Chapter Fifteen
I couldn’t have had more than a few hours of sleep since Charlotte had lost control of her mission, and to say it was starting to weigh on me was an understatement.
It had been a week already and we still had no information on Keller.
I had eyes on every fucking exit of that building, there was no chance he had slipped out without me knowing about it, which meant he was hiding, holed up like the rat he was.
I had a near-constant migraine, eyes strained from staring at my screens night and day.
Hangman had returned from his side-mission of dealing with Keller’s house to me looking like a dishevelled mess, unwashed and surviving on vending machine snacks.
I hadn’t dared to look away for even a moment, terrified that if I fucked up, if I missed Keller leaving, we’d never find him again and…
Well, what happened next didn’t bear thinking about.
Begrudgingly, I had allowed Hangman to take care of me.
He took over watching the surveillance cameras so I could shower and get some rest. Not only that, but he constantly reminded me to eat and as much as it got my back up to be grateful to him, I was glad he was here with me.
It made my worries for Charlotte lighter just to be able to share them with someone.
With no sightings of Keller, the whole team was suffering. None of us were used to biding our time, sitting on our arses and waiting things out. Tempers were flared and patience was at an all-time low. No one was feeling this more than Charlotte.
“If I have to sit in this fucking hotel room for one more day…” she snarled in my ear. I couldn’t see her, but I knew she was pacing.
“I know, I’m working on a solution. I just need a little more time—”
“Oh, Relay, no,” her voice softened immediately. “It’s not your fault. I know everyone is killing themselves trying to figure this shit out, I just— Put that down if you want to keep your fingers!”
I sighed, slumping in my chair and rubbing my fingers against my eyes.
It was no secret to any of us that Agent Dixon and Charlotte were driving one another crazy.
She had told me how frustrating she found the younger agent, but I guess it was only sexy when you weren’t living literally on top of one another.
I had gotten all too used to listening to them bickering with one another in my ear.
That hotel room was like a pressure cooker for their frustrations – both with the mission and one another.
“Right, that’s it—” There was a crackle of activity, Charlotte’s breaths loud down the mic. Agent Dixon didn’t have an earpiece of his own, but I heard his grumbling loud and clear as if he did.
“It’s just a packet of M&Ms, Charlotte. Why can’t we— Ow!”
I sighed, drawing Hangman’s attention from across the bedroom.
He was lying back, sprawled out on his bed, flicking through a magazine.
He had long since stopped wearing his earpiece and it was at times like this that I couldn’t blame him.
He had an even lower tolerance for bullshit than I did.
He held eye contact, brow cocked quizzically.
“The children are fighting again,” I groaned.
Hangman grinned. “Ah.”
“I heard that,” Charlotte huffed.
“I meant for you to,” I quipped.
“You don’t understand how annoying he is to live with, especially inside a fucking shoe box.”
“I know,” I soothed. “Keller can’t stay hidden away forever. He’ll be forced to move soon. And once he does, we will pounce. Just be—”
“Patient. I know, I know.” I heard her sigh.
I paused, a smirk playing on my lips. “You’d think Dixon would have cottoned on to how protective you are of your M&Ms by now, hm?”
A soft chuckle came in response. “Right?” Another pause. “I miss you, baby.”
That was like a knife in the heart. I missed her too, desperately. Just considering what might happen if we didn’t wrap this mission up soon made me feel sick. What if I never saw Charlotte again? A cold shiver danced down my spine. No, I couldn’t even consider that.
“It’s quiet there now. You haven’t neutralised Dixon, have you?” I joked.
“I wish. He’s in the shower.” There was a loud crunch as Charlotte chewed on an M&M.
“You know, I was thinking. You still owe me a picture of Agent Dixon. Stuck in a hotel room together is a good opportunity, don’t you think?
” In truth, that was the last thing on my mind, but I needed to keep things light.
Charlotte was no good to anyone if she was allowed to stew in her emotions. I knew that better than anyone.
Charlotte laughed. “True enough. Even that’s annoying. Where does he get off being so fucking attractive… Ugh.” Another loud crunch.
“So you keep telling me, but I—” My voice faltered, a heavy hand falling on my shoulder. I glanced up at Hangman, towering over me as he pushed his earpiece in for the first time all week.
“Why are we discussing taking pictures of Agent Dixon?”
“Oh, hey, Hangman. Nice of you to join us,” Charlotte muttered sarcastically. “It’s nothing, just an inside joke between me and Relay.”
“Apparently Agent Dixon is my type,” I said, knowing it would get Hangman’s back up. Why did that give me such a thrill? “I’m curious.”
I could tell by his expression that Hangman was not a fan of this line of conversation. Was he jealous? Why did he care?
“Perhaps I’ll try and sneak one when he gets out of the shower,” Charlotte mused to herself.
“Speaking of showers,” Hangman squeezed my shoulder. “When was the last time you took a break from these screens?”
Too long, if my migraine was anything to go by. Just as it always did, the thought of stepping away filled me with dread. My eyes darted to the footage on the screens.
“I’m glad you’re taking such good care of him, Hangman. He’s the worst for not resting when he’s working,” Charlotte said.
“Tell me about it. He’s a pain in the arse,” Hangman muttered, his eyes still on me. “Go. Grab yourself a shower and something to eat. I’ll take over for a bit.”
“I mean, I can—”
“Now, Relay.”
Fuck. My stomach flipped over just as it always did whenever he used that authoritative tone. I couldn’t refuse him and he fucking knew it. Damn it.
“Alright,” I sighed. “Shout if anything—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Hangman smirked. “I got it. Now go, and leave your earpiece.”
“Speak to you in a few, Aquarius,” I said, rolling my eyes at the other man with a huff as I removed my earpiece.
Hangman held out his hand for it, and I dropped it onto his palm, getting to my feet. My body was stiff and aching from sitting in that chair and I groaned as I stretched. Hangman cast me a knowing look before slipping into the seat in my place.
Alright, I had to admit maybe he had a point. I was killing myself trying to complete this mission, but surely he had been briefed on what would happen to us if we didn’t? The Guild didn’t take kindly to failure.
I let myself into the bathroom, leaning around the shower curtain to turn on the water and stripping out of my clothes whilst I waited for it to warm up.
It wasn’t just failing the mission that had me worried.
Charlotte’s identity was compromised. The Guild wouldn’t permit Agent Dixon to live knowing that information and if Charlotte was unwilling to do what it took…
Well, someone else would. What if The Guild saw her refusal as weakness and decided she was too much of a risk? I couldn’t bear it.
I leant forward, resting my hands on the sink as I fought not to spiral.
This was what happened whenever I was allowed too much time to think.
When I was working, I could put all these worries to the back of my mind.
I could focus on moving forward rather than fearing what awaited us if we didn’t.
I would make this shower quick. Once Hangman was appeased, I’d get back to it.
Keller had to crack sooner or later. He had to.
I ducked under the hot spray, groaning as it hit my skin. I had to admit, this felt good. The heat and steam did wonders for my headache and I allowed myself a moment, standing beneath the jets as they drummed on my aching back.
Charlotte wasn’t the only one who was feeling pent up.
When I could take my mind off the mission and how stressed I was, I was instantly barraged by that suffocating sexual tension between me and Hangman.
He had behaved himself thus far. He knew how heavily everything was weighing on me, but I wasn’t under any illusion that he had moved on from it.
Every damn time we locked eyes, that heat I fought so hard to ignore burst to life…
I needed Charlotte back here and soon, for everyone’s sake.
I couldn’t allow myself to linger here too long.
I had work to do. I turned off the shower and snatched up a towel, scrubbing myself dry before stepping out onto the mat.
I wiped the steam from the mirror, pushing my wet hair from my face and gazing at my reflection.
I looked just as exhausted as I felt. Great. My headache was already returning.
I glanced at the pile of dirty clothes on the bathroom floor.
I could put those back on, but I couldn’t deny how flattering I found Hangman’s blatant interest whenever he saw me in my towel.
With very little to be positive about right now, I was keen to feel some semblance of normality.
Having a handsome man like Hangman tripping over his tongue at the mere sight of me was an ego boost I couldn’t say no to.
I wrapped my towel around my hips and stepped over my rumpled clothes, heading back out into our shared hotel room.
Just as I had expected, Hangman was right where I had left him, lounging in my desk chair as he studied the screens.
There was something off, something pensive about his expression, his body coiled tightly…
Before I could ask, his eyes were on me.
I faltered briefly before brazening it out and strolling to grab some fresh clothes.
I hadn’t brought enough outfits for a mission of this duration, but Hangman had found a laundromat a few streets over and had taken care of our dirty laundry since.
I had my back to him, but I could feel his gaze upon me, practically burning holes into my skin. I did my best to ignore it. Just as I got to my feet, eager to retreat to the bathroom to dress, he spoke.
“Do you prefer blondes?”
I blinked, taken aback for a moment. “Pardon?”
“You heard me. Charlotte is a blonde. Agent Dixon, too.” My eyes widened as I spotted a phone in Hangman’s hand. “Do you prefer blondes?”
“Is that my phone?” I spluttered.
Hangman slipped the device into his pocket before getting to his feet. He moved so slowly, almost predatory, and my heart began to thunder in my chest. Despite how I wanted to step back, I held my ground, allowing him to close in on me.
“Answer me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even know what Agent Dixon looks like, and Charlotte is—”
“He’s a blonde. Charlotte said he was your type of man, and she is evidently what you like in a woman…”
“How do you— Wait, did Charlotte really send that picture?!” I asked, eyes darting to where my phone was hidden in his pocket.
“She did,” Hangman all but snarled. Before I’d seen him move, Hangman was shoving me. I fell backwards onto the bed, nervous perspiration breaking out down my back. “That’s your type?”
I wasn’t thinking. My mouth moved before my brain could catch up with what I was saying.
“And what if it is, huh? Are you jealous?” I held Hangman’s intense eye contact, watching his expression grow heated.
“Fuck yeah, I am.”
“W-wait, we shouldn’t… We need to be keeping an eye on the screens,” I spluttered as I attempted to shuffle backwards across the bed. I was more than painfully aware I was completely naked, save for a towel. I swallowed thickly, heart pounding.
Hangman caged me in, his arms leaning against the bed either side of me.
“You’ve set up alarms that will be triggered by movement, right?”
I had. It was only my own paranoia that kept me staring at those screens day and night, afraid the tech I relied so heavily upon might let me down. It was life and death we were talking about, after all.
We gazed at one another for a long moment before he sat back, his hand digging my phone out.
He held the screen up, using my face to unlock it before turning it around and navigating to my messages with Charlotte, thumbs flying over the screen.
Before I could speak, he turned the screen around.
My eyes dropped to study it, a photograph of a rather attractive, young, blonde man in a towel.
Beneath it there was a message from Charlotte.
‘Thoughts? He’s your type, right? Tell me I’m wrong.’
I couldn’t deny Dixon was attractive. I could understand why he had caught Charlotte’s attention. My eyes jumped up to meet Hangman’s, his face like thunder.
“So?” he asked, deep voice seeming to vibrate right through me. “That’s what you like?”
“I mean, uh—”
I faltered as Hangman threw my phone down into the sheets and leant in over me, bringing a knee up to steady himself against the edge of the bed as he grasped my hand.
I nearly swallowed my tongue as he brought it to his chest. He pressed my palm flat, forcing me to touch him as he guided our hands down over the muscular torso I’d been drooling over since we’d met.
“If that’s your type, that’s not me.”
My mouth was dry, tongue heavy as I fought for something to say.
Just as I wondered how low Hangman was going to trail my hand, he plucked the hem of his t-shirt.
Torturously slowly, he slid my palm beneath, smoothing over his abs, skin to skin.
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think… Blood rushed to my cock, the flesh beginning to stiffen swiftly.
With only a towel hiding my modesty, my enjoyment of everything Hangman was doing was impossible to deny and it wasn’t long until he noticed.
He smiled down at me, the epitome of sexy. “Looks like I might be your type after all, hm?”
Fuck. I was in trouble.