Finding Forgiveness(23)

“I need your help,” Roman whispered.

Gray must have heard something in his voice because he put just enough distance between them to make sure their eyes met. “Anything,” he answered.

Relief flooded Roman as he nodded and then stepped back. Hunter was standing quietly at the bottom of the porch stairs, ignoring the large German Shepherd that had darted outside as soon as Gray had opened the door and was now eagerly sniffing Hunter’s lax hands. Roman went down the stairs and took Hunter’s hand. The contact seemed to snap Hunter out of his daze because his hand tightened around Roman’s when he looked up and saw Gray watching them both with concern.

Roman didn’t bother with introductions as he led Hunter inside.

“Everything okay?”

Roman looked up and saw Gray’s boyfriend, Luke Monroe, watching them from the entrance to the kitchen. His eyes swept over Hunter and then shot to Gray. He didn’t say anything as he disappeared towards the back hallway.

“Here,” Gray said as he motioned to the living room couch. By the time Roman got Hunter settled, Luke was back with a small black bag that looked like a shaving kit. He sat down on the coffee table so he was facing Hunter.

“Can I take a look?” Luke said gently to Hunter as he motioned to his face.

“Luke’s training to be a paramedic,” Gray said quietly.

Hunter nodded stiffly. His grip on Roman’s hand hadn’t eased at all and when Luke began cleaning the injury with some kind of antiseptic wipe, he flinched but remained quiet. Luke’s movements were quick and efficient as he added a couple of butterfly bandages to close the small gash.

As Luke started to clean up his supplies, Roman put out his hand to stop him and then forced Hunter to look at him. “We need to show him,” he said gently.

Agony filled Hunter’s eyes. “No, Roman, please…”

Roman ignored Luke and his brother and put his palm over Hunter’s uninjured cheek to hold him steady as he pinned him with his eyes. “You can trust them, I swear it. They won’t judge you.”

Hunter stared at him for a long time and then finally closed his eyes and gave a little nod. But when he made no move to pull up the sleeve on his left arm, Roman released his hand long enough so he could do it himself. To both Gray and Luke’s credit, neither man made a sound as the burn wounds were exposed. Luke took Hunter’s arm in his hands so he could get a closer look and then said to Gray, “Can you get me a washcloth – run it under cool water?”

Gray nodded and left the room. He was back within a minute. Luke took the washcloth and pressed it over the freshest wound. Roman could tell that the blister had broken at some point, likely during his tussle with Hunter.

“I’m going to put some antibiotic cream on this and wrap it for now so it doesn’t get infected but you’ll want to let the air get at it a little later, okay?”

Hunter managed a nod.

Roman looked up to find Gray and saw his brother watching him with concern. “Do you have a place he can lay down for a bit?”

“Yeah, sure.”

As soon as Luke was done bandaging Hunter’s arm, Roman helped Hunter to his feet and led him to the guest room that Gray showed them to. Gray left them alone as Roman pulled back the covers and sat Hunter down on the bed and removed his shoes. “Just get some rest, okay?”

Hunter didn’t respond. He just rolled onto his side so that his back was to Roman. Roman covered him with the blanket and then started for the door. But he slowed his step and then went to the bathroom instead. He was glad when he came back out and saw that Hunter was still turned away from him because no way in hell did he want Hunter to see the things he was carrying in his arms.



***

He knew. Roman fucking knew.

Humiliation coursed through Hunter as he heard the bedroom door click shut. His body felt too hot so he pushed the blanket off and sat up. God, how had he let this happen? He’d always been so careful in the past but today it was like everything around him had been put on pause the second he’d recognized Finn Stewart. And as the man who’d been with Finn had descended on him, all Hunter could think was that he was finally going to get what he deserved…what he’d earned when he’d ruined Finn’s life eighteen months ago. But one punch hadn’t been enough – sure, it had hurt like hell but he’d wanted…needed more. Because the punishment he’d inflicted upon himself hadn’t been enough.

The whole thing had ended before it had really begun and instead of getting on his knees to beg Finn to forgive him or find a way to get the punishment he deserved, he’d run…again. Like the fucking coward he was. The darkness had begun to consume him before he even reached his car and it was only the familiar feel of his spoon and lighter in his pocket that made it possible for him to even get home. Relief, no matter how temporary it was, had been only minutes away as he entered his thankfully empty house. His whole body had danced with energy and need as he waited for the lighter to do its job and he held it in place longer than he usually did because he knew he was too far gone for anything but a major hit. There’d been no pleasure when he pressed the scalding metal to his skin…there never was. Pain had shot through his entire body a split second later and it wiped away every other emotion as if they’d never existed. It was like someone had hit reset on his life and for that brief moment he was the old Hunter Greene…the one whose cowardice had only ever hurt himself.