As Ross understood it, Eidolon did not know about the clan being supernatural.Supposedly.If he was really that good of a thief, Ross had to question that some.It might not be a matter of what the man knew, but how much.
Ross’s phone pinged.Coming.
Oh good, the text had woken him.Ross would owe him a raincheck on the wakeup call.
“Eidolon, I have a full list of items that need to be retrieved.”Ross indicated the folder the man had been perusing before Ross spotted him.“I know I sent you a partial list earlier, but that’s the updated version.Would you prefer that paper copy, or should I email it to you?”
“Paper is good.”Eidolon flipped over the top sheet, perusing the rest.“You have blueprint for me?”
“Stroke of good fortune, that.Because the building was up for sale for so long, I found a defunct real estate listing that had the basic floorplan for the building.I wasn’t sure if you’d found it or not.”
“Hadn’t looked.My hacker usually guides me through the cameras for buildings I don’t know.”
“Oh.”
“But this handy, I appreciate it.”Eidolon smiled, revealing a hint of a gold tooth, and he looked mischievous for a moment.A hint of the man’s real personality coming out.“You give good support for me on this job.You have right skillset for this.You ever think about working with a group of criminals instead?”
Ross blinked at this sudden offer.Had his support been that unusual?But what was the man supposed to do with missing information, fail to grab the right things?“Uh, I can’t say that I have.”
“I can see,” Glenn drawled from the doorway, “that a few lines need to be drawn.”
Ross turned his head to greet him, only to startle when his lover caught his head with one hand and then leaned over him, licking him right across the mouth.What the hell!Not that Ross had a problem with being licked, but right in front of Eidolon?
Eidolon, not at all put off by this display, openly chortled.“Oh, it’s like that.”
Lifting his head, Glenn gave him a speaking look.“Exactly like that.Mine.I will not share him, Ivan.”
So, the man’s real name was Ivan?Wait, people had code names, like in spy movies?
“Da, da, was just passing thought.Do not get panties in twist.”Ivan’s eyes were still snickering a little.
“You’ll discover with him that he claims things by licking them,” Glenn explained, still watching Ivan as if not sure to trust him.
“Is Golden Rule,” Ivan agreed.
That wasn’t the Golden—you know what?Ross was going to prove how smart he was and not fall down that proverbial rabbit hole.No siree.“Eidolon, what else do you need to do the job tonight?”
“Hmm, we should have large vehicle to put everything into.And someone on hand to go through it, make sure I grab all you want, da?Other than that, not much.”Ivan gave a shrug.“I have my solnishko, my gloves, and my bedsheet.Don’t need much else.”
Bedsheet?
“Bedsheet?”Glenn didn’t sound confused, more confirming something he already knew.
Ross, on the other hand, had all of the confusion.All.Why the hell would you use a bedsheet to steal something?
Ivan lit up, hands waving in animation.“Da, my husband give me new one for Christmas.It’s so soft, Egyptian cotton, you know.And pure white.Perfect for jobs.”
“You’re married?Congrats, Ivan.”
“Thanks.I just got married.My husband good man, not like me.But puts up with me anyway.”Ivan had that honeymoon glow all over him.“I tell you more about him later.Come, let’s get this job done.My solnishko has a bed time.”
And that was the other question he really wanted to ask.And wasn’t sure if he should.Just who was this person?
Glenn didn’t seem to have any problem asking it.“Solnishko?”
Ivan gathered up the folder and stood, answering amiably as he did so.“I make family after seeing you last, and we have young hacker-in-training.My solnishko.She play hacker for me tonight.Is small job, after all, easy for her to cut teeth on.But we need to get it done before ten o’clock, she’ll be in bed by then.”
They followed Ivan out the door—Ross was actually quite sure that wasn’t how the man got in—like it was normal.Ross felt like he was in the middle of an out-of-body experience.A thief that uses a bedsheet and licks things to claim them?What in gay hell was going on here?
