Chapter 24
I’ve spent the whole day and last night, even in my damn dreams, back in DeVon’s flat. The smell of weed in my nose and back of my throat making me clear my throat and blow my nose all day. Whilst that’s annoying, the biggest and potentially dangerous part, is me actually telling my story.
Which is why I’m pacing the floor of my gorgeous new home, waiting for Drake to arrive. He knows what happened to me, and the name Pilkington had him chuckling. All I want to know is if I’ll get recalled and the protection halted; I’ve stayed away from anyone and anywhere connected to the gangs.
The doorbell rings, and even though I’m expecting this, I still jump like a scalded cat. I check through the peephole to confirm it’s Drake and yank the door open. “Come in.” I step out of the way, giving him room to step past me.
Drake gazes around the room; it’s still pretty barren. I’m hoping for more happy times ahead so I can have photographs displayed. “What can I do for you?” Yeah, as if he doesn’t know.
Straight to the point, no messing around.
I’ll be as up front as he is. “I’m doing what you suggested and talking to Knox and Roman.
I need to know if I’m in trouble for breaking the rules and for telling Knox and Roman all that went down.
The last thing I need is trouble and Pilkington and Cole involved.
Especially Cole, he was the one that looked after me when I left the rehab place. I liked him a lot.”
“It’s been a long time, and you’ve grown and matured.
The plastic surgeon, according to Knox, has done a great job.
I think you can give him a reasonable amount of information.
Don’t mention any names from the organisation or the gangs.
You’re best to stick to the truth, but not too much.
Everything you did before you died is fine.
And how you managed your amazing achievement without anyone knowing who you were.
You were a nobody in the MMA world. I’d like to know that story too. ”
“By bloody hard work and determination.” I scowl at him; how else did he think I managed it.
“But, yeah, we can do that when I know if Knox is going to be happy with me being here.” My stress level is at its highest, and I let out a sigh as I close my eyes and push my fingers through the mohawk that’s gotten long enough to tie back.
When I open my eyes, Drake is studying me again. He’s really got this whole silent interrogation vibe to perfection. “You want him, or more likely, you want them both. That’s what this is about. Or it’s become this since you saw them at Bound. Did you love him when you were kids?” Is he judging me?
I straighten my spine at his accusatory tone. “I’ve loved him for most of my life. He was a brother, a little brother, I had to protect. Look, I’m not getting into this with you. The only person who deserves my honesty, my truth, is Knox.”
His hands come up. “Okay, I get it. Have I answered all your questions?”
“I’m sorry. I’m worked up about seeing him, them, tonight. Yes, you have and thank you.” I hold out my hand, and he takes it; his grip is firm, but he’s not turning it into a battle of whose shake is the strongest.
“For what it’s worth, I think he’s happy to see you again.”
I spend the remainder of the afternoon on my treadmill.
I’ve got enough gear to work out properly, but I like the atmosphere of a gym.
I love watching people working towards their own goals and targets.
Today, I need to be away from Knox and his home turf.
I need a clear head to get through tonight.
When I’ve run until my legs feel like jelly, I get off and do some cool down stretches to get my muscles back to normal, then I hit the shower.
When I reach the King’s Head, where we agreed to meet, I’m only a couple of minutes early, but I go in.
I look around and see them already at a table, but they haven’t seen me yet, and I get a view of how much they love each other.
Knox brushes a lock of Roman’s hair back and tucks it behind his ear, his smile so tender as he listens to whatever Roman’s saying, giving him his full attention.
Then as if I’ve said his name, he looks up at me. He says something to his lover, who in turn, looks my way and smiles. It’s a genuine bright smile, with no hidden agenda behind it.
“Hi,” I say as I reach the table. “Sorry, if I’m late,” I say. I know I’m not, but it doesn't hurt to be apologetic.
“Not at all. Roman is a stickler for being early for everything. Have you ordered a drink yet?” Knox stands up, but I wave at him to sit down.
“I’ll get them; what are you drinking?”
I approach the bar, and a very cute twink bounces up to me, and with a smile and a wink, he takes my order. “I’ll bring them over for you, Sir,” he lowers his head enough to look up at me through his long eyelashes.
When I get to the table, Roman is smirking at me over the top of the laminated menu. “You’ve struck gold with Ollie. He’s usually very picky who gets his attention.”
“Looks good over a spanking bench, though,” Knox muses, quietly, then lifts his eyes to meet mine. I’m not sure what he’s getting up to; I thought we were getting to know each other again.
“What’s the best thing in here to eat?” I ask, changing the subject just as Ollie comes over with three drinks on a tray.
“Here you go.” He places each glass on the table. “Ooh, food too. What shall I get you?” He really is gorgeous and very flirty, and he gives me another wink.
“I was just asking what’s the best thing to eat here.” I give a grin. “Apart from you, of course.”
He laughs and even bats his lashes at me. “You know where to find me.”
Knox orders a steak with mashed potatoes, Roman a burger and fries. After a quick glance, I pick the steak and ale pie with chips.
“I’m surprised you eat that kind of food; aren’t you supposed to be really careful about what you eat, all calorie counting and shit,” Roman asks, clearly interested.
“I’m debating stopping. I’ve done what I set out to do.
I don’t want to be the guy who keeps going when better, faster kids are building their rep and out to beat me.
My coach is not impressed. He’s a great guy and knows all about my past, having trained the guy who got me interested in the first place.
I never thought I’d be able to do anything like that.
The injuries I had took a lot of physio to get me fit again.
” I look around the room, knowing I shouldn’t really be talking about this in here.
“Maybe you could share some of it with us later. Come back to our place,” Roman says kindly. I see the way Knox beams at him when he said our place, so that must be a new thing. I’m happy for them. And jealous, how can I not be—they have found forever.
“Yeah? Thanks, I’d love to.”
A delicious aroma approaches us as a huge tray of food arrives at our table.
We all let out a groan as we take it all in.
Conversation slows as we eat, the topics are simple, not heavy or uncomfortable.
Hopefully, it will stay that way after we’ve had the talk.
Roman tells tales from his work at the mobile phone shop he works in and has all of us laughing.
I can’t remember when I last did this, a simple night out with good people.
We have one more drink, then I go back to the bar to pay the bill.
“Are you leaving already?” Ollie looks at me with a very cute pout on his lips. “Well, if you know those two and have the same interests as them, maybe I’ll see you there. We could have some fun.”
The thought of having some fun and letting off some steam with this cute little brat is very appealing. “I’m sure I’ll see you soon.” I give him a wink and leave, meeting up with Knox and Roman outside.
“I’ve got my car,” I tell them, pointing down the road.
“We’ve parked at Saint’s place. Drive up there and you can follow me to my house,” Knox points down the road.
It’s about a fifteen-minute drive to Knox’s house, and I’ve spent the whole journey running through what I have to say. Which has me getting more and more nervous, all the light conversation and the feelings of a budding friendship may all be over within the next hour.
Knox pulls onto his driveway, and I park next to the kerb in front of his house.
They wait for me as I press the key fob to lock my car.
“Nice place.” I compliment him on the property.
It’s a cute place. Not at all what I expected.
I thought he’d be in a modern place with straight edges and no mess on any of the surfaces.
“Sorry about the mess,” he says, and I notice there are boxes stacked in the hallway. “Roman is moving in properly at the weekend, but we’ve started with the smaller stuff.”
“Congratulations.”
Silence fills the space as the elephant that has been following us around all evening moves out of the corner. I take a breath and point to the room I suspect is the living room. “Is in there a good place to start?”
Knox, as if he’d forgotten why we’re doing this, jolts and nods his head. “Yeah, let’s go in.”
Roman hesitates for a moment. “Um, do you want to do this one-on-one? I can start unpacking some of my boxes upstairs.”
“No,” Knox says forcefully, then takes a moment. “No, I want you to hear this. You need to know this too.” He holds his hand out, and Roman takes hold of it.
I take the seat Knox offers me, a large soft chair that probably seats two if you snuggle up. He and Roman take the sofa. “I don’t know where you want me to start. I don’t want to tell any of your story in case it’s a too sensitive and private part of your life.”
“I told Roe about my life up to the point where we left each other. I’d like to hear what happened to you to get you killed but not killed. It’s like something out of a movie.”
So, I start from saying goodbye to Ellis.
The drug gangs, the prostitutes, the theft, and violence.
How I was scared nearly every day. Knox curses at the initiation I underwent to be a full member of DeVon’s gang.
How shit scared I was when I thought I was being kidnapped, then finding out I could be useful to an organisation and get a way out of what was surely my one-way ticket to the mortuary sometime soon.
“It kinda got fucked up; the guy I’d been sent to was working with both gangs.
He was never a member but was the go-to guy for cutting drugs.
I overheard what was going to be a double cross that would take me out, so I ran, like seriously fucking ran.
I was chased into an underpass. I had a bullet proof vest on, but these guys, they used knives.
Less chance of being noticed than a bulge of a gun.
“The guy worked it out as soon as his knife met resistance, and he knew I was a grass. He stabbed me in the neck and leg, cutting my femoral artery, but luckily missing the carotid in my neck. The back up was on us, swarming around the dark passageway. All I could think was I’m dying on a filthy, piss-soaked, needle-ridden ground was I doubted that you would never know. ”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Knox says in a hushed voice. “I saw it on the news. I went off the rails for a while, turning back into the feral kid Robin first met.”
“What happened? Because you obviously didn’t die. How did you survive?” Roman’s voice is rough, full of emotion.
“I had some long operations, and then when I got out of hospital, I spent some time recuperating and became Maddox Levin. At least it is a cool name.”
“And I guess the rest, as they say, is history,” Knox says, possibly in shock.