Chapter Twenty-Nine
Torin
Garett pulled up to Colton’s and Henry’s house and dropped Torin off the truck idling for a moment as Garett gave him a reassuring smile. “If you need me, call,” Garett said, his tone steady but strong. “You need a break, and Henry’s a friend. He needs you as a friend as much as you. He’ll listen if you’d want to talk.”
Torin nodded, although his stomach was wadded up in knots. He didn’t want to talk, but neither could he stay alone with his thoughts. Garett had been right — he needed a friend.
Henry welcomed him with a warm smile at the door, his easygoing nature putting Torin at ease. “Hey, man. Come on in. You look like you could use a drink.”
Torin trailed in after him, the familiarity of entering Henry’s home bringing a smattered sense of comfort. Henry took two cans of beer out of the refrigerator and took Torin outside to the backyard, where a few lounge chairs were set up under the shade of an enormous oak tree. It was noon, late enough for a beer.
They eased into the chairs, the cool metal soothing against Torin’s skin as he popped open the beer and took a deep sip. The silence between them was easy, but Torin could feel all the weight of everything he hadn’t said trying to burst out of his chest. He had to let it out, and Henry was the kind of person who wouldn’t pass judgement, and he liked that about him.
“I had a…really messed up day yesterday,” Torin started, his voice soft but quaking. He looked down at the can in his hands, finger tapping on the outside of the can. “Dante—he…he slapped me. And then he told Garett to use his belt on me. Twenty times. In front of him. Because I disrespected him.”
Henry’s eyes grew wide, and he put down his beer, leaning into his chair. “What the hell? Are you serious? That’s fucked up, Torin.”
Torin swallowed, feeling the memory of Dante’s cold, calculating anger rush up into his throat. “I mouthed off to him. I shouldn’t have, but…I was so sick of him treating me like I was a stupid kid. And now I’m scared, Henry. I don’t know what I’m going to do. Garett said he’d never let Dante touch me, but…I don’t know.”
Henry paused. “Garett’s a good guy. If he tells you he’s got your back, he means it. But goddamn Torin, that’s… that’s a lot to contend with. No one disrespects Dante around here. He’s the mafia boss. He fucking owns everything on Carrillo Ranch. What were you thinking?”
“It’s no big deal to me that he’s a mafia boss. My father was one and my last lover was an Italian mafia boss and all his friends were. None of them had ever treated me like Dante did. Dante also said something about making me disappear.”
“I did not know your father was in the mafia.”
“When I was seven, my parents were murdered by his enemies, who set fire to our house.”
“That’s so sad. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It was and still is. Dante told me that my behavior would mess me up, and I’d end up just like my parents.”
“Damn! What did Garett say?”
“He told me Dante was using extreme measures to teach me a lesson so I would live. It sounds like Garett thinks talking back will get me murdered.”
“It could if you talk shit to the wrong person. Apparently, Dante was the wrong person. Everyone who works on this ranch has respect for him and would think twice before disrespecting him.”
Torin nodded again, his chest heavy with the burden of it all. He knocked back the last of his beer; the bitterness doing little to calm him. After a beat, his curiosity got the better of him and he looked at Henry. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“What is it like…to be Colton’s sub? I mean, I know it’s not exactly what Dante was saying, but…I don’t know. I’m just trying to get it.”
With a faint smile, Henry reclined in his chair. “It’s… complicated. As with anything, there are pros and cons. The positives? Colton’s amazing. He’s patient, he’s kind, and he always meets my needs first. When we’re in a scene, it’s like… everything else disappears. It’s just him and me, and I feel safe. Protected. But it’s not always easy. It takes a lot of trust behind the scenes, and communication between the two is important. If something is off, we discuss it. No secrets, no games.”
Torin listened, brow furrowed as he tried to process everything Henry was saying. “How did you two meet?”
Henry laughed, his eyes brightening as he recalled. “We actually met at a BDSM club. I was new at this, and Colton was with a couple of friends. We started chatting and…I don’t know, I just, there was something about him. He was so self-assured, so confident, yet he wasn’t aggressive. He went slowly, making sure I was comfortable. Soon we were seeing each other outside of the club, and the rest is history.”
Torin nodded slowly, his brain whirring. He could imagine himself in that sort of dynamic with Garett, and he understood how that served Henry and Colton. That was something he felt with Garett—an emotional bond, respect—that was sorely missing in those conversations with Dante.
“It sounds…awesome,” Torin said at last, his voice low. “But I don’t know if I could allow Garett to punish me. At least, not right now.”
“It’s not the physical pain because the pain is exciting for me. What’s hard is knowing I hurt Colton and that I fucked up. That makes it real for me.”
“No one ever used a belt or whip on me, much less spanked me.”
Henry grinned, patting Torin on the shoulder. “And that’s okay. It’s what you and Garett come to terms with.”
“Did you know Garett’s last sub?”
“Yes.” Henry closed his eyes for a second.
“Can you tell me about him?”
“He was older than us and they were in love. They performed together on the stage at Cowpokes often. Everyone envied him.”
“What was his name?”
“Manuel Cervantes. Everyone called him Manny.”
“How did Garett meet him?”
“Garett met him at a Pride Parade in Los Angeles. He brought him to Carrillo Ranch and collared him instantly.”
“Did he work in the guest house?”
“No. He was a gang banger biker. He worked with the horses. He rounded them up.”
“What happened between them?”
Henry took a deep breath. “He went to Los Angeles to visit his sick mother without Garett. He never returned. Garett went crazy. Then someone called Garett and told him he was gunned down. Garett was very depressed. He hasn’t had a sub since.”
“When did that happen?”
“Five years ago. He told everybody never to say Manny’s name around him.”
“Wow!”
“You’re the first person he’s ever brought home since. He’d fool around with various ones at the club but nothing more.”
“So he hasn’t had a sub since?”
“Not in five years. I wouldn’t mention Manny, ever. If he wants to discuss it, he will.”
“Thanks, Henry. But…But I needed to know about Garett’s past.”
Henry laughed and raised his beer in salute. “Anytime, man. That’s what friends are for.”
Torin’s phone vibrated in his pocket, jarring him from his thoughts. He yanked it out, his stomach sinking at the sight of Byron’s name on the screen. His ex. The guy he’d thought he’d spend his life with. The man who had nearly destroyed it all. Torn, his thumb hovered above the answer button until he finally relented. Byron, he couldn’t blow off—not with this level of tenacity.
“Byron,” Torin said.
“Tory,” Byron’s smooth, familiar voice broke through on the line. “You didn’t call me. I’m leaving in the morning.”
Torin’s chest constricted, and he looked around the yard like Garett or Colton could suddenly pop out of nowhere and hear the conversation. “What do you want, Byron?”
Byron laughed, a low, warm sound. “Direct, as usual. I want to see you, Tory. You said you’d call, and you didn’t. Today is the last day I’m here, and I’d like to take you to dinner. Maybe even talk about…us.”
Torin’s stomach churned; he tightened his grip on the phone. “There is no ‘us,’ Byron. Not anymore.”
“Don’t say that,” Byron said. “I’ve been thinking about you. About what we had. I also want this: the thrill of taking you to Europe, Tory. Show you the world. You deserve better than this small-town life you accept.”
Torin choked on his breath, his mind whirring. Europe? With Byron? There was something tempting about the idea, in a way. Byrom had always been a larger-than-life figure, full of grand gestures and promises. But now that Torin knew the truth of his past, he couldn’t help but fear upsetting Garett. He didn’t want to damage him, didn’t want to jeopardize what they had.
“I…I can’t,” Torin said at last, his voice low but steady. “I’m with Garett now. I’m happy here.”
Byron’s tone changed, a note of exasperation sneaking in. “Are you, though? Are you truly happy with him? I met Garett, Torin. He’s…not what you need. He’s not like us. He doesn’t know you like I know you.”
Torin’s chest tightened, and his mind assaulted him with a memory of the way Garett had held him after he’d confronted Dante, the way he’d promised to protect him. “You don’t know Garett,” Torin said, voice cracking. “He’s good to me. He cares about me.”
“Caring isn’t enough,” Byron said, now with an edge in his voice. “You deserve someone who can give you the life you deserve. Someone who can push you, thrill you. Garett can’t do that, Torin. He’s not enough for you.”
His hands were shaking as his mind spun with emotions. He wanted to believe Byron, wanted to believe he could give him the life he’d always dreamed of. But he couldn’t get the image of Garett’s steady, reassuring presence out of his mind, the way Garett made Torin feel safe and cherished.
“I…I need to think about it,” Torin finally said, his voice little more than a whisper when he found himself looking up and saw Garett standing there. Torin didn’t know what to do. But he was certain of one thing—he couldn’t keep Garett from this phone call. He had to tell him. Even at the expense of losing everything.
Byron’s tone softened, a note of triumph coming through. “Sure. Take your time. But don’t wait too long, Tory.”
Torin ended the call and stuck the phone back in his pocket, his chest heaving as he attempted to catch his breath. He felt conflicted, in two minds. Byron was promising him everything he’d ever wanted—adventure, excitement, a life beyond the ranch. But Garett…Garett was giving him something more. Something real. Something steady.
“Who were you talking to?” Garett asked.
“Byron. Can I tell you later?”
Garett nodded. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes, Sir. Henry and I had a great time. Thanks.”