Lost (The Everett Gaming Series Book 5)

by Drew Sera

  After seeing his body in the hospital, my concerns multiplied about his evening with Victor. Then my concerns were validated again yesterday when he came to get his sutures removed. He’s been jumpy around anyone except for Colin since that weekend and it’s only getting worse. Colin says he has been close with Sydney though, so at least that isn’t suffering.

  I called Blake this morning and told him I was meeting with Victor. He didn’t outwardly tell me it wasn’t a good idea, but he hadn’t supported me either. I understood. It was risky but I had Anthony’s best interest at heart. He’s either trying to keep it all inside or else he’s blocked it from his head. Neither was healthy.

  I pulled up to the restaurant that I was meeting Victor at about ten minutes early, but went in and was seated. I knew vaguely what Victor looked like. I had been introduced to him a few years back at a class at Irons. From what I remembered, he was a nice guy and Will said nothing bad about him. But still, things can change behind a closed door.

  While sipping my iced tea, a tall man approached the table. He was probably about 6’6” and possibly 240-250 pounds. I stood as he approached. He had a military like haircut and wore hoop earrings in both ears.

  “Matt,” Victor said as he and I shook hands.

  He took his jacket off, exposing his short sleeves that were pulled tight from the bulge of his muscles. This guy was big and although Anthony isn’t a tiny guy, Victor had a good five inches over Anthony and probably 30-40 pounds on him too. We made small talk for a bit until the salads were brought to the table.

  “I am curious as to why you called me last week. You said it wasn’t in nature of a potential job, so how may I help you, Matt?”

  “I apologize for my vagueness but you recently had a client that I’m good friends with.”

  He nodded while he stabbed at his salad. “Anthony Graves.”

  I nodded this time while he laughed at my expression that probably told him he had caught me by surprise.

  “Matt, you know how it goes. It’s a small, tight knit community. I know you’re close with Graves.” Victor looked at me while he chewed. “Graves still rigging? I remember seeing his work at Irons. He’s a good-looking guy, tense though. Kind of mouthy.” I was slightly surprised at a few things Victor casually mentioned about Anthony. I sat and thought for a moment thinking about his descriptions of Anthony. The ‘tense’ and ‘mouthy’ part stuck in my head. We sat in silence for a few moments while we finished our salads. “How is he doing?”

  I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes at him. Why would he ask that unless he had done something that would have caused him to be concerned? He proceeded on his own.

  “I called Will early that morning when I left as I wasn’t confident Graves was doing okay. He seemed touch and go and distracted. Will said that he’d make sure a close friend checked in on him. Was that you?”

  “No, Blake Eriksson went.”

  Victor nodded while he took a drink from his beer bottle.

  “That’s right, they’re close, too. So, how can I help you, Matt?”

  “Anthony is actually what I want to talk to you about and your visit with him. I want to know what happened.”

  “Does Graves need another session?” he asked.

  I met his comment with an icy stare and silence.

  “Matt, you know I can’t divulge that information. It wouldn’t make me very reputable. What I do with my clients is between the client and myself. I respect their privacy.”

  “Victor, I appreciate that and I can respect that, but Anthony sustained a concussion and various other injuries that evening. He doesn’t recall much of your visit with him and it’s causing him a lot of stress.”

  “Why doesn’t he contact me?” I sat silently and looked at him. I told him that would never happen. Anthony would have taken his upbringing to his grave had Colin and I not pushed at him. “Matt, everything Graves and I did was consensual.”

  I was growing more impatient and sick to my stomach the more this conversation went forward. When he used the word “consensual,” I got annoyed.

  “Are you sure about that? He was intoxicated with alcohol when you arrived.”

  Now it was his turn to look shocked and quiet.

  “I wasn’t aware of that, nor did I detect any alcohol on his breath. I wouldn’t have proceeded otherwise.”

  When I told him that Anthony had been sipping Everclear, Victor sat back in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Graves knows better than to mix alcohol and play.”

  “He does,” I agreed with him. “Anthony wasn’t in a good place that evening.”

  “Matt, I asked him multiple times before doing anything if it was alright. He told me he wanted some physical pain. His only request was that I didn’t hit him in the face. Any implement that I used, I cleared with him. He consented to everything and I stopped the second he said his safe word.”

  I stopped eating and let my silverware clang to the plate. Victor made Anthony safeword? I sat stunned and stared at Victor as he fed me the new bit of info. I was certain something less than desired had occurred between Victor and Anthony. And Anthony was unfortunately intoxicated and idiotically consented to, from what it sounds like, anything. I was angry and even though Anthony consented, I felt like Victor took advantage of him too. Anthony can take a lot but Victor pushed him to safeword. In all my years as his friend and seeing him play at Irons, I’ve never heard Anthony safeword and Colin has never mentioned him saying his safe word either. It had to have been pretty ugly for Anthony to safeword.

  “He said his safe word?”

  “Yes, and I respected that and stopped. I helped him up.”

  Fucking model citizen helped my little brother up. Fucking asshole. I was pretty sure that I had pieced their night together. I could play smug too.

  “Since you and Anthony negotiated a scene, that you won’t tell me about, and you stopped when he said your negotiated safe word, I’m assuming you provided some sort of aftercare before leaving…Especially since you said he was touch and go.” He stared at me. His blank expression forced me to laugh at him. Obviously, the aftercare portion was left out to the equation. I was ready to go through the roof. I thought of Gina and Sydney, and now Anthony. I didn’t care who someone played with, aftercare was still important. I didn’t care if it was two Doms or a Dom and a sub. Aftercare was still a necessity when playing with someone’s mind and body. Don’t fuck someone up and then call someone else to go clean it up. I was pissed.

  “Interesting. I gather by your silence the aftercare was avoided. You know, it really pisses me off that you sit there and pick and choose what aspects of your ethics you uphold. You respectfully negotiate, agree upon a safe word, respectfully stop when he says his safe word, and yet all you do after you get done physically and sexually assaulting him, is help him up off his own goddamn fucking floor. You’re right, Victor. You are very reputable. You didn’t have to divulge a bit. Don’t hold yourself up on a pedestal for being reputable and respectful. You didn’t do him a fucking ounce of good. He basically paid you to assault him. You didn’t uphold your responsibility to him.”

  Victor sat there and listened calmly to my rant and I was ready to throw anything within reach across the room. I was irate, sick and my heart broke for Anthony. I felt as though Victor violated me as well. He messed with Anthony and he might as well have been messing with me.

  “Just tell me one thing, maybe something you’re proud of, how much did he pay you?”

  “A grand,” Victor said quietly.

  I bit the inside of my mouth and shook my head.

  “Victor, since you’re a proud, reputable man, you need to do me a favor. Anthony doesn’t remember the entire visit. I know what he suspects and he’s worried about what potentially happened. You gave him a concussion. Will you talk to him and tell him what happened? He needs to be able to put this to rest.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that. He consented, Matt. I didn’t do anythi
ng wrong.”

  “Morally you did. You beat on his body, banged the hell out of his head until he saw stars, bled from his ear and then you fucked him. Literally.”

  Victor was pale and I’m sure my face was beet red. I pulled my phone out and sent Anthony a text.

  MR: Anth, are you home?

  AG: Yeah, Col isn’t though. He just left to run some errands.

  I fucking hated to do this to him but he needed to confront this. He needed closure to this and Colin needed to know. Anthony needed to be looked over. I no longer thought all of his stomach issues were from antibiotics and other medications he’s been on. It was from Victor. The stomach issues have been brought on mentally and physically. I sent a text off to Blake and asked me if he could meet me at Colin’s.

  MR: Anth, I’m coming over.

  “Let’s go Mr. Reputable Pro Dom,” I said to Victor.

  Chapter 35

  Tuesday, February 11th

  Anthony

  Sydney and I were sitting on the couch cuddling and watching T.V. when Matt sent me the text saying that he needed to talk to me. Fuck, here we go again. I sighed and tossed my phone to the side and looked at my sunshine.

  “Sunshine, Matt’s coming over for a little bit. I’m going to go upstairs and get another shirt on. Do you want to stay down here?”

  Sydney was getting a little better about staying in a room alone as long as she knows it won’t be for very long. It also has to be daylight outside. I’ve been giving her the option and choice of if she wants to stay or come with me.

  “Yes, Sir. I’ll stay here.”

  I brought her hand from my stomach to my lips and kissed it tenderly. I could have easily sat there all afternoon with her hand on me like that. Before I went upstairs I told her she could open the door when Matt rang the bell but only after she looked to confirm that it was him first. I knew with her fears having been multiplied after Paul that Sydney wouldn’t open the door without looking. I raced up the stairs and found myself to be slightly winded when I got to our room. For whatever conversation Matt felt he needed to have with me, I was taking it out to the patio. I put a long sleeve button shirt on over my t-shirt and put on some shoes.

  I tied my shoes once I heard the doorbell and then hurried down the stairs. As I made my way down the stairs, I glanced over at the couch expecting to see Matt but instead I saw Blake. I slowed my descend and told Blake I was surprised to see him. He looked guilty about something.

  “Blake, what is it?” I asked as the doorbell rang.

  I couldn’t help but look in the direction of the door and then back at Blake. I had a bad feeling brewing in my stomach.

  “Matt asked me to meet him here,” he said calmly.

  “Sir? Should I get the door?” Sydney asked.

  I nodded and reminded her to make sure it was Matt before she opened it. Blake stood and came over to stand by me, and suddenly I felt very uneasy. However, it was nothing compared to the feeling that washed over me as Sydney came back into the great room with Matt and another man behind him. Victor. Fuck me. My mouth went dry and I felt warm and dizzy. Sydney was walking toward me and I held my arm out for her to take my hand. She eagerly took it and stood just to the side and behind me some. Victor stayed behind Matt.

  “Anthony, we need to talk,” Matt said quietly.

  I nodded and led us through the kitchen and asked them to wait by the patio door. I had to think. Sydney. I took her by the hand over to the pantry and got a small bag of M&M’s out. I put them in her hands and kissed her forehead.

  “Sunshine, go into the great room and watch T.V. I’m going to be on the patio with Matt and Blake. You’ll be able to see me from the couch.”

  Sydney was apprehensive and I could see worry start to cloud her face. I had to settle her down; she was my priority.

  “Sydney, everything is fine. You’re going to be fine on the couch and you’ll be able to see me.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  As she walked to the great room, she looked over her shoulder at me. I wanted to tell her she really didn’t want to be in on this conversation. I knew where it was possibly headed. When she reached for the remote, I turned and headed outside on the patio with Blake, Matt, and someone I never wanted to see again.

  I sat at the head of the patio table with Blake and Matt both on either side of me and Victor sat to the left of Matt. Matt just continues to dig.

  “Anth, I was worried about you and feared something bad happened that night you left here.”

  “Is that what this is? Another reminder about how I left Colin that night?”

  “No. We are concerned and you’re worried too. I know you got a concussion that night and can’t remember the whole evening. I met with Victor to find out what happened so we can help you and so it will stop eating at you with not knowing. Victor refused to tell me anything about your evening based on his privacy policy. So, I asked him to come here and talk to you and tell you what happened so you can stop worrying.”

  This couldn’t be happening to me. I stared at Matt and wanted to tell him that he really didn’t want to go down this road. I also wanted to take a swing at him. Why would he do this? I have never wanted to punch him more than I wanted to right now.

  “Blake, did you know he was doing this?”

  He shook his head and said that he knew of Matt’s lunch plans but didn’t know Matt was bringing Victor to the house. Blake looked a little ticked off as well. I glanced back through the patio door and could see Sydney still sitting on the couch eyeing me. She had her cell phone in her hands and I silently was hoping she was texting Colin, mostly because I knew she was nervous and Colin could keep her calm. When I asked him if Colin knew, he said Colin didn’t know. I’m sure righteous Matt will tell him and soon Colin will kick me the fuck out. Then I will have lost everything because Matt was concerned. Absolutely fucking wonderful.

  “Here, Graves.” Victor slid his phone over to me and a video was queued up with a play arrow prominently flashing in the center. My heart began pounding at what I’m sure would be deemed an unhealthy rate of speed. I treated that phone as if it had the plague and didn’t touch it.

  “What the fuck is this?” I asked.

  “I record my visits with clients so if it came down to a he said/she said, I have evidence,” Victor said to me. I stared at everyone at the table.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? You record them without them knowing?”

  Victor hit the play arrow and I grabbed the phone just in time to hear Victor ask me in the video if it was okay to be recorded. I had answered him with the “I don’t care” response that turned out to be a horrible phrase. Fuck me. I was that drunk. He took the phone back and queued the thing up to a different part of the visit.

  “I don’t need to see the video.”

  I was sweating and really unsure of what to do. I didn’t want to see this again. I’ve seen it in my head and have played the pieces over and over. I didn’t need the actual footage and damn Matt. Victor and Matt exchanged glances and I repeated that I didn’t need to see it only to be told by Matt that I did. Victor put the phone in front of me and hit the play arrow.

  I glanced at the timer on the video at the top of the screen. This part was well into his visit, and was around the forty-five or fifty-minute mark. I was not able to pull my eyes away from the screen. I didn’t want to see it but the screen was playing out that terrible evening.

  I didn’t need to see the video. I knew what happened for the most part. I watched from the part where I think I sustained the concussion. Fuck, I really hit my head hard. No one else could see it but everyone could hear what unmistakably had happened. The noises of Victor’s grunts made me reach for the back of my neck. I felt sick and angry. I sat through the entire thing. Again. I relived that terrible night and revisited the memories I had, and I saw the graphic pieces that had been missing from my memory. When the video play arrow popped back on the screen, I took a deep breath and realized I was shaking. I co
uldn’t look at any of them. The video confirmed everything I was doubting and worried over, and without looking at Matt, I slid the phone over to him. He got what he wanted.

  “Go on, watch it, you asshole. I hope it provides you with all the entertainment you were so desperate to find.”

  Blake picked the phone up before Matt could, and he handed it back to Victor.

  “No one else is watching this. Understood?” Blake said to Victor and gave Matt a stern look. Blake was obviously angered. It didn’t matter though, they heard it. It was obvious what happened.

  I stood and took out my wallet and threw a wad of cash on the table at Victor. I wanted proof that the video was destroyed and his word that there were no other copies. Victor set the phone down on the table so I could see him deleting the video.

  “I don't have any additional copies, Graves. I didn’t come here to blackmail you and I’m not going to take your money. Matt asked me to talk to you in hopes you would stop beating yourself up.”

  Oh yes, what Matt did was very thoughtful. I couldn’t even begin to describe what, if anything, that I was feeling. Matt stood and told Victor he’d walk him out. I stared at a few hundred dollars that sat on the table.

  I tilted my head back against the chair and looked up at the sky trying to think of anything to clear my head. Blake sat quietly next to me and I sure he was just trying to pick his words.

  “Don’t, Blake. Just don’t say anything right now,” I said to him hoping he’d at least give me that.

  I heard the patio door open back up and met Blake’s eyes. I couldn’t describe what I saw in them. Sadness maybe. Possibly anger or disgust. Any and all were possible. Matt slumped down in the chair next to me and all I could think of was how disgusted I was with him and what he did.

  My phone vibrated and I picked it up from the table to see an incoming call from Colin’s cell. Jesus, I had that getting ready to pour down on me. I rubbed my hands over my face and ignored the call and tossed the phone on the table. A few moments later, Matt’s cell and then Blake’s cell all rang. Both Matt and Blake ignored the calls. I glanced back inside and could see Sydney looking outside from the couch. She probably got scared or worried and called Colin. She was still in my corner...for now. Until Colin takes her from me when he finds out, which I am pretty sure won’t be long from now.