Tracker (Killers Inc. #6)

Chapter One

Hello, sexy. Do you miss me yet?

As much as Tracker would like to believe he wasn’t desperate, the relief that poured through him at the incoming message said otherwise.

Even though it had been less than twenty-four hours since he had heard from Atlas, Tracker was ready to start tearing at his skin like an addict. He never got enough.

I love the way you call me sexy, as if you know anything about how I look.

Being sexy has nothing to do with looks. You’re intelligent, funny, and I crave time with you. That’s sexiness.

1CEOofGenius_ATLAS

Tracker smiled. He always did when he spent time online with Atlas.

About two years ago, Tracker had run across Atlas in a hacker’s group.

He was the only one in the group who could hang with Tracker’s abilities.

It was more than rare for someone to keep up with him.

It was unheard of, beyond his best friend Zeus, of course, for someone to surpass him the way Atlas did.

In that case, I guess we’re both sexy. I have to be honest; it bothers me a little that I know nothing about you. We’ve had this conversation before. I don’t want to wake up one day and find out I’ve been chatting with a 12-year-old or something.

1_bottomless_data_base

He really didn’t. Tracker knew nothing about Atlas beyond his name, brains, and the way he tempted the hell out of Tracker.

Atlas very likely wasn’t even his name. The poor guy had to think Tracker was a fake name.

Ha. Normally, Tracker would never bitch about not seeing someone’s face, but Atlas had him hooked.

He was better than even Tracker at hacking.

Tracker hadn’t found a single shred of information about Atlas online.

Yet, the guy—at least he hoped Atlas was a guy—made Tracker hotter than hell.

Oh, I’m no kid. I can promise you that.

1CEOofGenius_ATLAS

Sounds like something a kid would say.

1_bottomless_data_base

Tracker chuckled as he sent the message.

I can send you a dick pic, if you’d like? Then you can see for yourself. This body is no child.

1CEOofGenius_ATLAS

For a moment, Tracker stared at the computer screen and saw nothing.

To be honest, he kind of wanted that picture, as dumb as it may be.

He already knew he would never be brave enough to meet Atlas in person.

That was for the best. Atlas wouldn’t keep messaging him if they ever met up for sex or whatever.

Tracker knew that too. More than once, Tracker had wondered if Atlas was part of the same spy program that trained him.

Surely this level of intelligence and skill wasn’t self-taught.

He was just really into the guy. These conversations were the closest Tracker ever got to going on dates.

Oooh, your silence is telling. You want that pic.

1CEOofGenius_ATLAS

Heat exploded across his face. Sometimes, he swore Atlas could see him.

You’re blushing. I can practically feel the heat rolling from your face across the miles. Don’t worry. I’d never send you anything without you explicitly asking. Consent is important to me.

1CEOofGenius_ATLAS

Fuck. Tracker would like to think he wasn’t a coward, but when it came to this, he was.

Something just felt wrong about sending inappropriate pictures online.

If Atlas sent one, he would ask for the same in return.

While Tracker always dressed to impress, ensuring he stayed perfectly pressed and groomed, there was a reason for that.

Just as there were countless reasons he didn’t flirt or date.

Tracker didn’t go to clubs or go to bed with strangers.

He didn’t go to bed with anyone. Tracker couldn’t say he was lonely, per se, but he had needs just like anyone else.

Sometimes, when he assuaged those desires alone, a hole opened inside him afterward.

Those moments exposed the truth. Tracker would never have the same love his brothers found. His flaws were insurmountable.

Someone knocked on the door, surprising the hell out of him.

He had gotten so lost in his thoughts, he didn’t know if the perimeter alarms had sounded.

Tracker checked the security monitors. A familiar sports car sat parked outside the door.

Before he could answer, the door swung wide, and Zeus let himself inside.

Tracker rushed to click buttons and hide his conversation with Atlas.

He didn’t know why he didn’t want Zeus to see he currently spoke to Atlas, but he didn’t.

The door to his bunker had the highest of security systems in place.

None of that shit ever slowed Zeus. Locks were a joke when he was involved.

“I knew it.”

Tracker chuckled nervously at Zeus’ words. “What did you know?” Probably everything. Tracker just couldn’t think straight enough to come up with a better response.

Zeus closed the door behind him as he answered. “That you’d still be awake. One of these days, you’ll drop dead from lack of sleep.”

He turned back to face Tracker, and Tracker’s smile turned real.

Zeus was so beautiful and nice. But that was exactly why Tracker wasn’t sexually attracted to him.

Well, the looks part. Tracker wouldn’t want Zeus around at all if he was a mean person.

Unfortunately, being the most sexual being in every room was Zeus’s thing.

The sexual presence and beauty were exactly what the program they had been raised in chose for him.

His mission was to lure people into bed for information or assassination.

Knowing his training was what made him irresistible, made Zeus very much resistible to Tracker.

They had hurt Zeus to make him this way.

Tracker wouldn’t dive into that wound and take advantage of the damage.

He loved Zeus too much to lose him, and he would if Tracker ever saw him as more than his best friend.

The threat of Tracker getting a dick pic was forgotten. “You’re one to talk. Here you are—awake.”

Zeus’ light gray eyes flashed with humor. “Yeah. I work nights. What’s your excuse?”

Tracker shrugged. “My brain won’t shut down.”

Zeus slowly nodded, as if he got it. “I thought maybe you were flirting online or watching porn.”

A loud, unexpected bark of laughter burst from Tracker.

“Just because your life is filled with nothing but sex—” Tracker stopped dead as he realized what he said.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean that. I meant because of the club.

Never mind.” Tracker wanted to erase the last minute.

He never wanted to be the person who saw Zeus the way everyone else did—like a piece of meat or something.

Zeus’ smile never fell. “Please. I know you better than that. Just like,” he closed the distance between them and pulled Tracker to his feet, “I know you won’t go to bed if I don’t make you.” He reached for the hem of Tracker’s soft sweater.

Tracker smacked his hands away.

Zeus grabbed the hem and held Tracker’s stare.

“Stop.” His expression changed. Zeus became the man who saw everyone’s deepest fears and desires.

“You’re with me. If you want to keep your pants, that’s cool, but the shirt has to go.

You flop around too much in your sleep to have loose material twisting around you. ”

Tracker took a steady breath and gave Zeus a sharp nod.

It wasn’t like Zeus hadn’t seen him without a shirt before.

But really, here it was: the biggest reason Tracker could never let himself fall for Zeus.

Zeus looked like the Adonis he was bred to be.

He turned every head that he passed and knew he could bring them any pleasure.

Tracker was the scarred and deformed mess the program had made him into.

They didn’t fit, and Tracker couldn’t survive everyone knowing it.

He could already hear the whispers behind people’s hands, disgusted by Zeus choosing someone like him, and it was a totally hypothetical situation.

He would be an embarrassment to Zeus. Tracker would never do that to his friend.

“Please stop thinking whatever you’re thinking.

” Zeus’ voice was quiet and filled with hurt.

The way he held Tracker’s gaze made him feel like Zeus stared into his soul.

“Everyone looks at me and thinks I’m perfect.

Too pretty to hurt. You’re the only one who treats me like I’m real.

Please don’t look at me like you are now. Not you.”

He sounded so fucking devastated that Tracker’s throat swelled. “Awww. Are you saying I’m special?” Tracker turned as obnoxious as possible. He had to bring back Zeus’ smile. “You did. You think I’m one of a kind.” He used his brightest singsong voice.

Zeus smiled and shook his head. “You’re definitely something.” He stole Tracker’s shirt.

Tracker refused to flinch or hide. As much as it killed Tracker for Zeus to see him like this, he couldn’t show it. Zeus couldn’t know. He mattered too much to Tracker.

“Are you taking off your shirt too? Or is this some elaborate scheme to ensure I freeze to death?”

Zeus shook his head again and led Tracker to the bedroom.

Tracker kept a smile pasted on his face.

When Zeus peeled off his shirt, Tracker fought for his life.

While he refused to see Zeus the same way everyone did, goddamn.

He was a work of art. Tracker wasn’t blind.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t lust he fought.

It was jealousy. The ugliest of envy. Zeus had been trained in the same program as him, but he had been allowed to keep his looks.

Tracker’s only saving grace was his too-many-times-broken nose always healed well.

Everything below his face hadn’t been as lucky.

As quickly as the negative emotions hit, they vanished.

Zeus was right. Tracker didn’t see him the way everyone else did.

He was perfect, but not because of his looks.