Undercover Lovers [Urban Affairs 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) by Gale Stanley Page A

memorial bench was placed in Central Park to honor him. The guide book had a map of Central Park. Slade found the location of the monument and committed it to memory. Then he put both phones in his pocket, grabbed his car keys, and left the building.
    He felt the need to hurry, and he dived into the car and leaned forward to insert the key in the ignition. The bench was located at the site of Fort Fish, at East 106th Street, and Slade drove until he found a parking garage near that section of the park.
    Thank God for the guide book because the memorial would have been impossible to find. Considering the man’s contributions, Slade figured the memorial would have been given a better home than a lonely knoll. At last it came into view, and Slade saw Mike already sitting on the stone bench waiting for him. He tried to form his scattered thoughts into a coherent dialogue as he sat beside him. But Mike started talking before he could get his mouth open.
    “I think we’re being used.”
    Oh, fuck. “Being who I am, it was first thing I thought of, but I convinced myself our superiors were on the up and up. What’s going on?”
    Mike’s square jaw tensed visibly. “We’re supposed to be gathering evidence on alleged insurgents.” He stopped, seemed to be thinking over his next words. “I saw Graham this morning, and he ordered me to take a proactive stance in this operation. No more watching and waiting for evidence to turn up. He wants to bring things to a head.”
    Not surprising, but why didn’t I get the memo? “When I took this assignment Graham insinuated he’d look the other way if I had to manufacture evidence. Is that what you’re talking about?”
    Mike cleared his throat nervously. “Not exactly. He wants you terminated, Slade. Dereliction of duties. He says you’ve gone rogue. ”
    Slade froze. He felt like Mike had dropped a bridge on him. Keenly aware of the peril surrounding him and Graham’s displeasure in his performance, he’d known he was in the doghouse, but to be accused of going rogue…
    “Slade?” Mike said softly. “You’re his target now.”
    Slade knew exactly what he was up against. He’d seen other agents in the director’s crosshairs. Then suddenly they’d be gone, supposedly retired to some south sea island. A cemetery more likely. “How is this supposed to go down?”
    “I’m supposed to get you and Jaxon out of Dogtown. Graham knows he’d been to my apartment—”
    “Yeah, so do I.” Slade swore under his breath.
    “What’s that?”
    “I followed Jaxon to your place. Just trying not to be derelict in my duties,” Slade said sarcastically. “You should have told me you were playing him.”
    Mike raised his chin, a defiant gleam in his eyes. “We’re not playing.”
    The words hit Slade like bullets. “You’re a couple?”
    “We met accidently and became friends then lovers. It’s why Graham recruited me in the first place. I didn’t want the assignment, but the more I thought about it, it seemed like a good idea. I figured I could help Jax more if I was working inside the DSA.”
    And the hits keep coming. “And Jax knows all this?”
    “No. He has a temper. I was afraid if he knew about the investigation he’d do something stupid and get in real trouble.”
    “There’s no way you can keep him out of it now.”
    “I know. In hindsight, I wish I had been honest with him. He’s not going to be happy.”
    “Neither am I. I wish you had told me sooner.”
    “I wasn’t sure I could trust you.”
    “And now you do?”
    Mike shrugged. “I have no choice. I want to keep Jax safe, and I need your help.”
    Slade laughed bitterly. “So if it wasn’t for Jax, you’d kill me without blinking an eye?”
    “You’re fucking my boyfriend. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you.”
    “You got it all wrong. He’s fucking me.”
    Mike was on him in an instant. “You bastard!” He threw a fast roundhouse that connected with Slade’s jaw.
    The thrill