“For what? To die?” Bur spat.
“If I had to.”
“What about Tomas? If you hadn’t left, you wouldn’t have found him,” Del said.
“And wouldn’t have found us again, or be here for our little brothers now. What good would that have done? We need to be here for them.”
“For them,” Bernie said furiously.
“For them,” Bur and Del echoed.
Bernie took a shuddering breath, and then his face firmed. “We’re going to get them the help they need. We’ll open Triumvirate, and help people who don’t feel they have anyone to turn to. As for our parents, if they’re stupid enough to come here, we’ll handle it together.”
“Together,” Bur said.
“They’ll pay,” Del said, his tone leaking power.
“They will.” Bernie smiled grimly.
He walked out of the room. Spotting Megan, he asked, “Where’s Tomas?”
She pointed. Her face was sympathetic. Bernie went where she’d gestured. Going to the back patio, he noted Tomas was standing, looking out at the lake. He walked toward him. Tomas turned to him. His eyes were probing. Tomas opened his arms. Bernie ran to him and gripped him fiercely. Tomas sank to his knees and held him, rocking him. Bernie sobbed. The thought of two more boys living with what they had tore at his heart.
“What did you all do to him?” Tomas roared.
Bernie glanced up, startled. He looked back and saw Del and Bur standing close to them. Bernie turned to Tomas.
“They didn’t do anything.” Bernie filled him in quickly on what he had learned.
“Your brothers are away from them. That’s a good thing. As for them coming here for Del, well they’ll find they can’t fuck with family.” Tomas’s expression was grim.
“You don’t even like Bur, or know Del.” Bernie was shocked.
“Bur is growing on me. Del… well, we’ll have a chat about his manipulation. None of that matters more than you. They are your family. Humphrey and Darwin too. So they’re mine. Te amo, Bernie,” Tomas said fiercely.
“I love you too, Tomas.” Bernie kissed him softly, then drew back.
“Now, we need to plan what we’ll do when they come. And you all need to work on Triumvirate to help people.” Tomas stood, pulling Bernie with him.
They headed into the house to plan.
BERNIE TOOK a breath, shaking his head. Since reconnecting with Del, the rest of July to now, the middle of August, had passed in a blur. He’d completed everything to get his degrees, and the ceremony would be in about two weeks, at the end of August. Tomas and he had already had their own private celebration. His brothers were overjoyed with his accomplishment.
Having his brothers back was surreal. The three of them had clicked as they always did. He and Bur already had plans laid out for today to be a small ceremony to start off the center; however, with Del included, it had taken on even bigger proportions than they’d planned.
When Del had stated they needed to make a splash about the center to let everyone know about it, including those who they eventually planned to help, they hadn’t thought it was possible in the time they had to get such an event set up. They had forgotten how Del was when he got his mind set on something. He was relentless. Age and time had only made him even more so. Del was a dynamo with arranging what Bernie and Bur had thought would be impossible. Between both Bur and Del’s connections and the funding Del had lined up, they were well on their way.
“You’ll be okay, kid,” Tomas said.
“Not a kid,” Bernie said automatically.
“Habit, honey.” Tomas smirked.
Bernie ignored him. He ran his hand down the side of his pants.
“Triumvirate,” Bur said.
“Triumvirate,” Del echoed.
“Deuce,” two voices added.
Looking at the solemn faces of Humphrey and Darwin, Bernie went to his knees and straightened their ties.
“Luv ya, Bernie,” Humphrey and Darwin said together.
Bernie hugged them tightly. They snuggled against him, clinging. In the two weeks since they had come to Mapson, the boys had opened up. They clung to him, Del, Bur, and Tomas, but were shy around others. The boys had a long way to go, but Bernie knew they would thrive. They all would make sure of it. He withdrew and brushed back their brown curls.
“Are you ready to go out there?”
“Yes,” they answered simultaneously.
Bernie stood. The boys went to Del, standing at his side and taking his hand together. Del squeezed their hands.
Bernie tugged Tomas with him as he pushed open the curtain. Walking up to the mike, Bernie released his hand. Immediately his gaze was drawn to the cameras at the back of the gathering. He knew there was both televised and print press scattered around. Bernie focused on the crowd just below where he stood. He battled back tears, looking at their family below. Tomas’s family had taken him in, making him their own. They had embraced his brothers, too, although Del and Bur were more cautious about being around them. He understood, since he had been the same when he first started becoming part of the family. Mami and Papi both had a proud look on their faces. The rest of the large extended family, which included the friends they had, all looked proud and supportive. Most had already volunteered to help any way they could. They didn’t even know how personally linked this center was to him and his brothers. They offered their help because in their eyes, they were family.
He hadn’t revealed to any of them about the abuse from his parents. He probably never would give all the details. Tomas had filled in Miguel and some of the family that there was possible trouble coming for him and his brothers without giving too much detail. They would be vigilant about the possibility of them coming, but not let them interfere with them living their lives. Gripping the podium, he looked out at the sea of people sitting below the elevated stage, with the vivid green land behind them.
“Welcome, everyone. August thirteenth is a special day for my brothers Dillard, Wilbur, and me. It’s our birthday. It was a hard road to get to this day, but we are here, and we survived. With our little brothers Humphrey and Darwin, we want to offer people a place to go, no matter what. That is why today, with the first shovel of dirt, we start the journey that will give birth to Triumvirate Deuce.” Bernie stepped back.
The sound of the backhoe starting filled the air. Bernie reached for Tomas’s hand. He hissed, jerking back as a shock stung him. Bernie looked at Tomas.
“We’re electric, honey.” Tomas winked.
“Sparks flying all over the place,” Bernie said, taking his hand and lacing his fingers with Tomas’s.
“Te amo, Bernie.” Tomas lifted his hand and kissed it.
“Te amo, Tomas,” Bernie whispered.
To my family, who has believed in me from the very beginning. Thanks for your support.
Chapter One
GERALD RAMIREZ opened the door and stepped inside but stopped when he spotted the man who, in the last six months, had become an increasing aggravation. Oblivious to him, the man whistled as he moved from the fridge to the counter and put down the makings that looked to be for a sandwich. He then reached up to the cabinet above his head, opened it, and took out a plate. After shutting the cabinet, he did a slide move to the dish drainer and retrieved a knife, then retraced the movement back to where he had been before. Dancing in place and still whistling, the man started to make his sandwich. Gerald clenched his fist at the familiarity with which he moved around the kitchen. He acted as if he owned the place.
“Hey, Gerald. Do you want a sandwich?” Wilbur “Bur” Jenkins asked, without looking at him or pausing his dancing movements.
It didn’t even surprise Gerald that Bur knew he was there. Bur seemed to have an innate way of knowing where he was. It was just another thing about Bur that pissed him off. Bur turned his head. Pale green eyes studied him impassively, then Bur partially lowered his lids over his eyes. Gerald scowled. He recognized the same gesture from B
ur’s brother, Bernard Jenkins. On Bernie, it looked innocent and endearing. However, on Bur, it was all challenge. Gerald couldn’t fathom how two men could look so much alike, but be so vastly different. Hell, actually three men. Although the features, eyes, and hair color of the Jenkins triplets were identical, there was no mistaking which man you were talking with. Their personalities and the way they dressed were very different. Bernie was more casual, which matched his clean-cut persona and openness. Dillard, who preferred being called Del, was more stylishly casual and portrayed a more brusque and standoffish attitude.
Gerald studied Bur. Everything about Bur showed he was trouble, and he embraced it wholeheartedly—from the ring in the left side of his thin nose, as well as the other in his right eyebrow, to the stone that looked like a diamond that was above his top lip in the center of his mouth, and the messy waves of shaggy brown hair with red at the tips that fell around Bur’s face. As usual, he was dressed in a baggy T-shirt that hung on his gangly frame. Even though, from where he stood by the door, Gerald couldn’t see his lower half, he knew that Bur was in some sort of sweatpants and barefoot. The bottoms he wore would range in length and color, and while some were plain, there were others that would have on one leg the same emblem design. Gerald didn’t recognize it. The shirts were always baggy but could be sleeveless, short-sleeved, or long-sleeved. The clothing was all Bur usually wore when he was relaxing around the house. When he went out, Bur would change the sweats to jeans and put on shoes. As soon as he returned to the house, he would take off the shoes. Bur preferred to be barefoot. In the months he’d been forced to be around him, Gerald had observed him, looking for ways to oust him out of Harper’s life.
“Are you going to stand there mute in the doorway all day?” Bur returned his attention to making his sandwich.
Gerald stepped forward and closed the door behind him. He walked deeper into the kitchen.
“With how late you left last night, I would think you’d still be home sleeping,” Bur said.
At the reminder of last night, Gerald gritted his teeth. He, Harper, and Bur had rung in the New Year together. At the stroke of midnight, Bur had kissed Harper. They had laughed and turned to him. He’d been so angry, he’d left the room and gone to get another drink. The New Year before had been the first time since Karl Provenza—Harper’s husband and Gerald’s best friend—had died that they faced the New Year without him. Harper had been broken, and Gerald had spent the night holding him as he cried. There had been a lot of tears those first few months. Harper and he had been through many first times without Karl—Harper’s birthday, which was the day after burying Karl; Karl’s birthday; and Thanksgiving and Christmas were but a few. Last year, for the anniversary of Karl’s burial, Harper had asked Gerald and Bur to go with him to the graveside. They had all gone together. That had become the pattern. It seemed as if wherever they went, Bur would be there. For all the firsts Harper and Gerald had together, the seconds were with Bur in attendance. Thanksgiving and Christmas this year weren’t as painful as last year, but Gerald was frustrated that Bur was there, just as with New Year’s.
Last night, between the living room and kitchen, Gerald had decided not to have another alcoholic beverage as he’d planned, since he would be driving. By the time the two men had joined him, he had made coffee and was sitting at the table by the window drinking. He hadn’t participated in the conversation they were having, although Harper had tried more than once to draw him into it. Although he should have left, he’d stayed another three hours, watching them interact before he’d had enough of seeing them so lovey-dovey and left.
In the little bit over six months since Bur’s arrival, he’d created havoc. Moving in with Harper right after meeting him, Bur had somehow burrowed his way into Harper’s life. Their life. Now, instead of Harper and Gerald, as it had been since Provenza died, it was Harper, Gerald, and Bur. They were a happy duo, and he was a surly Gerald.
God, I miss you, Karl. Why did you have to die, you bastard? His eyes burned. Gerald blinked, pushing away the emotions he would not allow to surface. He had to be strong for Harper. It was what a friend would do. Be there to ensure that no one hurt Harper. Step up and take Provenza’s place. Miguel couldn’t do it. He had Robert. It was Gerald’s responsibility to be there. Gerald walked closer to Bur. He leaned against the counter, partway between the dish drainer and where Bur stood. He noted Bur stiffened, then relaxed.
“Stop fucking with Harper.” Gerald tapped his finger on the counter.
“What, is that”—Bur did the same motion to the counter as Gerald had—“supposed to scare me? Make me run and pack my stuff? Ohhh, let me run and go do it,” Bur mocked.
“Stop being a smartass and listen. Harper is vulnerable, and he doesn’t need you messing with him. You can go and find some other man to get your rocks off with.” Gerald crossed his arms over his chest.
Bur put down the knife and turned to face him, mirroring his posture. “Let me say this again so you can get it through your thick skull. I’m. Not. Going. Anywhere.” He enunciated it slowly.
Gerald narrowed his eyes. “I care about Harper, and I’m asking you to let him go. I don’t know what this hold you have on him is, but just leave.”
Bur studied him, then sighed. “You are so oblivious. I care about Harper too. I—”
“You don’t know him. Hell, you only met him six months ago. I kno—”
Bur cut him off, his tone low and furious. “I do know him. I might only have met him six months ago, but I know him. I’ve been where he was. Pain so bad it would eat you alive. Don’t you fucking dare presume to tell me what I know.”
Gerald was surprised at his vehemence. In the time he’d been around Bur, he’d only seen the easygoing, without a care in the world attitude. His mind started to race as he realized that there might be more to Bur than he thought.
“You sound just like Bernie did when he told me to back off and let Harper be,” Gerald said.
“I heard about that. And Bernie was right. At least you partially listened,” Bur replied.
“I more than partially listened. I’ve been giving Harper space.” Gerald frowned.
“Really. I’ve noticed that. All that space you’ve been giving him while you’re here so often, calling and so on.” The sarcasm was plain in his voice.
“You really are a mouthy shit.”
“Now, now, Gerald. No reason to compliment me so nicely.” Bur smiled.
“Only to you would that be a compliment.” Gerald snorted.
“And you too. Just as I have gotten to know Harper, I’ve seen a lot about you. You’re an okay bloke, Gerald. A little controlling, but okay,” Bur said.
Gerald stifled a smile at the word “bloke.” He’d become so accustomed to hearing Bur speak with a British accent, he didn’t even register it. Except for those times Bur used British terms. He sobered, going back to what he wanted Bur to do.
“You claim you care about Harper. So how can you take advantage of him, living here sponging off him?”
“I don’t sponge off him,” Bur stated.
“Fine. I don’t know what you contribute to the household, but it can’t be much. You don’t even have a job. You’re an out of work singer. I bet you don’t have any money.”
“You would lose that bet.” Bur laughed.
Gerald didn’t understand what was funny. He shook his head. Bur wasn’t listening.
“What do you give Harper that I can’t?” he asked, frustrated.
Bur stared at him. “A body.”
“Sex. See that’s what I’m talking about. You need to find someone else to bump nasties with.”
“What decade are you from? First ‘get your rocks off’ and now ‘bump nasties’. What are you going to say next? Wait, I know. Horizontal mambo.” Bur snickered, then sobered. “Why don’t you come to the present and call it as it is? Fucking. Come on, say it with me: fucking.” He said it slowly.
“I really don’t appreciate you talking
to me like I’m an idiot.”
“Maybe if you’d stop acting like one, I could stop. That’s a long maybe. I’m waiting for you to ask me a question outright. You’ve implied and skirted around actually asking Harper or me what we’re doing together. Ask me who I want to fuck, Gerald.” Bur’s gaze was intent.
An uneasy feeling filled Gerald. He debated a moment if he should walk away. He already knew he wouldn’t. He wasn’t the type of man to avoid something because it made him uncomfortable.
“Who do you want to fuck, Bur?” Gerald said it challengingly.
Bur straightened from where he leaned on the counter. He closed the distance between them. Gerald’s gaze narrowed as he noted the predatory way Bur was walking. There was arrogance in every motion, and the intent look on his face was one Gerald knew well. He waited, sure he was mistaken. Bur stopped beside him and placed his hand on the counter next to his.
“You, Gerald Ramirez, are the one I want to bend over and fuck.”
“Are you really trying to pick me up like I’m some woman you want to screw for the night?” Gerald asked in disbelief.
“Since I’ve never picked up a woman before, I wouldn’t know. Wouldn’t being so blunt with a lady get you slapped?”
“It goes according to the woman.” Gerald shrugged, then frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re teasing me.” Gerald stepped closer to him. “You really don’t know me, then. I’ve been around enough gay men to not be squeamish when one invades my space. Hell, I don’t even have the concept of personal space anymore. So you’ve gotta do better than this to freak me out.”
Gerald crowded him until they were pressed against each other. Bur closed his lids. Gerald blinked as Bur’s cock twitched, then hardened between them. A weird sensation he didn’t even want to acknowledge, much less explore, filled Gerald. He pushed it away and treated Bur as he would any of his other friends who liked to push the personal boundaries.
He chuckled. “I have that effect on both genders. Don—” He sobered and stopped speaking as Bur lifted his lids.
Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles) Page 29