“Because we’re taking orders from him, and I want to know something about the man who seems to know a lot about me.”
“He’s saved our asses enough times this week to earn a little trust, yes?”
Asher was so defensive of him, and it just made Harry’s curiosity worse. “So, is he—”
“Oh my God, you are jealous! I was only joking when I said it before, but it’s true. Youarejealous.”
“I am not.”
“Clearly you are.”
“I’m curious,” Harry bit out. “I’ve not worked with anyone for ten years. This is all very new to me. Being with you... Christ, I’ve not spent this much time with the same person since... well, a long time.”
“Since when?” Asher asked, his gaze going from the road to Harry’s. “Was there a special someone you spent time with?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “How could I have ever had anyone in my life like that?” Then he thought about Asher asking... “Wait? Did you?”
Asher laughed. “Not exactly a life for a boyfriend, no?”
Boyfriend.
The word rattled around in Harry’s brain.
“Was there someone in your army days?” Asher asked.
“No. I was never in any place long enough.”
“So. Men or women? Both?”
Harry considered telling him to fuck off, but in the end, he settled on a sigh and the truth. “Men.”
His smile plucked at Harry’s heart. “Isn’t that a coincidence?” Asher said. “I happen to be a man who also is attracted to men. And here we are. Just us two.”
God, they were back at this again. Asher was persistent, Harry had to admit.
“Yes, what a coincidence.”
“In all the intel I had on you,” Asher said, “nothing was ever mentioned about you being gay.”
“You certainly won’t find anything in my military record,” Harry said flatly. “Or on any surveillance... Wait, so not even your special friend Four had that info?”
Asher shook his head. “No. I must tell him he was missing some very key details. He’s getting complacent. Or you’ve just not had any kind of sex in a really, really long time.”
There was no way Harry was admitting the latter was probably closer to the truth.
“I’m very disappointed about there being no surveillance,” Asher said, almost wistfully. “Imagine that footage. With full audio.”
“How much longer do I need to suffer being in this car with you?” Harry asked. “Is there a petrol station or a motel? A bridge, perhaps, that I could throw myself off.”
Asher laughed. “We’ll need fuel, but we should stop the night in some backwater motel. You’ll have to throw yourself off a bridge some other day.”
Harry sighed, disappointed, which, of course, made Asher grin at him.
* * *
When they stopped for fuel,Asher walked off with his phone to call Four—whoever the hellhewas—and Harry filled up the car. He watched as others came and went, the customers, the vehicles.
He also noted the closest buildings, estimated distances, the angles for best long shots, the exits.