prologue
Author's Note: It is recommended that you read 'Fostering Love' and 'Killing Love' before you read this book, as it will mention characters from each.
WARNING: this book has the potential to (and will very likely) get dark.
NOTE: the book starts during the events of 'Killing Love', about two months before Wolfe and Jakob go over to Csepel's house.
CSEPEL'S P.O.V
"This security company is starting to feel more like a dating agency," Bellamy grumbled as we sat in that morning's meeting.
Present in the room were Willow, Celeste, Wolfe, Bellamy and I. Bell's gaze was currently locked onto Wolfe, who responded to our boss with an impassive expression.
"First, Maverick started sleeping with Venice," Bell stated, referring to one of his friends whom he'd hired as a bodyguard for a model that he was now dating. "And now, you're sleeping with Jakob Aslanov. I'm happy for you, of course. But from this moment on, I'm imposing a 'no dating or fucking the clients' rule. Since Wolfe is already in a relationship with Jakob, this rule doesn't apply to him."
"No fair," Willow huffed.
"Willow, why are you upset?" Celeste scoffed. "You're celibate."
"I know, but I liked the idea of being able to date and fuck the clients," Willow grinned.
"Fair enough," Celeste shrugged before glaring at Wolfe without any real anger. "Way to snatch up the last 'Get Out of Jail Free' card, Wolfe. Now, I can't even fall in love with a sexy mafia prince of my own."
Wolfe's response was a simple shrug.
I shook my head, choosing to side with Bellamy as Willow and Celeste continued to voice their complaints on how 'unfair' this new rule was.
"It should have been a rule from the beginning," I stated. "The last thing the company needs is a reputation for getting into the clients' sheets. We're meant to be professionals here. We have to think with our brains, and not our genitals. No offence, Wolfe."
Wolfe remained unfazed.
Bellamy nodded, grateful that I saw the reasoning behind his decision. "Exactly," he said and stood up, signalling the end of the meeting. "If you need to get release, find it with someone who isn't paying us to protect them. Any incident will now be considered grounds for contract termination. I'll make sure everyone is aware of this."
With that, he left the room.
Celeste huffed. "I like Bell more when he's not in boss mode."
"Agreed," Willow said, standing up. "Who wants to grab lunch?"
Wolfe shook his head, leaving the boardroom, probably to get back to Jakob. Celeste stood up to join Willow and turned to me with a raised brow.
"Joining us?" my sister asked.
On any other day, I would have gladly agreed, but I had a ton of paperwork waiting for me on my desk.
"I think I'll order in today," I said. "Got work to do."
"Alright," she said before smiling at Willow. "Looks like it's just you and me, Willy."
"Please, don't call me that," Willow sighed as they left the boardroom together.
I got up at last, stretching my arms above my head before I took the stairs up to my office. I made a call to have some sushi delivered to me, and an intern brought it in just as I was working on the documents. He was cute, brunette with bright, brown eyes. But he was far too baby-faced for me, probably one of the university hires.
"Here's your food, Mr Torres," he whispered meekly, placing the takeout box on my desk.
"Thank you," I smiled politely.
"You're welcome," he beamed, lighting up like a bulb. "Is there... anything else I can get you?"
His eyes roamed over my body briefly at that last sentence. I was flattered, but wondered how disappointed he'd be if he knew that these muscles weren't made for bending young twinks over my desk. I was a big bottom in every sense of the word, and this adorable Bambi was far from my type.
"Nothing else," I said, averting my gaze. I continued reading through the current document, and I heard him release a soft, disappointed sigh, but he muttered an 'enjoy your food' before he left the room.
When I finished signing the current document, I got to eating my lunch. It was some damn good sushi, and I was just about to take a bite of the last roll when the intercom on my desk beeped.
"Csepel," Bellamy's voice called out.
"Yeah?" I asked, eyeing that last, delicious roll.
"I need you in my office."
"Now?"
"Yes, now."
He's still in boss mode.
I sighed and took a large bite of the sushi before I got up from my chair. I took the stairs, going up the single flight to Bellamy's office. When I got there, I found my boss seated behind his desk.
"What's up?" I asked, going to sit on one of the chairs in front of the table.
"I've got two important clients coming up to your office in any minute," Bell said, standing. "I need you to take them in, guard them, and make sure they have everything they need."
"What?" I frowned. "What's wrong with the usual bodyguards?"
"These are VIP clients, I wouldn't be asking you to do this if it wasn't important," Bell said. He gave me an apologetic look as he picked up a file from his desk and handed it to me. "I got this a few minutes ago. It's all the information you'll need. I have to clock out early. I promised Joey we'd leave town for the weekend."
I looked at the file, opening it. The first page had a picture of two identical men, blond with bright, hazel eyes. In bold, black writing were their names: ZANE AND ZACH SLOANE.
I closed the file without reading more of the details, frowning at Bellamy. He was a good boss, a great boss even, but this wasn't fair of him, and he knew it. Dumping not only one, but two clients on me at random and asking me to take them into my home was a massive favour.
"Look," he sighed, his expression torn. "I know you're COO, and this is below your work station, but they asked for the best, and Wolfe's occupied, so you're it. They called in late, said it was an emergency and paid a hefty bonus. You'll obviously get your cut, and if you're fed up with them by the time I'm back from my trip, I'll tell them to leave."
I sighed. This was an obvious pain in my ass, but it was just for the weekend. Besides, I could tell that Bell was itching to get to his lover, and I wasn't about to keep him and Joey apart.
"Fine," I grumbled. "But just for the weekend."
He beamed, ecstatic. "I owe you, Csepel."
"Big time," I mumbled, leaving his office.
I went back down the single flight of stairs to my floor. I entered my office, thinking I'd have time to clean up a little and sort out my desk before the clients came.
However, I froze as I was met with two large, blond men poking through my stuff. One of the twins was seated on my chair, spinning around repeatedly, while the other was busy eating the crumbs of sushi left over from my lunch.
"What the..."
They both froze, their heads snapping in my direction in unison. The one on my chair jumped up just as the other put the empty takeout box down. Two sets of hazel eyes sparkled as twin smiles took over their faces.
"Bodyguard!" they cheered together.
"And he's pretty," the one behind my desk said.
"Really pretty," the other agreed.
I simply blinked. My brain was already overwhelmed.
The twins rushed towards me, standing almost directly in front of me. They were just a bit taller than me, but seemed massive with their combined presence.
"I'm Zach, and he's Zane," one said just as the other said, "I'm Zane, and he's Zach."
My brain unscrambled. The one on the right was Zane. The one on the left was Zach.
"Csepel," I said.
"Woah," Zane grinned.
"Such a pretty name," Zach gasped.
"Csepel," they said together before tilting their heads. "Did we say it right?"
I nodded.
They beamed.
"Sorry, Zane ate your leftovers," Zach said. "We're hungry."
"No worries," I reassured them. I carefully side-stepped them, approaching my desk. "I'll order more sushi so you can eat while we talk about this... arrangement?"
"Sounds good," they agreed, all smiles.
I sat behind my desk and ordered their food while they moved to occupy the two seats in front of me. I took a moment to observe them, noting the way their eyes darted around my office excitedly, and how even their most subtle movements seemed to be in unison.
Even their hair was mirrored. One strand fell out of place above Zach's right brow, but for Zane it was a strand above his left brow. And their eyes were both hazel, but Zane's were more green and Zach's were more amber. When they noticed me staring, their eyes darted over to me at once, and their smiles softened.
"How old are you?" they asked together.
If it was a skill they'd learned, they were damn good at being in sync. But something told me that this wasn't practised.
"Thirty-one," I answered. "You?"
"Twenty-seven," they responded.
"What made you hire our services today?" I asked, curious but also needing to know why they'd classified their need for protection as an 'emergency'.
They opened their mouths to answer, but were cut off by a knock on the door.
"Come in," I said, and the intern from earlier entered with two boxes of sushi and two cans of soda. It was rather quick, but I guess the cafeteria wasn't so busy anymore.
"Here you go," he said, placing the boxes and drinks on my desk. His eyes darted between the twins and I, and his face was bright red.
I couldn't blame him. They were sexy, and that was putting it mildly. I was doing my best to think of them as nothing more than clients in light of the new company rule.
"Is that all, Mr Torres?" the intern asked, his eyes lingering on me in the end. It seemed I was more of his type.
I shook my head. "No. Thank you..." I trailed off, asking for his name.
"Nick," he whispered, lowering his head shyly.
I smiled. "Thank you, Nick."
"You're welcome," he said and rushed out like a timid mouse.
Cute.
Once he'd closed the door behind him, I looked at the twins and saw that the smiles had slipped off their faces. They stared at me for a moment, their expressions unreadable. I was almost uncomfortable, but they quickly opened up their takeout boxes and began to eat their lunch.
"Thank you, Csepel," they muttered around mouthfuls of sushi.
"You're welcome," I said, amused at how they proceeded to stuff themselves. "I believe you were about to tell me why you hired the security company?"
They nodded and swallowed what was in their mouths before they answered.
"There's a stalker trying to murder us," they smiled and continued eating as if that was the most normal statement they'd ever uttered.
Bellamy, what the hell kind of situation have you put me in?
