Episode 5
Sevastyan
Morning came with orders from the Yadro.
The directors were satisfied with Sevastyan’s surveillance, at least for the moment.
They wanted him in California. In light of Bak Sahyuk’s arrest, there were a few individuals who were giving higher-level Merchari cause for concern, lackeys of Bak Sahyuk they believed were planning to cooperate with authorities.
Sevastyan checked the list of three names sent to him against his database.
They were all on his hit list of targets to eliminate or turn over to authorities when given the chance, so there was no reason to try to back out of the assignment or give them a chance to run.
The only regrettable thing was that Lisa was still very weak, and Rei would be left mostly on his own.
It couldn’t be helped. Sevastyan started researching the targets and planning his approach.
He booked tickets to California for the next morning.
Rei brought coffee out to Sevastyan a few moments later.
Sevastyan handed him his computer with the assassination orders.
Rei read it and nodded, then left to make breakfast. Over food, they worked together to set up Sevastyan’s approaches, exits, and supplies.
Rei reserved rental cars and located gear.
Everything would have to be outside the Merchari network as it was currently compromised.
The hardest part was actually going to be cleaning out one of Bak Sahyuk’s operation centers and getting rid of evidence.
Some of that evidence, though, would be useful, so Sevastyan was going to have to preserve it, either in a lock box, or by bringing it all the way back with him.
“Let’s do a storage locker,” Rei said. “There are a few places nearby that offer keyless entry.”
“Hold one for me.”
Rei nodded.
Sevastyan watched him work. When they were together like this, he felt like he saw a sliver of what Rei might have been if he had never been sold.
Calm, collected, competent, with a decisive edge when he was in the zone.
Even Rei’s posture changed. He could see the group leader Rei had thought he was going to be.
But this version of Rei never stayed. It was there during moments of pressure, and then disappeared, replaced with the slave that kept his eyes low, and the soft, giving body that Sevastyan also loved.
It was almost like slavery had drained the fire out of him, leaving him with only flickers of fire and the essence of water.
Except Rei could make the tough decisions sometimes, like when he’d run outside and rescued Lisa from the snow.
How much of Rei’s personality was what he thought Sevastyan wanted, and how much was who Rei would be if left to his own choice?
“Leave space for gallery visits in San Diego. Those are my cover for the trip.”
“Mr. Moriaty?” Rei asked.
“Him and Anna Siles.”
“Siles would be perfect for your client in Luxembourg, the one with all the dogs.”
Sevastyan chuckled. “She would be.”
In the end, the trip would be four days in total. The schedule was tight, but two of the names on the hit list were going to be close together, if not in the same location.
Sevastyan went out for supplies, bringing back enough food that neither slave would need to leave while he was gone.
Rei helped him put everything away and then packed Sevastyan’s clothes while Sevastyan checked his gear.
Each complete outfit went in its own bag except for shoes.
Rei laid them out on the coffee table. “Tactical one. Clean up one. Tactical two. Travel one with variations one, two, and three. Your fit for the galleries.” Rei held up a bag with bright red silk in it.
Sevastyan recognized a boutique French label shirt, paired with designer black pants from Shanghai.
Rei knew his work well. Moriaty and Siles would drool.
“Jewelry is inside. The necklaces are stacked and ready to wear. Rings and a watch are in their own bag inside.”
Sevastyan nodded. He had his own style, but Rei’s taste could be trusted any day of the week.
Rei finished going through the last of the bags. He’d accounted for every fit and change of clothes Sevastyan would need along the way.
Sevastyan went over the rest of his tools and finalized the contents of the case he intended to carry and the one he would check.
Sounds of a shuffling came from the bedroom. Rei glanced at Sevastyan. Sevastyan nodded, giving him leave to check on Lisa. A moment later Rei came back. “He went to the bathroom.”
The bags were ready enough. Sevastyan went into the bedroom. Lisa was still awake, sitting up and drinking tea from a thermos. He pushed himself up higher as Sevastyan entered. Sevastyan held up his palm, stopping him. “Stay down. How’s your fever?”
“It broke.” Lisa coughed into his arm and reached for the table beside the bed, holding up the thermometer.
Sevastyan approached and held his hand to Lisa’s forehead. The slave felt almost cool. “Stay under the covers. Tomorrow you can try solid foods. Rei has rice for congee and apple sauce. Start with that.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rei lingered in the doorway. Sevastyan waved him in and sat on the edge of the bed. Rei knelt in front of him. Sevastyan looked between the two slaves. “I’ll be gone for four days. Rei, you’re in charge of anything inside the condo. Communications, food, health.”
Rei bowed his head. “Yes, master.”
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. “??? ?? ???, 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.”