by C J Baty
He used that same soft, soothing voice he had used when Damien was having the panic attack. That would not happen this time. Damien didn't feel like he was having a panic attack. He was too numb for that.
"It feels surreal," Damien said to Robert. "Like a dream. I keep thinking I will wake up and find this has all been a nightmare."
Leaning against the bedroom wall, Damien stared up at the ceiling. The only time in his life he had ever felt that he wasn't in control was when Carter had held him captive in that damned basement. That was how he felt now.
Like someone else was in control. First those fucking text messages, now this. Someone was playing with him, and he didn't like it one damned bit.
"I'll call the police," Robert said, and stood. He offered his hand to Damien.
"No," Damien said, standing by himself. "We need to call Marcus and let him know what's going on. I need to find clothes that weren't destroyed. Then I will lock the door and leave. There'll be time enough later on to clean this up."
"I don't think that's the best idea. We should call the police. Then, we must find a place to stay tonight," Robert said.
"We?" Damien asked.
"Yes, we. I'm not leaving you alone," Robert answered, then walked down the hall, back to the destroyed living room. "You're stuck with me until I get you back to The Warfield."
With that said, Robert took out his phone, and Damien heard him when he had Marcus on the line. Damien listened while he picked up undamaged clothes and shoved them into a bag he found at the back of his closet. When he returned to the living room, Robert was waiting for him with his hand outstretched and the phone in it.
"He wants to talk to you."
Damien took the phone and dropped his bag to the floor. Marcus's voice on the other end was filled with concern.
"Are you all right? Robert says, your place has been destroyed."
"I'm as all right as I will be until this nightmare is over," Damien answered; even he could hear the shakiness in his voice.
"I don't think it was Winehouse, but I won't know for sure until I can talk to him. Which won't be until tomorrow sometime?"
"Why tomorrow?"
"They won't let him out of the hospital until then. He ended up getting into a fight the night he was spewing off about you. The other guy knocked him out cold. He's got a couple stitches and has a slight concussion. They're keeping him for observation."
Damien thought about that, and then asked, "So, he couldn't be the one who broke into my apartment?"
"I didn't say that. There's no way to know how long ago the break in occurred. I'll call Donohue at the precinct and get him to send someone over.
We'll know more after the police get there. Is there anything missing that you noticed?"
"No, I don't think so. It's kind of hard to tell with all the damage," Damien said as he looked around the room. "I agree with Robert. It's more like someone did this for meanness, not anything to do with a robbery."
"I'm glad Robert is there with you."
Damien didn't want to admit it, but he was glad too.
"I'm going to the office and then we'll find a place for the night. Unless I need to stay in Atlanta for work, I will head back to The Warfield. I sure can't stay here right now, and I don't want to be here if whoever did this comes back."
Marcus said good bye and Damien returned the phone to Robert. He picked up his bag and placed it by the front door, turning to find that Robert had found the bottles of beer from the fridge. Robert brought them over and handed one to Damien. They walked to the sliding glass doors and stepped out onto the balcony to wait for the police to arrive.
The air felt like a blast in the face from a freezer. At this elevation, there was a slight mist in the air compared to what they would feel on the ground.
Damien watched as Robert propped his elbows on the railing and took a drink from the bottle. He stared at the way Robert's throat worked as he swallowed the brew. It mesmerized him. He admitted to himself, he was glad Robert was there. The more time they spent together, the more the silences felt comfortable between them and gave him a sense of peace. Damien didn't want to fight with Robert anymore. He needed a friend right now—
someone outside his circle who didn't feel sorry for him or want to smother him with help. A person who was trustworthy and dependable. Robert seemed like that kind of person, no matter what Damien had thought in the beginning.
Robert chuckled.
"Something funny?"
"Sort of," Robert said, turning to rest his ass on the railing and look at Damien. "I was just remembering the time the hotel was bombed and I had to carry your ass out after I smashed the sliding glass door in your room. It felt like that ladder was this high in the air, but The Warfield only has three floors."
"And you think that's funny?" Damien smirked.
"Not funny ha ha, but it seems strange that here we are on another balcony, with a destroyed room on the other side of a glass door. It's kind of ironic, don't you think?" Robert took another drink from his bottle.
Damien wasn't sure what to think. Before he could say anything else, they heard the police pounding on the apartment door. Damien went to let them in, and Robert stayed behind on the balcony.
It was several hours later before the police finished with the apartment.
Damien knew a few of them by name. One, Tom Culliver, he'd even slept with in the past. Tom was a good-looking guy with wide shoulders and a slim waist. He kept his hair short because of the mass of red curls it hid.
Compared to Robert, he wasn't all that huge, but then few men had Robert's build.
Damien answered all the questions they threw at him and eventually they had the information they needed. In the bedroom, they found a few drops of blood on pieces of broken glass from the smashed pictures. They were taking it back for the forensic department to run a check on. Tom said, they'd let him know as soon as possible if they could trace the donor. The
strangest thing was, they couldn't find any prints. Or, at least, no legible ones. They found two smudged fingerprints on the bedside table.
Tom was the last police officer to leave the apartment. He told Damien to call him if he needed anything and to call an emergency locksmith to get the door fixed. After Tom left, and Damien closed the door, he turned to see Robert staring at him. He had a scowl on his face. He appeared upset about something.
"You don't need to call him. I'm not going to leave you alone for one minute,"
Robert said his voice gravely.
Damien smiled to himself. Could Robert Wyler be jealous? It sure seemed that way. Oh god, he could have fun with this. Damien walked toward Robert, twisting his hips just a little as he went. He rubbed his hand up Robert's arm and batted his eyelashes at him. Robert looked startled and took a half-step back.
"Now, why would I want to call on the police when I have my own private bodyguard?" Seductively, Damien smiled at Robert.
Robert didn't say a word, didn't move. He just stared at Damien like he had three heads. Suddenly, he scowled, pushed Damien's hand away and moved past him.
"Not funny, Damien. I'm hungry. Let's go find something to eat." He was out the door without looking back.
Laughter bubbled up and fell from Damien's lips. This kind of laughter felt good. The look on Robert's face had been the funniest thing he'd seen in ages. He had scared the shit out of him. This would be a good night.
Robert waited in the hall for the locksmith to show up. Damien didn't mind the interruption of his play time. The night was still young, and teasing Robert Wyler turned out to be something Damien enjoyed.
Chapter Six
He was going to kill the man in his sleep. No one would blame him. Damien had been flirting and poking fun at him all evening. First, the idiot had recommended a restaurant one block from his apartment. The place served sushi, squid and tofu. Robert couldn't eat that shit. He needed meat, protein.
Damien didn't stop teasing him about that until they found
a burger joint two blocks farther down the street. Though he complained the whole time Robert was ordering, Damien at least found a salad that he liked and finally shut up when the food arrived.
Robert knew that there were times when they shared this sort of companionable silence, and he liked those... a lot. But when Damien was like this, he didn't like him quite so much. How could someone have two such different personalities? Robert wondered if it was all some sort of act. A face to hide behind.
His phone rang, and he smiled when he saw the caller ID: Krystal.
"Hey boss, where the hell did you disappear to?" she asked, laughter in her voice.
"None of your business," Robert said. "Justin told you, didn't he?"
Krystal's laughter was contagious. He loved that about her.
"Yep. Are you having fun with that guy that's so totally not your type?"
"Bitch," Robert said lovingly.
"You bet your life!" She didn't laugh this time. There was a hint of worry in her voice when she continued. "I don't understand what's going on... but be careful."
Robert's heart warmed; she was a good friend. "I will. See you in a day or two. I'm depending on you to hold down the fort."
"Yes, sir, boss."
The line went silent and Robert smiled, until he looked up into the very sexy, curious eyes of Damien Fitzgerald.
Robert had had about as much as he could stand for one day. When they reached the Atlanta Herald building, Robert sat in the lobby while Damien went to his office and spoke with his assistant. While he waited, he called a hotel nearby and made a reservation for the night—one room, but definitely two beds. No way was he going to let Damien out of his sight, but two beds guaranteed the flirting and teasing wouldn't go any further. Robert was pretty sure Damien wouldn't continue with those close proximities. He also called Marcus. He needed to let them know their plans. The phone rang twice. Marcus picked up.
"Hey, Robert." Marcus chuckled. "How's it going with your charge?"
"He's a pain, but then you already knew that."
"That's true, but if there's anyone who can handle him, it's you."
"Stop kissing my ass. What's going on with him, anyway?"
"He hasn't told you anything?"
"No. I think I have a right to know, considering what I'm dealing with here."
Robert didn't understand why there was so much secrecy.
Robert could hear Marcus moving about and whispering to someone else, probably Justin. Then, he came back on the line.
"Sorry, I needed to move to where I wouldn't be overheard," Marcus said.
"Someone, and we don't know who it is yet, has been threatening Damien.
He's been getting text messages that are becoming increasingly alarming.
Now, someone has broken into his apartment and ransacked it, which you saw for yourself. Tom Culliver called to let me know that the police don't believe it was theft-motivated."
"I could have told you that," Robert stated. He chewed on his lower lip as he continued to listen to Marcus.
"I don't like it one bit. Whoever this is has another motive for trying to scare Damien."
"So, you don't think it's someone who gets his jollies by frightening him? You and I both know that isn't going to work. Damien isn't the type to succumb to these types of games." Robert would never believe that for a minute.
"I think this person is dead serious," Marcus said coldly.
Robert froze. "You think...."
"Yes, I do. Don't leave him alone for a moment until you get him back to The Warfield, and then we're going to move him."
"Move him where?" Robert asked.
"I'm not sure. Remind him not to tell anyone where he is, and I mean NO
one," Marcus said. "We can't trust anyone else but Justin, me and you."
Robert agreed, and hung up as Damien came out of the office with his assistant. Tony couldn't have been more than twenty-five if he was a day. His hair was dyed that unnatural color of blue-black that made him look pale and washed out. He wore eyeliner too. And those eyes were looking at Damien with adoration. Tony had a crush on his boss; it was as plain as day.
"Do not scare me like that again, Damien," he said as he held onto Damien's arm.
Damien didn't seem to notice, but Robert sure did. He felt the heat flash under his skin. It sort of stung, like an aggravating bee sting. Surely Damien had better taste than to sleep with someone so young, or someone who worked for him. That was asking for trouble. Robert huffed out a breath.
"Now, where will you be if I need to get in touch with you?" Tony asked as he gripped Damien's arm a little tighter.
Robert reacted without thinking. "He'll be with me."
"Robert!"
He grabbed Damien's other arm and pulled him through the lobby doors and down the hall to the elevator. Tony didn't follow. Maybe the boy was smarter than he looked.
After the elevator door slid shut, Damien yanked his arm away from Robert and barked at him. "What the hell was that all about?"
Robert shrugged as he pushed the first floor button. "Marcus said you weren't to tell anyone where you were going. I was just following orders."
"Orders?" Damien was fuming. As long as Damien was angry, Robert had the upper hand, and that's the way he wanted it.
"Yes."
Damien crossed his arms, his face flushed, red and turned his back on Robert. It hurt, but Robert could live with hurt. What he couldn't live with was if something happened to Damien on his watch.
Robert drove across town to the Hilton out by the airport. He'd made the reservation earlier and already had it paid. He confirmed with the desk clerk that they had one room, two beds and grabbed the room keys before Damien opened his mouth. Damien wasn't going to like it but they were going to share a room. After talking to Marcus, there was no way he was going to let them be separated.
Damien was fuming as he stepped away from the desk and headed to the elevator across the lobby. He didn't say a word until the elevator doors closed behind them. Robert had barely pushed the button for the fifth floor when Damien let angry words rush out of his mouth.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Damien's face was flushed a bright pink and his eyes flashed with anger.
"I'm trying to keep you safe, whether you like it or not." Robert tried, but he couldn't keep the edge out of his voice. He wanted to stay calm, however it just wasn't happening.
"I don't care what you're trying to do. The two of us sharing a room is not going to happen, Robert."
"We're only sharing a room, Damien. We aren't sharing a bed or anything else. We can, and will, do this. It's only for one night. Tomorrow morning, we'll head back to Beaufort." Robert finished as the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
Damien was still fuming, and he didn't stop cursing under his breath all the way down the hall to their room. Robert used the electronic key to unlock the door and opened it for Damien. That made him growl even louder as he pushed past Robert into the room. Damien threw one of his bags down on the bed closest to the window. He carried the other one with him as he slammed the bathroom door shut. Robert heard the distinct click of the lock seconds later.
Suddenly, Robert felt as if he had been running on a treadmill for days.
Fatigue overwhelmed him. All he wanted was something to eat, a drink, a shower and some sleep. The sound of the shower running filled the room.
Good. That meant he had a few moments to give Marcus a call and update
him, and then order some food. He picked up the room service menu as he punched in Marcus's number.
"You did the right thing. I'm sure he wasn't thrilled, but after what happened at his apartment, we need to be more cautious." Marcus said he'd let Justin know they would be back around noon tomorrow and hung up.
Robert had no idea what Damien might want to eat. The menu wasn't exactly set up with Damien's tastes in mind. He saw what he wanted, dialed the room service number and placed his order. At the last second, he ma
de a change and hung up the phone. It was going to be an hour before the food was delivered. He hoped Damien would be out of the bathroom soon. Robert kicked off his shoes and fluffed the pillows on the bed closest to the door.
Turning on the television, he relaxed and listened for the shower to shut off.
A knock at the door woke Robert with a start. He looked around the room and saw Damien sitting in a chair by the window, his computer in his lap.
Since his back was to Robert, he figured Damien was still pouting.
"I'll get it," he said as he set his feet on the floor. "Don't bother to get up."
Damien was silent.
Robert checked through the security window and saw the steward with his food. Opening the door, the scents of pepperoni, basil and tomatoes assaulted him. He hadn't realized how hungry he had been. The steward rolled in a cart carrying the pizza, a six pack of beer and a bottle of Cabernet. Robert gave the man a tip, then closed and locked the door behind him.
Damien lifted his slender and slightly pointed nose in the air and sniffed. He still didn't say a word. Robert rolled the cart over to the table where Damien was sitting. There wasn't much of a view at this height, and the lights from the surrounding buildings blocked the stars. Lifting the lid from the pizza platter filled the room with even more of its delicious aroma. Damien finally turned to see what Robert was doing.
"It figures." Damien huffed and returned to his computer.
"I was hungry," Robert said, then cleared his throat. "I thought you liked red, so I ordered you a bottle."
Damien couldn't hide the surprise on his face. He retrieved the bottle from the cart staring at it. He said, "It's not a bad brand. Not a great one, but not bad. Thank you."
"You might want to take a glance at the pizza too. I ordered half for you... in case you were hungry as well."
Damien looked over at the platter. Robert had one half of the pizza loaded down with meats and cheeses, but the other half was filled with veggies, goat cheese and a white garlic sauce.
Damien gasped. "Why would you do that?" He looked up into Robert's eyes.
Confusion filled his own. "I've been a bitch to you all day long."