{ #4 } The Darker Side Of The Moon (MxM || 18+)

Chapter 29 -Strenuous Week

The Darker Side Of The Moon
Book 4 of The Black Moon series
Chapter 29: Strenuous Week

Gary's POV – Saturday 29 August 2015

The last few days have been painful, though not as much as the next ones will be and nothing comparable to the last year and a half. Those three days in hospital were long even if I relished in my love's presence. It was enough to soothe some of my sorrow and even more once Jeremy conceded to follow me to Chicago.

During these three days, we cautiously avoided to speak about his captivity in detail as we had agreed with his family and Tony. I promised Philip and Megan that I would keep them informed of everything once back home – especially as Jeremy might not tell them the whole truth over the phone – and it was enough to reassure them; at least it allowed them to discuss other topics with their son.

There was a lot to say after seventeen months of absence! Philip told him about his career improvements and promotions. Megan told him about all her pastimes and friends, and I know that these are what helped her to keep going all these months. Jeremy's sister gave birth to a little girl too four months ago, so they showed him pictures. Even if Jeremy has never been on very good terms with her, he was still happy to know he had a little niece. All in all, it kept him busy.

Whenever Tony visited and needed to speak with me, we would just go out to talk. Sadly, nothing has moved on much as far as the investigation is concerned. They found the cabin where Jeremy was confined just before he escaped, though. They were able to get fingerprints which confirmed the identity of Andrei and his henchman Vadim Fedin, as well as some belonging to one of the guys who were helping at the mansion, a certain Will Bentley.

They also found quite a lot of blood in a corner of the room, with shattered pieces of a bottle. There was a chain with a ripped leather collar and tattered ropes. From there, it was easy to guess how Jeremy had escaped and it explained most of the cuts and scratches on his ankles, wrists and neck.

We still don't know the entire circumstances of his escape, but I can only imagine how stressful and painful it must have been for him. Using broken glass to cut ropes and leather... Fuck! It must have taken him ages but also a huge determination. I am so proud of him for doing this and taking such risks. Noah recounted how he was disciplined after he tried to escape at the beginning of his own captivity. Jeremy apparently told him he had tried too. They were even punished for plotting together the day before Noah was rescued. It must have required such courage from Jeremy to try again, knowing what he could endure if he got caught!

As expected, the cabin was empty when the police found it. Jeremy had told us that Andrei had left him with that Will guy – the one that Little Noah had nicknamed Crewcut – but upon discovering that his captive had run away, he obviously fled. I don't know whether he tried to return to Andrei or if he went AWOL knowing he had let his boss's toy escape, but I hope the future will tell us. In the meantime, there have been no traces of either Andrei or his henchmen anywhere, which is extremely frustrating.

On my side, I spent these three days enjoying quiet moments with my love in the mornings. We talked a bit, but not that much. I didn't want to expel any information from him until the real questioning occurs on Monday. Nor did I want to force information on him about all the people he knows in Chicago. He just asked a few questions about Liam, but that was it. He asked more about me and what I did in his absence.

There wasn't much to say, but I was entirely honest with him and told him that I drowned into work and that I dedicated the rest of my time either working out to let the steam off and searching for him. I could easily read through him, though, and I knew what he really wanted to ask... He looked surprised that I hadn't started a new life or moved on from him, but in a way, I'm glad it was more evidence of my irrevocable love for him. And somehow, I hope it comforted him.