From Love and Pain

by H. A. Caine

  Constantly getting the shit beaten out of him wasn't his idea of fun. Rarely did they ask him questions. It was as if they got off on causing other people pain. He prayed that he was the only one they were holding. It chilled him to think of anyone else being abused.

  He sat there for God only knew how long as he thought of how he could escape. He didn't feel safe pinning all his hopes on outside forces rescuing him.

  But he had no idea how he was going to get himself out of this mess.

  Although they had untied his legs, they had attached a chain to his foot that connected to a bolt in the wall. There was enough lax in the chain that he could walk a few feet before the chain tugged at him.

  Not that it mattered. Anytime he tried to stand on his own he collapsed onto the floor. He couldn't tell for sure, but he believed his free ankle was broken.

  It was probably from one of those idiots stomping on it repeatedly.

  He laughed at his own sarcasm, but it was a hollow, harsh grating sound that would send shivers down any sane man's spine.

  The door opened.

  As casual as could be, the newcomer grabbed a chair from outside the door and turning to face him, straddled it, resting his arms on the back of it. For a long minute he just sat there, staring at Jaxon.

  "How are you feeling today?" the man asked in a pleasant tone.

  Jaxon was incredulous. He may not be able to look in a mirror, but he felt like crap warmed over and probably looked worse, so he said the only thing he could think of.

  “I feel like I just got the shit beaten out of me."

  The man tossed back his head and let loose a booming laugh before looking back at Jaxon. "I like that. A man not afraid to get his ass whipped for his insolence. Though I have to say, from the looks of you, I’d guess that welcoming carpet has already been rolled out, huh?" the man smiled charmingly, displaying straight white teeth that shined in the gloominess of the room.

  When he didn't received an answer he chuckled softly before turning serious as he suddenly stood, causing the chair to tilt over backwards.

  The clatters of the chair hitting the floor made the goony from before jump and take a step away from the man.

  From his vantage point on the floor, the man appeared to be a giant, but Jaxon knew better. The man had short hair and a stocky build. He could’ve been a bouncer for some high end club if it wasn't for the impeccable suit he was wearing.

  He now tugged on the lapels, straightening out invisible wrinkles as he glared at Jaxon trying to force him to cower in fear, but Jaxon cowered for no one.

  "Your sister is doing her best to get you back. She has three days to get me what I want or I'm going to torture you very slowly for days on end, then leave you to suffer in pain and die of starvation before I finally allow you the sweet bliss of death's welcomed embrace. She's a bitch, but man, do I love introducing her to new people." with that said, the asshole turned and exited the room.

  "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself." the goony stated with a snicker as he picked up the forgotten wooden chair and followed his boss out, securely closing the door behind him with a click of finality as he plunged Jaxon back into the irrepressible darkness that could destroy the strongest of men’s' mind.

  * * * *

  Adrian woke to a pounding pain in his head and the sight of Joy sitting on the floor beside him, holding a bag of ice to his head.

  Knocking her hand aside, he struggled to sit up. "What the hell happened?" he groused.

  Her eyes flickered nervously behind him and he twisted his head to see who she was staring at, only to spot Crow and Star off to the side, whispering furiously.

  Looking back at Joy, he waited for her to respond. When it was obvious no answer was forthcoming, Adrian stood and ambled over to the pair.

  Spotting him, Star signaled Crow and they both stopped speaking, watching as he drew near.

  He stopped a few paces away, glaring at them for a moment before repeating his earlier question.

  "What the hell happened?"A loaded glance passed between them before Star finally answered him.

  "Well Sir, you um... You fainted." she took a fast step back as if expecting him to erupt.

  Though it was beyond hard to believe, Adrian knew that none of them would ever lie to him. If there was anyone they respected, it was him.

  Taking a deep breath, he tried to recall what had happened but Crow beat him to it.

  "You were looking through the pictures and you whispered something then collapsed. You hit your head pretty hard. How are you feeling?"

  "I feel fine." he lied. "Let me see the pictures." he held his hand out to Star. Retrieving the crumbled piece of paper that was next to where he was recently laying, she straightened it out and handed it to him.

  Adrian looked at the picture and had to fight not to react.

  Jaxon.

  He now knew without a doubt that this was about him.

  This Daniel was the same bastard that had ruined his life up until ten years ago. He thought he had escaped, out ran the monster, but he was obviously wrong.

  Daniel was right. He should know by now that he couldn't run from him. Somehow, some way, he always managed to find him.

  And now he was targeting the only person left in Adrian’s life that he cared about. This time he wouldn't run, this time he'd walk away with blood on his hands.

  When he spoke next his voice lacked all emotion. “We need to get going if we're going-"

  "No need. The sister showed up while you were out of it. This Daniel guy left her another message." Crow interrupted.

  Adrian cut a sharp look his way and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Where is she now?"

  "She was flustered and couldn't get a single word out without tearing up so John took her next door to the cafe. We're hoping a more neutral surrounding will calm her down and she'll be easier to understand when they come back. I'll call him now." Crow turned away. He pulled out his cell and proceeded to do just that.

  Adrian had no idea what he was going to do. It would only raise questions if it got out that he knew these people. He had only met the sister, Melissa, once a few years back... Hopefully she wouldn't recognize him. The last thing he needed was a hysterical sister getting on him for abandoning her brother. He'd make sure he was there when they got Jaxon out of whatever dump Daniel was holding him in and he'll ask him to keep quiet.

  Not that the man was stupid. He knew how to read a situation and work it to his best advantage. Adrian had no doubt that even now, wherever he was, Jaxon was contriving an escape plan. He was never one to just sit back and twiddle his thumbs while others did all the hard work.

  Other than Crow, Jaxon was the only man on the face of this planet that he would ever willingly trust at his back.

  Thinking about Jaxon only made horrible possibilities run through his head. He couldn't stop the "what-if's" even if he tried.

  What if they were too late to save him? What if Daniel was only bluffing and the man was already dead?

  What if he couldn't build up the courage it would take to face his nemesis? Just imagining the scene he knew he would be walking in on turned his stomach and had his mind screaming out in rejection. He would never forgive himself if anything ever happened to Jaxon because he failed to protect him.

  He looked down at the photo in his hand. Jaxon had already suffered enough because of him.

  "They’re on their way." Crow announced, interrupting his musings.

  Mentally shaking his head, he refocused on his main priority at the moment.

  Finding out just what Daniel wanted.

  Heading back to the conference table, he cleared it before taking a seat and organizing his thoughts.

  At the sound of the door creaking open, he turned his head and watched a beautiful petite blond step through, followed closely behind by John.

  With a nod of his head John returned to the computer station and picked up where he left off. Adrian carefully studied Melissa's facial expressions,
watching for any hint of recognition.

  When none manifested itself in neither her face nor her eyes, he smiled politely and stepped forward, taking her hand in his as he led her to the table.

  Pulling a chair out, he pointed it towards his and helped her into it.

  "I'm truly sorry we had to meet under such dire circumstances Miss...?"

  "Oh, right. I'm Melissa Wright and you are?"

  "Ashe."

  She stared at him, as if waiting for him to go on. "Ashe... what?" she asked when he stayed silent.

  "Just Ashe." he evaded, and then continued, not giving her the chance to question him further. She probably thought they were a legit team when the truth was they were just a group of seriously fucked up people with bad tendencies trying to make the best out of their lives.

  It was heroic, really.

  "Miss Wright-" he started.

  "You can call me Melissa."She interrupted, turning her gaze to include the room full of people.

  Nodding his acknowledgement, he continued.

  "I’m to understand that you received another message from the man you believe to have taken your brother?"

  "Yes. After I got off the phone with one of your people, I stepped outside my apartment to grab the morning paper. Tucked inside it was a note stating that I had three days from the day they had taken Jaxon to give this Daniel guy what he wants before they started to torture poor Jaxon before finally killing him. But from the picture I sent earlier they already are torturing him and I’ve no idea what he wants." Her voice broke towards the end and tears ran rapidly down her face.

  Not knowing what to do, Adrian awkwardly patted her shoulder murmuring "There, there", while looking desperately around the room for help. Most of the men stepped back but Kayse came forward, knocking his clumsy hand away from Melissa's shoulder. He pulled her into his embrace and rocked her back and forth, whispering something to her.

  Whatever he said worked and she calmed down almost immediately, disengaging herself from him and whipping her eyes. She turned a sheepish look his way.

  "Sorry, I'm not usually such a basket case." she forced a laugh.

  Taking pity on her, for he completely understood how she felt, he offered her what he hoped was a comforting smile, extending his hand back towards the seat.

  Sitting down, she reached into her pocket, placing a folded piece of stationary on the table in front of him.

  Knowing he would lose any vestige of control he maintained over the flood of rage that pounded through his blood if he looked at those words, he discreetly pushed it aside and changed the line of questioning.

  "What time do you paper normally get your paper?"

  She thought about it for a moment before responding.

  "I would have to guess around 6:25, so long as the paperboy is running on time.”

  He nodded his head and looked at his watch. It was 7:33 now.

  "What time did you step out?"

  This time she answered right away. "6:49. I had just put my coffee to brew and noticed the time on the small display in front." she looked proud with herself and he knew that she felt better being able to help her brother in some way. At least they could check and see if anyone had seen a stranger in her neighborhood around that time. It probably wouldn't help them any, but it was something.

  Signaling Kayse who stood nearby in case she started to cry again, he let him take over as he looked around the room for Crow who seemed to of had disappeared within the last fifteen minutes.

  Pulling out his phone, he continued to search the room even as he dialed Crow, who was on his speed-dial in case of emergencies.

  "I'm out back." Crow didn't bother with pleasantries.

  Snapping his phone shut, he headed for the back door.

  Crow was acting strange. Even though they hadn't known each other that long, Adrian cared for the other man. He considered him the best friend he had; which wasn't saying much since the only people he ever really talked to were standing in that room.

  The less people he interacted with, the less damage he had to clean up.

  His mind turned back to what Melissa had told him and he had the sudden urge to put his fist through the nearest concrete wall. He knew Daniel would go out of his way to make certain that Jaxon suffered unimaginable pain.

  Daniel was one sadistic bastard.

  The news only made him that much more determined to find Jaxon and get him the hell out of there. He knew it wouldn't be hard for him to discover Daniel's hiding place. One thing that never changed was the fact that Daniel liked to return to the scene of the crime. He would pick the most painful memory he ever created for Adrian and force him to relieve it.

  Hell, he didn't need the guys to do any searching to figure it out. The answer was already in his head.

  Only that was the problem.

  After years of banishing the memories and struggling to forget it all, it was going to be one hell of a battle trying to bring it all back on purpose. He had spent almost half his life making himself move on, believing himself safe; that it was impossible for his childhood boogeyman to find him ever again.

  He should have known better. Nothing was as easy as it seemed.

  He stepped outside and spotted Crow off to the side, looking lost in his thoughts as he propped himself up with a foot against the brick wall of the building.

  Clearing his throat to announce his presence, Adrian walked over to him, stopping a foot away and assuming the same pose.

  For a few minutes, they just stood there quietly, enjoying the rare silence.

  Without warning, Crow pushed off the wall and rounded in front of Adrian with his legs braced apart and his arms stiff at his sides. His posture screamed determination to Adrian.

  Adrian stood up straight and fought the suddenly strong urge to cross his arms over his chest, knowing Crow would read it for the defensive gesture that it was.

  Meeting his eyes dead-on with a stare that made Adrian feel more naked than he could ever be, Crow asked him, "How do you know these people?"

  Adrian thought about playing it stupid, but if anyone could read him, it was Crow. So lying to him would not only be stupid, Crow would take it as an insult that he would even try to.

  Setting his shoulders, he met Crow's gaze without flinching. “I knew them a few years ago. Well, I knew the brother. I only met the sister once, for all of five minutes, which is why she doesn't recognize me."

  Calmly, he waited for the barrage of questions that he knew were coming. Crow didn't disappoint.

  "If you don't mind me asking, and even if you do, just how are you connected to this? And don't bother lying to me; we both know the truth is bound to come out before this nightmare is over for those two."

  Adrian acknowledged the truth of that statement. Not that it mattered. He had no intention of lying to Crow.

  The way he saw it, it was better if he was the one to tell him.

  He took a moment, not knowing how to piece together the jumble of thoughts in his head. He knew what he wanted to say, but even he was still confused about what had happened five years ago.

  He thought back to the first day he had met Jaxon.

  Actually, it was more like he bulldozed into the poor man. He was running into the Starbucks across the street from their main office, trying to open an email on his new phone and not looking where he was going.

  He didn't hear the door open and walked right into the man stepping out and dropped his phone. Bending over to retrieve it, he saw that the email he was having trouble opening was displayed across the screen.

  Grinning, he looked up and thanked the guy.

  Adrian wasn't sure how it had happened but after a few minutes of talking, the guy; Jaxon, he said his name was, had gotten him to agree to go to a local bar to watch a baseball game and share a few drinks.

  That was the first time Adrian had ever bothered to waste time with sports. Shockingly, he actually liked the crap.

  He now owned a Yankees fitted cap and
a Derek Jeter jersey that no one knew about, except for Jaxon, of course.

  Shaking his head, he looked over at Crow who was five seconds away from snapping impatiently at him.

  He opened his mouth then closed it again.

  Then, he once again opened his mouth. He thought about closing it, just to irritate Crow but knew only he would find that humorous.

  Sighing, he finally spoke. “They’re in this situation because of me." Adrian didn't like that fact at all. He liked admitting it out loud even less. It bothered him that the only person he had left was in danger and it was no ones fault but his own.

  "Yeah man, I kind of got that. I’ve never seen you drop like that before. I mean, shit man, you actually fainted." Crow said, not unkindly. Then he continued. "But what I want to know is why use this guy to get at you."

  Adrian ignored the last part and responded to the first half of his statement. Straightening his stance, he dropped his arms and narrowed his eyes on Crow. "I didn't ‘faint’; I lost consciousness for a few moments there."

  Crow's lips twitched in amusement but otherwise held his ground. "Okay. So why use him?"

  Playing ignorant wouldn't achieve anything, but he hated that he had no choice but to inform Crow of Daniel's fucked up reasoning. He would need his help either way, he reasoned to himself.

  Still, he didn't like it.

  So when he spoke, his words were blunter than he meant them to be.

  Giving a bitter laugh, Adrian looked directly at Crow, squared his shoulders and said, almost defiantly, "Because I was sleeping with the brother year before last."

  Chapter Three

  For a moment Crow just stood shell shock trying to absorb the words Adrian had just thrown at him. Then a look of utter confusion crossed his face and stayed there. His eyes found Adrian's again and Adrian saw his chest rise as he breathed in deeply only to exhale extremely loud.

  He knew he should of had soften the blow, but the words had just flown out of his mouth before he could find a more...delicate way to say it. But he didn't allow himself to dwell on it long. Though he knew that at the moment Crow was confused, he also knew that when it all came down to it Crow would appreciate the fact that Adrian didn't waste any time beating around the bush.