Page 18 (1/2)

Zane grunted in coe of the bed He sat and pulled up his legs, leaning against the headboard and crossing his legs at the ankle "It"s awfully imprecise We could have skipped our appointment or been late and it could have been someone else up there" His voice was steadier now, als," Ty said with a frown "Whoever did it isn"t in a hurry to kill us--the to kill And they"re not afraid to hurt innocent bystanders doing it My bet"s on Armen Anyone who likes to drink as h to plan ahead"

"Not necessarily If you"ve got tolerance, alcohol ht sharpen your attention, not blunt it"

The co about Lorenzo Bianchi and his love of wine, an off-handed comment he probably shouldn"t have made But Zane"s sincere belief in the words he"d just uttered disturbed Ty enough that he wasn"t able to keep the surprise and concern out of his expression Zane just offered a shrug and a rueful smile

"Is that really what you think?" Ty asked, unable to help himself

Zane"s brow creased a little "Yes Everyone reacts to alcohol differently, just like drugs, just like injuries Depends on how you handle it, what you let it do to you Why?"

Ty realized he was staring at Zane slightly agape, and he quickly pressed his lips together He shook his head sadly The reasoning seeue with Zane just then, so he nodded and looked away, determined to let the thread of conversation die a natural death Hehis daeneral location of the end of the bed He exa to swell even ht actually need to have it cut off soon

"I" to think of a creative way to yell at you for scaring the shit out ofyou against the shoall until we both feel better," Zane said from behind him, his tone calm and conversational

Ty nodded distractedly "I do need a shower," he coht to cli out one hand When he glanced up, Ty was surprised to see the intense look in Zane"s eyes His fingers brushed over Ty"s skin, but they flinched after a firm rap on the stateroolanced to the door and back to Ty, clearly considering ignoring it until there was a second knock, louder than the first Zane huffed and stalked across the rooh to look out

Ty watched tensely, hands loose near the gun he"d stashed under the rab it quickly He couldn"t see or hear their guest, but he wouldn"t put it past Zane to growl at theo away so they could proceed to the shower as planned

"Unless you"re hiding a cart with cold beer and cookies, go away," Zane growled at whoever was out there

Ty laughed softly and shook his head He lay back, leaving the gun safely under the mattress, rolled on the bed, and stretched out on his stoh hi it well

Zane exchanged a few more words with the person on the other side of the door before shutting it fir the bolt "We are now top of the treat list," he said wryly as he walked back to the bed

"The ship, if not the world, is ours on a platter"

"Great," Ty replied without enthusiasm "What else is on that damned itinerary?"

"Too ," Zane e of theTy"s neck with one hand

"What would be the point in disabling Del or Corbin at this stage?" Ty posed as he stared listlessly at the balcony doors

"Nothing other than re a little to use both hands to knead Ty"s shoulders carefully

"Thank you, Sherlock," Ty said with a small smile "I meant why

Have we stumbled into a business takeover, do you think?"

Zane stayed quiet for a ers fir to take over"

"Or Bianchi," Ty said with a nod

"I suppose it could be us--the Porters--trying to take over, and one of the others is sie,more to Ty"s shoulders and upper arms

"You"re much better at that than the last lady," Tykeptin smooth circles and slides "Porter does see the conversation as if Ty hadn"t said anything

"An enterprising thug Bianchi… well, erous"

"Right" Ty sighed heavily, closing his eyes and concentratinghands, and he spread theed thein and knead until it was al the area with long swipes of the heels of his hands, gently shooing the disco Zane divert hihtly more important issue they now faced He raised his head and turned it, resting it again so he was facing Zane "You"re getting distracted," he accused

The corners of Zane"s mouth pulled up slowly, and the s his fingertips down Ty"s back

Ty shivered violently, then rolled and reached up to knock Zane"s hand away He h, and his shoulder hit the edge of the e with a flail of his arms and an abbreviated yip

There was silence for a brief moment, and then Zane"s head appeared to look down at hih of that for one day?" He didn"t sound particularly a up at his lover balefully, as if it had been Zane"s doing "Don"t look at me," Zane said as he shifted in place, still up on the bed "This one you did to yourself, dumbass"

"I hate this bed," Ty muttered as he sat on the floor dejectedly and exaet off the floor

"Come back up--" Another knock interrupted Zane He clied to the door, and opened it much the same as before

Only this time he immediately pulled the door further open so the room service cart could be pushed in to their table The stafferif she"d heard about the crazy --and Zane locked the door behind her