by S. M. Shade
“You don’t have to go to church to make anyone else happy. It’s up to you to figure out what you believe and what you stand for. I don’t think it would hurt you to go with him to get a better understanding of what he believes. Just make sure he respects your beliefs or lack of them as well.”
He remains quiet for a few moments, staring out the window and digesting my advice. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to check it out for his sake, but I just don’t believe in any of it anymore.”
“And that’s fine. Neither do I. That’s a big reason why I major in science. It’s like I’m finally learning how the world really works, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to judge people who believe.”
“I get it. Thinking all religious people are hateful is no different than thinking all gay people are immoral.” He grins at me. “I did love the look on Pastor Hale’s face when he found out who the building was going to.”
“Yep. Worth hell any day,” I laugh.
* * * *
Another week passes without a word from Landon. Disappointed just doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. It’s not like we had a long relationship—or any relationship—but it seems I fell for him anyway. I’ve been trying to push it away, the empty feeling every time I check my phone and he hasn’t called or messaged.
All those sweet words, his talk of wanting a relationship was just so much bullshit. If he just wanted to get me into bed for a little fun, he could’ve been honest, and I’d have probably went along. I can’t imagine there are many women who wouldn’t. Maybe that was the problem? We fucked our brains out the last couple days we spent together, and I thought the sex was great, but maybe he didn’t. Maybe I suck in bed and no one ever told me.
“That’s ridiculous!” Frannie exclaims when I tell her. “You don’t suck in bed.”
“You don’t know that,” I argue, grabbing a soft drink from her fridge. “Are you still seeing Jeremy?”
“We get together to fuck once in a while. Nothing serious, you know.” Her eyebrow rises as she asks, “Do you want me to ask him what Landon’s problem is?”
“No. Absolutely not. I’m not chasing a guy who isn’t interested, and if he’s seeing someone else I really don’t want to know.” I flop down at the kitchen table across from her.
Her gaze goes from surprised to sympathetic. “You really like him.”
“I guess I did.”
“Do you love him?”
“No!” I reply, too vehemently to be credible. “We were only dating a week or so.”
“You were only officially dating a week. You were spending a ton of time together for months.” I shake my head, but she grins. “Holy shit, you love him.”
“Do not.” Yeah, that didn’t sound immature. Fortunately, my phone rings with a call from the realtor, saving me from the conversation.
Frannie wanders into the other room while I answer, but comes rushing back at the sound of my squeal. “What happened?”
“We got the house! I can pick up the keys tomorrow!” Frannie grabs me in a tight hug and we jump around the kitchen.
“We’re going out tonight to celebrate,” she insists. “No excuses. It’s Saturday night, you don’t have class tomorrow. We’re getting trashed.”
“No arguments here. I can start packing up the apartment tomorrow.”
“I’m so happy for you!” Frannie squeals and we hug again.
Ethan is thrilled with the news and promises to get his friends to help us move. I have an urge to call Landon to share my good news, but I resist. He wanted us to move out of that neighborhood, but I doubt he’d give a shit now.
Oh well. Fuck him. I just bought a new house and I’m shopping for a new car. My tuition is paid up, my schoolwork is caught up, and I’m less stressed than I can ever remember being. Frannie is right. It’s time to go out and celebrate.
Frannie and I arrive at the club just as things are heating up. The dance floor is packed solid with sweaty bodies, so we head upstairs to grab a table. I haven’t even finished my first drink when I see him.
Landon is leaning against the bar, smiling and talking to some plastic five pound blond. Okay, maybe she isn’t that bad, but my jealousy is in full force. I’ve been trying to forget about him, doing everything I can not to picture him moving on with another woman. Or other women. He said he doesn’t usually do relationships because of his disease. He doesn’t even tell most people, yet he trusted me with the knowledge. Or maybe that’s all bullshit and I’m just naïve.
His eyes meet mine and a small smile appears on his face. “I’m going to the restroom,” I tell Frannie.
For once the ladies room isn’t crowded. I lean against the sink and take a deep breath. A peek in the mirror shows me my makeup is fine, but my cheeks are flushed, my eyes wide with panic. I don’t want to talk to him. Really, what is there to say? Hey, how’s it going? Did you dump me because I’m terrible in bed? I need to get out of here. I’m sure Frannie and I can find another club.
Any hope of that flies away when I see Jeremy at our table and Landon right beside him. Double damn it. Now, I either have the choice to be a mature adult and join them while devising an escape plan, or run like I stole something. As tempting as option two is, I can’t let him know how much he has affected me.
“Long line?” Frannie asks, the corner of her mouth twitching up. She giggles at my glare and grabs Jeremy’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
Little traitor leaving me alone with him. The five pound blond at the bar is shooting hateful looks in my direction. Before Landon can speak, I gesture to her. “Your date seems a bit pissed off. You should probably tend to her.”
“She’s not here with me, and I’d rather tend to you.” His eyes travel down my body, leaving no doubt what kind of tending he’s contemplating.
A million smartass remarks fly through my mind, but I don’t have time to choose one. Ethan is ringing my phone. He never calls unless something is wrong. “Zo? I need to go to the hospital. You have to hurry,” he says as soon as I answer.
Cold fear drips down my spine. “Ethan? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No.” His voice is choked. “It’s Colin. He tried to kill himself.”
Oh god. Colin has spent a lot of time at our house. He’s a sweet kid, shy and smart. Why would he do this? “I’m on my way.”
Landon has been listening to my end of the conversation. “Is Ethan okay?”
“Yeah, his friend is in the hospital. I need to go.”
“I’ll go with you.” He grabs his phone and follows me to the car. “Do you know what happened?”
“He said Colin tried to kill himself.”
“Christ.” There’s really nothing else to say. I shoot a quick text to Frannie, letting her know why I left.
Ethan hops in the backseat before I’ve even pulled the car to a complete stop. He’s too upset to even wonder why Landon is with me. His eyes are red and swollen. “Colin isn’t out to his parents or anyone,” he warns us as we make our way to his boyfriend’s hospital room. “His parents think we’re friends.”
I wonder if that has something to do with his attempt to take his own life. “I’ll wait out here,” Landon says, taking a seat in the hall outside Colin’s room.
A thin pale woman who must be Colin’s mother sits beside the bed. “Hi Mrs. George. I heard and…wanted to come and see if he’s okay,” Ethan says.
A small smile graces her face. “He will be.”
“Has he been awake?”
“They gave him something to sedate him.”
“Can I get you anything?” I ask. “You must be exhausted.”
“No thank you. I was just going to grab some coffee from the cafeteria. If you wouldn’t mind staying with him?”
“Of course,” Ethan replies. I’m shocked at the hateful glare directed at her back as she leaves. Ethan takes her place beside the bed and holds Colin’s hand. “I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry, Colin, but I have to tell someone.” Colin doesn’t open his eyes. He
’s really knocked out.
“Tell what, Ethan?”
Eyes full of despair meet mine. “He made me swear not to say anything, but I should have. He said no one would listen, but I should’ve told.”
“Ethan, this isn’t your fault. Tell me now.”
“He’s being abused, sexually abused. His stepdad…” Ethan sighs and shakes his head. “It’s been going on for years.”
Kneeling in front of Ethan, I ask softly, “Does his mother know?”
Ethan snorts. “Yes, she says she doesn’t believe him, but that’s bullshit. She doesn’t work. She’s dependent on her husband. I guess letting him screw your kid is a small price to pay to keep him.”
That heartless bitch. “We need to let the doctors know. They’ll inform the authorities.” Landon must’ve been right outside the door listening, because he walks in and straight to Ethan.
“What’s his name?”
Ethan gazes up at him. “What?”
“The guy who’s hurting him. Name and address.” Ethan looks at him like he’s insane. “I can help your friend. Make sure this never happens to him again. Just give me his name.”
Ethan hesitates before answering, “Arlen George.” He gets out his phone and brings up Ethan’s address. “He lives here.”
Landon looks at the screen and nods before leaving the room.
Ethan looks at me, confused. “What was that all about?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he has friends in the police department or something.”
“Ethan?” Colin says, his voice a harsh whisper.
Ethan rushes to his side. “Right here.” Their eyes meet and tear a strip from my heart. There’s no love like the love you feel as a teenager, before you learn to protect yourself.
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
“I know. We don’t have to talk about it right now.” Ethan grabs his hand and sits beside him. “Just promise me you won’t do anything like this again.”
“I won’t. My arms hurt and I feel like hell. You know my mom’s going to shove me into the nuthouse, right? This is her opportunity to get rid of me.”
“We’ll figure something out. Find a way to get you out of there,” I tell him. I don’t know what I can do, but I’m sure as hell going to try.
“You told her,” Colin accuses.
“You didn’t leave me much choice.”
Colin waves his hand with a wince. “Doesn’t matter. Nothing does anymore.”
Ethan looks at me. “Can you give us a second?”
“Of course,” I reply. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Unlike Landon, I stay far enough away from the door to give them some privacy. I can see him on his phone at the other end of the corridor. I know Landon said ISH works with the cops, so I imagine that’s who he’s talking to, but Colin’s doctor also needs to know what’s going on.There’s no way the nurse is going to give me any info about who his doctor is, so I ask to speak to a counselor instead.
The counselor’s office is on a separate floor. He welcomes me in with a soft smile and asks, “What can I do for you?”
“My brother’s friend has just been admitted for a suicide attempt. My brother just told me the boy is being sexually abused and has been for years by his stepfather. Apparently, his mother knows, but doesn’t care. I wanted someone to know while he was still here and I thought maybe you could help.”
“Absolutely. What’s the patient’s name?” After I give him Colin’s name and warn him the mother is staying in the room, he promises to investigate.
Things move faster than I expected. Ethan and I are just preparing to leave when two officers arrive at Colin’s room. His mother looks up and then glares at Colin. “You called the cops?”
“No!”
“You aren’t going to be happy until we’re on the street!” she shrieks.
“He didn’t call anyone,” I snap. “I talked to the counselor.” I doubt that’s what garnered such a speedy response. It’s more likely that this is Landon’s doing.
“This is none of your fucking business!”
Before I can respond, an officer steps in. “Ma’am, you need to come out into the hall with me while my partner talks to your son.”
“I won’t! You can’t make me. You have no right…”
She finds out that’s not true as the officer removes her from the room. I grab Ethan’s arm. “We should go, honey.”
“No, I want Ethan to stay,” Colin says. He looks terrified.
“Is that okay?” I ask the officer.
“Up to him,” he replies.
“I’ll be just outside,” I tell Ethan before turning to Colin. “You’re a brave kid. You can do this. Just know you aren’t alone no matter what, and you’re welcome at our place anytime.”
Landon approaches me, his eyes alight with anger. “I have to go. The boy will be kept under a secure watch.” His gaze meets mine.
“You called the cops?”
“A friend of mine has connections in the police department. He owes me a favor. A protective order will be active by morning.” For someone who has been completely absent for two weeks, he sure is eager to help. “I have to go,” he repeats. He drops a quick kiss on my lips, and rushes off, leaving me more confused than ever.
Chapter Ten
Landon
What a fucking night. I’ve done my best to avoid Zoe the past two weeks, ever since we had to spend a day in a grimy motel room. I know I’ve hurt her, but better this than dragging her into my complicated nocturnal life. I wasn’t going to contact her again, but the second I saw her in the club, all those noble thoughts were squashed flat. I want her. Hell, I need her. I don’t understand how it happened, but she slid into my life under my radar and filled a space I didn’t realize was hollow.
I was only going to stick around the hospital until I knew her brother and his boyfriend were okay, until I overheard their conversation. It’s not an uncommon story, unfortunately, a parent basically renting or loaning out their kid for some kind of profit, but it’s the one that pisses me off the most. Parents are supposed to protect their children from the monsters, not feed them to one.
After getting the abuser’s name, I put in a call to an old friend. Mason Reed runs a domestic violence shelter for women and children, and he isn’t afraid to cross a few lines. He has cops, judges, and lawyers working with his organization, so I know he can find a way to protect this kid until ISH can take care of the offender.
Mason doesn’t disappoint. A few minutes after we hang up, two uniformed officers arrive to talk to Colin. Zoe has already informed social services, so between the two of us, the kid should be okay for the night. I need to get to Dare’s apartment if we’re going to make sure this guy never hurts another child.
I can see the confusion and hurt in Zoe’s eyes as I kiss her goodbye, and it grates at my heart. As soon as I’ve taken care of this pervert, I’ll be back for my girl. I can’t let her go, I know that now. I’ll make her life as normal as I possibly can, try to keep my disability from stealing her daylight, but I have to have her with me.
I rode with Zoe, so I have to grab a cab back to the club to get my car. I make it from there to Dare’s place in record time, and I’m happy to see Justus is already there.
Dare looks up from his laptop. “What’s wrong? You’ve got a face like a smacked ass.”
“Arlen George. Tibbs Street. I need everything you can get on him,” I tell Justus, who jumps on a computer. “He’s been raping his stepson—a friend of Zoe’s brother—for years. Kid’s in the hospital because he tried to off himself. Mother knows, but allows it.”
“Christ.” Dare shakes his head.
“I brought in Mason Reed’s organization to handle his protection until we resolve this, but if he doesn’t tell the doctor and social service worker what he told Zoe, I don’t know how long he can be kept from his mother.”
“You know it’s hard for a boy to admit, especially at that age,” Dare warns.
/>
“I know. I want to know if Arlen George has been convicted before, whether we should hand it to the cops or deal with him ourselves.”
“If the cops have already been notified, we may not have a choice.”
“There’s always a way,” Justus argues. “Fuck, Landon, this guy has a record a mile long. He did two years in a juvenile facility for molesting a five year old boy when he was fifteen. Another five years in Pendleton for raping a twelve year old boy. Nothing but drunk driving and public intox the past ten years. Of course, that doesn’t mean he stopped abusing kids.”
“No, he had a stepson right under his roof, better access and less chance of getting caught,” I reply. “I shouldn’t have involved the police at all. This guy should’ve been pig food.” I turn to Justus. “You said there’s always a way. Tell me what to do.”
“Right now we need to see if he’s going to be arrested.” There’s a knock on the door, and Mason Reed walks in. Mason is a big guy, and a former MMA champion. He’s a good guy to have on our side.
“Officer Roberts picked up Arlen George, but they won’t be able to hold him for long. His wife has already paid his bail,” Mason informs us.
“That bitch should be charged too,” Dare growls.
“Do you know when he’ll be released?” Justus asks. “Can you get your buddy in the force to hold him until late? Say, around three a.m.?”
Mason studies Justus for a moment, never breaking eye contact. “Do I want to know what you’re planning?”
“Trust me, you’re going to want plausible deniability on this one.”
* * * *
Mason’s guy comes through for us and agrees to release Arlen at three o’clock in the morning. Mason’s brother, Alex, is standing guard outside Colin’s hospital room for the night, and Dare is camped out outside Colin and his mother’s house, waiting to see if she’ll try to pick up her rapist husband. It’s not much of a concern since Dare has pulled the fuse for her fuel pump. She won’t be going anywhere.
