Burke peered around the mystery apartment in surprise. It seemed much too normal to be a cover. The mattress sitting on the floor appeared to double as the sitting area. A gaming console and TV were the main attraction with a pile of game cases haphazardly stacked next to a basket of laundry. A lonely chair sat by the counter, its off-kilter stance mimicking Burke’s thought process.

“You live here?” Compared to the luxury condo Tyler had been residing in for the last few months, this was a dump. Apparently they both had secrets.

Tyler grinned. “It’s more a place to crash than anything else,” he admitted.

Which meant... this was likely a trap. He’d done his research and this apartment hadn’t showed up on anything. Burke wasn’t sure if he cared anymore. He couldn’t carry on as he had been doing for years. He was exhausted to his core. His soul was tired. He wanted to be done. Having to decide when a person took their last breath was wearing on him.

As Burke organized his thoughts, his eyes never left Tyler’s figure, bustling around the tiny kitchen. He’d started a pot of coffee and was dishing up some cake. Burke was legitimately surprised to see he had actual dishware instead of disposable sets.

“Come. Sit down.” Tyler motioned him over to the rickety chair.

Burke gingerly settled into the seat as Tyler slid the cake toward him. Propping one elbow on the counter, Tyler took a bite before quickly setting his plate back down.

“I forgot you needed some water. How are you feeling?” he asked, filling a glass under the tap.

Burke’s face felt stiff as he smiled without a conscious thought to do so. “I didn’t have that much.”

“When’s the last time you drank, though?”

Tyler’s smirk had Burke’s gaze lingering on his mouth a moment too long.

Snapping back to reality, he shoved a fork-full of cake into his mouth.

“This is good.”

“It’s just a box mix.” Tyler shrugged, despite looking pleased. “How do you like your coffee?”

“Black is fine.” He accepted the warm mug, watching fondly as the other man stirred sugar and creamer into the second cup. He knew too much about Tyler. That would pose a problem.

“You seem a tad bit preoccupied tonight,” Tyler mentioned, taking a long sip from his mug.

“I have a lot on my mind,” Burke admitted, his voice soft.

“Need to get anything off your chest?”

Burke winced at the thought of dropping the bomb. I was supposed to kill you last week but I couldn’t do it. Now both our lives are on the line.

“I don’t think...” He swallowed hard. “You don’t want to hear about my work problems.”

Tyler grinned. “I can always lend an ear.”

Hiding behind the coffee mug, Burke vainly attempted to calm his pounding heart. “You really shouldn’t offer. Might end up hearing something you don’t want to know.”

Amusement flickered over Tyler’s features as he arched an eyebrow. “What sort of things?”

“Maybe someone will tell you that they could get lost while staring into your eyes.”

The genial look Tyler had been sporting flickered to surprise before his face became more composed.

“I suppose that would be an interesting hypothetical conversation.” His accent was suddenly much stronger as he poked aimlessly at his dessert.

“And if it wasn’t a hypothetical?” The longer he spent with Tyler, the more intense Burke’s resolve was to keep him safe.

As Tyler leaned away, Burke set his mug down. “I should go.” His low voice seemed to shake Tyler out of his trance. As friendly as he always appeared, there was a new vulnerability in his face.

“Benjamin.” Tyler circled around the counter like he was stalking wounded prey. “I’d like you to stay.” His hands settled on Burke’s shoulders. “If you want.”