Shaney’s breath caught, stuttered, his breathing labored, as every molecule in his body fought to remain intact. Literally, he was being torn apart at his very essence and for what reason he had no clue. Hudson, his mom, sisters, even Todd…The grief of their loss shredded his heart.
A hand smacked Shaney’s cheek, but the hit barely registered in the haze of pain clouding his mind. “Stay with me,” Caleb demanded. He gripped Shaney’s chin hard. “Had enough?”
Shaney managed a short nod, praying for a quick death.
Caleb dropped Shaney’s head and it lolled on his shoulders, falling forward again. Caleb’s palm slapped something cold against the gash on Shaney’s chest. A glint of gold metal, then a wash of fiery agony licked flames across his skin. Lines of electrified blue, like those Shaney had seen at the cabin, snaked around Caleb’s hands and slithered across Shaney’s chest, intensifying the burn. A wall of blue light filled Shaney’s eyes and brought a momentary reprieve from the scorching fire.
“There you are.” Caleb’s voice echoed, sounding joyous and satisfied.
The blue light flashed and Shaney hung on the edge of consciousness. Then everything went black.
Chapter Thirteen
Shaney reached down and squeezed his balls, tracing a finger over his taint and gripping his erect shaft. He opened his eyes to find Hudson looming over him, chest bare, staring intently at Shaney with lust-filled, I-want-you eyes. Just the sight of the man was enough to bring Shaney to climax.
“Hudson,” Shaney panted, bucking his hips, pushing his cock into his own hand. The pressure built in his balls. He was so close. Just a few more pulls…
“Shaney? Oh, for fuck’s sake, Shaney!”
Shaney froze. That musty smell invaded his nostrils. His eyes flew open.
“No, no, no!” he cursed in frustration as his prick softened.
“Jesus, Shaney, warn a guy when you’re taking care of morning wood.”
Todd? Todd!
Shaney bolted upright. A very haggard looking Todd leaned back in a wooden kitchen chair next to the bed. His normally styled hair laid flat against his head. Near-black circles beneath his eyes mirrored his exhausted posture. His best friend—the brother—who had betrayed him. An aching rage overtook any concern Shaney might normally have shown for the bedraggled man.
In one fluid motion, Shaney leapt off the bed, knocked his forearm against Todd’s chest, and forced the chair backward. Todd’s arms flapped as the chair tipped over and banged hard against the floor. Before Todd regained his senses, Shaney plopped his ass onto Todd’s chest and pressed his forearm hard against Todd’s throat.
“Shaney,” Todd gasped, clawing at Shaney’s shoulders. Todd’s face flushed red. His eyes rounded as his chest heaved for air. “S-stop.”
“You fucking drugged me, Todd! I should kick your ass all over this room!” Shaney pushed a harder on Todd’s neck. Todd’s struggles increased, but his attempt was fruitless. Despite the difference in size, Shaney had him pinned to the chair.
Todd’s face was tinged purple, and no sound escaped as his mouth opened and closed. The split in Todd’s lip leaked blood. Shaney pulled back his arm enough for Todd to gulp down some oxygen.
“Y-you… were dying,” he rasped out. Lurking in the panic, Shaney spotted fear in Todd eyes. Memories assaulted Shaney of a normally cool, but obviously freaked out, Todd arriving at Hudson’s house. He remembered being in the car, his own crazy meltdown, Caleb and his monstrous sidekick, the pain of dying…and Hudson.
“Fuck,” Shaney exhaled, pulling his arm away from Todd’s neck. He sat back on his heels. Todd stuttered in a few heaving breaths, his face losing the purple and filling with red. Shaney clamped down his eyelids, unable to process the information overload.
Todd shifted below him. “Shaney, could you get your naked ass off me?” he whispered in a scratchy, rough voice.
Shaney looked down. Horror consumed him when he saw his flaccid cock and his balls resting on Todd’s T-shirted chest. Why in the hell was he naked?
Shaney skittered off Todd and yanked the sheet from the bed, covering his privates. Todd rubbed at his reddened neck. Holding onto the sheet, Shaney reluctantly extended his other hand down to help Todd up. Todd wobbled once on his feet and then collapsed onto the edge of the bed. He licked at the blood on his lip.
The intricate array of black shapes Caleb had claimed were Shaney’s personal form of life support still remained on his chest, but the gash was completely gone. Payback was in order for that shit. Shaney guessed he was stuck with the strange-ass, energy-wrangling tattoo. Shoot, this Sharpie version wasn’t even permanent. He was smacked hard with the bizarre image of getting touch-ups on the symbol from the odd little man for the rest of his life. What if Shaney accidentally washed off a line? Could he ever shower again? He would need a more permanent solution. The idea of sitting under the needle while some biker named Tiny, covered in tattoos and leather, scratched the entire symbol into his skin made death sound good. Shaney covered the black menace with the sheet before he had a full-blown panic attack. He scanned the room, but his clothes weren’t there.