Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1)

by Tawa M. Witko

  “He was defending me. That asshole pushed me and has been starting trouble since we got here,” she pleaded desperately to the sheriff. “Please, it wasn’t his fault,” she said with tears in her eyes.

  “Ma’am, step back please.”

  “I want to press charges,” Jimmy said meekly from the ground.

  Madison’s heart sank, knowing that this was her fault. If she hadn’t said anything to Jimmy, if she had just gone to Andrew, they could have left. She started crying uncontrollably and then felt Callie’s arms wrap around her. Andrew’s heart sank at the tears that Madison was shedding for him. He stared dumbly at the sheriff as his partner started going around taking statements. Unfortunately, a lot of people didn’t see what preceded Andrew kicking the living shit out of Jimmy. Only that Andrew didn’t stop when it was clear that Jimmy was no longer fighting back. The sheriff brought Andrew to the cruiser and set him in the back while he talked with the station.

  “This is bullshit,” Jayden said to the sheriff standing before him.

  “Your name?”

  “Jayden Bennett.”

  The sheriff stopped writing and looked up at him. “You related to Elias Bennett?”

  “Yes, I’m his son,” Jayden said with a smile.

  Jayden knew his father’s reputation. He had a take no prisoner’s attitude. Of course, he had to have one in order to be respected in his field. And respected he was. The mere mention of his name meant that people would treat Jayden differently. In this case, he hoped that it would help Andrew.

  Andrew watched from the back of the sheriff’s car as one officer was talking to people while the one with him was running his record. His eyes locked on Madison who was staring at him, tears streaming down her face. Andrew wanted to cry but he didn’t. He was already remembering what it was like when he was in prison before and tried to harden himself in preparation for what would happen next. His heart was breaking watching her though. He sighed deeply when the energy shifted in the vehicle and he knew without a doubt that the sheriff had pulled up his record. Andrew broke his gaze from Madison and turned to look at him just as the sheriff turned to him. There was no more sympathy in his eyes.

  “Well, it looks like someone just broke parole.”

  Andrew didn’t say anything; he just closed his eyes, preparing for what would surely happen next. He messed up yet again. But as he opened his eyes and glanced back at Madison, he realized that this time he lost something so much more than his freedom, he lost the possibility of ... love.

  7 MY TWO DADS

  Madison rested her head on Callie’s shoulder, crying. She couldn’t stop the endless flow of tears. She was vaguely aware of movement around her and of Jayden talking nearby. She glanced around and saw Andrew sitting in the back of the sheriff’s car. His eyes locked with hers and she could see that he was hurting. He then turned to the sheriff who said something to him. She saw his eyes close and when he turned back to her, his eyes held such pain that she immediately started walking towards him.

  “Please step away from the vehicle,” the sheriff said forcefully.

  Madison hadn’t even heard him exit the car. She didn’t stop though, not until she was standing in front of Andrew, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. Andrew’s heart was pounding in his chest when he saw her approaching. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. But when the sheriff muttered before slamming his car door Andrew felt an overwhelming fear that something would happen to her. He wanted to hold her, to tell her it would be okay but he wasn’t so sure that it would be.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He couldn’t hear her but he recognized the words she was saying. She raised her hand to touch the window but the sheriff swiftly moved her and started directing her towards the crowd. Madison turned her head and looked at Andrew over her shoulder and could see that he had his head down. As Madison approached Callie and Jayden, the sheriff moved away from them and began talking intently to his partner. A few moments later they were in the cruiser taking Andrew away.

  “Madison, it’s going to be okay,” Callie said as she held her and gently stroked her back.

  “This is such B.S.,” Jayden said angrily as he pulled out his cell phone.

  “Hello… Jayden?” Liam asked; confused as to why he would be calling so late.

  “Dad, I need to talk to both of you. Can you put me on speaker?” Jayden asked with urgency in his voice.

  “Sure, Son, hold on.”

  Liam glanced at the clock and saw that it was past midnight. He looked at the sleeping figure beside him and tapped his shoulder. Elias rolled over and continued sleeping as Liam rolled his eyes. They had been asleep for a little over an hour so he knew he couldn’t be that deep in his sleep cycle yet. He shook his head and knew that he needed to wake him. He didn’t like the sound of Jayden’s voice and instinctually felt that something was wrong. He pushed Elias’s shoulder even harder.

  “El, get up,” Liam whisper shouted.

  “Baby, I’m tired. You know I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  Liam laughed and kissed his shoulder. “Behave, old man,” Liam replied before tugging on Elias’s hair to get his attention.

  “Did you just call me an old man?” Elias asked playfully into his pillow.

  “El, come on, wake up. Jayden’s on the phone and he sounds upset.”

  That got Elias’s attention as he rolled over and looked at Liam with a concerned expression, all previous playfulness gone. They had known that Jayden was at the lake with Callie. Many thoughts crossed Elias’s mind as he tried to figure out why Jayden would be calling them so late. His heart sank. Elias had been so happy not that long ago. His mind flashed with their evening’s festivities but he quickly closed his eyes as he shifted his brain so that he could focus on what was going on right now.

  “He wants to be put on speaker,” Liam said, looking worried.

  Elias sat up quickly and grabbed his glasses from the nightstand. Why, he wasn’t sure, but he always wore his glasses when he needed to concentrate. He nodded at Liam who brought the phone between them and hit speaker.

  “Son, what’s going on? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Is Callie alright?” Elias began quickly.

  “Dad, I’m fine and so is Callie but a friend of mine isn’t. He’s in trouble and I think he will need your help,” Jayden said and his parents could hear the desperation in his voice.

  “What friend?” Liam asked, running through a mental list of possible people in his head.

  Jayden had few people in his life that he would call friends. He did not adjust to the move as well as Liam and Elias had hoped he would. They both knew that the events of the past hindered his ability to trust people but they had hoped that a new place, new school, new home, might encourage him to let people in. Jayden had never given the community much of a chance. When they first moved, they had all received the typical stares and snickers and Jayden had been in several fights because of this hate. He said it was like Texas all over again even though they had reassured him it would be different. Of course there were elements that were similar but on the whole it was different. Jayden spent most of his time with Callie so Liam struggled to think who he would care enough about that he would call in the middle of the night to ask for assistance.

  “You got in a fight?” Elias said loudly, which brought Liam out of his thoughts.

  “Jimmy started it, Dad, but that’s not the issue,” Jayden replied frustrated.

  “Jayden, we’re not upset with you,” Liam interjected, looking at Elias and begging him with his eyes to calm down. “Just take a breath, Son, and tell us what’s happening.”

  Jayden knew that his frustration was high and that when that happened he had a hard time explaining things. He took a deep breath and started talking to his parents about what had happened at the lake today. He told them how Jimmy had treated Andrew and that he was really a great guy and that Andrew had stopped Jimmy when he had tried to fight him. He went on to tell them about the jet ski
s and the fun they had today and how Andrew had been honest with him about why he had been in prison. He finally told them about Jimmy and how he had pushed Madison and that Andrew fought him and because Andrew had a record he was arrested.

  “What was he in prison for, Jayden?” Elias asked trying to decide what needed to happen.

  “Statutory Rape and Aggravated Assault.”

  Jayden’s parents didn’t say anything right away but looked at one another.

  “Dad, please. He needs help. No one has ever stood up for him. And, well, you know I don’t like anyone, especially around here, but I like him. He is a good person. I can feel that. Please, he had a shitty attorney back then." Jayden could hear his dad let out a chuckle. “You know you would have gotten him off all together or at least gotten him less time. Jimmy started all this shit, Dad, Andrew didn’t," Jayden pleaded in hopes that his dad would consider helping.

  “I can’t make any promises, Son, but I will look into it.”

  “YES!” Jayden shouted and nodded at Callie who smiled brightly. Madison looked at her confused.

  “Jayden’s dad is one of the best defense attorneys in California. He said that he will help Andrew,” Callie said excitedly.

  “Son, listen, I can’t do anything tonight and I am not sure I can even get him out but if I can it won’t be until Monday. I will go see him in the morning. I am not making any guarantees but I will meet with him and make my decision afterwards. Do you understand?” Elias said but he already knew that if Jayden cared about this Andrew person then he would help him. There wasn’t anything he would deny his son.

  “Thank you, Dad. I’m sorry I woke you guys. I’ll be home a little later,” Jayden said feeling better already.

  “Please do not say anything to Jimmy,” Elias inserted quickly, knowing his son’s propensity for speaking his mind.

  “I won’t,” Jayden said the words but he wasn’t sure he could actually follow them.

  “You and Callie should leave and advise this Madison person as well. If you guys make any statements to any of Jimmy’s people it could be used against Andrew. Just head home now, alright?” Elias stated firmly. He didn’t want them ruining his chances of getting Andrew released.

  “Alright, Dad. We will leave now,” Jayden answered with a sigh.

  Jayden had already planned on saying something to Jimmy but he could see his dad’s perspective and knew that he needed to follow whatever he said. His parents said goodbye and Jayden walked closer to Callie and Madison. He leaned down so he could look directly in Madison’s eyes.

  “My dad is going to see Andrew tomorrow. He can’t make any promises but at least he will talk to him,” he said intensely.

  “But Andrew can’t afford an attorney.” Madison could feel a panic within her. She knew she had just enough money to get her through her leave of absence but if Andrew needed it she would do her best to help him.

  “My father will do it for free if he needs to.”

  Madison could feel the tears coming again as she threw her arms around Jayden. Maybe this could work and Andrew would not be sent away. It still shocked her greatly that after only spending a day with him she knew, without a doubt, that if he were sent to prison she would be devastated. She realized at that very moment that she was already falling in love with him and instead of being frightened by the prospect she felt exhilarated by it.

  8 MR. BENNETT

  Elias glanced at the clock, 5:00 a.m. It was way too early to be up but he knew that sleep was pointless. Jayden had arrived home around 1:00 a.m. and they had talked until after 2:00 a.m. Bless Liam’s heart, he had tried his best to relax him but Elias was beyond anything. Well, almost anything, Elias thought with a smile. He glanced at Liam lying beside him, marveling at how attractive he still was. The blankets were pulled low so that they were lying around his waist. His well-defined torso looked better than most men half his age. Liam stretched and then rolled onto his stomach, the blankets falling to his thighs. Elias grinned and pulled the blankets over him. It amazed him that, after all this time, the mere sight of Liam still aroused him and he knew that it would always be that way.

  They had met close to thirty years ago. Liam was part of a group that had come to audit the books at the firm Elias worked for. He had felt an immediate attraction to him and Liam had wasted no time in letting him know he was interested as well. Elias couldn’t go there though. Not simply because he wasn’t ‘out’ yet but because he had so much to lose if he did. Elias smiled. His resistance to Liam was futile. The attraction he felt for him was far deeper than he had ever had with anyone else. There had been no turning back at that point.

  At the time they had met, Elias had been the youngest partner at his firm and the only ethnic partner at that. Of course, when they hired him, they hired him on name alone, not realizing what they were getting. Elias’s father, William M. Bennett, was the son of a well-known cattle rancher while his mother was the daughter of the lead housekeeper at said ranch. Their affair was quite shocking, to say the least. Her pregnancy became a scandal and then, when Elias’s father insisted that his son carry his last name, all hell had broken loose. The Bennett family did not want their name tarnished by William’s illegitimate child. His father had been disowned and was later found dead, the victim of a freak cattle accident two years after Elias’ birth. His mother had been devastated and ostracized by the entire Bennett family.

  Elias had little to no contact with his father’s family growing up. Of course, they were not interested in him either. Elias had thought of changing his last name at one point in his life, being that he hated all the Bennett’s and looked decisively like his mother with his dark skin and brown eyes. He also spoke Spanish fluently which had served him well in both Texas and Southern California. But Elias never did change his name as he had figured that after what his father had sacrificed for him and his mother that he owed him at least that. He was also aware that his name alone had opened many doors for him over the years.

  Unlike his partner, Elias had dated women exclusively. He was considered a very attractive man and because of that he had women throwing themselves at him his entire life. However, he never felt fulfilled with a woman and had figured that was probably because he had not found the right one. He had always denied the side of him that whispered about men, a hint of attraction here and there that he would immediately push aside. He hadn’t known any gay men while he was a boy in Corpus Christi and the ones he had 'heard' of while he was in college had been ostracized and ridiculed. Once he started his career he began to have those stirrings within him on a more regular basis and found it harder and harder to deny that side of him. By the time he had met Liam it had gotten to the point where Elias had to envision men while making love to women as a way to stimulate arousal and release. But at that point in his life, being ‘out’ was the kiss of death for one’s career. There had been no openly gay attorneys in Texas that he knew of and, for the first time in his life, Elias did not want to be the first. The minute he had met Liam though, he knew his life was about to change.

  Liam moved again and Elias glanced back at him. They had been through so much together, pain and sorrow, but also love and discovery. They had raised a beautiful son together, a son that brought them immense joy. It had not been an easy path for them, especially when it came to having Jayden. And of course, then there was… He stopped himself before he went there. He would not think of that. Needless to say, they had survived so much. But, in the end, he had found the other half of himself and he would never let that go.

  As Liam rolled onto his back he had a strained expression on his face. Elias wondered what he was dreaming about as he gently moved a strand of hair out of his partner’s eyes and then slipped out of bed. He headed over to his computer. If he wasn’t going to sleep, he might as well work. He quickly started pulling up everything he could find on Andrew Harrison. A few hours later he heard Liam stir in the bed and shortly after that he felt a hand move across his bare shoulde
r as Liam headed into the bathroom. When he returned, he kneeled down next to Elias to see what he was looking at.

  “Is that him?” Liam asked curiously.

  “Yes.”

  “He looks really young in this picture.”

  “This is his mug shot when he was 22,” Elias said as he turned to face Liam.

  Liam nodded and continued to look at the picture, noting the hallow cheeks and sunken eyes. He wondered if he had been on drugs at the time of this picture. Regardless, he was a good looking kid and Liam could only imagine what being in prison must have been like for him.

  “It says he was in a lot of fights while in prison,” Elias remarked with a frown, knowing that would not bode well for his defense.

  “I would imagine he would have had to, looking like that,” Liam said, watching as Elias looked over at him and arched his brow. “Oh, come on, El, look at him. He’s very handsome.”

  Elias frowned as Liam smiled. He leaned up and kissed him softly. “Not as handsome as you, of course.”

  “Good answer,” Elias said, swirling in his chair so that they were facing each other.

  “Can you imagine what he had to do just to protect himself while he was in there? He probably had to fight just to prevent getting raped or worse. I...” Liam hesitated before looking into Elias’s dark eyes. “You’re going to help him, aren’t you?”

  Elias closed his eyes and nodded, knowing there was no way he could not help Andrew. The two people he loved the most were rallying on his behalf. That was far too powerful to ignore. He wasn’t sure what he could do for him but he would do everything in his power to help him.

  Four Hours Later …

  Elias made his way to the local detention center. He was dressed in his professional attire, charcoal slacks and jacket, crisp white shirt and a maroon striped tie. His lightly graying hair was slicked back nicely and he walked with the urgency of an important man. As Elias stepped up to the desk he informed them that he was there to see his client, Mr. Andrew Harrison, and then grinned as they gave him that 'oh shit' look. Yes, Elias was fully aware of his reputation. He always took charge and had a commanding presence about him. He had been a part of many well-constructed 'dream teams' over the years because, aside from being an exceptional attorney, he could read people extremely well.