Sex & Mayhem 01 Road of No Return (25 page)

“You know what? Let’s take the frozen stuff into the freezer, and we can talk, because five more minutes, and I will be kissing you in public, okay?” muttered Zak, swallowing as he looked into Stitch’s eyes. His heart was trembling in his chest like a little caged bird.

Stitch bit his lips and nodded before getting up. Without a word, he went over to the trunk of Zak’s car and took the bags. Zak hurried to collect all the remaining items and let them inside.

He went straight for the pantry where his aunt had put an industrial freezer, and tossed every bag that contained something frozen inside before turning to Stitch. The guy looked so out of energy that Versay started whimpering around him when he didn't get the usual Stitch-attention. He looked lost in the living room, even though he spent so much time here.

Zak shut the freezer and started slowly approaching his boyfriend. Stitch was such a big man, with hands that could break necks, but he now seemed vulnerable enough to shatter at a careless touch. “Stitch?” he whispered, brushing his fingers down his arm.

Stitch turned around and hugged him close. “She told me I can’t see Holly. That I’m a bad father.” He squeezed Zak and put his head on his arm. It was just as heavy as Zak’s heart when he pulled Stitch tighter against him with a low sigh.

How had it come to this? Stitch had to be devastated. He wasn’t one of the men who let their wives handle all kid-related stuff, he enjoyed playing with his daughter. “I’m so sorry. If only I could help you, you know I would,” he whispered, pressing his mouth to Stitch’s hair.

“Will you go with me, help me get all my stuff? I didn’t want to just assume you’d want to live with me.” Stitch gently kissed Zak’s neck. “She said I’m disgusting, but I tried to be something else than I am, and I can’t do it.”

Zak pressed closer to him and slid his hands to the sides of Stitch’s face, making their eyes meet. “You are
not
disgusting. You are a real man. You are beautiful. Don’t ever forget that,” he whispered, holding onto Stitch’s jaw.

Stitch chuckled, trying to look away. “Me? ‘Beautiful’? Like in that Christina Aguilera song?”

Zak groaned, hitting his forehead against Stitch’s. “No, not like that. Just beautiful. I look at you, and the first thing I think of is how handsome you are.”

Those words did force a smile to Stitch’s face. “Is my cock ‘beautiful’ too?” he teased, tracing his fingers over Zak’s back. Stitch always knew how to turn him into butter.

Zak snorted and nuzzled Stitch’s nose, suddenly calmer now that he’d squeezed a smile out of his lover. “Of course. I munched it down the moment we were alone, don’t you remember anymore?”

“Yeah, you were really hungry for it.” Stitch bowed to give him a kiss, but even though his words sounded dirty, his lips were nothing but sweet and tender.

Zak took a sharp breath and stepped forward so that they were chest to chest. He inhaled Stitch’s warm breath, gently suckling on his lip. “I am always hungry for you.”

“Let’s get my stuff and have that over with, huh?” Stitch slid his hands to Zak’s buttocks and gave them a firm squeeze.

Zak curled his toes and nodded, slowly withdrawing. If they had to go, they needed to do it now. “At your service.”

*

They drove out as soon as they’d put all the food into place and out of Versay’s reach. Zak was tense all the way to Stitch’s former home, but he was putting up a brave face for his sake. They would get this shit done. Zak parked the car with the trunk facing the door and gave Stitch an encouraging smile as he was entering. The lights were on in the living room and Zak found himself wondering what Stitch’s former house looked like. It was nice from the outside. Old, but clearly cared for.

Stitch came out with his first round of bags, but Zak could already hear a high-pitched female voice following him all the way to the door.

“Don’t forget anything, because I want none of your shit here!”

Zak moved closer to the porch. “Maybe I should just go in with you? We’ll be quicker this way,” he said, wishing he could screw his ears shut.

Stitch stuck the bags in the trunk and nodded. “Yeah, let’s just do it and leave.” He went back in quickly. “I got it the first time, for fuck’s sake! Shut your mouth and let me pack!” he yelled.

Zak rolled his eyes and rushed in behind him, stealing brief glances at the rooms on both sides of the corridor. It was a simple home, but just as well maintained as the outer walls. With Stitch’s inclination to handiwork, he imagined why that was.

But as he turned into one of the rooms on Stitch’s heel, the female voice got louder and he almost walked into a petite redhead with tattoos all over her arms and neckline. Her eyes widened, and she stepped back.

“Is this him?” she shouted, waving her hand in front of Zak’s chest. “I can’t believe you would bring your man-tart here!”

Stitch ran back down the stairs making half the house tremble. “Give it a rest, Crystal. Zak just came here to help me take my stuff!”

Zak blinked, staring at her. “I’m Zak, you must have confused me with someone else,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

“Oh, yeah?” She sneered at him and cocked her head to the side, her hands firmly resting on her hips. “You think I’m stupid, Zak? Or should I call you the way Stitch put you in his cell phone? ‘Sexy tattoo Zak’.”

“Shut up, Crystal!” Stitch yelled at her and came between them, only to get punched in the arm with her tiny fist.

“I am not the reason for your divorce, so I don’t see why you're trying to insult me,” said Zak, trying to keep his cool. If he was to help Stitch start seeing his daughter again, he needed to make Crystal see him in a positive light.

But things took an instant turn downhill when Holly started crying upstairs.

“See what you did?” Stitch hissed at Crystal, who clenched her fists.

“Me? I’m not the one breaking up the family because I’m a deviant!”

Zak squeezed his teeth tightly. “Weren’t you the one who cheated on
him
? He and I only met
on the day of your divorce,” he uttered, bumping his fist against the wall.

Her eyes went wide. “Who the fuck are you to lecture me on my marriage?” She turned to Stitch. “So now you tell your new boy-toy everything? Watching too much
Gossip Girl
since you turned gay?” she hissed so much venom Zak could hardly believe how it fit into her little body.

“Don’t call him that! And he’s right that it was you who cheated—” Stitch started, but Crystal interrupted him.

“And I’m glad I did because otherwise I’d be stuck with a monk of a husband forever!”

“You have a crying child upstairs. We’ll just gather his things and go, all right?” Zak decided to ignore the boy-toy comment. She was the one to talk, only about two thirds of his height. He looked to Stitch for directions.

“Exactly!” Stitch said through gritted teeth and pointed Zak to the stairs. “I’ll take care of Holly if you need a breather,” he said to Crystal as they started walking toward the stairs.

Crystal pulled his sleeve. “Don’t you dare go to her. I’ll go.”

Zak ignored the commotion, nearing the high-pitched sobbing. This was such a disaster. At least he knew where to go, as Stitch’s room was the only one that had an open door. He gathered two large boxes and started carefully climbing down the stairs.

He heard some more screaming, door slamming, something breaking, cries of a little girl. It sounded like the worst fight ever, but at least he wasn’t involved in it anymore. He was happy to see though that as mean as Crystal was, and as horrible the verbal fighting got, Stitch never hit her back. Cox knew shit.

Zak was calmly walking up and down the stairs, filling up first the trunk, and then the back seat, while the fight was still going on. As much as he sympathized with Crystal, he couldn’t help but detest her behavior. Stitch had been faithful to her all this time, he didn’t seek out guys to hook up with. He didn’t deserve half of the stuff she was throwing his way.

Seeing that he was done taking out Stitch’s things, he decided to break the two bulldogs apart and followed the barking all the way into a tidy kitchen.

He frowned at the sight of shattered cups, and a broken bag of flour on the floor. At least the little girl wasn’t crying upstairs anymore, but who knew, maybe her throat got too sore?

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Stitch hissed at her, but looked to Zak when he came in.

Zak sighed and stuffed his hands down his pockets. “Done,” he said, looking between them with a frown. He didn’t want to ask about the mess.

Crystal panted like a hungry bear. “Go, Stitch. Fuck his ‘juicy ass’ for all I care. There, free as a bird!”

Zak dragged his hand down his face, wishing this were over already.

“Fuck you! Don’t come crying to me when Milton acts like a cunt again!” Stitch gesticulated wildly, all red on the face, but at least he instantly rushed to Zak. They were making their way toward the exit when Zak heard a thud. He turned around to see that Stitch got hit on the head with the bag of flour and had the white powder all over himself. He didn’t lash out though, just showed Crystal the finger and tagged along.

Zak was happy the upholstery of his car was made of leather. It would make mopping up that flour so much easier, but he was even happier when he pulled out of Crystal’s yard and drove home. The silence in the car was almost tangible.

“What a mess,” Zak uttered in the end, glancing at Stitch.

“I’m sorry I dragged you into it. I didn’t know she’d go crazy again,” Stitch groaned and bumped his head against the window. “Thanks for the help. I’d be stuck there forever without you.”

Zak snorted. “Yeah, I know.” He stared at the road, pondering whether to have the talk now that Stitch couldn’t leave, or wait. He decided on the former. “I spoke with Cox today.”

The car went silent like a coffin on wheels. Stitch scowled. “The fuck did he want?” he muttered in the end.

Zak shrugged. “I told him slicing your tires was a dick move, and that I won’t be seeing him anymore,” he said, looking straight ahead while his heart picked up its pace so much he felt it pulse in his throat.

Stitch took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around his chest. “Good.”

Zak bit his lip and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. “Is your club involved in criminal activities?”

“Huh? What did that shithead tell you?”

Zak groaned. “That you were in prison for assault, and that you and your friends are handling stolen goods and illegal weapons.” He bit his lip and shook his head. “You were so beaten up last night. Tell me what’s going on.”

Stitch ran his fingers through his hair. “Why do you want to know?”

Zak slapped the steering wheel, his arms getting rigid. “Oh, fuck. You
are
a criminal...”

“That’s not fair. We just don’t always do things by the book.” The look on Stitch’s face told Zak that his new cohabitant was dying to be home.

“We’re a couple, you’re moving in with me. Don’t you think I should know what’s going on in your life?” He shook his head in helplessness. He should have known this from the start, before he got so fond of Stitch.

“I take care of my stuff. You won’t get involved, so don’t worry.” Stitch’s fingers climbed to Zak’s thigh.

“Stitch, stop fucking trying to distract me, and tell me the truth,” growled Zak. “Is that all true?” He asked, boiling up inside like a sealed pot on high heat.

“So I was to prison, yeah. Jeez. You don’t tell me everything about your past. What made you come to Lake Valley, for example. You don’t know anyone here. Why didn’t you sell the house?” He never stopped tapping his fingers on Zak’s leg though.

Zak swallowed, feeling his stomach squeeze. “I’ll tell you if you tell me if you’re still involved in some shit.”

Stitch was silent for a while, his frown deepening. “I am involved in shit, okay?”

“I know that much already.” Zak shook his head, increasingly nervous. “What is it exactly? Drugs? Guns? Human trafficking?” he uttered in distaste.

“You make it sound like I’m some mafia boss. It’s low profile stuff. We take stuff places, sell it on. And no, it’s
not
human trafficking.” Stitch pulled his fingers away.

Zak sighed, stiffening his elbows. “I just... don’t want you to be hurt or end up in jail. At this point, whatever happens to you will hit me too.”

“I’m trying to keep it contained.” Stitch pondered on something for a while, but when he spoke again it was in a quieter and steady voice. “I told you that I lost a lot of cash yesterday. What happened was a real shock to the system. I don’t think shit like that is for me. But I need to get the money back before I can try and work out something new.”

Zak exhaled and before he knew it, his hand was on Stitch’s, squeezing it tight. That was a good sign, Stitch wanted change. “How much? Is it like, a million? Hundred thousand?” he uttered, hoping Stitch wouldn’t put himself into an even bigger risk.