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“We found out how Alan located you at the cabin.”
“How?”
“Your mother’s friend’s husband is business partners with a man who’s closely connected to Alan. He mentioned that a family friend was using the cabin because he needed to get out of the city.”
“And Alan figured it out from that?”
“That’s what X thinks. Your mother is beside herself.”
He pulled out his phone, looked at it, and quickly typed something. “She’s called and texted several times. I’m just letting her know I’m fine. What else have you learned?”
“Alan also has connections to Bernard Swain.
“The congressman?”
I nodded.
“Isn’t Swain totally homophobic?
“Yes. He’s a piece of shit, but despite how he votes, he’s perfectly happy to socialize with wealthy gays in the art world. I suppose he thinks they know their place.”
“But Alan’s gallery supports LGBTQ charities, and—”
“Alan is an opportunist.”
“Yeah, he is. I just…” Lane set his fork down and closed his eyes.
I laid my hand over his. “You were manipulated by this fucker. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I was naive and stupid. I thought…”
“That he could help your career? You liked that he seemed interested in you, and he treated you like you were older. There’s nothing wrong with liking those things.”
“But I fought so hard to be independent, then I just…”
I used my thumb to lift his chin so he would look at me. “Yesterday, after I’d gone outside to track down someone who was there to harm you, you followed me because you wanted to protect me. You’re brave, 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.”
