Joker strolled into Jack’s office late afternoon with Chip on his heels. Chip went straight to Jack’s side. He sat patiently next to Jack’s chair, tail wagging, while his person dropped onto the couch with far less grace. “How much sleep have you gotten?”

  “I took a nap a couple of hours ago. I’m good.” Jack paused what he was doing long enough to turn and greet Chip. Once Chip was satisfied he’d received a sufficient amount of attention, he trotted over to the couch and lay on the floor near Joker’s head, ignoring Joker tossing his ball up in the air and catching it.

  “For fuck’s sake, you have to stop doing this. You’re not in your twenties anymore.”

  “Thanks for reminding me I’m old,” Jack muttered, returning his attention to his screen.

  “Fuck off, you’re not old. Mostly because we’re the same age and that would mean I’m old.” Joker sat up and tossed the ball back and forth from one hand to another. “So, do you know what you’re going to say to Fitz when you see him at the auction on Saturday?”

  Jack’s head shot up, his heart pounding in his ears at the mention of Fitz. Man, he was such a sap. “What?”

  “Fitz. He’s going to the auction.”

  “He is?”

  “Yep. Colton got him an invite. So… what are you going to say to him?”

  That was a great question. What was he going to say to Fitz? It wasn’t likely they’d be able to avoid each other. He supposed Fitz could avoid him if he really wanted, but he hoped Fitz accepting the invite meant he would speak to Jack this time.

  “I have no idea,” Jack replied truthfully. “I’d rather not think about it, because the more I think about it, the more nervous I get, and I have enough to worry about with the whole auction part of the evening. How are you not fighting this?”

  Joker’s grin was wicked. “Are you kidding me? Some rich guy is going to pay major bank to take me out on a date. Dude, free dinner.”

  “Your life is free dinners. You literally eat for free every day.”

  “Okay, but free fancy dinner.”

  Jack shook his head in amusement at his friend. “Means you’re going to have to wear something nice.”

  “Or if I play my cards right, nothing at all.” Joker waggled his eyebrows.

  “The auction is for a date, not whatever deviancy you have planned.”

  “And that’s why you never get laid, my friend.”

  Jack rolled his eyes, and King appeared in the doorway. “You two, go home. Jack, get some sleep. You keep sleeping at the office and we’re going to have a long chat about self-care. We need you awake and alert during work hours. On Saturday, Leo and I are picking you two up from your place. Be ready by six.” With that, he left, no waiting for a reply, but that was King for you.

  Joker gave Jack a shit-eating grin. “Busted.”

  Jack walked around his desk and shoved his friend out of the way, getting Chip’s attention. Chip lifted his head to assess the situation. Since Joker wasn’t distressed, he lowered his head back to his paws.

  “Guess I’m getting ready at yours,” Joker muttered.

  “Like you weren’t going to anyway. Who else is going to show you how to button a dress shirt?”

  “Fuck off.”

  “When was the last time you wore a dress shirt?”

  Joker flipped him off on the way to the door. “I’m hungry. Chip, let’s go.” Chip bolted over to Joker, and they waited for Jack.

  On the way to the elevator, Jack couldn’t stop thinking about Sil. When the door slid closed, he turned to Joker. “Maury’s worried about Sil.”

  “How so?”

  “He says he’s been acting weird since the coin job. Secretive.”

  Joker considered his words. “Maury’s not one to overreact. If he’s concerned, I’d keep an eye on Sil. You think he’s gotten mixed up with something he shouldn’t?”

  “I wish I could say for sure, but…” Jack sighed and tickled the top of Chip’s head, earning himself a lick to the hand. “I don’t know.”

  “He knows he can come to you if he needs to, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why don’t we stop by and say hello?” Joker hit the button for the cybersecurity floor, a big grin stretching his face. What devious plot was percolating in that twisted little head of his? The elevator pinged, and the doors slid open to an empty hall. The only personnel allowed on this floor were authorized staff and those with specific security clearance levels.

  On the left side of the hall, the white wall became glass, and on the other side of that was the cybersecurity department, an expansive room with a gleaming gray marble floor, white ceiling with plenty of lighting, and three white walls. The left wall from the doorway was black, and from the center to the ceiling it became a giant screen that split off into several smaller screens. Positioned beneath it were three large white desks with three monitors each, one for Maury, Meg, and Sil. White desks filled the rest of the room, each one sporting three monitors, keyboard, mousepad and mouse, plus whatever knickknacks Jack’s team decorated their desk with. Jack didn’t care what his team had on their desks, provided they kept their areas clean, neat, and non-offensive.

  “Hey, boss,” Maury said with a bright smile as he swiveled on his chair.

  Everyone greeted them as Jack and Joker approached the three, Chip on Joker’s heels. Joker motioned to the room. “Go say hi. We all know how starved for attention you are,” Joker said dryly.

  Chip didn’t need to be told twice. He darted off to get scratched and petted by the rest of the team. It was a common occurrence for Jack to drop in on his team and check in with them and how they were doing. Sure, he could call Maury, but he preferred to be seen by his staff and interact with them, especially when they were working a tough case or facing a particular challenge. It was funny how many new clients wanted the best security systems the Kings had to offer but balked the moment they were informed what it involved. A top-of-the-line system was more than just a few monitored security cameras.

  “We ready for Frank’s upgrade?” Jack asked, getting an amused head shake from Meg.

  “Honestly, boss. It’s like you’ve never done this before.”

  Jack chuckled. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “You know what a worrier he is,” Joker said, sitting on the edge of Sil’s desk. “What’s up?”

  Sil blinked at him. “Um, the ceiling?”

  Joker snorted. “Is everyone who works in this place a smartass?”

  “I think it was listed as a requirement on the job application,” Sil said, deadpan. “Right under ‘must like dick.’”

  Meg raised a hand. “I like dick.”

  Jack choked on air. “What is happening right now?”

  “Didn’t you all watch the video on this sort of talk?” Joker shook his head at Jack. “Your department is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

  “My department?” Jack’s eyebrows shot up near his hairline. “Ace drove a company car off a bridge onto a boat! With his client in the car, I might add.”

  Joker held up a hand. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, and if you tell him, I will deny it completely, but in Ace’s defense, it was either plunge into the ocean or land on the garbage boat.”

  “Or, hear me out now. Or maybe, he could have used the brakes. I know he forgets cars come equipped with them, but still. Just saying.”

  Sil shook his head. “At the speed he was going, no way the car would have stopped in time unless he’d hit the brakes before he got to the drawbridge, which sort of defeats the purpose of the whole car chase.”

  “That’s another thing. Why is he always getting into car chases? No one else gets into car chases. I’ve never been in a car chase.”

  “What exactly are you going to drive in this imaginary chase?” Joker asked with a laugh. “The Nerd Mobile? That thing is the size of a small building.”

  “First of all, kiss my ass. Second of all, I drive other vehicles.”

  “You also have common sense and your name isn’t Anston Sharpe,” Maury provided helpfully.

  “This is true. Thank you, Maury.”

  Maury winked at him and offered a little salute.

  “How’s it going?” Joker asked Sil, his expression giving nothing away.

  Sil peered at him. “Good. Why?”

  Joker shrugged. “No reason.”

  “Yeah, that’s believable. I hope your poker face is better than that.”

  Joker pursed his lips, his narrowed eyes on the younger man. “I think I might actually like you.”

  Sil narrowed his gaze in return. “I think I find the idea slightly terrifying.”

  With a chuckle, Joker stood. He patted Sil’s shoulder before heading for the door. He whistled, and Chip darted to his side. “Let’s go, Jack.”

  Jack waggled his eyebrows at his team. “Chip’s not the only one who gets cranky when he’s hungry.”

  Joker flipped him off, making them laugh, and Chip barked his two cents. “You heard him. Move your ass, Constantino.”

  Jack rolled his eyes and waved at his team as he left, bumping into Emmett on the way out. Emmett smiled brightly. He shoved his glasses up his nose, his cheeks going pink.

  “Sorry.”

  “No problem. Hey, I’m on my way out, but I thought you, me, and Sil could have lunch this week.”

  Emmett’s brow furrowed worriedly, his big brown eyes going from Jack to Sil and back.

  “Hey, don’t look so worried. No one’s in trouble. I think it’s time the three of us sat down and cleared the air. I’d love it if two of my best guys started getting along. What do you think?”

  Emmett glanced over at Sil, uncertainty written all over his face before he wrinkled his nose and let out a resigned sigh. “Okay. I guess it’s time to give the squirt a chance.”

  Jack patted Emmett’s shoulder. “Fantastic. I’ll send you the details later.”

  “Okay. Enjoy your lunch.” Emmett walked into the room, making Jack smile when he nodded a greeting to Sil, smile and everything. At least that went well.

  In the elevator, Jack turned to his best friend. Sacha had always been an incredible judge of character. He had a gift for sussing people out just by studying them or talking to them for a few minutes. It was a little creepy.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking I could go for a Cuban sandwich with some fries and a milkshake.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m also thinking that if Sil is up to something, he’s good at hiding it, like too good.” He seemed to think about it for a moment. “I didn’t get any weird vibes off him. He either is exceptionally confident or whatever his reason for being secretive isn’t related to his job and not something for you to worry about. I’d keep an eye on him for a bit, just in case.”

  “Thanks.” Jack hoped Joker was right and he had nothing to worry about where Sil was concerned. Now if he could only stop worrying about the damned auction.

  “It’s going to be fine,” Joker assured him.

  “I was thinking about the auction.”

  “I know you were. It’s going to be fine.”

  It was a little scary how well Sacha knew him. “Thanks.” He considered himself pretty laid-back about most things, but where relationships were concerned, he always felt like he was in uncharted waters. Choppy waters. At times, he wished he were more like Joker, who never worried about relationships, mostly because he didn’t have them, and he seemed perfectly happy without them. Was he more nervous about the auction part of the evening or running into Fitz?

  Fitz.

  “Is it too early to start drinking?” Jack murmured, earning himself a smile from Joker.

  “Hey, it’s happy hour somewhere, right?” A mischievous look came into Joker’s blue-gray eyes, and he clapped his hands together before rubbing them. “Come on. We’re off for the rest of the day. Let’s get into some trouble.”

  Jack shook his head in amusement as he followed Sacha out of the elevator. With Sacha around, there was little chance he’d get to dwell on Saturday. Jack refused to worry about it. It’d be fine. Just another charity event. He’d been to hundreds. So what if Fitz would be at this one, probably looking gorgeous? It’d be fine. Jack could handle it.

  Six. Zero. One.

  Six was the number of times Jack had tried to get out of this damned bachelor auction. Zero was the number of times he’d been successful. One was the number of asses he’d be kicking, namely Ace’s ass.

  “Come on, man, you’re going to look smoking hot,” Ace had said over the phone during Jack’s last attempt to back out of tonight’s events. Jack would never admit it, but the tailored charcoal-paisley tuxedo looked good on him. The cut was flattering, accentuating his shoulders and waist. He still felt constricted, though.

  “What the fuck!” Joker’s tirade of curses made Jack cringe.

  The door to his bathroom slammed open, and Jack almost choked on air. He quickly recovered by coughing into his hand.

  Leo chose that moment to walk into the bedroom, holding his bow tie. “Jack, do you have—oh dear.” He spun on his heels the moment he saw Joker and walked back out.

  “Oh dear” didn’t begin to cover it.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Joker fumed. “Why do you look all suave and sophisticated, and I look like I’m about to go on a fox hunt through the countryside with the fucking Queen of England!”

  Jack tried hard not to laugh. So very hard. Okay, he might not have tried at all. He doubled over laughing until his face hurt and his side cramped.

  “I’m going to fucking murder him! I mean, we all knew that one of these days I was going to end up in prison because of him. I just never thought that this”—Joker motioned to his red-and-black Victorian-style suit—“would be what did it. I like Colton, I do, but his fiancé isn’t going to make it to the wedding.”

  “Perhaps the tails are a bit much,” Jack said, trying to regain his composure.

  “Oh, perhaps? You think? Perhaps thou should kisseth my ass.”

  Jack waited until the redness left Joker’s face before asking, “Did it come with a top hat?”

  “It did, and you know what I’m going to do with it? I’m going to shove it up—”

  “Everything okay?” King asked, poking his head into the room. He swept his gaze over Joker, and something weird happened to his face. Was he in pain? He looked like he was in pain. He cleared his throat and put a finger to his lips, then opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Closing his mouth, he pointed behind him and left.

  “When the reporters come to interview you and ask you if you ever thought I was capable of murdering one of my brothers, you make sure to point out what I was wearing when the murder occurred.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out something black and round. Smacking it against his arm, the top hat popped open. He shoved it onto his head and thundered out of the room. Jack had to close his eyes and reach deep, oh-so deep, to get a grip, or he might just piss himself from laughing.

  It all made sense now. Jack had wondered why King offered to pick them up for the auction. He and Leo then showed up early, with Leo stating he’d need help with his bow tie, as neither he nor King knew how to tie one. Jack hadn’t bought it. Leo could hack his way into the Pentagon, but he couldn’t figure out how to tie a bow tie? Granted, it was Leo, but still. Now it was obvious. The only one capable of getting Joker out of the apartment wearing that suit was Leo. Joker bitched the entire ride to Sapphire Sands and threatened Ace with imminent death, but he did it in his classy tails and top hat. He was a pair of shiny black boots away from looking like he belonged in an episode of Downton Abbey.

  Jack had to give it to Ace—he was a sneaky shit. If something needed to be done but you knew there was no way in hell you could make it happen, you brought out the big guns, the secret weapon, Leopold de Loughrey. Leo was awkward, sweet, and a genius. His smarts also made him vulnerable, bringing out a protective streak in the Kings, Jack, and Joker like no one had. The most recent exception was Bibi’s daughter, Lily. It also meant they were suckers when it came to Leo. No way Joker wasn’t going to wear the suit and top hat, not with Leo telling him he looked amazing and how proud he was of Joker for doing this for charity.

  They used the front entrance of Sapphire Sands, the security team recognizing them immediately and allowing them inside. The event wasn’t due to start for another hour, but Ace wanted to go through the setup once more with all the bachelors up for auction. The place looked stunning, the decor in black and white to match the theme of the night. The usual heavy bass of club music had been replaced by big band music, and the raised plinths with dancing go-go boys in sparkly Sapphire Sands’ signature cyan shorts were absent. Black and white fabric covered the walls and draped from the ceiling, while elegant white glass palm trees with black and white feathered palm leaves had been positioned ever so meticulously around the club. It was classy yet fun.

  “Do you have a will?” Jack asked as he approached Ace, who looked smooth in his black tuxedo, a tablet in one hand, pencil in the other.

  Ace’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “That good, huh?”

  “Only you would see your impending demise as good.”

  “I haven’t been this excited since King admitted he’d fallen in love.”

  Jack hummed. “Pretty sure that never happened.”

  “It did. You weren’t there.”

  “I was, and even after you guys left to have your heart-to-heart, I can say with absolute certainty that never happened. He never admitted to you that he’d fallen in love.”

  “He said, ‘Ace, I’m in love.’”

  “What’s it like living in that delusional little bubble of yours?”