Leo (Vigilance #3) - Silvia Violet Page 0,67

I never finished my question because Leo opened his eyes and tried to sit up. “Ezra? Is that really you?”

“Yes, it’s me.” He held out his hand, and I clasped it, not caring that it was covered in blood.

“You’re okay, right?”

I wanted to kiss him so badly, but I held back. “I’m fine.”

He said something else, but I couldn’t make out the words. The ones I thought I heard had to be wishful thinking. Before I could ask what he’d said, he’d closed his eyes and lain down again.

“Help me get Leo to the car,” X said to Niall. The younger man and I each took one of Giorgio’s arms and walked with him. We got them loaded into X’s SUV, which he’d parked as close to the front door as possible.

“Emilio?” When X spoke, the man I’d guessed to be the hacker looked at him like X was his lifeline.

“This is Niall.” X gestured toward the former FBI agent. “Although I suppose you recognize him from running surveillance for us.”

Niall held out his hand, realized there was blood on it and pulled it back. “It’s nice to meet you in person.”

“Um… you too.” Emilio looked even more unsettled than I felt.

“And this”—X turned to me—“is Leo’s boyfriend, Ezra.”

“Hi,” I said, knowing my hands weren’t any cleaner than Niall’s after holding Leo’s. I wasn’t going to argue about being called Leo’s boyfriend. That was sure as hell what I wanted to be.

X focused on Niall again. “Lucien’s best men are on their way with Angelo, and Dr. Morelli is headed to the Marchesis’ house. Coordinate with the crew here, then bring Ezra and Emilio back. Until then, don’t let them out of your sight.”

He took Emilio’s hands in his, and Niall’s eyes widened.

“Are you all right?” X asked the younger man.

“Yes. Um… I think so.”

“I will make sure no one hurts you.”

Emilio’s eyes were wide as he glanced down at their intertwined hands, then back up at X. He looked like he worshiped the man, but X was straight, wasn’t he?

A few moments later, the men who were coming to clean up the mess arrived, and X departed. True to his word, Niall kept Emilio and me by his side as he talked to them. I learned they were going to hang Swain’s body from one of the exposed rafters in his bedroom and leave a suicide note. They’d take care of any evidence that Leo, Giorgio, or any of the rest of us had ever been there.

I wanted to ask how they were going to manage that, but I didn’t dare. From what I’d learned, both Vigilance and the Marchesis had friends on the police force, so certain irregularities might be overlooked.

Emilio didn’t say anything, he just watched silently. I stood there with him, longing to check on Leo.

I pulled out my phone, but I didn’t have any messages, which made sense. I wasn’t even sure if Leo was conscious. Everyone had assured me he’d be fine, but what if they were wrong?

32

Leo

I came to in a car and lay still for a moment, not sure if I was safe. Then I remembered the satisfaction of cracking Swain’s neck and watching his body fall to the ground.

Ezra. Had he really been there? I opened my eyes enough to see that X was driving and Giorgio was in the passenger seat.

“Ezra?” I asked, levering myself up on my arm. My entire body hurt, and I felt like I was weighed down, but I didn’t want to lie there. I wanted to see the man I loved.

“He’s fine,” X said.

“Why isn’t he with us?”

Giorgio snorted. “Because your big-ass, unconscious self was taking up the whole seat.”

X gave me a quick glance. “You need a doctor, so that’s our priority. Niall will bring Ezra to the Marchesis’ when he’s done supervising cleanup.”

“Swain’s dead?” I needed confirmation.

“Very,” Giorgio said. “You were epic, and so was your man.”

My man? “Ezra? What do you mean?”

“Your weak ass was unconscious, so you missed it.”

I growled. “Weak? You fucking slept through—”

“Enough,” X snarled.

Giorgio just laughed. “Don’t be so damn sensitive.”

“What. Did. I. Miss?”

“After you killed Swain, Niall was untying me, and one of Swain’s men burst in. Ezra shot him right through the heart without hesitating.”

“He did what? How did he get a gun?”

“Niall gave him one,” X said.

“What? Why?”

Giorgio huffed. “So he could save our asses apparently.”

“I didn’t even know he knew how to shoot.”

“He did target shooting in his teens,” X said.

“I… I thought…”

“You thought