17 East
I watched in consternation as Bridge sank the five into the corner pocket just like he said he would. It was always annoying when Bridge and I played pool because whoever went first was going to win. So I started keeping score of who went first the last time. Ben was good at billiards but not as good as Bridge or me.
I loved the way it made sense and had order. And Bridge, he was a shark. Growing up in the East End, Bridge didn't exactly have the upbringing of the rest of us. His was grittier.
At eleven his father plucked him out of the poverty he and his mother had been living in and dropped him off at Eton. He'd had a rough go when he first arrived. All sharp edges. And now he resembled a diamond, but his edges were still there. He might sound as refined as the rest of us, but he’d had a far different start to life. And once he had something set in his mind, he wasn't going to lose. And, neither was I. Hence, whoever shot first always won.
"Where's Drew?” Bridge asked.
I shook my head. "I don’t know. I don't spy on you lot, so I've been waiting him out. He's been making himself unavailable. I tried for lunch, dinner, a drink. He's busy. And he's avoiding us."
Bridge laughed. "I know. The question is, why are we letting him?"
"He has to give me permission to break the no-watching rule."
Bridge laughed. "When have you needed permission to curb your voyeuristic tendencies?"
"Hey, we have a pact. I don't watch you."
Bridge coughed then, and it sounded an awful lot like bullshit.
"I don't," I muttered incredulously.
"Are you sure?"
"Are you kidding? Between you and Mina and Ben and Liv, I’d have to wash my eyes out with bleach."
Bridge flashed a grin then. And as always, I wished he’d smile more. He looked younger, carefree. I knew different, but God, he was always so serious.
Bridge eyed me as he bent over the table trying to get the perfect angle to sink the four ball. "And how's it going with Agent Kincade?"
I sighed. "It's fine."
Bridge grinned at me. Without looking at the ball, he tapped it with the pool cue, and it sailed easily into its spot. "Uh-huh. You know you get this look on your face when you lie. You're not very good at it."
"I'm not trying for subterfuge." That was true. For those I counted worthy of my trust, I didn't lie. What was the point? But, as Bridge knew, when it came to other people, I was a very, very good liar. I would do anything to protect the team.
Oh yeah? Is that why you told Nyla everything?
I swallowed hard. "She's different, Bridge." She sure was. I’d stayed over last night. Again…mostly by accident. I kept meaning to leave… Then she’d nuzzle me and somehow I’d end up inside her again. At least we’d made promises to provide our doctor’s notes. Because now that I’d been inside her bare, I didn’t think I could stop. And fuck, I liked making her messy with my cum.
I liked knowing I was leaving a part of myself behind. Which was just… Yeah, yeah, I had problems.
He grinned. "I know she is. She's got you all twisted up. I can tell. You look somehow satisfied and constipated all at the same time. What are you going to do about that feeling you have?"
"I want her. But it’s probably not the best idea I've ever had."
“Do you trust her not to betray you? That's what you're really worried about, right?"
I scrubbed a hand over my face. "Well, I mean, we did steal a massive diamond. And she’s on the trail of some jewelry thieves."
Bridge grinned. "Yeah, we sure did. But, in our defense, we returned it to its rightful owner."
"I still can't believe we got away with it."
But if you keep fucking Nyla, she’s going to trip you up.
Maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe she did actually trust me now. Fuck knows I already trusted her more than I trusted anybody.
"As it turns out, Prince Lucas is a very good thief. It would have been terrifying knowing him as a kid. Can you imagine him cleaning you out every time you saw him? Light fingers that one."
"I'm sure you knew many like him."
"You would be correct, mate, but they were small time in comparison. He is something else."
"Yeah, and we were his accomplices. So you can see how Interpol and me mixing might not be a good idea."
"Yeah, but you feel how you feel. How much do you want her? Can you walk away?"
That was easy enough to answer. My whole body jerked at that idea. The idea of walking away from Nyla, leaving her alone, never touching her again, never holding her again… That one hurt. "No, I don't think I can walk away."
Bridge watched me carefully, and then a slow smile spread over his lips. "Well, well. Looks like you've finally fallen. I wondered when it would happen with you. Because on the surface, you're the most affable of all of us. The good guy. I mean you're a bit of a perv with the watching all the time, but hey we all have our kinks."
"I like to observe.”
"On the surface, you're the welcoming one, the one women gravitate to because you're easy to be near. But you're the one who trusts even less than I do, though you're also the most loyal. You would lay down your life for the three of us. For Liv, for Mina."
Yeah, not so much for Mina. I would lay my life down for her if it meant Bridge's happiness. But on her own? Nope. I wasn't sure I'd even put her out if she was on fire. But I kept that to myself.
"Yeah, yeah, I’m a good guy. Don't we finish last?"
Bridge
