Page 132 of The Long Game

“Then we were never meant to be,” Daphne said with a wink that made René grin before turning to Jack.

Jack took René’s hands and kissed him on both cheeks. “Merci,mon ami.”

“Toujours,” René promised, and Jack believed he meant it. Renéwouldalways be there if Jack needed him.

René gave Grady a considering look. “Now, young man, why don’t you walk me out to my car?”

Ohshit. Grady forestalled Jack’s objections to whatever the hell René was planning with a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s fine,” Grady said. “But I want a word with you as soon as I get back.”

The promise in Grady’s eyes made Jack’s pulse speed up. Because,oh yeah, they’d just declared their love and maybe that was something they should talk about.

Grady kissed him again, this time lingering, his lips by Jack’s ear when he murmured, “I do love you, Jack Chevalier. More than I can ever say.”

Jack smiled helplessly and watched his boyfriend walk out the door with the man Jack had slept with on the regular while in prison.

No, his life wasn’t weird. Not at all.

25

Grady followed René down the front steps to the sidewalk, aware of the two men lurking behind them just far enough to give them some privacy.

“You don’t have to leave,” Grady said, thinking of Jack’s happy smile when he’d first seen René.

“I do,” René returned, “and you know that. Perhaps someday in the not-too-distant future I’ll come for a proper visit, but only with your blessing. I give you my word.”

“You don’t need my permission to be friends with Jack.”

“I don’t. But all I’ve ever wanted is for Jack to be happy, so I’m not going to do anything that puts you at risk at work. The people in charge know I’m here, but I promised to keep it brief, and I will hold to that.”

Grady nodded. “Thank you, then. For bringing Hannah. And…” He wasn’t sure how to phrase the next bit.

“For staying away?” René guessed.

“Not exactly,” Grady hedged.

René surprised him by putting a hand on Grady’s shoulder. Grady really liked René, which was a strange thing to thinkabout a man he’d just met and previously only seen in newspapers and bulletins at the office.

“I won’t lie to you, Grady McDonnough. I’ve long been prepared to come here and make all manner of dire threats if Jack ever tied himself to someone who didn’t treat him as he deserved.”

“And now?” Grady asked.

“And now I believe he’s found a good man, and I’m glad.”

Grady smirked, dubious. “I’m a cop.”

René chuckled. “That you are. But you’re a fair one. Uncorrupted and kind. I looked into you quite thoroughly years ago when you and Jack first began spending a lot of time together, and I’ve kept an eye on you since.”

Grady arched an eyebrow becausethatwasn’t creepy or anything.

René shrugged. “You needn’t worry. As I said, all I want is for Jack to be happy. That’s why I keep my distance. It was important to Jack that he never again fall under suspicion, and any association with me would have meant just that. If I weren’t so selfish, I wouldn’t have any contact with him at all, but I find I need to know he’s okay. So much so, it seems I’ve sold my soul to your colleagues. Though I’m happy to see the demise of any human trafficking.” René shuddered. “Dreadful business.”

Grady considered the infamous criminal. He seemed genuine, as did his concern for Jack. He was known for trafficking art, antiquities, booze, cigarettes, and pharmaceuticals, but never people or street drugs. Was the distinction enough?

It seemed it was.

René had somehow gone frominfamous criminaltoprobably will end up coming to Thanksgivingin the span of a few minutes. “If helping bring down human traffickers is howyou plan to spend your retirement, I think Jack would like to see you for more than a few minutes sometime.”

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