crops up on my face. “Kitten.”

Ty rolls his eyes but smiles too. “You’re the worst. But I like it.”

I peck him lightly on the lips, then slap his ass. He yelps, moving his hand down to his sore cheek.

---