Giorgio (Vigilance 1)

He glanced back at me. “You don’t need to look so defensive. Tara isn’t a threat.”

“In my line of work, it’s best to assume everyone is a threat.”

Lane sighed, but I rested my hand on my gun.

I listened to the sound of footsteps approaching the door and readied myself for trouble. I knew it was unlikely, but after what had happened earlier, I knew Lane was in serious danger. I wasn’t going to let him get so much as a scratch.

Tara opened the door a crack, leaving the chain on. “Lane? I thought you wouldn’t be home for several more days.”

“I didn’t think I would be either, but we ended up coming back early. I should have texted, but today was… insane.” He turned to me. “You remember my friend, Giorgio?”

She gave me a skeptical look, then nodded. I liked that she was careful and that she was smart enough to recognize I was a threat.

“Just a second.” She closed the door. After I heard her remove the chain, she opened it again. This time she was holding Mittens.

The cat meowed loudly as Lane scratched her ears.

“Have you been a good girl?” he cooed. My chest tightened as I watched him. He was so damn adorable. When had I become such a sap?

“She’s been perfect,” Tara said. “Much better than my monsters.” Lane had told me Tara had two Siamese cats and a chihuahua, which meant she couldn’t be as sane as she appeared.

“Really? She hasn’t caused any trouble? She didn’t scratch anything up or—”

Tara shook her head. “She was an angel, just like always.” Tara petted Mittens as Lane cuddled her in his arms. “She just had her dinner. If you hang on just a second, I’ll grab all her things.”

He thanked Tara profusely, and Mittens snuggled against him. I took the bag of food and toys and the round bed Tara brought to the door. Then we said our goodbyes and walked down the hall to Lane’s apartment.

“I asked a friend to check out your building and make sure no one was lurking around. He’s waiting for us in your apartment.”

“What?” Lane gave me a confused look. “How did he get in?”

“Locks aren’t really much of a barrier for him.”

“Your friend? Not someone who works for your agency?”

I shook my head. “No, he’s… in a different line of work.”

Lane glared at me. “No more secrets.”

“Have you heard of the Marchesi family?”

Lane’s eyes widened. “You’re fucking kidding me. There’s a mobster waiting in my apartment?”

“Shhh. Let’s not alert anyone else, and Devil’s a complex man. I occasionally work with him and his family.”

“I thought you and your… people were the good guys.”

I scoffed. “Not exactly, not the way a lot of people mean that.”

“I don’t—”

“Trust me.”

He held my gaze for several seconds, then I saw the acceptance in his eyes. “All right, if you trust him…”

“I do. With my life. He’s married to a former cop who’s been looking into Alan’s connections with other criminals we’re investigating.

“He’s married to a cop?”

“A former cop, but yes.”

“I’m guessing you know a lot of interesting people.”

“I do. You’re going to get to meet more of them. Some of the other men from my… agency will be coming by tomorrow so we can discuss a plan to move in on Alan. And one of them—or Devil—will be here at night so there’s always someone on guard without me having to stop sleeping. You’ve met one of them already.”

“I have? Who?”

“Leo. He was working the desk when you arrived at the tattoo shop.”

“He works with you? I thought he was the owner of the shop.”

“He is. But he also works with me. He’s former CIA.”

“No fucking way.”

“He’s dangerous as fuck. He will also defend you with his life. He’s one of the very few people I would trust to protect you.”

“I thought you said everyone at your agency is qualified.”

“I didn’t know the full extent of the threat then, and I didn’t know… you. There are very few people I trust with what’s mine.”

“I… I don’t…”

My heart pounded, and the hall wavered in front of me. I’d risked my life time and time again and been in situations that would paralyze most people with fear, but falling for Lane was way scarier than anything since Thomas’s capture. Lane was way too full of light and life for someone like me who was supposed to stay in the shadows.

“Come on. You’ll be safer in your apartment than out here.”

“I know this building doesn’t have a lot of security, but I really don’t think…”

“We didn’t think anyone would find you at the cabin, but they did.”

I hated the fear I saw in his eyes, but he needed to accept the level of threat Alan and his minions posed.

I texted Devil. We’re at the door.

I’ll let you in.