Page 76 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

“This comes as Vale is reportedly nearing the end of filming the highly anticipated sequel to What Breaks in Silence, the role that earned him a wave of awards nominations, and one of Hollywood’s most sought-out openly gay leading men.”

Then the footage returned to his property.

Ruxs and Green stood near the side yard.

Damnit.

The reporter concluded.

“The most intriguing question is, who are the unidentified men seen moving around Vale’s property not long after police arrived? Several witnesses described them as quote, ‘not regular-looking bodyguards.’ Whether these men are part of his new private security, remains unclear.”

Xander lowered the phone.

“Shit.”

Did God and his team know they were on the news? Could they get into trouble if things went bad? They were cops. Detectives. They had strict rules they had to follow.

He pressed his palm to his forehead.

Xander had been so wrapped up in wanting someone to make him feel safe that he hadn’t thought about their careers, or their lives back in Atlanta.

He had only thought about himself.

His phone rang in his hand. The caller ID said melodramatic mama bear.

Xander stared at it until the third ring. He didn’t want to answer and have to rehash last night.

He swiped the green receiver anyway. “Hey Jesse.”

“‘Hey Jesse’?” she snapped. “Are you fuckin serious? You say ‘hey’ as if you aren’t responsible for the biggest cardiac scare of my life.”

Xander closed his eyes. That was why he called her melodramatic.

“I’m fine,” he said.

“You are not fine! Someone broke into your damn house in the middle of the night, again. I called you a million times!”

“Twenty-one.”

“How dare you not—.”

“I had my phone off.”

“Oh okay, well that’s understandable…you had your phone off?” she said sarcastically before yelling again. “Xander, I’ve aged ten years since breakfast!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Just tell me what happened.”

He moved away from the bed to the chair facing the window, glancing out at the bustling city below. “I’m fine.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I’m giving right now.”

Silence.

Jesse liked information and loathed secrecy. She needed control at all times.