by Rylee Swann
He smiled and averted his gaze. “Go right ahead. I’ll wait.”
Now thoroughly confused, she waved a hand to encompass the room. “But there isn’t one in here.”
His head spun to her, his eyes narrowed. “Yes, there is. Didn’t they show you around when they brought you here?”
Rayna shook her head, silenced by his brief display of anger.
“Idiots. I’ll make sure they’re properly reprimanded.”
He strode to a wall near the bed where a picture of what could have been a paint-by-numbers meadow hung. Looking at her, he pressed his hand to the wall and a hidden door hissed open. “You press a button on the inside to close it. Otherwise, it’s a perfectly normal bathroom. I’m very sorry you weren’t made aware of this.”
“It’s alright, really.” She stood and excused herself to Alec muttering, “Heads will roll!”
When she returned, the cart was gone. All that remained were a couple of plates of dessert they hadn’t devoured and the remaining bottles of Perrier. She stood awkwardly in the center of the room, feeling for all the world like a date was coming to an end. She didn’t know how to act, what to say, so she left it to Alec.
“Hey, I have a few things I need to do but I want to thank you for a very enjoyable lunch.” The smile on his face was contagious and spread to Rayna’s as well. “I’d be honored if you’d accompany me for dinner. Not here. I have a restaurant in mind. I’m sure you’d enjoy stretching your legs.”
Alec was a perfect gentleman, easy to talk to, chivalrous and even funny at times. Rayna replied without even thinking about it. “That would be lovely, Alec.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at seven.” He left the room, smiling broadly.
Rayna let out a breath once he’d gone, already looking forward to dinner. Then a thought crossed her mind, something she realized she hadn’t thought about in hours. And felt awful for it.
A pang of guilt cramped in her stomach.
Shawn.
11
Rayna didn’t know the man who opened the door to her room the following day and grew alarmed.
Where was Alec?
“Follow me,” he demanded in a brusque tone that allowed no backtalk.
He was tall, well-built, with short brown hair and average features that didn’t stand out. The only thing that registered with Rayna was his age. She classified him as marine tough and no older than twenty-five.
She hesitated, and he motioned in an irritated manner for her to hurry. She smoothed down her hair, growing slick with lack of attention, and went to the door. The man stood aside for her to pass, then stepped in front of her to lead the way.
“Who are you? Where are we going?” Rayna hurried to keep up with the man’s long strides. “Where is Alec?” He ignored her completely, and her alarm turned to annoyance. “Hey! You know, if you’re not nice to me, Alec will have a nice long chat with you.”
Still the man said nothing but spared a glance over his shoulder at her, a sneer on his lips.
She sighed, resigned to following him. She wouldn’t get anywhere by throwing a tantrum, standing in place and stomping her feet, even though his dismissal of her tempted her to do just that. She was concerned about where he might be taking her, but curiosity kept her moving.
He led her down corridor after corridor, turning left then left again, then right. It was like walking through a large shopping mall but without any stores. Instead, there were offices, as far as Rayna could tell, and lots of closed doors. The man’s rubber-soled shoes squeaked occasionally. Rayna’s heels, conversely, made a sharp clacking. She wished they could move more silently. The building and the circumstances seemed to call for it.
At last, they rounded a bend to the left, and she spotted Alec leaning against the wall at the end of the corridor reading a newspaper. She hurried past her escort, a smile of relief breaking onto her face.
Alec looked up as she reached him. “Good morning, Rayna.”
“What’s going on, Alec? That guy…” She glanced over her shoulder, but her escort had disappeared. “Well, he wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.” Alec closed the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. “What’s going on is above his pay grade. Anyway, I wanted to thank you again for last night. I had a very nice time.” He smiled and pushed away from the wall.
“So did I. You were a perfect gentleman.”
He nodded and looked down at his feet as though unsure of himself. “I’d like to take you to dinner tonight too, if you can bear another meal with me talking sports and history again.”
He glanced back up, a hopeful expression in his eyes.
She laughed and touched his forearm. “I’d like that. But here I thought it was all about me.”
“Great.” His face lit up like a kid’s on Christmas morning. “We’ll discuss the details later. But, to be honest…” He jerked his chin toward the door at the end of the hall. “Right now, it’s all about him.”
She followed his motion with her eyes as hope surged in her heart. “Him? Is Shawn in there?”
Without waiting for an answer, she started past Alec, but he swung out an arm to block her. “Hold on. Yes, Shawn is in that room. Let me tell him you’re here.”
He strode the few remaining feet, turning once to make sure Rayna wasn’t following him, and knocked on the door. He waited five seconds and opened the unlocked door. He blocked Rayna’s view so she couldn’t see into the room, which was frustrating, but he soon stepped aside to reveal Shawn.
Her heart did a happy dance in her chest, fluttering and beating double-time. She fell in like—in love frightened her too much—all over again. Striking good looks and strength radiated from him, and when he met her eyes, she nearly swooned. A tiny smile creased his lips. There and gone in a flash, but she knew he’d meant for her to see it. She, on the other hand, had no reservations about showing her emotions and smiled from ear to ear.
Despite the prison bars that kept Shawn confined.
She thought she’d go stark raving mad if the door to her room opened to bars, locking her in.
Leaving the door wide-open, Alec returned to her. “He’s all yours.”
He continued down to the far end of the corridor, leaned back against the wall, and resumed reading his newspaper.
Rayna didn’t hesitate another second and rushed to Shawn. She gripped the bars, furious at their presence.
“I’m so sorry, Shawn. So, so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking to suggest this...this…” She shook her head, at a loss for words. “I’ve been acting like this was all a game but it’s not. Oh, god, it’s not and I’m so sorry.”
“Ray, stop,” Shawn said in a hushed voice.
“I mean, this was stupid, so stupid.” She shook her head, eyes cast downward, unwilling to meet the accusatory look on his face she assumed would be there. “I’m sorry, so, so sor—”
“Ray,” he said again, and touched one of her hands through the bars. Heat shot through her and she slowly raised her gaze to him. “I’m not angry, alright?”
“But…”
“It’s alright. I expected this.”
“So you don’t hate me?” She bit her lip, worried about his answer and still believing herself a fool for what she’d gotten them into.
He crooked a finger at her, and when she bent her head closer, he did too, and spoke in a hushed tone against her ear. “How could I?”
Uncertain if she’d heard him correctly, she jerked her head up to see his expression. She found it full of unexpected warmth. Their lips were so close, she wondered if they’d kiss, if not for the bars that stood between them. Tears welled in her eyes. Tears of guilt, of longing, of passion unrequited.
Shawn shook his head, mouthed the word “don’t” before bringing his lips to her ear again.
“Stay strong. They’re still vetting me. I want this, so it’ll happen. I’ll be released, given jobs. Work for the government.” He blew air through his nose.
“Crazy but true.”
Thankful, Rayna swiped at her eyes, forced back the tears. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
He gave her a reassuring nod.
“Then why are we whispering?”
“The room is bugged. Wired for sound and video. Probably the entire building is too. We are among spies, after all. This is why I didn’t say much when we met with Alec. I needed to vet him as much as he needed to vet me.” He pulled back his head to look at her, nodding at whatever he saw that pleased him before bending to her ear again. “I don’t know how sensitive the mics are, understand?”
Nodding, she whispered in a fearful voice, “My room too?”
“Yes.” He stiffened, muscles coiling. “Can you come and go?”
“Only with Alec as an escort.” Horrified that the CIA could hear and see everything she did in her room, she gripped the bars until her fingers turned white. Bile rose in her throat. She’d never felt so violated.
Shawn looked past her to Alec, his eyes narrowing into hardened slits. Alec still read his newspaper, appearing uninterested in the two of them.
“Do you remember what I said?” Shawn bit back obvious anger, carefully controlling his tone.
“Yes, I’m being careful. It’s okay. I’m not talking about you at all.” She hoped to appease him, calm him down, even while she remained a bit nauseated. She couldn’t imagine how bad this must be for him, unable to do anything, feeling impotent. Jailed.
He nodded and tapped her fingers on the bars. “Change your tactics. Talk about me. Don’t put the topic of me off-limits.” Then he said two more words in such a low whisper, she strained to hear him. “Within reason.”
She knew what within reason meant and nodded. It’s not like she would blab to Alec, or to anyone, that Shawn was an alien. “Okay. Umm, are they feeding you well? I mean…”
He relaxed, his attention on her again. “Yes, I’ve made my dietary requirements known.”
She let out a rush of relieved air. “Good, what about—?”
“Enough about me. I’m alright. Make sure they treat you well while you’re here. Make them spend money on you.” He pulled back and offered her a quick wink that set her heart fluttering again. “You need a new wardrobe. You shouldn’t be forced to continue wearing the same clothing you had on when you got here. Take them for all you can.”
She chuckled, her hands loosening on the bars. “It’s good to see you.”
He pulled back so he could see her face, and said in a quiet voice, “You too.”
Alec loudly cleared his throat, folded the newspaper with an extra amount of rustle, and began walking toward them. “Sorry to break this up but there’s other business to attend to.” He put his hand on the door and motioned for Rayna to step away. “Please step back, Shawn. I don’t want to close the door in your face.”
“I’ll see you again soon, Shawn,” Rayna called out, but he had already turned and gone from her view.
She sighed, her face crumbling, as Alec shut the door to Shawn’s cage.
Alec offered her a small smile. Rayna wanted to believe it came from a place of guilt, that he knew this was wrong, but she doubted it.
“C’mon, I’ll walk you back.”
She said nothing and followed him back to her room. He glanced back at her a couple of times, like he could tell her mood had turned dark, but he kept his voice upbeat as he opened the door to her room and ushered her inside.
“I’m looking forward to dinner. I’ll pick you up at—”
Rayna whirled on him, jabbing him in the chest with her finger. “How could you not tell me!”
Alec took a step back, bewilderment etched on his face. “What?”
Anger rose to the surface as pinpricks of heat in her cheeks, and stepping forward, she poked him again. Hard. Poked him to emphasize each word she spat out. “Have you been watching? Getting your jollies?”
In a swift movement, he grabbed her by the wrists, spun her to the wall, and pinned her there with her hands above her head. She gasped as her back hit the solid wall, and Alec’s anger rolled off him like a wave. She struggled to release her hands but it was like trying to break free of iron chains.
“Don’t poke the bear, Rayna.” His voice came at her like a growl.
“Let me go!” She reared up with her right knee, hoping to connect with his genitals, but he easily dodged her attempt.
Hooking his foot against her leg, he kept her off-balance and pressed to the wall. “Behave yourself.”
Rayna struggled harder, but Alec’s hands bit into her wrists, crushing them until she stilled. “I haven’t done anything wrong! Let me go.”
She dared look up at him, to find his body tense, rigid, his eyes cold and terrifying. She trembled in fear, her current reality becoming all too real again.
“How do I know that? You’ve come to me through some crazy scheme with Paros. There’s no question of his guilt, and you’re guilty by association until or if I determine otherwise.”
“But—”
“No, you have no say in this, Rayna. I’ve been friendly, kind, considerate but you just crossed a line.”
“You can’t keep me here forever! I’m innocent!”
He shook his head, an almost feral sadness in his eyes. “Here, you’re guilty until proven innocent.”
Rayna’s eyes widened in terror. “But...that’s wrong. I’m an American with rights, and you’ve been invading my privacy.” Her voice cracked with a mixture of fear and anger. “Watching me.”
“This is not a jail or a court of law. We play by our own rules here, sanctioned by our government.” He sighed, piercing her with a look. “Either you’re a good actress or naive. It’s my job to figure out which it is.”
“S-so, I’ve disappeared? My friends and family will never know what happened to me?” She blinked back tears. “Left here to rot while you get your rocks off watching me while I sleep?”
“Shawn told you?”
Rayna nodded, her shoulders slumping.
“He shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, you should have told me.”
“And leave you self-conscious and unable to rest? What would be the point of that?” Alec considered her as she peeked up at him through her eyelashes. “I don’t watch you while you sleep. And I’m most definitely not getting off on you. It’s true that we learn things through observation but it’s not like I’m staring at you for hours through a TV monitor. I have better things to do.”
“Liar.” She kept her eyes downcast as she muttered the word. She feared his retribution but couldn’t swallow the thought down.
“Yes, I do lie. It’s part of the job description. I’m not lying now.”
A new round of righteous fury surged through her. “Is torture and murder part of the job description too?”
He spoke in a steady voice without hesitation. “Torture, as needed. Murder, never. Every kill is necessary and determined with great care.”
Her head shot up as her mouth dropped open in horror. This was an agent of the United States government talking about torture and death like he was discussing a book he’d read. “So, you kill people. Just like Shawn.”
A quick flare of anger sparked in Alec’s eyes before he contained it. “No. Your boyfriend kills for sport. I eliminate threats to maintain the security of my country.”
Alec still crushed her wrists against the wall but it felt like he was crushing her soul along with them. She’d had enough, couldn’t bear any more of this. “Please, let me go.”
“I can’t until I’ve determined whether you’re criminally partnered with Shawn or have simply proposed this crazy idea to him.”
“No, I mean my hands. You’re hurting me.”
He blinked, released her, and stepped away.
“Thank you.” She spent a moment rubbing her wrists to bring the circulation back. “You know, I haven’t done anything wrong. Except for believing in Shawn, and I don’t think that’s wrong at all.”
“
In that case, I might have to determine if you’ve been brainwashed by him, regardless of what you’ve already stated about that.” He moved to the door. “I’ll pick you up a little later for dinner.”
“Don’t bother. I’d rather be alone.”
Alec attempted a smile. “That’s very Greta Garbo of you. Are you sure?”
Rayna nodded and went to the bedside table, pulled out a notepad and a pen, and scribbled on it. “But if I have to be here another day, I refuse to keep wearing the same clothing.” She thrust the paper at Alec. “These are my sizes. If I can’t go shopping myself then someone better.”
He took the paper from her and glanced at what she’d written before pocketing it. “I’ll take care of this.” He opened the door and started to step through but turned back to Rayna. “Whether you believe it or not, I am one of the good guys.”
Rayna shrugged and sat on the edge of the bed. Alec left, shutting the door behind him. As soon as he was gone, she broke down, letting the tears flow, her body trembling.
Terrified that she’d never be let out of this room, never regain her freedom.
12
Shawn hadn’t seen Rayna or Alec for a few days.
By his count, based on the delivery of meals to the windowless room, he’d been there six days, give or take. He hadn’t expected the silent treatment, and it bothered him. Kept him off-balance. With reluctance, he realized the technique was doing its job. Off-balance was, no doubt, exactly what Alec wanted. He needed to relax. Alec would get back to him in good time.
That’s why he’d decided to workout.
He’d been through at least a hundred push-ups and as many sit-ups, until sweat poured off him—dripping from his face, his chest—and puddled into the beige carpeting. Taking off his shirt, he continued with push-ups, adding a clap after every fifth one—he had a lot of pent-up energy to expel.
Yet nothing could tear thoughts of his visit with Rayna from his mind.
He didn’t realize how much he’d missed Rayna until he’d seen her again. They’d only been apart for a day, but after being together for several, he’d felt adrift without her. Odd for a Parosian, and even worse for him. He’d never felt the excruciating magnetic pull of another, and it mentally debilitated him. He didn’t care for the swirling thoughts and erratic moods. In fact, he longed for the time when he’d been unencumbered by such ruminations and desires for another. Yet, as soon as Rayna had walked away, he found himself longing for the exact opposite—her, and all the chaos she brought into his world.