Long Way Home by Carolyn Gray (28 page)

bright light.

“What woke you?” Lee pulled his feet off the other chair. “Oh shit, that was a mistake,” he

said, rubbing his legs as he stretched them out.

“I needed to take a piss.”

Lee yawned. “Good idea. Be right back.”

As Lee ran across the hall, Gev located his shoes, then stood looking around the office,

unsure what to do next. Sneaking out now wouldn’t work. Resolving to put his plan in action

anyway, the second Lee returned and closed the door behind him, Gev said, “I’m leaving.”

Lee’s eyebrows shot up. “The detective asked us to stay here.”

“No,” he said, his conviction returning. “I can’t sit around and wait for something else bad

to happen. I’m leaving, going somewhere no one else can get hurt because of me.” He didn’t

wait for a response, just opened the door and started walking.

“Shit. Gev, wait.”

Lee caught up with him as Gev reached the desk. The cop at the desk put down the

magazine she’d been reading. “What can I do for you?”

“Would you mind calling me a cab?”

“Sure, honey, no problem.”

“Thanks.”

“This isn’t going to help,” Lee said.

Gev moved over by the glass doors so he could see outside. “I don’t know that,” he said,

hardening his expression. If Lee argued with him too much, he’d give in. He stared at the man he

wanted more than anything, already weakening. Dammit. The thought of Lee getting hurt and it

being Gev’s fault… He pushed open the door and went outside to the curb.

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Lee followed him. “Stop being a fool.”

Gev turned on him. “Are you calling me stupid? For not wanting anyone else hurt? Or

killed?” He sliced the air with his hand. “I can’t do this anymore. I don’t care what anyone else

says, that Detective Ramirez wants me to stay here, holed up, hiding away from whoever is

doing this to me. I can’t sit here and do nothing. Can’t you see that? People keep getting hurt

around me. Killed.” He swallowed, finding it suddenly hard to keep his composure. “I can’t let

that happen again. Especially…especially not to you.” There. He’d said it. The expression on

Lee’s face made him ache, want to fall into Lee’s arms and tell him he was sorry, sorry for

everything, for bringing this all on him. His body throbbed with it, but he didn’t move. “I figure

it’d be best if I go somewhere, lay low for a while. I’ll let the detective know where when I get

there.” He looked away.

Lee caught his arm. “Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

“How do you know that, though?” Gev demanded, pulling away. He rubbed his face in

frustration, forgetting about his hurt eye. Fuck, he was falling apart so fast, whoever was after

him could probably just wait a little while until he was a heap of bones and sinew, totally

defenseless. “The killer could be out there right now, waiting, watching, ready to finally do what

so far he’s been unable to.”

“I know that, but I’m not leaving you.”

Gev stared at him, searching madly for the words that would send Lee away, that would

protect him from all this. “Why won’t you listen to me?” He winced at how it came out in a

whine.

Lee raised an eyebrow. “Because you need someone to watch out for you, and it might as

well be me.”

Gev wanted to scream at him, shove him away and out of there, but the set expression on

Lee’s face deflated him. “You’re a stubborn bastard,” he muttered.

“So I’ve been told.” Lee pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled out some gum. He

took out a piece, then offered the pack to Gev. “Any ideas where you want to go?”

“I don’t know. I want to go by my house and get some things.” Gev hesitated. One last

stab—“You should go back to Colorado.”

Lee snorted. “Like hell.” He leaned into Gev’s space, his dark eyes flashing. “I’m not

letting you out of my sight again, so stop trying to push me away. Got it?”

Gev stared at him, a hot shiver dancing down his spine. He believed Lee; he really did. But

he’d dealt too long with his brother’s ghost, was too used to believing he would never have what

he wanted, because of Stef. So the doubt remained, though the hope grew. Cautiously. “Okay.

Thank you,” he said.

Lee’s lips curved crookedly. Gev loved that. Lee stood so close, it would be so easy to

melt against him, let those arms wrap around him and put a wall between him and the evils of the

world. The sky was beginning to lighten, and no one was around.

“Hey,” Lee said. Gev looked at him; their eyes locked, making Gev’s stomach lurch, his

cock stir. Shit. Glare from a parking-lot light moved across Lee’s face, making his eyes glisten.

Gev fought not to look away. “We’re in this together, you know. Till the bitter end and all that.”

“Just like in the movies?”

Lee laughed softly at that. “No Thelma-and-Louise-like grand gestures, though, okay?”

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Gev looked away at last. Lee’s intensity had shaken him. “Thank you,” he said again.

Lee’s fingers touched his cheek, turning him so Lee could brush firm lips across Gev’s.

The moment it happened, the second he felt Lee’s mouth against his, the warmth of Lee’s

hand cradling his face, the other hand snaking around his waist and pulling him tight against

Lee’s body, Gev knew he was lost. The first time Lee had kissed him, he’d been so

overwhelmed, in shock still, he almost hadn’t dared to believe there would be another.

Lee wanted him
$
. All the walls he’d built over the years between himself and the

impossibility of ever having who he wanted began to crumble. A small groan escaped him as he

answered Lee’s kiss, more desperate than hungry. Big chunks fell off the wall when he realized

Lee wasn’t going to pull back. He grabbed hold of Lee, afraid his knees would buckle. He felt

Lee too—fucking hell, he felt him completely, Lee’s arousal hard and thick against his own. A

betraying whimper escaped, making Lee smile against his lips before pulling Gev against him

harder, more desperately, breaths hot and panting for more, more… Why the hell weren’t they

still in the detective’s office? The rest of the wall crashed to the ground.

Lee broke the kiss but didn’t let him go.

“I thought—” Gev caught his breath. I thought you didn’t like me@. “I thought you

weren’t into guys.”

Lee pulled back. They stood looking at each other, the shock of what happened coupled

with the shock of having to move apart leaving Gev, at least, feeling dizzy with excitement and

confusion. He braced himself, ready for Lee’s denial, his excuses for what had happened.

Instead, the corner of Lee’s mouth lifted, and he passed his hand over the bulging front of his

jeans. “Yeah, well. Obviously I’m into you.”

“Since when?” Gev demanded, though his voice held need rather than fire.

Sadness wavered in Lee’s eyes. “I don’t know. Since Saturday night?”

“Shit,” Gev said. His body quivered with bemusement and fear and full-on arguing that

Lee didn’t mean it, that he was saying that to make Gev feel better.

Stefan loomed between them even now.

Lee’s gaze locked with Gev’s again, his eyebrows furrowed. He brought both hands up to

Gev’s face. “Hey, it’s okay. This sucks, but you aren’t alone.”

Gev closed his eyes, letting stand Lee’s misunderstanding of what was freaking him out.

“Shit, I’m falling apart.”

Lee rubbed Gev’s shoulder almost absently as he looked down the street for the cab.

“Kinda understandable. We’ll get your things, then go somewhere. Anywhere, I don’t care. You

need decent food and sleep before we can figure out what to do.”

“Detective Ramirez is going to be pissed.”

“Probably.”

The cab finally arrived. Gev opened the door and slid inside, then scooted over so Lee

could get in.

“Where to?”

“Twenty-three oh two Douglas Street.” Gev turned to Lee. “What about your rental?”

“Oh shit. Wait.” Lee darted out of the cab, returned a moment later with a laptop backpack

and a bag, and tossed them in the trunk once the cabbie popped the lid. “I’ll leave it there for

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now,” Lee said as he slid back onto the seat. “Been seen driving it. I’ll have to get the keys to

them later.”

“You guys ready now?” the cabbie said.

“Yes, thanks,” Lee said.

The streets were starting to get busy. Gev was intensely aware of Lee next to him; he

swore he could feel the heat they’d been generating. Lee pressed his leg against Gev’s—which

did nothing to calm his cock down—then put his hand on Gev’s thigh for a brief, stunning

moment. Gev melted into the seat, sucking in his breath. Fuck. Gev eyed the cab driver, who

seemed oblivious to them, but caution won out. He caught Lee’s eye, pleading with him. Lee

raised one eyebrow, then looked forward again, the corner of his mouth twitching. Damn. The

bastard knew Gev was in dire straits.

They turned onto Lemmon, drawing closer to his home. His blood-soaked home. He

instantly deflated, but Lee’s touch to his leg was reassuring, understanding. For a second there,

he wondered if Lee had been distracting him on purpose. Probably.

They turned onto Gev’s street. The little reddish brown house looked forlorn with the

yellow crime-scene tape flapping in the breeze.

“This right?” the cabbie said as they pulled to a stop.

“Yeah. This is right.”

“What happened?” The guy looked like nice enough, but Gev wasn’t feeling too gracious

all of a sudden. And he sure didn’t feel like explaining anything.

“Just a party,” Lee said, to Gev’s relief. To Gev he said, “I’ll pay for it.” Grateful Lee

understood, Gev opened the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, barely aware of Lee coming

up behind him, bag and backpack in hand. The cab drove off.

Crime-scene tape was still wrapped around the pillars and sealing the door. Tire marks

from the emergency vehicles marred the lawn, and the bushes looked as if they’d been slightly

whacked. Other than that, there was no real evidence that anything remotely like a vicious

murder had occurred here.

A shudder ran through Gev, and Lee placed a hand on his shoulder. “I can go in if you

want me to.” Lee’s voice was warm, reassuring, and Gev wanted nothing more than to let him do

that. The memory of Lee’s lips on his, his body pressed against him… That’s where he’d rather

be.

Anywhere but here.

“No. No, I’ll be okay.” He smiled a little at Lee’s protectiveness. He knew Lee had lots of

practice at playing this role, what with all that had happened to Nick as well as Brandon

Ashwood, but he felt no less special for it. Now his plan to ditch Lee and go it on his own

seemed very unappetizing.

Okay, then. He headed for the front door but paused on the stoop. Lee followed suit.

“This really sucks.”

“Yes, it does,” Lee said, setting his bags down out of the way.

Taking a deep breath, Gev slid his key into the lock, turned it, and pushed against the door.

He opened it all the way and stood there looking inside.

The hallway had mud streaked across it… Or was that the blood? He didn’t want to look

too closely to find out. Everything else seemed the same—the too-loud hum of the refrigerator,

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the coffee cup he’d left on the table in front of the TV, the ticking of the mantel clock that had

been Chad’s mom’s. She’d put it there herself.

It hurt that he’d brought Chad’s mom so much grief, so much sorrow. He didn’t blame

Chad’s dad at all for taking it out on him. He deserved no less. Chad should be alive, not him.

Conscious of Lee behind him, waiting, he braced himself and took a step in, then looked

over his shoulder. Lee was there with him, and no one was inside.

Whoever had killed Chad and Curtis was long gone, mission not completely accomplished

but havoc well wreaked. He needed to check with Manny about the cat. He wanted Screech; she

was his now.

“Gev.”

Gev looked up. He’d stopped at the end of the tile, at the edge of the living room. To the

left was the kitchen, dirty dishes still in the sink, and his room. To the right, Chad’s room. He

needed a suitcase, so he grabbed a duffel bag—one of Chad’s—from the hall closet. The bag was

the most hideous orange—so ugly, Chad claimed, that no one ever wanted to steal it. The

memory of that made Gev sad. Damn, he missed Chad.

With a viselike grip on the duffel, he headed for his room. Steeling himself, he opened the

door. The first thing to greet him was the stench. Nausea burned the back of his throat. Worse,

far worse, was the mattress, the floor, black and drenched and foul.

“
Fucking hell
.”

Covering his face, he backed out and slammed the door shut, then bolted outside to the

porch and bent over, gasping, sucking in the clean air. It took a minute before he could