HIDE

EPISPDE 33 - HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING.

The mocking glint was gone from Wilson’s eyes, his expression becoming serious. He held Brandon’s gaze steadily as he said, “I am not clueless, Brandon. Our safety matters to me, and I took extra measures to make sure that we are safe.”

Brandon should have laughed. Wilson couldn’t guarantee that at all. But there was something about this man, about his confidence, his arrogance, that was so damn reassuring. f**k, he found his horrible boss’s arrogance reassuring. He needed help, immediately. He should be running in the opposite direction of this situation. Yet, there he was. 

“Better keep to your promise,” Brandon said, trying to shake off the feeling. “Because if anything happens to me, I will make sure to come back into this world as a woman. Make you fall in love with me and then break your heart into a billion pieces. Sir." 

Wilson’s lips twitched. “What a thoughtful punishment,” he said, before closing the distance between them and fitting their mouths together.

Ugh, not this again.

Brandon absolutely detested the way his brain instantly became fuzzy and disoriented, his world narrowing to Wilson’s hot, domineering mouth that seemed to suck out all of his willpower. He made a feeble attempt to tear his mouth away, but his lips didn’t listen to the command from his brain at all, clinging to Wilson’s and parting for his tongue. It was f*****g horrible.

He whined when Wilson finally released his mouth. He glared at him dazedly, rubbing his sensitive lips with the back of his hand. “What was that for?” he hissed. “There’s no one here.”

The arrogant jerk didn’t look fazed at all. “Aldo and Jacob will expect you to look well kissed.” And then he laid his hand on Brandon’s nape and steered him back to the breakfast room. And Brandon went without protesting.

**********

As he sat across from Aldo Massimo in the man’s office, Wilson felt more annoyed than anything else. He’d left his old life behind for a reason. He didn’t enjoy negotiations like this.

He’d always been a good negotiator. He was good at making people bend to his will. It was a quality that made him a good businessman. But these weren’t just business negotiations. The stakes were much higher here. It had been over a decade since he’d had to deal with men like Aldo—dangerous, unbending, and unpredictable. It didn’t mean he’d forgotten how to.

Wilson let the silence fall, watching Aldo patiently and keeping his expression neutral. The Italian had the reputation of a ruthless man, but that didn’t worry him. He’d been surrounded by men like this since before he could walk. In many ways, their backgrounds were similar, and if it was true that Aldo wanted to leave that part of his life behind, then they really had a lot more in common with each other. But it would be foolish to walk with open arms thinking that everything has changed. Wilson didn’t delude himself into thinking that this man wasn’t dangerous or wouldn’t use him for his own gain if he let him.

The silence stretched.

Finally, Aldo sighed, his beautiful eyes steady on him. “I think it’s time we speak candidly,” he said.

Wilson just gave a nod. They had been skirting around the subject of a business deal Aldo was suggesting—one that had nothing to do with the real reason he was here. It was well past time for them to speak candidly.

Wilson had had the time to evaluate Aldo, and Aldo had likely done the same.

“I want you to convince your father to leave me alone,” Aldo finally said, his tone as cold as his gaze. “I have clarified it for him that I’m done doing that sort of business, but he’s—dissatisfied and insists that I’m breaking our deal, leaving him without networks in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.” “And he can’t let it go if he doesn’t want to look weak,” Wilson said, suppressing a sigh. Edward’s pride had always been one of his greatest flaws.

Aldo nodded, his gaze sharp and assessing. “Frankly, it’s something I can handle myself if it got candy messy, but I’ve been careful to keep my hands clean while I dealt with my other associates, and this is the last one. I’d like to wrap it up without unnecessary… complications. I’m sure you understand what I mean.”