To shut him up, I kissed him. Pulled him tight against me and made it clear that there was nothing disgusting or abusive about what he wanted. “Stay. Let it go. You don’t need to be in charge of things tonight. You can have what you want. Sleep, sex, massage, talk. Just tell me. I want you not to hurt.”

  He touched my cheek, then looked at his fingers as if surprised my skin was warm and real. “Why? I’ve been absolutely vile to you.”

  “Abuse turns me on. It’s why I was fucking Matsin. Or he was fucking me.”

  He frowned. “You’re kidding, yes?”

  “Yes.” Mostly. Lord, it was not the time to talk about my kinks. “I wouldn't offer if I didn’t want to. What do you want?”

  “I just....” He thrust his fingers into my hair and tugged me to him, kissing me again desperately, not gently, which turned me on like crazy, though I could never explain to him why. I pushed the bathrobe down and gripped his smooth back, digging my fingers into his skin, wanting not to let him slip away.

  He pushed me back down on the bed, covering me with his half-naked body, his hands in my hair painfully possessive. “So much,” he whispered. “So much.”

  So much...what? I wanted to know, but I wanted him more. “What do you want?”

  “Everything...been so long and....”

  He ground against me and my trousers were suddenly too bloody uncomfortable. I shoved him back and quickly undid them. His eager fingers fumbled to free me and I arched back against his possessive grip. “Everything’s in the side table,” I muttered. “Do it, Pel. Whatever you want.”

  “Want to—”

  “Fuck me? Hell yes.”

  He began to kiss me rather desperately, still squeezing my cock as I groped around in the drawers beside the bed, feeling for what he needed. I hadn’t had sex in weeks and I needed this as much as he seemed to.

  I threw lube and condoms at him. “Do it.”

  Pants off, bathrobe off, his tongue in my mouth and hands everywhere as we panted and groped. “Lord,” I groaned finally. “Pel, I’m going to....”

  “Roll over. Arms above your head.”

  I grabbed the headboard and spread my legs. His big hand massaged my butt and a few seconds later, he worked a thick, lubed finger into me. Too careful, but then I didn’t want him to know what I really liked. I gritted my teeth and begged him silently to get on with it.

  I could never have been that patient with him, if I’d been topping. One finger, two fingers, three, and still he seemed to hesitate like I wouldn’t be able to take him. I looked at him over my shoulder. “Unless you’re digging for gold back there....”

  He grinned. “Just enjoying. Been a while.”

  “Pel!”

  “Turn around and behave.” He whacked my backside and I had to bite my tongue to stop myself begging for more.

  His big blunt cock stretched me, filled me until, even greedy pig that I was, I didn’t know if I could take him. But then he was in and Lord he was good. He leaned forward and nuzzled at my nape, his slight stubble rasping against my shoulder.

  “Pel....”

  “Lord, you’re impatient.”

  I wasn’t. I just wanted more of his cock.

  He began to move and my fingers gripped the bars of my headboard even more tightly as he plunged into me, over and over, rocking me forward and making my cock rub against the sheets.

  He pulled me to my knees and his hand gripped my erection so that with each thrust, he stroked it. It wasn’t sweet, or romantic, or even particularly inventive. It was just hot, hard, dirty fucking and Lord, was it good.

  I lasted a few seconds longer than he did, and then I hung there, in his grip, trembling and sweaty. He kissed the place between my shoulders, and then pulled out. “Side table. Wipes,” I muttered. Another makeup artist trick. Made for fast clean up after sex.

  All the litter went into the bin at the end of the bed—have to dispose of it later when Mum was asleep—and then he pulled me towards him, cuddling and kissing my neck. Felt nice. Felt...more intimate than I should have allowed, but it was what he wanted and I needed. Or was it the other way around?

  I carded my fingers though his thick dark hair. “We shouldn’t have done that,” he murmured.

  “Things done while brothers are being kidnapped don’t count. Tonight doesn’t count.”

  “I don’t work like that.”

  “Talk about it when he comes home then.” I rolled over so I could look him in the eye. “I just want you to sleep and de-stress.”

  “You don’t have to be a whore. Like you said, there are sleeping pills for that.”

  Resisting the urge to punch him in the jaw, I smiled sweetly. “Hey, it works fine to de-stress me too. I'm not that selfless.”

  “Ah.”

  “You think too much, and that was what you were supposed to be avoiding. Go to sleep. If you can’t, the pills are in the bathroom.”

  I rolled away, thinking that I had worked for directors less demanding than this sod. He grunted and got comfortable. I waited until he began to snore very quietly, then slipped out of bed. I pinched his—my—bathrobe, and collected the wine and food. Mum was sipping tea, looking at her datascreen. She smiled at me as I dumped everything on the counter. “Everything okay, hon?”

  “Not really. He thinks I'm a whore and you think I'm a security risk.”

  Her expression fell. “Neither of those statements are true and if Pel is saying that about you, I’ll have words with him.”

  “Why did you lie to me? Why did you stop me becoming a cop when you knew that’s what I really wanted to be?”

  She stared at the table. “I’d lost too many people, Jesevo. You weren't cut out to be a cop.”

  “So you are, but I'm not?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not your choice to make.”

  “Is it so bad, your life now? You’ve never killed anyone, or seen them die. Never had to tell a mother her child is dead, or bring in murderers and baby rapists or the thousand and one other kinds of scum this city throws up. I wanted you never to know about such things and I'm glad I talked you out of it because you were meant for better things.”

  “Being an actor and despised by anyone with a brain.”

  “Anyone who despises you for being an actor isn’t half as smart as they think they are. If Pel Kani’s so clever, then he should see what an idiot he’s being over you. You had sex with him?”

  I pulled the bathrobe closed. “Mum!”

  “Hon, you smell of it. And then he called you a whore?”

  “Yeah. Kind of. He’s not thinking straight.”

  “All I can say is that Jesi Gonlimi was too much of a gentleman to ever say something like that to anyone, so I wonder if Pel is really him at all.”

  “Um...I think he’s a bit freaked out about us supposedly being lovers in a past life.”

  “He should be grateful. Little bastard.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I’ll tell him. Did you eat?”

  “Did you?”

  “A bit. Stomach’s all turned around. I think I’ll go back to bed. Early start. Mum...this’ll work, right?”

  “Yes, it will. It’s a good plan, and we’ve got good people.” She beckoned me down for a kiss. “You tell him if he ever calls you a whore again, I’ll shoot him dead.”

  “Sure you will.”

  “With my gun, I promise.”

  “Yes, Mum. ‘Night.”

  I showered the smell of sex off me, then slid in behind Pel. For a moment or two, pretended we were real lovers, and that if he found me snuggling up to him like this, he’d actually welcome it. Then I rolled over and left a space between us. I sure hoped our previous selves had had more fun together. Jesi Gonlimi sounded such a nice guy. I hoped I met him next time around.

  Chapter 6 — A Fresh Start

  He’d gone when I woke at six. Remembering the night before, I felt empty and a bit stupid for laying it all out for him. Especially as it was just another reason for him to believe I was shallow and amoral.

  Still, we had a job to do today. Urei? You awake?

  Uh...yeah. Jay, this isn’t going too good for me. They’re still keeping me blindfolded. I'm scared.

  I bet. Just a little longer. Did Pel tell you about the costumers? And what the guy there said?

  I did my best to cheer him up, chatting to him while I dressed, but I had the feeling he was losing the battle. I didn’t blame him. If he could hold on for a few more hours, we’d be okay and so would he.

  Pel was eating breakfast. Mum was still in bed. I walked up to him, said, “Talk to your brother and don’t mention anything scary,” and put my hand on his shoulder. He was too startled to argue, and I stood patiently while he conversed with Urei for ten minutes.

  “He says to let you go now.”

  “Thanks.” I walked over to the sink and filled the kettle. Man, I was making a lot of tea these days.

  “Uh...how did you sleep?”

  “Just fine. You?”

  “Better. Thank you.”

  “Anytime. Better than pills, right?”

  I put the kettle on to boil and busied myself with bread for toast and stuff, completely ignoring the bastard behind me because I needed tea or something before I had to put up with his snideness.

  I brought the food and tea over to the table, still avoiding his look. I hated him for making me ashamed of myself and for wanting him. ‘Jay Langse’ could have anyone he wanted, for the asking. He didn’t need a stuck-up lawyer with a brother obsession.

  “Jay, you seem rather worried about something.”

  “Me? Nope. I was just thinking about turning this into a script. Matsin was always at me to diversify and this would make a hell of a film.”

  He stiffened. “Wedel said we could never talk about it.”

  “Yeah, yeah, change the details, whatever. Do you think I should suggest playing myself or have someone else do it? Who do you think could play me?” I gave him my most vacuous smile. Why not play to his expectations?

  He rose to the bait as his expression became frosty. “I couldn't possibly say. You do such a good job at pretending to be a real person, I can’t imagine anyone beating you at it.” He picked up his plate and took it to the sink. “When you’re ready, let’s see if you’re any good at teaching other people your art of lying. Come find me when you’re finished.”

  I sneered as he walked off. Idiot. Now I could eat my breakfast in peace.

  Mum came out a little while later. “Oh, hi, hon. Deri called and they’ll be here at noon. That’s when we’ll leave to intercept the train. Will Pel be ready?”

  “Yeah. He’ll need basic weapons handling if he’s to wear a gun.”

  “He sure will. You three will be wearing vests too. Think you can teach him all that in five and a half hours?”

  “If he’s smart enough, why not?” She gave me an odd look. “Never mind. And Mum, what I told you about last night...don’t mention it, okay? At least until this is all over.”

  “Whatever you want, Jesevo. Are you all right, though? You seem a bit brittle.”

  “Just tense. Nerves. What will the critics say, that kind of thing.”

  “You’ll knock ‘em dead, hon.”

  I hoped that wouldn’t be literally true.

  I finished my tea and then fetched Pel from the bedroom. Ignoring his surliness and Mum’s disapproving looks, I drilled him on how to act like a criminal mastermind. I had him walk and talk for an hour, until he could do it without thinking. Then I had him dress in his costume and run through it all again, Mum playing the part of our petty crims, me at Pel’s side.

  When I felt he’d got under the skin of the role enough, I made him strip to the waist and we fitted him with the bullet-proof vest. Back to practicing the walking and talking until he forgot the vest was there and he moved naturally again.

  “And now, a gun. They know you’ll be wearing one, and they’ll expect you to be able to use it.” I’d had mine on for an hour or so because I wanted him to get used to seeing it. Now I pulled it out and pointed it at his face. He fell back in shock. “Okay, that, you can’t do. You’re Mister Cool and Calm. A man points a gun in your face, he’s not going to shoot you, he’s trying to frighten you. You know that. You know if he wanted you dead, you’d be dead. So you’re not scared. Again.”

  Over and over, I pulled the gun and threatened him, until I got zero reaction. Then Mum tried it and we repeated that until his pupils didn’t even enlarge.

  Finally, I fitted him with his own pistol, and had him pull it out, cock it, feel completely happy with the weight of it. It wouldn’t be loaded. The last thing we needed was an untrained individual waving a powerful handgun around in a fight. Pel had his cane. That was all the weapon he needed.

  Eleven o’clock. Time to eat lunch, and then fit wigs, prosthetics, makeup, and for me, coloured contacts. Pel didn’t like the wig, or the fake moustache and sideburns. He’d have to get used to them.

  “How do you do this all the time?” he said, touching his face where the glue bothered him.

  “Concentrate on something else. Now, something else. From now on, I'm Havon, not Jay. You’re Mister Walan. If you call me Jay, I won’t answer. Mum, you too. I don’t want him using the wrong name in the scene. Got it, Pel?”

  “Ye...wait, that was a trick, right?”

  “Right. What’s your name?”

  “Ertei Walan. That’s Mister Walan to you.”

  “Perfect.”

  I’d pushed him hard quite deliberately, partly because I was in a pissy mood and didn’t care who knew it, but also to keep him focussed and his mind off his nerves. It seemed to have worked because when Deri and the others arrived, he stayed perfectly in role, playing Matsin to Matsin’s oblivious and irritated face, and refusing to be baited. I didn’t tell Matsin to back off either because if anyone could break Pel out of role, Matsin could.

  But finally I drew my ex-manager aside. “I don’t want Pel talking to Urei because that’ll make him all worked up. But you’d better warn him about the changed appearance and behaviour.”

  “You want me to tell him his brother has become an egotistical, arrogant bastard with no manners.”

  “Yes. Don’t worry, once this is over, there’ll only be the one of you.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Can I sack you twice?”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “Everyone, it’s time to move out,” Mum called.

  Matsin put his hand out to me. I stared in confusion. “Good luck,” he said.

  I accepted it, surprised at the gesture. “What are our chances?”

  “Seventy-six percent. Best they’ve been.”

  “Have to do. See you in a few hours.”

  Mum kissed my cheek. She would be waiting with Chesel and Wedel near the house, with Matsin. “You look fine, hon. You can trust Matar with your life.”

  “Well, I am, aren’t I?”

  She smiled at me. I took it as a compliment she could be so calm about sending me off, but I wished she’d be the one at my back.

  She stood in front of Pel, not so approving now. “You know how important this is to me. I won’t lose him again.”

  “I have as much to lose as you do.”

  “I don’t think you know exactly what you could lose. Good luck.”

  Pel glanced at me, a little confused, no doubt, by her coolness. Hell, let him be confused. It was all he deserved.

  We set off in a nondescript vehicle on a two-hour journey to intercept the train at a station mid-point on its journey. Deri had received confirmation that Walan had boarded the train as expected, and a security officer on board was keeping him under observation. Mum had explained they didn’t usually involve regular cops, but they had been so concerned about ESF leaks that they hadn’t dared bring anyone else in. It worried me to be part of an operation run by an organisation so apparently corrupt, but so long as Urei came home and he and Pel could get on with their lives, I didn’t give much of a damn what happened to the ESF. I suppose I should, though, since Mum was still active in it and everything.

  Pel didn’t say a single word to me the entire journey, which was very freaky. Matar rode in front with Deri and the two of them tossed comments to me a couple of times. Pel stared out of the window and pretended none of us existed. It was like sitting with a stranger—the fact he wore a stranger’s face added to that feeling. I had to assume a lot of it was anxiety, but shutting me out was just him being a prick.

  Made for a long, long trip, for sure.

  We pulled into the little rural station and waited. A few minutes later, security vehicles drove up and cops bustled into the station office. The train arrived shortly after and the cops poured on board. Deri listened intently to the reports on his communicator’s earpiece as did Matar. Pel and I just had to sit and wait, like luggage.

  In surprisingly little time after that, the cops came out again, machine pistols bristling, and then three people were hustled off the train to the fascination of the little knot of waiting passengers on the platform. I barely caught a glimpse of Walan as he was bundled into a waiting windowless van, and driven off at high speed.

  The officer who’d been preventing passengers boarding while this was all going on, then waved them forward. “That’s our cue, people,” Deri said. “Act casually. We’re just another group joining the train. I know our cabin number.”

  Pel stalked up to the platform as if he was minor royalty. Deri spoke to one of the cops on guard and we were directed to the correct carriage, ushered swiftly to a guarded first-class cabin and allowed in. That it had been vacated quickly was obvious—the previous occupants had left coffee cups and half-eaten pastries on the table. Deri collected up all the litter and took it to the door. He came back with a paper bag which he emptied before us.

  “Right—fake IDs and the rest of what they had on them. The police have the communicators, and calls will be sent to a service message. Let’s see who you’re pretending to be.”

  I was pleased to see that Pel and the fake ID images were a good match. Matar and I weren’t but then we just switched over our documents—not that anyone was likely to need to see them. From what Urei had been able to find out, Walan was the only person who’d been named and expected.