Book Title: The Phisher King 4: Honeypot
Author: Clancy Nacht & Thursday Euclid
Publisher: Eine Kleine Press
Cover Artist: Clancy Nacht
Release Date: June 22, 2021
Genres: Contemporary M/M Romantic Suspense/Thriller
Trope/s: Daddy/boy, mercs with hearts of gold.
Themes: Hurt/comfort
Length: 72 000 words/279 pages
It Is not a standalone story.
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Is Dark Sun an olive branch from Barnes to the men he betrayed,
or is this the honeypot that will secure their demise?
Blurb
It’s been a long road to recovery since FBI Agent Cal Riggs and his hacker boyfriend Hunter Walsh’s last showdown with the treacherous Justin Barnes. His betrayal during False Flag left Cal and Hunter scarred and shaken. As their friends Sam Dupre and Rob Crawford dealt with domestic terrorism in Olympia during Penetration Test, Hunter and Cal fought to regain a sense of normalcy that never materialized.
The Bureau under the Trump Administration takes a punitive attitude toward Cal’s passion of fighting white nationalism, and his employment there grows less tenable by the day. Meanwhile, Hunter deals with the uncertainty of Barnes’s continued freedom by taking extreme steps to enhance the security of the condo he shares with Cal. No part of their lives has escaped Barnes’s poisoned touch.
When a shady corporate lawyer shows up on the doorstep while Cal’s at work, Hunter takes the meeting and discovers Barnes’s plan B: In his absence, he wants to bequeath his mercenary company, Dark Sun, to his former FBI partner and lover, no other than Callum Riggs. But what is Cal going to do with Barnes’s mercs? Can he really leave the Bureau he’s been part of since graduation? Well, if Hunter has a say, that’s exactly what Cal will do.
But life in the private sector is dangerous, too. Enemies hide in plain sight in Dark Sun’s every office, and there’s no knowing who still supports Barnes and his deadly extremist agenda. Is the mercenary company an olive branch from Barnes to the men he betrayed, or is this the honeypot that will secure their demise?
CW: Violence, brief sexual violence (not between MCs; no rape), white nationalist terrorism
“Once I transfer this controlling interest to Mr. Riggs, I am no longer employed by Mr. Barnes, with whom I was only working for because of Dark Sun. I was not his personal attorney, but rather Dark Sun’s legal consult. If you wish to continue with Dark Sun, you may keep me on as legal, or you may find your own legal counsel if you wish. I would suggest keeping me on at least through a transitional period, however, because Dark Sun’s current situation is…tenuous and multifaceted. You’ll want someone around who understands the various legal strings attached.”
Gusev pursed his lips, thoughtful or amused. “Mr. Riggs will find that my services are already included in the extant budget.”
Hunter eyed him, mystified and uncomfortable.
“Tell me the truth here. Have you ever seen anything like this? Just giving away a company? And what are these strings attached?”
“If Mr. Barnes were to maintain his control of Dark Sun, everything he worked to build would be destroyed by his connection to it. You may believe what he loved most was Neo-Nazis, but you would be wrong.”
Gusev’s eyes glittered, and he lifted his chin in challenge. “What he loved most was success. Money. Clout. By entrusting Dark Sun to Mr. Riggs, he ensures that his empire persists. He’s passing the torch to preserve his legacy, such as it is. Does that seem so strange to you? Who else in the world do you imagine a man like Justin Barnes would trust?”
“Why not you?” Hunter leaned forward, gazing into Gusev’s eyes. There was something there, something Hunter couldn’t quite reach. “It is strange to me. He won’t profit from the money, will he? The clout would go to Riggs, as would the success. A strange choice considering Barnes tried to kill him, right? You see where I’m coming from.”
“If Mr. Riggs had done as Mr. Barnes wanted, he would’ve been making similar money, had similar clout and success. It was always Mr. Barnes’s intention that Mr. Riggs become his second in command and his chosen successor. If Mr. Riggs had complied with Mr. Barnes’s wishes…”
Gusev wobbled his hand back and forth. “Well, it’s a certain thing Mr. Barnes wouldn’t have tried to kill him. Mr. Barnes cared for him very much, when last we spoke.”
“Ah, so you have spoken with him recently. A strange kind of love that would turn to murder. A little obsessive, if you ask me.” Hunter sat back, jealousy flaring.
Not that he really needed to worry.
“If Cal were to accept, you’d no doubt need to inform Barnes in some way?”
“I last spoke with Mr. Barnes the same night you did. He called me, told me to go to Plan B, and hung up. He indicated that he’d ‘fucked up’ and that I was to take good care of Mr. Riggs.” Gusev shrugged. “I have no contact information for him. His phone number is no longer in service. I send all correspondence to a P.O. Box in Sammamish. I have disclosed its existence to the FBI. I don’t believe he’s checking it.”
“I don’t believe the FBI gives two flying fucks about tracking Barnes. I’m not sure I believe this is an altruistic move, but I’ll talk it over with Cal.”
What was that phrase about keeping your friends close and enemies closer?
Together, Texans and platonic life partners Thursday Euclid and Clancy Nacht write queer novels that span genres, with intense romances and a seamless shared narrative voice.
They published their first co-written novel, the m/m rock star romance Black Gold, in 2010, and now have over a decade of award-winning collaborations under their exquisite belts. Recent titles include the twisted romance His Fake Prison Daddy and the Phisher King series, in which an uptight federal agent and a bratty hacker go from enemies to lovers while solving a hate crime.
Though Elder Millennial trans man Thursday and Gen X gender outlaw Clancy live three hours apart, they are inseparable. Their friendship is a perfect example of the Grumpy/Sunshine trope, which makes Thursday very happy. Clancy thinks it’s all right.
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