Page 91 of The Chemist

Diesel’s eyes shifted toward Zero, and the corner of his lips turned upward ever so slightly. The move was barely noticeable, but Zero noticed. He had been studying Diesel’s face these past few weeks and had no trouble catching the slight changes in the sexy man’s features.

Slowly, Diesel pulled down his hoodie, warming Zero’s heart like never before. The man did trust him. He felt comfortable and safe and didn’t need his comfort hoodie when Zero was around.

Somehow, he felt like he’d just won the moon.

Diesel turned his attention back to his sandwich and continued to enjoy his lunch, not giving a shit what the other guys were talking about.

36

DIESEL

The beep in Diesel’s ear let him know that his comms had been activated. He shook his head briefly before turning to face his best friend, Jared.

“This is starting to become a way of life for us now,” Diesel noted, giving his friend a smirk and a chuckle. “First Isaac’s psycho brother, then Ares’s crazy old-man stalker, now the mad doctor. Perhaps we should add super spy to our resumes as well.”

“We’re getting kinda good at this, right, brother?” Jared replied, throwing his arm over Diesel’s shoulder.

“Thanks for coming with me to London, Jare. I know you must be missing Isaac like crazy.” Diesel tilted his head toward his friend and gave him an appreciative nod.

“I love the little freak like no one else’s business, but I’ve also got your back, bro. And right now, you needed me here by your side while you get your head right. Although, it appears that I might have been replaced by a certainGQtradie beast of a man?” Jared gave him a smirk before leaning forward as if someone might overhear.

Diesel shook his head. “No idea what you’re talking about, dude. Protein shakes are getting to your head.”

Jared chuckled. “You forget, I know you, dude. You’ve been fucking your new flatmate on the regular, haven’t you?”

Fuck best friends and their abilities to read you.Diesel let his smile attack his face.

“It’s more than just the sex, Jare.” He couldn’t believe he was about to say this. “But I?—”

“Hey, dudes? You’re speaking over open comms.” Zero’s voice cut in right before Diesel was about to confess his feelings over an open airwave.

Fuck.

Diesel’s heart stopped in his chest, and all the blood drained from his face. Who else was listening in on the comm?

“Shit. Sorry, dude.” Jared rushed to apologize, turning beet red as he faced an angry Diesel.

“I’m not. Who would have guessed that deep inside that black hole of a chest, D has feelings and a heart?” Chase chimed in, chuckling uncontrollably.

Diesel’s cheeks flushed red once again. He raised his hoodie over his head and glared at his best friend and betrayer.

Jared looked back at him with pain in his eyes. “Sorry, buddy, I didn’t realize the comms were on.”

Letting out his usual growl, Diesel turned his attention back to the large metal door they were watching from across the street.

“Whatever. Let’s just get back to watching this shit.”Fucking technology. It was good for nothing.

“Yes, let’s,” Marc’s voice sounded over the comms. He didn’t seem too impressed by the topic of conversation.

Seriously. What was with this dude and his constant growly face? His husband was a fucking golden retriever, yet somehowfell in love with a broody panther. Love seriously made no sense.

Back to the door.

They had been huddled outside for the past two hours, first watching men dressed in tight suits and bow ties—looking like porno-grade waiters enter the building. Now they were watching middle-aged men enter with their dates, both male and female, clinging to their arms for dear life.

Marc had checked—the bar was owned by a numbered company, which meant shit to those who really wanted to know. Of course, whoever owned the bar would want to make it as difficult as possible to identify the nature of the business and ultimate beneficial ownership. Marc was pretty convinced that if he kept on pulling back the layers of ownership, he would eventually discover that the doctor owned or co-owned the club. He had tasked his husband with continuing his research.

For now, they relied on Jared's parabolic microphone, hoping to get close enough to pick up voices and sounds coming from inside the bar.

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