Savior:A Tattered Club Story(35)

Niko grabbed a tube of ointment from the basket. “Ben.”

“Right, Ben.”

Niko gave the standard care instructions. “Stop by the front desk on your way out. Scarlet’ll give you the paperwork and make that next appointment. I’ll email you the workups.”

When the man reached out a hand, Niko shook with a firmness letting the soldier know he respected him. Before cleaning up the space, he grabbed the phone.

Got out of English lit early. I’ll be in the library. Can you be here around five? Niko thought about the full trunk and backseat of his car. He checked the clock. The tat had taken longer than he’d expected. Now he had no time to take the stuff upstairs.

On my way. Did you eat?

For a split second, he ridiculed himself for asking, then didn’t give a shit. No one else was reading the texts so he could chill the hell out. His father’s voice whispered in his ear. Giving his brain a mental thump, he finished straightening up and flipped the light off.

Ben crossed the hall with a sandwich in his hand. “Everything ready?”

Now Niko wished he hadn’t thumped his stupid brain. He needed a kick in his weak ass. “What’s ready?” he asked, knowing exactly what Ben was talking about.

He shook his head and chuckled. “Right, Seth said you left the door unlocked. Apparently, Knox was up there putting groceries in the fridge. That asshole surprises the shit out of me. One moment, he doesn’t want us in the same room and the next he’s buying groceries for your…” Niko fisted the phone in his hand. “Friend.” He took another bite of the sandwich. “I got a six o’clock, but I thought about playing some pool tonight over at The Ranger. Want to meet up later?”

Niko knew the guy wasn’t much for social engagements but loved to play pool and seeing as The Ranger was all shadowed, battered lamps and peanut shell covered floors, it was a perfect place for his friend to hide.

“I’ve got something going on, but I’ll see if I can stop by after.” Ben seemed to spend most of his time alone if he wasn’t hanging with the other guys. Interested in learning something about Ben’s airtight private life, Niko had pushed several months ago, suggesting they go to a bar and find a couple of girls to take home, but Ben had turned him down, saying he had other plans. Niko knew better.

Ben tipped the brim of his worn baseball cap and the light skimmed across the pink streaks trailing against his temple. Clients—hat down. Friends—hat back. Niko got it. No judgments here. Niko had wondered more than once what had happened but knew not to ask, just like Seth and Knox hadn’t asked Niko why his probation officer kept stopping by the shop for over a year.

Niko sat behind the wheel and started the car. Was Samantha right? Had there been clues, side glances, stupid fucking slips showing he was a total fraud? Being the underhanded one who got the guys out of some pretty fucked-up situations, hence screwing Seth’s “inconvenience,” was his MO. One of the four got in trouble, Niko was the bailout. Taking shit to the edge was his specialty. If someone made the dumbass mistake of fucking with one of his boys, he made good on raining down a major payback.

If the guys knew he’d let Ethan finger his ass, they’d laugh him out of the shop and maybe their lives. Niko’s “take care of business” guy reputation would blast into pieces and be replaced with Niko the “sissy fag” guy. He looked over the back of the seat. The bulging plastic sacks were proof his father had been right about one thing—he may not want to live in a cardboard box on the avenues, but damn if he didn’t want Ethan to fuck him in the ass.



*****



Ethan checked his phone. It was ten minutes past five. Quickly closing the laptop, he snatched his backpack and headed for the front doors. The last thing he needed was Niko thinking he was an ungrateful asshole making him wait.

Running to the end of the sidewalk, he scanned the curb. The gray Nova set running behind a parked VW Bug. He formulated an apology in his head as he clutched the laptop and headed toward the car.

Before sliding inside the passenger seat, he started, “I’m sorry I’m late. I lost track of time.” He stuffed the backpack on the floorboard and latched the seat belt.

“You never answered my question.”

Ethan sensed Niko’s tension as he unzipped the bag and slid the laptop inside. “Huh?”

“Did you eat today?”

“I, well, kind of. I got really busy. We had a group thing I’d forgotten about. I have your money.” He fished the twenty out of his pocket and held out his hand.

“Jesus, Ethan, you have to eat. Open the glove box.” Ethan popped the button and the door opened. “Grab one of the protein bars.”