Page 21 of Lay It Bare

Sevastyan turned to the taller slave. “Lisa, if security is breached and you two have to leave, you’re in charge. Rei has the emergency plans and papers.” Sevastyan leaned forward and opened the drawer beside the bed. Inside were several guns and knives. “For you.”

Lisa blinked slowly. He looked between Rei and Sevastyan as if waiting to be pranked.

“I take Rei’s security seriously, Lisa. If anything happens, make sure Rei’s alive when I return.”

Lisa swallowed and nodded.

Sevastyan stood. “I’m trusting you two to look after each other while I’m gone. Keep an eye on the feeds. Upload the reports twice a day. I’ll look at them when I can. No contact with outsiders.”

Lisa nodded. Rei bowed his head.

“That’s all, then.” Sevastyan stood and stretched. “I’m leaving early. We should all get some sleep.”

“I can go to the couch,” Lisa whispered.

“Shut up,” Sevastyan said. He went into the bathroom. Was he being illogical keeping Lisa in bed with himself and Rei? Yes, perhaps. But his instincts wouldn’t let him do anything else. Lisa could suck it up and learn what it meant to be looked after as long as he was here.

Sevastyan

It was six in the morning as Sevastyan gathered his things and prepared to leave. Rei followed Sevastyan to the door, still naked. He knelt and helped Sevastyan with his shoes, then stood and handed him his hat and gloves. Sevastyan slid his hand behind Rei’s head and drew him in close, kissing him on the brow. “Глаза боятся, а руки делают.” (GlaZAH baYATsa, a RUki DYElayut.) Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Rei pressed the flats of his palms against Sevastyan’s chest under his coat. “I’ll be here. Just come back.”

“Always, little one.” Sevastyan kissed him one more time. “Keep our little fox alive.”

Rei dipped his head in acknowledgment. “안전한 여행 되세요, Master.” (Anjeonhan yeohaeng doeseyo.) Be safe in your travels.

Ellisandre

Ellisandre shrugged out of their heavy overcoat, something that could have come from an army surplus store. The professionals at Linda’s office wouldn’t recognize them with their hair hidden under a maroon beanie, brown contacts obstructing their usual eye color, and a bronze ear cuff on one side. Their shirt was floppy, gray, and from the athletic section of a store that probably closed twenty years ago, the hem barely tucked into wide-legged jeans that skimmed the tops of heavy Timberland brown boots. There wasn’t a question in the place about their gender. Male as they came is what they looked like. It fit the vibe of the day. After breakfast, they were going to the shooting range with Alice for one of their twice a week training sessions and then they were going to do street practice, with Alice spotting for stalkers and learning to ditch them in urban environments. Linda was taking the morning off to stay with Dana. Even though it was Monday, Ellisandre had made time for Alice’s training. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and most Saturday afternoons both Dana and Alice were meeting with their hand-to-hand self-defense instructor. Never mind that Ellisandre had paid to bring over one of their own favorite teachers from the UK just to train them. No one needed to know that. It felt like there was no time to waste.

Sevastyan’s face registered recognition of them as soon as he stepped through the doors of the greasy spoon breakfast spot. Like them, he’d altered his appearance. His hair was dyed a mid-tone brown. He had hazel-brown contacts covering his light eyes, and he hadn’t shaved in at least two days, giving him a scruff that Ellisandre wanted to brush their fingers against to see how rough it might be. There was a leather bag over his shoulder and a rolling suitcase beside him. He pushed through to the table at the back of the shop, apologizing for the size of his larger bag to the few other customers present.

Ellisandre stood and helped pull the bags to the wall. “You made it.”

Sevastyan gave a crooked smile, a line appearing beside his mouth. “I said I’d come.”

“Tell me how long you have.”

“An hour before I have to call a ride to O’Hare.”

“I’m glad you came.”

Sevastyan sagged down into a seat. “Wanted to see you.”

“Didn’t think you’d be leaving the city, not right now.”

“Unfortunately, I have a reliable informant, which makes me deployable.”

Ellisandre let a huff of laughter slip out. “Reliable, indeed.”

“Very.” Sevastyan leaned forward on his elbow and smiled. “The best.”

“I hope you’re taking care of them.”

Sevastyan mock grimaced. “No, I’m very much in their debt.”

“I doubt they believe that.” Ellisandre brought their mug of coffee to their mouth and smirked through the steam.