The drug hit fast.

Noa’s limbs gave out, collapsing into Alessio’s arms like a puppet with its strings cut. His heart thundered. The world pitched sideways distant sounds, muffled echoes, colors bleeding at the edges of his vision. Alessio caught him like he always did, strong, silent, inescapable.

“Shhh,” Alessio whispered into his hair as the other men disappeared back through the hidden wall. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. You’re mine.”

Noa tried to speak, to curse him, ...