CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE - ARGUMENT

AJ hurried to let his dogs out of the pantry, scared to see what kind of mayhem those two had caused during their lengthy stay in there. AJ surveyed the damage and sighed with relief, noting only two little "deposits" in the right corner, courtesy of the scattered dog food he had thrown down. Jack and Vegas scampered out with enthusiasm, running around in circles before they took off for the living room, jumping their tiny little bodies onto Nick's larger one.

Nick looked up, irritated. "AJ!" he yelled, "do you mind? I'm really not in the mood for your psycho dogs right now."

AJ scooped them up then threw a concerned look towards Kevin who was sitting opposite of Nick. AJ placed his dogs outside and locked the doggie door, barring them from entering. Walking back to the living room he noticed Kevin had left his chair and was sitting next to Nick.

"Nick, Nick, come on man. You're not doing yourself any good by beating yourself up about this. Hey, look on the bright side. At least we know Brian's okay, that he's with Xavier."

Nick raised his head, amazed. "Huh? Bright side, Kevin? What bright side? You think that being with Xavier makes it okay?" Nick's voice raised a notch higher as he stood up and began pacing.

"Hey, at least we know he's not dead, Nick," consoled AJ. Nick glared at him and AJ cringed, realizing how trite he sounded. "Uh, sorry. You know what I mean."

"No I don't! I don't know what anything means anymore!" cried Nick in frustration. "Here we are, thousands of miles away, catching amateurish crooks, secretly listening in on Xavier, wondering where the hell Bri is…" Nick sighed forcefully, shaking his head. "I don't know, guys. I'm getting a terrible feeling about all this, like whatever we do, its not going to be enough to help Brian…" Nick trailed off, his gloom permeating into Kevin and AJ.

"So what do you expect us to do, Nick? Give up before we even try? I don't think I can live with myself knowing I didn't give it my best shot!"

Nick frowned at Kevin. "Yeah, but what is our best shot? That we are the fucking Backstreet Boys?" he mimicked, citing Kevin's words on the plane. "Well excuse me, but I never knew that being a Backstreet Boy meant being all-powerful! I still think we should call the police." He flopped back onto the couch, slumping over to stare dejectedly at the floor.

AJ took a deep breath, seeing where this was all going. "Nick," he said softly, "we can't go to the police, at least not right now." He held up his hands when Nick started to give him an angry look. "Hear me out, okay? There's not a minute that goes by that I don't remember some incident, some thing that let's me know what an idiot I've been. I was too busy being angry at Brian and too blind to put it all together. And now that I understand, I realize just how dangerous Xavier is. It scares the shit outta me. I'd like nothing better than to hand this over to the police, but at what cost?"

Kevin nodded, rubbing his brow as he slumped into an easy chair, having listened to AJ as he made himself a hard drink. "Nick, we know more about Xavier than the police do. I'd say, hell yeah, let's call the police, but how much time do we really have? How much time does Brian? A day, a week, a month? Can we convince the authorities? And with what? We've got nothing on Xavier, nothing, just our suspicions. I really think we can get better results." Kevin gazed at the youngest member of the group. "Nick…" Kevin faltered for a moment, then went on, " I know how hard this is on you. But you gotta believe in us, in yourself. Nobody wants to help Brian more than us. Nobody. And if we can just think straight, put our heads together, we can do it. We will do it."

Nick smiled a sad smile at Kevin, his blue eyes reflecting his anguish. "I know. I know you're right, Kevin," he said quietly. "It's just that I feel so…frustrated." Nick looked at AJ. "I want to be the shit outta someone, ya know?"

AJ threw his hands up, in mock fear. "Whoa, don't look at me! I'm just a skinny little dude. Attack Kevin. I've always wanted to see someone beat the shit out of him anyway. Go for it, Nick."

Nick, Kevin and AJ laughed, each relaxing a little from the stress. "Okay, what's our plan of action, O Wise One?" Nick asked to Kevin.

"Why me, why am I the Wise One?' grumbled Kevin. "What about Howie?"

"He's not here, so you're it," advised AJ. "Besides you're so much older."

Kevin refused to be baited by that tired joke. "Oh, all right. I want to pass this by Howie when he gets back, but I was thinking of us heading downtown tomorrow to check out Backstreet's HR. See what we can dig up on X."

Nick rolled his eyes. "They won't give you that information Kev," he began but stopped when he saw Kevin's eyebrows raised in reminder. "Oh, yeah, I forgot. We're the Backstreet Boys, we can do anything," Nick chanted, a grin of amusement forming on his face.

"Damn right," growled AJ.

* * * * * *

Brian tried to hide his smirk as Xavier and he waded slowly towards their car, surrounded by at least fifteen overly excited girls. He wanted to say I told you so, Backstreet fans are everywhere, but by the annoyed look on Xavier's face, wisely refrained. Brian signed as many autographs as he could as they edged forward, knowing by the clench of Xavier's jaw that he was barely controlling his temper as he kept the group of teenagers from swarming all over.

With sorrowed sighs and screams of "I love you" ringing in their ears, Xavier tore out of the parking lot, ignoring Brian's yell of 'watch out" as they nearly collided with a large van.

"I don't think a dead Backstreet Boy is gonna get you much," Brian said sourly, hurriedly trying to buckle in.

"Yeah, but it's sure gonna give me a hell of a lot of satisfaction," muttered Xavier as he navigated a corner sharply. Brian sucked in his breath, wondering if Xavier had realized his mistake in wording. So he is planning to hurt one of the guys! He secretly felt for the reassuring comfort of Rosie's cell phone, desperately wondering when he would get a chance to use it.

Hoping to draw Xavier's attention away from what he inadvertently had said, Brian laughed snidely. "So, this is you're idea of a night on the town? I think you need to get a life, Xavier."

Startled by the young singer's sarcastic remark, Xavier looked him once over. "Who said anything about it starting? It hasn't." He glanced at his watch. "But in about 20 minutes it will." Xavier leered at Brian and Brian slunk down in his seat, wishing he had just kept his mouth shut.

CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR - ON THE TOWN

Howie hurriedly put AJ's Mercedes in the garage and got out, hitting the alarm key. He was glad to get back, having listened for over two hours to the endless chatter from John/Jim. It was like a flood-gate had opened and suddenly he was the intruder's best friend, confiding in him as they drove by house after house, John/Jim excitedly pointing out what mansion he had robbed, what car he had stolen… Howie was that close to telling him to shut up when John began to talk about Xavier. Howie perked up, listening quietly as the intruder spoke of how he met him, how the large man never gave his name, how he always paid ahead in cash.

Now as he let himself in, he was eager to share with the other guys what he had learned. He trotted into the kitchen; no one there. He tried the living room. Same results. Not willing to search every nook and cranny, Howie went over to the nearest intercom and punched a button.

"Hey, AJ, guys! Where are you? I'm back."

A bit of static announced AJ's voice. "D? We're in the TV room."

Howie snorted as he headed downstairs. TV room? It was a freakin' theater, complete with every creature comfort known to man. He had argued to deaf ears that it was overkill but AJ wouldn't listen, going so far as to installing heaters in the leather reclining seats. Now as he sank into one of them he had to admit it felt incredibly good and sighed in relief.

AJ smirked at Howie, then winked at Nick and Kevin who were lounging in the other seats. "Nothing like a nice warm ass to soothe ya, huh D?"

"Shut up," grouched Howie good-naturedly. "I've been listening to our intruder talk non-stop for the past two hours, let me relax for a moment, okay?"

Kevin reached over for the remote, turning off the movie all three had been watching as they waited for Howie's return. "Talk? What do you mean?" he asked curiously as he handed his band mate a beer. Howie took it gladly, twisting the top.

"Well, it seems like our intruder couldn't keep his mouth shut when it came to talking about Xavier."

AJ glanced sharply at his friend. "You never mentioned X's name to him, did you?"

Howie shook his head as he took another sip. "Nope. I just let him do the talking. Seems like our John/Jim guy has quite a little criminal history. He's hit a lot of houses around this area."

"Do you know if Xavier has used him before?"

Howie stretched out in the recliner. "No. I asked him. Said he met X only once, at a bar, and that's when Xavier paid him for the job. In advance. In cash."

AJ shook his head. "Using the money he's been extorting from Brian."

Nick snapped his fingers. "Remember when I went to go pick up Bri from the hospital? Xavier asked me to do it cause he was in Florida for those few days. I bet that's when he met our intruder."

Kevin scratched his chin. "Hmm. That was a while ago. Damn. That means he's been planning this for sometime. Makes me wonder what other surprises he has in store."

Howie stopped in mid-sip, frowning. "Hey, do you guys remember when Xavier found out that Nick was here with AJ?" The other three nodded. "He sure sounded pissed. Didn't X say he was going to have to call someone?"

"Yeah, he did," drawled Kevin, thinking. "Xavier was expecting Nick to be at his own home." Kevin gave Howie a thoughtful look. "He probably didn't know where you were going for the holiday."

AJ scoffed. "D doesn't have a home to come back to. Xavier took care of that."

"Hey Howie, did you happen to mention to X where you were going?"

Howie paused for a moment. "No, I never said anything to him directly. Course he might have heard me talking about going to see my family, but I can't be sure."

AJ rubbed his eyes wearily, the happenings of the day taking its toll. "All right. One, Xavier obviously knows I'm home, thanks to our intruder; two, he thought Nick was going home, so he had someone watching his house; three, Howie doesn't have one, so he's out of the picture, unless X has someone scouting his family's homes, and four…." AJ looked worriedly at Kevin. "I guess he was expecting you to go home, right?"

Kevin nodded. "But Xavier doesn't know where I was staying because I wasn't sure myself. Kristin and I hadn't made any firm plans on who we were going to stay with. She was going to tell me when I met her at the airport."

"So Xavier would have a hard time trying to place you, right?" asked Nick.

"Well, not that hard. I was either going to go to Mom's cabin or to one of my brother's."

Howie spoke up. "Xavier did ask John if any of us were with AJ, remember? Why would he be so concerned about it, unless he had something planned?"

All four were silent as they let Howie's statement sink in. "Yeah," breathed Kevin quietly. "Xavier is up to something. You don't pay someone just to find out whether or not they arrived home. Xavier wanted to make sure, he needed to know that we were home. The big question is why?"

AJ jumped up, nervous. "Ah, I think I'm gonna set the security alarm, okay guys? You need anything outside? No? Good." He dashed out of the room.

Nick curled up in his seat, feeling suddenly cold despite the warmth his heat-activated chair had to offer. "I don't like this," he spoke softly.

* * * * * * *

Nogales was not a large town, its sporadic clusters of light and dark attesting to that fact. Brian watched with curiosity as Xavier drove them confidently through the town, weaving in and out of traffic with ease. He looks like he knows this place like the back of his hand. I wonder if Xavier was born here?

Feeling more nervous by the moment, Brian glanced quickly at his watch. Xavier said we'd be there in 20 minutes but it's been over 45. Feeling the smooth blacktop give way to a gravel road, he held on tightly to his armrest for support, the car bouncing roughly as Xavier drove way too fast for the terrain. An overhanging palo verde tree limb brushed against the car's windshield causing Brian to wonder what the hell Xavier was doing. He felt like asking the bodyguard but then realized Xavier would most likely ignore his question. By the way Xavier was driving, Brian guessed he was going to find out soon enough. Another heavy smack of an overgrown bush scraped the side of their car, startling him. He peered outside, trying to see anything in the inky blackness of night. Brian caught the dim twinkle of lights off to the right, the only illumination showing in the darkness besides the car's headlights.

Xavier pointed to his right, turning at the same time. "There it is."

"There what is?" questioned Brian, not sure if he really wanted to know. Xavier drove into a small clearing, free from scrub brush, and stopped to park next to a beat-up Ford pickup. Jumping out of the car, Xavier stretched, then with a grin motioned for Brian to get out.

With every raw nerve on end Brian cautiously exited the security of their car, taking note of the several trucks and motorcycles that were parked erratically in the gravel lot. Brian shivered a little, surprised that the desert air had become quite chilly and zipped up his leather jacket. The faint din of laughter, music, and crash of broken glass caught Brian's attention and he glanced towards the softly-glowing neon sign hanging above a small building. Dos Pesos. They were at a bar, and by the looks of it, not just any bar. A bar that was in the middle of the desert, miles away from civilization, a bar that looked and sounded like … a bar that he was suddenly afraid to enter.

Xavier slapped Brian enthusiastically on the back. "Promised you a night on the town, didn't I? Well, come on." He looked at Brian impatiently when the young singer stood rooted to the spot, not moving. Xavier leaned down, whispering into his ear. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." He laughed, giving Brian a push. Brian took a hesitant step forward, his mind and nerves screaming run! He glanced into the darkness of the desert night, wondering if he could make it. As if reading his thoughts, Xavier's massive hand came down upon Brian's shoulder, making him flinch as the bodyguard applied pressure.

"Don't even try."

Xavier shoved Brian, this time harder, and he stumbled. Regaining his balance, he walked slowly to the heavy wooden door, its face scarred with numerous dents and carved grafetti. Xavier reached over Brian's shoulder to push the door, only to have the door swing open on its own, a cheerful and rather intoxicated man staggering outside. The man nodded woozily to the two then shuffled a few yards more before collapsing in a drunken heap.

Xavier gave a laugh of amusement, turning his smile on Brian. With a flourish of his hand he waved to the Backstreet Boy. "After you."

Brian gazed sourly at him then entered, the stark brightness of the room blinding him for a moment before he was able to regain his eyesight. He wished he hadn't. Sucking in his breath, he examined what lay before him, his mouth almost dropping open in surprise. The inside of the bar looked exactly like the kind one saw in a low-budget biker movie. The floor was made of concrete, the bar itself one long extension of a continuous slab of wood. Dark, crudely made tables and chairs were scattered around, and, by the looks of the rough crowd, were most likely broken on a nightly basis. A small, raised, half-circle of cement was located in the corner, which Brian assumed would hold a band, if they ever had one, but right now held two people, laughing and singing off-key to some karaoke song. To the side of the obviously drunken singers were various pinball and computer games, all being used, and at the very end, an old, well-used pool table. Brian tried not to stare, not wanting to attract attention but realized it was too late as several eyes turned curiously towards the door.

"Well, I'll be damned!" boomed a large masculine voice. "Will ya look at who the hell just walked in!"

Brian cringed inwardly. He heard the various hoots of disbelief, mixed in with an assortment of catcalls. He steeled himself as he watched a giant of a man come rushing over, hoping he wouldn't be crushed. The excited man brushed by him, embracing and slapping the bodyguard enthusiastically on the back.

"Xavier! Damn! Long time, no see buddy!"

Xavier nodded in reply, a wide grin on his face. "Yeah, well…" he began, a cry of delight drowning out his reply. Another man, even taller than the first strode over, his grizzled face animated in delight.

"Hey, you son-of-a-bitch, you still owe me 500 dollars!" He punched the dark-haired bodyguard affectionately, laughing.

"I've got it, Abe. With interest." Xavier grinned at his friend, waving a wad of bills clutched in his hand. Abe snatched it away, eyeing it appreciatively before stuffing in into his pants pocket.

"Hey, last time I heard, you were guarding some bitch in New York! Still doing it?"

Xavier shook his head, then nodded at Brian. "Nope. Got me a new job."

Two pairs of eyes stared down at Brian, examining him with unfriendly curiosity. Brian shifted uncomfortably, aware of the harsh scrutiny. So this is where Xavier wanted to take me, he thought, his mind racing. To some God-foresaken hell hole of a bar, in the middle of the nowhere.

"Kinda puny, ain't he, Xavier?" mocked Abe, elbowing his friend.

"Puny and rich," winked Xavier.

New appreciation was thrown his way as they resized him up. "So you're Xavier's next victim, huh?"

Brian was taken aback, startled by Abe's knowledge of Xavier's "occupation." Before he could reply Xavier was pushing him along towards a back table, close to the swaying Karaoke singers. Shoving Brian none to gently into a seat, Xavier sat himself, the other two joining in. Brian felt the small lump of Rosie's cell phone in his side coat pocket and he secretly slipped his fingers around it, trying to gain some composure as the three large men encircled him. Ignoring the blatantly curious stares of Xavier's two "friends", Brian craned his neck for a better view of the room. It was surprising well lit, empty of any decoration, except for the various neon beer signs hanging behind the bar. He let his eyes roam slowly, taking in the clientele of the place, most of who looked liked hard-core regulars. He tried hard not to stare at any particular person for long, aware that he was being scrutinized too. Turning away from the crowd, Brian sat quietly, listening to Xavier, Abe and his friend talk. From the constant teasing and joking, Brian guessed Xavier had known these men for a long time, that they were more than just casual acquaintances. He wondered if they were family, then immediately rejected that idea, viewing the two before him. The unnamed man sitting next to him was about the same height and weight as Xavier but that was where the similarity ended, his long straggly red hair, his pitted and ruddy complexion a stark contrast to Xavier's dark looks. Abe, even larger than Xavier, was sporting a massive beard, compensating for his rapidly receding hairline.

A small cough announced the arrival of their waitress, a tired-looking woman whose hair was pulled back into a severe ponytail. She sighed and pulled out a small flip book, her pencil ready. "Okay, what do you want?" she asked dully.

Abe grinned, one eyebrow cocked in question as leaned back in his seat, a heavy boot coming to rest on the table. "Xavier? This one on you?"

Xavier mimicked Abe's stance. "Nah. It's his treat." He reached over to slap Brian affectionately on his shoulder.

"Well, damn! If you say so! Sweetie, give me a whiskey. Hell, give me a whole bottle!"

Abe grunted happily, punching his friend next to him. "It's blondie's treat, Benny. What do you want?"

Benny, running a hand through his red hair, studied Brian for a moment. "Just how rich is he?" he drawled, his smile showing the few remaining teeth still intact.

Xavier shook his head at Benny and grinned. "Just give old Ben here a bottle too, okay sweetheart?"

The waitress ignored Xavier's wink and pointed her pencil at Brian. "What about him?"

Brian turned to look at her, opening his mouth to say no thanks when she cut in. "Hey, you look kinda familiar. What's your name?"

Brian stiffened and Xavier laughed humorously at Brian's discomfort as he leaned over to whisper loudly, "Meet Brian Littrell. He's a Backstreet Boy."

The waitress's eyes went round, her mouth open. "Really?" She looked at Xavier for confirmation, ignoring Brian. "Really?" she asked again. She turned to Brian, stammering. "I… I've never met anyone famous before. I mean, I don't listen to your music, sorry, but uh, can I have your autograph?" She shoved her pencil and order book in front of Brian's face, not waiting for a reply.

"Sure," Brian mumbled, taking the pencil. "What's your name?"

"Sarah. Yeah, write it - to Sarah, you are the best. All my love, Brian." She smiled brightly, happy at her wording.

Brian scribbled it out, handing it back to her. Sarah looked at it a second then pressed it to her chest, hugging it. "Thanks! Hey, is it worth anything?" She looked at Xavier with hopeful eyes. "Do you think I can sell it?"

Xavier burst out laughing, roaring his delight. "Damn if I know. Give it a try. You never know." He shook his head, grinning. "Hey Brian, give her your jacket. Poor girl needs some extra cash."

The cell phone! "No!" Brian panicked, his voice strained. Seeing Xavier frowning at him Brian forced himself to remain calm. "Uh, I'm kinda cold," he explained apologetically to Sarah, giving her his best smile. "I'll send you something, okay? How about tickets? You could always sell them."

Sarah perked up, nodding. "Great, thanks." She wrote out her name and address, handing the piece of paper to him gratefully.

"Hey, what about my whiskey, sweet cheeks?" grumbled Abe, tired of waiting.

"Yeah!" roared Benny, impatient too. "Get that cute little ass of yours moving. We're thirsty." He reached over to swat her on the backside but Sarah was no novice and she easily avoided the swipe with well-practiced ease. It took only a moment before she returned, Abe and Benny whooping in delight as they saw the bottles.

"Oh yeah, here we go," crowed Abe, reaching for his bottle and twisting off the top. He took a hefty swig, sighing in pleasure. Benny mimicked Abe only trying to down a larger gulp. Benny tilted his head towards the waitress as she walked away, leering after her. "Nick piece of ass," he commented, looking at Xavier. Xavier was still curiously studying Brian, so he missed Ben's remark. Abe eyed Ben, giving each other a questioning look.

"Hey, ya old coot!"

Xavier swung his attention to Benny.

"I said, nice ass." He winked at Xavier.

Xavier shrugged, not replying.

"Whassa matter? Your tastes lie somewhere else?" Ben snickered, giving Abe a poke and a grin, not noticing Xavier's cold stare. Brian did. He wondered if Abe and Benny knew about Xavier's sexual preference. It was obvious that Abe and Benny had noticed Xavier's lack of interest towards Sarah but were they just joking with Xavier or was the question a little more serious? Brian couldn't be sure.

"Damn. Almost as good as a lay," Abe moaned as leaned back in his chair and took anther sip.

"I'll say. And a lot cheaper, thanks to blondie." Ben tipped the bottle Xavier's way.

"No, thanks."

Ben shrugged. "Whatever. Please yourself." He took another healthy sip, wiping his mouth. "Or should I say, let Blondie please you." Ben roared at his joke, Abe joining in.

Xavier's mouth became tighter, a small twitch forming in the corner of his eye. Were they baiting Xavier? Brian looked curiously at the two, who were nearly falling over themselves with laughter, then turned his attention to the occupants of the room. From the looks of the bar and its testosterone-demented occupants, it seemed like there would be little or no tolerance for anyone in there who wasn't heterosexual. Brian could feel the tension radiate throughout the bodyguard and he shifted uneasily in his seat. Xavier continued to look at his friends, an expression of aggravation and frustration crossing the massive bodyguard's face.

Suddenly Brian saw why Xavier had taken him here. Xavier wanted to show him off. Like a prize, or a trophy, Xavier was hoping to impress his friends, to gain admiration and awe from Abe and Benny, or whoever else was in the bar. Only he wasn't getting the respect he wanted. For whatever warped reason, Brian saw as plain as day the need, the desire to make an impression on these two.

"Go sing something," Xavier said gruffly, ignoring the snorts of laughter coming from his friends.

Startled, Brian looked at him, confused. "Huh?"

"You heard me. Sing. Go up on stage and sing something."

Abe and Benny stopped laughing, eyeing Brian. "Yeah, you can sing can't you? Go sing."

It seemed as if all heads in the bar turned his way, a quiet tension filling the room. Brian held his breath, gripping the edge of his seat as he paused, uneasy. Xavier leaned back in his chair, crossing his massive forearms across his chest, the infuriating smirk of a secret smile beginning to form across his face. Brian felt a surge of anger and dread build up inside him. Could this possibly be game number two? He was sure Xavier wasn't planning any more, but maybe he was wrong. It was still before their cross-over to Mexico, so it was possible, yet Xavier had promised to warn him when game two was coming.

Xavier said the next one was going to be harder. "Is this number two?" he asked, looking directly at Xavier.

Xavier tilted his head, a little surprised. "Two?" "You know. Game two. Remember? Brownie points? You said you'd tell me when game two starts."

Abe and Benny looked at each other in confusion. "What the fuck is he talking about? Number 2? Does he have to take a crap?" This set the two off again, rolling with laughter.

Xavier ignored them, staring at Brian. "No," he said simply. Brian sagged from relief. Just as he thought, Xavier never had planned for a second game. Tomorrow they would cross the border, do the bank transaction, and after that… Brian didn't know what would happen, except that Xavier was going to make good on his promise to hurt one of the guys. Only he wasn't going to let him. Brian stood up slowly, a crazy idea forming, so off the wall he couldn't believe it crossed his mind. He was taking a chance, a very big chance, one so iffy that if it backfired…Brian winced inwardly. He didn't even want to think about it. But, if it did work, if he was successful…

Filled with determination, Brian took a deep breath and looked around in the suddenly still bar, feeling the silent sneers of the hardened crowd bearing down upon him. Brian realized he would much rather have a loaded gun to his head than face this crowd but he walked coolly over to the so-called stage, eyeing the Karaoke machine. He hadn't a clue how to work it, much less know if the song he was about to sing was on it. It didn't matter. He wasn't going to use the machine anyway. Brian grabbed the portable microphone, tapping it gently to see if it was on. It was. Mentally steeling himself, he walked over to where Xavier sat, not wanting to stay up on stage. If things went right, he would only need to sing a few lines before all hell broke loose and he wanted to be as close to the door as possible.

He cleared his throat exaggeratedly, wanting to capture everyone's attention.

"Ah, I want to dedicate this song to my bodyguard…my friend… my lover." He enunciated the last words, staring directly into Xavier's eyes. "I just want to say how much he means to me."

Xavier jerked in surprise, turning his head to see everyone in the bar looking at him in complete shock.

"Lover?" yelled Benny. "Lover? You're fucking gay?" he screeched at Xavier, astonishment written all over his face. "Holy shit!" Benny turned to Abe who was as equally stunned.

Brian smiled at Abe and Benny. "You didn't know?" he cooed innocently, a fine bead of nervous perspiration trailing down his back as he tried to act calm. Brian gave Xavier a sweet smile but his eyes were dark with malicious harm.

You are my fire….he began, seeing the rage beginning to burn in Xavier…

The one deeeesiirre…Brian trailed intentionally, hearing the hoots of disbelief and laughter….

Believe when I say….Brian ran a swift hand through Xavier's hair and quickly moved away from the bodyguard's reach…

I want it that way…the oohs and jeers of the crowd filled Brian's ears so he couldn't hear the harsh words coming from Benny's mouth, but he could definitely make out the raw anger in Xavier's face as the bodyguard listened to his friend

Brian eyed the door, the weight of Rosie's cell phone pressing against him. Come on… he pleaded silently, his hopes soaring as Benny angrily shoved his chair away, glaring at Xavier.

But we are two worlds apart… Brian carried on, the crash of another chair hitting the floor as Abe stood up too…

Watching Xavier rise from his seat, Brian completely forgot what came next, his heart beating so fast it ached. "Uh, I never wanna hear you say…he sang, reaching for any verse as he edged backwards towards the door. He bolted for the exit when he saw Benny leap wildly at Xavier, a mighty crash of splintered wood and glass filling the air.

Excited chants of "fight, fight" came from the crowd as they swarmed in closer, eager to join in the fray.

Brian slipped out the front door, his hands shaking from excitement as he fished out the cell phone from his pocket. A powerful smash resonated against the inside of the door and Brian jumped in surprise, moving quickly away. The light was too dim, the location too dangerous for him to stay so he ran around the side of the building searching for a reasonably safe spot. He spied a single outdoor light, located near the corner of the parking lot and raced towards it, hiding behind the cover of a white truck.

Flipping the cell phone open Brian stopped for a moment, alarmed. The lock out number! I can't remember the lock out number! He thought furiously for a moment. 911? No, idiot, that's emergency. 9…9…Oh God! It was 9 something, something, so he punched 922, ready to hit every number remaining until he found it.

The lockout signal vanished and Brian sent up a silent prayer of thanks, flinching a bit as the blast of a shattered window and agitated sounds of fighting filtered by. Ordering himself to remain calm, Brian punched in the number for Aunt Ann and placed a hand over his other ear to block out the noise coming from the bar.

He listened impatiently as the phone rang and rang, mentally urging someone to pick it up. The answering machine came on, its automated message droning to leave a name, number…Brian grimaced and hit the end button, biting his lip. Who now? He punched in Nick's number and brought the phone up to his ear, peeking cautiously around the truck. The front door was now half-open, courtesy of the fallen body of an unconscious bar patron. The fight seemed to be in full force and Brian grinned savagely, praying that Xavier was getting the shit beat out of him.

The click of the phone swung Brian's attention away from the bar and he heard Nick's voice. Brian excitedly yelled to him, then stopped as he realized he was listening to Nick's recorded message. He heard the beep and swore desperately, hitting the end button again in anger. Brian began to panic a little. Where the hell was everyone?

Trying once more, he hit AJ's number and bounced nervously on his toes, sneaking quick glimpses towards the bar. Another unconscious person had fallen over the prone figure lying in the doorway and Brian anxiously bit his fingernails as he listened to the repeating ring in his ear. For a second he froze, wondering what to say. He really hadn't thought about it, positive he would reach his cousin instead of AJ. How could he convince AJ? Out of the four, he would be the most skeptical, the most cynical.

"Dude, who ever this is, you're so dead for calling me at this time of night," AJ's voice warned, his irritation obvious.

"Bone?" Brian whispered apprehensively, fearful that AJ would hang up before he had a chance to talk to him. "AJ?"

"Brian, is that you?"

AJ sounded upset, distressed, but Brian couldn't be sure as he heard the cheers and sounds of fighting become louder. He looked up in alarm as he saw Xavier stumble outside, the crowd of spectators spilling out of the bar, cheering as Xavier held onto a death grip around Benny's neck.

"Brian!"

"Uh, yeah, sorry to call you…"

"Where are you?" AJ screamed and Brian recoiled from the sound.

"I'm outside, on a cell phone," he answered, trying to concentrate on Xavier and AJ at the same time.

"No," yelled AJ," I mean, where are you calling from?"

The fighting was coming closer, the crowd excitedly rooting for Xavier, who, although battered and bloody, was obviously winning the fight. Brian winced as he watched Xavier slam mercilessly into Benny, the sickening sound of bone snapping, being heard by all.

"Oh my God," moaned Brian, shocked by the sound, realizing he had little time left. He frantically glanced around, looking for escape.

"Brian, B-Rok!" came the worried shout from his cell phone. Brain ignored AJ for a moment, beginning to panic. There was no where to go. Crouched next to the truck he peered inside the cab and caught his breath, seeing the glint of keys dangling from the ignition. Shaking, he quickly opened the door and hopped in.

'Answer me!" screamed AJ. "Brian!" Brian put the phone back to his ear.

"AJ," he spoke urgently, "listen! Don't talk! Something's gonna happen, please God, just listen!" he pleaded as he heard AJ beginning to speak. "Be careful man, I need you to be careful, all of you! Xavier has something planned, something bad, I don't know what…" Brian trailed off, seeing Benny lying in a heap, not moving. Xavier struggled to stand upright, the bodyguard no more than 20 feet from him. Brian fumbled for the keys to turn on the ignition. "I know you don't believe me, but please AJ, God, please watch out…oh no…"

The door to the truck tore open and Brian turned in shock, the bloody but grinning face of Abe just inches away from his. With a snarl, Brian gave Abe a hard kick, then frantically turned on the ignition, trying to put the truck in gear. Two strong arms reached in and ripped him bodily away from the cab, his cell phone dropping unnoticed into the soft dirt.

"Nick little trick there, Mr. Backstreet Boy," sneered Abe. "I knew something wasn't right. Xavier screamed at me to get you, said that you were escaping!" He shook Brian like a rag doll. "I just earned me 200 bucks!"

Brian stared up into the wild eyes of Abe, the grip from the giant man's arm even more powerful than Xavier's. In a flash, Brian brought his knee up, viciously slamming into the large man's groin. Abe screamed in agony and bent over but held onto the struggling singer. Enraged and in excruciating pain, Abe flung Brain as hard as he could into the side of the truck.

Brain had only a second to see Xavier's battered face before his own hit the corner of the truck's bumper, his limp body falling to the desert floor. Xavier leaned over the unconscious Backstreet Boy, turning him over to view the nasty cut on the side of Brian's left temple. Frowning, Xavier straightened up stiffly, going over to watch unsympathetically as Abe threw up repeatedly on the ground.

"I asked you to catch him, not kill him," growled Xavier, throwing some crumpled bills near the kneeling man. "Asshole."

With difficulty, Xavier walked over to the fallen singer, picking him up in his arms. He winced as a sharp pain stabbed through his side but ignored it as he carried Brian over to their car. He placed the injured singer in the back seat and gingerly got into the driver's side, this time swearing as the pain in his rib burned with a vengeance. Broken. He made a mental note to stop at the local Walgreen's for some bandages, then took a quick glance at the still figure crumpled in the back seat. Butterfly bandages too. Xavier tore out of the parking lot, noting how quickly the crowd had disappeared after the excitement had vanished. He gave one more quick look at Brian, his fury at having his night ruined overshadowed by his admiration at the cleverness of Brian's plan. Kid's got guts. Too bad.

* * * * * *

A slim, but shaky hand reached for the fallen cell phone, not seen by anyone except for the person who picked it up. Eyeing it carefully, seeing the green light still on, Sarah placed the phone to her ear. "Hello?" she said softly. "Anyone there?"

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE - ACROSS THE MILES

AJ tossed Nick a couple of blankets then went over to gently cover Howie and Kevin, who both had fallen asleep in the large reclining chairs. It had been a long day, filled with anxiety, tension, and fear; the toll of it showing on the exhausted faces of all four.

Not wanting to admit his alarm at sleeping alone, Nick suggested they all stick together, that AJ's leather chairs were more than comfortable enough to sleep in for the night. The others readily agreed, their own reasons for not being apart pretty much the same as Nick's.

AJ dimmed the lights in the room, sufficient to sleep undisturbed, but bright enough that if someone had to use the bathroom they wouldn't have to feel their way out. Nick had placed a blanket on AJ's chair, himself already curled up in his. AJ settled in, giving a long and tired sigh. He glanced over at Nick, seeing two bright blue eyes staring intently back at him.

"Want me to hold your hand so you can go to sleep?" he teased.

"Screw you. You know you're just as scared as I am."

AJ gave him a tiny smile. "Nah. I've got my guard dogs to save me."

Nick snorted. "Where are they anyway?"

"Outside. They're not too happy about it, but I figured with their yappy little voices, we'd hear if anything was happening."

Nick nodded. As annoying as AJ's dogs were sometimes, they sure could bark, their incessant yaps enough to make fingernails scraping on chalkboard sound soothing.

AJ turned on his side, his hand propping his head. "Wanna talk about it?"

Nick's blue eyes clouded a little. He knew what AJ meant. "Do we have to?"

"No," drawled AJ, "but it might help. Everyone here can see how it's eating away at you."

Nick sighed and straightened up. "And it doesn't you?" he questioned harshly.

"You know it does!" replied AJ heatedly, getting angry.

"Sorry, I'm sorry, Bone. I'm not looking to argue."

AJ calmed down, hearing the fatigue in Nick's voice. "Me neither."

Nick leaned back in his lounger and closed his eyes, not speaking. AJ had almost fallen asleep when he heard Nick cough hesitantly, then began speaking in a hushed tone.

"I'm scared Bone, scared for us, for Brian. I just can't get it out of my head that if I really had been Brian's friend, I would of known how unhappy he was."

"Nick…" sighed AJ heavily, but Nick shut him up.

"AJ! Stop! Don't tell me that crap about how it isn't my fault, how you and the guys understand how I feel. You don't and never will, all right?"

Nick paused and AJ heard his friend heave a dejected sigh. Knowing Nick was struggling to say something else, AJ wisely kept silent, waiting.

"I mean, I pray Brian's okay, but I get this gut feeling he's not. I'm afraid I'll never see him again, never get to say how sorry I am."

"And it's killing you."

"Yeah," came Nick's sad whisper.

AJ's heart ached as he saw the grief in Nick's face. He felt the same way, only he had been too afraid to admit it. AJ swung his legs over the side of the recliner, his hands covering his face as he bowed his head. "Nick. It's okay to think about it, to talk about it. To worry about it. I'm not as brave as you. I want to ignore it. I don't want to feel. I don't want to know." Nick heard the catch in AJ voice. "Cause if I do, I feel like I might go crazy. Totally."

Staring hard at him, Nick reached out to pull AJ's hands away from his face. In the dim light he saw the shine of unshed tears before AJ twisted away, closing his eyes tight.

"AJ," he choked, his voice breaking at the thought of the pain his friend was going through.

"I'm okay," he said roughly, refusing to look at Nick. The quiet ring of the phone broke the agonizing moment. AJ sighed, reaching over to snag it before it woke Kevin and Howie.

"Forget it," Nick advised.

"No, I'll get it. But whoever it is, they had better have a good reason for calling me so late."

AJ leaned back in his recliner as brought the phone up to his ear. "Dude, whoever this is, you're so dead for calling me at this time of night."

"Bone?" AJ heard a pause. "AJ?"

AJ nearly jumped out of his skin. "Brian, is that you?" Eyes wide, he frantically punched Nick, signaling wildly for him to wake up Howie and Kevin. He pressed his ear closer to the phone, cupping his hand over his other ear. He thought he heard a lot of yelling and screaming and he began to panic a little.

"Brian!" AJ yelled loudly, scared that Brain couldn't hear him.

"Uh, yeah, sorry to call you…"

Sorry! AJ turned towards Kevin and Howie who were now fully awake, their faces reflecting the anxiety they heard in AJ's frantic voice. "Where are you?" AJ screamed into the phone and Nick winced, alarmed. He grabbed the phone away from AJ's hand, hitting the speakerphone and set the phone into its cradle.

"…outside, on a cell phone," came Brian's reply. Nick found himself almost lightheaded with relief as he listened to Brian speak. He strained to make out what was in the background, but all he heard were faint cheers.

"No, I mean where are you calling from?"

Now all four could heard the clear sounds of people yelling…fight…come on…yes!…kill 'em…and they looked at each other in confusion. A loud roar of approval filled the speakerphone; apparently something significant had happened.

"Oh my God."

The agony in Brian's voice caused everyone in the room to freeze with fear.

Kevin shouted into the phone, "Brian!" while Nick said at almost the same time, "B-Rok!" There was no answer, the din of the crowd fading away. AJ could make out the panicked breathing of Brian, as if he were trying to do something.

Frustrated at not knowing what was going on, AJ screamed, "Answer me! Brian!"

Brian returned, the stress in his voice apparent. "AJ, listen! Don't talk! Something's gonna happen…"

AJ broke in, desperate to let Brian know that he and the guys knew about Xavier. "Brian! We all …"

"Please God, just listen!" cried Brian. Nick could feel the terror in his words. "Be careful man, I need you to be careful, all of you! Xavier has something planned, something bad, I don't know what…" Kevin heard his cousin's voice trail off and leaned forward toward the phone, giving Howie an anxious look. Before he could say anything, Brian spoke again. "I know you don't believe me, but please AJ, God, please watch out…oh no…"

AJ, Nick, Howie, and Kevin heard the heart-stopping moan of Brian's last words and tensed with fright as they heard a vicious snarl coming from the speaker.

"Brian!" screamed Nick, "Brian!"

AJ grabbed Nick and shook his head, struggling to hear what was happening. Each guy held their breath, striving to catch any sound, but they heard nothing, the cell phone clearly dead.

"Oh shit! Shit!" Nick shouted in frustration, his hands running frantically through his hair. "Do something!" he yelled at all three, his eyes wild with despair.

"Nick," Howie spoke, his voice shaking, "what? Do what?"

"I don't know!" shrieked Nick. "The police! That's it! I'm calling the police!" He pointed a warning finger at Kevin. "No! Don't stop me! I'm not gonna…"

"Hello? Anybody there?"

All four turned to look at the forgotten speakerphone, shocked at the quiet but clear voice coming from it.

"Hello?"

Howie broke out of his astonishment first, leaning over the speaker. "Yes, yes! We're here! Hello! Who are you?"

A moment passed and all four panicked at the thought of the unknown caller not answering.

"Sarah. My name is Sarah."

AJ took over. "Sarah, hi, it's me AJ. Hey sweetheart, don't hang up, okay? I need to ask you a few questions."

"Um, well…."

AJ and Kevin looked at each other in concern, hearing the reluctance in her voice. AJ spoke up, trying to keep his tone light, sensing Sarah's hesitation. "Sarah, I'm a friend of the guy who's cell phone you have. Can you tell me if he's okay? Is he there?"

"I got his autograph." Sarah was quiet for a moment. "He promised me some tickets."

"I'll make sure you get them, Sarah. Listen, please, can I ask you some questions?"

"Okay, I guess." All four Backstreet Boys could hear her rustling around for something

. "Uh, could you hold on for a moment? I'm gonna need a cigarette first."

AJ didn't like the discouraging note in her voice and glanced at the others. They had caught the tone too; Nick's face as somber as AJ had ever seen. "Sure, I could use one myself right about now. Light one up for me, okay?"

Sarah gave a small laugh and Kevin nodded, signaling a thumb's up sign of approval to AJ. The oldest Backststreet Boy glanced quickly at Nick, who was gripping the back of his chair tightly, then at Howie, who trying his best to remain composed.

"I'm back," Sarah announced. "Say, are you a Backstreet Boy?"

"Sure am, sweetie. My name's AJ. Nick, Kevin and Howie are here with me too."

They all heard the brightness in her voice, the interest. "Really?"

"Hi, Sarah," said Kevin and Howie simultaneously.

"Ask her about Brian!" hissed Nick, impatient with all the small talk.

"Hi, hi," she stuttered.

Kevin became alarmed. "What's the matter, Sarah? Are you okay?"

"Sure. My teeth are just chattering. It's cold out here."

"Where are you?"

"Outside a bar called Dos Pesos. It's where I work. I should be getting back, but I think that might be a problem."

Nick butted in. "Sarah, this is Nick, Brian's friend. Where is Dos Pesos? What city?"

"Oh! Just outside of Nogie."

"Huh?"

"Nogales."

"Okay, I'm lost. Nogales, what?"

"Arizona. Nogales is on the border, just south of Tucson."

AJ and Kevin looked at each other, puzzled. A border town?

"Well at least we know where Bri is," whispered Howie to everyone. "Tucson is our next concert after the break, remember?"

"Hello?" Sarah's voice came back, confused at the sudden silence.

"Sorry, sweetheart," replied AJ. "Just thinking. Sarah, do you know where Brian is? Can we talk to him?"

"He's not here. He's been hurt." Sarah could hear their sharp intakes of surprise and hurried on. "Some big guy threw him against a truck. I think Brian was trying to get away and got caught."

"Sarah," Nick struggled, "Sarah, can you tell me how bad Brian's been hurt?"

"No, I'm sorry. He was unconscious and another big guy picked him up and took him away."

"Another big guy?" Nick looked at AJ, seeing the same confusion.

"Yeah, the one he came into the bar with. Dark hair, dark eyes."

Xavier, mouthed AJ.

A weak beep beep came through the speakerphone. "What was that?" asked Nick, startled. "Do you have another call?"

"No, the cell battery is low," warned Sarah.

Shit! The news troubled AJ. "Sarah, babe, I gotta ask you some more questions! Do you know why Brian was there?"

"Well, it looked like the big guy wanted Brian to meet some of his friends."

"Xavier," said AJ. "The big guy's name is Xavier."

"Oh yeah, right, I remember now."

Beep.

AJ panicked. "Tell me everything that happened."

"Well, Xavier wanted Brian to sing. So he got up. Told the audience that he wanted to dedicate a song to Xavier because…"

All four could hear the uncertainty in her voice, as if she was holding something back. "Sarah, go on," prodded AJ.

"Uh…"

Beep, beep.

AJ began to sweat. "Sarah! The phone! Come on."

"Brian, um, said because Xavier was his lover."

"What?!"

"Yeah, as soon as he said that the whole bar went crazy. Xavier got into this huge fight with another guy and Brian ran outside. I followed cause I didn't want to get hurt."

Another beep. "Go on!"

"I ran outside but the fight spilled out into the yard. Xavier was really hurting that guy bad. Anyway, I was hiding behind a car when I saw Xavier's friend grab Brian out of a truck. Brian managed to kick him in the balls, but the guy hung on and threw Brian against the side of the truck. Xavier was pretty mad at his friend for doing that. He picked Brian up off the ground, put him in a car and drove away."

AJ shuddered, unable to say anything as Howie stared desolately at the phone. Kevin, weak at the news, hung his head.

"Sarah," Nick spoke up, his voice trembling, "do you know where they went? Did you get…"

The phone went dead, its battery spent.

"Fuck!" screamed Nick, livid. "Fuck!" He stared at the speakerphone for a moment then reached for it, ripping it away from its base. He threw it furiously against the wall, trying to smash it. "Son-of-a-fucking-bitch!" Nick clutched his hands tightly, shaking. "Why didn't we get her number? Why?" he shouted accusingly to all three. "God dammit!"

Kevin reached out to calm him. "Nick," he began but Nick slapped his hand away, enraged.

"Stop! Get away," he shrieked, his eyes wild with anger.

Kevin glanced worriedly at AJ and Howie, but AJ didn't catch it, his attention directly solely on Nick. Nick paced agitatedly back and forth across the room, ranting. "I'm gonna kill that asshole! As soon as I see X, I'm gonna put a bullet in his brain!" Nick mimicked pointing a gun. "Bang!" He started swearing again with a vengeance.

AJ let him continue, shaking his head warningly at Kevin and Howie not to interfere, knowing Nick needed to release his pent-up anger. His friends watched solemnly as Nick carried on and on, not letting up, his promises becoming more extreme, his threats filled with hatred. Concerned for his friend's mental well-being AJ finally grabbed Nick by his shoulders and shook him hard.

" Nick! Enough! That's enough!"

Startled out of his fit, Nick looked at him with a blank expression for a moment then pushed AJ away. He slumped into the nearest chair and covered his eyes. No one spoke for a few minutes, each immersed in their own thoughts over what had just happened. With a deep sigh Nick stood up, his face haggard.

"I'm sorry," he apologized dully. "I guess I lost it." He walked quietly out of the room and Kevin sat down, rubbing his eyes tiredly as he looked at AJ and Howie. AJ glanced at Kevin, then at the door.

"I'm going to see about Nick," he announced and left.

Kevin sighed resignedly and felt Howie's concerned hand on his shoulder.

"Kev, Nick's tough. He'll be okay."

Kevin nodded and turned away, not willing to let Howie see his fear. I hope so. I don't think I can stand losing another.

* * * * * *

My head. Why is my head killing me? Brian groaned, reaching up to touch the pain but felt a firm hand pushing his away, too strong to argue with. All right, all right, but it still hurts. Make it stop hurting, okay?

The rim of a glass was forced between his lips and Brian shook his head, too tired to drink, too tired to even open his eyes. The pressure increased and he resisted until he felt fingers prying his mouth open, none-too-gently. Unable to fight Brian opened up, realizing a pill was being pushed down his throat along with stale water. He gagged, trying to vomit it up, but strong hands clamped down upon his nose, then mouth, forcing him to swallow.

Breathing heavily, he smelled the sour odor of bed sheets, the rankness of his own sweat mixed in with dried blood. He tried once more to put a hand up to his head, only to find larger ones already there, poking, prodding at the pain. Brian winced as a stinging solution was applied to his temple, squeezing his eyes even tighter as the fluid ran into the corner of one eye.

Moaning, Brian struggled to make sense of it all, but the pain, the blinding pain refused to cooperate with his mind. With herculean effort Brian forced his eyes open, gasping at the vertigo that hit him with a vengeance. He immediately closed his eyes, praying that his stomach wouldn't heave, not from the dizziness in his head, but from the sight that greeted him for just an instant. Xavier's face floated up behind his eyes, a vision of massive cuts and bruises, all blended in so that he couldn't tell where the injuries started or ended. Brian bravely peeked once more, this time the vertigo not as severe.

Xavier studied him quietly, putting the finishing touches of a butterfly bandage to the young singer's brow. Brian flinched at his administrations and Xavier snorted, shaking his head. "You'll live," he said curtly.

Rising with difficulty from the edge of Brian's bed, Xavier went over to his own, rummaging through his suitcase. Brian watched him intently, noticing Xavier wince in pain as he slipped a shirt over his head, the thick bandages swathed tightly around his chest and waist. Apparently the bruises were not just exclusive to Xavier's face, but to his back and sides as well, and Brian took grim satisfaction in Benny's handiwork as he remembered clearly the vicious fight between the two. What he couldn't remember was how he got the cut on his head. Tentatively touching his wound, he grimaced, pulling his hand away quickly.

Xavier grunted, seeing the pained expression on the young singer's face. "Nasty little cut there. I suggest you don't touch it."

"What happened?" As much as Brian hating asking, he needed to know.

"You don't remember?"

"I remember hoping Abe and Benny would beat the crap outta you."

Xavier propped himself against the back of the bed's headboard and gave Brian an inscrutable look then shook his head, giving a quick hoot of derisive laughter. "Damn near did. Would have too, if Abe hadn't of decided that money was more appealing than fighting."

Brian threw Xavier a confused look.

"Abe was the one who threw you into the side of a truck when he caught you trying to escape."

Brian shifted uncomfortably. He now remembered the grinning face of Abe popping up before him, of the massive arms that reached out to drag him from the truck. He also remembered Rosie's cell phone. Brian wondered what happened to it, if Xavier had discovered his call to warn the guys. Before he could figure a way to find out Xavier spoke up, his words forming a statement, not a question.

"You knew there was no second game." Xavier eyed Brian closely and the young Backstreet Boy stared back, his gaze unwavering.

"Yeah. I figured you wouldn't do anymore once you got your money."

Xavier stared at his bruised knuckles for moment, then gave a sharp laugh, the corner of his lip turning up mockingly.

"Smart boy. I always knew you were sharp. So you took a chance, hoping if you were able to start a fight between me and my buddies you would be able to escape, huh?"

Brian's heart skipped a beat, hopeful. Xavier had not mentioned anything about discovering a cell phone, or about trying to warn his friends. Not sure if Xavier was leading him on, trying to lure him into saying something about it, Brian decided to steer clear and try a different approach.

"I was really hoping they'd kill you," answered Brian bluntly. "No Xavier, no Mexico, no money." He stared at Xavier frankly.

Xavier gave Brian a tight smile. "I thought so. You millionaires sure are tight with your money, never willing to share," he scorned jokingly.

Brian tried hard not to show the excitement he felt. Xavier didn't know about the cell phone! He prayed that AJ had listened, had taken his warning seriously. He knew that even if there were no more games, Xavier still intended to give his surprise. That means I might have another chance to warn the guys! His elation turned to surprise as he suddenly swayed, clutching at his bed sheets for support. What the…?

He heard Xavier cluck in fake sympathy. "Oh sorry, forgot to tell you. That pill you took? Just a little something to help you sleep."

Brian blinked slowly, his head swimming. Unable to stay upright he slumped into his pillow, watching Xavier's face waver before him.

"Nope. Can't have you trying to escape again. Not when I'm so close to becoming a rich ex-bodyguard."

Opening his mouth, Brian struggled to say something, anything, but the ability to speak was beyond his control. Resisting the temptation to close his eyes, he fought, striving to stay awake. Xavier gave an amused laugh and stiffly swung his legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the sharp stab from his right side. He leaned over to study the drugged singer, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Bit by bit Brian's eyes drooped lower until they finally closed and Xavier smiled, satisfied. He watched as Brian's breathing became regular; the slow rise and fall of his chest indicating that the young singer was completely under.

Carefully Xavier reached out, his fingers running lightly through Brian's hair. "Yes, tomorrow you and I will be in Mexico." He bent over, gently planting a kiss on Brian's injured forehead. Brian's eyes fluttered for a moment at the touch, then went still.

"And who knows? If I'm feeling nice enough, maybe I'll let you live."

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