Chapter Four
Accepting Beau’s challenge meant he had to go shopping.
While Kirkland owned some clothes beyond his suits, he hadn’t worn a pair of jeans since he was a teen.
He didn’t even know where to start. One thing he knew for certain: if he wanted to pursue Fabrice, he would need to get past his hatred of Fabrice’s friend, unfortunately.
It took him some time to find Tidy, especially since he didn’t want to ask anyone where he was. Kirkland finally spotted him heading for the garage.
“Oh, are you headed out?”
At Kirkland’s question, Tidy made an exaggerated turn. While Kirkland recognized the move had been in humor, a distaste just lived in his mouth.
“Yeah. I’m bored. Why? Do you need me to hold your bag again?”
Despite his conversation partner, Kirkland smiled. Tidy’s eye had stayed black for two weeks after the last punching bag he held. “I think I’ll give that a rest for a little while. Obviously, I have no aim.”
Tidy stared at him wide-eyed. “Did you just smile? I didn’t know you could do that.”
Kirkland already regretted seeking out Tidy. He cleared his throat. Before he could think of how to react to Tidy’s statement, Jett walked around them without a word—as if they were invisible.
Something overtook Tidy’s expression. Kirkland felt as if he stared into a mirror, wearing the same mask of barely contained hatred. Nothing could have gotten through to Kirkland more. He didn’t have to worry about Tidy’s intentions. Tidy was busy elsewhere.
Kirkland’s animosity slipped away. “Would you go shopping with me? Beau has challenged me to wear jeans and t-shirts and put away the suits. Since I’m always up for a good challenge, I’ll have to buy new clothes.
” His vulnerabilities sneaked in. “I have no idea where to go, much less what to buy. You always look stylish. I could use your expertise.” There, he sounded professional as he extended his olive branch.
Thankfully, Tidy didn’t appear triumphant. He simply went back to his usual friendly smile. “Truth be told, I’d love that. I’ve been meaning to get some new threads. Thanks. You’re saving me from my boredom. Seriously.” He looked sincere. “It’s boring as hell around here.”
That was a sentiment Kirkland understood. He had gone from full days of managing a household to having nothing to do. “Thank you.”
Tidy waved for Kirkland to follow him. He climbed into the passenger seat of the car Tidy chose. It wasn’t until they were on their way before either of them spoke.
“I have to admit, I’m blown away by this. That punch came from the heart, and you’ve done everything you can since to avoid me.” Tidy watched the road as he spoke.
Not having eyes upon him made being honest easier. “I apologize for my brash behavior. It hasn’t escaped my attention that you’re better than me in every way. You’re young, handsome, and have years of friendship with Fabrice I can’t compete with. I didn’t handle my emotions well.”
Thankfully, Tidy didn’t laugh or scoff. “Damn, you are an adult-ery adult. I never would’ve admitted to that. That was courageous as hell.”
Kirkland didn’t want to be moved, but he was. Tidy made the claim in a tone that screamed he was being genuine. He sounded impressed.
“Thank you, I think.”
Tidy chuckled. “It was a compliment. You have no idea how much I wish more people were honest with me. Your feelings are valid. I’m a flirt.
That’s a trait ingrained in me. Where we came from, my brothers and I were all trained to have specialties and specific careers.
I’ve never been one to stand out in a crowd or turn heads.
That’s by design. I was supposed to be a plant in a busy government division.
They made sure there was nothing special or noteworthy about me.
The nice clothes are one of my desperate attempts to be more charismatic and to be at least somewhat memorable. Does that even make sense?”
Even though Tidy didn’t look his way, Kirkland nodded.
“It does. I’ve been the same. To keep myself from getting killed by Atticus’ uncle, I had to be the invisible servant.
Butch didn’t see the help as people. As long as I stayed forgettable, I wasn’t even a blip on his radar.
” Kirkland was more than a little surprised at the camaraderie he felt with Tidy.
They continued making small talk, getting more and more comfortable by the mile. When Tidy parked, Kirkland had almost forgotten his task. He saw why Fabrice had befriended Tidy.
At the mall, Kirkland didn’t fail to notice the way Tidy’s eyes never stopped moving.
The entire Agafonov family were an interesting bunch.
Kirkland had spent nearly his entire life living in and on the outskirts of crime.
But Kirkland had never met people like them.
Atticus was deadly, but this was different.
These men’s entire lives had been built on killing people.
Each had been trained for a different purpose, and the entire idea of them fascinated Kirkland.
They came to a store with a huge guy in a dark suit blocking the door.
His gaze swept over them, and he stepped aside.
Thankfully, Kirkland had been raised surrounded by wealth.
He understood how the ultra-rich operated.
If a person couldn’t afford the store, they didn’t get in.
Nothing had price tags; if a person had to ask, they couldn’t afford the item.
Even though none of this was new to Kirkland, Atticus had always called a tailor to the house, and they got their clothes made for them specifically.
He had no clue what was on trend or whatnot.
A tall, lanky man in heels and a cut-to-perfection business suit headed their way.
Kirkland braced himself to be bombarded with suggestions and to be just generally uncomfortable.
To his shock, the man made a beeline for Tidy and kissed him.
It wasn’t a kiss of friendship. Kirkland’s eyebrows crawled toward his hair.
The man pulled away and wiped his lipstick off Tidy’s lips.
“My darling. Oh, my word. It’s been too long.”
Tidy smiled. “Any amount of time is too long away from you.”
His… friend laughed and playfully slapped Tidy’s arm. “Blatant flatterer. What brings you in today?”
Tidy’s smile never dimmed. It was obvious Tidy liked the shop worker.
Tidy motioned Kirkland’s way. “My friend, Kirkland, needs to be updated to bougie relaxed. You know, jeans, t-shirt, that sort of thing. He's a suit guy, so he won’t make this easy.” Tidy motioned toward his friend.
“This is Alonge. The owner of this amazing store and the Alonge brand.”
Alonge held out his hand, knuckles up, as if he expected Kirkland to kiss them. That wasn’t happening. Instead, he made things awkward with an odd handshake.
Alonge chuckled. His eyes slid Tidy’s way.
“I see what you’re saying. He needs spicing up.
” Alonge rubbed the sleeve of Kirkland’s shirt.
“Hmm. Jonick. I would recognize his work anywhere.” He turned, leaving them to follow.
Kirkland had heard of Alonge. His designs were on red carpets everywhere.
Kirkland had no idea the man still worked at one of his locations, as if he wasn’t on the edge of becoming a billionaire.
Without knowing another thing about Alonge, Kirkland respected him.
No doubt he had gotten where he was by hard work and hadn’t stopped.
“I’ve seen a few of your evening gowns. You do beautiful work.”
Alonge tossed a wink over his shoulder. “You’d looking amazing in one of my gowns with that flawless posture of yours.”
Kirkland chuckled. He kept the sound soft.
Kirkland was out of his element and didn’t know how to act, but he didn’t want to come off as rude.
Before he knew it, Alonge started grabbing clothes and piling them in Kirkland’s arms. By the time he was shoved into a dressing room, he could barely see over the heap.
He dumped the stack on the bench. Alonge pulled the door closed.
“I’ll get the wine.”
Kirkland had no idea if Alonge spoke to him or Tidy. He looked at the mountain of outfits and let out a slow sigh. All he could do was get started. This was no one’s fault except his dick’s.
Fabrice’s comfort show was already halfway through the first season.
The familiar background noise as he scrolled on his phone didn’t soothe him.
As he went through another cycle of opening each of his social media accounts, he growled.
Why did he keep opening them? He wouldn’t find anything new.
Fabrice was stir-crazy. Nothing held his attention. He texted Tidy.
Fabrice: Hey sexy. What are you up to?
Tidy: I just pulled into the garage after hanging out with Kirkland all day.
He read the message three times before tossing his phone aside.
That tracked. Someone else always got the guy.
Fabrice stood and headed for the closet.
He wouldn’t let this drag him under. This wasn’t anything he hadn’t been through before.
This time, he would skip the depression and the dramatics.
He would jump straight to the solution. The entire Agafonov family had come along with Beau for an extended visit.
That meant Briggs was there as well. If he hadn’t already run straight for Jett’s bed, Fabrice would steal him to go dancing at the club not far from the compound.
Briggs hadn’t joined the Agafonov gang until Field retired from the family business of killing people.
He hadn’t been raised next to them in a Russian spy program.
Briggs was like Fabrice. He was the person on the fringes of everyone’s life.
The final choice. Tonight, that wouldn’t be the case.
Briggs was his first pick. Outcasts had to stick together.