Giorgio (Vigilance #1) - Silvia Violet Page 0,65
Lane.”
He scoffed. “Like I could’ve done anything.”
“You don’t know what you might be able to do. People can do incredible things when they’re threatened.”
“I wasn’t going to let someone hurt you without at least trying.”
“That’s part of what makes you an amazing person.”
His cheeks pinkened. “You really think I…”
“Yes. I like you for you, not just because your ass is unbelievably amazing.”
“But I thought that you didn’t want—”
I laid a finger over his lips. “Let me tell you what I know about Alan.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t know how closely you follow the news.”
“Not very, especially if it’s not art related.”
“You might still remember that the congressman’s brother, Dennis Swain, went missing several months ago, and his body was later discovered.”
Lane tilted his head as if trying to remember. “Wasn’t it assumed he’d been killed in some sort of argument over a drug deal?”
“That was the story we put out.”
Lane’s eyes widened. “Wait… you…”
“The congressman’s brother was one of the key players in a human trafficking ring. Joe had been investigating their connection to some dirty cops, and Dennis Swain captured him.”
“T-trafficking? Like selling people?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh my God. That’s… This just keeps getting worse. You helped rescue Joe?”
“Yes.”
“And you…”
“I kill people, Lane. I told you that.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“It’s different when you know specifics. I get it. Not many people can handle—”
“No. It’s not that. I… I’m not horrified. Maybe I should be, but I know you. You’re a good man, and if he was… If he’d hurt people, then what you did was right.”
I’d been so sure Lane would pull away from me when confronted with what I did. I’d learned quickly not to tell anyone unless they were also military. I usually got two reactions. People either saw me as a monster or they fetishized what I did and expected me to give them details. Both made me feel dirty and not in a good way.
Knowing Lane accepted who I was made me feel warm all over. What if we could…
No. He was X’s son, and even if there was a chance I could open up to Lane—and that chance was seriously slim—I’d piss him off eventually, and he’d leave. He deserved better than a man with all my secrets and hang-ups.
“Since we first began our investigation, we’ve believed the congressman is also involved with the traffickers, but we haven’t been able to find concrete evidence. He’s good. He covers his tracks well, but we’re better. We will nail his ass.”
“Did you find something on him?”
“Not exactly, but the congressman and several other men who have ties to the traffickers also attended gatherings with Alan and the two men who suffered ‘accidental’ deaths.”
“But that’s not enough to make a solid connection, is it?”
I shook my head. “I would love to say that exposing the congressman’s attendance at these parties would be enough to put his reelection in question, but his voter base would dismiss it somehow. We need more if we’re going to bring him down.”
“Were they… Do you think Alan has been selling the men he brings to those parties?”
“No. I think this is a separate operation. I think young men and women are used as entertainment for the party guests, though I do think at least some guests pay for that privilege. My suspicion is that if confronted, Alan and the other men involved would say the young men and women consented to what happened, but in reality, they were manipulated at best, likely drugged, and some may have been underage.”
“I had no idea. I thought… Is my judgement really that bad?”
“No. You told me you sensed something was off. And you didn’t do what he wanted. You refused to let him share you or take you to a party.”
“I did. I knew something was wrong from the beginning. I’m never ignoring my instincts again.”
“Good. Your instincts are there for a reason, but these men are damn good at convincing their victims to do what they want. And if we’re right, they’ve been doing this for years.”
“Years?”
“Yes, but we’re going to put a stop to it.”
Instead of looking crushed now, Lane looked furious. “Damn right we are. I want to help.”
“No.”
“Alan, the congressman, and the rest of them have to be stopped. If I can—”
“No. I need you safe.”
“I need him to pay.”
“I will make sure he does, but—”
A knock at the door interrupted me.
Lane tensed.
“That’s probably Leo and Niall. We’ll discuss this later.”
He glared at me.
“Don’t move.”
“I—”
The look I gave him must have shown him how serious