Cassidy guided the car smoothly through the dimly lit streets, the low hum of the engine filling the silence of the night. His fingers drummed idly against the steering wheel, his mind half on the road, half on the weight of the past few hours.
Arthur had asked him to pick him up from work. A simple request. Something normal couples did. But there was nothing normal about them. Arthur was a cop, and Cassidy was a capo.
The contradiction burned in his chest like a cigarette ember.
He pulled up near the police station, parking in a shadowed spot across the street. He didn't need the wrong set of eyes spotting him and asking questions. If anyone recognized his car sitting outside a precinct for too long, rumors would spread like wildfire. He couldn't afford that kind of attention.
His phone buzzed in the cupholder. The screen lit up with a name that had been at his side for years… Nate.
Cassidy picked up, keeping his voice low. "Talk to me."
Arthur reached the door to Cassidy’s car and slid inside.“Hey,” Arthur greeted, his voice warm as he leaned in to kiss Cassidy on the lips. The kiss was soft, but Cassidy’s response was lackluster, a little dry.Arthur pulled back slightly, studying Cassidy’s face. “Is everything okay?”Cassidy gave a quick, shallow nod, but his tone was flat, the word hanging in the air with a certain detachment. “Yes.”He started the car with a practiced ease, gripping the wheel tightly as he shifted into gear. The engine hummed beneath them, but the silence was thick, lingering like an unspoken weight between them.“So, how was your day?” Cassidy finally asked, breaking the stillness. His voice was casual, but the question felt more like an afterthought.Arthur shifted in his seat, the tension in the car unnoticed by him. “It was good.” He gave a quick rundown, nothing too deta
Cassidy pulled up to Arthur’s apartment, his grip firm on the steering wheel. His face was unreadable, smooth, almost indifferent… like the conversation they’d had earlier meant nothing.Arthur, oblivious to the hurricane brewing beneath Cassidy’s exterior, unbuckled his seatbelt with a soft click. He turned, flashing that easy smile of his, the one Cassidy once found annoying but had somehow grown used to."Thanks for the ride," Arthur said, then leaned in, pressing another kiss to Cassidy’s lips.Cassidy forced himself to kiss back. Not too eager, not too cold. Just enough to keep Arthur from asking questions."Goodnight," Arthur said, slipping out of the car.Cassidy waited, watching as Arthur walked toward his apartment building. He saw the way Arthur’s posture was relaxed, the way he had no idea that the man he’d been sleeping with for two months was barely keeping his ra
The sleek black car pulled up outside the police station just as officers and staff were spilling out for their lunch breaks. Cassidy sat behind the wheel, sunglasses shielding his expression as he drummed his fingers lightly against the steering wheel.Arthur emerged from the station, practically bouncing down the steps. The moment he spotted Cassidy, a grin spread across his face, bright and boyish as ever.Cassidy rolled down the window, smirking. “You waiting for a prince, sweetheart?”Arthur laughed, already reaching for the car door. “Nope, just my very shady, very rich boyfriend.” He slid in and leaned over, pressing a kiss to Cassidy’s lips without hesitation. It was quick, affectionate… too easy.Cassidy kissed him back, but something about it twisted in his chest. Arthur had no idea who he was really kissing. No idea that the man sitting beside him had already started planning ways to
Arthur was hunched over his desk, scanning through intelligence reports on his latest case. He scribbled notes in the margins, his focus narrowed on the lines of text when the phone rang. He answered quickly, hoping to get this call over with so he could dig deeper into his investigation."Detective Cooper," Arthur said, his voice sharp and professional."Cooper, it’s William from the narcotics task force," came the voice from the other end. "We’ve got a new lead on the shipment coming in tonight. You with me?"Arthur sat up straighter, his mind immediately snapping to attention. "Go ahead. What’s the latest?""We’ve traced the route—it’s coming from one of the ports downtown. Our intel suggests it’s a large load this time. We're talking at least three, maybe four times the usual volume. But the kicker is, the delivery is being made under the cover of a front business—someone’s using one of the nightcl
Arthur stepped into Mirage, his eyes scanning the dimly lit interior as he made his way inside. From a distance, Nathaniel caught sight of him, his sharp gaze narrowing.That’s boss’ boy.He kept watching. Arthur didn’t move like the usual crowd… no relaxed swagger, no easy charm. Instead, he was observant, his head tilting slightly as he listened to conversations around him. He wasn’t here for fun.He was here to see. To hear. To dig.Nathaniel’s expression hardened. Without hesitation, he turned and headed upstairs.When he entered Cassidy’s office, the sound of pen against paper filled the room. Cassidy, not looking up, exhaled in irritation.“I told you I’m busy.”“I apologize, sir,” Nathaniel said smoothly. “But you’re gonna want to see this.”Cassidy still didn’t glance up. &ldqu
Arthur sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the cityscape rushing past the window. The faint glow of streetlights cast a dim reflection on the glass, blending with the tension weighing down on him. William, in the driver’s seat, kept his hands steady on the wheel, his sharp eyes focused on the road ahead.“So,” William said, breaking the silence. “You checked the financial records yesterday?”Arthur let out a breath, nodding. “Yeah. I dug through everything I could, followed every lead, but nothing stuck out. No suspicious transactions, no offshore accounts, nothing concrete. It was clean—too clean.”William hummed thoughtfully. “That’s usually a bad sign.”“Exactly,” Arthur agreed. “So, I decided to check out the Mirage myself.” He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “But it got messy, and I had to leave.”William glanced at him, a
William stepped out of the club, the pulse of music still lingering in the back of his mind. He squinted in the night air, seeing Arthur standing a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the horizon, distant and detached.William approached cautiously. "Hey... Cooper, you okay?"Arthur turned, his face unreadable. "Yeah. We can go back inside."William hesitated, studying him for a moment. Something in Arthur's posture told him it wasn’t just about the night out. He glanced toward the club and then back at Arthur. "I think we’re done for today. We can come another time."Arthur looked off again, the tension in his shoulders telling a different story, but he nodded. "I see."William frowned but didn’t press it. "Let’s go… I’ll drop you home."Arthur nodded once more, and they walked in silence to William’s car. As they drove, Arthur’s mind raced. `He could be high rank. A mobster, definitely. ´
Morning light filtered through the room, casting a golden hue over the polished floors. The faint hum of the city outside blended with the controlled rhythm of Matthew’s breath as he worked through his sit-ups. Bare-chested, short shorts riding up his thighs, his muscles flexed with each movement. He didn’t rush… this wasn’t about fitness; it was about focus. About not thinking too hard about the man he’d made a deal with.Then the front door clicked open.Cassidy stepped in, his expression unreadable, but his presence carried a weight that instantly filled the space. He wasn’t tired… no, Cassidy never let himself look tired… but something in his eyes was off. He was irritated.Matthew didn’t stop. Didn’t even look at him at first. He just smirked. “Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour. Tell me, did she moan your name or just fake it to get you out faster?”Cassidy’s jaw tensed. His lips twitched… not in amusement, but in that way they did when he was debating whether to snap or play
Arthur dragged himself out of bed, groggy from yesterday’s stakeout, which had amounted to absolutely nothing. His body ached from sitting for hours, watching a man live the most painfully normal life imaginable. Grocery shopping, work, home. That was it. No shady meetings, no clandestine phone calls, no suspicious tattoos appearing or disappearing. Just a guy living his life while Arthur wasted his.Today had to be different.He shuffled into the shower, standing under the water as if it could cleanse away his frustration. Throwing on casual clothes that wouldn’t scream undercover cop, he grabbed his keys and stepped out into the cold morning air.This Alan Blackwood—the one from Cargo Fleet—was supposed to be a little rougher. An ex-convict, a former drug dealer. There had to be something there.Maybe this one wouldn’t spend the entire day debating which brand of cereal to buy.The morni
Arthur was on the bed, staring at the ceiling as his phone buzzed on the nightstand. The cheap let in a sliver of morning light, casting a faint glow across the cramped room. He reached for his phone without enthusiasm, glancing at the caller ID.Cassidy.His fingers hesitated before answering."Morning, sweetheart."Arthur rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. "Morning," he murmured, voice still thick with sleep."How did you sleep? By this voice, you’re still in bed."Arthur turned onto his side, facing the window. "I slept well. What about you?" A pause. "Yeah… I’m still in bed.""I slept well too, just missing you." Cassidy’s voice was low, teasing. "So, did you manage to ask for a few days off from your boss? You didn’t tell me anything else."Arthur’s breath hitched for a second. "Uh—yeah… I’m in Bristol right now.""I s
Arthur was at his desk, flipping through the last pages of a report when the sound of the office door opening made him glance up. Masahiro walked in, his sharp gaze scanning the room before heading straight to his desk."Morning, Cooper," Masahiro said as he set down his briefcase."Morning, sir," Arthur responded.He watched Masahiro organize his things, his movements precise and efficient. Without realizing it, Arthur found himself staring. Masahiro, always perceptive, caught the lingering gaze and turned his head slightly."Do you have something to say, Cooper?"Arthur immediately straightened, averting his eyes. "Uh—sir… It's just—"Masahiro raised an eyebrow. "Just what? Spit it out."Arthur exhaled, gathering his thoughts. "My mother is sick, and I… I'm the only family she has. I'd like to go to Bristol for two days to see her."Masahiro, now sitting down, rested his elbows on the desk. "You took this long just to ask for
Arthur stepped into his studio apartment, kicking off his shoes before throwing himself onto the bed. A wide grin stretched across his face as he stared at the ceiling, his heart still racing with excitement. He had just met Cassidy’s family. They had accepted him.For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged somewhere, like he was part of something special. The warmth of their welcome still lingered in his chest, and he let out a small, contented sigh.But then his gaze drifted to the nightstand beside him.His smile faltered.There, in a simple wooden frame, was a picture of Alexandra. His twin sister. The pang of sadness hit him like a cold wave, washing away the warmth of the evening. For a moment, he felt like he had forgotten—forgotten why he had joined the police in the first place, why he had spent years chasing shadows.He reached for the frame, tracing his fingers over the glass as he stared at her familiar face
As Cassidy steered the car through the quiet streets, Arthur sat back in his seat, feeling the soft hum of the road beneath them. After a moment, he couldn’t help but smile.“Your mom really knows her way around a kitchen. I think I ate enough to last me a week.”Cassidy’s eyes flicked briefly to him, and a small, almost imperceptible smirk appeared on his lips. “I noticed. You couldn’t stop picking at everything. But it’s cute how you have no self-control.”Arthur looked over at him, unaware of the possessiveness in Cassidy’s tone. “What? It was all so good! You saw me try to be polite, but that lasagna… man, it’s like she put a spell on it.”Cassidy’s expression shifted slightly, but his voice remained playful. “You were staring at the Cheesy Breadsticks like you were about to take a bite out of my hand. If you wanted it that bad, you could’ve just asked.&rd
"Where's the toilet?" Arthur asked, glancing around.Juliette wiped her hands on a dish towel and pointed down the hall. "This way.""Fine, I'll be right back," Arthur said, heading in the direction she indicated.As the sound of his footsteps faded, Juliette leaned against the counter, lost in thought. The pieces had clicked together too well—too fast. Arthur’s story, the black rose tattoo, the way Cassidy had subtly dodged the topic during lunch. It all pointed to one thing.Then, as if drawn by her thoughts, Cassidy entered the kitchen. He went straight to the counter, filled a glass with water, and took a long sip. But he could feel her eyes on him.Lowering the glass, he met her gaze. "What?"Juliette pushed off the counter and silently walked to the door, closing it behind her. When she turned back, her expression was sharp. "What are you hiding?"Cassidy raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "What are you talking a
The meal had ended, the table filled with empty plates and half-finished glasses of water. Juliette, always the first to move, stood up and began gathering the dishes.Arthur, wanting to be polite, quickly got up as well. “Let me help,” he said, picking up a plate and following her to the kitchen.They worked together in quiet efficiency, stacking the plates near the sink and wiping down the table. When they finished, Juliette turned toward Cassidy, tilting her head playfully.“Bro, can you come and wash the dishes with me?”Cassidy smiled, about to step forward, when a thought made him pause. His hand instinctively hovered over his wrist—the rose tattoo. The makeup concealing it was waterproof, but he’d been wearing it for hours. Too much water, too much rubbing, and it could start to fade. He couldn’t risk it.Instead, he glanced at Arthur and smirked. “I think it’s better if Arthur helps you&
Then, after crossing the living room, Cassidy and Arthur was on their way to the dining room, where Arthur immediately noticed the table set for five. His gaze flickered to the extra place setting, and he recalled Cassidy mentioning his sister, Juliette.Lorraine smiled warmly and gestured toward a chair. "Have a seat, Arthur."Arthur pulled out the chair and sat, and Cassidy took the seat beside him."Jules!" Lorraine called toward the stairs."Coming," a voice responded from above.Robert settled into his chair with a knowing look. "It’s not every day our son brings someone home."Cassidy smirked, but before he could respond, Lorraine placed a few bowls of food on the table. "So," she asked, glancing at Arthur, "where did you two meet?"Cassidy, without hesitation, answered, "In a café.""Oh?" Lorraine’s brows lifted slightly.Arthur barely held back a smirk, stealing a glance at Cassidy, who was busy pouring himself a
The drive to Cassidy's family home was wrapped in an awkward silence, though the tension wasn’t all from the drive. Arthur, eyes focused on his phone, scrolled through messages and notifications, the weight of Cassidy's presence beside him feeling different now. Cassidy, on the other hand, was barely aware of the road. His mind was occupied with a hundred dark thoughts, each one tightening the knot in his stomach.“So,” Arthur’s voice broke through Cassidy’s thoughts, light and boyish. “I’m really excited to meet your parents.”Cassidy forced a smile, though it was tight, like the edges of his mask were fraying. “Yeah, they’re… good people.” He said it flatly, not truly feeling it. Good people? His mind mocked the words. They didn’t know the man who’d made their son, their precious Cassidy, a dangerous, manipulative monster. They didn’t know about the weight of the secrets he car