Strike A Match: An MM Gay Romance

by DJ Monroe

  But, evidently, Jon was back in his life. In spite of his pain, he didn’t want to damage what might be a relationship Lincoln was trying to repair. The man deserved to be happy and if Jon made him happy then who was Colton to interfere? What Colton couldn’t figure out was why the third man was there. Had he come home with Lincoln and stayed after Jon showed up? Was he a friend of Jon’s? Or maybe the man had gotten them back together somehow.

  Or maybe Colton was misinterpreting the whole thing.

  It wouldn’t be the first time he’d jumped to the wrong conclusion.

  And what if he let Lincoln go without giving him a chance to explain.

  His thoughts strayed to Lincoln’s kiss again. No, he wanted Lincoln, more than anything he’d ever wanted in his life. Pure and simple. They had so much in common and, yet, were so different at the same time.

  The man deserved a chance to at least explain.

  Getting to his feet, Colton opened his door and crossed the hall. He knocked on Lincoln’s door prepared to be embarrassed again if the men were still there. He was also prepared to ask to speak to Lincoln privately and tell him just how he felt.

  When no one answered the door after a few minutes, he knocked again and waited.

  Evidently, no one was home. Shoulders slumped, he returned to his own apartment, shut the door and keyed in Lincoln’s number. No answer and his voice mail was full.

  “Just when I get up enough nerve to tell him how I feel,” Colton muttered as he moved into the kitchen. With the resolve, his appetite had returned and he opened the refrigerator. “I can’t get hold of him.”

  A knock at the door made him smile. “Lincoln,” he called out. Running out of the kitchen, he yanked open the door and came face to face with a stranger.

  A stranger with a gun.

  Colton froze when he saw the man standing there.

  “Where is he?” the man demanded, taking a step into the apartment.

  Colton tried to slam the door but the stranger already had a foot in place, keeping the door open. He finally shoved the door and Colton aside and strode into the living room.

  “Who are you looking for?” Colton asked, backing away, knees turning to jello.

  “The big guy. The one who went to the cops,” he snarled.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Colton said, trying to keep his voice from quivering. This man looked like he could shoot Colton without a second thought.

  Then it dawned on him who this man wanted. He wanted Lincoln and this had to have something to do with the robbery just a few nights earlier. Lincoln had been worried that the man had grabbed Colton. Was this man ruthless enough to use him to get to Lincoln? He thought so.

  “Yes, you do. Don’t lie to me. He went to the cops, had us arrested and now he’s gonna pay for that,” the man said.

  The name came back to him. “David?”

  The man’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How do you know my name?”

  “Um, from down at Paddy’s, right?” Colton said, thinking quickly. If he could keep the man talking long enough, just maybe—

  “Quit stalling,” David snapped, advancing on Colton. “I know he lives in this building and I thought this was the apartment number.”

  “First, I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Colton said, sounding more confident than he felt. “And secondly, what makes you think he lives here?”

  “A little birdie told me,” David sneered.

  Colton realized he was slowly being backed toward the bedroom and changed directions, putting the sofa between him and the intruder. David had left the door open and Colton fought to keep from looking in that direction so as not to remind him of that. Maybe, if Lincoln happened to come home or if a neighbor walked by—

  Instead, David seemed to be able to read Colton’s mind. He took a few steps backwards and kicked the door shut. And then he scooped Colton’s cell phone off the coffee table and dropped it in his pocket.

  “You know what? I think we can just wait this out, you and I,” David said with a sickly sweet smile. “When do you expect him to come home?”

  “I told you - he doesn’t live here. I don’t know anything about this man,” Colton said, heart thudding in his chest as he realized just the kind of danger he was in.

  “I hate being lied to,” David said. “And you’re not very good at it.”

  Colton stood there trembling.

  “Have a seat,” David said, waving the gun at the chair across the glass and chrome coffee table from him. “We’ll wait.”

  AFTER SLICK AND JON left, Lincoln went across the hall and knocked on Colton’s door. He was soon pounding so hard, he was afraid the neighbors were going to complain so he went back to his apartment and tried calling. Again and again. Frustrated and angry with himself for letting Jon take advantage of him, he paced around his own apartment and found that he could not stay still. Grabbing his keys, he ran down the steps and outside.

  Lincoln’s parents lived just on the outskirts of town in a small neighborhood where he grew up. Sometimes he missed the old place. Sometimes he couldn’t bear coming here because it brought back so many memories of bullying from the boys bigger than him. He smiled as he pulled into the driveway. Whenever he saw those men around the area now, they all laughed about it but it was only because Lincoln was bigger and stronger than they would ever be. He had to be.

  “Son, what a nice surprise,” his dad said, opening the door wide. He grinned from ear to ear.

  “Hey, Dad,” Lincoln said, gratefully accepting the warm hug from the older man.

  Lincoln thought back to when he finally told his parents about his lifestyle choice. He’d been terrified but both of them had taken it in stride, never questioning Lincoln. In turn, he’d never questioned their love for him.

  “Your mom’s in the kitchen cooking up something good for supper,” his dad explained, turning in that direction.

  Lincoln smiled. “I’m not hungry. I really just—” Tears sprang to his eyes, stinging and causing him to look away quickly. He couldn’t finish his sentence.

  His turned back to him, concern clouding his features. “Son, what is it?”

  Lincoln took a deep, shaky breath and let it out slowly. “Just a lot has happened in the past few days and I guess I’m having trouble dealing with it.”

  His dad cocked his head. “Jon?”

  “Part of it,” Lincoln answered. “In fact, I saw him just this morning.”

  “Come and sit,” his dad said, motioning toward the sofa. He sat next to him and they faced each other, his dad giving him his full attention.

  Lincoln wasn’t about to go into the whole story of why and where he’d seen Jon. That wasn’t important anyway. “He wanted to come back, but I told him it was really over this time. I won’t talk to him again.”

  “Good for you,” his dad said. “I know it hurts but he’s not good for you, son. You deserve better than that."

  Colton immediately came to mind, bringing fresh tears to Lincoln’s eyes. And then it all began spilling out. He told his dad about picking up Slick and that other stranger at Paddy’s. He wasn’t proud of his behavior but it was the truth.

  His dad did not pass judgement.

  “And then one night I met a man who told me his name was David. He invited me outside to talk,” Lincoln cleared his throat. “And then he pulled a gun on me and took my wallet.”

  “Were you hurt?” his dad asked.

  Lincoln shook his head. “No. He just took what was in my wallet and my pride.”

  “You reported this to the police, correct?”

  “Yessir,” Lincoln said and then described the meeting with Slick and the police officers and their trip to the police station.

  At this point in the telling, Lincoln’s mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

  “Lincoln, we didn’t know you were coming. I’ll put another potato in the oven—”

  Lincoln held up a shaking hand.
“No need to, Ma. I’m not hungry.”

  She frowned and gave her husband a look that held a thousand questions.

  His nodded, a barely perceptive movement of his head.

  The smile returned but it was not as bright as before. “I’ll let you two men talk. Let me know if you need something.”

  “We will,” his dad assured her.

  “Thanks, ma,” Lincoln said and then turned to his father. “And thank you for not telling her. I don’t want her to worry about me any more than she already does.”

  “Agreed,” his dad said and then asked, “So, you picked him out of a lineup and they arrested him?”

  “Yes, and his buddies as well,” Lincoln said.

  “Good job, son. So this David guy is in custody?”

  “As far as I know. They were supposed to let me know if he made bail,” Lincoln told him.

  “Do you want to stay here with us for a few nights?” his dad asked. “Your room is still empty.”

  Lincoln laughed in spite of the tears still gathered on his lashes. “No, thanks, Dad. I think I’ll be okay.”

  “There’s still something else,” his dad said.

  Lincoln sighed. “You were right about the advice you gave me earlier.”

  His dad cocked his head, listening.

  “I’m not the kind of guy who even enjoys one-night stands or picking up strangers. I don’t even know why I thought I could live that way.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’ve met someone. He’s actually a neighbor right across the hall. A good guy, sweet and kind, big hearted and smile that lights up the room,” Lincoln told him.

  “Sounds like someone you need in your life right now,” his dad said.

  “He is exactly what I need but—.” Lincoln launched into the story about how he and Colton had missed each other the night before when they were supposed to have dinner together. “But this morning, he found me with both Jon and Slick in my apartment, jumped to the wrong conclusion. I’d give anything for him not to have seen that, even though it was completely innocent situation.”

  “Surely, he’ll listen to an explanation,” his dad said.

  Lincoln shrugged. “He won’t answer his door and I’ve left him a dozen messages or more because he won’t answer his phone.”

  Lincoln’s dad remained quiet as if sensing his son just needed to talk.

  “I’m afraid I blew it with him before we even got started and I don’t know how to fix it,” Lincoln said. “I’m so afraid of screwing this up, Dad.”

  “If he’s the man you described to me, he’ll come around,” his dad said. “I have a good feeling about this.”

  “All I can do is wait and try again when I get home,” Lincoln said.

  Lincoln’s mother called his father’s name from the kitchen.

  “Let me go see what my bride wants,” his dad said with a sly wink. “Why don’t you try to call Colton again?”

  Lincoln had tried so many times, he was reluctant to call him again. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he started to tap on Lincoln’s number when the phone buzzed in his hand.

  INCOMING CALL.

  Lincoln didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway.

  “Lincoln, it’s Officer Anders,” the familiar voice came through the speaker.

  “Officer,” Lincoln replied. Suddenly afraid of what he was about to hear, he stood.

  “Listen, I wanted to let you know that David made bail just about an hour ago.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Lincoln heard himself gasp. His first thought went to Slick’s visit the night before and how he looked downright terrified of this man. “Slick?”

  “He knows. We have him under surveillance. He’s safe. David hasn’t gone anywhere near him.”

  Lincoln relaxed slightly.

  “What we wanted to remind you of is that he knows where you live.”

  “How?” Lincoln snapped, beginning to pace the long, narrow room.

  “He had your driver’s license on him when we picked him up. Even tried to pretend he was you.”

  The knowledge hit Lincoln like a punch in the face. Of course, David knew his address and maybe other things about him as well, depending on how much Slick had shared about his personal life.

  “We haven’t seen him anywhere near your building. But we think he might just be hiding out until it gets dark.”

  “Dark,” Lincoln repeated and came to an abrupt halt.

  Why did his thoughts run to Colton? The man didn’t even know Colton existed but what if they ran into each other in the hall? Or in that creaky old elevator?

  “We’ll have extra patrols in the area just to be on the safe side,” Anders said, as if that should reassure him.

  It didn’t.

  “Thank you,” Lincoln said, ending the call with a trembling finger and dropped his cell into his shirt pocket. He had to get home. He had to get in touch with Colton somehow even if it meant kicking his door down.

  “Dad,” Lincoln called out.

  “What is it, son?” His father returned to the living room, his big smile suddenly disappearing when he saw his son’s face.

  “Dad, I have to go,” Lincoln said, heading for the front door.

  “So soon? Is something wrong?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t know,” Lincoln confessed. “Colton.”

  “Colton, what?”

  Lincoln couldn’t find words to describe the fear that was tearing his guts apart at that moment.

  “Do you want me to come with you?”

  The big hand on his arm, the assurance that his father had his back no matter what, helped to calm Lincoln like it had for his entire life. He stopped and took a deep breath. “No, I just found out that David made bail and I’m overreacting.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure, Dad. I just need to get home and make sure—”

  “Make sure Colton is okay,” his dad finished the sentence with a nod of understanding. “I know.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Lincoln said, hugging his father close and holding on for dear life. “Thanks, just for being my dad.”

  His dad chuckled. “Let me know when you get home safely.”

  “I will. Kiss mom for me,” Lincoln said and then bolted out the door.

  Once Lincoln was in his car and headed back toward the city, he keyed in Colton’s number. It rang a few times, which at least gave Lincoln hope. Before he had gone straight to voice mail.

  “Pick up,” Lincoln said. “Colton, please pick up.”

  When the call went to voice mail, he called Officer Anders back and told him his concerns. “I don’t know if he would hurt Colton but—”

  “Are you at home now?”

  “No, I’m on my way.”

  “Stay away. We’ll make a wellness call on Colton,” Officer Anders told him.

  “No. I have to see him. I have to make sure he’s safe,” Lincoln said, choking back sudden tears. If something happened to the beautiful, kind, sweet Colton, he would never forgive himself.

  COLTON’S PHONE CHIMED and he jumped. David looked at the screen and smiled. “Don’t know who Lincoln is? Really? Then why is he calling you?”

  “I’m supposed to be feeding his cat,” Colton lied. “He’s out of town on business.”

  David laughed. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”

  Colton pretended to be relaxed and completely unafraid. Inside, he was a twisted mass of nerves. “Believe what you want. It’s the truth.”

  The phone continued to chime.

  “Why don’t you let me answer it and assure him everything is fine,” Colton said, heart hammering in his chest.

  “Because if you don’t answer, sooner or later, he’s going to show up at this door wanting to see you or talk to you or something,” David answered and then grinned. “After all, you are taking care of his cat.”

  “It’ll be a while,” Colton said with another nonchalant shrug. He was fighting a losing
battle. Lincoln was going to be pounding on his door again sooner rather than later and when he did, he would have no idea he was walking into a dangerous trap.

  Finally, the phone stopped ringing and he hoped his voice mail picked up.

  Colton and David sat there staring at each other for what seemed an eternity, but David never put the gun down, never let it waver. He didn’t relax his attention on Colton for one second.

  Finally, pounding on the door brought a startled cry from Colton and he was on his feet before he even realized it.

  David was right there with him, the gun aimed at his head. “Take it easy,” he growled. “One wrong move and you’re gone.”

  Colton had no doubt that the man meant every word he said.

  “Colton, please answer the door.” It was Lincoln. He was pleading, almost desperate and almost in tears.

  “Go away,” Colton shouted.

  David crossed the room in two steps and had him in his grip before he could make another move, another sound. He twisted Colton’s arm up behind his back, bringing him to his tiptoes.

  “No, I’m not going away,” Lincoln said. “We need to talk.”

  “Nothing to talk about,” Colton shouted back and closed his eyes sure David was going to blow his brains out any minute. If he had to give his life to save another, so be it but he was damned if he was going to let this thug hurt Lincoln again.

  “Yes, we do,” Lincoln said. “Please let me explain what you saw this morning.”

  David shoved Colton toward the door and hissed in his ear, “Open it.”

  Colton stood there in front of the door, unable to reach for it and no longer caring what David had planned for his brief future.

  “What I saw was Jon,” Colton said. “No explanation needed. I understand.”

  David grabbed his shoulder and shoved him closer to the door and pressed the pistol against his temple.

  With one hand on the door knob, he began to cry, tears streaming down his face but not because of David or the danger he and Lincoln were in. He cried for himself. And for Grant and all of the things he would not get to do or share with Lincoln.