Page 209 of Assassin

When Tommy pulled in, his home was silent. It wasn’t a bad place to call home, but it was missing something.

A man.

When he took the job from Axelle Maverick, he’d always assumed that Gene would come back. He assumed that the man was just blowing off steam, but he hadn’t been.

The opposite was true.

He saw him on the news with Ethan in the park, their arms connected, having a conversation.

The paparazzi had caught him, laughing, and having coffee with the man as they went about their lives.

It was only two days ago.

He was only gone that long.

What the hell was going on?

How could he have said he loved him, and then all of a sudden walk away with no feelings whatsoever?

He did it though.

Tommy had to believe that deep down, he still loved him a little. Deep down, he had to believe that the man was still in love with him.

That’s why he tried to find him.

That’s why he went to Chartres to get his new number. There was no doubt he would have given it to Maura or Jagger.

Someone.

There was no way he changed his life that fast. The man had to still be in love with him a little.

That meant there was a way to get Gene away from him.

Oh, and he would try.

Even if it meant going to DC to find him, and talk some sense into him.

Deep down, Tommy blamed Ethan fucking Blackhawk for this. He’d weaseled his way into the man’s heart again, and caused all of this.

They could be married by now.

They could be husband and husband.

But instead, he was alone.

He’d bet that Gene was trapped in DC, and likely wanted to come back.

So, he’d fight for him. He’d fight to set him free.

Getting out of his vehicle, he headed toward the house. Once inside, he tossed his keys on the counter, grabbed a beer, and chugged it at the sink.

He’d planned on heading back to Chartres, but he’d do that in the morning.

What he needed now was a plan.

When he walked into the living room, he jumped when he saw her sitting in a chair by the one wall.

“Jesus!” he said, his hand on his gun. “What the fuck?” he asked.

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