How May I Please You (The Darkest Kink #2) (The Darkest Kink Duet)

27. ~ Journey ~

twenty-seven

I shouldn”t be doingthis, but it almost feels like I can’t help myself. I know you told me to let it go and that you would handle it, but I can’t. I just fucking can’t.

I know that Trey is your friend, and losing him will undoubtedly cause you pain, but sometimes certain things must be done. Some pain is healing.

What I’m about to do is disrespectful to you, but as I drive, I feel nothing but the resentment that sat with me at the dinner table tonight. I know that it is wrong, but is it more wrong than allowing Trey to speak to you that way? To act as though he is the new Cain? You may disagree, but I think Trey’s treatment of you is far worse. He crossed a line when he talked to you that way about Cain. It’s not his place or his business, and if we let him get away with it once, there is no question that he would continue to do it.

In time, I think you’ll understand—maybe even thank me. At least that is what I hope. But for now, I’ll deal with it, and I’ll be there to offer you comfort when you hear about what happens tonight. You’ll ask me to investigate the case and find the people who did this to your friend, and I’ll do it for you. I’ll even go as far as arresting people who had nothing to do with it if it means making you happy and feeding you the justice you’ll be starved for. I’ll take care of all of it for you, because I love you, Sir. There has never been a person in this world who has loved you the way I do—as much as I do. Love is what is driving this car tonight.

Lying to you doesn”t make me feel good. Never has. Never will. But I have to. When I realized that you were dead set on letting Trey get away with talking to you that way, it dawned on me mid-conversation that this was my cross to bear. I could tell that you weren’t willing to go as far as me, so when you went into the kitchen, I pulled my phone out and tapped my way to my settings. As you poured your wine, I found my ringer and adjusted the volume so that the ringer would play aloud. I walked away so you wouldn”t catch on to the fact that there was no voice on the other end, and then I made up the story about Summers getting permission to talk to Chad. A weak fabrication, admittedly, but it was enough to get out of the house long enough to come here. Luckily, I remembered where Trey lived from the time you brought me for a little shindig he threw after a completed project. If not for that, I wouldn”t be here right now. You see, Sir. It’s fate.

I really do appreciate that you trust me so much, Evan. Truly. I know I shouldn”t abuse it. As your submissive and the love of your life, I shouldn”t take for granted that you trust me enough to let me leave the house at this hour for what you think is work. After tonight, I promise to do better. Once Trey is gone, I won”t have any more reasons to produce fake scenarios. I’ll be perfect for you, Sir.

After tonight.

Initially, I didn”t know what my plan was when I left the house. I guess I intended to knock on Trey’s door and attack him with the hammer I brought from the garage as soon as he opened up, because if I hesitated or tried to make small talk, he would text or call you about it. However, when I arrived, I realized that he wasn’t home. As a result, I’m waiting, and I really hope he doesn”t take too long, because the longer he takes, the longer I’m away from you.

I sit in my car by the mailbox of Trey’s neighbor and contemplate my life. The investigation into Andrea’s hasn”t gone anywhere, which makes sense considering the truth, but I need it to move. I have to find a way to either pin it on Chad Swanson, or make the case go cold. There were no cameras in the area—thank goodness—and no evidence left behind, so now that Chad has an alibi, there’s no way the investigation can move forward. If I want it over, I’ll have to be the one to suggest that we’ve run out of leads, but I’m having a hard time trusting that my partner will fucking let it go.

To his credit, Summers has backed off since our little dustup in the office. He hasn’t mentioned Detective Winter at all, and there hasn”t been one instance where he brought you up, Sir. Good thing, too, because I was all but convinced that my new partner would have to suffer the same fate as my old one. Now, Summers spends a lot of his time quietly researching things on his computer, or going through old case files with the clerk. He doesn”t involve me unless he absolutely has to, and I’m grateful. I’m clearly not the kind of detective who needs to be best friends with my partner. You”re my best friend, Sir. All I need is you.

When headlights approach from the rear, I stare out of my sideview mirror until they get close. I can tell from the way the car is slowing down and its squealing brakes that they”re about to make a turn, so I slide down in my seat to duck beneath the shadows in the car. Sure enough, the car turns into Trey’s driveway. He”s here. This is it.

I grip the handle of the hammer in my passenger seat and get out of the car as quietly as I can, doing my best to only move when I hear him moving. His sounds mask mine as he climbs out of his car and closes the door just as I round the corner. I crouch down low and put to use everything I know about surveillance and being imperceptible. Trey is carrying a plastic bag that rustles loudly as it blows in the breeze, giving me even more freedom to move without being heard. As Trey approaches the carport, I quickly close the distance between us. I’m at his back in a flash, face-to-face with the moment I’ve committed to. I can’t turn around now. He’ll hear me. I have to do this.

Forgive me, Sir.

I raise my hand, squeezing the handle of the hammer as tightly as I can. I take a deep breath.

“Trey!” a voice shouts from somewhere in the darkness.

I’m sent reeling as Trey’s head snaps over, searching the area from whence the voice came as I lower the hammer and shove it behind my back.

Trey hears me moving and spins around with a startled expression just as you emerge from across the street, a six-pack of canned beer in your hands.

“Evan? What the—Journey? Man, what the fuck is going on?” Trey stammers, totally taken aback at our sudden arrival.

“I tried to text you,” you say, your face devoid of all emotion. “But when you didn”t respond, I told Journey that we needed to just come by and try to ease the tension from earlier.”

Trey’s face remains twisted into a frown as he eyes us both, and it doesn”t move when he pulls his phone from his pocket, checking for your text. While he stares at his screen, you glare at me, the purest form of venom pouring from your eyes.

“I hadn”t even noticed your text,” Trey says. “My bad.”

“It’s cool,” you say, relaxing the muscles in your face as you speak to your friend. “I didn”t mean to sneak up on you, but I just thought we should smooth things over. You and I are friends, man. In fact, you”re the only person I think I’ve ever called that. So I don”t want there to be any drama between us. You”re a good guy, you”re about to propose, and you’ve never been rude to me. You”re my guy, and I want to be there at your wedding to see you get all domesticated. But I can”t do that if we’re pissed off over a misunderstanding, because that’s all tonight was—a misunderstanding. Isn”t that right, Journey?”

I angle my body to make sure Trey can’t see the hammer, making myself look like an ass while I keep my hand behind my back.

“Umm, yes that is correct,” I say, sounding as dumb as I look. “I was out of line earlier, and I never should”ve come at you that way. So, yes … big misunderstanding … sorry.”

Trey eyes me wearily. “Yeah, it’s cool,” he says before turning to you. “You didn”t have to do all of this. I honestly figured we would”ve talked it out and squashed it when we saw each other at work. You didn”t have to come by, and you damn sure didn”t have to bring me beer that you know I’m not about to drink.”

You let out a forced laugh. “Shut up, it was all we had. Well, we had some wine, but I love that too much to give it to you. It was a misunderstanding, but not that big of a misunderstanding.”

Trey chuckles, and when he turns to look at me, I force myself to giggle. I look at you as the annoying sound leaves my body and your smile vanishes in an instant.

“Anyway,” you say, seemingly to shut me up. “This is already awkward as fuck, so we’re going to let you go inside and have a good night. I’ll see you on the job site.”

“Yeah, okay,” Trey says, still looking puzzled. “Take that gross ass beer with you. If I didn”t like you so much I’d be offended that you even brought that over here.”

You laugh as you turn away. “Shut up.”

Trey chuckles to himself as he gives me a quick nod of his head and continues up the driveway. I begin to backpedal toward my car just as he enters the house and closes the door. Once he”s gone, I think to run to you. I know you must have a million thoughts in your head, and we need to talk. I have no idea how I’ll explain myself, but I have to talk to you.

But by the time I look in your direction, your truck has already started and you”re driving away.