Given that Hec was family, though, he felt that surely at least the Agency had to let him talk tohim, so long as it was strictly family talk. And if they didn’t want him doing that… well, they could get stuffed.
Putting down his phone, Rhys shook his head.
I’m only thinking that because I’m filthy about what’s happening at work,he told himself.And Ishouldbe filthy! It’s not fair at all!
As if on cue, his phone buzzed again, Hector’s name appearing on the screen.
well, fine. i’ll stay here then. but try and pull ur head in a bit, yeah?
Rhys snorted, tossing the phone aside as soon as he’d read the message. Like Hector had never been in trouble in his life! Who the hell washeto tell Rhys to pull his head in?!
Your older brother,his griffin reminded him disapprovingly.That is who he is. A griffin with a mate and two children.
Rhys ignored it. Was there anyone on earth whowasn’tfeeling the need to lecture him right now? The career he’d worked his arse off for was on a knife’s edge over something that hadn’t even been something he could control, and all Hector could do was tell him to pull his head in?
Hedidoffer to fly back from the US if you needed it,a small, treacherous voice reminded him, but Rhys ignored that too. He was too angry right now to even think about it – and in any case, he’d been right when he’d told Hector it wouldn’t make any difference. If Robb and the others decided he was screwed, then he was screwed. Hector messing up his holiday wouldn’t change anything.
Anger flared through him. He knew he couldn’t sit here brooding, but he’d already exercised for about three hours today, rising at five-thirty a.m. to run around the park near his apartment in the unrelenting rain, and then done weights until even his griffin’s strength was completely exhausted. It had brought him relief from his thoughts for a while, but he couldn’t spend twenty-four hours a day at the gym.
“You look like someone just stole your car and drove it into the harbor.”
Irritated, Rhys glanced up at the sound of a voice from above him. The last thing he needed right now was a nosy parkertelling him to cheer up – they didn’t know anything about him, his life, or anything else.
The stranger – a man around Rhys’s own age, with dark hair and wearing what was clearly an expensive suit – didn’t seem even a little perturbed by the scowl Rhys gave him. If anything, his own smile got even wider.
“Bad day?” he asked, when Rhys said nothing, before he slid into the chair opposite him.
Great. Maybe he’s recruiting for his sales team, or he’s in a cult,Rhys thought, staring at him as the man, seeming completely at his ease, made himself comfortable in the café chair.
“Was there something you wanted?” Rhys asked after a few moments of silence, when it became clear that the man himself wasn’t going to tell Rhys why, exactly, he’d decided to take a seat here at his table in a half-empty café.
Oh,Rhys suddenly thought.Unless…
“Right,” he said, as comprehension dawned. “Look. Let’s just get this out of the way – I’m flattered, but I’m sorry, I don’t swing that way. But you’re a good-looking bloke, you won’t have any trouble finding someone whoisinterested.”
The man let out a low, amused chuckle. “Oh, no, Mr. Richardson. That’s very nice of you, but don’t misunderstand me – that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Immediately, Rhys’s ears pricked up – along with his griffin’s.
“How d’you know my name?” he demanded, leaning forward.Thatwasn’t normal. And, now that he was paying more attention, Rhys could sense a few more presences behind him too – glancing over his shoulder, he right away clocked two other men sitting at a nearby table. Not that they seemed to be trying to be stealthy, since they nodded and smiled at him when he looked over at them.
What the fuck is this?!
Turning back to the man across from him, Rhys didn’t bother to conceal his anger. “You got something to say to me? Or a bone to pick?”
Well, there was no end of guys who had a bone to pick with him, Rhys thought, tensing his muscles. He couldn’t exactly shift here – or, really, get into a fight – but that had probably been these guys’ design all along.
“No bone, Mr. Richardson,” the man said, holding up his hands peaceably. “Just a conversation. And if you don’t like what I have to say, then I’ll leave.”
Rhysseverelydoubted that, but all he could do for now was bristle. He glanced at his phone, but it wouldn’t do him much good. The onlygoodthing about any of this was if these guys cared even slightly about maintaining their cover – whatever it was they might be coveringfor– they were about as trapped as he was in terms of being able to do anything out of the ordinary, unless they wanted to drawa lotof attention to themselves.
And are they shifters or not?Rhys thought, as he glanced again at the men sitting at the next table. He’d thought they were at first after he’d first sensed their presences, but now he wasn’t so sure.
They felt…strange.Like shadows that faded in and out at the edges of his consciousness, there one minute and the next not at all.
But surely that means they have to besomething, Rhys thought, growing more uneasy and confused with every passing moment.I just don’t knowwhat.
“I won’t beat around the bush,” the first man said, with a light shrug. “I represent a recruitment agency. A very, very exclusive recruitment agency.”
