“Why?”
Michael tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know that, either. He won’t tell me.”
Mac scratched his chin. “How long have you known?”
“Since I told him I wanted to do more than just fuck. He made it really clear he had to leave soon.”
“And you still got all serious about each other?”
Michael made himself chuckle. “Yeah. Jag said I was a masochist.”
“I think you both must be. And you definitely both need your heads knocking together. Jesus, Michael, what on earth possessed you to get serious about a guy who’s leaving? Wasn’t your heart shredded enough when Edward died?”
Michael flinched at his words.
“Sorry,” Mac said. “That was out of order.” He set the remnants of his sandwich aside and twisted round. “Don’t you think he at least owes you an explanation as to why he’s going to leave?”
“I…” Michael pressed his lips together, breathing in through his nose. “I’m pretty sure he’s scared of something, but I promised I wouldn’t ask questions.”
“Michael—”
Michael held up his hand. “From what I can piece together, he’s running from something or someone, but I don’t know what, and I’m not going to press. I can’t make him tell me, and trying to force him to will only push him away.”
“Does it matter when he’s leaving anyway?”
“Yes, it does.”
Mac shook his head. “You know I’ve got an uncle who’s a cop…”
“Yeah…so?”
“So, I can ask him to check Jag out for you, if you like.”
Michael stared at Mac, speechless for a few seconds. When he did manage to force words out, there was anger in his voice. “He’s done nothing wrong.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“He told me he hadn’t broken any laws and hadn’t hurt anyone, and I believe him.” As stupid as it sounded, all his instincts told him Jag had been telling the truth.
“There are other reasons he might be known to the police,” Mac pointed out. “Maybe he was a witness to a crime or something.”
Michael thought about that. It might explain why Jag had to leave, but it didn’t feel like the right explanation. “I don’t even know his real name,” he said. “Besides, it would be a huge betrayal of trust. I can’t do it.”
Mac went bug-eyed. “You’re screwing him, falling in love with him, and you don’t even know his real name?” Mac inhaled sharply. “Are you sure he’s even legal?”
“Don’t be fucking stupid. I saw his passport.”
Mac’s eyebrows raised. “With his name on it?”
“He covered it up with his thumb,” Michael recalled. “But it was his, and it wasn’t fake,” he added hurriedly, trying to prove to them both that he wasn’t a gullible idiot.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Mac pinched the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t like you, Michael. You’ve normally got your head screwed on. I don’t even know what advice to give you right now.”
