From Love and Pain

by H. A. Caine

  "What haven't you told us, Ashe?" Raine asked, looking him in the eye.

  He looked at Melissa and addressed his answer to her. "You asked me earlier, how is it that I know your brother. We met about two years ago, became friends and spent a lot of time together."

  "You’re-" she started but Adrian knew if he didn't get it all out now, he wouldn't ever.

  "I'm the man Jaxon told you about. I never told him exactly what I did, only giving a vague description, but you're brother is smart and I've no doubt he put it together on his own. But he never said anything and for that I'm grateful. About a year ago I started to feel as if someone was watching me. I knew if Daniel had found me, that it wouldn't be long before he figured out just how much you're brother meant to me. That wasn't a risk I was willing to take and I so I left in the middle of the night, changed my number. I had moved out of my apartment and was living with Jaxon, so I brought a house and thought that was the end of it."

  "But you were wrong." Melissa whispered.

  Adrian nodded his head. "Yes. I was. I thought he would be safe, that Daniel would follow me and remain none the wiser. Obviously, I was wrong. You're brother is in this situation because of me and for that I'm sorry. It was the last thing I wanted and the reason I was willing to give up so much."

  "Don’t you think you're leaving out some important facts? Like, what did you do to this Daniel guy that he wants to get back at you?"

  John's voice brought his gaze away from a stunned Melissa.

  "Why were you guys living together?" Kayse asked, confused.

  Reaching around John, Roe popped him in the back of his head. "Duh, idiot they were living together because they were together. Weren't you listening at all?" disgusted, Roe hit him again and nodded for Adrian to continue.

  Sighing, he did. "Daniel is my uncle. Long story short, when I was young I witnessed him kill my mother in a fit of rage. I was young, but it stuck with me. He then sent me away for a year. I'm guessing he had her body hidden and fabricated a story for the police of how she killed both herself and me. He had connections and used them to have the case closed. He then used them to make sure no one curious enough to look found anything suspicious. For the next couple of years he used me as a punching bag and kept me as much apart from society as he could. Couldn't afford for someone to see a bruise or broken bone, you know. When I got older I started fighting back, I refused to just take it, knowing that eventually he would kill me, too, if I did. One day, he left and the guards watching me weren’t paying attention and I was able to sneak out. I got away, lived on the streets for a bit, ended up in a shelter, got a job, saved money, moved to another shelter and did it all again until I could get my own place. Then I met Crow and you all know what happens from there." By the time Adrian stopped, darkness was falling and he was wishing the day would end already.

  "My real name is Adrian Santiago." he nodded towards John. "He put the house in my name to get my attention. It's a risk he's taking, but he knew it would make sure that I knew why he was here."

  "He never caught up with me until now. I made a mistake. I thought I was safe, let my guard down and he slipped in." he looked to Crow and knew he was remembering his earlier words.

  Crow's head bobbed slightly and he came to stand beside Adrian.

  Placing his arm around Adrian's shoulder, he gave him a side hug.

  "Alright guys, I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the mushy emotional crap today. How about we all shut up now and do what we came here to do." There were a few snickers but everyone agreed.

  Reaching into his car, Adrian pulled out his bag and handed Melissa an ear piece. He grabbed his own from the cup holder and put it on. Putting a small flashlight through a loop in his jeans and his gun in underneath his shirt behind his back, he threw the bag back inside.

  As Melissa attached the ear piece to her left ear he saw everyone else getting ready. When they were all finished, he spoke. "The house is up two blocks around the corner, last one to your right. We can go through. If we go this way-" he pointed over his right shoulder, "we can come up behind it." Nodding, everyone broke up, so as not to draw attention to them, while John and Melissa got back into Crow's car.

  In his ear, Adrian heard Melissa's soft voice as he crossed the street. "He always talked about a good friend. I never understood, but… he still loves you."

  Rubbing at the tightness in his chest, he answered the question in her words. "And I've never stopped loving him."

  To himself he thought, and I’ve every intention of getting him back.

  Chapter Five

  Jaxon was starting to get antsy. The excitement that had sprung up inside of him with the sound of the door opening, had died a quick death as a voice called out from deeper in the house and the door was pulled shut once again. Having no means of telling time, he couldn't be sure but it seemed over almost two hours had passed since.

  Although he strained his hearing, there hadn't been the slightest sound of footsteps headed his way.

  Jaxon was afraid his window of opportunity may have bypassed him and he didn't know what he was going to do now. It didn't feel right to just sit there and wait for his sister to get involved, not with a possibility of her getting hurt in the process.

  After spending a lifetime trying to protect her from any and every thing, he would never be able to forgive himself if that were to occur.

  A picture of Adrian popped into his mind's eye, but he tried unsuccessfully to push it away. He didn't have the time to let himself get distracted with year old heartbreak, not right now.

  Even though it had been a year since Adrian had left him he still felt the pain of walking into an empty house as if it was just yesterday. He hadn't even had to call out to see if Adrian was home; the house had a desolate feeling and the entrance was lacking of warmth that he knew would never be there again. It was all he needed to know that Adrian had gone.

  Sighing, he rubs his eyes with his thumbs, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to concentrate on the problem at hand and not the pain in his heart.

  I have to get out of here, the thought played through his mind even as he knew the probability of him succeeding was not in his favor.

  He had to think of something, even if he gave away his advantage of surprise, he had to assure in any way that they would come in and he'd have a chance at escape, no matter how unlikely the outcome. Shutting his eyes, he closed out the surrounding darkness.

  He sat there for God only knew how long, trying and failing to come up with a solution. He was starting to believe it was hopeless when he heard a distant scuffle somewhere in the house.

  Soon the house was filled with a cacophony of surprised yelps quickly followed by pained grunts and heavy thuds.

  Since his last visit, the house had remained quiet, barely a whisper to be heard. Jaxon had believed the house to be mostly empty, but from the noise coming from outside his door, it sounded like a war was taking place not three feet away from where he sat. He didn't know what to think of the sudden development, but one thing he knew was that he wasn't about to let himself be taken by surprise.

  Hell, maybe they would kill each other and he could safely walk out without having to put up an effort.

  But though he had only met Daniel for a few minutes, he knew he was the type of man who planned out every step in advance and fighting among his men would never be allowed. He also wasn’t the type of man whose orders you went against.

  This meant either he was in a house full of suicidal men, or Melissa had gotten help.

  Removing the opened chain from around his ankle, Jaxon moved to the table and searched blindly for anything helpful, but the only object he came across was the blunt letter opener he had used to get free in the first place. He remembered the food tray, but in the darkness he couldn’t see where he had placed it and he didn’t want to be stumbling around in the dark when the door finally opened.

  Giving up, he turned towards the door as footsteps stopped outside it
. His shoulders tensed and his body ached but he prepared himself for a fight for his life, not knowing who was on the other side of the door; hoping it was a friend, but knowing it could be a foe. The knob jangled, but it was locked.

  The person tried again but the result remained the same. The house fell silent, with the exception of a few murmured words from the man standing outside, followed by a reply. Then Jaxon could hear nothing more, only the sound of his heavy breathing and the rushing of blood in his ears. His ankle throbbed and he shifted his weight onto his left foot, easing the pressure on his right.

  Jaxon balled his hands into fist, taking a deep breath.

  His breath froze in his lungs as the door slammed inwards, having been kicked in, and a beautiful angel with an aura of danger stepped into the entrance.

  * * * *

  With his luscious black hair, gorgeous face; all sharp angles and soft pouty lips that were well matched with inviting chocolate brown eyes, Adrian was a vision to behold.

  They stood there, just staring at each other, neither willing to talk and break the silence. For Jaxon it was as if some pressure inside of him finally released itself and he was able to breathe once again.

  Quickly on the heels of his joy at seeing Adrian when he thought he never would again, followed relief at not having to try to fight when he wasn't in any shape to even hold off a five year old child. Then he felt anger, that he hadn't even been aware of carrying for the last year, explode inside of him looking for an outlet.

  Before he could do anything Adrian reached for him and dragged him out of the room. "We need to go. Now."

  All around them men were sprawled in numerous positions, appearing to be unconscious. Those standing looked to be waiting for Adrian and him, before they started moving towards what he could only guess was the back of the house.

  But Adrian didn't follow, them instead heading in the opposite direction, talking into the earpiece he wore.

  "Your sister is waiting for you. You're favoring your left foot so I'm guessing from the looks of you that you're not in the best of conditions. I told John to pull a car around front. We have to move fast and get you out of here quickly."

  "Melissa? You brought Melissa here? Are you fucking insane! What if she gets hurts? What if that Daniel fucker finds her? He'll kill her!"

  Jaxon’s mind was chaotic, throwing out scenarios where his sister laid in a bloody heap on the floor, all because he wasn't there to protect her. God! He couldn't believe Adrian would be stupid enough as to bring his innocent sister with him. He'd always given him more credit than that. Maybe he was wrong.

  "Relax, you're going to drive yourself crazy thinking so hard. She's been waiting in my car a few blocks away from here. She knows that she couldn't come in here, but she refused to stay away, threatening to come on her own. And besides, I knew you would be more cooperative if you knew she was with us. Was I wrong?"

  Jaxon wanted to slap the small grin that graced the man's lips right off his face, hating that Adrian knew him so well.

  He picked up his speed, wanting to get Melissa somewhere safe before everything could go anymore downhill than it already had.

  "I’m sorry for bringing her, Jaxon, but I couldn't take the risk that you would be too angry to listen to anything I told you to do. And don't try to say you aren't angry with me." Adrian said the last in a quieter voice.

  "Did I try to?" he retorted.

  "No."

  The quiet resignation in Adrian's voice surprised Jaxon. He didn't know why Adrian had done what he did, but he knew Adrian well enough to know that to Adrian he did what he felt he had to do. What made Jaxon angry was that Adrian made the decision to leave him without giving them a chance to maybe find a way that worked without breaking hearts in the process.

  They were almost to the door when they heard the back door creak open.

  Stopping, Adrian cocked his head, obviously trying to hear more in the silence that followed. Jaxon reached for the door, but before he could open it, a voice rang out behind him."It's so good to see you again nephew." Adrian turned quickly, taking Jaxon with him.

  It threw him off balance and Jaxon had to quickly reach for the door that was now behind him to steady himself and avoid landing in a tangled heap at Adrian's feet.

  Stepping back, he rested against the door as he looked back and forth between Adrian and Daniel.

  Did I hear Daniel correctly? Did he really just call Adrian his nephew?

  His confusion must have shown on his face because Daniel's booming laughter filled the room.

  "My nephew is a very bad boy, isn't he?" Daniel asked him.

  Not knowing what to say, Jaxon looked towards Adrian and said nothing.

  Though his eyes remained locked on his uncle, Adrian reached back and grabbed his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

  The touch calmed him and Jaxon felt himself relax against the door a bit.

  "What do you want?" Adrian's voice was devoid of emotion, as was his face.

  "I just want you to come back home. I never told you could leave.” disapproval ran heavily in Daniel's words.

  Jaxon felt the widening of his eyes. He had seen a lot in his life, but never had he met a person half as delusional as Daniel. What shocked him was how he went from the sophisticated man he had met earlier to the deranged person with the maniacal eyes standing before him. The guy actually believed he could control Adrian and he clearly expected Adrian to listen to him and do as he was told.

  "And if I say no?" the question was clearly rhetorical but it caused Daniel exploded.

  "Just who the hell do you think you are? Telling me no? I don't remember asking you a question. I told you to do something. I told you to come home, now you will come. You thought you were so funny, running away. How many times have you’ve been told, not to go out unless someone is with you? You always were stupid. Doing what you wanted and not what you should. Just like your mother. It's why I killed her; she just pissed me off so much, the stupid bitch! You remember, don't you? It's your turn to be punished for your insubordination. Now stop wasting time and maybe I'll let your friend here leave in one piece."

  Jaxon could see the effect the callous words were beginning to have on Adrian even though he tried to keep his face blank. Jaxon stepped forward, prepared to give the asshole a piece of his mind and show the man standing beside him some much needed support, but his leg buckled beneath him and he collapsed, landing on top of his injured foot and damaging it more. He let out a cry of shocked pain and breathed in deeply as he rearranged himself on the floor, trying to catch his breath before he attempted to climb to his feet.

  He guessed looking tough for Adrian wouldn't work. He had the feeling that seeing him stand up to Daniel would have given Adrian the courage he needed.

  Jaxon could see the slight trembling in Adrian's body and it worried him.

  Again Daniel laughed. "Really, nephew mine, why waste any more time than you've already had on this trash?" he looked towards Jaxon, shaking his head.

  Adrian used his temporary distraction to pull a gun out from behind his back. "We’re leaving, and there's nothing you can do to stop us." he pointed the gun at Daniel, using his thumb to flick off the safety.

  * * * *

  Adrian could feel sweat break out on his upper lip and his forehead. He sincerely hoped Daniel couldn’t see the tiny tremble working through the hand holding the gun.

  Taking a breath, he forced himself to stand still. He stepped in front of Jaxon as the man slowly got himself to his feet. He stumbled a bit and Adrian reached behind him with his free hand to steady him.

  He couldn't of had asked for a better distraction, but he wished he could spare Jaxon the pain he knew he was suffering from his fall.

  Adrian knew Daniel wouldn't just let them walk out of there.

  Especially not him.

  He'd spent enough time growing up learning every nuance of Daniel's behavior in the hope of protecting himself from his vicious ways.

  D
aniel wanted him to suffer. He wanted to beat and torture Adrian for God only knows how long before he finally grew bored and killed him in the most gruesome way his twisted imagination could come up with. As far as he was concerned, Adrian had committed the unforgivable by running away.

  Adrian didn't even want to think about what he would do to Jaxon if he ever got his hands on him again.

  He glanced over his shoulder, taking in Jaxon's appearance. His eyes were almost swollen shut, the man squinting to see and his face twisted in a mask of pain whenever he breathed in to deeply. The left side of his face was scraped and his bottom lip was busted but beginning to scab over. His right thumb looked slightly swollen, as if it had been recently dislocated and crudely yanked back into place. Adrian tried to avoid looking at the blood covering his chest, but could easily tell they came from more cuts, and there was a bruise covering the left side of his ribs.

  He couldn't believe that a man in his condition had actually been ready and willing to fight. Even now, Adrian knew if it came to it, Jaxon would not hesitate to jump in the middle of a brawl to guarantee them walking out alive.

  The realization, gave Adrian the strength to face Daniel again. He turned, lifting the gun higher so that it pointed towards the middle of the bastard's chest.

  He was terrified of what would happen next. Finally, he was standing up to the man who haunted him. To him, Daniel was the equivalent of the boogeyman in his closet. There were still times when he feared closing his eyes and going to sleep, the possibility of waking up and realizing that the last ten years had been nothing but a dream was a nightmare in itself.

  He felt a hand softly touch the small of his back and breathed deeply. He still found it amazing how one tiny insignificant touch could set fire to his blood.

  He nodded his head slowly, hoping to let Jaxon know that he knew he had his back.