Tyler was right in that case, why keep who did it a secret? “Sean.” He cleared his throat. “Sean, my ex. He did this to me. Sean Pearson.” He stared at Tyler, hoping he could see just how much it took out of him to admit that. “Are you happy? Please, can we just drop it now?”
Tyler moved closer to Ethan and that time Ethan didn’t flinch or move away. Tyler laid beside him on the bed; they were facing each other when Tyler leaned forward and kissed him on top of his head.
“Thanks for trusting me. I want to know more, but I will leave for now because I know how hard that was for you to do.” He paused for a few seconds before asking one of many questions Ethan couldn’t answer. “Do you know where he is?”
Ethan shook his head no. The room was silent again except for the monitors and their breathing. He could only imagine the many questions that were going through Tyler’s mind. “Do you know how badly it’s killing me not to demand answers to the questions running around in my mind? Like how long has this been going on, Ethan? Has he hit you before this? Please don't lie to me. Why would he do this?”
He moved his head closer and buried his face into Tyler’s neck, taking a long deep breath. Tyler's scent calmed him, and he was beginning to feel safe again. What was he supposed to say that? That he was stupid and didn’t know that Sean had a temper?
We argued a few times, yeah, but he was never violent or acted this way. It was as if a switch had been suddenly flipped inside of Sean.
“This was the first time,” he finally replied to the only question he felt able to answer.
And it will be the last time this shit will ever happen to me.
That was not how his life was supposed to turn out. He was not the type that needed rescuing. It was his job to rescue and take care of others, be there for the kids at Ravenwood and his friends. He and Tyler stayed like that for a few minutes. Ethan could feel himself falling back to sleep, but he needed to stay awake.
“Did the doctor tell you anything?”
“No, they refused to give me any information, but I can get him now that you are awake,” Tyler told him but made no attempt to move. “I didn't know who your emergency contact was, and I did not have time to look for it. I figured it would be Christen, but I couldn’t find your wallet and they had no records for you here. Hell, I had to convince them to let me sit in here with you.”
** ** ** ** **
Tyler walked out of Ethan's room, holding onto his anger. He stopped by the nurse’s station to let the nurse on shift know that Ethan was finally awake. Tyler went into the waiting room and was relieved when no one was sitting in there. He pulled out his cell, punched in a series of numbers and hit send. Two seconds later his phone rang.
“What can we do for you and please tell me I’m not going to get in trouble for this?”
“Chance, I need you to do me a favor,” he said.
“When you ask for favors, I lose sleep.” Chance sighed.
Tyler smiled, despite his anger. “This is off the books and I can promise that this won’t get you into any kind of trouble.”
Chance was one of the techs he relied on for information whenever he was on a mission. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Get me all the information you can on a Sean Pearson,” he requested. “Also, I need you to send a clean-up crew to this address.” He gave Chance Ethan’s home address, knowing that Chance would come through for him. The tech was also a trusted friend and would not reveal the information to anyone else in the organization.
“Do you have anything for me to go off of besides a name?”
“No, that’s all I have, just see what you can find out and get back to me as soon as you can.” He hung up and pocketed his phone, knowing that Chance would not take offense to his brisk tone. It could take a couple of hours or a few days for Chance to get back to him.
Tyler also wanted to do that without Ethan finding out. Tyler ran his hands through his hair, agitated by the whole situation and not sure how to fix it.
Tyler pulled out his phone to call Lucas, but stopped. He knew that if he told his brother, along with his dad, they would show up with guns blazing, ready to kill. Tyler was usually calm in every situation, always accessing and reevaluating how to fix the problem, but right then he wanted to strangle the fuck out of Sean Pearson. In all the years he’d known Ethan, he never knew him to be so guarded.
Ethan always seemed so open about what was going on in his life. He deliberated if he should call Ethan’s mother, but he also didn’t know if she would show up. The only thing Ethan had ever been open about was the fact that he did not get along with Simone Beaumont. Tyler never had the pleasure of meeting her and recognized that there were two sides to every story, but from what he’d heard about Simone, she couldn’t care less if Ethan were dead or alive. Tyler sighed, walked back into the hospital, and went straight to Ethan’s room. He stopped at the entrance, just as the doctor was leaving.
“How is he?” he asked the doctor.
The doctor looked back to the closed door. “I was informed I can give you an update on his progress. His injuries look worse than they are. We will keep him under observation for a couple of days. Mr. Beaumont's ribs are fractured and he will need someone home with him for the next couple of days. The swelling over his eye will go down in a few days.” The doctor paused for a few seconds. “I know it all sounds bad but there is some good news, he has no internal injuries and he will recover fine.”
The doctor looked back at the closed door before turning back to Tyler. “I will say this, whoever did this was out to hurt him, send him a message, but not kill him,” he told Tyler. The way the doctor spoke and was looking at him, Tyler was getting the feeling that the doctor believed he was responsible for Ethan’s injuries. “I’ve tried to convince him to call the police, but he refused…”
Tyler cut the doctor off. “I will see what I can do,” he said, stepping around the other man and opening the door leading to Ethan’s room. When he walked in, Ethan was facing the other direction, looking out the window. Tyler had no idea what Ethan was thinking. Truth be told, Tyler half expected Ethan to be gone when he returned, he seemed like the type of person that would run and hide with the hope that things would disappear and magically work themselves out.
He stepped closer to the bed and sat in the chair positioned in front of it. Ethan turned and looked at him. “You just missed the doctor.”
“I saw him on my way in.” Ethan nodded his head. “He said you are going to be alright, but truthfully, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, just tired.” Ethan sighed. “I’m just having a hard time getting to sleep.” He lifted one of his hands and gently touched his head. Tyler got out of the chair, sat on the side of the bed and laid back in the same position he was in earlier. He was tired as well. They were facing each other when Ethan said, “I want to thank you, Tyler.” He opened his mouth to stop him and tell him that thanks were not needed. “No, hear me out. Thanks for finding me and getting me here in time.”
Tyler stared into his eyes before he leaned in and kissed Ethan gently on the lips. “I would say any time, but I’d rather there not be a reason for me to take you to the hospital again.”
Ethan didn’t respond to that, “Do… do you mind holding me while I sleep?" he asked.
“No,” Tyler whispered, “I don’t mind; in fact, I insist.”
** ** ** ** **
Tyler positioned himself beside Ethan, trying not to touch his ribs. Ethan burrowed down onto his shoulder, closing his eyes and taking a deep calming breath. He was secretly happy that he was not alone and that Tyler was there with him.
“You know,” Tyler murmured. “I thought you would have been gone by the time I returned.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, “I thought about it,” he admitted. “But if I did that it would prove to Sean that I was afraid of him, and he won whatever war he thinks is going on between us.”
“Ethan, I didn’t ask the doctor but did he…” He knew what
Tyler was asking.
“No,” he assured him. “The only thing he did was beat me to a bloody pulp and leave me there to die.” Tyler breathed a sigh of relief. Ethan was also relieved that nothing else happened while he was unconscious. He still didn’t feel safe returning to his house and wasn’t sure where he was going to stay when he got out of the hospital.
As if knowing what he was thinking. “I want you to come and stay with me when you get out of the hospital,” Tyler told him. “I have more than enough room.” Ethan nodded his head. No use fighting it. He was grateful for the help; he also hoped that Tyler was doing it more out of friendship than pity.
** ** ** ** **
A couple of days later, Tyler was able to take Ethan home, well to his home. While he was in the hospital, Tyler went about his day like normal or he tried to anyway, and visited Ethan at night. He also went and got a few essentials from Ethan’s home and made sure the clean-up crew did a thorough job cleaning up the blood spots. The need to investigate and look around the other man’s home, ate at Tyler but he refrained, not wanting to invade Ethan’s personal space and break what trust they had.
He knew he must have been acting completely out of character if Lucas mentioned how distracted he’d been recently. To deflect the conversation away from his personal issues, Tyler told his twin about them becoming uncles. Lucas was ecstatic, but wanted to know everything about the guy that had gotten their brother pregnant. It never failed to amaze him how remarkable his big brother was. Lucas was the type of brother that would defend you in public even if he knew you were wrong. Tyler hoped that the person Lucas found to spend his life with would realize what a great guy he truly was.
Tyler watched Ethan look around his home in fascination. A few years before Tyler had bought and restored an old firehouse that was no longer in use. It was love at first sight and it brought out the historian in him. The main living area was open and bright, with old-fashioned firehouse windows.
“You keep surprising me, Mr. Hamilton,” Ethan told him, ambling over to the fire pole still stationed in the middle of the room.
“I’m not sure what you mean?” Tyler placed Ethan’s bag at the door, folding his arms across his chest.
Ethan shrugged his shoulders slightly. “I don’t know. Every time I think I have you all figured out, you show me a different side of yourself.”
They stood there staring at each other. It angered Tyler that Chance hadn't yet been able to find any information about the person that hurt Ethan. But at least the swelling on the side of Ethan’s face had gone down and was healing nicely.
Tyler was happy to have Ethan staying in his home. For some reason, Tyler wanted to show it off and point out all the historical values he kept. Tyler wanted the firehouse to be modern but still maintain most of its originality, like the vaulted ceiling and the hardwood floors. For the exterior, he had had the fire red paint stripped down to the original brick facing. The firehouse, as he and everyone in his family called it, was his pride and joy.
Ethan cleared his throat and darted his eyes away from him. “Can you show me to my room. I’m feeling a bit tired.”
Nodding his head, Tyler picked up Ethan’s bag and walked up the stairs leading to the guest bedroom. Lucas had his own bedroom, he used whenever he ended up staying over, which was adjacent to his. Tyler had his own bathroom so Ethan would have to use the one located at the end of the hallway.
While they walked down the hall, he pointed out the other rooms; his office, the gym, and the library, which also doubled as an entertainment room. Tyler wanted Ethan to feel comfortable in his home and welcome to everything in it. He opened the door to what would be Ethan's room and let him walk in first. He stood at the threshold and handed Ethan his bag.
“I promise not to crowd you while I'm here. I just need a couple of days to get my head on straight, then I should be out of your hair.”
Tyler brushed him off. “There's no rush. Take as much time as you need.”
They stared at each other again. Tyler felt the air charge between them and hoped that he was not the only one that felt it. Ethan had been through something traumatic, and he did not want his kindness to be mistaken for something different. Ethan took his bag from Tyler, putting it on the bed, before stepping into Tyler’s personal space, reaching up and pressed their lips together. Before he could open his mouth and deepen the kiss, Ethan pulled back and walked back into his room. He closed the door, but not before Tyler heard a whispered, “thank you.”
He stood there staring at the closed door before whispering, “you're welcome.” He began to walk down the hallway and down the stairs, heading to his kitchen when his phone rang. “Tell me you have something,” he said by way of answering.
“Like I said a couple of days ago, unless the Sean Pearson you're looking for died six years ago or is the fifty-three-year-old married man that lives in Tampa, Florida, I have nothing. I need more information on the person you want me to find.”
“Fuck,” Tyler silently cursed. It seemed he would need to let Ethan know he'd been looking into his ex’s background and ask the questions he promised not to ask.
“You know I'm dying to ask what the fuck is going on,” Chance said, breaking into his thoughts.
“Yeah, well I'm not going to tell you,” he grumbled. “Look, let me see what else I can find out and get back to you.”
“Alright, I'll keep searching for something more on my end and get back to you if I find anything that can be useful.”
“Thanks, Chance.” They ended their conversation and Tyler pocketed his phone. He opened his refrigerator and pulled out the steaks he had marinating and lost himself in making dinner for him and Ethan.
I hope he finds something soon.
** ** ** ** **
It was a couple of weeks later, and Ethan woke to the sound of his phone ringing. Groggy, he reached for it without looking at the screen.
“Hello.”
“Ethan dear, did I wake you?” his mother said on the other end.
“Calling me twice in the same month, Mother. I'm starting to wonder if you're sick or dying.” Ethan said ignoring her question.
“Would you care if I was?” she asked.
“And fishing for compliments. If you need something, just ask, don't pretend you like me,” Ethan told her.
She huffed, and Ethan could picture the ugly scowl on her otherwise beautiful face. “You are my son, why wouldn’t I want to talk with you?” she said. “I realize in the past we've not always gotten along, and I want to change that.”
“You finally decided that you want to be a mother? A bit late for that, don’t you think?” The sarcasm evident in his tone. Ethan didn’t believe her for a minute. “Just tell me how much you need and I will have the bank wire the amount.”
“Why must you be so difficult?”
Ethan was tired and his head hurt. He was not in the mood to deal with his mother. He rolled over on his back and snuggled deep into the bed that made him feel like he was on cloud nine. “I'm not trying to be difficult; this is how I've always been. It's how we’ve always been.”
“And that is what I would like to change between us.” She used a tone he'd never heard before. It was soft and gentle and was supposed to make him feel guilty for the way he spoke to her.
“Laying it on a bit thick aren't you, mother dearest?” he asked skeptically.
She sighed before speaking. “Have I been such a terrible mother to you, Ethan?”
“Do you want me to answer that truthfully or would you rather I lie to you? You know what, Simone, call Gary and give him the amount you need. I will sign the papers.” He didn't wait for her response and hung up the phone. Dealing with his mother always took so much out of him. He wondered if he was a bit too harsh. That was the first time she'd called him twice in less than a month, no make that a year. Despite their unpleasant relationship, he cared for her and hoped nothing was wrong.
He didn’t want to live with the regret of
hating her if something were to happen to her. He had other things to worry about, like bucking up the nerve to go downstairs and face Tyler.
Ethan knew that Tyler was home because he could hear the pots banging around downstairs. Ethan was surprised to see that Tyler lived in a renovated firehouse; it was lovely and definitely spacious, and he certainly had not felt crowded in any way. He chuckled and wondered if the reason Tyler bought the vacated firehouse was because he had a fireman fetish.
“Fucking hell, what am I doing here? I should have gone home,” Ethan said out loud to the empty room.
Tyler had only asked him to stay with him because he was worried about him. Ethan appreciated everything that was done for him so far. He has been able to move around better in the short time since leaving the hospital, but Ethan felt as if he was using Tyler.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts; he got up from the bed, grabbing his robe and tying it as he went, and opened the door. Tyler stood on the other side, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and bare feet; his hair was a mess, and Ethan thought he looked utterly sexy and comfortable.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Tyler stepped close to him and lifted his chin, studying Ethan's face. “How are you feeling?”
He stared up into Tyler's face. “Other than a headache, I feel fine.” It was the truth, his ribs hurt less and his skin no longer looked red and angry.
Ethan watched as Tyler's eyes darted to his lips while he spoke. “Are you hungry? I made some broth, and grilled steaks and potatoes.” Before he could answer, Ethan's stomach growled angrily, answering for him. That made them both chuckle. In the past couple of weeks, the only thing he was able to keep down was broth. Again, Ethan felt a small bit of guilt that he was using Tyler. He was doing everything for him, from cooking to making sure he iced his ribs whenever possible, he did everything but give him a sponge bath.
Not that I would have minded.
Ethan didn’t comment on the fact that Tyler was also working from home just to take care of him. Tyler stepped back, letting go of his face and Ethan immediately missed the warmth of his hands but kept that thought to himself. Other than caring for him, that was the first time Tyler had touched him in an intimate way since he had moved into his home.
Loving You: Mpreg Romance (My One-Night Stand Series Book 2) Page 10
