Mark Vincent has risen from senior special agent to Director of Interior Affairs in the WBIS. Lately, life has been sweet for him -- in addition to his promotion, he's found a partner in Quinton Mann, who can almost match his ability in the intelligence field, in spite of the fact Quinn's CIA. Mark has also found a condo in Alexandria with the help of Portia Mann, Quinn's mother, and it's closer to Quinn's town house than Mark's present apartment. Sweetest of all, Mark plans to take Quinn to his island in the Caribbean for the holidays.<br><br>Quinn's glad he has the holiday with Mark to look forward to -- something is going on at Langley, and he feels he's being kept out of the loop. To make matters even worse, useless missions and sleepless nights filled with nightmares are leaving him exhausted. But then his mother's life if threatened, and Quinn discovers the accident that resulted in her hospitalization was no accident. The obsessively self-absorbed Senator Wexler is involved, and while Quinn considers himself a civilized man, now he's out for blood.<br><br>Up until this point, Mark has stayed out of Quinn's CIA business. But hurting Quinn and those he loves isn't a smart move, and Mark has every intention of seeing Wexler pays. Quinn demands to come along, and while Mark isn't happy, he finally agrees, and they set out together to deal with the senator. There's just one catch: this will be the first time Quinn sees Mark at his deadly best, and Mark isn't sure how his lover will react.

Forever

“Perhaps you should watch how you phrase things, Mark.” By this time we’d reached the front of the house. He was behind me as I started up the steps to the portico. I jumped when he pinched my ass.


“Face it, Quinn. Age and cunning will beat out youth and charm every time.”


I dropped my case again, set down the champagne, and wrapped my fingers in the lapel of his overcoat. “Mark—”


Immediately, I released him and took a step back.


The door swung open, and a petite woman stood there. Olive Plum had been housekeeper at Shadow Brook for as long as I could remember. She and her husband Henry had worked for my grandparents, and stayed on after they passed away. “Mr. Quinton. It’s so good to see you.”


“It’s good to see you too.” I stooped and kissed her cheek.


“Nicky called to let us know you were on your way. Come in, come in.”


Chapter 113