“My gut.”
“Ask him point-blank.”
“I’ve already tried and failed,” Rino lied. Guilt swamped him, but he had to get Ethan’s help in a roundabout way.
“So, what is it you want from me?”
“Can we hire a private investigator to keep an eye on him?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“Are they discreet?”
“If they weren’t, they’d be run out of the business. You know,” Ethan said thoughtfully, “a lot of the guys we use for security at the club are former military. Maybe one of them is interested in making a few extra bucks.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to involve your employees?”
“Most of these men are independent contractors.”
“So there wouldn’t be any blowback.”
“None whatsoever,” Ethan said. “Do you want me to make inquiries?”
“Yes, please. How soon do you think we’ll know anything concrete?”
“This won’t happen overnight, sugar.”
“Jay is staying here for two weeks,” Rino reminded him. “We should have some answers long before then.”
“Do you honestly think he’ll stay?”
“He’s got nowhere else to go.”
“If the priest is as fucked up as I think, he’ll be jonesing for his devil lover,” Ethan stated.
Ethan’s ability to zero in on the truth with little or no information made Rino more determined to get him involved. Eventually, he’d have to find a way to expose Sami without destroying Jay’s trust.
“Are you saying he’s an unwitting participant?”
“Perhaps,” Ethan said. “His reticence is telling. Maybe he’s got unresolved feelings for this guy.”
“I dunno.”
“Let’s err on the side of caution.”
“Right,” Rino concurred, feeling nauseated. Ethan would lose his shit if he found out the type of guy Jay was dealing with. “I suppose years of sexual repression are bound to wreak havoc on one’s sense of right and wrong.”
“Now you sound like an ex-seminarian.”
Rino paused. “Is that a put-down?”
“No, sugar. It’s just an observation.”
“I know I’m still mired in my past, but you have to admit, I’ve made great strides. Three years ago, I was in Jay’s position. Now I can’t wait to go home and feel you inside of me instead of this invasive butt plug.”
“Uh-huh,” Ethan purred knowingly. “About the little gizmo.”
“Shit,” Rino said softly. “I didn’t mean to get you riled up.”
“I’m too far to do anything about it.”
“Your generosity in allowing me to spend the night here means a lot, Eth. If nothing else, you’re paying karma forward.”
“Fuck karma. I’ll never hear the end of it if I forbid you to help your friend.”
“It would be unreasonably selfish.”
“And you’d safeword right quick.”
“You got that right, pardner.”
“Ooh, we’re going full Texan. My cock just twitched.”
“Shut up,” Rino said. “I’m following your lead.”
“Yeah?”
“Sometimes you sound like you just walked off your ranch.”
Ethan snorted. “Guilty as charged.”
“Getting back to Jay.”
“Must we?” Ethan complained.
“Get serious for a minute,” Rino said. “I hardly know him, so I can’t say for sure, but something about this situation is troubling me. I wish there was a way to research his background.”
“The PI might be able to dig up more info,” Ethan offered.
“Thank you for taking care of this,” Rino said.
“The only reason I’m giving this my full attention is because I love you. I’ll waddle like a duck if it makes you happy.”
“I love you too.”
“In the mood to play?” Ethan asked hopefully.
“Not really.”
“And if I insist?”
“I’ll submit,” Rino said softly.
Ethan hummed happily.
As Rino got himself into the right position so Ethan could watch him jerk off, he heard a loud cry coming from the bedroom and froze. “Eth, I gotta go.”
“Why?” Ethan demanded.
“Something’s going on in the bedroom.”
“Fucking hell.”
Rino disconnected the call, pulled up his pants, and followed the sound. When he opened the bedroom door, he found Jay on his knees, naked and flogging himself with his leather belt. The buckle end was turning his back into hamburger.
Horrified, he shouted, “Stop it.”
Jay ignored him. Trancelike, he stayed on course, grunting as each slap of leather generated a new level of pain. Rino tried holding on to his arm, but Jay possessed unnatural strength and shrugged him off impatiently. Prayers in Latin flowed out of his mouth, and Rino caught a few mea culpas although Jay’s state of arousal suggested otherwise.
This barbaric ritual was unexpected, and his limited experience in BDSM didn’t include the proper handling of a masochist. Desperate to stop this antiquated form of penance, Rino filled a large pot with cold water and dumped the entire contents over the priest’s head.
Jay gasped and the spell was broken. Rino pulled a blanket off the bed and threw it over the shivering form, watching in concern as shock and pain finally registered. Tears fell next, and soon Jay was sobbing against Rino’s chest, begging for mercy and forgiveness. They ended up praying, and this time, the sincerity was palpable. Little by little, Jay stopped shaking and loosened his hold.
“I’d like to put some ointment on your back,” Rino said. “Will you lie on your stomach while I attend to your wounds?”
“There’s no need,” Jay mumbled. “I’ll take a shower and get cleaned up on my own.”
“Some of these cuts are out of your reach.”
“In that case….”
Jay lay prone on the bed while Rino went to get the first aid kit. When he returned, the only sound in the bedroom was steady breathing. Jay’s eyes were closed and he didn’t stir, even after the wipe down with a cotton ball drenched in alcohol. He appeared drugged, but the tranquilizer he’d given him earlier had long since worn off. Was this state of euphoria the aftermath of Jay’s self-flagellation? More than ever, he longed for Ethan’s sound advice. He would know how to proceed in this situation whereas Rino had been using stopgap measures since they crossed over the threshold.
He gathered up his supplies and left the room. It was going to be a long night, and he hoped Jay would sleep through it without another incident.
Chapter 9
Ethan’s mood plummeted after Rino ended their conversation so abruptly. He’d been looking forward to some edging with the remote-controlled butt plug, but there was no point in calling back since his boy was too distracted.
Sleep wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, so he decided to drive to Heaven’s Gate, the BDSM club he and a group of professionals had started several years ago. All of the founders were Dominant gay men, but through the years, they’d added their submissive partners as managing consultants to get a more rounded perspective. It was an exclusive club, and one had to be invited to join or referred by an established member. Every so often, someone would suggest adding women to the all-male environment, but after weighing the costs of remodeling to add the additional security, bathrooms, dressing rooms, and staging areas, the idea was shelved—until the next annual board meeting.
Ethan relaxed when he walked into the dining room. The atmosphere was inviting, a safe haven for like-minded men who’d reached the pinnacle of success in their chosen fields. Their inclination toward kink put them at risk of blackmail, and therefore, anyone who stepped through their doors was thoroughly vetted. This made a huge difference in their comfort level. Members spared no expense when it came to their other needs. Only the best chefs were hired to man their kitchens,
and drinks were top-shelf.
Familiar faces were enjoying this evening’s special and acknowledged Ethan’s presence with a nod. He knew he could trouble them for advice if he chose, but it wasn’t his style. Ethan had always been closemouthed when it came to his personal life. Sharing his displeasure over this unwelcome intrusion would make him look like a Dom who’d lost control of his sub. It was far from the truth, but he couldn’t deny the priest’s sudden appearance had put a damper on his perfect relationship.
With Rino on his mind, Ethan stopped to greet a few acquaintances, then excused himself and strode out of the room. He took the stairs to the security office on the second floor, punched in the code on the box by the door, and entered when the locks disengaged. Multiple flat-screens lined two walls with images of the public areas as well as brightly lit corridors leading in and out of separate rooms and the front and back entrance to the club. In consideration of members’ privacy, they’d agreed to keep the surveillance cameras out of bathrooms, dressing rooms, and individual suites, but there were panic buttons in each room should a problem arise.
So far, no one had availed of this last resort. Having security in place was a good deterrent, and anyone who joined the club for the right reasons had nothing to fear. Tonight, there was only one person manning the cameras in the small room. The rest of the team were out on the floor, connected to the spotter via Bluetooth.
Bobby Meyer, formerly US Army, was on duty tonight. He lifted his head when Ethan walked in and lobbed his standard greeting. “What’s up, Doc?”
It still made Ethan smile a year after he’d first heard the husky rasp.
“Not much. Anything going on tonight?”
“Nah…same old stuff. I’m predicting things will start to get weird next week,” Bobby remarked.
“How so?”
“Memorial Day weekend brings out the crazies.”
“Right,” Ethan drawled, remembering the potential security nightmare. “What is it about holidays that turns a well-grounded adult into a naughty boy?”
“Most of us couldn’t do it as kids?”
“I guess so,” Ethan said, pulling out a chair beside Bobby. “Can I bend your ear for a second?”
Bobby nodded. “Sure. I can listen and keep my eyes on the monitors at the same time.”
Ethan gave him a short version of the last forty-eight hours. “Let’s not forget we’re dealing with a priest. According to my source, he’s a pious man who’s followed the commandments for years. Now, all of a sudden, he’s veered off the path, and I’m convinced some asshole has been stalking him in a chat room.”
“Didn’t you say he ended up in the ER? They obviously met in person at some point.”
“We’re assuming the online stalker and attacker are one and the same, but the priest refuses to give him up.”
“Which means he might be going back for more,” Bobby said thoughtfully.
“Exactly. I need someone to keep an eye on him and make sure he stays out of harm’s way, while at the same time getting an ID on the bastard who started all of this.”
“Count me in,” Bobby said.
“Thanks,” Ethan said. “I was hoping you’d take the job.”
After working out fees, Bobby agreed to start tomorrow, bringing in a few pals for backup so he could get some shut-eye in between jobs.
“Do you trust these other guys?”
Bobby snorted. “Doc, we were in the same unit in Afghanistan.”
Ethan nodded. “All right. No physical takedowns, Bobby. Call me the minute you have a name and address so I can inform the police.”
“What if the scene escalates before the cops arrive?”
“Then you can move in, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Copy that.”
Back in the dining room, Ethan ordered linguini with clam sauce and a carafe of house white. He considered calling Rino to give him an update, but in the end, he decided his news could wait until tomorrow. Hopefully, Rino would have more information on Jay they could pass along to Bobby and his team. He twirled the linguini around his fork and savored the first bite.
Ethan had been a twenty-six-year-old medical resident, six hours into his shift, when the squawk of the ambulance announcing an emergency had sent him and other members of a triage team running to greet the new arrival. The patient was lying faceup on a stretcher with his eyes closed. When they pulled the blanket aside, Ethan zeroed in on his mutilated groin, which was still oozing blood. Someone had gouged out the man’s penis and left a ruined mess. Ethan stared in shock and his chief resident barked out a few orders, but the injury was fatal, and there wasn’t a damn thing they could do.
All eyes turned toward the woman and young boy who’d accompanied the victim in the ambulance. Slightly taller than his female companion, Rino couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen at the time. His chubby cheeks and sparse facial hair led Ethan to surmise he’d barely started puberty. The woman, who was Asian, draped her arm over his shoulders protectively and glared. Her blouse and jeans were splattered with blood, and when one of the policemen moved toward her, she pulled out a bloody knife from her waistband, presumably the one she’d used to castrate the victim. Cops swarmed the small cubicle, and guns were pulled from holsters.
“Stay away,” she’d screamed. “Don’t come near us.”
“Ma’am, put down your weapon,” one of the cops ordered. “You’re surrounded.”
“The asshole raped my boy and deserved to die,” she said. “You can’t punish me for protecting my child.”
“If what you’re saying is true,” the cop replied in a gentler tone, “we have to follow procedure and examine the boy.”
“No,” Rino cried out. “Don’t touch me!”
“Sorry, son,” the cop responded. “A doctor has to determine the extent of the assault. This will help your mother if the case goes to trial.”
“No!”
“Call Father Santos,” the woman said.
“Who is he?” the policeman asked.
“My confessor. You can find him at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land.”
“It might take a while for him to get here.”
“I don’t care,” she snapped. “No one touches us until he arrives.”
An hour passed before the cop returned with a priest who was wearing an old-fashioned black cassock and held a bible and string of rosary beads in his hands. As soon as he got closer, Tessa, Rino’s mother, knelt down and bowed her head. He touched her gently and asked her to rise.
They spoke quietly, and after several minutes, the priest turned toward the police.
“Tessa has informed me her late husband has been physically abusive to her boy for years. Unfortunately, he took it to another level last night, and when she caught him in the act, she lost her head.”
“I’ll say,” the cop replied sardonically. “That’s not the only thing lost in the altercation.”
“It is unfortunate,” Father Santos replied grimly, “but perhaps in this case, final judgment should be left in God’s hands. He knows the motive behind this terrible incident, and only God can forgive.”
“God won’t be on the jury, and in the state of Texas, this woman is bound to fry if she can’t prove her kid was raped. Like it or not, we have to examine the boy.”
“Is it really necessary?” the priest asked, shielding the boy behind his body. “Surely Rino has suffered enough.”
“Is his name Rino?” the cop asked.
“Yes,” Father Santos replied. “And this is his mother, Tessa.”
“I’m sorry, kid, but if you want your mom to survive this with the least amount of collateral damage, you have to let us collect the pertinent data to prove you were raped.”
“How?” Rino asked in a small voice.
Ethan had wanted to leave the room, but he’d felt protective over the shaky boy who was about to be poked and prodded by a bunch of strangers.
Rino had stood in the cent
er of the room and didn’t resist as they stripped him. He covered his pubic area with his hands and kept his head bowed as they swabbed, combed, plucked, and photographed. Ethan was appalled at the extent of bruising on the slim torso. Some of the welts on his buttocks were faded, and he had to wonder how long the abuse had been going on. They asked Rino to lie down and put his legs in the stirrups for a thorough examination of his rectum. Ethan’s focus was drawn to the teeth marks on the boy’s inner thigh where his asshole of a stepfather had taken a generous bite. Ethan pushed his outrage back down and made a colossal effort to remain the impartial support Rino needed at the time.
It was hardly a surprise when Rino reached for his hand. Hell, if Ethan had been in the same position, he would have asked for something to knock him out. Being wide awake made it much harder.
“Rino,” he said softly. “Close your eyes, and it’ll be over before you know it.”
“Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Ethan promised, giving the boy’s hand a gentle squeeze.
Rino never opened his eyes. He began murmuring instead and Ethan bent down to listen. The kid was praying. Ethan wasn’t religious, but he remembered his surprise upon hearing the childish plea to a guardian angel, asking for help. It was astounding the kid still had faith after what he’d endured, but he seemed to be deriving some comfort from the repetitive words.
They’d lost touch shortly after the incident but miraculously reconnected seventeen years later, and their new friendship had turned physical, growing into a powerful romantic relationship neither had expected. In recounting his missing years, Rino had confirmed what Ethan had always known. He was courageous and resourceful, and his coping mechanisms were far superior to many people twice his age.
Although Rino and Jay believed in the same god, the difference in perception was crystal clear. Rino had wrestled with his demons and, in the end, accepted his sexual orientation and left the Dominican Order before things got out of hand. Jay was in absolute denial. This unrealistic stance would make the difference between triumph and failure when it came to his current dilemma.
It was foolish to assume the priest would rise above the chaos and follow in Rino’s shoes. His boy was one of a kind, and Ethan doubted anyone on the planet would have survived such a traumatic childhood without emotional scars. Sure, Rino had bouts of insecurity, but he’d gotten past most of them, developing into the grounded and introspective individual Ethan wanted by his side forever. It was this rigid moral compass creating their current conflict. If Rino were less conscientious, he’d have handed Jay over to qualified professionals, but turning away from a person in need was unthinkable, and Ethan would have to suck it up for now. The best he could hope for was a speedy resolution if Bobby and his pals could find some answers.
Yield Page 7
