Lyle Atwood's company is hired to costume a party given by multi-millionaire Warner Radclyffe. As he and his employees begin preparations for the job, Lyle begins to feel as if someone is watching him. Then he meets Damien Sauvage, the newest tenant in the apartment building where he lives. Damien tells Lyle that he's a waiter, and when Lyle confides in him that he thinks he's being stalked, Damien offers to help find out who it is. What he neglects to tell Lyle is he actually works for Radclyffe, who wants him to protect Lyle from a very powerful enemy. As Damien gains Lyle's confidence, he becomes attracted to the younger man -- an attraction that Lyle reciprocates. He fights his feelings, knowing Lyle will hate him when he finds out his secret -- and even more so when he learns what Damien really is. Radclyffe orders Damien to continue the job, as he has a secret of his own involving Lyle. A secret that cannot be revealed until the night of the party. Can Lyle survive what is to come, or will the lies of omission be the death of him -- or worse?

Lies of Omission

“I understand why you’re upset,” Warner began.


“Upset? I’m pissed as hell. Wouldn’t you be, if you found out the person you loved wasn’t what you thought they were?”


Felicia, who had taken a seat at the far end of the sofa, moved closer to take his hand. “Of course we would, but you need to think, not just react. What he did was to protect himself. No, I take that back. He didn’t tell you because he was afraid this is exactlyhow you’d react and he wanted to be in your life for a long as possible before you rejected him for being something he had no control over.”


“Any more than you had control over who and what you are. He was born to it, the same as you,” his father added. “May I say, before this progresses any farther, from the sound of it you did quite impressively in your battle with Orsino. By rights, you should be his captive, as little training as you’ve had so far.”


“If it hadn’t been for Damien, I might be,” Lyle admitted reluctantly.


Chapter 82