by D. B. Watson
****
Adam stood in a daze, unable to remember what he wanted to do. He looked around, thinking to go find Patrick when his cell rang.
Patrick moved to the stairs and saw Adam with his back turned, holding his cell. He opened his mouth to call to him, pausing when he heard Adam say Jamie’s name.
“Jamie,” said Adam.
“Adam, can you do it?” Jamie said in a whisper.
“Okay, calm down. Did you try calling Yuri?”
“It just went to his voice mail.”
“I’m not sure I can get away.”
“Please Adam, I don’t want to be here anymore!” he cried.
“Don’t cry, Jamie. Okay stay there I’ll come to you.” Adam disconnected. He started up the stairs and saw Patrick standing at the top. He had a gut feeling Patrick heard his conversation. He approached him trying to calm his emotions. “Patrick, before you flip out, let me explain. Jamie went to a party without Yuri and needs me to take him home.”
“Then tell him to call his boyfriend.” Patrick tried to keep his voice calm, knowing Adam was lying not knowing Patrick had already seen Jamie.
“His calls are going to Yuri’s voice mail.”
“So, you want to skip out of my parents’ party—again—to chauffeur that imp?”
“Pat, I’ll come right back.”
“Adam, you need to know something.” Patrick tried to tell him about Yuri and his unwanted advances only Adam wasn’t listening.
“If I leave now, I can still make it back before the party ends.” Adam tried to step around him when Patrick grabbed his jacket.
“Adam, listen to me!” he demanded.
“Pat, I have to go. I’m sorry. I’m committed to this client.”
Patrick released him, stunned by Adam’s words. “Committed? What about your commitment to me?”
Adam didn’t have time to fight; a grounding urge to get to Jamie possessed him. He couldn’t understand why. “Pat!” he snapped, surprising Patrick, who went speechless. “You wanted me to connect with your family and I did. Hell, your father is cool with me now. So, mission accomplished.”
“Adam—”
“I have a business to run and a client who needs me. This can’t be about you right now.”
Adam’s words seemed to stab his soul. “So, you're leaving. Even though I don’t want you to?”
“I need to do my job.”
“But I have to tell you something.” Patrick’s pleas fell on deaf ears.
“Tell me when I get back.” Adam dashed off. Patrick trembled as tears filled his eyes. He wanted to scream, when he heard voices coming toward the staircase. One of them being his father’s. He hurried away, entering a side room. The lights were off, but it never slowed him down, since he’d been in the room many times. He walked over to the wall and pressed the framework, releasing a latch that opened a secret door. He stepped through and closed it behind him, not seeing that Yuri was inside the room watching.
****
In the kitchen, Jamie noticed the electric tea kettle on and brewing but no one in the room. He went to shut it off when his cell rang. Jamie snatched it from his back pocket and answered it on its second ring.
“Hello,” he said, hoping it was Yuri or Adam.
“Christopher,” said the voice he knew too well. Jamie said nothing in response, only sighed from disappointment. The caller waited a few seconds before speaking. “We all miss you.”
“What do you want?” Jamie asked, turning his back to the kettle.
“For you to come home.”
“I have a new home now.”
“But your brothers have been asking about you.”
“Look, I told you I—didn’t want to—” His words escaped him when he tried to speak them. “I can’t anymore,” he finished.
“I never forced you to do anything you didn’t want to. Did I?”
“No. But I want to be with Yuri now.”
“Does he feel the same?”
“He will.”
“You know he has eyes for another.”
“How do you know that? And how did you get this number?”
“Your answers are on the way there.”
“On the way.” Jamie turned and leaned back on the counter. “You know where I am?”
“Christopher.”
“Stop calling me that. It’s not my name anymore.”
He assumed the line went dead, when a sharp ring echoed in his head, causing his body to freeze in place. He didn’t pass out; he was aware of his surroundings, but he had no control over his movement.
A voice murmured in his ear, causing a warm sensation to run rampant through his body. Jamie became aroused in seconds. His hand moved to his pants. Without unbuttoning them, he slipped his palm past the waistband, grasping his hardon. Jamie tried to cry out but his touch, which didn’t feel like his own hand, caused him so much pleasure. He forgot where he was and that he was still holding his cell to his ear.
He was getting close to climaxing when the boiling teakettle announced its completion. It screamed a whistle of steam that sprayed at Jamie’s exposed arm. The scorching water went unnoticed for only a few seconds when Jamie jerked his arm from the painful heat, wrenching his cell from his ear and dropping it to the floor. Regaining control over his body, Jamie yanked his hand from his pants and moved from the counter, dropping to his knees.
He regained control of his sleeping body and he shivered, as if someone shook him awake. His first reaction was to cry out but he held it in, as he used the counter to pull himself to stand, shutting off the kettle. He looked down at his cell. Angry at himself for even staying on the phone with him, he wanted to smash the phone but decided against it. He picked up his phone and ended the call.
Adam entered the kitchen seeing Jamie, whose eyes lit up when he saw the detective.
CHAPTER 35
CALL
Penny sat in the car with the motor off, holding the steering wheel. With a blank stare, she watched the elevator. Her grip tightened just as her cell phone rang. One hand moved from the wheel and grabbed the phone, receiving the caller. Penny watched the action as if she were a member of an audience watching a movie. Once she pressed the phone to her ear, a voice just above a whisper spoke to her. A tear fell from her eye as her other hand moved from the wheel and opened her seat belt. The same hand opened her door and her body climbed out, walking to the back of the car. The voice continued speaking in her ear as she opened the trunk. A handgun with a silencer attached was the only occupant.
The caller disconnected. Her hand came down and Penny watched as her fingers texted Chen a message. When he replied, Penny picked up the gun still holding the cell phone, and walked to the elevator. She waited with the gun at her side. The ding sound informed her the elevator was arriving. When the door opened, neither man was expecting to see her holding the gun.
Her arm moved so fast that Chen didn’t realize his brother went down with a bullet in his head. He went for his gun, as Penny aimed and fired.
****
Adam called Yuri, but it only went to voice mail. Jamie stared out the car window, seeming lost in thought. Where the hell is he? he wondered. He tried calling Penny, but his call kept dropping. Could she be in danger as well? Adam tried to keep his driving under control.
“Is your boyfriend mad that you left him?” Jamie asked.
“Patrick is safe with his family. One less person to worry about,” Adam said out loud. He needed to hear himself say the words so he could concentrate on the task at hand. “Who was this friend who brought you to the party?”
“There was no friend. The man who designed my suit couldn’t come so I took his invite.”
“Took or stole?”
“Borrowed.”
“Why, Jamie?”
“I wanted to see what the fuss was about.”
“Does Yuri know?”
“No.”
“Where were his bodyguards?”
“I guess w
ith Yuri.”
“And Penny?”
“In her room, sleeping.”
“How did you use the elevator without her knowing?”
“I didn’t. I used the emergency stairs and took the guest elevator down.”
“Didn’t the staircase door have an alarm?”
“We all have a copy of the key to disarm it.” Jamie hoped Adam would stop questioning him. The lies were getting harder.
“Then go back in the way you left. I’ll be up once I park the car.”
“Okay.”
Adam dropped Jamie off at the front entrance.
Adam entered the Duet’s parking garage and parked by the elevator. He reached to open his glove compartment and collect his gun when his cell rang. He checked the caller ID and saw Patrick’s name. Adam hesitated; answering the call would lead to a huge argument that Adam didn’t have time for.
“I’ll make it up to you, Pat,” Adam said, refusing the call.
He continued for his gun when his cell phone rang again. When Adam checked the caller ID, he saw “Urgent.” Adam paused, then answered. “Hello.”
The caller’s voice crawled into Adam’s head, who sat unmoving as he listened. His urgency to get to Jamie was on hold. The call ended and Adam climbed out of his jeep, still holding his cell. He scanned his surroundings as he moved to the elevator. He inserted his key card, opening the door right away.
Everything inside seemed normal. Adam used his key card again as the door closed, taking him to the penthouse. While he waited, he kept his focus on his reflection that stared back at him. Not noticing the Lu brothers lying dead at his feet.
****
Jamie managed to enter the same way he told Adam he left. He took the guest elevator to the floor below his. After showing ID and bribing a staff member to unlock the fire exit door that led to his floor, he found out the door’s alarm was already disabled. He managed to enter the penthouse unnoticed. The fire exit door opened in the kitchen. He took the back stairs up to his room to wait for Adam. He removed the designer suit and replaced it with sweatpants, a hoodie, and sneakers. He heard the ding from the elevator informing him someone was coming up.
When Adam arrived, he stepped into the hallway and walked toward the staircase. The elevator door remained open.
Adam heard running footsteps, then saw Jamie appear at the top of the stairs.
“Adam,” Jamie said, running down the steps.
Adam stared at Jamie as the hunger grew inside him. “Is Penny here?”
“I don’t know. I just went back to my room.”
The closer Jamie came to him, the graver his yearnings became. “Someone should be here.”
Jamie stood just in front of Adam, one step separating them.
A voice inside Adam’s head said to kiss him. Adam obeyed. He closed the gap and gave Jamie a soft kiss.
Jamie was unbothered by Adam’s action. “Again,” Jamie asked.
Adam didn’t waver on the request as he grabbed Jamie and gave him a deeper kiss. When they parted, Adam lifted Jamie into his arms and carried him upstairs, heading to the younger man’s room.
They entered the impressive bedroom with modern furniture. Adam moved Jamie to the bed and fell on top of him.
Jamie relished the detective’s urgency as Adam tugged his shirt up, kissing, sucking, and biting Jamie’s chest and nipples. Jamie’s fingers ran through Adam’s hair as he shut his eyes, enjoying Adam’s touch. Then he remembered the phone call from Father. Adam moved his hand to Jamie’s pants, pulling them off his hips.
Father said answers are on the way. Was he referring to Adam? What if he was controlling Adam? he wondered. Jamie opened his eyes and looked down and saw the detective moving toward his privates. “Adam,” Jamie said, but received no response. “Adam,” he said louder. Adam glanced toward him but didn’t stop kissing his stomach. Jamie needed to be sure Adam was himself. “What about Patrick?” he asked. Adam paused, peering at Jamie, saying nothing. “Where’s Patrick, Adam?” Adam ignored him as he moved back to his task.
Jamie glanced around, looking toward his pillow. He struggled under Adam’s hold, trying to reach his pillow. Adam only pulled the younger man back toward him.
Jamie’s body slowly yielded to Adam’s touch. In a few minutes, he wouldn’t be able to resist the detective. Clawing at the sheets, he pulled his pillow toward him to get a grip on the object underneath. Black, with a rectangle shape, two prongs, with an hourglass grip.
“Adam, look at me!” shouted Jamie, bucking the man’s face from his body. Adam looked up releasing Jamie’s cock giving him only a small window to strike.
Jamie sat up and pressed the stun gun against Adam’s neck, sending the man back. Adam hit the floor, shaking as he clenched his teeth. Jamie moved back on the bed, pulling up his pants, still holding the weapon. He waited a moment, then climbed off, walking to the foot of the bed. Adam lay dazed but awake as he took deep breaths.
“Adam,” Jamie said, keeping a safe distance from him. Adam turned his head and locked eyes with him but was still unresponsive. “Adam, I think they’re making you do this.” He wanted to tell Adam that they were under Father’s control but his mind and tongue would only lockdown. “Adam, are you okay?”
Adam shifted to his side before speaking.
“Yeah,” he muttered, blinking, and taking a deep sigh. “Why am I on the floor—and is that a stun gun you’re holding?”
Jamie lowered the weapon but remained on the bed.
“You weren’t acting like yourself, and yes, it’s a stun gun,” Jamie replied.
Adam got to his feet and instantly rubbed his neck where Jamie used the weapon. He stretched his neck, then his upper back before looking around.
“Why am I in a bedroom?” Adam asked. Jamie let out a deep sigh of relief as he lowered the weapon.
“You don’t remember?”
Adam took a moment to re-count his actions. “You called me, and I left the party. But—I don’t recall how I got in here.”
“You’ve been to the town, haven’t you?” Jamie asked.
Adam looked at him and nodded in compliance before answering. “Yeah, I have.”
“Now it’s in you.”
“What’s in me?”
Jamie couldn’t answer as he shook his head and moved back against the headboard. Adam walked over but kept space between them.
“Jamie, tell me what’s happening.”
“You’ve been there. You should have some idea. Father always leaves a little.”
Adam understood Jamie. He nodded and covered his face with his palms, wanting to scream. He turned his back to Jamie as he regained control. He dropped his hands and without looking at Jamie, he spoke.
“Did I try to hurt you?”
“No, but you kissed me,” answered Jamie.
“Oh, my God.” Adam dropped his head.
“But don’t worry, I figured it out before anything happened.”
“The stun gun?” Adam asked.
“Yeah.”
Adam turned to him, combing his fingers through his hair.
“Jamie, I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. I knew what was happening and I kind of wanted it, but I knew you weren’t you.”
“How did you know it would work?”
“I figured it out a year before I met Yuri. A friend and I were using it to break off from the town. Only, I was able to get out. He stayed back because he had a brother.”
“Jamie, we need the police on this.”
“No, they can’t help. They’ll only make things worse.”
“Listen, I know someone on the force who might help.”
“No one can help Adam. You of all people should know that. It’s too big.”
“What is?”
Jamie tried to speak, but again, his mind and tongue shut down. Adam reached for his cell but found it missing. Then he noticed his pants undone. He turned and refastened them and saw his cell on the floor. He grabbed it
and left the room.
Jamie noticed something red on the carpet, and followed. “What are you going to do?”
“Trust me, Jamie,” Adam said, going back downstairs, dialing a number. He waited for the person to answer. He walked into the hall and saw the elevator door open. There he saw the bodies of Yuri’s bodyguards lying dead inside and footprints leading out. He ignored his cell for a moment and looked at his shoes. He lifted one foot and saw dried blood on the bottom.