Cataclysmic Shift

by Tara Lain

  “Uh, sure. It’s down the hall, on the left.”

  “Thank you.”

  Alain got up and walked across the room to the hall. That guy moved like butter melted. Balls, Nicky was gonna make money on this one.

  Soon Luke would know that Alain was with Nicky, but he’d never been to this place. After Luke left, Nicky’d moved to a new apartment just to be sure the guy didn’t get any funny ideas with the police. Yeah, he was good at covering his tracks and keeping his businesses looking reasonably legit. Plus he had lawyers out his ass, and procuring just wasn’t that heavy a crime for a man in New York. The rest he kept hidden.

  He walked into the kitchen and grabbed another split of champagne. Might as well get the kid relaxed before he got banged. Then he crossed back into the living room. Where the hell was he? Did he fall in? There were no windows in the bathroom. He hurried down the hall. Where the fuck—

  Here came Alain big as you please. “I was just talking with two of your boys. They seem like lovely people.”

  What the bloody fuck? “Uh, who are you talking about?”

  “The two young men in the back bedroom. I opened the door by accident, thinking it was the bathroom. I thought I would chat with them since they seem to be about my age, but they were very busy separating white powder. Is that for your party?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Thank God Alain was dumb as a bunch of rocks.

  Alain sat back on the couch. “If I’m to stay this evening, I would have to make a call.”

  Shit, no. “You can’t call the clinic. I mean, Luke might ask too many questions.”

  “I understand. I’m sure he won’t worry about me. He’s not very social, and I often go out without him, so he’ll just think I’m partying. No, I have to call my mother. She’s an invalid, and I must tell her that I’m spending the evening with friends. She’ll be so pleased.”

  Man, this kid was cold as ice. This might be his biggest find ever. If he could keep Alain thinking he was helping Luke, he just might not have to drug him and lock him up.

  The boy pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Remember to take that away. He dialed a number. “Hello, Mother? It’s your baby boy, Alain. I wanted you to know that I’ll be late tonight. I’m with my friend Nicholas…. Yes, I’ve made a new friend. You should see his apartment. It’s so beautiful. The couches are black velvet. You’d love them. And there are peacock feathers. Best of all, we’re on the sixteenth floor, so he has a beautiful view…. Yes, dear. I’ll take a picture of it for you. I’ll see you tomorrow. You have everything you need, right? If not, ask Luke. You know he’ll help you. But don’t say anything about where I am. It’s a surprise.” He winked at Nicky. “Bye, darling.”

  Was this kid for real? “Why don’t I hold your phone so you’re not distracted and you don’t lose it when clothes start flying?”

  “Sure. Mother was the only person I needed to call.” With a sweet smile, he handed the phone to Nicky.

  LUKE STARED at Madeline. Somebody had just stepped on his chest and squashed his heart. “Nicholas. He went off with someone named Nicholas.”

  “Oh shit, Luke. I have a bad feeling that you didn’t want to hear that. The guy was pretty convincing. He said he was your friend. He knew about the party last night and everything.”

  Luke swallowed. Try not to scream. “The guy couldn’t be more of an enemy. He’s taken Alain. Kidnapped him, I’m sure. Nicky’s not too bright, but he’s ruthless.” He shook his head. Shit, he never felt like crying. Except now.

  “Oh crap. What can we do?”

  “Where did he say they were going?”

  “To the Mexican restaurant around the corner.”

  Luke grabbed his phone and dialed Alain’s number. One ring. Two. Five. Ten. Shitfire. He hung up.

  “Oh God, Luke. I’m so sorry.”

  Luke shook his head. “No way you could have known.” That was what he got for keeping his life such a secret.

  “What can we do?”

  His hands were shaking so hard he could barely hold the phone.

  It rang. Shit! He dropped it. The smartphone hit the linoleum floor and bounced. Oh God. Alain. He grabbed it and answered. “Kitten, are you okay?”

  “I’m kind of big for a kitten, but I’m okay.”

  “Ruben, thank God. I was just going to call you.”

  “About Alain?”

  He frowned. “Yeah. How did you know?”

  “We’re on our way to find him. With our pal Nicky, I figure. I shouldn’t do this because you could get in the way or get killed, but I know you’ll never forgive me if I don’t let you get involved. Do not tell anyone on the police force how you found out.”

  “I promise. Spill.” He grabbed a pen from the counter and wrote on a pad of paper they kept for phone messages. Ruben rattled off an address different than Nicky’s used to be. “How do you know where he is?”

  “Your boy called me. We tracked it.”

  “What?”

  “Long story. Gotta go.”

  “Thanks, Ruben. I didn’t think I could owe you any more than I already do.”

  “Think of me as a friend. And baby boy?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Take better care of your friends.”

  “Shitfire. I know. I will. I’ll see you in a few. I’ll stay out of the way.” He clicked off. He looked at Madeline. “Take care of stuff.”

  “I will, boss. Call me, okay?”

  “Yeah.” He ran through the clinic door to his car. The light was fading in the late-afternoon sky. He punched the address into his GPS, started up, and tore out of the parking lot. Thank God he hadn’t taken the subway today. His lunch appointment with a woman who might want to donate to the clinic had been out of town. But damn, he’d been gone so long.

  How in hell could he have let this happen? He’d worried about Nicky showing up every day but left the one person he cared—never mind. He’d left Alain unprotected. The kid was way too trusting to see through that snake. Although, somehow, he’d called Ruben, so maybe he’d been suspicious.

  He turned right a block from the river. The GPS announced his destination was ahead on the right. A parking lot light blinked, and he pulled in. Shit, if Nicky had hurt Alain, he’d kill the asshole, and oh God, he didn’t know what he’d do to himself.

  He tossed some money at the attendant and ran toward the high-rise at the end of the block. Two police cars were parked, and two more descended on the site. They didn’t have the scene controlled yet. No spectators. Luke ran. Ahead he saw Ruben and waved. The big guy looked around him at the other officers all in flak jackets and some in full riot gear. He waggled his fingers at Luke.

  Luke ran up beside him.

  Ruben thrust his chin toward the door. “The stairs. Go up the stairs.”

  Luke skirted past two officers, who gave him a hard look but glanced at Ruben and let him pass. Luke grabbed the staircase door inside the lobby. One cop started after him, and Ruben grabbed the guy’s arm. He whispered something, and the cop stopped his pursuit and went back to the elevators. The door closed behind Luke.

  Shitfire. Sixteen floors. He started running and made it all the way to the sixth floor before he had to pause for breath. He stood staring at the steps. If Nicky hurt Alain, he didn’t much care if he ever breathed again, so he might as well keep going.

  Ten more floors felt like his leg muscles had burned to hell, but he still made it. Gasping, he opened the door to the floor slowly. Down the hall, he saw cops pouring into an apartment door. Lots of shouting echoed.

  Alain. He took off at full speed and raced around the corner into the apartment. Whoa. A big hand grabbed his arm and nearly took him off his feet. Ruben. Luke looked at him, still gasping. “You got here fast.”

  Ruben grinned. “Elevators help. I didn’t want you getting caught in the cross fire.”

  “Wh-what’s happening?”

  Ruben pulled him over so Luke stood in front of the big man and could see into the large apartmen
t beyond. A dozen johns, all well-dressed and scared shitless, stood and sat with their hands up. In the corner was a group of pretty rent boys, huddled together like sheep. At the center of the room, Nicky was kneeling on the floor with his arms behind his head prisoner-style, and two cops held guns on him.

  Luke gasped. Sitting on the couch like the bloody Queen of fucking Sheba was Alain. The kid wore an expensive black sweater that hugged his upper body like a silken skin over his black jeans. A glass of champagne sat in front of him on the table. He stared at Nicky with very unfriendly blue eyes.

  “Kitten?”

  Alain looked up, and his face glowed like a religious painting. “Luke!” He leaped up, jumped over the coffee table, and ran to Luke. With a hop he threw his arms around Luke’s neck. “Thank you for coming for me.”

  Ruben started to laugh. “I think me and the five SWAT officers with me have just been relegated to chopped liver.”

  Nicky looked up and sneered. “We’re just a bunch of friends having a party. That kid came here of his own free will.”

  Ruben looked at Alain. “Is that true?”

  “Umm, more or less.”

  Ruben’s face collapsed in a thundercloud. “Then what the fuck…?”

  Alain waved a graceful hand toward the kitchen. “But I believe you’ll find a large quantity of drugs hidden in the insides of heads of lettuce in the refrigerator. And since I can testify that Nicky owns them, I imagine that might be enough to incarcerate him for a very long time.”

  Ruben shook his head. “Son of a bitch.”

  Luke frowned. “You let him bring you here?”

  Alain’s clear eyes gazed up at Luke. “How else could I protect you from him?”

  Shit! “You don’t protect me. I protect you.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, I’m older.”

  Alain frowned. “I don’t think so.”

  “Kitten, you look like you might be twenty-one. Are you older than that?”

  A strain line crept between the arched black brows. “I don’t know.”

  Luke gathered Alain in his arms despite a few glances from the cops. He’d been through a lot, even if it had been his own dumb fault.

  Ruben looked down at the embrace. “Not meaning to break up this adorable scene, but we need Alain at the station to answer questions.”

  Luke nodded. “I’ll bring him.”

  “Okay, but right away.”

  Luke led Alain out into the hall and to the elevator. Alain leaned against him on the trip down, which felt damned good. Luke nuzzled his hair. “You could have been hurt or killed.”

  “I suppose, but when he came to the clinic, I knew he was bad. He wished you ill. I had to find a way to defeat him.”

  “This protective instinct of yours has got to be controlled.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re not superhuman.”

  Alain looked at him intently. Something behind those eyes seemed to doubt that statement.

  They stepped off the elevator, and Luke could already hear the shouting.

  “Over here.”

  “Look this way!”

  Shit. He’d only been up there twenty minutes, and the vultures were here already. He looked for another exit. A cop walked away from the door. “Can I help you?”

  Luke pointed at Alain. “He’s a witness. I need to get him to the police station without being attacked by the press. My car’s a block away.”

  “I’ll take you out the back.”

  The uniformed cop led him through the double doors that said STAFF and to a delivery entrance. But when he pushed open the doors, flashes popped. The cop looked at him. “I’ll drive you to your car.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  They rushed through the onslaught of screaming reporters and made it into the cop car. Luke glanced at Alain, who didn’t seem at all concerned about the pictures and questions. In fact, he fucking smiled and waved. Shitfire. This kid’s antics wouldn’t just get him hurt. They could stir up way more publicity than Luke wanted to handle. With Nicky in jail, he might be safer. But why would the clinic’s clients trust their precious pets to one of the highest-earning rent boys in New York history?

  Chapter Eleven

  MAN, WAS he tired. Luke leaned back in the uncomfortable chair and closed his eyes. He’d been having about ten times more sex lately than he had for over a year. No complaints. But the anxiety and worry Alain produced was exhausting. Sixteen flights of stairs hadn’t helped either.

  He heard voices and sat up. Ruben came around the corner and paused to let Alain cross in front of him. Alain looked like he’d just had ten hours’ sleep and a cup of coffee. He was still wearing that expensive rent-boy sweater.

  Ruben grinned at Luke. “Your boy here done good. Hell, we’ve finally got something on that asshole.” They both knew Ruben could have pulled Nicky in for procuring years ago, but since he was a john, he didn’t. Plus, it was hard to get any real time on pimping. But Nicky had gone on to bigger and better things. Shit. Luke didn’t want to think of what could have happened to Alain.

  Luke stood, and Alain came up beside him and took his hand. Just that touch woke him right up.

  Ruben patted Alain’s shoulder. “I think the mayor will probably give the kid a fucking hero’s medal.”

  Luke frowned. He hoped Ruben was exaggerating. “Thanks for everything.”

  “My pleasure, baby boy. See you around. And Alain, we need you to testify, so don’t go far.”

  “I won’t.” He squeezed Luke’s hand, and they walked out into the night air. The press didn’t seem to be around, so they made it to Luke’s car without interruption. Luke held the passenger door for Alain. The boy smiled out of half-masted eyes. “Thank you, kind sir.” Whoa. He was sexy.

  Luke walked around and got into the driver’s side, started up, and drove out onto the busy New York street.

  “Luke?”

  “Hmm?”

  “How long does it take to get home?”

  “Usually about ten minutes, but the traffic’s a bitch.”

  “Yes. I’m feeling very, what is your word, horny?”

  Luke grinned. “Oh, really?”

  “Yes. See?”

  Luke glanced over to the passenger seat. Alain’s big cock stood up through his open fly like a light pole. Yeah, like the light poles shining down on their car on this jammed street. “Shit, kitten. We’re not exactly alone.”

  “Hmm. But I think no one can see.” He ran his hands up and down his cock like he was shining it. “Is it pretty?”

  “Hell yes. You know it is.”

  “It doesn’t look funny to you because I am not circumcised like American men?”

  Luke swallowed hard. “No. I love that little turtleneck. I like sticking my tongue under it.” Oh crap, his cock throbbed.

  Alain kept stroking. “I’m so glad. I love your member too. Especially when you put it in my back door. That was so wonderful.”

  “You… you liked that?”

  “Yes. I want to do it again and again when we get home.”

  “You keep talking about it, and I might not make it home.”

  Alain giggled. “I rather hoped that would be so.” He reached out with a slender hand and pulled down Luke’s fly; then, with a dive over the console, Alain swallowed him down.

  “Holy shitfire!” Don’t close your eyes. Don’t close your eyes. Watch the road. Thank God they were moving at a glacial pace, but Alain was making up for it. He sucked, swallowed, then ran his tongue all around the head. Luke had been famous in his former profession for the head he gave. He could literally tie a knot in a straw with his tongue. But man, Alain was so good. Maybe it was the sheer enthusiasm.

  The truck driver in the delivery van was getting an eyeful, and Luke couldn’t care less. The guy whistled and gave a little honk, but when Luke looked over, he got a thumbs-up. He grinned. The guy probably thought Alain was a woman
. The traffic in the truck’s lane moved faster, and the driver had to pull ahead, but he looked really disappointed.

  “Bab—kitten, I’m going to come if you don’t quit. But it feels so good.”

  That spurred Alain on. Luke’s cock disappeared into a hot throat that squeezed until every nerve flamed, and then that seeking tongue pressed into his slit. Shitfire. That was it—

  “Oh, kittennnnnnn.” The traffic stopped, and he let his head fall against the seat.

  Hoooonk!

  Luke took a deep breath, raised his head, and drove the next block with a smile on his face.

  “Kitten.”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Will you promise me to not do any more foolish things like you did tonight?”

  He felt Alain’s eyes on him. “It wasn’t foolish.”

  “Then maybe the word is ‘foolhardy.’ You got rid of my biggest enemy, and I’m very grateful. So that should be enough, okay?”

  “Ummm.”

  “Alain?”

  “My stiff member is distracting me, and I can’t concentrate.”

  Luke laughed. “Get that cock ready, because when we get home, I’m going to practice everything I know.”

  ALAIN SWEPT up the dry food that had fallen on the floor from the animals’ cages. He never closed the doors when he was in the boarding room, but at night the dogs especially liked their cozy crates.

  He hummed. What a wonderful night. He’d protected Luke from that terrible man and then all that delicious sex. The feeling that he had to protect Luke was much relieved. Maybe he could actually make that promise Luke requested of him.

  The door opened, and he looked back at Madeline. She smiled. “Hey, sweetie. There are some young men here to see you. They say they’re friends of Dr. Barth. I think they’re looking for a pet.”

  How wonderful. “Thank you. I’ll be right there.” Madeline left, and he looked at all the dogs and cats. Most already had owners, but the clinic had three strays that had been brought in that he would love to find homes for. Not counting Amelia, of course. She was his. And Luke’s.

  “Everyone behave till I get back. I might have good news.” He walked out of the boarding room and closed the door. New people. How delightful. Anything related to Killian Barth interested him.