Tynan was flying home. The matters in Lor City couldn’t wait. He didn’t prepare for the trip to Pe City properly. No, he didn’t plan for Zach Mallory.

There was no way he could have known what was waiting for him.

Charming, enigmatic, and very dangerous. Zach was a mystery. Tynan was at a direct disadvantage when dealing with him. Zach had information, but Tynan knew nothing about the young man.

His eyes fell on the envelope. For the last four years, he’d been fighting with his family. He’d spent millions of his personal money and company finances to combat them. Now, everything was carelessly resolved by a nineteen-year-old.

Tynan wondered how Zach would have used this information. Both of them had changed their plans. The sexual tension between them was impossible to ignore.

Leaning back, he closed his eyes.

Zach played him.

Tynan was barely able to keep his dick in his plans. Zach probably always planned to leave him wanting more. When he put the envelope on the table, Zach planned to use it to escape.

It was too early to tell if that was a smart move. Tynan was patient. He would slowly trap Zach. It was best if they were trapped together. Naked.

He fell asleep with a smile on his face.

***

Zach ran back to his apartment.

He doubled over when the door slammed shut behind him.

What the fuck was he doing!

Gasping.

He tried to get his breath under control.

Tynan.

Tynan.

Tynan fucking Blackburn.

He didn’t even know he had fucking regrets about Tynan Blackburn until he saw him today.

He just wanted to have a meeting. Polite conversation. A promise to meet up in the capital later. Simple. That was all he wanted.

Why then did he spend the entire meal wandering how Tynan fucking Blackburn tasted.

He planned out his life. He wanted to work on the same project he did in his past life. He wanted to expand his company and make up for the mistakes of his past life.

Get counseling. Meet someone nice and uncomplicated before getting married.

Someone sweet he cared about but wouldn’t be devastated if they left.

He didn’t want children.

He wanted a dog. Maybe.

He was hyperventilating again.

Taking heaving breaths, he lay against the cold floor.

He enjoyed himself.

Wasn’t that the most terrifying thing?

The last person he enjoyed himself with was married to him for twenty years. She then watched with cold eyes as he died of a heart attack.

Pressing a hand to his chest, he choked back a sob.

He planned for a safe life.

No risks.

No unexpected event.

No chance of getting hurt.

Tynan could hurt him.

If he let him in, he could get hurt. He wouldn’t lie to himself and say that he would keep things sexual.

His heart didn’t work that way. He didn’t care if his partner was male or female.

He did commit and give himself fully in a relationship.

Zach had planned to marry a woman who knew the score. He would give her a comfortable life, and they would both keep their hearts to themselves.

Those plans went up in flames as he flirted with Tynan.

He wondered how he came across?

The whole time his heart was beating out of his chest.

And his dick was hard.

It was only his experience that allowed him not to be ruled by emotion.

In the dark with his head pressed to the floor. He could admit to himself that his actions were to make sure Tynan stayed interested. A man like that could have anyone they wanted.

It was a heady feeling to know he was the object of that hunger and desire.

***

“I was expecting you hours ago!” Morris paced Tynan’s apartment.

Tynan yanked off his tie before pouring himself a drink. “What happened?”

“What else could it be?” Morris threw himself into a chair. He was getting gray hair. “Your uncle is being his usual charming self.”

Tynan chuckled. This morning, he would have been worried. This morning, he would have racked his brain trying to find the best way to contain his uncle without hurting the innocent member of his family.

He would have charmed the fence-sitters. He would have given benefits to the people supporting him. Now it all seemed like a joke.

“Do you think this is funny?” Morris asked. “Your uncle embezzled millions, and now he purposely sabotaged a billion-dollar project.”

“Cain has a few ex-cons on his payroll, right?” Tynan ignored Morris’ theatrics.

“What? You know what. I can’t be bothered to worry if you're not.” Morris walked to the bar. His hair was falling out. Why didn’t he need to stress himself out? “Cain employs all sorts of people. You have to be more specific.”

“Bank thieves. And I need him to verify some information.” Tynan handed the folder to Morris. He watched in amusement as his friend blanched and lost his balance. Sitting heavily in the chair.

“How did you get this?” He dropped the paper as if they burned. Morris was shocked by what he read and saw.

Tynan lifted a finger and held it to his lips. “Shhh.”

Morris swallowed heavily. Gathering the documents, he put them back in their envelope and pretended he’d never seen them.

“Where did you get that?”

“Zach Mallory.” Tynan finished off his drink. Taking the envelope, he locked it in the study safe.”

“Who?” Morris asked. He’d never heard of a Mallory family active in the capital.

“A captivating and terrifying little monster I met.”

Morris didn’t like the look he saw in Tynan’s eyes. He’d never seen it before, but it made his skin crawl. He looked hungry. No, he looked aroused. There was also dancing, happy light in his friend’s gray eyes.

“That reminds me. Get rid of that actor Theo sent over. Do it cleanly. Make sure there is no trace.” Tynan didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with Zach.

“Aren’t you going to explain anything to me?” Morris didn’t like the way Tynan was looking at him. His eyes were calling him an idiot. He wasn’t.

There wasn’t anyone who could follow this conversation. “Who is Zach Mallory?” he got out through clenched teeth.

“He is the person who gave me that envelope. He is also the person who bought the land in Pe City.”

“What did he want for that information?” Morris was worried. If this Zach person held on to that information and used it for blackmail…, he shuddered at the implications.

Tynan smiled. “He didn’t want anything.” That wasn’t strictly true. Zach probably came with a list of demands, but that didn’t matter. Tynan would give Zach anything he wanted. He would probably give him a few things he didn’t want.

“That’s unlikely, or the person is fucking stupid.” Morris pulled in a sharp breath as he felt a chilly gaze on his back. “I mean, that person’s vision must be exemplary and far-reaching.” What the hell was this! He didn’t say anything excessive, okay?

Tynan looked at Morris for a little longer. When he saw that he kept his head down, Tynan moved his gaze away. He called Cain. “How soon can you get here?”

When Cain walked into the townhouse, the atmosphere was unusual. Morris cowered in his seat. Tynan looked— he couldn’t describe how Tynan looked. He’d never seen his friend look this way before.

Happy maybe? It could also be hopeful. He was definitely restless.

“What did I miss?” Cain asked.

“There is an envelope in the safe. Look at it, and then we will discuss.” Tynan hadn’t planned to call Cain tonight. He would have left it till tomorrow if it wasn’t for Morris’ last comment.

Zach had gone out of his way to tell him to clean up his house. The value of this information should only go up unless something devalued it in the short term.

“Where did you get this?” Cain asked. He’d been digging into Tynan’s uncle’s past but didn’t find anything.

“Zach Mallory.”He said, like that was enough to explain everything.

“Who is that?” Cain asked. His heart was racing. “Does he need to be taken care of?”

“Exactly!” Morris cried. He wasn’t the only person who thought ‘Zach’ could be a problem.”

Tynan ignored both of them. “He isn’t a threat. I would like you to find out what you can about him. He was born in Eve City.”

Cain cut in, “If he isn’t a threat, why are you investigating him?”

“I want to date him,” Tynan answered calmly. He didn’t care that his words shocked his friends.

Morris heard a bomb go off in his head. His ears were ringing, and he thought he’d misheard.

“I want to rob my uncle’s slush fund. Put together a team that can do it,” Tynan continued. If they were shocked now, their mentality would collapse when they heard how young Zach was.

“Let’s backtrack.” It was a sad day when robbing someone was the least shocking thing you heard in a conversation. “What do you want to do with whom?”

“I want to date Zach Mallory.” Tynan didn’t think that was sufficient, but it would do for now.

“You want to keep him?”

Tynan laughed. “I would love to, but I can’t afford it. Plus, he’s not someone who will give in easily. I volunteered to let him keep me, but he turned me down.”

“You can’t afford to keep him? Keep you?” Morris asked with wide eyes. He ignored the absurdity of that statement. “Then what do you want to do with him?”

“No wonder you are single. Don’t you understand what it means to date, someone?”

Morris almost coughed up blood. “I know what it means to date. I just can’t imagine you doing it. You change partners quicker than you change cars.”

Tynan wanted to slap him. They eyed each other without bothering to hide the disgust they felt for each other.

“Did he give you the wrong name? The only Zach Mallory I can find is nineteen.” Cain frowned, tapping away at his phone.

“That’s him.”

Morris dropped the glass he was holding. “I think I need to lie down.”

Tynan’s phone rang, cutting Cain off before he could speak.

“Zach,” Tynan purred. He wasn’t expecting to hear from the other party.

“You know Cain Granger?” Zach asked excitedly.

“Why?” Tynan was instantly on guard. He shot Cain a chilly look.

“Can I talk to him?” The excitement in his voice increased.

“Why?” Tynan pressed, feeling a sense of crisis.

“I want to speak to him. Why else?”

Tynan stood and started pacing. “I know that. What do you want to talk to him about?” He heard a sigh on the other end of the line. He could picture Zach rolling his eyes.

“I have a business proposition for him,” Zach said.

“We are working together.” Tynan defended his position.

“What is going through that scummy brain of yours? I only want to suck your dick. There. Happy? Now put Cain on the phone.” Zach paused. “If he accepts, chances are, I will move to Lor city sooner than I planned.”

“Cain, take this phone. Anything he asks you, you better agree to.” Tynan wouldn’t pass on this opportunity. He’d planned to spend his weekends in Pe City, but it would be even better if Zach moved to the capital.

Cain took the phone, not quite sure what was happening. “Hello.”

“Hello. I’m Zach.”

“Hi Zach,” Cain said lamely before clearing his throat. “How can I help you?”

“I’m a game designer. Before you think I’m angling for a job, that’s not it. I have a fantasy MMORPG. I can guarantee you that the mechanics and engine are more sophisticated than the first-person shooter your company is developing.”

Cain gasped. “That is a big statement.” He didn’t even ask how Zach knew about the game. He glanced at the safe. Zach was a hacker as well. He remembers the security protocols he found when he tried to hack into the law firm that represented Zach.

A part of him knew that Zach wasn’t lying. He couldn’t stop the smile that split his face.

Cain covered his mouth. “What do you want?”