Ian and Marcus had also banged their way through life with little regard for safety—theirs or their partners’.
Which made Cole wonder about Jacques-Louis Campeau. Not because of his kinks, but because reckless hypersexuality was apparently another hallmark of psychopathy.
He gnawed his lip. He didn’t think Campeau was dangerous in the sense that he was a serial killer or something. The man probably wouldn’t feel bad about killing someone any more than he felt bad about ruining people’s lives through his various capitalist endeavors, but he’d never struck Cole as wanting to commit direct violence. Pollute the environment, bribe scientists and government officials to look the other way, and profit while people died—sure. Actually kill someone with his bare hands? Unlikely.
Still, he rubbed elbows with criminals and happily took possession of high-value items regardless of how they’d been acquired. He eagerly jumped at the chance to have kinky sexwith a random stranger even after that had—on more than one occasion—turned out to be a trap.
So was he just stupid? Or was there something pathological about his recklessness that Cole and Will should consider? Particularly now that they were here to corner him and pit him against another possible psychopath? One who Cole had long suspected wouldlovethe opportunity to kill someone with his bare hands?
In the next room, the shower shut off.
Minutes later, Will emerged, and Cole’s thoughts derailed at the sight of his dipshit temporary partner in crime. Couldn’t he put on a damn shirt? Or do something about that wet bedhead? Did he not understand how hard—howdifficultit was for Cole to think right now?
Cole shook himself and cleared his throat as he tore his gaze away from Will. “Campeau will be here at seven.”
“Yeah? You confirmed it?”
“Mmhmm. So now, we wait.”
Will was quiet for a blessedly long moment. Then, “You’re nervous.”
Cole met his gaze, pretending not to notice his flat abs or damp, disheveled hair. “Aren’t you nervous before going into an op?”
“Of course. But you weren’t this nervous at Alders’ place.” Will smirked. “Or was it just hidden behind how much your mom was driving you nuts?”
“Shut up.” Cole rose because he couldn’t sit still with all this nervous energy. “I think we need to be careful with Campeau.”
Will cocked his head. “I mean, yeah? Duh? Or do you mean careful like condoms and safe words?”
Cole glared at him, which the fucker seemed to enjoy. “I mean I think we need to be careful because I don’t know what kind of person we’re dealing with.”
“I thought you knew this guy.”
“I’ve dealt with him before. And I’ve met with him like this before.” Cole folded and refolded his arms as he shifted his weight. “But like, what kind of person lets himself be lured in like thisrepeatedly?”
“A complete dumbass with no survival instincts?”
“Or a complete psychopath.”
Will’s eyebrow shot up. “Go on.”
Cole filled him in on what he’d been thinking.
When he’d finished, Will said, “Huh. I mean, the guy’s a CEO of an environmentally destructive company that’s put numerous communities into horrific poverty around the world. If that’s not a psychopath…” He shrugged. “And aren’t CEOs more likely to be psychopaths than people in other jobs?”
“I’ve heard something like that, yeah.”
“So he’s a CEO, and he’s a CEO of a company likethat. Plus all the reckless shit with his adulterous sex life—I mean, yeah, I’d be surprised if hewasn’ta psychopath.”
“Right. So now we’ve lured him in and we’re going to back him into a corner and?—”
“Try to get him to turn onanotherobvious psychopath.”
Cole blinked.
“What?” Will asked. “You don’t think Marcus is one?”
“No, no, I do. I just hadn’t realized you’d done that math.”
