by A M Snead
Bailey shoved through and hurried to them, dropping to his knees.
“Mickey!” Marcus cried. Gideon caught him and hugged him to his chest when he tried to run to his boyfriend.
“Wait, Marcus.” Gideon held onto him tight, eyes wide as he stared at his downed boy. “Bailey…?” he whispered fearfully. “Is he…”
“He’s breathing,” Bailey assured them all quickly as he checked his vitals.
Scotty worked his way into the room, shaking and crying. “Is he…is he okay?”
“Scotty…” Gideon stared at him, frightened and confused. “What the hell happened here? Who did this?”
“He-he was hurting him…I-I couldn’t stop him…” He shook his head, eyes frantic as he searched the room.
Jack glanced uncertainly at Garrett who backed off to give Bailey room.
“He who?” Gideon pressed. “Why would anyone want to hurt Mickey?” Gideon passed Marcus to Jack who wrapped the boy in his arms and hugged him tight. “Scotty? Tell me right now what the fuck is going on.”
Hugging himself, Scotty shook badly, sobs building as he stared at Mickey.
“Scotty!” Gideon shook him once to get his attention.
“M-Mickey saw us…in the woods…” he choked out abruptly. “He told…he told Mickey if he said anything he…he would…” His eyes darted to Marcus fearfully. “…he would hurt Marcus. Hurt him bad.”
Jack’s blood turned to ice and he instinctively held Marcus closer. All eyes but Bailey’s were on Scotty as some of the guys ventured deeper into the room. Lucas and Garrett approached, exchanging hard, troubled looks.
Gideon gripped Scotty’s shoulders. “Scotty, what the hell are you talking about? Who threatened Mickey?”
The boy’s stare shifted from one face to another and Jack could feel the fear wafting off him.
Garrett stepped close to Derek and spoke low. Nodding, Derek began to usher the other guys from the room then stepped out with them and closed the door. Some of the tension left Scotty but he was still trembling, reluctant to give a name.
Moving in next to Gideon, Garrett spoke to Scotty. “Did he threaten you, too?” he asked quietly, keeping his voice calm.
Scotty shuddered and nodded, fresh tears coursing down his cheeks.
“You can tell us, Scotty,” Garrett assured him. “We won’t let him hurt Marcus, or you, or Mickey…anymore.”
Scotty lowered his eyes and hugged himself tighter. “It…it was Pratt.”
Instant fear coiled in Jack’s stomach and knotted his insides. Pratt?
Gideon stared at him, wide-eyed and took a step back, releasing Scotty’s shoulders. “What?” he breathed.
“He’s waking up,” Bailey said, pulling all focus to Mickey. The boy stirred and coughed quietly. Bailey touched his arm. “Take it easy, babe,” he murmured. Mickey jerked away suddenly with a sharp gasp—as he’d done in the kitchen with Jack. “Whoa…easy…” Bailey gripped his arm gently. “It’s me, Bailey. You’re okay. Don’t try to move just yet.”
“What…” Mickey swallowed and winced in pain.
“Mickey…” Marcus choked on a sob and Jack loosened his arms, letting the boy go. He went to Mickey and sank down on the floor beside him. “Are...are you okay?”
Mickey sat up slowly as he rubbed his throat, his face wet with tears. He turned into Marcus’ embrace and trembled in his arms.
“Mickey…son…” Gideon walked over and lowered himself to his heels. His troubled eyes glanced back to Scotty briefly then focused on Mickey as the boy looked at him. “Did Pratt do this to you?”
Mickey stared at him, tears forming, shimmering.
“You’re safe now,” Gideon said quietly, emotion squeezing his voice. “You can tell us. Scotty said that it was Pratt—”
Mickey shook his head slowly.
“What?” Gideon frowned and cast an uncertain look at Scotty.
Jack glanced at Scotty who was staring at Mickey, confused. “I-I told them, Mickey. It’s…it’s okay.”
“Mickey,” Gideon said slowly. “Was it Pratt?”
Shaking his head, Mickey whispered, “No.” His tears thickened and ran down his face.
“Mickey…” Scotty trembled with a sob. “You can tell them.”
“Who did this to you, Mickey?” Gideon’s voice was unsteady with a dread that was seeping into Jack.
The boy raised his eyes and his lips trembled. “Scotty.”
♥
Scotty’s mind froze along with his body. He stared at Mickey, eyes wide. “Wh-what…w-why would you…” Tears rose and streaked fresh paths down his face. “Mickey…why…” Everyone was looking at him in shock. He shook his head and backed away. “No…no, I didn’t…I didn’t…” The room swam before him and panic squeezed his chest. “I-I wouldn’t hurt him…Mickey, why…why are you doing this? I didn’t do it!”
They don’t believe me. None of them. Scotty looked at Gideon, hoping to see something in his eyes that said he believed him, but the man just stared at him in despair.
“Scotty…” Gideon stood up slowly.
“I didn’t do it,” Scotty cried. His stare jumped to Mickey. “You…you know it was him. You saw him…out in the woods. Just tell them!” Scotty hugged himself and broke down. “Just…tell them…please. I didn’t do it…”
Mickey’s chin trembled, his eyes filling. “Scotty…there wasn’t anyone else out there with you.” His throat worked against a swell of sobs. “It-it was just you.”
“No…” Scotty choked and shook his head. “No! You’re lying! Why are you lying?”
“Scotty, I’m not lying,” Mickey cried softly. “I’m not.”
Scotty trembled as his eyes jumped between the men then locked on Marcus. “You saw him,” he muttered. “In the kitchen...you…you saw him with me.”
Marcus nodded, and Mickey drew him closer. “We saw Pratt coming onto you,” he whispered. “But that’s all, Scotty. He…he hits on a lot of the guys. But he’s never hurt or…or threatened anyone. It wasn’t him.”
Scotty’s face pinched and he ducked his head, backing further away. “No…” he whimpered. “I wouldn’t hurt you, Mickey…I wouldn’t hurt Marcus…” Sobs shook him.
“I know, Scotty,” Mickey choked. “It…it wasn’t really you…”
“I’m not…” Scotty squeezed his stomach and looked at Gideon, silently pleading. “I’m not…crazy…I’m not.” He bumped against the nightstand and dropped to his knees, crying. “I’m not…he was here…he was…he was real…he…” He curled over, crying harder. “He hurt me, too.”
♥
Oh God, this can’t be happening. Gideon went to Scotty and knelt before him. He swallowed thickly and pulled the sobbing boy into his arms. “It’s going to be okay, son,” he whispered against his hair. “We’re going to get you some help.”
Scotty was shaking uncontrollably and latched onto Gideon, clinging in desperation. “I didn’t do it,” he cried. “Please…please believe me…”
Gideon glanced at Mickey and the boy just stared at them, fear in his eyes and tears streaking his face. His heart broke for both his boys. How the hell could Scotty have regressed this far without anyone noticing?
Guilt gouged at his heart. He’d known Scotty was having problems. He should have had him back in therapy. Fuck!
He stood and lifted Scotty to his feet, setting him on the edge of the bed. The boy clung to him for dear life. Bailey left Mickey and came to Gideon.
“I want to take Mickey in to the hospital, have him checked out and make sure there isn’t any damage to his throat.” He spoke low, softly, fear and sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Scotty. “I’ll take Marcus with us as well.”
Gideon blinked against a well of rising tears. He nodded and looked at Mickey as the boy stood slowly to his feet with Lucas and Marcus’ aid. “You go with Bailey, okay, son?” he told Mickey, his voice thick. Nausea twisted up his gut; how close had he come to losing two of his boys today?
Anguish fille
d Mickey’s eyes as he stared at Scotty. “What…what about Scotty?” he whispered. “Is he gonna be okay?” The boy was an angel.
“We’ll get him the help he needs,” Gideon said, his voice unsteady. “For now, you let Bailey take you in and get you checked out.”
Bailey shifted his feet and looked at Scotty again as he spoke softly to Gideon. “I can call my mom and set up an emergency meeting…if you want me to.”
Gideon nodded and hugged Scotty closer as the boy’s sobs continued to shake his body. “Please,” he whispered, his throat closing. He pressed his lips to Scotty’s hair, tears dripping into his strands. Gideon had never met Bailey’s mother but knew she was a respected and trusted psychiatrist. And if she were anything like Bailey—Scotty would be in the best of hands with her.
“With, uh…” Bailey faltered. “With Mickey’s type of injuries, the hospital will likely have an officer come in. He’ll want to speak to you.”
Clearing his throat, Gideon raised his head. “I’ll be in later. If they need to keep Mickey.” He looked up at Bailey. “Can you stay with him until I get there?”
“Absolutely.” Bailey nodded. “I wouldn’t think of leaving his side.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Lucas asked Bailey.
Gideon shook his head, answering in Bailey’s stead. “I want you to stay here for now.”
“All right.” Lucas nodded.
Gathering the twins, Bailey walked them to the door.
“Bailey.” Gideon wiped his eyes. “On your way out, if any of the guys asks what’s going on, just tell them I’ll talk to them later. Don’t say anything about any of this.”
“I won’t,” Bailey assured him and opened the door, ushering the twins out of the room.
Lucas, Garrett, and Jack approached Gideon. “I can’t believe this is happening,” Garrett whispered. The sick feeling in Gideon’s gut resonated in Garrett’s voice. He looked at Jack. “You said you saw someone with Scotty in here that night. You actually saw them, right?”
“Yes.” Jack nodded. “He wasn’t alone, I know that much.”
“Pratt was down in the kitchen when I went downstairs,” Garrett said. “He left before I did. Then I fell asleep at the table.”
Lucas frowned, glancing between them. “You think it might have been Pratt in here with him?”
Garrett shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s possible.”
“Jack?” Gideon looked at the young man. “The person you saw…could it have been Pratt?”
“I-I guess,” Jack murmured. “It was dark, and they were…under the covers.” Jack shifted his feet and glanced between them. “There’s something else.”
“What?” Gideon asked.
“Pratt…” Jack slid his tongue slowly over his lower lip anxiously. “He’s been…coming onto me, pretty strong.”
“What?” Garrett stared at him, eyes hard.
Jack nodded. “And he talked shit about you,” he said quietly, looking at Garrett.
“Me?”
“He said you had the reputation of hooking up with the new guys, using them and then dumping them.”
Garrett’s eyes widened. “He fucking said that?”
“Yeah,” Jack whispered. “Made you out to be a player. I think…so I wouldn’t try to mend things with you.”
Garrett’s face pinched. “That motherfucker.”
“That night…” Scotty raised his head, eyes red and puffy. Tears swam thick, seeping down his cheeks. “It was Pratt in here with me. I…” He looked at Jack. “I didn’t know you saw us. I didn’t…” He swallowed thickly. “But I think Pratt maybe knew you were there. He…he knew I was upset about you and Garrett, and…” He looked away and laid his head on Gideon’s shoulder. “He said I could call him Garrett…that it was okay to pretend sometimes.” His eyes lifted slowly and met Jack’s stare. “I’m sorry. I-I didn’t know you were there.”
Rubbing his eyes, Garrett shook his head. “So, Pratt was trying to fuck us up to begin with?”
“He wants Jack,” Scotty whispered.
“What do you mean he wants Jack?” Gideon asked. How deeply was Pratt involved in all this?
“I-I don’t know,” Scotty murmured. “He said Jack looked like me, but that…that he was a less fucked-up version of me. And that made him better.”
“What a fucking prick,” Lucas muttered tightly.
Gideon frowned. “Lucas,” he said. “Get Derek and the two of you find Pratt. Take him to my office. I want to know how the fuck he fits into this. But don’t”—he held up his hand—“say anything to him about this. Just tell him I want to talk to him. I’ll give him a chance to tell his side of it.”
An unpleasant look darkened Lucas’ eyes but he nodded and left the bedroom.
“Garrett,” Gideon murmured. “Go to my room. In the medicine cabinet there’s a bottle of sleeping pills. Bring them to me.”
“Sleeping pills?” Garrett frowned.
Scotty’s face was buried in Gideon’s shoulder again, shakes still wracking his body. He stroked the boy’s hair and said quietly, “To help Scotty sleep. He needs to rest for now.”
“Of course.” Garrett nodded, his gaze resting on Scotty. Gideon was aware that he wasn’t the only one suffering guilt about all of this. “I’ll be right back.”
When Garrett was gone, Jack grabbed the chair from Scotty’s desk and brought it close to the bed and sat down. He rested his elbows on his knees and looked at Scotty, fear and sympathy resonating in his eyes. The same question reflected on his face as was circulating in Gideon’s head; how much of what Scotty said about Pratt was real…and how much was fabricated by his fractured mind?
77 “The Absence of Doubt”
Lucas resisted the urge to shove the man through the door to Gideon’s office—while it was still closed. If what Mickey said about Scotty was right, and the kid was truly unbalanced, then maybe everything he’d told them about Pratt wasn’t right. But Jack wasn’t delusional and according to him, Pratt had been doing his damnedest to convince Jack that Garrett wasn’t good for him.
And Lucas didn’t take it well when people fucked with his friends.
It was a good bet, as well, that Pratt had been the one with Scotty the night that Jack mistook him for Garrett. And that pissed Lucas off, too. Scotty didn’t need anyone messing with him.
“Lucas, what is this about?” Pratt asked. He entered Gideon’s office. “What does the boss want to see me about?”
Lucas shrugged. “He just said to have you wait here for him.”
Pratt stared at him, then shrugged. “All right.”
Lucas and Derek remained in the hall and closed the door.
“This is so fucked up,” Derek murmured. “I can’t believe Scotty is that far gone.”
“Mickey was dead serious,” Lucas said. “There was no ‘lie’ in his eyes.”
Derek nodded. “I saw Mickey when Bailey brought him out. He looked okay.” Worry tightened his face. “Is he…okay?”
“Yeah,” Lucas whispered. “His throat’s sore, but…” He sighed and shook his head, eyes distant, troubled. “But he could have just as easily not been okay.”
“If it was Scotty…doing that to him,” Derek said slowly. “What do you think made him stop and go for help?”
Lucas shrugged and leaned against the wall. “I don’t know. Maybe the part of Scotty that we know…” He looked at Derek. “Maybe he couldn’t bear the thought of Mickey being hurt.”
Exhaling heavily, Derek groaned. “Fuck, this is like some psycho movie shit. How does something as fucked up as this happen to someone for real?”
“I don’t know,” Lucas mumbled. “Scotty had a pretty fucked-up life, from what Garrett said before. Maybe it was just too much and his mind just”—he shook his head—“came unhinged.”
Derek stared at the floor. “He could’ve killed Mickey,” he whispered thickly and raised his eyes. “What’s Gideon gonna do?”
His throat tight, Lucas sai
d, “Bailey is going to talk to the people at the hospital. Gideon knows he has to send Scotty somewhere where he can be helped.”
“How’s Gideon handling it all?”
“Not well.” Lucas looked at Derek, eyes damp. “Scotty is special to him. We all joke with Gideon, call him pops and daddy…” He sighed and rubbed his mouth. “But Scotty has always looked at Gideon like an actual father. And Gideon accepted the role. Scotty is his son. So, imagine having a child in Scotty’s condition and having to send him away.”
Derek swallowed thickly and nodded. “It would break my heart.”
♥
Only after the pills took effect and Scotty fell asleep, did Gideon leave the bedroom. Jack and Garrett stayed behind to watch over him. Gideon didn’t want him left alone.
Garrett sat down at the head of the bed, his back against the wall, and watched Scotty sleep. His fingers drifted absently to Scotty’s hair and stroked lightly through the strands. “After Scotty and I broke up,” he whispered with a strain to his voice. “I basically shut him out.”
Jack sat on the end of the bed.
“He lost Marcus to Mickey,” Garrett said quietly. “Then I left him, too. And there were others, in his past, who used him…abused him…and threw him away like he was nothing. He…” Garrett released a slow breath, his eyes glossy. “He told me I was the first person to say I loved him.” He looked at Jack. “Not just the first man to say it in a romantic way, but the first person to say it…ever.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “That in itself made what I did so much worse. Because I told him I loved him…and then I threw him away.”
Jack crawled forward and lay against Garrett, his head on his chest. “Don’t do this to yourself,” Jack whispered. “This isn’t your fault.”
“He just wanted to be loved,” Garrett choked softly. “To be special to just one person. I was the first one to make him feel special. How could I blame him for having such a hard time letting go?”
Slipping his arms around Garrett’s body, Jack asked quietly, “Why did you break up with him?”