Chapter 2

So here he was and finally about to meet someone other than his father’s aids, all of whom were older than the hills. Of course whoever he is could be too. Dirk sighed ruefully.

He followed Lex to the living room, waiting in anticipation to see who would come through the front doorwhen his father removed the protections long enough to let them enter.

Holy hell. Not old at all. Damn. He sucked in a breath as he looked at the man. He was tall, with ebony black hair and the greenest eyes Dirk had ever seen. The suit he was wearing fit him as if it had been tailor-made, accenting his muscular body without overdoing it. Wrap him up and I’ll take him home withme. Oh wait, this is my home now.

* * * *

Tonio dipped his head in acknowledgment of Lex’s welcome, and his importance in Tonio’s world, beforelooking beyond him at the young man standing in the middle of the room. He was close to his own height but slender, with shaggy blond hair covering his ears, and pale blue eyes, shading into gray when he turned his head away from the light.

“You’ve grown up, Dirk,” Tonio said, smiling.

Dirk frowned. “Do I know you?”

“Yep, though it’s been quite a while since we met, so I’m not surprised you don’t remember. You wereabout so high,” Tonio held his hand out to demonstrate, “and followed me around like a puppy the wholetime you were here.”

“I didn’t!”

Tonio chuckled. “Oh yeah, you did. By the way, I’m Tonio, Antonio Paladini to be exact.”

“Detective Paladini,” Lex added.

“A cop?” Dirk seemed impressed. Maybe a bit too much so in Tonio’s estimation.

Tonio nodded before returning his attention to Lex. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

Lex tapped his fingers together, grinning a bit, which sent off warning bells in Tonio’s mind. “Why don’t we all have a seat and I’ll explain.” When they were settled, Lex continued. “I want you to take Dirk under your supervision, Tonio. Teach him everything you know.”

“Now wait a damned minute here. First off, isn’t that your job? And secondly, when do you think I’d have time to do that?”

“My job is to make certain he becomes the best he can be. His…skills lie more in your field of expertise than mine, I’m afraid. He needs to hone them and I don’t know anyone better than you to help him do that.”

“Do I get any say in this?” Dirk asked acidly.

Tonio glanced at him, smiling slightly. “Probably no more than I do, when it comes down to it. The problem is, Lex, I can hardly drag him along with me when I’m on the job. The department frowns on things like that.”

“That’s all been arranged.”

Tonio sighed. “Now how did I know you’d say that? In what way exactly?”

“Dirk has just arrived in the city from a small town out west, where he was a deputy sheriff. Your chiefrecruited him because he showed great promise, and since your partner is moving up north in two weeks totake a new job—”

“Damn it, Lex! Why hasn’t anyone told me about that! There are few enough of us as it is without my losing him. Besides which, Dirk’s too young. No one’s going to believe this story you’ve cooked up on his background.”

Lex smiled a bit evilly. “Everything is being arranged even as we speak, including new ID which says he’s older than he appears.”

“Uh-huh.” Tonio wanted to say ‘As if,’ but knowing Lex, he had no doubt it actually was being created. “So you’re shorting me a damned good man so I can train Dirk.”

“Precisely. I don’t think you’ll regret it, when it comes down to it.”

Tonio turned to look at Dirk. “Your father seems to have a lot of confidence in you. Do you feel the same?”

Dirk rubbed the palms of his hands on his legs, frowning. “I know what I’m capable of, so far. It’s probably not as much as you’d like but…” He shrugged. “I’m still young and things get better with age. You should know that.”

“Just how old do you think I am?”

“Older than me?” Dirk’s lips quirked up in a grin.

Tonio rolled his eyes. “Isn’t everyone?” he shot back.

“Touché.” Then Dirk sobered, turning to his father. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because, until I talked with your mother, I wasn’t certain I was going to use you for this. She’s dead set against it, of course.”

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mother,” Dirk muttered. “Still, if she hadn’t been, you’dnever have let this happen. Right?”

“Oh, I might have. Probably would have,” Lex replied. “Only not so soon.”

“When do you plan on his joining my team?” Tonio asked. And please let it not be today.