Page 25 of The Primary Pest
Then the cold smile was back. The glacial eyes. “That said, if you do anything reckless or stupid, I will not hesitate to duct tape your mouth, cowtie you, and throw you in the trunk of a car.”
“Hogtie.” Ajax swallowed. “We sayhogtie.”
Dmytro shrugged before turning the light off. “Get some sleep. I messaged Zhenya about taking target practice, and he’s looking into it.”
Ajax shut his eyes and imagined holding a gun again. Letting Dmytro stand behind him to help him sight a target as Anton had done, face close to his, breath puffing at his neck as he said in his rich Eastern European accent, “All right, now Ajax, let out the breath you’re holding. Squeeze—do not pull—the trigger.”
“Awesome.” This was gonna betorture.
CHAPTER TEN
Dmytro
Ajax Freedom.I am the angel of the apocalypse, and I am right behind you.
Dmytro had learneda lot about Ajax in the brief time they’d been together. Ajax confounded a lot of his expectations. He might test boundaries and need constant attention, but Ajax was neither an idiot nor a wastrel.
In truth, he was a bit of a Renaissance man—a mathematician, an extremely competent hacker, a bit of an actor with a broadly ironic take on politics and the world in general. He was claustrophobic. He had self-defense training and money to hire security on his own had his parents not done it. After the threat to him was neutralized, he could go back to his secure apartment building and get on with his life.
Using Iphicles was overkill, even for a billionaire’s son, unless there was a credible threat. So why had he asked Zhenya about finding a gun range? Surely once this danger was gone, Ajax could go on his merry way.
What would Ajax choose to do next? He possessed surprisingly keen insight for someone his age. And every so often, caught in just the right light, he was…
Thank heavens Ajax was finally asleep.
Dmytro frowned into the darkness before lighting his flashlight going over possible threats. Ajax didn’t take his Shearwater dive watch off while he swam or showered. He removed it only to sleep. Despite turning off its hackable GPS, Dmytro discovered he wanted the extra insurance of a tracker only he and Iphicles could monitor. He opened Ajax’s watch and placed a tiny military grade transmitter inside. He closed the case, knowing what he’d done had probably ruin the waterproof features of the watch at depth. He turned off his flashlight and crawled back into bed.
What he’d done wasn’t strictly ethical. He hadn’t discussed it with Bartosz in advance. Zhenya probably wouldn’t approve, as Ajax hadn’t attempted escape, but one never knew how one might lose a client.
Dmytro would not lose Ajax.
Later,Dmytro watched Ajax by moonlight. He took in his client’s closed eyes and sharp nose The dark smudges where his lashes lay on his high cheekbones. Plump, pursed lips, pale skin, beard shadow, and dark, curly hair… Ajax had a disturbing kind of beauty.
As if he knew he was being watched, his eyes fluttered open. For a second, he didn’t seem to know where he was, and then he smiled.
“Oh. Hi.”
Dmytro had trouble catching his breath. “Hello.”
“Are we doing the changing of the guards?”
Dmytro nodded. “Soon.”
His thick lashes fluttered closed, but Ajax’s lips curved into a smile. “Not too much ceremony, please. I need my beauty sleep.”
“No, you don’t,” Dmytro muttered as he rose from the bed.
Ajax’s eyes opened wide, and Dmytro could have kicked himself for saying anything.
“You’re infamous,” he improvised. “Compared to that, beauty is nothing.”
“You have no idea how little either of those things means to me.” Ajax pulled the covers over his head.
Dmytro wanted to walk away. He wished he could ignore the implication of Ajax’s words and simply switch places with Bartosz and walk the perimeter in peace, but curiosity got the best of him. “What makes you say so?”
Turning to face the wall, Ajax said, “My parents hate me.”
“Of course they don’t.” Dmytro pulled the curtain aside a crack. “They’re moving heaven and earth to keep you safe.”
