Cut and Run 5 - Armed and Dangerous

efficiently, neither his weapon nor his voice wavering.
    Cameron’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw Julian’s gun waver ever so slightly.
    “And we would appreciate it if you’d put that gun down,” Ty added without turning around. “And tell your buddy I don’t appreciate the feeling of his crosshairs on my forehead.”
    Julian’s eyes darted between them and Cameron. “Are you okay?” he asked Cameron.
    “Yes,” Cameron said, resisting the urge to run over to his lover. He was using Julian Bailey’s American accent, and Cameron remembered that Julian had told him that was a warning sign, that it meant he didn’t know or didn’t trust the people they were with. “They didn’t touch me.”
    Julian’s black eyes moved back to pin the man in front of him. “Put your weapon down. Then we can talk.”
    “I’m telling you right now, Cross, tell your buddy on the roof next door to stand down,” Ty interrupted in a gruff voice.
    “Put down your weapon and we’ll discuss it,” Julian repeated slowly.
    “Don’t think I won’t shoot your Irish ass just ’cause I’m a Fed,” Ty growled. “We don’t need you to be walking.”
    Zane’s gun was still trained on Julian. As far as Cameron could tell, he hadn’t even twitched as Ty talked.
    Even though Ty wasn’t even looking at Julian, the threat still made Cameron shiver. Somehow they knew Julian wasn’t American. Cameron had to swallow hard on a fresh wave of fear.
    And Cameron didn’t know how Ty knew someone else was out there at all. Cameron knew that it was Preston, Julian’s ever-present, forever silent driver and cohort, which meant that if Ty even twitched he’d be on the floor, and Zane wouldn’t be but a second behind. Cameron really didn’t want corpses of federal agents in their apartment.
    “Julian, please.”
    Julian waited another breathless moment before lowering his weapon. He eased the hammer down and then held it up sideways as proof that he’d done so. He slid it carefully back into its hiding spot.
    “My man on the roof stays trained on your partner while you show me a badge,” he bargained.
    He held up his hand in a signal to Preston. Cameron looked between Julian and Zane as Zane moved the hand bracing his gun and slid it into his jacket. He pulled out a leather wallet and tossed it to Julian.
    Julian caught it deftly with one hand, then flipped it over to look at the identification within. He stared at it for a moment before looking up at Zane.
    He made a “quit” motion with his hand toward the balcony. “You can tell Richard Burns to stick it,” he finally said as he handed the wallet back.
    Zane snorted as he pocketed the wallet and lowered his weapon somewhat. “If you know Burns, you know that won’t help.”
    Julian’s eyes darted between the two men. “Get out,” he ordered.
    “Also won’t help,” Zane said, sliding his gun under his jacket. “We’re here to escort you to DC. If we don’t get you there, someone else will, and much less comfortably, I assure you.”
    Julian’s shoulders tightened. He lowered his head and shook it. “I told them before. I will not be involved. I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time.” He glanced at Cameron, his expression softening. “Perhaps you should see the sights before you go home, make the trip worthwhile,” he told the two agents. His voice was polite, but he couldn’t fool Cameron. He was angry and tense.
    Though Zane was the one talking now, Cameron paid more attention to Ty. He still had his gun out and in hand and was staring devotedly out the balcony doors.
    “No misunderstanding, Mr. Cross,” Zane said, his voice genial enough under such odd circumstances that it pulled Cameron’s attention away from Ty. “This isn’t a request.”
    Cameron stiffened when Zane’s eyes turned to focus on him speculatively, and Cameron bit down on his tongue to keep from blurting out what was sure to be a stupid question.
    “Then so be it,” Julian finally answered stubbornly. “Anyone else looking for me will follow the bread crumbs you’ve left behind you, no doubt. The longer you’re here, the more you become my problem.”
    “Okay,” Ty said impatiently as he stuffed his gun into his holster and moved around the couch, approaching Cameron. “Mr. Cross, I understand you won’t be accompanying us to Washington willingly, is that correct?” he asked brusquely, continuing before Julian could answer. He moved toward Cameron as he extracted a