Giorgio (Vigilance 1)

“Watching,” Leo said

My stomach churned.

I knew X was as worried as I was. I wanted to give him some reassurance, but my mouth was too dry, and I wasn’t sure I could keep my voice steady.

I heard shoes click on a tile floor, then a door being opened. Soon after that, the sound of water. Lane must be in the bathroom.

Leo spoke again. “Target is waiting outside the bathroom.”

“Stay in position,” X said. “And don’t fuck this up.”

The wait was killing me. Usually in these circumstances, I was able to put myself in a zone where I focused on nothing but commands to move, to sight a target, to shoot. I wanted to rush in, grab Alan, and beat him senseless. I could end the man right this second, but that wasn’t our only objective. I willed myself to breathe slowly, using the calming techniques I’d honed over my years in the service.

“Lane.” That must be Alan speaking.

“Oh. I… I didn’t see you.” Fuck. He sounded scared.

“Why did you show up with another man? Did you think you could make me jealous?”

“No, I—”

“We have unfinished business.”

“I know. I… I came because I wanted to see you. I’ve missed you.”

Alan snorted. “Just like I said you would. So why bring another man instead of responding to my invitation?”

“He… insisted. He’s very possessive, but I’d rather have you.” Lane was following the script we’d worked out. Fortunately, it didn’t matter that his voice was a little shaky.

“Come with me.”

I heard a door opening and more footsteps. Then another door.

“They’ve gone into what looks like a library,” Leo said.

“You owe me.” It was Alan’s voice again.

“What do you mean?” Lane was using his most coquettish voice, and I hated that he was having to play up to this fucker. I balled my hands into fists, squeezing so hard my knuckles went white. I should never have agreed to this.

“I wanted a chance to show you off,” Alan said. “You never gave me that, but now you can repay me for all I’ve done for you.”

“The gallery showing? You’ll set that up for me?” Lane sounded so eager, so innocent. He was good.

“Maybe, but you’ll have to be a good boy for me. You’ll have to earn it. You can’t embarrass me again like you did before.”

“Em-embarrass you? What do you mean? What did I do?”

“I promised my friend a nice afternoon, then you refused us and told us to leave.”

“I didn’t want… I wasn’t in the mood for a threesome that day. You surprised me.”

“We’d talked about it before. You knew I liked to share.”

I hated this fucking piece of shit.

“I… I just wasn’t sure I really wanted to.” Was the quiver in Lane’s voice real, or was he still acting?

“I’ve got something for you that will help you not be nervous this time.”

“He plans to fucking drug him,” I said, hating the panic in my voice.

“Stay calm,” Leo said. “We’ve got this.”

“Wh-what do you mean this time?” Lane asked.

“Weren’t you listening? I told you I need to see that you won’t disappoint me again.”

“Ouch!”

I couldn’t take this. Joe must have sensed I’d reached my breaking point. He laid a hand on my shoulder as I said, “We need to get him out.”

“Give him a few more seconds,” Leo said. “I’m right by the door. We’re so close to nailing him.”

“Don’t fight me,” Alan said. “Lie down and relax.”

“We can’t let this go any further,” I said. “I’m not letting that bastard touch him.”

A loud scratching sound nearly made me cry out. It was followed by a crunch and then silence.

“Fuck. He found Lane’s wire,” Leo said.

“I’m on my way,” Niall said.

“Me too.”

“No, Giorgio,” X said. “Hold until we have more intel. Leo. Niall. Report.”

How could X sound so calm when I was a fucking mess?

Lane had to be terrified. I needed to get to him.

28

Lane

Something stung my arm. I looked down and saw Alan pulling out a syringe. Oh fuck no. “What did you…”

The effects of whatever he’d given me were immediate. My tongue felt thick, and my vision went hazy. Alan put an arm around me as my knees weakened and half dragged me to a sofa.

“That’s it.” He encouraged me to lie back.

I wanted to stay sitting up, but I couldn’t seem to control my body. My mind was working, but my limbs didn’t want to obey me, and reality seemed far away. My eyes started to flutter closed, but I forced them open again.

Stay awake. What the fuck had he given me?

“Let’s get you undressed.” He yanked my shirt open and saw the mic Giorgio had taped to me. He jerked it off, the pain of the tape pulling skin and hair barely registering. I think I protested, but that may have been in my head.

I watched Alan through blurry vision as he crushed the mic with his foot.