Xavier (Vigilance 4)

“We’re planning a battle here, not running a zoo.”

“You won’t even notice him.”

I knew that was a lie. I probably should’ve taken Remington up on his offer to force Lancelot to go back to New Orleans.

“Untie him,” I said looking at Giorgio.

Giorgio looked like he might protest. I didn’t think he liked Lancelot much either, but he did as I said.

Lancelot made a big show of flexing his wrists, rubbing them, and cracking his back. “That’s much better. More like the island hospitality I expected.”

“Lower your expectations,” I said. “We’re on a mission, not a vacation.”

“No reason not to combine the two. In New Orleans—”

“You’re not in New Orleans. You’re on my island.”

“Niall is going to escort you to wherever you’ve left your things.”

“I didn’t bring anything besides myself.”

“And your monkey,” I pointed out.

“Yes, and Tony. I travel light.”

“Fortunately, I keep some changes of clothes here so you can stay fresh. The housekeeper will show you where to find everything you might need and bring you something to eat or drink if you’d like. In one hour, you will come back here, and you will tell me everything you’ve learned.”

Lancelot nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll do exactly that.”

When he left with Henrietta, I scowled at Devil. “You could’ve warned me about this guy.”

“I didn’t think Remington would really send Lancelot. I thought he’d send his cousin, who is a little saner, come himself, or just call.”

I shook my head. “Giorgio, speak with my security team, tell them to step it up. Everybody else take a break and meet back here in an hour.”

Before anyone could say something to detain me, I grabbed Emilio’s arm and hustled him out of the room.

29

Emilio

I found out I absolutely loved being manhandled by X, but I’d gotten the impression he didn’t want his team to know what was going on between the two of us. Apparently, he’d either forgotten in his frustration or decided he didn’t care anymore.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“The safe room.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Too many things to count, but nothing immediately dire, as far as I know. I have some information I need you to find, and I want you to use the best equipment.”

“What did Remington say?”

I’d only been able to hear X’s side of the conversation, but I’d seen the way his jaw had tensed and how he’d shifted from side to side the longer the conversation went on. He wasn’t a man who normally fidgeted, so that meant something had disturbed him.

“JW has disappeared. He wasn’t working for Swain. He was being used by the man who was. Remington’s cousin killed that man and got the asshole to squawk before he did the deed. He apparently told the Theriots everything he knew, which included my real identity.”

“Oh shit. What does that mean for you?”

“It means I need you to find something equally damning on Remington or some other member of his family. I need leverage. I won’t be beholden to anyone like that, and I don’t take kindly to threats.”

“Did Remington threaten you? That was fucking brave of him.”

“Not exactly. He was posturing and definitely wanted me to see him as an equal. Considering what he’s accomplished, I’m impressed, but I won’t let him think he has an advantage over me.”

I smiled. “No one truly has an advantage over you, at least not anyone I’ve dealt with.”

“I wish that were true. To stay alive in this world, I have to act like it is, but I know there are people out there who could bring this all crashing down.”

“And that’s part of why you won’t let yourself take a break.”

“Right. I intend to win.”

“Of course you do, we all do, but if you’re too exhausted, you can’t focus, and that won’t do anyone any good.”

“When Giorgio or Anna says something like that, I tell them off or pretend I’ve gone deaf, but you… I can’t ignore you.”

I had no idea what to say to that.

“After this mission, we’ll see. Maybe I’ll actually take a few days off.”

“I know you’re the center of many things, and you have so many people looking to you, but you can’t go forever without refueling yourself.”

“Now you sound like my sister’s yoga teacher.”

“Have you ever done yoga?”

“I tried it a few times at her insistence, but I need to move around more. Boxing works way better for me.”

“You should try flow yoga. You keep moving through yoga postures and don’t spend as much time staying still.”

“You do yoga?”

I smiled. “There are a lot of videos on the internet. It’s easy to do in my apartment.”

X was called away, but I promised him I’d find what he needed.

Once I logged on, I began working my way through everything I could find on the Theriots, digging deeper than I had before. The research went slower than I liked because I had to make sure nothing I did connected me to the online identity that had been exposed.