by H M Wolfe
But Fabian didn't answer, continuing to touch his nephew all over, in a dominant, brutal way, groping, fondling and pinching him, in an attempt to make the younger man lose control over his emotions. He wanted Daniel on the floor, at his feet, writhing like the little, pathetic worm he was, begging him to stop.
Fabian's hands descended more and more until they reached his nephew's private parts, which the man treated even rougher than he did the rest of his body. He found a particular pleasure in tugging at the other man's cock and squeezing his balls, but Daniel pushed the mistreatment into the back of his mind and showing no reaction to it.
Irritated by the resistance, Fabian abandoned that area of his nephew's anatomy, cupping the perfectly shaped globes of his ass and spreading them wide apart. Sucking on his index finger, he then brutally inserted it inside Daniel, who let out a loud gasp, his breath starting to hitch. The assault continued for a few seconds, then, satisfied with the younger man's reaction, Fabian pulled the finger out of him.
"One can never be too cautious," he said in a half-apologetic voice, "especially considering who your husband and friends are. And, since even someone not so tech-savvy like me knows that orifices are perfect for hiding microphones and other things like that..."
"I've told you I have nothing to hide," Daniel started in a shaky voice, barely holding himself together. "You can do to me whatever you want, I don't care, but please, let Elian go. The little boy is innocent," he pleaded, tears streaming down his face.
"There, there." Fabian patted the younger man on his head. "Get dressed; it's cold in here. It will soon become uncomfortable even for you. Plus, you'll have a dignified death, fully clothed, a death worthy of a hero, of a savior. As for little, cute Elian, I'm not going to harm him, on the contrary."
"What do you mean? Didn't you take the little boy because he was Tarquin's nephew, and you wanted to take revenge against us through him?" Daniel asked as he started to get dressed.
He had to keep the other one talking at any cost; it was the only way to gather substantial evidence against him, once and for all. In the pocket of his jeans, the ultra-thin phone discreetly beeped, secured to the fabric, recording the conversation. The wonder-girls, Moira and Valerie, incorporated a mighty, extra-sensitive microphone into the device, designed to capture even the faintest sound in the room.
Daniel closed his eyes for a brief moment, praying that Brennan could accomplish his part of the plan without incident, and, above all, stick to it. Fabian believed he was in charge and displayed a benevolent, generous attitude, the kind those who'd won a war showed to the defeated. The young man knew exactly which cards to play to make his uncle talk, but he wasn't sure how long these favorable circumstances was going to last.
"If you are going to kill me and pose as Elian's rescuer, who is going to be framed for the murder and kidnapping? Please, tell me." Daniel gave his uncle the most innocent look he could.
"Oh, my dear, dear nephew." Fabian caressed the younger man on top of his head. "You don't know how sorry I am that it's come to this! Think of all the great things the two of us could have achieved if you were sweet and submissive from the start! That Brennan kid must already be on his way; he won't resist the temptation to play the hero. Only, instead of a medal, his bravery will bring him a life sentence."
"What about Elian? Maybe, at first, he will be scared and confused, but eventually, he'll talk and expose you. Are you going to kill him then?" Daniel's voice was sad and defeated, but loud enough to be captured by the microphone.
"No, of course not." Fabian shook his head, the harshness from his voice gone. "What do you take me for? I'll watch over him with paternal love, and I'll be deeply hurt when he'll start talking nonsense. Eventually, everyone will see what a spoiled, ungrateful little brat he is, and turn their back on him, even his parents."
"And then?" Daniel's curiosity was genuine, his uncle's revelations shaking him to the core. "What will happen to Tarquin, my children, and all the others who are still in your way? Are you going to eliminate them one by one?"
"Only your father," a note of coldness crept in Fabian's soft voice, "the poor thing will be devastated by your untimely death, and he will want to be reunited with you. No one will know if it was intentional or an accident; his lovers will be devastated. As for your widower, I'll be very patient with him, always there when he needs a shoulder to cry on. In the end, I'll ask for sweet Tarquin's hand in marriage, and he'll accept."
"Brennan! You came to rescue me!" Elian barely whispered, but the young man could hear the joy in his voice. "It's so cold in here!" The frail little boy hugged himself, shivering.
"Here, I brought this, let's get you warm." His rescuer unrolled the thin blanket he was carrying under his arm. "It's not much, but will do for the next hour or so. We'll have to stay in this room a little longer, to help Uncle Daniel put the bad guy in jail, where he belongs."
"It's alright." Elian nodded, tightly wrapping the blanket around him. "I'm not scared or cold anymore, now that you're here. The bad man was very mean to me; he said a lot of things about Uncle Daniel and Uncle Ardan," he said in a small voice, breaking Brennan's heart.
"You know the horror movies and stories people watch on TV or tell each other on Halloween?" the young man whispered, deepening a tiny hole in the wall so that he could insert the micro camera, "it's the same with what the bad man said. These stories are not real, and you don't have to be afraid."
Elian nodded, the expression on his adorable face a little more relaxed, then huddled in the corner, his knees hugged close to his chest. Brennan's blood started to boil in anger at the sight, and for a moment, the man wished that bastard was in front of him so that he could break every bone in his goddamn body.
The next second he shook his head. Being put in a cage, like the rabid beast he was, at the mercy of others, guards and inmates alike were far worse for Fabian than lying in a hospital bed. The second situation offered him the possibility of recovering and continuing his criminal activities. At the same time, the first was pretty much a dead end for him, especially considering the treatment child molesters were subjected to.
Raising to his feet, Brennan took a few steps to warm up after spending more than twenty minutes crouched down, then walked along the length of one of the walls, sliding his hand along it and praying that he'd remember correctly. After only a minute, the man stopped, letting out a big sigh of relief. He quickly punched in a message on his phone, then, taking Elian in his arms, disappeared into the secret passage.
Meanwhile, in the office, Fabian took out a small revolver from a hidden drawer and started to clean it. He was so engrossed in the action that he'd forgotten about Daniel being unrestrained. In less than an hour, that goddamn man, the bane of his existence, would be dead, and the one who betrayed him would pay for it.
"My time is near." Fabian flinched at the sound of his nephew's voice, sad and defeated. "You still didn't answer my first question: why do you hate my father and me so much? What did we do to you?"
"That nasty little baby took my parents away, even before he and the girl were born. Benjamin always ended up in some kind of trouble; he wasn't an obstacle, but the bloody baby they were all talking about was. And then, when Uncle Alastair took us in, he wormed his way into our guardian's heart in no time. I studied hard, was always respectful, well-mannered, the top of my class, but no one seemed to notice, no one saw me or cared about me."
"Your younger brothers needed you; they looked up to and adored you," Daniel bitterly replied, eyeing the gun, which was lying on the desk within his reach. "A twelve-year-old boy was put through hell under your nose, and you turned a blind eye. Some older brother, you were!"
"I thought the sorry loser would take his pathetic little life after what Alex did to him, but no, he covered for me, meeting Vincent in juvie. He was like a weed, no matter how many times I've tried to crush his spirit, the bloody brat grew stronger."
"Goddamn monster, evil's spawn, this is the e
nd of you!" Daniel thundered, moving with light's speed and grabbing the gun. "You are going to rot in jail for everything you did!"
"Easy, boy." Fabian's lips curled in a hideous rictus. "You can't prove anything, and you know it, so put the gun down and..."
A loud thump coming from the other room cut him short, and he froze, watching the door buckle, three armed police officers stepping into the room. "Fabian Bloom, you are under arrest for kidnapping Elian Brentano-Fenelli and endangering the child's life."
"As I was telling this half-brained creature here, you have nothing on me." The man rose to his feet, trying to intimidate the three policemen.
"I wouldn't bet my money on it." Daniel lowered the gun, smirking. He went to the corner of the room, carefully extracting the miniature camera from where Brennan planted it. "Being married to a computer expert doesn't make me smarter, but it helps a lot. See you at the trial, bastard! Ian's going to eat you alive."
EPILOGUE
"D early beloved brethren, we are gathered here today to...wait, this is the wrong speech. This happened nine years ago or something like that." Liam scratched the back of his head, to everyone's amusement.
"Old age and stuff." Theodore flashed a grin in his cousin's direction. "Senility is not treatable, but it can be delayed. I suggest you pay a visit to my pet here; he's an outstanding professional." He caressed the cheek of the older man next to him, who beamed at the praise.
"Carter is one of the greatest, I can't thank him enough for everything he did and does," Ardan spoke in his grave, warm voice. "He keeps us sane and heals the souls of the kids at The Base, giving them wings to fly and confidence to make their dreams come true."
"Thank you all." Carter bowed his head, blushing a delicate shade of pink. "But let's not forget that today is about Daniel and Tarquin, the two halves of the same soul, whose bond becomes tighter by the day. May their love shine brighter than the sun, be stronger than stone and steel, and as fresh and beautiful as flowers in spring."
"Ten years ago," Liam started again, clearing his throat, voice thick with emotion, "my best friend Tarquin was drowning in a sea of loneliness and despair, carrying the weight of the world on his fragile shoulders. And then, a man came out of the blue, took his hand, and never let him go. That man, none other than my long-lost cousin Daniel, gave the then-lost boy hope and a reason to live. Here they are today, ten years later, still madly in love, still going strong."
"Daniel and Tarquin are perfect together, the dream team, the power couple, an example to us all." Hugo smiled in the two men's direction. "I remember when we first came to the mansion, from Boston, to meet the family, we never knew about. Although my cousin was physically absent, his presence could be felt everywhere: in the house, in the air, in the mind of his loved ones. The bond between him and Tarquin must have been stronger than death, I thought back then, and I was right."
"Because I trust you. With those four words, Daniel brought me to my knees, winning my undying loyalty and gratitude. This man, who'd only known me for a couple of weeks, saw me worthy of his trust and camaraderie. And the way he and Tarquin act in the presence of each other...love becomes them." Smiling brightly, Brennan dipped his head in the two husbands' direction.
"Truer words were never spoken." Ardan nodded in approval. "Since I stepped from the shadows where I was voluntarily isolating myself from the world, a tainted soul in a damaged body, Daniel and Tarquin were my inspiration. In a time when the tiny spark of joy brightening my life was gone, their example gave me the strength to fight for the chance of happiness."
A loud, enthusiastic round of applause followed Ardan's moving speech; then, all those gathered around the table toasted the couple whose first decade of a relationship they were celebrating. One by one, they left their places to hug the two husbands and congratulate them on the occasion.
Sebastian, Joraan, Vincent and Nicholas waited until the last member of the younger generation gave their best wishes to Tarquin and Daniel, then stepped next to the two, grouping around them. The tongues and lips of the four men were silent, but their eyes spoke volumes as they enveloped the pair in a warm, paternal, protective hug.
For a very brief moment, Sebastian closed his eyes. Recalling the consternation, shock, disbelief, and fear that invaded him at the news that his brother Fabian, the one he'd adored and looked up to, had kidnapped Elian and also was holding Daniel as a hostage, most likely intending to kill him. The man relived the scene from thirty-four years earlier when that nurse had announced to him and Joraan that the other baby boy hadn't survived.
Vision clouded by tears, Sebastian tightly hugged his son, who closed the space between the two of them on the one hand and Joraan, on the other side, while Vincent and Nicholas did the same with Tarquin. Surrounded by the most significant persons in his life, Daniel thanked the deities that all of them were alive and well, safe from Fabian's madness, jealousy, and envy.
The group of six stayed like that for a while in comfortable silence. The others respectfully kept it, listening to their breath and heartbeat, enjoying the closeness and the warmth radiating from their bodies. Then, one by one, they went back to their place at the table, enjoying the delicious food that covered the table.
A melancholic smile playing on his full, sensual lips, Daniel recalled the first dinner he and Tarquin had together. It was in this very dining-room, their hands extended over the table, fingers barely touching at first, then dancing together and ending up intertwined. Back then, Don Giuseppe and Alastair Stark, who was nothing more than a stranger to him, had presided over the small gathering.
"Well, for starters, I would use that knowledge to build a solid career. I want to be active in a field that would allow me to apply everything I've learned to serve and protect those in need."
"Serve and protect... so; you want to become a policeman. Aren't you one already? I mean, a hostage crisis negotiator is part of the police force, isn't it?" Alastair's eyes went a darker shade of green as he gave Daniel a scrutinizing look.
"Or a politician, as it is their duty to serve those who invested them with their trust, by passing laws, which protect the commoners, the low- and middle-class people."
The words Daniel had said that night wasn't empty; it just wasn't the time for that dream to become real, he thought, looking around the table. The latest events taught him a valuable lesson, and it was the perfect moment for a change of career. One more year, and he would be thirty-five, the minimum required age for those interested in running for the Senate.
Daniel was aware that he still had a lot to learn about many things, and time wasn't on his side. However, he was determined to succeed, not to mention that he was lucky enough to be loved by the most exceptional, most intelligent, and caring man in the world. Turning to Tarquin, Sebastian's son took his hand, delicately kissing it. Together, they were unstoppable, he thought.
"Hey, what are you doing here, alone? Are you not feeling well?" Brennan worriedly spoke, putting a protective arm around Gabriel's shoulders.
"No, I just wanted to get a breath of fresh air," the young man answered, shivering a little. "Okay," he continued, under the stare of the concerned turquoise eyes, "the truth is I'm not very fond of parties since...you know...However, for Papa and Dad's sake. I made an effort and..."
"No, you shouldn't have pushed yourself to participate if you didn't feel like it." Brennan rubbed soothing circles on the boy's back, helping him to relax. "Promise me you'll do that next time. I'm sure Daniel and Tarquin would understand."
"Thank you," Gabriel nodded, "and not only for the advice. With all the madness of the past months, I forgot to express my gratitude for what you did that terrible night. If you hadn't come to my rescue, that horrible man would have...he would have..." He burrowed his face in Brennan's shirt, unable to continue.
"Don't do that to yourself." Ardan's brother tightly hugged Gabriel's shaky form, swaying back and forth with him. "I know what you are thinking, and you're wrong. None of it was
your fault, and you just happen to fall in love with the wrong man. One day..."
"What was that?" Gabriel raised his head, listening intently. "Did you hear? It's like a puppy whining out there somewhere. Maybe the poor creature is hurt and needs help; I'm going to go look for it."
"Not without me." Brennan stalked Daniel's firstborn. "You have to be careful, even the most inoffensive animal can become dangerous if it's hurt," he added.
"Oh, puppy, what happened to your little paw? What bastard did that to you?" Gabriel crouched down in front of a mass of fur and started to caress one of the creature's front paws, which was bleeding pretty bad. "Can you get me a strip of fabric or something to stop this, at least for a while?"
Shaking his head, Brennan pulled out a white handkerchief from the pocket of his jeans, handing it over to Gabriel. He always carried one of those with him, just in case, a habit his mother had ingrained into his conscience. It wasn't the first time when the little object proved to be extremely useful, and the man smiled at the distant, happy memory.
Meanwhile, with a minimum effort and a lot of cooperation from the animal, Gabriel managed to apply the improvised bandage over the wound, securing it tightly. The creature let out a half-relieved, half-grateful whine, exposing its belly, much to the young man's delight.
"Is it better, pup?" he asked in a soft, compassionate voice, scratching the dog behind an ear. "How come your owners didn't notice the problem with your paw, poor thing? Did you run away from home? Did they mistreat you?"
"Like I said before being interrupted," Brennan smirked, "one day you will find someone worthy of your affection, be that a person or a mutt with a broken paw."
"My friend here didn't mean to offend you, pup, he's just like that, with no filter to his mouth," Gabriel said, amused by how the dog seemed to frown. "Do you want to come with us? I promise to take good care of you," he added, taking the wounded creature in his arms. "We have to find you a name, how about...Derrick?"