41
Murdery Roommate Orientation
Two days later, Darius’s new roommate moved in.
Darius wasn’t looking forward to the arrangement, but it was the only solution that made sense. They needed to supervise Holden, and Darius was between jobs right now. He was also the least likely to kill Kit’s new murdery boyfriend for no good reason.
Of course, Darius was still perfectly happy to kill Holden given a good reason. It just had to be a good enough reason that Kit would understand.
“There are going to be ground rules,” Darius said, crossing his arms. He stood in the center of his living room, feeling absurdly like a school principal staring Holden down.
A principal disciplining the school’s quietest, most dangerous delinquent. Holden had stopped pretending to be normal around them. His cold, watchful eyes would be alarming if they didn’t remind Darius so strongly of his mentor. Fuck, Holden reminded Darius of himself on a job. How exhausting it would be to live his entire life like that.
Though Holden at least had one weakness.
Kit sprawled on the couch, one foot up on the cushions and the other dangling above the floor. He was nearly recoveredfrom his most recent abduction—still tired, but no lingering effects from the drugs. In some ways, he looked even stronger than before that night. There was a new, bright certainty to him.
Sometimes, Darius understood how Bishop felt, wanting to break apart Kit’s secrets.
Kit lifted a finger high, beginning the ground rules. “First, don’t kill anyone without permission.”
“Without permission,” Holden repeated, lifting an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean!” Kit’s hand froze in the air, then fell back on the couch. He sighed. “Fine, yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
Holden’s expression warmed. “God, I love you.”
As Kit covered his reddening face, Darius took over the Murdery Roommate Orientation. “You won’t leave this apartment except for class and your internship.”
“My what?” Holden asked, still gazing down at Kit.
This was one development Dariuswaslooking forward to. “You have an exciting internship opportunity at San Corvo Security.”
Holden looked up at that. “Let me guess. I’m not going to be in the mailroom.”
Darius grinned. “You’ll be under the CEO’s direct supervision.”
“Well,” Holden said. “That will be an interesting test of James’s restraint.”
It certainly would be. Darius was already brainstorming excuses to drop by the office and spectate. Kit had suggested bringing popcorn.
“You’ll have fun!” Kit said cheerfully. “James’s office is cool.”
Speak of the devil—James leaned out from the guest room down the hall. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing the tough work gloves covering his hands. He looked better today too, throwing himself into the probation project with vicious glee. Darius would never admit how relieved he was to see James grinning again, after how fucking haunted he looked the night Kit went missing.
“You, get over here,” James barked at Holden. “I need to show you the places that will explode if you touch them.”
Kit swung up to a proper seat and patted Holden’s arm. “He’s joking about the explosions.”
Only because Darius vetoed explosives in his apartment. “It’s probably lasers instead,” Darius said. “Be glad he’s pointing out the booby traps. He wanted to let you find out by trying to open a window.”
Holden took Kit’s hand and just held it for a moment. His face turned down, softening, like Kit was the only one in the room. Then without another look at Darius, he departed down the hall.
Kit groaned and buried his face in his hands. “Jesus fuck.”
Darius dropped onto the couch next to Kit. “Regretting that ‘no kissing for a month’ rule?”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Kit complained. He leaned his head against Darius’s arm. “I technically dumped him for being normal, so starting the relationship over made sense.”
