Page 63 of Dying Without You

* * *

Langston

He had turnedhis phone on vibrate, so he almost missed the alert when it populated on the screen.

Langston’s eyes dragged open, his arm lifting from Lisa’s waist as he reached for the phone on the nightstand behind him. Pulling it to his face, a text message read:

At your door.

It was from Tristan.

Instead of responding, Langston pulled himself from the comfort of the bed and warmth of Lisa’s body, drew on his pants, and slid into his shirt as he opened the door.

Langston was still fastening his shirt when it swung open, his muscular torso on display a few seconds more.

His face displayed a morning squint as he assessed his visitors. His brother Tristan Neil Clark and his boss Spencer Kilpatrick stood side by side.

“I missed something. What is it?”

Spencer spoke first. “Your brother has been added to the case. This isn’t your first time working together, is it?”

Langston smirked. “No.”

As an FBI agent, Tristan had helped Langston with cases in the past. The same with their brother, Malik, who was a CIA operative. There were times when their divisions collided when threats were imminent. This was one of those times.

“Spencer has caught me up to speed,” Tristan said. “I wish I could say you should’ve told me, but I know that’s not protocol.”

“You say that every time there’s a situation. I feel like you think we work for the same unit.”

Spencer chuckled and looked at Tristan. “If you want to be in the know, you’d have to join the cybersecurity unit at Homeland. But then we’d lose our asset at the FBI—can’t have that.”

Tristan nodded. “Fair.”

Spencer turned back to Langston. “It’s time.”

Langston glanced at his watch. It was five minutes after noon, which meant it was past the time the terror group had set to meet them at their designated place.

“I’d be lying if I said I don’t like the feeling of this.” Langston sighed and glanced at them both.

“Any law-abiding man wouldn’t.”

“But there’s nothing you can do until you have more information.”

“I told him that,” Spencer said.

“Still, waiting for them to provide more information could put the population in danger.”

“It’s not an ideal situation by far, but hopefully, before it comes to that, you’ll get another message.”

Langston sighed. “So now we wait.”

Spencer nodded. “Keep an eye on Ms. Sharpton.”

“I’m not letting her leave my sight until this ends.”

“Does she know that?” Tristan asked.

“Somewhat. But she doesn’t know the specifics.”