by Trina Lane
“I think if you try real hard you can figure it out. Use that brilliant deductive brain of yours, unless of course Huang’s little beat down did permanent damage. I heard you got quite a bump on the head.”
“You’re talking about the Yeung case.”
“Very good. You boys did figure it out. By the way, have a good night, Agent Ashton.”
The caller hung up, and Ethan looked over to see Ryan speaking into his phone, asking whoever was on the other line if they’d gotten the trace.
“What do you mean you couldn’t triangulate it? He kept the fucker on the line for over two minutes,” Ryan yelled.
Ethan collapsed into his chair and tilted his head back. His throat convulsed trying to suck in oxygen. His heart felt as if it were going to explode, and he rubbed his chest.
Ryan saw Ethan’s distress and hung up on the lab tech in the middle of her sentence. He pushed Ethan’s head between his legs and rubbed his back. “Breathe baby. In and out, nice and slow.” After a minute or so, he noticed some of the tension melt away and lifted Ethan out of the chair. Ryan cradled Ethan in his lap and held him when the shivers started. “It’s going to be okay, E. I promise you; nobody will touch you. I’ll duct tape myself to your ass if need be.”
Ethan couldn’t help it. The image that popped into his mind made him laugh. “Duct tape, huh? That could be fun. Although when it comes time to take it off, that might not be so enjoyable. How about if we use silk ties instead?”
“I can do silk ties.” Ryan lifted Ethan’s head. Holding him by the chin, he kissed him. “Silk ties are a definite possibility. I can picture you spread out and tied to our bed. Me torturing your body in delicious ways.”
“Take me home, Ry. I don’t want to be here anymore.”
* * * *
Moonlight shown through the arched window in their bedroom. Ryan had loved Ethan into unconsciousness and, now, lay watching him sleep. The deep even breaths indicated that Ethan slept soundly. Slowly, Ryan scooted out of bed and went out into the kitchen.
Taking a glass out of the cabinet, he filled it with water from the fridge. Now, that Ethan was settled, Ryan couldn’t stop his mind from turning the event in the office earlier over and over. The sound of the voice on the other end of the line was something Ryan would never forget. The terror he’d seen in Ethan’s eyes haunted him. Despite being scared, Ethan had kept it together. He’d forced the caller to talk as long as possible, aiding Ryan’s team in trying to locate where the signal was coming from. Unfortunately, the lab had determined it was a scrambled cell phone that bounced off multiple towers in the downtown area.
He took his glass of water and walked over to one of the large arched windows on the opposite side of the living area. The wall was sixty feet in length. They had an expansive view of the streets around their building. Was the caller or his cronies out there? Where were they? Did they lie in wait right outside? Was that car parked down the street housing a surveillance crew? It was obvious from the caller’s last comment that they’d known he was there. He gave credit where it was due. These boys meant business. He’d requested a protection detail be placed on Ethan but had not heard anything yet.
A shout came from the bedroom, and Ryan spun around. Running into their room, he saw Ethan thrashing around on the bed as if he were fighting someone. Ryan set the glass on the side table and placed his hand on Ethan’s shoulder to shake him.
“Wake up, E. It’s a dream. Let it go, baby. I’ve got you.”
Ethan didn’t wake. He continued to fight, crying out. The terror-filled sounds ripped Ryan’s heart in two. He scooped Ethan up and pulled him into his chest, rocking back and forth.
“Come on, love. Open you eyes. Please, E…please, wake up.”
Abruptly arms encircled him and squeezed tight. He heard Ethan crying and felt the tears wet his bare chest. These were the first real tears since the attack, and Ryan let them come. He knew Ethan needed to release the fear and pain he’d held inside. Ethan had seemingly handled the attack well, too well in Ryan’s opinion. It had only been a matter of time before the dam finally burst. It seemed that tonight’s phone call had managed to shatter the protective shell Ethan had built around himself.
When the tears slowed, Ryan adjusted their positions so they could lie side by side. He smoothed back the strands of hair that had fallen into Ethan’s eyes. “That was the first one since you initially came home.”
“Yeah. I guess the phone call triggered it.”
“Same dream?”
“Same, but different. More. More details, more feeling.” Ethan pulled back and looked into Ryan’s face. “I think the man who called was one of the other attackers. I didn’t realise it during the call, but in my dream, the voice sounded the same. I don’t know…”
“E, I have to ask. Are you sure you want to continue? I’m sure Tom could assign the case―”
“No! I have to see this through. It has to be me. I won’t let them win, Ry. I can’t let them win. If I back down―”
“Okay, love, okay. I had to ask.”
“I know, and I love you for worrying. I trust you to protect me. We’re partners, yeah? Both here and out there. You found this guy, you headed the investigation, you brought it to me and I’m going to put him away.”
Ryan gathered Ethan close, closed his eyes and prayed everything would work out. He prayed he would be able to protect the man he loved and that together they would see this through to the end.
* * * *
“Can you tell me, Special Agent Ashton, how you first received the tip which led to the investigation of Luke Yeung?” Ethan stood with his arms at his sides in front of the prosecuting attorney’s table in the courtroom and looked at Ryan sitting on the witness stand.
“We received a phone call from an employee of Amerisystems stating he suspected Mr. Yeung of selling classified information.”
“Did you meet with this employee?”
“Yes.”
“What happened next?”
“We found the employee’s information to be credible then opened the investigation.”
“Exactly what information did you uncover during the course of the investigation?”
“We subpoenaed Mr. Yeung’s personal computer and located several emails exchanged between him and the CEO of Losung. The emails contained specific information regarding the design of an environmental monitoring prototype that Amerisystems has been developing for the last five years.”
“And why is it that your particular department at the FBI got involved?”
“Our sole focus is to uncover and investigate crimes of economic espionage.”
“Specifically, why did a federal investigation occur?”
“In the course of the investigation, we determined that Losung is actually a company funded solely by the Peoples Republic of China. Mr. Yeung was essentially selling a device developed by a United States company to a foreign government.”
“Thank you, Agent Ashton. That’s all I have for now.” He moved to sit behind the table and looked over at the defence attorney who was about to cross-examine Ryan.
Ethan’s gaze locked with Yeung. The man’s dark eyes were flat and cold. A chill raced through Ethan’s blood, but he refused to show an outward manifestation.
The attorney flipped through pages of notes for several seconds, stalling for effect.
Ethan looked at Ryan sitting calmly waiting for the questions. His love showed no sense of nervousness. His answers had been concise and confident.
“Special Agent Ashton, is it true that you have a personal relationship with my opposing counsel, Mr. Harrison?”
“Objection, your honour. Relevance?” Ethan called out.
Judge Stevenson expelled a loud breath. “Is there a point to this line of questioning, Mr. Paige?”
“Yes, your honour. If Mr. Harrison and Agent Ashton have a personal relationship then certain elements of the case may be called into question due to conflict of interest.”
“Yes, I do.”
“What is that relationship?”
“He’s my husband.”
There were a few twitters in the gallery, but for the most part, everyone remained silent.
“I see. When did this relationship begin?”
“I first met Ethan the day my department turned over the completed investigation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“When the charges were initially brought against my client?”
“Yes.”
“That was last November, a mere seven months ago. You did not know Mr. Harrison before that?”
“Objection, witness already answered the question,” Ethan interrupted.
“Sustained. Mr. Paige, I’m still waiting.”
“Yes, your honour. Bear with me for just a minute.” Paige strode forward and leaned against the railing of the witness stand, getting right up in Ryan’s face. “Is it true that you suspect Mr. Yeung behind the assault of Mr. Harrison last January? Do you in fact have a personal vendetta against my client, and in so presented my opposing counsel with evidence against my client supported only by conjecture?”
Ethan stood abruptly. “Objection! Counsel is not only leading the witness but badgering him.”
“Sustained. Mr. Paige, you will cease this line of questioning immediately. That information will be stricken from the record. Jury, you are to dismiss Mr. Paige’s attack on the witness.”
* * * *
Ethan sat heavily in his chair at the now familiar prosecution table. For the past month, witnesses had been called and examined, cross-examined and re-examined on both sides. His closing arguments had laid out the timeline and intent of Yeung to deprive the American people of badly needed resources by selling the design of the prototype to the Chinese for a quick payoff, knowing of their plans to manufacture the device at discount prices.
Throughout the entire trial, Ryan had stood beside him. Ethan had received a few more threatening phone calls, but no direct contact had been made. He had a protection detail assigned to him any time he left home or the court complex. As promised, Ryan wasn’t taking any chances.
Ethan looked over at Tom. “So today’s the day? I have to say I’ll be glad when this is all over.”
“Me, too,” Tom replied. “We should have this thing tied up. There really was no question of his intent.”
“True, but when you put the decision in the hands of twelve strangers, you never can truly predict what will happen.”
“Such is the life of a litigator. How’s Ryan? Does he plan on being here today?”
“I received a text message from him a little while ago saying he was heading over here. I called him as soon as we got notification that the jury had reached their decision.”
Ethan saw the bailiff enter the courtroom and sat up higher in his chair. His heart did a little stutter. This was it. It was time to hear if all his hard work had paid off. If they received the right judgement then Yeung would go away for a long time.
He didn’t know how long it would take for him to feel completely safe again. Despite being thirty-six years old and sometimes prosecuting people that had done things that shocked his sense of humanity, he’d tried to maintain his optimism in his fellow man. Over the last six months, his perception of the world had forever changed. He looked over his shoulder more, he wasn’t so quick to believe the best of everyone and he frequently found himself questioning the truth of someone’s statement. In a lot of ways, he missed his old self, but good things had happened, too.
He’d found a man he loved more every single day. A man he trusted to the deepest part of his soul. A man who made him laugh and encouraged him to have fun. A man who had taught him to build a sandcastle, played a mean Rock Band and dictated no-work Sundays. A man who made Ethan’s body burn with need and quenched his desire with more pleasure than he’d ever imagined possible. A man who had given him a family.
“All rise,” the bailiff announced.
Ethan’s eyes tracked Judge Stevenson from the back chambers to the bench. The jury was called in and the defendant asked to rise.
“In the matter of United States of America versus Luke Yeung, how does the jury find?”
“We find the defendant guilty.”
Epilogue
Ethan and Ryan carried their camp chairs to meet ‘the gang’ as they’d started calling them—Rick, Conor, Calleigh, Mike, Brandon, and baby Allanah. They’d scouted this perfect spot overlooking the Charles River to watch the Fourth of July fireworks earlier in the week. As they neared the group, he heard the boys giggling and saw them running in circles around the adults. Rick snatched one of them and Conor the other. The two fathers threw the little boys onto the huge blanket and tickled them. Shrieks of childish laughter filled the air.
“Hey, guys,” Calleigh said, adjusting the blanket covering her daughter as she nursed.
“Hi.” Ethan set down his chair and looked at the two three year olds. “You guys ready for the fireworks?”
Twin heads bobbed in unison, and they each ran to jump into his and Ryan’s laps. He thought he had Brandon but wasn’t quite sure.
“How’s married life?” Conor asked.
Ethan and Ryan had legally gotten married a month after returning from the cape. It had been a small civil ceremony in the backyard of a bed and breakfast owned and run by another gay couple. The beautiful, cosy house was Italianate with some Greek revival elements. It had been perfect for the intimate celebration. They’d basically taken over the place for the weekend. Ryan’s family had driven down, and the gang had all stayed there. The ceremony and reception were held in the beautiful gardens behind the house.
“It’s great. How’s new fatherhood?”
Calleigh lifted aside the blanket and handed baby Allanah to Conor. Conor brought her up to his chest and patted her back, trying to get her to burp. The tiny body was completely at ease in her father’s arms.
“Canny be happier,” he said.
“So Ethan, everything settled with the case? Sentencing went according to plan?”
“Yep. Yeung got thirty years in prison without parole.”
“So what’s next for you guys?” Calleigh asked.
“We’re taking a vacation,” Ryan said.
Rick looked at Ryan and Ethan holding hands. “Oh yeah? Where to? Mexico? The Caribbean? Europe?”
“Actually, we’ve both always wanted to see New Zealand. There are a ton of gay friendly places to stay at on both the north and south islands. We plan on taking two weeks to do a complete tour.”
“I hope ye stay easy. Ye deserve a holiday,” Conor said.
When the sky settled into complete darkness, Ethan got out of his chair and sat on the ground between Ryan’s legs. His husband’s larger body surrounded him, and they looked up. Ethan heard the first pop, and seconds, later the sky erupted in a brilliant display. The river shimmered with colours, and music from some band playing in the distance could be heard over the explosions. It was a perfect moment. For the first time in months, he felt at peace.
Ryan kissed Ethan’s neck. “Love you, E, so much.”
“Love you, Ry.”
He tilted his head back, accepting Ryan’s kiss. Their lips lingered against one another as the fireworks continued. The flashes of light caused Ryan’s grey-blue eyes to shine. Once again, Ethan counted his blessings. Their life was just beginning, and years from now, he wanted to be doing this very thing with his husband. Living, laughing and loving his perfect partner.
CAPTURING PERFECTION
Book three in the
Perfect Love series
Two men united by a bond neither time nor trauma could break now seek to capture the love that beats within their hearts.
Clayton Phillips and Logan Callen found each other at the tender age of thirteen. The two foster brothers quickly b
ecame inseparable, relying on each other for support to move beyond their troubled pasts. However, one whispered confession changed the course of their lives. Now sixteen years later the two men are together again, but the reunion is far from sweet.
Logan, an Army Ranger veteran, is trying to heal from both the emotional and physical trauma he endured while deployed in Afghanistan. Clay, a Boston Police Detective, is determined to rebuild their once close bond. Both men have withheld a secret from each other. Both men are in love—with each other. Can they work together to overcome their pasts and build a future together, or is it too late?
Dedication
This book is dedicated to anyone who has ever fought against personal demons. For those of you who survived to be stronger, I applaud you.
For any of your loved ones who lost their fight with either emotional or physical disease I send a prayer that they have now found peace.
I’d also like to send a special dedication to Patric.
Your light will always shine bright in my heart, bluestar.
Trademark Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Dodge Charger: Chrysler Corporation
Dodge Challenger: Chrysler Corporation
MacBook: Apple Inc.
Krispy Kreme: HDN Development Corporation
iTouch: Apple Inc
Post-it: 3M Company CORPORATION
Skype: Skype Limited Corporation
Ben and Jerry’s, Phish Food, Cherry Garcia: Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc
Bones: Fox Broadcasting Company
iTunes: Apply Inc.
House: Fox Broadcasting Company
Jack Daniels: Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc
Beretta M9A1: Beretta Holding Group
Jell-O: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
