42 || (goodguybadfriends/colsmoran)
He was nowhere near London when his phone vibrated against his leg. He blinked slowly, suppressing a groan of frustration, as the dear he'd been approaching suddenly bolted away, spooked by the sound of the vibrating decide against the log of wood he was leaning against. He should have left the damned thing in the car if he wanted to catch something today! But as he was leading the late-Moriarty's empire, he had to be available 24/7. Even on his sodding birthday when he wanted nothing to do with the firm of Moriarty's inheritance.
He got up and sat down on the log he'd been hiding behind, placing his hunting riffle over his lap and reached inside his pocket, fishing his phone out to check who was calling him. He'd already ignored a few texts, some from colleagues who wished him a happy birthday in the hope to be in his favour -- didn't any of these cunts knew he hated this day? And especially after last summer, he had no intentions to change that.
The name on the display told him who it was. There were a few reasons why he had this caller's phone number in his contact list. They had attended the same school and spend a lot of time together. He had always stood up for him, protecting the younger man from bullies and older students. He had even bought the kid his first cigarettes and alcohol, and kissed him and fucked him for the first time. They hadn't spoken much in the years after he came back from the army, but it had been Sebastian who had suggested to Moriarty to hire him as their spy inside Scotland Yard. But they had only met up a few times, usually just for business matters, fearing Moriarty would find out out their past fling and have them both gutted.
But now, with Jim dead, he was calling him on his sodding birthday. It wasn't an unusual thing to do; the man had called him before, and also on his birthday. But this was his first birthday alone; without Moriarty. He had always hated his birthday, but this year, it was even more unbearable; colleagues and clients trying to take him out for dinner, sending him expensive gifts, all to warm him up for whatever they wanted to be fixed.
But he feared, that Greg was calling with other intentions.
He let out a long sigh and finally answered the phone, but not speaking, listening to whatever the man had to say to him.
