One Plus Two Equals... - 49

There was a knock on the door, the requisite code rapped out. Turning off the security system, Duane unlocked and opened the door. 'Mr. Pink' stood there, four men now flanking him. All of them held guns which were pointed at Duane.

"Don't even think of shifting," one of them growled as they stormed through the doorway, surrounding Duane. "You'll be dead before you do."

Hands grabbed him roughly, his arms were twisted up behind his back and shackled. The leader of the group pressed the barrel of his gun to Duane's forehead. "Where's the boy?"

"What boy?" Duane replied defiantly, wondering in surprise why it was Julyan they were after when they had him.

'Mr. Pink' backhanded him. "Don't play games. The boy who was here this morning. Where is he?"

"He left soon after you did."

"Liar!" A fist landed in Duane's gut, doubling him over for a moment until he was pulled erect again. "I was watching, no one left."

"Spread out and search the place," the leader ordered his companions. "The boy is here somewhere. Find him."

Duane could hear doors opening and things being moved about as the men searched. One by one they returned to report that they hadn't found Julyan.

"Fun and games time." A large knife appeared in the leader's hand. He smiled maliciously at Duane. "How much pain can you take before you cave and tell me where you've hidden him?"

Duane remained silent, his eyes locked on the knife. 'Mr. Pink' stepped behind him, yanking his shackled arms up, forcing him to his knees. The leader fisted his free hand into Duane's hair, pulling his head back, and the torture began. Duane screamed finally, and again, but the only words he said were, "He's…not…here. He's safe from you…you bastards."

Suddenly there was an earthshaking roar of rage. Then an immense feline sprang into the room, its huge canine teeth bared. It swung its head from side to side for a moment then leapt, claws tearing into the leader's chest before its teeth ripped open his throat. Without hesitation, it spun to attack a second man, dropping its prey seconds later.

"Shoot it," 'Mr. Pink' shouted as he aimed his pistol at the saber-toothed cat and fired.

Another roar emitted from the beast's throat. It attacked, fangs ripping through the flesh of 'Mr. Pink's' arm. Sharp claws raked bloody lines down his back when he wheeled in an attempt to escape. Moments later he was dead, unaware that the last two men had fled in terror.

With its enemies dead or gone, the cat sank down beside Duane, its rough tongue licking at the deep wounds which decorated his body. Duane groaned, his eyelids fluttering open. For a second, panic flooded him. Then his eyes met those of the gigantic cat.

One Plus Two Equals... - 48

The bout of love-making did relax Julyan, so much in fact that he fell asleep, waking to find Auden sitting on the side of the bed. Julyan smiled sleepily when he bent to brush a soft kiss over his lips and ask, "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. No. Maybe."

Auden chuckled. "The definitive reply. Hold that thought because I think someone wants their time with you." With that said he shifted and moments later Duane sat in his place.

By then Julyan was more awake…and aware, apparently, quickly sitting up. "What time is it?"

"Early still, just mid-afternoon." Duane cupped Julyan's jaw in one hand, studying him. Then he released him after kissing him lightly. "Still, you probably should get dressed."

Julyan nodded, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "I'm scared, Duane, terrified actually," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "What if something goes wrong and…?"

Duane put a finger over his lips to silence him. "Nothing's going wrong. Auden knows what he's doing and he's prepared. When they show up here he'll take care of things just like we planned. Have faith in him, Juls."

"I do. Honest, I do."

"I know." Duane kissed his temple before picking up Julyan's jeans which lay in a heap by the side of the bed, handing them to him. "Go wash up and get dressed."

Duane watched as Julyan disappeared into the bathroom, admiring as always his lithe figure and taut ass. He'd really wanted to crawl into bed with him as Auden had done earlier. But common sense said Auden would need all his energy for what was coming, and they did after all share the same body no matter how different it looked on the exterior.

Getting up, he headed into the kitchen to find something to eat, stopping with a frown when the buzzer announced that someone was downstairs. He hurried to the security monitor to see who it was, his frown deepening when he saw the face of the man Auden had labeled 'Mr. Pink'. Pressing the 'Talk' button, he asked, "What brings you here?"

"We might have a problem," the man's disembodied voice replied through the speaker. "Let me in and I'll tell you why."

Something felt off to Duane but since the man was alone he buzzed him in. If he tries anything I can handle it, or Auden can.

Still he wasn't about to take chances as far as Julyan was concerned so he quickly went back to the bedroom.

Julyan had just finished dressing and was sitting on the bed to tie his shoes. He looked up, asking, "Who was that?"

"Our friend from this morning. I'm not certain why he's back but I want you to do as we planned, just in case."

"I… All right." A wave of fear flashed across Julyan's face, quickly wiped away by determination to do as Duane said, even though it was too early.

Duane paused just long enough to wrap him in a tight hug, saying, "It's fine, I'm sure," then walked swiftly back to the entryway to wait for the man to arrive.

One Plus Two Equals... - 47

When the buzzer sounded around nine the next morning Julyan froze like a deer in the headlights. He dropped the spatula, then jumped when it hit the floor with a bang.

Duane was beside him seconds later, gripping his arms tightly. "It's just our contact. Relax."

"You relax," Julyan growled, angry at himself for overreacting.

After patting his ass and telling him he was relaxed, mostly, Duane went to check the security monitor. Whoever stood at the downstairs lobby door must have passed visual inspection because Duane buzzed him in.

"Time for me to vanish for the moment," he told Julyan, kissing him gently before shifting.

Auden appeared, muttering with a grin, "He always runs when it gets down to the nitty-gritty."

"He does not," Julyan protested before getting that Auden was teasing.

By then someone was rapping on the front door of the condo. From the sequences Julyan figured it had to be a code of some sort. Whoever it was must have given the correct one because Auden turned off the security and opened the door. Julyan noted however that he kept his hand behind him at the waistband of his jeans until the person was fully inside and the door closed.

"Julyan, this is Mr…Pink."

"How Reservoir Dogs," the man said with a small chuckle.

Auden shrugged. "The less he knows the safer it is for him."

That idea didn't make Julyan's day but he figured at this point nothing would, so he just nodded in greeting as he studied the man. He was Auden's height and build and had the same 'take no prisoners' look that graced Auden's face at the moment. Although they weren't carbon copies of each other, Julyan could see how from a distance, or in dim light, they might pass for one another, which was the plan.

"Julyan, if you don't mind we're going to disappear for a while." When Julyan froze, Auden quickly shook his head. "Not out of here, just into the office so we can finalize things. I wouldn't mind some of whatever it was you were fixing for breakfast, if it hasn't turned into something inedible."

"Aw shit." Julyan spun around, hurrying back into the kitchen. The omelet was a goner so he tossed it, cleaned the pan, and began again. It occurred to him Mr. Pink, or whatever his real name was, might want something too. He went to the office door, rapped, then asked if he did, getting a negative reply.

A few minutes later he was rapping on the door again, this time with a plate of food and utensils in his hands. It opened enough for Auden to take his meal and thank him then close it again.

Julyan returned to the kitchen where he choked down his own breakfast and cleaned up. At loose ends now and knowing there was no way he could concentrate on anything like a book or a TV show, he set to work making beds, dusting, and otherwise being the 'house-husband' he'd teased himself about a couple of weeks earlier. He was just finishing the bathroom in the master bedroom when he heard the front door open and close.

Auden came in a minute later, leaning on the doorframe. "Things are set to go."

"He's going to be you for the meeting?"

"The meeting we're pretty damned sure isn't going to happen. The boss agreed with us on that, thus Mr. Pink." Auden grinned. "It was a bit Reservoir Dogs, wasn't it?"

"Well, at least you didn't tag him with 'Keyser Söze' from Usual Suspects."

"Good point." Auden waited until Julyan finished and came into the bedroom. Then, smiling, he stalked toward him.

"What are you doing?"

"You're wound up tighter than a spring. You need to relax."

"What makes you think…?"

"I know you." Auden continued his stalking steps, chuckling when Julyan took a quick step away, the backs of his legs hitting the edge of the bed. "Perfect."

For a second Julyan considered resisting Auden's intentions, but only for a second. Then he fell back onto the bed, holding out his arms, enfolding his lover in them when he tumbled on top of him.

One Plus Two Equals... - 46

Julyan watched Auden, wishing he could hear what was being said. Common sense told him it probably wasn't a good idea to try and eavesdrop. After what seemed an interminable length of time, Auden finally hung up and came back to where Julyan was now impatiently sitting.

"We're going to have company in the morning. For now though, I think dinner and sleep are in order." Auden flopped down beside Julyan. "Who would you rather eat with, me or him?"

"Both of you," Julyan replied, wishing it was possible.

"Duane, it is then."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. I'm here, but you want us both, which to me means you'd really prefer it was him but didn't want to hurt my feelings."

Julyan rolled his eyes. "Now who's being temperamental?"

"Not me." Auden smirked. "Just calling it as I see it."

Leaning forward, Julyan put his hands on Auden's shoulders. "Make you a deal. I get you for dinner and dessert, then him for breakfast."

"Breakfast in bed?"

"Well, duh."

"Someday you're going to push your luck."

Keeping his hands on Auden's shoulders, Julyan pulled him close enough to kiss. "I have all the luck I ever wanted with the both of you in my life," he whispered against Auden's lips. "Now you just have to make damned good and certain you stay alive past tomorrow night."

Pulling away, Auden shook his head. "I have to be certain you stay alive and don't get taken."

"If we're right about them…"

Auden put a finger to Julyan's lips. "I think we're right about them wanting you here alone so they can grab you. The problem is if that happens, and trust me I'm going to do all in my power to stop it from happening, then keeping you alive once they gain their objective would be iffy at best."

"You sure know how to cheer a guy up." Julyan was teasing, trying to lighten the dark look on Auden's face. He succeeded in that his lover's lips did turn up a hair. Glad of that, he suggested they eat dinner before it was ruined. Then he realized he'd never even started it. "How do you feel about hamburgers and… salad?"

"How about the salad makings on the hamburger? Much easier that way."

"Deal."

One Plus Two Equals... - 45

Still worrying his lip, Julyan said almost under his breath, "What if I come along?"

"And do what? You're human, the ones I'll be dealing with undoubtedly aren't. So no, you're not coming with me. I'm finding a safe place to stash you until this is over."

"Why not here? With the security turned on it should be safe as aces."

"Not if they know this is where we live." There was a long pause while Auden stood, pacing the length of the room and back. Suddenly he swore violently, slamming his fist into the palm of his hand. "I'm denser than a fence post!"

"What?" Julyan asked once his heart rate slowed again.

"That's exactly what they want to happen. They draw me away and come after you. With you in their clutches they think I'd do whatever they wanted to get you back. Well, either I would or Duane, depending on who they're targeting."

Julyan shivered, fear limning his face. His next words however belied the fear as he straightened, his eyes locking on Auden. "If that's their plan then we screw it up."

Auden cocked an eyebrow, feeling proud of his young lover's determination. "And just how do we do that, oh great and wise one?"

"Well…" Julyan was up now and pacing just as Auden had been. "First off, we have to fool them somehow into thinking you're at the Square when you're really here."

"Sorry but I gave my doppelganger the month off for vacation."

Julyan stopped in his tracks to glare at him. "This isn't funny, Auden."

"I know. Trust me, keeping you safe it the most serious thing going at the moment."

"Keeping all of us safe, damn it!"

"Okay, okay, calm down. We can't figure out how if you go all temperamental on me."

Taking a deep breath, Julyan nodded. "So back to the problem, how can you be in two places at the same time?"

"Let me make a couple of calls and maybe I can come up with something that will work." Auden took out his phone, dialing a secured number while he paced to the far end of the room. A glance over his shoulder told him Julyan was behaving and not trying to listen. He smiled at him then went back to his call.