A Business Pleasure

Chapter 15: Fighter

I can not wait for the DNA documentary 😍😍😍😍😍

Dec's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he tried to sneak in a bit more speed without getting pulled over for speeding. The address Philip had given him was clear across town and due to the rush-hour traffic, it was a good three hour drive. He couldn't wait to reach his destination and finally get the answer to all his questions. When Philip had left, he had been left with so many doubts, so many confusing thoughts that roamed around in his head all night. He couldn't sleep or even close his eyes, not without seeing images of Ant's torture as if they were painted on his eyelids. He didn't know if Ant would be present at the 'meeting', but he couldn't help but hope that he was. He just wanted to see him again, hold him, kiss him and just know that he was there. He felt himself daze off a bit and quickly jolted himself back to reality. It wouldn't do to have an accident today.

"Declan, will you please pay attention?" Cat gritted, her hands firmly grabbing onto the dashboard as Dec swerved around another car a few seconds before impact.

"Sorry," Dec at least had the grace to look sheepish, but he couldn't help spacing off every few seconds. Finally, he decided to let Cat drive after being alerted to another impending collision by Cat's high-pitched scream.

"I swear, we'll die before we even get half way there," she grumbled, switching seats with Dec and pulling back into the traffic.

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm a little preoccupied," Dec retorted, folding his arms.

"You were the one who insisted on driving!" Cat glared at him, "I offered to!"

"Just shut up and drive," Dec turned his attention back out of the window and his thoughts drifted back to Ant again. What would he look like now? Would he be ashamed to even show his face? If he did, would Dec be able to take in the sight of those scars without feeling repulsed or guilty. He knew that no matter what Jared had done to his face could make Ant less attractive to him, but would he be able to see those marks and not remember the horror behind them? What about the emotional scars? Would Ant even be capable of being with a man again after what Jared had done to him? There were too many questions and not enough answers....

"What're you thinking about?" Cat asked, breaking the silence.

"The same thing you are," Dec said dully, not looking away from the window.

"Ant," Cat nodded, "I knew that, but I don't think my thoughts are going in the same direction as yours probably are."

Dec felt a slight smile tug at his lips, "How do you know where mine are going?"

"I can read your mind, doo little," Cat said with a wink and then sobered up, "But I'd be lying if I said I don't share your concerns."

"I just don't know what to expect," Dec confessed, "Part of mine wants to hold him so tightly, not even the Gods could separate us while the other part doesn't know if he'll even let me near him."

"Why wouldn't he let you near him?" Cat asked in confusion.

"Because Jared-"

"Declan," Cat interrupted, "I've told you several times in the past, Ant is not stupid. He knows you're not capable of doing what Jared is. Remember when Jared attacked him at the club one night? You were worried about the exact same thing and he put those worries to rest soon enough."

"He was a wreck then!"

"But he got over it. He's strong, Declan, and even Philip said that he held out. You watch, Ant will be the same Ant we know. Maybe he'll a little different, but he'll be the same underneath," Cat said confidently.