Chapter 14
It’s another five days before I’m comfortable wearing clothes and being out in public. Rafe left a couple of days ago; he’s back in the recording studio, and from the number of songs he wrote while sitting quietly with me, he’s got an album worth; Hell, he sang a few to me and damn, he’s good.
I hate how empty my apartment is now. It’s big by most standards and expensive.
I worked hard, bloody hard in dangerous places, and I love the light, airy rooms, the high ceilings, and huge windows.
Thanks to Pops calling it my Swank Palace, my brothers call it Wank Palace.
Each brother has been over since Rafe left, not getting the heads up until Saint told them.
Knox is the first; he’s his usual calm and quiet brother, but still waters run deep.
I remember the first time he walked into our parents’ home. A starved, scared, virtually silent, but angry kid. He took the longest to calm down, to loosen his hold on the metal chains around his heart, but now he’s one of the most passionate, determined, and vocal man I know.
Today, he takes one look at me and loses his voice. For a full three minutes, we stay locked in a tight embrace as he curbs his need to fight, to scream, and to shout.
“Can you please stop squeezing so hard, you oaf. Your muscles are fucking huge,” I grunt. Chuckling, he sighs and releases me.
“Sorry. But shit, bro. You scared the shit out of all of us. You better show up at dads’ on Sunday, or you’ll have Pops to answer to.
” He tries to sound all bossy, but I know my closest brother, and he’s been worried about me.
We know that no one is supposed to talk outside the walls of Bound or any private club.
But the gym we own—and Knox manages—has many members from the club, and we all know they talk, however quiet they think they are. Not much gets past Knox.
“Get it off your chest, Knox. I know something is eating you up.” I don’t know what I’m going to get. This could be about Rees, Rafe, or how the fuck I, an experienced sub, got it all so wrong.
He sighs. “Fine, your scene has become known to just about every member. And, Drake, I promise you, everyone is behind you. No one has seen or heard from Rees since that night. I think there are more than a few Doms who would like to find him. Apparently, Rees cut the feed from the camera in the room you were in. No one knows when or if he did it alone, but Alan is ripping the place to pieces, and new camera systems and video links have been ordered. It’s being taken very fucking seriously, bro. ”
Alan is the owner, and I appreciate how determined he is to never let this happen to anyone again.
“He’s not worth it; he’s been waiting for me.
He planned the whole thing. He’s wanted to hurt me since I was a little boy.
He’s done it, so he’ll leave me alone now.
” I flex my shoulders so hard that the tight skin is aching.
I need a workout. “I need to get to the gym,” I tell him. “You up for spotting me?”
“Sure, as long as everything has healed, and you’re not going to split any scabs open.”
“Nope, all healed. I had an excellent nurse,” I smirk, not saying anymore.
“Yeah, I heard. I’m happy for you. Go get your gear. Do you wanna change here rather than the locker room?”
I nod. I’m glad he mentioned it; I hadn’t thought about it.
I breathe the smell of the gym deep into my lungs. It’s not dirty or sweaty. It’s hot and familiar, a part of me.
The room is packed with men and women working out on machines and with weights. Royal has a group of tweenies playing football. Not one person has stopped and looked at me though there are a few nods and smiles. No one stops what they’re doing.
“Give me a couple of minutes to get changed; go warm up. I’m not letting you lift any weights today, just some cardio, maybe some leg work.”
“Yes, Dad,” I drawl, but he only chuckles at me.
He’s right though—there’s no way I’m going to be lifting any weights soon.
I wander up to an empty treadmill and start to warm up, easing the speed up slowly until I’m running.
I hadn’t realised how much I needed to stretch my legs, to get my heart rate up, maybe for the first time since that fucking sadist walked out of the room.
The faster I go, the harder I push myself after nearly two weeks of being stuck in my apartment, the angrier I become.
I let some bastard hurt me so much I called Rafe.
I could’ve called any of my brothers, and they would have given me the same care. No, I needed him; he’s not my Dom anymore, but Rafe knows me better than anyone else, and his touch would help my mind heal as much as my body.
His kiss was so sweet, so tender. I knew it wasn’t goodbye. It was goodbye for now.
Knox moves into my line of vision; I’m so lost in my thoughts that I almost stumble. “Where’s the fire, bro?”
I jump to the sides and hit the stop button. “I’ve got a lot going on in my head. I need to get some work, just some short-term jobs. I’ve been slacking, and my bank account doesn’t like that. I’m going to see Dad and Pops. Do you wanna come?”
“Nah, I’m good. I went around yesterday. They’ll be happy to see you.” He taps the top of the treadmill and wanders down the line to talk to other members.
My phone rings as I walk across the car park to my car. The name on the screen causes me to stop virtually mid-step. Rupert Pilkington, aka my old boss. Even after so long away from that world, I knew I could get a call one day. Like he said, you never leave that life.
“Good afternoon, sir,” I answer, politely. He may not be in charge of me anymore, but the man deserves my respect.
“Drake, how are you?” His voice is still as clipped as I remember, but it’s polite, almost friendly.
“I’m good, sir. Surprised to hear from you after so long.” I have a feeling I’m not going to like the reason behind this conversation.
“Well, yes. It’s the old saying: you can take the man out of the club, but not the club from the man. We have a couple of jobs coming up that are just perfect for you. What do you say?”
“Um, is this a rhetorical question?” I know the answer. This isn’t something I can say no to. “When would you like me to come in?”
“That’s the attitude, young man. Tomorrow at eleven am.”
“I’ll see you then.” The line goes dead.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. This is not what I need right now, yes, I need to work, but is this the kind of work that’s good for me at this moment?
I continue to my car and drop down in my seat.
It takes me a few deep breaths and knocking my head on the steering wheel a couple of times to pull myself together.
If anything, it will generously bump my bank account up.
I start the car and drive over to dads’. I know the whole Rees slash Warrior incident has been kept from them. I know Pops would want to take it to the police, and Dad would be hunting him down. I push the handle on the front door. “Hey, I hope you’re decent,” I call out as I step inside.
“Drake?” Dad asks as he walks out of the living room. “Hello, stranger.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Something came up. It’s all sorted now.”
He looks at me shrewdly. “Okay, I’ll let you have that. You’re okay now?”
I sigh, heavily. “You know.” It’s not a question.
“I do, but your Pops doesn’t. Let’s keep it that way.”
“You brought it up, not me,” I tell him, making him smile wryly. “I am okay, I promise.”
Just then Pops walks in from the garage, his smile bright. Yeah, he has no clue. “Drake, how lovely. Come on in the kitchen. I made a coffee and walnut cake this morning.”
“I’m not going to say no to that.”
It’s an easy couple of hours. Pops, so enthusiastic about Memphis, a kid they’d fostered for three years.
I wasn’t around much, what with joining the army, but he was a cute kid.
Now the interesting fact is Royal’s reaction to him.
And as much as we shouldn’t be gossiping about them, it’s fun to know Royal, the usually level-headed brother, is tripping up left, right, and centre as he tries to get it right.
“I’m going to London tomorrow. Pilkington called; he’s got a couple of jobs he needs me to do.” I purposely left saying this until I’m ready to go. They both know who Pilkington is and what he’ll want from me.
“Oh, Drake, I thought you’d finished with all of that.” Pops is immediately worried about me.
“It won’t be like before. I can’t exactly say no. It’s not how it works. I’ll see you soon.”