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Leo laughed, but Dominic said in a very flat voice, "We already have so conditions," Leo explained "He’d never drea any place so ‘primitive’" Beside him, Justin heard Tessa clear her throat

"Oh, I’ll say it," Justin told them Dominic situated himself on the opposite side of the room, arms crossed in a standoffish way that oddlymarried doesn’t h If it does, then I’ainst it than I already was"

"Do to start his oine business All the vineyards outside? That’s his handiwork" Leo looked up at his husband with unabashed pride and adoration

"And what do you do?" asked Justin "Design the labels?" It was i around in the dirt

Leo shook his head "Nah, I commute to the city Well, so too I work for Estocorp’s Portland branch now"

"That’s a long trip if you do have to go in" "Estocorp" sounded familiar, but it took Justin a fewon contraceptive implants?"

"Pays better than my old job Maybe even better than yours"

"Not likely," said Justin "Leo, you could probably hack an identity chip Why would you waste your tily casual about all of this, but then, he’d had a lot e in fortunes "Hey, it’s noble work keeping our population stable Besides, the Ministry of Health and Social Services is considering switching from their current provider Do you knohat kind of et you a government contract," protested Justin "I’ve been back barely a week and already have a case for you to look at"

"Don’t you have other people in your departravelly and gruff, ood as Leo" Justin leaned forward, needing to get through to his old friend "I know you et your old job again, no probleet a better deal andco;torian That’sMae would appeal to Leo’s love of novelty Instead, it seemed to startle the other two men Leo even paled Their alarmed reactions lancing between Leo and Dominic "Don’t freak out She’s perfectly tanus

"No one who’s puular basis is ta dark "And we aren’t leaving"

Mae frowned but didn’t otherwise acknowledge the slight, aside froly to Leo, hoping he’d talk sense

Instead, Leo said, "This is where Do Like I told you when you called, it’s contract or nothing--and only if it’s interesting"

Justin was having troublehis characteristically aht refuse to come back, Justin had never even drea would be the hang-up If anything, he’d thought Leo

Not everything’s about you, said Horatio

But this is absurd, Justin said Why would he stay? He once switched aparts because a couple of fa too nus That’s all the reason he needs Find another tactic, because if you keep ," Tessa said unexpectedly Justin had nearly forgotten she was there "Justin’s working on soure it out" Justin knew she didn’t actually know any of the details of the murders or the shadowy assassin video, but she’d overheard enough of Justin and Mae’s offhand co on

This see else he’d heard today "I thought the prætorian was your backup"

Justin realized then that he’d been an idiot Tessa had ju able to get to the heart of people He’d tried wooing Leo with lamour, but people like Leo didn’t becos Justin had seen Leo stay up all night trying to solve the unsolvable He had a passion for what he did, and despite Leo’s idyllic clai work

Justin suddenly felt back in control "She’s right No one can figure it out, and we’ve had every agency looking at it" A gleam of interest showed in Leo’s eyes "You don’t even have to leave your love nest, unless you need souys can have a ro to the city," interjected Dominic His eyes narrowed "Any city"

"Fine," said Justin, trying hard not to show his exasperation He couldn’t iht this match about Dominic’s wine probably tasted like shit "You just come, Leo We’ll close out the Silver Spike like we did in the old days"

Leo didn’t answer, but Justin could tell he’d finally gotten through Leo still had an easy smile on his face, but his interest had been piqued No one can figure it out Leo couldn’t resist that There was nothing to do now but wait Justin had played all his cards, and it was time to see if he’d won the jackpot

"Okay," Leo said at last Dorowl It was hard to say "I’ case?"