Page 17 of The Primary Pest
“Understood.” The words made perfect sense, of course, but following orders wasn’t Ajax’s superpower, and explaining cognitive dissonance to this hulking Ukrainian GI Joesupermodel with a gun wouldn’t get them to the spa in time to use it.
Instead, he agreed to go along and get along. He got a delightful mental image of Dmytro giving his little girls the samedo everything I sayspeech when he took them to the park, and somehow that relaxed him enough to make him smile.
Dmytro did a double take, narrowing his eyes as if he were trying to read Ajax’s thoughts.
How did the old saying go?Dazzle them with brilliance or baffle them with bullshit.
Ajax followed Dmytro closely behind while they snuck down the back stairs. He clung to the shadows beneath the motel’s gallery. He studied Dmytro’s broad back at great length, if only to keep from looking at his tight, perfectly round ass. Ordinarily, Ajax wasn’t a size guy. Not primarily. He hooked up with other geeks and gamers when he wasn’t dating a man he was serious about, and most, like himself, still had some growing to do. Dmytro had no need to get bigger. He’d burst his skin if he ate a single pumpkin seed—such was the iron inside the tamperproof steel case that was Dmytro.
As they walked around the fenced-in pool together, Ajax longed to touch Dmytro’s skin, to feel the muscles ripple beneath as he took each step.
They entered the damp warmth of the spa room together. A burst of happy memories filled Ajax, along with the irresistible scent of chlorine and cedar. The pebbly surface of a slip-proof floor grabbed at his shower shoes, making them grip when he walked. He crossed to a well-worn bench and left his towel to explore one of two saunas first.
“You like it wet or dry?” he asked, as he checked the insides of each enclosure to make sure they were alone. The saunas were nice-sized, but he didn’t think he could sit in one for longer than a few minutes. Airplanes and private jets were bad enough. Butthese were way, way, way too small to spend any length of time inside.
“Neither. I’m only here to babysit.”
Besides being insulting, the words were a major let down. “You’re not coming in?”
“You go.” Dmytro’s tone didn’t leave too much room for argument. “I’ll keep watch.”
“Then why’d you put on a swimsuit?”
“To blend in.”
That was absurd. “I hate to tell you—”
“Plus, I didn’t want to sweat through my clothes. It feels like Bali in here.”
“It’s not fair to you if you can’t go in.”
“Why should it be?” Dmytro’s amusement wasn’t very flattering. “I’m working. I’ll wait out here.”
“All right.” Ajax slid a glance his way. He hadn’t acted stupid yet. Now if he could only remember how to breathe. “How do I know you won’t lock me in?”
“You don’t.”
“But—”
“Get in, or you’ll lose your chance.” Dmytro sat with his towel on his lap. “I’ll make sure you’re safe, not play stupid pranks.”
Ajax couldn’t resist the joke. “Um, is that a gun in your towel or—”
“Yes.” Dmytro’s face held no humor. “My rule is, if I take it out, I get to use it on the first person who annoys me.”
“That’s not a very rational rule. Or safe.”
“Not for you,” Dmytro agreed.
“Just so you know, I don’t believe even a tenth of your tough-guy act because the little girls in that picture on your phone aren’t being raised by a monster.”
Dmytro turned away, but not before Ajax saw a hint of doubt. Maybe the girls were a sore point, or maybe he simply believedhewasa monster. He certainly spent all his time trying to make Ajax think he was, but no way. For all his sour looks and gruff demeanor, he couldn’t hide the loving expression on his face when he looked at his daughters. He was totally in their pocket, and that, more than anything else, more than Dmytro’s skill set or the fact Ajax’s parents believed Iphicles Security was the best, made Ajax decide to trust him.
CHAPTER SIX
Dmytro
Ajax Freedom.I wonder how your parents will feel when they bury what’s left of you. Will they be sad or relieved?
