A Daring Gentleman's Guide to Wooing.

Theo should have walked away. He really should have. The smart thing to do was to go home, forget about the book, and pretend none of this ever happened.
But Theo Landry had never been particularly good at walking away from bad decisions.

And right now, standing beside Asher Mercier in front of a bookshop that looked like it had seen better days, he was making another one.

"You boys coming in or not?" The old man who owned the shop tilted his head toward the door, the smirk never leaving his face.

Theo and Asher exchanged glances. It wasn’t a glare-off like before, just a brief, silent conversation. Asher’s face read, This is a waste of time. Theo’s face read, Shut up and let me have this.

The old man chuckled like he knew exactly what was going through their heads. "Suit yourselves. But if you want that book, you’d better hurry. I don’t hold items for indecisive men."

Theo let out a breath and stepped inside first.
The shop smelled like dust, old paper, and something faintly herbal. The shelves were packed tightly together, the dim lighting casting deep shadows over the books stacked haphazardly. It wasn’t a big place, but it had the kind of atmosphere that made you feel like you’d find something important if you just looked hard enough.

"Where’s the book?" Asher asked, already scanning the shelves like he was searching for something more than just a dime-store romance novel.

"Patience, kid," the shopkeeper said, shuffling to the back. "You seem like the type who likes answers quick, but some things take time."

Theo leaned against one of the shelves, eyeing Asher. "You always this tense?"

Asher gave him a blank look. "You always this annoying?"

Theo grinned. "Usually."

The shopkeeper returned with a slightly worn copy of A Daring Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing. Theo reached for it, but Asher got there first, flipping it open with an urgency that suggested he wasn’t actually here for the romance advice.

Theo raised a brow. "So? You gonna tell me why that book is so important, or do I have to guess?"
Asher ignored him, eyes scanning the pages like he was searching for something specific. Theo caught a glimpse—elegant, looping script in the margins. Not part of the original text.

Notes. Maybe even coded messages.

Theo let out a low whistle. "Alright, I’ll bite. Who leaves secret messages in a romance novel?"

"Someone who doesn’t want them found," Asher muttered, still reading.

Theo crossed his arms. "And yet, here you are, finding them. That’s suspicious, don’t you think?"

Asher’s eyes flicked up to meet his. For a second, Theo thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, with a sigh, Asher closed the book. "If I tell you, will you let me do my job in peace?"

Theo smirked. "Depends on how interesting the answer is."

The shopkeeper chuckled again, shaking his head as he wiped dust off the counter. "You two are either gonna be real good friends or real big problems. Maybe both."

Neither Theo nor Asher acknowledged that, too caught up in their silent battle of wills.

Asher exhaled sharply, looking like he was already regretting every decision that had led him here. "The messages are from a known informant. A source who—"
The bell above the shop door rang as it swung open.
Theo barely had time to react before a man in a dark coat stepped inside, his gaze sharp and searching.

Asher tensed. Theo did too, but more because he recognized the man. Not by name, but by reputation. A fixer. Someone who made inconvenient people disappear.

The fixer’s gaze landed on them, and Theo swore under his breath.

"We need to go," Asher said, voice low.

"Oh, now you’re in a hurry?" Theo muttered.

Asher shot him a glare. "Move."

And for once, Theo listened.

They were already in trouble. Might as well run headfirst into it.

They barely made it around the corner before Theo grabbed Asher’s sleeve and yanked him into the alley. Asher stumbled, cursing under his breath. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Keeping us from getting shot, if you don’t mind," Theo whispered. He peeked around the corner. The fixer had stepped out of the bookshop, scanning the street with the slow, deliberate movements of someone who never lost a target.

Asher exhaled sharply. "You recognized him. Who is he?"

Theo didn’t look away. "Let’s just say he’s the kind of guy you don’t want noticing you. And we just became very noticeable."

Asher muttered something in French that Theo didn’t understand but had the distinct impression was an insult. "Fantastic. Any bright ideas?"

Theo grinned. "One."

Before Asher could ask, Theo grabbed his arm and started walking—right toward the fixer.

"Are you insane?" Asher hissed, but Theo ignored him.
The fixer noticed them immediately, dark eyes narrowing. Theo kept his posture casual, shoulders loose, like he had absolutely no reason to be nervous. Asher, to his credit, adjusted in an instant, falling into step beside him.

"Evening, gentlemen," Theo drawled, forcing a charming smile. "Lovely night, isn’t it?"

The fixer didn’t respond, just stared them down like he could see through every lie Theo had ever told in his life. For a split second, Theo considered running again.
Then the fixer’s gaze flicked to the book in Asher’s hands.

Theo swore internally. Of course he noticed.
"Nice read?" the fixer finally said, voice even.

Asher’s grip on the book tightened. "Just some light material."

"That so?" The fixer tilted his head slightly, assessing them. "Funny. That particular book’s been getting a lot of attention lately."

Theo shrugged. "It’s a classic."

A tense silence stretched between them. Theo held his breath, waiting for the fixer to make a move. But then, to his surprise, the man smiled—slow, knowing.

"Well," the fixer said, stepping back. "Enjoy your reading."

And then he walked away.

Theo waited until he was out of sight before exhaling. "That was—"

"—too close," Asher finished. He looked down at the book, then at Theo. "We need to figure out what’s in here. Fast."

Theo smirked. "Told you romance novels were interesting."

Asher groaned. "I already regret this."

Too late for that now.
They were already in too deep.

And if Theo had learned anything in his life, it was that getting out of trouble was never as easy as getting into it. Whatever was hidden in that book, it wasn’t just some casual informant’s notes—it was something worth chasing.

Something worth protecting.

Or maybe, something worth killing for.

"Alright, Mercier," Theo said, stretching his arms. "What’s next?"

Asher sighed. "Next? We find out who else is looking for this book before they find us."

Theo’s grin widened. "Now that sounds like fun."