It’s 1996, and Mark Vincent, senior special agent of the Washington Bureau of Investigation and Security, is sent on assignment to Prague to cancel the head of a terrorist organization. He has no doubt it will be a simple operation. After all, he’s the best, isn’t he? Only another member of the WBIS gets involved, and when everything goes south -- including the loss of valued members of his team -- Mark vows to destroy the man responsible for this debacle. Refused permission to return to the States and ordered to take time off to decompress, Mark heads to Paris, where he meets an attractive rent boy who introduces himself as Louis. Unable to resist, Mark, portraying an ordinary businessman, gives his name as Rick, and they spend the week together. However, neither man is what he portrays himself as. With this unlikely pair, can this be the start of a beautiful friendship?

The Start of a Beautiful Friendship

With a jolt, I realized he was observing me steadily.


I raised a questioning eyebrow. Let him think I found his regard presumptuous.


He got up and approached my table. "I believe I saw you last night at Le Petit Homme," he said in French.


"I told you I don't understand French."


"Forgive me. I am certain you were there."


"My name is Louis." And of course he gave it the French pronunciation, so that it sounded like Louie. "May I join you?"


"Sure." I extended my hand, and he took it. His hand was warm and callused, a working man's hand, and I liked the way it felt. I nodded toward the chair opposite me, folded the Trib and set it aside, and leaned back in my own chair. "I'm Rick." I bit back a grin. "Can I order you a coffee?"


"Not necessary, thanks." He held up the bowl he'd brought with him and settled into the chair.


Chapter 7