Cut and Run 5 - Armed and Dangerous

this.”
    “I wouldn’t say I’m dragging him anywhere,” Julian said, utterly calm.
    “He has no idea what you do or who you are. You’re doing nothing but putting him in danger,” Ty said. “You really think he’d come willingly if he knew the truth about you?”
    “Yes. And sometimes it’s safer that way.”
    “Safer, my ass. Ignorance is not bliss, you know.”
    Cameron chose that moment to step out of the bathroom, unaware that he was the subject of their conversation.
    Julian looked Ty up and down. “Are you telling me you’ve never lied to a loved one?”
    Ty raised his eyebrows and shook his head, an entirely insolent look that would have made Zane want to smack him if it had been aimed at him.
    “You’ve never kept something from your partner to keep him safe?” Julian asked, voice growing colder.
    “No, I haven’t,” Ty answered without a moment’s hesitation.
    Julian’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. He and Ty were too close now. Close enough that they couldn’t even look each other up and down without leaning away. Cameron shot Zane a nervous glance, and Zane stood, tensing.
    Julian’s voice was low and mocking when he spoke to Ty. “You’ve never lied to someone to keep them safe? Wife? Mother? Boyfriend?”
    “No,” Ty said, not reacting to Julian’s last word.
    “Fine, you’ve never done it. I’ll believe that out of someone like you. But have you ever lied to someone you loved because you were following orders, Special Agent Grady?”
    Ty didn’t flinch, didn’t react in any way other than a jump in the muscles of his jaw. “No.” His voice had dropped dangerously.
    The hair on the back of Zane’s neck began to prickle because he knew damn well that was a lie, and Ty had managed it seamlessly.
    Julian narrowed his eyes. They stood toe to toe, glaring evilly at each other, neither willing to cross that line and attack, whether verbally or physically. Zane stood back, watching them through wide eyes. He had no desire whatsoever to mix it up with Julian Cross, but if this continued he’d be happy to sit the man down.
    “You’re an excellent liar, Agent Grady,” Julian whispered, his voice deceptively calm and borderline seductive. He leaned just a little closer, close enough he could have touched their noses together. He cocked his head. “You think I don’t recognize you? My memory is not as selective as yours.”
    Zane straightened as Julian’s words registered. He looked back and forth between the two men. They knew each other? What the hell?
    “Julian, what are you talking about?” Cameron asked.
    Looking at Ty, Zane could see that he had stopped breathing and gone still, like a snake about to strike.
    Julian continued, his voice disturbingly intimate. “When last I saw you, you were speaking flawless French, plying a wealthy Parisian with drinks, and selling… antiques. Do you remember me now?”
    Outwardly Ty didn’t react. His face remained impassive and stony, revealing nothing. That alone was enough to tell Zane that what Julian said was the truth. But Zane hadn’t picked up on the fact that Ty knew Julian. It must have been at least a few years ago, or Ty would have remembered. And Ty hadn’t been to Paris since Zane had known him.
    Unless Ty had been to Paris, and did remember, but hadn’t let on that he did. A heavy ball of doubt settled in Zane’s gut.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ty finally said.
    Julian continued to stare at him, and Ty still hadn’t moved. Julian raised his chin, snorting. “What sort of man must it take to make even his eyes lie?” he asked, the words dripping with disdain and scorn. As far as he’d experienced, Zane knew Julian got a good read on people. But what had he seen in Ty to make him say something that cruel?
    Ty continued to look at Julian, the anger and combativeness leaching out of his expression to leave him staring impassively. Not only had he gotten control of his temper, it had disappeared. Zane had never seen his partner like this.
    “You call me a monster,” Julian said, voice low. “At least I know what I am.”
    “I know what you are you too,” Ty whispered back, not acknowledging the hit in any way.
    The room fell into tense silence. Zane shifted his eyes toward Ty and waited. But Ty stood staring at Julian, face expressionless and body relaxed. He neither looked Zane’s way nor even acknowledged that he and Cameron were there. It was like waiting for two