FAMILY BOND

Chapter 25

Tim unlocks the door and walks into the lodge. All was dark and quiet. But then, it was three thirty in the morning. He slips off his boots at the door before heading to his office where he takes a couple of hits from a joint, not only to ease the pain in his shoulder but to also calm his anxiety.

He slips up the stairs as quiet as a mouse. There were heavy sleepers in the group but there were also light sleepers. A simple creak of the steps could wake someone up.

Successfully making it to his bedroom, he turns the doorknob and tiptoes inside.

A wave of guilt rushes over him as he sees his husband curled up in bed, hugging the hitman's pillow. Every night this week Adam has had to go to bed without his husband. Tim had made a promise to try to retire from killing after this job. He was hoping to stand firm on his promise.

Feeling dirty from sitting in the bushes for hours and rummaging through that disgusting house, he headed for the shower. A nice hot shower would help relax his sore muscles.

After getting dressed for bed, he carefully slips under the covers next to the sleeping blonde. Tim starts to lie down but realizes he doesn't have a pillow. He bites his bottom lip as he tries to ease his pillow from his lover's arms.

Adam jumps, his eyes open wide with a startled look on his face.

"Can I have my pillow?" Tim whispers with a smile.

"Tim!!" Adam grins as he grabs his husband into a bear hug. "Oh, my God! You're okay!"

"I told you that you had nothing to worry about, Precious." Tim says as he kisses his lover softly on the side of his head.

"I didn't believe you." Adam says softly as he hangs on to the hitman. "It's my job to worry about you."

"Well, you can stop worrying. It's over." Tim says as he pushes Adam back just enough to look into his eyes. "The job is done."

"Sorry, Sweetheart, but you're wrong. Now is the time to start worrying." Adam says with a sad look in his eyes.

"Honey, I know the consequences of getting caught. That's why I plan it down to even the simplest detail." Tim says, kissing Adam on the nose. 

"I pray that you're right." Adam says as Tim lays down and pulls him into his arms.

"I am right. You'll see." Tim says with a yawn.

~~

"I saw Tim's boots by the door. Do you think it went down last night?" Avi asks as he and Kirstie walk into the kitchen to join the others around the table.

"I don't know. They still must be asleep. It was quiet when I walked by their room." Chance answers as he sips his coffee.

"What if things go wrong and he gets caught? It will be all my fault." Rob says with a heavy sigh as he stares into his coffee cup.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about, Rob." Avi smiles. "Timbo is a professional. He's not going to do a sloppy job."

"Avi's right. Tim does a lot of planning on these jobs. He makes sure every i is dotted and every t is crossed." Austin adds. "He doesn't leave any clues behind that could lead cops to him."

"Yeah, he usually leads them in a totally different direction." Chris nods. 

"Just like he had the cops believing that Tammy and Silas's death was gang-related." Avi says. "He had them thinking that McGriff was involved."

"Morning, Y'all." Tim says in a hoarse voice as he and Adam head for the coffee.

"What's wrong with your voice? You been doing a lot of screaming, Timbo?" Avi asks with a chuckle.

"No, I have not." Tim answers as he clears his throat as he sits down with his coffee. "Cold night air is not good on the vocal cords."

He glances up from his cup to see all eyes on him.

"Well?" Chance asks as they all lean forward on the table to hear about what went on last night. Was it more planning or did the job go down as planned?

"Well, what?" Tim asks. He knew what they were referring to.

"Tell us." Kirstie says.

"Tell you what?" Tim asks as he innocently sips his coffee.

"TIMBO!! STOP BULLSH*TTING!!" Avi scolds his best friend.

"I'd stop bullsh*tting if I knew what the hell you wanted me to say." Tim says with a raised brow.

"Oh, you know. You're just wanting to be a dickhead about it." Eddie chuckles. "I know you too well."

"You're killing me here, Tim." Rob says, shaking his head. 

"Okay? Let me put it this way....." Tim says as he reaches over and lays his hand on top of the bearded man's hand. "You and Kelsey are safe to go home at any time."

"Really?? It's over??" Rob asks a smile growing on his face.

"Yep, it's over." Tim smiles at his friend.

"Thank, God." Kelsey says with a relieved giggle.

"But I want everyone to pay close attention to the local news, newspaper or whatever for any news of them finding his body and the investigation. Okay?" Tim asks. "It's not completely over just yet."

~~

(Two weeks later)

Tim and Adam were relaxing in their bedroom. Tim was reading as his husband naps beside him.

"TIMBO!!" Avi shouts as he runs into the bedroom, grabbing up the remote and turning on the tv. "THEY FOUND A BODY!!"

"What?" Adam asks as he quickly sits up in bed. 

Tim calmly lays his book aside and turns his attention to the news report.

**a/n: Okay, this might not sound like an actual news report, probably too gruesome, but you guys get the idea. LOL

TV reporter: "A badly decomposed body was found early this morning by two deer hunters on Malcolm Lane. The male body had been decapitated by a wire stretched across the road. The motorcycle he had been riding was found lying in the ditch. An autopsy will be performed later this evening to discover the identity of the body. Richman County Sheriff, Don Green, believes that a Satanic cult could have been involved and had set a trap for any unwanted visitors. We will follow this story as the investigation continues."

"Holy moly. Decapitated?" Avi says in shock as he turns off the tv.

"Satanic cult?" Adam asks as he turns to look at his husband.

"Like I said, Sweetheart....." Tim says as he reaches for his book. "You worry too much."

********

Thanks for reading!! Don't forget to smash the VOTE button and please leave a COMMENT.