“What? You can’t be serious.”
“I’m very serious. Can you come in tomorrow for the reading of the will? I’ve managed to get the estate through probate, and the insurance on the house is being processed now, so I’d like it if you can come in as soon as possible.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I scratched at the stubble on my chin and finished making the coffee. “I have nothing but time these days.”
“All right. I will see you in my office tomorrow.” He rattled off the address before hanging up the phone. Martha had made me and Ryan beneficiaries in her will? I knew she didn’t have any family but why would she do that? It didn’t make any sense. Well, considering the way the past few months had gone, I wasn’t actually as stunned as I should have been.
RYAN
Work had been exhausting and I was looking forward to having the day off. When Philip told me about the meeting with Martha’s lawyer, I was shocked, but more excited about the prospect of seeing Abby.
The mood was somber in the lawyer’s office until Abby came bouncing in and rushed to me. “Ryan!”
“Hey, princess.” I smiled and hugged her tight. The woman that came in with her looked haggard but smiled at the sight of me and Abby together.
“Now that everyone’s here, we can get started,” the short bald lawyer said softly. “Each of you have been mentioned in Martha’s will. She split everything equally between you. Miss Abby, your part has been put into a trust fund that you can access when you turn eighteen. I know you don’t know what all that means, but basically, Martha loved you and wanted to make sure you were taken care of.” Abby looked up at the two of us. Once we nodded that it was okay, she thanked the attorney.
“Wait,” Philip said. “I’m just piecing this together. Are you telling us Martha’s entire estate has been left to just the three of us as the sole beneficiaries?”
“Yes. Her estate as a whole comes to about one point five million dollars.” I sat back in my chair. Philip’s eyes went wide with shock. Abby sat playing with the pink and purple dog I gave her.
“You’re telling us that she left us each five hundred grand?” I couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, around that.”
“Holy shit.” I swore, and Abby giggled. Philip elbowed me in the ribs. “Sorry.”
“I just need you to sign some documents and fill out various forms, so we can finish up the probating the estate. Once I get the funds and paperwork signed off by the court, my office will contact you. He handed us the paperwork. I set Abby on her feet so I could sign everything.
“The property that the house was on as well as her life insurance policy is inclusive of the estate. As I stated, once everything is processed, it will be split between the three of you in equal shares.”
“Thank you,” I said and handed him back the paperwork. “I’m a little shocked.”
“A little?” Philip laughed. “I’m more than a little shocked.”
“I’m sure you are, but I knew Martha for years. She was an amazing woman. When she came in to adjust the will, she told me all about you, and knew you would do the most good with it.” His eyes shined and I wondered just how well he knew Martha. We all shook his hand and left the office in stunned silence. Abby was between us, clutching our hands like she didn’t want to let go.
“Did Daniel tell you to keep an eye out for a strange man?” I asked Abby’s new foster mother, who’d been waiting patiently outside for us.
“Yes, my sixteen-year-old son walks Abby to and from school every day.” She smiled proudly.
“With all due respect, ma’am, a sixteen-year-old is not going to scare this guy off.” Philip added.
“He’s the captain of the wrestling team,” she replied, indignant we disparaged her son. “I have six kids, and each one has their own issues. I can’t be everywhere at once.”
“Fair enough,” I said clapping Philip on the shoulder. “If you see anything strange, please let us know. The police are still looking for him.” After taking both of our cell numbers, she agreed to keep in contact.
“Abby come on we have to get to therapy.” Abby hugged me tight, then walked over and hugged Philip before she let the woman lead her to her minivan. We watched her buckle herself in and wave to us through the window.
“She’ll be fine. Her new foster mom seems like she’s one of the decent ones.” I tried to reassure Philip, who was standing staring at the woman’s vehicle. He really did miss her, just as much as I did, but neither one of us would feel better until that asshole who hurt Abby was behind bars.
Hours later, Philip and I were laying on the bed in my shitty little apartment when his phone rang. “It’s Daniel.”
I watched his face as he spoke to him on the phone. It morphed into shock and then anger the longer the conversation went on. When he finally hung up, his face was red. “What is it?”
“They got Martha’s coroner’s report. She didn’t die from the fire. There was no smoke in her lungs.”
I sat up quickly and looked at him dreading what he was about to say next. “How did she die?”
“Blunt force trauma to the head. Which means she was dead before he ever even set the fire.” He leaned back against the head board. “They’re now looking for him. Murder and arson.”
“Well shit, should we be watching Abby at night?” I thought about Courtney and how Brice had his brother sitting outside of her apartment every night.
“They have a car stationed outside of her foster home now and will keep one there until he’s been caught. They’re not taking any chances this time.”
I was somewhat relieved that she had police protection. It was actually better than I could have hoped for. Abby’s safety was my number one concern. My childhood wasn’t fun, and I’d had to rely on myself more than any kid should, but Abby’s was beyond what any human should live through. She didn’t deserve to hurt any more. “Good, that’s good.”
PHILIP
A few days went by and it was relatively quiet. I was glad the media had decided to leave us alone a little bit. I’d spent the last several days making arrangements for Martha’s funeral. I figured the woman cared so much about others it was the least I could do. She already had a plot next to her deceased husband and funny enough most of the arrangements had already been made when she was alive. I spoke with the attorney and he gave me all the necessary documentation and I went to work securing a date and putting everything in motion. It felt good to keep my mind busy and off of all the problems I was facing. The thing I was most glad for though was that I didn’t have to deal with everything thing alone. Ryan and I spent our nights at his apartment. It was cozy, but I could tell it was just a means to an end not really home.
We were lying in bed one night. I looked around at the blank walls; he didn’t have much by way of furniture either but I guess when you live in a single room it makes sense to just have a bed. “What do you think about moving in together?” I asked out of nowhere.
“What?” He was a little shocked but his eyes brightened as I twirled his dark chocolate-colored hair between my fingers.
“We spend every night together anyway. You could move in with me or we could find a new place of our own.” I was rambling. I didn’t realize until I’d tried to sell him on the idea how much I wanted his answer to be yes. I wanted to be with him. That was the minute I realized how royally fucked I was. Ryan had the ability to break me. I was totally and completely in love with him; the thought scared the shit out of me. A range of emotions flitted across his features before a beaming smile spread.
“You just want me in your bed every night,” he said playfully.
“Well, that is the idea. You naked in my bed every night is the dream.” I laughed as I reached down and squeezed his hardening cock.
“That sounds pretty fantastic to me.” He moaned as I slowly stroked him.
“So? Are you in? Can we start packing up your apartment tomorrow?” I pushed my way
down the bed, leaned in and licked the head of his cock.
“You don’t play fair,” he growled. “Let me fuck you and I’ll do anything you want.”
I paused, stopping any action and crawled back up to lay next to him. That was a demand I hadn’t heard in a while. Most guys I’d been with were confirmed bottoms. Except for Daniel. It had been a point of argument in our relationship. My need to be in control was one of the things that eventually broke us up, but for Ryan? After he gave me what he had never given anyone else, I would do just about anything for him.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?” Trying to reassure him from the worry in his voice, I squeezed his hand and pulled him in my arms, needing the comfort of his body next to mine to tell this story.
“It’s so much better now, being gay, bi, trans… I’m not saying it’s perfect, far from it, but just fifteen or so years ago, when I was a teenager, homosexuality was a thing to be ashamed of. I hadn’t realized I was gay until I was about seventeen. I tried to ignore the growing attraction I had for guys, but no matter how many girls I dated, slept with, it just wouldn’t go away. And because I did date girls, yet was attracted to guys, it was like I wasn’t either gay or hetero, which was even worse in my eyes because I didn’t fit in anywhere.” Ryan lay perfectly still, the only way I knew he was listening was by the hand, slowly going back and forth over my chest in a light caress. “So one night, I went to a gay bar in another town with my fake ID, figuring if I went there, I could maybe fit in somewhere, maybe realize who I was. Anyway, an older guy bought me a drink and started flirting with me, asking me questions about sex and what I had done. He realized pretty quickly that I was a complete virgin when it came to homosexual sex and offered to teach me. He didn’t know I was only seventeen. Fuck.” I paused, really not wanting to rehash this part of my life. It was bad enough living it, I didn’t want to repeat it, but if I had any chance at a true relationship with Ryan, he needed to know everything. “I actually don’t remember much about the night. Thinking back on it, he’d been buying me drinks, so I was probably roofied.” Ryan’s head was now on my chest, he looked up at me with such understanding. I hadn’t trusted anyone with my secrets and this story the way I did Ryan.
“The first clear memory I have is me chained to a bed excruciating pain tearing through my ass as he brutally fucked me. When he was done and let me up there was blood.” I shook my head from the memory. There was no reason to go into graphic detail, and it was just better that I not dwell on it. “After that, it took a long time before I was willing to have sex again… with anyone. And when I did, if I liked a guy, I was in total dominant control, until it just became who I was. I never dated older men, thinking something similar could happen, and I refused to be a victim again. Only guys my own age or younger and never with anyone who could overpower me.” We lay there in silence for long minutes while he stroked my hair, hoping he’d realize how much trust I’d just put in him by telling that story.
“It’s okay, we don’t have to do that if you’re uncomfortable with it, but I’m not gonna lie I get the urge to fuck like anyone else, so maybe we can take baby steps.” He rolled off my chest so that we were face to face on our sides. When he began kissing me sweetly, I knew he was trying to calm my nerves from having shared something so ugly. As our kissing got heated, he reached around and stroked my ass, doing the same to me as I’d done to him. His finger swirled around my hole but he never breached it. He’d had us so close together, he began grinding against me, then kissing me hard, totally distracting me from where his hand was. I let him control the kiss, which was difficult, but like Ryan said, baby steps.
We stayed like that just kissing and touching each other languidly for a moment, fevered at others. It was so different then our usual hurry toward the finish line. Something had changed. I could feel it all the way to my bones as he broke the kiss and moved down my body slowly savoring the taste of my skin making his way to my cock.
“Mmm,” he moaned as he licked the bead of pre-cum off the head. My head tilted back and I screwed my eyes up tight, trying desperately not to move or say anything demanding. I wanted to show him that I could give up the control once in a while and let him take charge, but fuck was it hard not to move. I grabbed a fistful of the sheets in an attempt to keep from grabbing his hair and thrust myself into his hot mouth. Looking down, I noticed his eyes looking up, watching my reaction. He loved every second of it, me struggling to remain submissive, while he took the lead. His head bobbed up and down as he sucked me, fingers grazing my balls, and that was all it took for me to scream his name. After he licked me clean, he laid back down next to me wrapping me in his arms. “Of course, I’ll move in with you.”
I grinned, feeling the happiest I had ever been. We were going to be together. I would do anything to keep Ryan. He may have been younger than me, but sometimes you can’t help who you fall in love with. Maybe, after we lived together for a while, I would have the guts to tell him how I really felt... maybe.
RYAN
I woke up the next morning feeling lighter and happier than I ever had. Philip and I were better than ever and I was getting ready to move in with a guy for the first time ever. I should have been more freaked out about that, but I wasn’t. Everything about us just felt... right. I didn’t care what anyone else thought. Or, the fact he used to be my professor, since the school still had him on probation—assholes. I was quickly falling for him.
That part did scare the hell out of me. I wasn’t used to showing feelings or even having strong feelings toward anyone other than my mother and sister, but Philip changed all that. I went to work that day walking on air. Everyone noticed my upbeat mood, and even though a couple of the muscle guys harassed me since the story broke, I didn’t let it phase me because I knew as soon as I got home from work Philip would be there to help me pack my shit in that shitty apartment.
The day went quickly and before I knew, it was lunch time. I grabbed my lunch and my phone. That was when my whole day went to hell fast. The number of missed calls from Philip and Daniel was staggering. I panicked and dialed Philip immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Abby, her foster brother was found on the side of the road bleeding from a head wound and she’s missing.” The strangled sound of his voice and the words had me collapsing on the concrete.
“I thought she had police protection?” I cried out still sitting on the floor with the wall as my only support.
“They have a shift change at the time Abby walks to school. I guess the new guys didn’t know to drive her.” The only reason I hadn’t taken the later shift to bring Abby to school had been the promise of a police presence around her.
“That’s the stupidest fucking time to have a shift change. The easiest time to get to her is when she’s not at home.” I was pissed that the police had made such a colossal mistake. They should have been watching her. I should have been watching her. The pang of regret hit me in an instant. Guilt ate at me as I thought about the little girl who held my heart. If I hadn’t been so reckless, she wouldn’t be in this situation. It was my fault, I’d allowed Candy’s spite to seep into Abby’s life and have her taken away from Philip.
“Ryan? Ryan, listen to me,” Philip yelled into the phone. “There is a man hunt going on. They’re looking for her everywhere there’s even an Amber alert. We’ll find her,” Philip said soothingly, but even Philip’s voice couldn’t calm me.
“I need to get out of here. I can’t stay here and work when I have no idea what’s going on with her. Can you meet me at my place, please?” I hated that I was crying. I didn’t want to let these assholes see me, but I hadn’t felt this helpless in a long time.
“Yeah, I’ll be there in ten. I want to go out and search for her.”
“Good. I’m going to explain things to my boss and hope he doesn’t fire me,” I said hanging up the phone. Regardless of what he said, I was leaving to go h
elp find her. The TV in the office had a breaking news report on it. I watched as Abby’s face lit up the screen. It was a selfie I had taken of us at the park. I’d sent it to Philip, who must have given it to the police and the media.
“Oh my God, Ryan. That’s you. You know the little girl who was kidnapped?” The receptionist looked between me and the TV.
“Yeah, she’s my favorite person in the world. Is the boss in?” I asked trying to hold it together, but my voice cracked at the end.
“Yeah, oh you poor thing you’ve been through so much over the last couple months.” Death, blackmail, being outed to the entire world, my sister being attacked, and now this? I was holding on by a thin thread and I knew at any moment I could snap. I just hoped I was alone when I did. “Go on in, dear. I’m sure he’ll let you go so you can help with the search.”
“Thank you,” I said relieved and walked into the office. His eyes were glued to the TV screen.
“You know the missing girl.” It wasn’t a question. Seeing my face up there, he must have assumed I’d be coming to his office. Nodding my head, I looked over at a picture on his desk was of him, his wife, and two little girls. “I don’t know what I would do if one of my girls had ever gone missing.”
“So I can go help in the search?”
“Of course, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
“Thank you.” I ran from the office and to my car. It wasn’t but a few minutes before I pulled into the parking lot outside my apartment and noticed a bunch of camera crews waiting. Ignoring the shouts and questions, I ran up to my apartment, and when I opened my door Philip was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. I rushed to him, pulling him up in to my arms and letting the tears fall that I had tried to keep hidden until that moment. “What can we do?”
“There isn’t much we can do. They’re waiting for tips from people who might have seen her.”
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