MemoriesErasedTreachery

by Charlie Richards

  It read--Pipsqueak… Take better care of your own. I won't be around forever.

  In an instant, Ewyn remembered where he'd seen photos like the Calabria crime scene, and fell back in the chair, laughing. He'd been about ten years old when he found similar photos in his father's office and asked his dad about them. His father had explained they weren't real. Said they were shots of movie stars made up to look dead, and he'd had no reason to think his father would lie to him.

  He stared at the message in his hand. Thinking back over the years, he'd heard his father's men talking about this person or that person gutted like a fish. The same phrase Steppling used in Patterson's report. Hell. His naïve ass never had a clue back then.

  Ewyn looked up to find Christopher sitting across the table, eyebrow arched, staring. Heat warmed his cheeks and he bit down on the inside of his bottom lip to keep from laughing again. Like Devin, for such a big man, Christopher had that stealth thing going on, too. Ewyn never noticed the man returning to the table.

  Grey eyes sparkling with humor, Christopher asked, "Want to share the joke?"

  Devin re-entered the room and returned to his chair, looking from Ewyn to Christopher, he said, "What did I miss?"

  Ewyn handed the note to Devin, who read the message and passed the paper to Christopher. "I'll have to disagree with Patterson about the Calabria homicide," Devin remarked. "Case is closed." He looked at Christopher and they spoke unanimously. "Shredder."

  Ewyn grinned. "Does this mean CeCe is really no longer a threat?" He ducked when Devin and Christopher picked up spoons and threw them at him.

  "A whole afternoon and evening to ourselves." Devin lay back in the Jacuzzi and watched Ewyn strip out of his clothes. "Is this what parents have to do, make appointments to get busy?" Ewyn stepped into the tub, laughter lighting up his jungle green eyes as sank beneath the swirl of hot steamy water, and crawled up along his body until mouths joined. After several minutes, Ewyn pulled away and chuckled.

  "I guess. They manage to procreate." He sat up. "You know, with your new job, you're going to be around more and the temptation will be hard to resist. We'll have a lot of frustration building up."

  "Not so." His hands settled on the curves of Ewyn's hips and tried to slow the squirming of the little round ass. "Since Kieki goes to school, and spends time with her other family after school, I'll slip home for a nooner."

  "Umm…I like the sound of that." Their mouths joined and Ewyn took control of the kiss and their actions.

  Epilogue

  He rolled off Devin and reached for his phone on the third ring. "Ewyn." Movements lethargic, he yawned and stretched, then bounded upright. "What! Yeah, yeah, on our way." He tossed his cell on the nightstand and turned to Devin, who lay awake, watching him.

  "Dev! Come on, get up." He jumped off the bed and rushed into the bathroom, then poked his head out the door and said, "Greg is home! Hurry up."

  Grinning, Devin propped the pillows against the headboard and leaned back on them. The next time Ewyn's head popped out the door, he held up his right index finger and beckoned Ewyn over to him. Eyes narrowing, baby-boy cautiously approached the bed.

  "What?"

  Devin yanked Ewyn over on top of him and kissed him, long and deep, before pulling away. "Baby-boy, I can understand your enthusiasm about your brother's return. But I think we can shower, dress, and oh, I don't know, have breakfast, and your brother will be at the estate when we get there."

  Ewyn chuckled. "You're right. Sorry. When Myce said he has a wife with him--"

  "Say what? A wife!" Devin shifted Ewyn to his feet. "Why didn't you say so? That type of information is worth a quick shower and a late breakfast." He rolled off the bed and strolled toward the bathroom, looking back over his shoulder, he grumbled, "What are you waiting for? Rosa can feed us at the house."

  Ewyn hooted and caught up with him in the doorway. Devin scooped Ewyn off the floor as they entered the shower. Baby-boy draped his arms over Devin's shoulders and wrapped his legs around his waist. "Dev, have I told you how much I love you?"

  "Oh yeah, with your every word and action since the beginning," Devin whispered, tongue teasing the pouty bottom lip before insisting on entrance into the seductive warmth. He stared into passionate green eyes and the memories of their first encounter resurfaced.

  Even with their sixth anniversary fast approaching, it never ceased to amaze him how their every kiss reminded him of their first. The one that rocked his world, captured his heart, and seared his soul, binding him to the man who remained the love of his life.

  Absolute.

  About the Author

  Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she currently resides in Bullhead City, Arizona. When not writing, or mired in research, she spends her time enjoying the company of her two adopted/rescue pets, Apache, a Giant Schnauzer and Mason, a Weimaraner. Besides Internet resources, quite a bit of her research is via Discovery, National Geographic, History, and Military channels watching crime/police/forensics and CIA/DOJ documentaries. She is an insatiable reader and has eclectic tastes in music.