Leo (Vigilance 3)

He ignored me and attempted to wake Giorgio by kicking him, then slapping him. When that didn’t work, he turned his attention to me. I kept my expression neutral as he pulled out a knife. I didn’t even flinch when he dragged the tip over my neck, cutting deep enough for blood to trickle down to the base of my throat.

“This is going to be fun.” Swain smiled as he spoke, and I no longer doubted he was insane.

“If you had stayed away, I might have killed you quickly, but now… I’m going to enjoy this. I want to watch you bleed out tiny cut by tiny cut.”

He wanted a reaction, so I refused to give him one. Years of training and a few experiences with torture allowed me to remain still and calm. I retreated into myself as if I wasn’t really there while he used his knife on me, making cut after cut until blood ran down my arms and chest.

When he tired of that, he switched to beating me with a bat. I could tell he was getting more and more frustrated that I wasn’t screaming or begging or saying anything at all. I probably had a few broken ribs, but I’d had worse.

He grabbed the knife again and pushed the tip into the V of my throat. I held still, eyes on his. He wasn’t going to kill me yet. He wanted to break me before he ended things. That wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t going to leave Giorgio to his mercy, and I wasn’t going to die without telling Ezra I loved him. Ezra needed to know that when I’d said I’d always protect him, I was serious. He was mine in every sense of the word.

If I could get my hands free, I’d have a chance. As Swain tortured me, I continued to work on the ropes. He was too distracted to notice. I reached a point where one strong tug should free me, but I had to find the right time to make my move.

Swain slid the knife along my sternum, then suddenly jabbed it deep into my shoulder. I gasped but bit my lip to keep from screaming. I would not give him what he wanted.

From the corner of my eye, I saw movement behind Swain. Or maybe the fog of pain was confusing my senses. Swain twisted the knife before pulling it out and blood flowed freely from the wound. I was going to have to make a move soon, or I wouldn’t have the strength.

I saw movement again, and my instincts told me there was someone watching us.

Swain turned his attention to Giorgio for a second, and I studied the door, which was open a few inches. Someone was looking in through the crack in the hinge side, but I couldn’t tell who. I prayed it was someone X had sent. Giorgio and I were due to check in ages ago, and I was sure he was worried about us.

31

Ezra

I fought back tears as I stared at Leo’s beaten, bloody body through a crack in the door. He was alive, though. That was what mattered. Giorgio hadn’t moved since Niall and I had found him and Leo, but he finally stirred. A second later, his eyes flew open.

“I see you’re ready to join our games,” Swain said.

Giorgio looked over at Leo, and Leo nodded. Was that a signal?

Niall turned to me and pointed to his wrist. When I tilted my head, I could see that the ropes around Leo’s wrists were frayed. He could get himself free, but he must be waiting for something.

Niall turned to me again and mouthed the word distraction. He pointed to his gun, then to himself. Next, he pointed at me and opened and closed his hand to indicate speaking.

I nodded, and he shifted position like he was about to move into the room. I hoped to hell I understood the plan.

I held the gun Niall had given me, but my hands shook, and I doubted I could make a shot.

As soon as Niall stepped into the open, I stepped behind him and yelled, “Leave him alone.”

What happened next took place so fast I wasn’t sure I’d really seen it.

Niall raised his gun, aiming at Swain. Leo burst from his chair with a roar. His legs were still tied, but he managed to gripped Swain’s head and wrench it to the side. A horrible crack echoed in the room, and Swain slumped to the floor, his head at an impossible angle.

“Leo?” He looked up at me, and I raced toward him. He hit the floor before I reached him.

Giorgio was struggling to free himself. “Leo will be fine. Hold your gun on him,” Niall pointed to Swain. “If he twitches, shoot him.”

I didn’t think there was any chance Swain was alive, but I did as Niall said while he worked to free Giorgio.