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Moonlight homed in on Talon and bowed to him. "I'm
Moonlight. I present myself for service."
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Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
Talon felt an odd shock as the Barazoku's gaze met his. He
couldn't tell what color Moonlight's eyes were, and found
himself staring into them a bit longer than was polite. "I'm
Talon. I look forward to working with you."
"So do I." Moonlight held Talon's gaze.
"These are the members of your fire team. Rain, Dandy,
and Tiger."
Moonlight nodded to each man as he was introduced. "I
know Tiger," he said. "We were creche mates."
Tiger blinked. He hadn't expected a hug, but he was hurt
by Moonlight's coolness toward him. "I look forward to
working with you too," he said.
"Would you like to see where you'll be staying while you're
here?" Talon asked.
Moonlight shook his head. "I left my bag with security. I
don't need to see my bed until it's time to sleep. I'd like to be
up to speed, if I have a choice."
"Excellent." Talon sat back down at the head of the long
table scattered with papers and electronic devices. "Our
target is this man," he said, turning a screen around so
Moonlight could see a picture of a middle-aged Japanese man
with a wispy mustache and goatee. "Obato Shige is the head
of the Port Authority. He was a wealthy man before he was
appointed to this powerful position, but I guess having money
only made him greedy for more. He takes big payoffs from
the Yakuza in return for allowing the shipment of drugs into
the country. Mr. Obato is very corrupt and very paranoid.
Because of a series of political assassinations a couple of
years ago, no one thinks it's odd that he never goes out
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by Connie Bailey
without a bulletproof vest and helmet or that he's always
completely surrounded by bodyguards."
Rain spoke up, and Moonlight turned toward him. "We
were having a hard time finding a way to get to Obato until
Dandy found online evidence that he visits Internet sites that
are nothing but libraries of pornography. Obato prefers films
that feature young male 'performers' who have a certain...
delicacy of features and well-developed bodies."
"He's going to love you," Dandy said, looking at Moonlight
over the top of his glasses.
"Let's hope so," Talon said. "But first we have to introduce
them. We've yet to come up with one idea that "
"Nantaimori," Moonlight murmured.
"Excuse me?" Talon raised his eyebrows at being
interrupted.
"Have you thought of using nantaimori as a way to attract
Obato's attention?"
A smile formed slowly on Talon's lips. "We'd have to set up
a legitimate business, but that's no problem. Neither is
publicizing it where he'll hear about it. He's bound to be
intrigued by the concept of eating his dinner off a naked
man."
"He'll jump at this bait," Rain predicted.
Talon looked around the room. "Well?"
"We'd need a classy menu," Dandy said. "With classy
photos of the... tables."
"I was asking what you thought of the idea, but I think I
can assume that you think it's a good one," Talon said. "I'd
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Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
like to see your virtual mock-up for the menu as soon as it's
finished."
"I think you'd make a very convincing restaurant owner,"
Moonlight told Talon. "And you should be the one who
handles the arrangements. If Obato is paranoid, his people
are probably suspicious of everything. They'll sense your
authority and it will soothe them."
Talon smiled at Moonlight before he turned to Dandy. "Tell
Smoke what we need," he said. "The sooner we adjust this
scum, the sooner we get to Russia and earn our reputations.
We're on a roll now. Let's keep the ideas coming."
Tiger sighed. "Doesn't it go without saying that I'm going
to be a waiter with a hypodermic containing a lethal dose of
potassium chloride solution under a napkin on my tray?"
"And that I'll distract the bodyguards long enough for it to
be administered," Moonlight added.
"It'll look like Obato's choking or having a heart attack,"
Dandy said.
"I'll call for emergency services," Tiger said. "But they'll be
too late to save him."
Talon nodded. "I think it'll work. The authorities will ask
you and Moonlight a lot of questions, and they'll probably call
me, but they'll let you go and there'll be nothing the
bodyguards can do to stop you with the police on the scene. I
like a plan where everyone lives."
"Except the target," Tiger said, and looked surprised when
everyone laughed.
"Then let's move like we have a purpose," Talon said.
* * * *
151
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
Moonlight opened the door to his room and let Tiger in. As
soon as the door was closed, he threw his arms around Tiger.
"What a relief," Tiger said. "I thought you were still mad at
me for not running away with you."
"I was sad, not mad."
"Don't be. We can be together now." Tiger grinned. "I'm
the one who suggested that the team needed a Rose."
"And now you have one."
"You don't sound happy."
"Think about it. Why would the onmyoji give in to Talon's
request?"
"Because he had no choice."
Moonlight shook his head. "The onmyoji sent me here for
his own purpose. He wants Talon in his pocket, and you gave
him his chance."
"Are you saying the wizard wants you to... influence
Talon?"
"Definitely."
"Once we're in Russia, you won't be taking orders from
him anymore."
Moonlight held Tiger tighter. "I wish that was true," he said
softly. "How long can you stay?"
Tiger pressed his lips to Moonlight's in a sweet kiss. "As
long as you want me to."
"My heart floats when you say things like that, but we
have to be practical. We've done really well so far, keeping a
professional distance in public, but if we start sneaking
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Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
around like this, someone's bound to figure it out. These
aren't stupid people we're working with."
"I don't care if they know." Tiger's lips moved against
Moonlight's throat.
"Yes, you do. If our superiors here knew we were lovers,
they'd reassign one of us."
Tiger left off nuzzling Moonlight's collarbones to wrap him
in a tender hug. Gently, he rocked from foot to foot as he
stroked Moonlight's hair. "I had to see you," he murmured.
"It's really hard to be around you all day and not be able to
touch you or even smile at you. I didn't come here for sex. I
came here to be alone with you."
"I hate the Kagehito," Moonlight said in a choked voice. "I
hate what they've done to us. I hate that we can't love out in
the light. I hate myself for what I'm doing."
"Shush." Tiger kissed Moonlight's forehead. "That's your
conditioning. You have to follow orders. You don't have a
choice."
"My orders include seducing Talon."
Tiger's heart clenched with a sharp pain. "Does that mean
you have to sleep with him?"
"I don't see how it can be avoided. Of course, I'll stall for
as long as possible, but eventually, I'll have to deliver on all
my implied promises of sexual ecstasy."
"I'm sorry," Tiger said, holding Moonlight a little tighter.
"I thought you'd be angrier."
"What's the point? I can tell you that it flays my heart to
think of you with Talon or anyone else but me. I can tell you
that my first impulse was to find Talon and kill him. I can tell
153
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
you that I want to scream at you to ignore your orders. But
what good does any of that do? Anger is not a luxury I can
afford yet."
Moonlight made a sound like a strangled sob and his voice
was squeezed thin when he spoke. "I just want to be free to
feel the way I feel. To not have to hide my real emotions. I'm
so tired of wearing my face like a mask." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
Moonlight homed in on Talon and bowed to him. "I'm
Moonlight. I present myself for service."
148
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
Talon felt an odd shock as the Barazoku's gaze met his. He
couldn't tell what color Moonlight's eyes were, and found
himself staring into them a bit longer than was polite. "I'm
Talon. I look forward to working with you."
"So do I." Moonlight held Talon's gaze.
"These are the members of your fire team. Rain, Dandy,
and Tiger."
Moonlight nodded to each man as he was introduced. "I
know Tiger," he said. "We were creche mates."
Tiger blinked. He hadn't expected a hug, but he was hurt
by Moonlight's coolness toward him. "I look forward to
working with you too," he said.
"Would you like to see where you'll be staying while you're
here?" Talon asked.
Moonlight shook his head. "I left my bag with security. I
don't need to see my bed until it's time to sleep. I'd like to be
up to speed, if I have a choice."
"Excellent." Talon sat back down at the head of the long
table scattered with papers and electronic devices. "Our
target is this man," he said, turning a screen around so
Moonlight could see a picture of a middle-aged Japanese man
with a wispy mustache and goatee. "Obato Shige is the head
of the Port Authority. He was a wealthy man before he was
appointed to this powerful position, but I guess having money
only made him greedy for more. He takes big payoffs from
the Yakuza in return for allowing the shipment of drugs into
the country. Mr. Obato is very corrupt and very paranoid.
Because of a series of political assassinations a couple of
years ago, no one thinks it's odd that he never goes out
149
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
without a bulletproof vest and helmet or that he's always
completely surrounded by bodyguards."
Rain spoke up, and Moonlight turned toward him. "We
were having a hard time finding a way to get to Obato until
Dandy found online evidence that he visits Internet sites that
are nothing but libraries of pornography. Obato prefers films
that feature young male 'performers' who have a certain...
delicacy of features and well-developed bodies."
"He's going to love you," Dandy said, looking at Moonlight
over the top of his glasses.
"Let's hope so," Talon said. "But first we have to introduce
them. We've yet to come up with one idea that "
"Nantaimori," Moonlight murmured.
"Excuse me?" Talon raised his eyebrows at being
interrupted.
"Have you thought of using nantaimori as a way to attract
Obato's attention?"
A smile formed slowly on Talon's lips. "We'd have to set up
a legitimate business, but that's no problem. Neither is
publicizing it where he'll hear about it. He's bound to be
intrigued by the concept of eating his dinner off a naked
man."
"He'll jump at this bait," Rain predicted.
Talon looked around the room. "Well?"
"We'd need a classy menu," Dandy said. "With classy
photos of the... tables."
"I was asking what you thought of the idea, but I think I
can assume that you think it's a good one," Talon said. "I'd
150
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
like to see your virtual mock-up for the menu as soon as it's
finished."
"I think you'd make a very convincing restaurant owner,"
Moonlight told Talon. "And you should be the one who
handles the arrangements. If Obato is paranoid, his people
are probably suspicious of everything. They'll sense your
authority and it will soothe them."
Talon smiled at Moonlight before he turned to Dandy. "Tell
Smoke what we need," he said. "The sooner we adjust this
scum, the sooner we get to Russia and earn our reputations.
We're on a roll now. Let's keep the ideas coming."
Tiger sighed. "Doesn't it go without saying that I'm going
to be a waiter with a hypodermic containing a lethal dose of
potassium chloride solution under a napkin on my tray?"
"And that I'll distract the bodyguards long enough for it to
be administered," Moonlight added.
"It'll look like Obato's choking or having a heart attack,"
Dandy said.
"I'll call for emergency services," Tiger said. "But they'll be
too late to save him."
Talon nodded. "I think it'll work. The authorities will ask
you and Moonlight a lot of questions, and they'll probably call
me, but they'll let you go and there'll be nothing the
bodyguards can do to stop you with the police on the scene. I
like a plan where everyone lives."
"Except the target," Tiger said, and looked surprised when
everyone laughed.
"Then let's move like we have a purpose," Talon said.
* * * *
151
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
Moonlight opened the door to his room and let Tiger in. As
soon as the door was closed, he threw his arms around Tiger.
"What a relief," Tiger said. "I thought you were still mad at
me for not running away with you."
"I was sad, not mad."
"Don't be. We can be together now." Tiger grinned. "I'm
the one who suggested that the team needed a Rose."
"And now you have one."
"You don't sound happy."
"Think about it. Why would the onmyoji give in to Talon's
request?"
"Because he had no choice."
Moonlight shook his head. "The onmyoji sent me here for
his own purpose. He wants Talon in his pocket, and you gave
him his chance."
"Are you saying the wizard wants you to... influence
Talon?"
"Definitely."
"Once we're in Russia, you won't be taking orders from
him anymore."
Moonlight held Tiger tighter. "I wish that was true," he said
softly. "How long can you stay?"
Tiger pressed his lips to Moonlight's in a sweet kiss. "As
long as you want me to."
"My heart floats when you say things like that, but we
have to be practical. We've done really well so far, keeping a
professional distance in public, but if we start sneaking
152
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
around like this, someone's bound to figure it out. These
aren't stupid people we're working with."
"I don't care if they know." Tiger's lips moved against
Moonlight's throat.
"Yes, you do. If our superiors here knew we were lovers,
they'd reassign one of us."
Tiger left off nuzzling Moonlight's collarbones to wrap him
in a tender hug. Gently, he rocked from foot to foot as he
stroked Moonlight's hair. "I had to see you," he murmured.
"It's really hard to be around you all day and not be able to
touch you or even smile at you. I didn't come here for sex. I
came here to be alone with you."
"I hate the Kagehito," Moonlight said in a choked voice. "I
hate what they've done to us. I hate that we can't love out in
the light. I hate myself for what I'm doing."
"Shush." Tiger kissed Moonlight's forehead. "That's your
conditioning. You have to follow orders. You don't have a
choice."
"My orders include seducing Talon."
Tiger's heart clenched with a sharp pain. "Does that mean
you have to sleep with him?"
"I don't see how it can be avoided. Of course, I'll stall for
as long as possible, but eventually, I'll have to deliver on all
my implied promises of sexual ecstasy."
"I'm sorry," Tiger said, holding Moonlight a little tighter.
"I thought you'd be angrier."
"What's the point? I can tell you that it flays my heart to
think of you with Talon or anyone else but me. I can tell you
that my first impulse was to find Talon and kill him. I can tell
153
Moonlight, Tiger, and Smoke
by Connie Bailey
you that I want to scream at you to ignore your orders. But
what good does any of that do? Anger is not a luxury I can
afford yet."
Moonlight made a sound like a strangled sob and his voice
was squeezed thin when he spoke. "I just want to be free to
feel the way I feel. To not have to hide my real emotions. I'm
so tired of wearing my face like a mask." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]