Chapter 6 New Home
Going from one prison to another dampened any happiness he felt at leaving the hospital. Letting out a sigh, Cecil glared out the window at the passing scenery.
He had been trapped. This was not how things were supposed to go. How the hell had his bid for freedom gotten so derailed?
Ugh, his luck sucked. Though…it usually did, so Cecil wasn’t sure why he was surprised. It was apparently too much to ask for just one thing in his life to go the way he fucking wanted it to.
Being told what to do was high on Cecil’s list of things he hated. But who could blame him? Really, shouldn’t trust be required before you order someone around?
If it were up to him, he would be far the hell away from Sin right now.
But Cecil’s options had been pretty limited.
So rather than end up in a place surrounded by people he hadn’t even met yet, or in jail, he chose to live with Sin’s group.
Well, at one of the main branches of Sin’s group.
There were others—two others, if he was remembering what Benji had told him correctly.
Though, there were apparently tons of smaller branches and outposts. But those didn’t matter because Cecil was currently headed to the one in Bellfall, a main branch only thirty minutes away from the hospital.
Cecil jerked when something brushed against his hand. He peered at Benji narrowly. The man was smiling brightly at him.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like it there. It’s a lot of fun, I promise.”
“Benji, I have a feeling you’re easily pleased.” Cecil snorted, rolling his eyes.
Benji cockled his head. “Maybe…” he murmured, his brow furrowing.
The man was a bit too innocent for his age…not that he knew his age, just that he was older. But now Cecil felt bad, as it appeared he had hurt the guy’s feelings. “Don’t worry, it’s a good thing,” he added with a weak smile.
The somewhat concerned expression that had appeared on Benji’s face disappeared and was replaced with a smile even brighter than before—ugh.
“So where is the big boss? I would have thought he’d be here.”
“Ah, he had some business to finish up, but he should be there when we arrive.”
Cecil grunted in response and turned to look back out the window. He wasn’t much for conversation, mainly because he usually didn’t have anyone to talk to. Cecil did have Drop, but that was always one-sided.
He was not even a little bit surprised when the car turned down a drive, and after five minutes of nothing but forest, a mansion appeared.
Considering the multiple times Cecil had been stuck listening to Benji go on and on about all the guys, he figured the place wasn’t going to be your average house.
There was a gravel lot in front. The house was white with a gray roof, and steps led up to an arched entryway with a wooden door.
The building itself was three stories, and wider than he thought was normal.
There were actually a few signs placed around, but they never got close enough for Cecil to read any of them.
Instead of parking in the lot in the front, the car continued on a road that led behind the mansion. It turned out the place was pretty wide everywhere. The back looked much like the front, except there was a circle drive and a road far off that led to a large garage.
“We’re here!” Benji laughed once the car stopped.
Getting out, Cecil slung his backpack over his shoulders. When Benji pulled out his suitcase and it thudded on the ground, he snapped, “Careful with that!”
“Oh, sorry.” The man smiled goofily, rubbing the back of his neck.
At the sound of a door opening, Cecil peered at the mansion. Sin walked out, looking sophisticated, like always. Cecil was pretty sure the man plucked or waxed his eyebrows—no one’s eyebrows were that perfect.
“Welcome, Cecil,” Sin announced.
“Whatever.” Rolling his eyes, he stomped up the steps and pushed past Sin.
On entering, all Cecil managed to see was a flash of red. He yelped as he found himself pulled into a bear hug by what he was almost sure was an actual fucking bear.
“Welcome, laddie!” boomed the giant that was squeezing the life out of him.
He heard Benji snap, “Oy, you big oaf, let him go!”
Cecil gasped for air and stumbled when the man set him down. Sin’s hands were instantly on his waist, stabilizing him. But the minute he was no longer in danger of falling, Cecil moved away.
“Aw, Benji, just givin’ the wee lad a warm welcome.” The redhead laughed, his fangs flashing with his broad smile.
“Roth, not everyone is comfortable with such a greeting. Something I know you are well aware of, as we have spoken about this before,” Sin drawled stiffly.
Seeming unbothered by the other man’s stern tone, Roth chuckled. “I’ll mind one of these days, promise.”
Now that his face was no longer stuffed in Roth’s chest, Cecil studied him.
Gods, was he huge. Roth had to be seven feet tall.
His short hair was a bright orange red. It was a shade that was more commonly seen on humans than immortals.
A spackling of freckles covered his pale face, neck, and hands—basically, whatever skin was visible, the tiny little un-uniformed dots were there.
The slightly oversized, navy-blue sweater and blue jeans the man was wearing did nothing to hide his muscular form. The navy made Roth’s robin-blue eyes shine brighter. Cecil did wonder how the man managed to find clothes that would be baggy on him.
Then there was Roth’s accent. While older immortals all tended to have a slight one, Roth’s was the thickest Cecil had ever heard.
Judging from the very limited amount of First Realm movies he’d watched, he would say it was Scottish.
And considering how thick it was, Roth must have spent a lot of time in the other Realm.
Based on the man’s…whole existence, Cecil would say there was a high possibility that Roth was a human and immortal hybrid.
Sin gave him a tight, unhappy smile. “I apologize, Cecil, some of my men are a bit rambunctious.”
“Rambunctious? Is that what we are now?” Roth barked out in laughter. “I remember when ye used tae call us spirited, boss.”
Cecil fidgeted when the big man eyed him. He had to force himself to not step back. In his experience, big men were violent. Actually, in his experience, most men were violent, but men Roth’s size could cause more damage.
“Well now, I’ve been right rude, have nae even introduced myself.” The man put his hand out. “The names Roth Fergus, second-in-command of the Bellfall branch. Nice tae meet ye.”
Unless he was hitting on someone for money, he didn’t like to touch others. But for the sole purpose of finding out how big it was, Cecil shook the man’s hand. Roth’s hand completely engulfed his, but the behemoth was surprisingly gentle.
“It’s your fault we downgraded!” Benji huffed.
“Aw, are ye feelin’ neglected? I know I’ve been busy lately, but if ye had said somethin’, I would have made time.” Roth smirked and rubbed Benji’s head.
Cecil hadn’t thought Benji could get angry. He’d been wrong. The growl Benji let out when Roth messed up his mohawk had been rather impressive.
Slapping the man’s hands away, Benji hissed, “Don’t touch me! And who the hell would miss you?”
“Benji, language,” Sin chimed.
Roth let out a snorted laugh at the reprimand.
“Sorry, boss,” Benji apologized before glaring at Roth. “What are you snorting about, you…you jerk?! Who the heck would miss you? Ugh, if I never saw you again, it would be too soon!”
Because Sin had said nothing to correct it, mentally, Cecil added ‘jerk’ to the words he could say around Sin. Though he had no intention of not swearing anyway.
“Ye know ye love me, laddie.”
Benji’s face turned beet red and he stuttered, “I don’t love you!”
“Ye do. Who would nae love this arse?” Roth turned around and slapped his ass.
That, apparently, had been too much for Benji. The man jumped on the giant’s back, wrapping his arms around Roth’s neck.
Tilting his head, Cecil watched them. It looked as if Benji was trying to strangle the giant redhead. Cecil would have given Benji a pat on the head for effort, but he didn’t seem to be affecting Roth at all.
Roth wasn’t even struggling to breathe, he was laughing—a full belly laugh that shook his whole body.
Cecil was a bit surprised that Sin wasn’t interfering in whatever was happening. The man was shaking his head, with his hands on his hips, but he didn’t move to do anything.
“Shouldn’t you stop them?” Cecil asked.
Sin waved his concern away. “Nothing to worry about, I assure you. Roth would never hurt Benji. They will tire eventually.”
“But…” Cecil trailed off.
He had been about to ask ‘what about Roth?’ but really, was there a point? From what Cecil could tell, there was no way in hell Benji could actually cause any damage to the mountain of a redhead.
Sin smiled. “Why don’t I show you to your room? Follow me.” He picked up Cecil’s small suitcase and walked toward a set of doors on the far wall and waited.
Having been previously occupied, Cecil just now noticed that the entrance was unusually small.
The floor was white marble, and the walls were a maroon color.
Considering what the place looked like from the outside, Cecil would have thought there would have been a grand foyer or something fancy like that leading to a staircase.
It kind of looked like the entryway of a typical house—an upper-class house, but still just a house.
“Uh, yeah...okay,” Cecil muttered.
He peered one last time at the odd pair. Benji’s face remained flushed, and Roth was still laughing, but right before Cecil turned to follow Sin, Benji buried his face in the big man’s neck. He would have sworn the man was sniffing the other.
Maybe Roth’s comments on love weren’t too far from the truth. Whatever, it’s none of my business, Cecil thought, walking over to Sin.