CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 20

Tycho Black.

I slept terribly. But it was a step up from nothing at all. Nightmares hit hard, making me think Jason was going to jump out of the shadows of the unknown room I slept in and finally kill me. But every time I woke up, I saw the sleeping figure sitting in the chair by the bed, looking as if he was ready to get up and defend me at any moment even though he was unconscious. 

Alexei. The boy who owed me nothing, yet he protected me because I was like him. Maybe in more than one way. He said I was some sort of victim for what Jason did to me. I didn't believe him. I mean, maybe he was because he was small and didn't look all that strong. But there was no way anyone could make me their victim. I was too strong for that. I was bigger than most. Faster than most. How the hell would I ever fit the opposite role? 

The last nightmare I had of the night scared me the most. It was the reason I wasn't going back to bed, making me sit up to feel less nauseous. I had dreamt that Jason figured out about me and Louis' friendship and beat him senseless. Jason said Louis didn't deserve to live because of what he was. I wanted to scream. Tell him that Louis was wonderful, that he cared about me and noticed things nobody else had ever noticed. That he deserved to die and Louis deserved to live. But I said nothing. So all Louis could do was look in my eyes as he bled out on my kitchen floor. And I did nothing.

But that wasn't the worst part. That came after. This dream didn't feel like seconds or minutes like most dreams do. Years passed. I grew older and dropped out of college because I couldn't get over my grief. What hurt most about this dream was that I had to live the rest of my life in a way that I didn't want. With someone I didn't want. 

I killed myself at sixty-eight years old. At that point, Jason was long gone, yet, in my note I wrote about him like he was still there. Like he was still keeping me in check. 

This replayed in my mind dozens of times before the sun rose, and every time I would have to get closer and closer to Alexei to make sure he was real. My heart would drop every time out of fear that this would be the time that I realized he was never there. And for some reason, that thought hurt. For some reason, I couldn't bear the thought of this boy hating me. I wouldn't live if he turned his back on me now. He should, he should turn his back and leave. But he didn't. And for that I was grateful. 

Quiet footsteps from the hall brought me back to reality. It was bright outside now, and Alexei was still sleeping, holding his head up with one arm on the armrest. He looked peaceful. I secretly hoped whoever was in the hallway would walk past this door and let him keep resting. But I wasn't that lucky. 

The door cracked open and two people stepped inside. One was Mr. Mendoza, wearing the slacks and dress shirt of his suit from yesterday, blazer gone. The other was the man with the name I still didn't know. If I remember correctly, he was the one who patched up my head yesterday. I winced, feeling the impact all over again. The wound gave a painful throb, no longer letting me forget about it. 

Unnamed's eyes went wide in quiet surprise at the sight of Alexei. "Oh. I didn't expect him to be here." Mr. Mendoza crossed his arms across his chest giving me a stern, almost protective look. I shrugged. I didn't ask for him to be here. Oh, wait. That was a lie. But I wasn't going to tell him that. 

"Forgive me, Tycho. I just expected Alexei to still be in bed considering what happened yesterday. How long has he been here?" His gaze wasn't menacing or threatening in any way, but I still looked away from him. Shame hurt my lungs and chest. These men (who didn't like me in the slightest) had seen me at my lowest. But I had a feeling they weren't going to let me wallow in self-pity. 

"I don't know. Since last night." My answer was as short as I could make it, silently thanking my voice for not trembling. Unnamed gave Mr. Mendoza a look, and they both nodded in some secret understanding.

The unnamed man started to say something else but cut himself off. He smiled and laughed a little before addressing me again. "I never told you my name, huh? Can't believe that just now occurred to me. I'm sorry, Tycho. My name is Riley, boyfriend to Alexei and this big tree standing behind me." He leaned forward and held out his hand to shake, which I hesitantly accepted. 

"Hi, Riley." He gave another warm smile. His kindness didn't feel like a front. It almost felt real. These people made no sense. He walked toward a chair pushed to the side and dragged it in front of me before sitting down.

"Now, we have a few things to discuss involving recent events, okay? It'll be a hard conversation, but it needs to be done. That is, if sleepy over here doesn't deny what we offer. Are you ready?" I nodded curtly. I watched as Riley leaned over and gently lifted Alexei's head before lifting him up entirely, causing him to wake up. Riley sat back down before Alexei gave everyone a tired look while surveying the room. His ruffled hair and bleary eyes made me smile. It was almost cute. In a lion cub way, considering he was blond and small. I blinked questioningly at myself, forgetting what I had just thought. 

Riley explained the situation to Alexei before Alexei loudly proclaimed that his sleep was more important, shutting his eyes and burrowing his head in Riley's neck. Riley laughed fondly before kissing the top of the other man's head. I looked away, forcing myself to swallow the lump in my throat. I don't know how they're so fine with such affection toward one another. Then again, I was in their home. Mr. Mendoza noticed my awkwardness but said nothing. 

"Now, Tycho. What I said earlier was sort of a lie because we don't actually have an offer for you. It's more of a forced transaction."  I was confused before Mr. Mendoza suddenly stepped forward with something in his hand. They looked like sheets of paper before he laid them out in front of me. It was three pictures. All different angles of Alexei's face the day I had hit him. They showed a deep purple bruise covering a third of his cheek. I wanted to vomit and cry at the same time. But I wasn't exactly surprised. 

"Did you know assault has a limitation of six years in our state? On top of that, you know my position in my own firm. That being said, it wouldn't exactly be hard to prosecute you on the grounds of a hateful crime, considering I already have one hell of a lawyer and enough evidence to make sure you don't escape with a slap on the wrist." Mr. Mendoza stared down into me, making me shrink back. His threat was working, although I didn't know why it existed. Why not just turn me in and get revenge? So I asked him exactly that. 

"Because, as Riley said, we have a proposition for you. One that you can't deny." A hand on his arm stopped him in his tracks. Riley gave him a look and he quickly backed down. 

"He's terrified enough, Xave. As much as I love it when you get protective, you need to stay level-headed." Riley winked at me as Mr. Mendoza went to grab a chair to calm down. "He is right, though, Tycho. You'd be foolish to deny this. So let me make it clear to you." He nodded down to his other partner sleeping in his arms and looked back at me. "Alexei has grown fond of you. Although you've caused him a lot of distress, he doesn't want anything bad to happen to you. So we've decided. You have a choice: Face the consequences of your actions and most likely go to jail, or stay here. With us. Don't go back home. Don't ever talk or see that monster you call a stepfather again. Because as much as I dislike what you did, I think you've paid enough already. And I don't wish that payment on anyone."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Not at all. 

I didn't know what I expected, so I looked for cameras or anything in the room to hint that this was some sick prank used as a last laugh before they sent me to jail. 

But I found nothing. Riley looked completely serious, and even Mr. Mendoza looked curious about my answer. A sudden mumbling from Alexei paused my thoughts. "I fuckin' called it. Thank God. Tycho say yes." Riley was laughing hard, and soon I was too. Mr. Mendoza showed his amusement in a smirk. Alexei just grumbled more. 

I was laughing hard. And then I was crying. Crying so much that Mr. Mendoza grabbed me a box of tissues for my snot-covered face. And I still couldn't stop crying. Because such a disgustingly heavy burden felt like it had just disappeared. So I gladly said yes. 

And I gladly said yes when they offered me breakfast, too.