“I remember. His face was everywhere. I used to live for those nightly briefings just to see you.” Alex smiled brightly.“That’s when the legend of the indiehunter was born – you, chasing down this fugitive IS, promising he couldn’t hide forever. The whole nation was on tenterhooks.”
“Yeah – and it was all a lie.” Josiah grinned. “I had Bram in custody already. I didn’t believe for a second that he was the killer – but I wanted to flush out the real killer by lulling him into a false sense of security.”
“Wow! And it worked. Everyone thought Bram did it.”
“Yup. Then, when we caught the actual perp, Bram’s contract was quietly sold on a few months later, and people forgot about him.”
“But not you,” Alex said quietly.
“No. I got to know and like Bram, and I felt bad for making him so notorious. I asked him if he wanted a way out, and he said yes. A few months after the trial, when all the fuss had died down, I got him out of the country. He was a very famous face by then, but I got him out.”
“As famous as me?” Alex put a dressing over Josiah’s head wound and stuck it in place.
“Nobody’s as famous as you are right now.” Josiah snorted.
“And you’d be coming with me; you’re not exactly inconspicuous yourself.”
“No, but I’ve done this hundreds of times before.” Josiah shrugged.
“And if anyone can do it, it’s you. I know.” Alex moved on to his knuckles. “You should really give these a break – they’re only just healing from last time.”
“I’ve had worse.” Josiah caught his hand. “Alex, you need to make this decision tonight. We have to get going before dawn if we’re leaving. If we walk into Inquisitus tomorrow, I can’t promise I’ll be able to save you.”
“I know.” Alex sat down beside him with a thump. “You and me, together, on the run… you have no idea how much I want that.”
“But?” Josiah squeezed his hand.
“I made a promise to Solange. If I leave…”
“Would Solange expect you to prioritise that promise over your own life?”
“No. Solange wouldn’t have asked me to do any of this. My mission is entirely self-imposed.” Alex gave a wry smile. “But it’s all that’s been keeping me going for years. I have no idea what I even am without it.”
“We can find out. Together.” Josiah leaned in to kiss him. “If you want me,” he added as he drew back, feeling suddenly insecure. He was as good as asking this man to live with him for the rest of his life, and that was presumptuous.
“Oh, that’s not in question.” Alex kissed him with enough passion to make his doubts disappear. “It just feels like giving up – and I’m not sure you’ll be happy to live life on the run. You might grow to resent me.”
“It’s all a risk. We have no idea how we’ll feel in time.” Josiah sighed.
“No.” Alex looked off into the distance, smiling.
“What?” Josiah squeezed his hand again.
“I was just thinking how we’d make money. I have a few modest skills as a servant, courtesy of Belvedere, and they always need men like you in security jobs.”
“We’d be on the run. We’d have to be paid in untraceable cash cards. We couldn’t stay in any one place for long.”
“That’s what makes it so exciting.” Alex grinned. “I’ve always wanted to travel. We could flit around Europe, maybe even make it to the US. We’d have to change our names, though I can’t imagine you as anything other than Joe.” He looked the most animated Josiah had ever seen him. “You could grow a beard.You’d have to dye your hair – it’s so damn blond. There’s no way we can lop any inches off your height, sadly – you do stand out in a crowd.”
“As do you,” Josiah retorted. “People will always notice someone as ludicrously good-looking as you.”
“Shaggy beards for us both, then.” Alex grinned. “We can do this. We’re both clever, resourceful, and driven.”
“Is this what you want?” Josiah asked, watching Alex carefully. “Because if you say the word, I’ll make it happen – but you have to be sure.”
Alex took his face in his hands and gazed at him. “It’s the only chance we’ll ever have at a happy ever after. If I stay, even if Tyler doesn’t get his hands on me, my contract will still be sold on. We’ll never be together, Joe, even if Idomanage to get justice for Solange.”
“I know.”
