Savior:A Tattered Club Story(54)

“My love, you can make this easy or hard. There’s a new man in your life and I can make things very difficult for him, and the tattoo shop, for that matter. You don’t want to see the place close, do you?”

The thought of The Professor’s place being bought out and torn down nauseated him. Unable to stop the searing rise in his throat, he leaned down and vomited on the carpeted floor.

“Oh love, see? You need to come home so I can take care of you. I hate to see you sick.”

“No!” Ethan shouted, tasting the bile clawing at the back of his throat. “I won’t go back!”

The blow to his stomach stole his breath, making his lungs burn. Charles had never punched him. Slapped him, whipped him, yes, but never curled his fist and taken aim. “Get out of the car. You have two days to decide. Is your new boyfriend really worth all this, Ethan?”

The thought raced through his head with an overwhelming yes. A shadow appeared outside the tinted window and Ethan squinted when the sunlight invaded the dark space inside the car.

“Never come near me again,” Ethan mumbled, unable to take in a full breath. “I might not be as important as you, but I have a voice and I’ll use it if I have to.”

A tight grip on his arm kept him from stepping outside the open door. “If you say a word, I swear you’ll regret it. Your parents have no idea you’ve whored yourself to me. They don’t care what happens to you and I know people who can make you disappear. So, think about that, my love. You have two days.”

Ethan tugged his arm and jumped out, running down the sidewalk until he rounded the side of a building. His gut burned, his eyelid was tight, and he had to puke again. Leaning over, he let the green liquid spill onto the grass.

“All you all right, man?” A young guy stopped and pulled on the white ear buds.

Ethan nodded and started to walk again. He had three classes today and had no idea how to make it through lectures and study time feeling like he was going to pass out.

He had to stop Niko from coming to pick him up He had some pride left. He didn’t want anyone to know Charles had gotten to him. He needed to handle his own shit, and it was no one else’s responsibility to bail him out. The Professor didn’t deserve to have his place put in jeopardy and he wasn’t about to let Niko be in danger.

He held his backpack to his chest and escaped into a bathroom in the sociology building. Afraid to see his reflection in the mirror, he grabbed the phone out of his pocket and squinted to bring the screen into focus. His right eye was swelling fast. He needed to get some ice or he wasn’t going to be able to see out of that side. Hell, if he walked to the commons, everyone could see he’d just gotten the crap beat out of him and he didn’t need to answer questions right now.

Got a ride home. You don’t have to pick me up.

Before he put the phone back in his pocket it chimed.

I’m your only ride home. I’ll be there.

Ethan quickly pressed the tiny keys. Please don’t come. A friend can bring me back. I’ll be at work on time. Promise. Maybe if he got ice on his face right away, he could stop the swelling and look halfway decent by then. Maybe Niko would be done for the afternoon. Not likely with his schedule, but he could hope.

I’ll be by the library. If you don’t show, I’m going to tie you to the bed tonight.

Ethan smiled then flinched when his lip stung. That’s a threat? Sounds more like a fun night to me. ;)

Be there.

Ethan turned toward the wall hand dryer when a guy walked over to the urinals. What in the hell was he going to do? He’d have to trust Niko to understand and not ask questions. Hell, he’d seen Knox all black and blue so maybe the shock wouldn’t be so bad.

Okay. Oh God, what had he done? Niko wasn’t one to negotiate. Finding out Charles had pulled him into the car to beat the hell out of him would only lead to someone ending up in jail or dead. That is, if Niko cared enough to investigate what had happened.

The phone chimed signaling another text.

You still want a boyfriend?

Ethan grinned, again drawing in his shoulders with the stinging pain.

Yes. He wanted to feel safe, and curling up in Niko’s strong arms was the only way he was going to be whole right now. Looking around, it seemed impossible to hide in such an open place. If Charles’s goon could steal him in broad daylight, who was to say it wouldn’t happen again if he stowed away on the basement floor of the library? Apparently, Charles had been very good at stalking and had eyes all over the city. Ethan was an easy target.

He hesitated then pressed the screen. I need to come home now.

You ok?

Breathe. The pressure in his lungs hurt the bruised muscles of his stomach. Yes. Please come when you can.