Chapter 7 Zach
Zach
Zach focused on his food, as much to avoid Colton’s questioning gaze as to satisfy his hunger. He’d seen the disappointment in Colton’s face when he realized he’d been used.
Fuck! If he’d gotten out fifteen seconds sooner… Yeah, and if he could move that fast, he’d be the Flash and wouldn’t have needed to ask Colton to help him.
Every time the door opened, Colton glanced at his cousin. He couldn’t imagine Stephen or his boys figuring out where they were, but clearly Colton didn’t believe in taking chances.
Finally, guilt robbed him of his appetite. He pushed the plate away and glanced up. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” Colton met his gaze and smiled.
Could the guy be any nicer? Zach already thought Colton was one of the hottest guys he’d ever met.
This Mr. Nice guy shit was almost too much.
“Yes there is.” He drank some coffee for caffeine courage.
“You have no reason to believe me, but coming on to you wasn’t just to have you help me get away.
I really did want to get something to eat and…
.” He shrugged. What he wanted was for Colton to be balls-deep and fucking him into the mattress.
And despite Zach’s cock twitching, it wasn’t going to happen.
“Maybe if you explained what happened it might convince me.”
Right. Colton wasn’t looking to be convinced, he was trying to figure out what shit Zach had pulled him into.
He drained his Coke to clear his dry mouth.
“My grandfather ran this show since before I was born. Originally, he played violin, but as the logistics got more complex, he dropped out and just ran the business side.”
“So he… I mean you, own the band?”
“No, he owned the show. The festivals would contract with him for music, and he’d pay the musicians.
We got paid per show. Plus tips. After my parents died in a car accident.
Grandpa raised me. I was five. He never talked about my grandmother, but I know she died in childbirth when my mother was real little.
Stephen joined the act when I was thirteen.
Well, not him, but his sons. I don’t know all the details, but Grandpa needed a partner to help run things, and Stephen was looking for a way to cash in on the kids’ musical talents. ”
“Are all those other boys brothers?”
Zach smiled. If Stephen thought he was dealing with unsophisticated local police, he was in for a world of trouble.
“You’re good. He said they were his sons, but I don’t believe it.
Grandpa didn’t either, but he never told me why he didn’t, or if he ever found out for sure.
I think Stephen adopted some or all of them, so they might be legally his sons.
Maddie has been with the show as long as I can remember.
Most of what I know about my mother and father came from her.
Outwardly she’s Stephen’s eyes and ears, but it’s an act. She doesn’t like him or his boys.”
“You sure she isn’t playing you too?”
That thought had tried to take root in the back of his brain, but he’d always dismissed it. “Maddie was my mother’s closest friend. She’s also a survivor. I’m sure she’s got something going on that I don’t know about, but she’s the one who warned me I needed to get away.”
“You still haven’t said why. What’s going on with this show that Stephen, his sons, and the guy in the fancy suit would attack an armed sheriff’s deputy?”
Some pieces were easy to figure out—others he had no clue.
“Attacking you is just them being too stupid to live. What’s going on is complicated.
Maddie never gave me much, but from what I could tell, the show’s a front.
Grandpa was getting money from somewhere else in exchange for something he did.
He never told me what it was, so I guess it could be drugs, but I never saw any.
Grandpa did everything by phone or online.
Whatever he was doing, Stephen is desperate to get his hands on Grandpa’s bank account. ”
“You said you own this account, but are afraid to access it.” Colton picked up his last strip of bacon and took a bite. He chewed it slowly, keeping his eyes on Zach. “Why?”
He saw the suspicion in Colton’s eyes. Didn’t blame him either. This was all so fucked up. “I sort of have access. The lawyer transferred the money to an account he controls. I told him to after Stephen demanded the password within hours of Grandpa’s death.”
“How’d your grandfather die?”
Zach tried to swallow the baseball in his throat. Ever since he saw his grandfather wheeled into the ambulance, he’d been too scared to think. Did he really know what happened? “The EMTs said he’d had a heart attack.”
“Do you believe that?”
Zach wasn’t sure anymore. “I believe the EMTs told me what they thought happened. Could Stephen and the boys have killed him and made it look like a heart attack? I don’t think any of them are smart enough for that. Plus Maddie didn’t say anything.”
“You sure you’re not underestimating folks?”
If they’d done it, Maddie would have known.
Unless she was part of it. He couldn’t believe that, but she’d told him to leave the night Creepy Suit Guy showed up with Stephen.
He closed his eyes and swore he was not going to cry.
When he was sure he had it under control he opened them but avoided meeting Colton’s eyes.
“No. I’m really sorry I dragged you into this. ”
“I already told you it’s okay.”
He pulled out his wallet and tossed two twenties onto the table. “Thank you for getting me out of there. I’ll find a way out of town.”
“I’ll take care of the check.” Colton picked up the money, folded the bills and passed them back. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t run off just yet. I like looking at you.” Colton smiled, but it wasn’t like before.
He lowered his eyes to his half-eaten food to avoid how differently Colton looked at him. “Sure you do.”
“Why me?”
He’d been waiting for this question. Did he tell Colton the truth or skim the edges? He exhaled and lifted his chin. “You won’t believe me.”
“How about you tell me and let me decide?”
Now that everything had gone to shit, Zach had nothing to lose being honest. “You’re smoking hot, and I liked how you looked at me.”
“Must be the uniform.” Colton blushed but didn’t get all bashful.
He’d never seen anyone as red as Colton.
If he weren’t in public, he’d have reached over and kissed him.
Then he side-eyed the cousin and it faded.
“Nope, that’s Peter’s deal. I’m a face man.
Bodies too, but hot bods are easy to find.
You’re that super rare person. Totally hot but not arrogant.
I chased you because I knew you’d treat me good. Before, during, and after.”
“I keep telling you that you don’t owe me anything.” Colton said. “You don’t need to flatter me.”
Colton had a right to think that way, but it still pissed him off. It was what everyone thought. “Knew you wouldn’t believe me.”
“Never said I didn’t.”
“Stop treating me like I’m a kid. I’ll be twenty in two weeks.
I’m also not some idiot who doesn’t know his ass from the seat cushion.
” He saw people glancing their way and lowered his voice.
“I’m not a whore, and never taken anything for sleeping with someone.
No one touches me unless the attraction is mutual.
I’ve been eye-fucked my whole life. Had some pervy asshole try to fuck me when I was fourteen.
Grandpa nearly shot his balls off when I screamed for help.
Most guys who look at me don’t want me; they want to say they had me.
They think I’m someone they can impress with who they are or their money.
That I’d be grateful for the chance to let them spoil me. ”
“I don’t—"
Zach held up a hand. “You weren’t like them.
Before this happened, there was admiration and respect.
It’s how you treat everyone you meet. When I played, you didn’t see my face or hear the music, you heard me in my music.
If Stephen and Creepy Guy hadn’t shown up, I would’ve gone out with you, and for one night I’d know what it felt like to be with someone who finally saw and wanted me. ”
A tear slid down his cheek and he swallowed.
Colton stared at him, his face totally unreadable to Zach.
The only thing he saw was the absence of the interest that was there before.
“And now I won’t even get that.” He heaved a sigh and wiped his face.
“Thank you again for saving me, Colton. I was stupid to think I could be with someone like you.”
Zach rose, but a big hand landed on his shoulder, pushing him down.
“Park them buns for a minute, son. I need to talk to you.” An officer in a white shirt with lots of gold on the shoulders, and who was scary as fuck, stared down at him. “Scoot over, would you, please?”
It was more order than request. Zach snuck a glance at Colton and did as he was told.
“Thank you. Colton, you come over and sit next to him.”
“Yes, sheriff.” Colton slid out of the booth, walked around the imposing figure, and sat inches from Zach.
When the day had started, sitting this close to Colton would have made Zach’s cock hard. That was before the large cop inched his way into the booth.
The sheriff was good at his job. He’d boxed Zach in, giving him no room to leave until the interview was over.
“That thing on?” The sheriff pointed toward Colton’s body camera.
“It was on until we left the fairgrounds. I turned it off when I got in my truck. My shift was effectively over at that point.”
A frown greeted that answer. “You talk to him about what’s going on?”
“Yes, Sir.” Color crept up Colton’s neck. “But only while we were eating.”
“Doesn’t matter. You were talking to a witness.” He fixed his deputy a hard glare. “I’m not trying to embarrass you Colt, but next time don’t mix personal business with work.”
“I’m sorry, sir. This wasn’t supposed to be business. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Yes you were. Just with the wrong head.” The big man winked, and it took some of the tension from Colton’s posture. “Next time leave it on, or we’ll be having a real talk.”
“Yes, sir.” When he sat back, Colton’s knee brushed Zach’s.
Zach flinched and moved his leg. After a second, he moved it back until their knees touched again. To his surprise, Colton didn’t move.
“Can you tell me why I got a call from Frank Jenkins telling me that the two deputies I personally sent to work his festival had abandoned their posts?” He raised an eyebrow, which only made Zach more afraid of the man.
“That ain’t how it happened, Uncle Ted.”
Uncle? Colton said that at the fair, but Zach hadn’t thought about it in the moment.
“Thankfully, you and that fool son of mine had the sense to remember some of your training. He called me like you're supposed to when shit like this happens.”
“I’m sitting right here, Dad.”
“And you stay right there and watch like I told you.” The sheriff shook his head.
“Like I said, Greg called me and filled me in. I asked Frank why seven of his people threatened two of my deputies removing someone from the fairgrounds. That bought us some time, but you two need to explain what’s going on before he and them seven come up with what they think is going to be a convincing lie.
” He held up his finger and tapped the small box clipped to his chest. A green light came on, and Colton nodded once.
“What’s your name, son?” The Sheriff asked.
With that one question, every illusion Zach had maintained about this being he and Colton getting to know each other, vanished. Things just got very real, very fast. “Zachariah Baxter, sir. People call me Zach.”
“Okay, Zach, tell me why you needed a police escort off the fairgrounds.”