Chapter 8
Henri
One of my greatest skills was the way I could blend into the background. You could learn a lot about people by letting them ignore you. Sometimes it wasn’t even that they ignored me. It usually came from them forgetting to include me since I didn’t insert myself into whatever situation arose.
It’s how I could stand to the side while Pip and Pharrell watched the way Ricardo worked with the men.
I could tell our boss was trying to see how he was handling the role of leadership he’d been given.
In the days since Ricardo had begun to shadow him, I could see there were allowances granted that spoke to how important Pharrell considered our newcomer to be.
Pip, on the other hand, seemed more interested in getting a rise out of Pharrell instead if assessing Ricardo. “Think you should just fuck him, Boss. Would make things easier. Help you focus, yeah?”
My mind came to a screeching halt at his words. We were supposed to be ensuring the plan to transport a batch of weapons would go smoothly. Having had so many orders stolen in the last year, we knew there had to be a leak in our ranks.
Tonight had been meant to set up a plan to find said leak. Except now it was turning into relationship advice. I stood silently, waiting for Pharrell to answer him.
Our boss jerked at Pip’s suggestion. “Why? What? How did—?”
“Easy! I’m just making a suggestion. He’s just as thirsty for it as you are. Always watching you when you aren’t looking and shit. You two are living together. Surely there’s time for a quick fuck. Wait… is it because it’s not quick? Do you need longer to get it up?”
I nearly growled at the way Pip waved his hand towards Pharrell’s groin. A second later, the tension in my shoulders drained away at the sound of our boss laughing. If he was amused by Pip’s ridiculous suggestions, then I had no reason to feel whatever the fuck emotion had just taken over my body.
Was I jealous?
No. Surely not.
I had no reason to wonder if Pharrell and Pip were romantic in any way. The two would never work out. Besides, it was pretty obvious our boss had eyes only for Ricardo. I couldn’t surmise if the feelings were returned. I needed more data to know for sure.
Several of the men had turned our way at the sound Pharrell released. The boss coughed as Pip let out a laugh that would rival that of the Joker. It added to the psycho persona he kept in front of the others.
Only I got to see a softer side of him. A side that had nightmares and longed to be close to others. Or maybe it was just me he wanted to be close to. I had my thoughts on the matter, but they weren’t for thinking about at this exact moment.
Pharrell waved for the men to get back to work. They all focused on the map on the table again. Well, all except Ricardo. His gaze lingered on the boss for a while longer.
Guess that was another point in the mutual affection category for these two.
Eventually, Pharrell decided it was time to go back into his office.
He, Pip, and I spoke at length about the plan and any flaws that might arise.
There were multiple layers to the setup.
If it worked, we’d be able to find out the person, or people, who’d helped Stasia before.
We knew she’d been tipping off our enemies about the shipments and taking a cut for her efforts.
With her dead, it should have meant things were fine. Pharrell and Ricardo had both agreed that wasn’t the case. Stasia couldn’t have pulled off her double crosses alone. She would have needed help. And we had to figure out who she’d roped into her schemes.
Pip, as usual, had dropped into a chair across from the boss. The two were enjoying whiskey, a drink that they would sometimes share together.
I didn't partake because I wanted a clear head. Anything that would drop my defenses wasn't good.
After going over the plan once more, a hush settled over the room. We were at a standstill of what came next. It was time for implementation.
“So, Boss. About Ricardo,” Pip said, breaking the silence.
Pharrell cut him off with an abrupt, “No!”
“I’m just saying…”
“Quiet, Pip.” I said the words in a harsh whisper, my eyes locked on the tablet in my hands. His fascination with them was making me mad. He’d clearly given up his being good for me act.
Except, he listened this time. His lips sealed tightly just as the door opened.
From my peripheral, I saw Ricardo step inside. He looked around for a moment, then asked, “Are you ready to go?”
Before Pharrell could answer him, Pip spoke up. “Are we going somewhere?”
I looked up then, wanting to see the exchange firsthand. All three men in the space with me looked as if they were seconds away from breaking into fits of laughter. That or a shouting match. It could go either way in my opinion.
“I'm going to bed,” Ricardo replied.
Pip smirked. “Is that an invitation?”
The sound that echoed around the room next could only be described as a growl. It was animalistic and nearly had me reaching for the gun I so rarely carried.
The moment I realized it was from Pharrell, I sighed. I knew he wouldn't hurt me or Ricardo.
Pip was usually pretty safe, but his smart-ass mouth had clearly overstepped.
I saw the way Pip’s eyes lit up at the sound. He was having a good time taunting these two.
“I’d say you could come too, but you turned me down,” he added on.
From there, a noticeable change came over everyone. Ricardo’s shoulders lost some of their tension and Pharrell smiled brightly. The pair stared at one another with a look that made me feel like I was intruding.
While I didn’t engage in romantic entanglements myself, I had enough sense to pick up the hints of sexual tension. It was time for me and Pip to leave them be. They had things to discuss, and I for one did not want to bear witness to any of it.
I coughed, breaking the spell in the room as I stood abruptly. “I think we should leave, Pip. Boss has other plans.”
Pip made noise about being forced to leave. I ignored it as I grabbed his arm and led him out the door. Now, I wasn't a small man, but Pip was wily most days. I had no doubt he could get free of my hold if he wanted to.
If he truly thought he needed to stay with the boss and talk, he would have me pressed against a wall and continuing his conversation as if nothing had happened.
Instead, he grumbled about being manhandled. It was petulant at best.
When I turned to make sure he closed the door, I found his gaze locked on me. The smirk he’d tossed at Pharrell was even more prominent now.
“If you wanted to get me alone, you could have just asked, Henny. I'd willingly follow you anywhere, though I do like being dragged around."
It was then I realized I still had hold of him. I dropped him as if he were scalding hot.
Scoffing, I directed him further down the hall. There was a restroom tucked to one side of the hall. I ducked inside, then shut the door behind him.
Leaning back against it, I watched him check the stalls to see if anyone was inside. I was thankful he’d thought to do so since it hadn’t crossed my mind.
“You need to stop flirting with Pharrell, Pip,” I demanded.
He turned toward me, his body coiled like a man ready to strike. “Why? Does it bother you?”
“It’s not about me. The boss doesn’t like it. You should respect him and stop.”
“Hmmmm. I think it’s more than that. Do you not like it when my attention isn’t all yours, Henny?” He said the words low and slow, like he was coating me in them.
The closer he came, the more I questioned what the hell was happening. How had I wound up here with him? And why was I letting him take the lead?
When he was within grabbing distance, I fisted his shirt and spun us around. Pip raised his hands, as if surrendering.
Yes. Much better.
“It’s not about attention, Pip. It’s about respecting Pharrell and Ricardo.” I paused. “And it’s about you being good for me. What happened to my good boy?”
The last part was almost a whisper. I wasn’t sure how he’d take me bringing this up when we weren’t in the hotel suite. He’d either be on board, or he’d tell me to back the hell off.
His pupils expanded at my words. “Oh, Henny, I didn’t know you were in love with me.”
I kept my mouth closed. There was nothing I could say to free him from whatever delusion he’d formed in his mind.
This thing we had going on wasn’t love. It wasn’t much of anything yet.
But Pip always loved pushing my buttons. Really, he enjoyed getting a rise from any and everyone.
“That didn’t answer my question, Pip.”
His back arched, and his eyes fluttered at the command. I wondered if he was hard again. Would he fall apart without a single touch like he had before?
I didn’t dare look down though. I needed to get him back in line. Needed him to understand when listening to me was in his best interest.
“He’s… he’s right here. I can be good for you, Henny. I just got distracted before,” he told me, voice earnest.
I leaned closer, our bodies pressing together in multiple places now. If I couldn’t look down to see whether he was aroused or not, then I could at least test it out a different way.
Sure enough, his cock was hard as steel against my thigh. Pip sucked in a breath as I leaned closer. My mouth hovered over his, and for a moment I considered closing the distance.
But I couldn’t. Not when he’d just misbehaved. He had to learn rewards only came when he did as I said.
“Next time, you’ll be good when I tell you to. Boys who behave get treats. Boys who don’t get nothing.”
He huffed, rolling his hips against me. “This doesn’t feel like nothing.”
It was then I realized he could feel the way my own length had hardened. As he started to move again, I stopped him with a flat palm to his chest.
“Pip.” My voice was all gravel. “Now is not the time. Tonight, you can have a reward if you behave for the rest of the day.”
“What kind of reward?”
I took a step back. The sensation of him was messing with my mind. I needed to get myself in order before we left, which meant getting some distance.
“You get to choose.”
He shivered. “Anything I want?”
“Within reason,” I amended.
I knew he’d push the boundaries of this arrangement as far as he could. Then again, I didn’t know if he’d be able to follow instruction for the rest of the day. Pip had a restless personality. He would struggle to do as I said.
“Then I’m going to be the best, most well behaved, good listener ever.” The way his voice lilted told me he was overexaggerating his response. It bolstered my confidence about how the day would go.
“Now that this is settled, we need to get back to work.”
Pip stepped away from the door. He pulled it open, then waved his hand for me to go through. “After you,” he said.
I eyed him as I passed. The way he so easily agreed to everything felt off. I knew he enjoyed getting a rise out of me. Part of me wondered if this was just another one of his ploys.
But then I thought of his nightmares. I remembered how he’d sunk into the role of—well, fuck. The role of submissive.
I’d never have classified Pip as one before this past week. There was no denying he had the ability to submit to what I wanted. He almost seemed eager to do so.
Had I been wrong about him all along? Was there more to Pip than I’d thought? And what did it mean that I kept entertaining this thing between us?
For as long as I’ve known him, Pip has been someone I’ve kept at a distance. His point of contact was Pharrell, which meant I only saw him in random, short intervals.
Since he’d come to settle with us this time, I’d had more of a chance to observe him. In the short time, I’ve seen pieces of him I found intriguing. I wanted to delve deeper into him. I longed to discover what those nightmares were about.
It was fucking terrifying to think of getting closer to him. He wasn’t one to stick around. And I wasn’t the type to do relationships.
We couldn’t be anything more than a bit of fun. His joke earlier about being in love with him had struck a nerve. I couldn’t possibly let Pip get that close.
Our time was limited.
Why would I set myself up for failure?