Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
balthazar
“Feels like old times, doesn’t it?” Brogan is behind the wheel, driving like no one else is on the road.
The three of us are crammed onto the front bench seat of their old but well cared for SUV.
Deo seems to take Brogan’s breakneck driving with ease, while I glance out the window as we head through downtown to get to Johnson Street, where Brogan wants to shop.
I know the street name because Brogan has been going on about it nonstop for at least five minutes.
“It does,” Deo says, patting Brogan’s thigh. “I see time hasn’t softened that lead foot of yours.”
Brogan cackles, finally slowing at a stop sign and looking both ways before continuing. “The store we’re going to is so cool. It’s legit vintage. Last time I went I found a blouse from the sixties.”
Madison is a charming place, unexpectedly reminding me of some of the New England towns I’ve spent time in. I was expecting something much more quaint, but it’s a good sized city.
Brogan navigates the streets with ease, finding a parking spot in front of a shop with interesting rocks in the window. Never seen a rock store before.
The three of us exit the car and Brogan waves in the direction they want us to go, stopping in front of a store with clothes in the window. Brogan is already bolting through the door when Deo turns to face me, pressing his chest to mine.
“Sorry. This probably isn’t what you had in mind for shopping, but we’ll go to a store we’ll both like after this.”
“I’m in no rush.” I gently pinch his chin. “Enjoy the time with your cousin.”
Deo’s smile is almost shy, but the heat in his eyes is anything but. His tongue darts out to wet his lips as he nods. “Cool.”
Deo and Brogan enter the small vintage shop while I linger on the sidewalk, glancing around.
It’s midday and pretty damn cold, so it’s no surprise that not very many people are out and about.
Glancing over my shoulder, I check to make sure Deo is still occupied before pulling my work phone from my pocket to check on the situation back home.
I turn on the phone, waiting as it powers up, not at all shocked to see a notification for new text messages. With a deep breath, I swipe the icon to read the waiting message.
It’s not from Vin this time. Instead, he’s switched tactics and now his little brother, Tony, is texting. The little brother who is two hundred pounds of muscle and rage and goes by the lovingly bestowed nickname Bloody Knuckles. Super.
Tony: Yo, Money Man. We have a shipment coming in and no one to process the invoices. Where the fuck are you?
I almost laugh out loud. How gullible do they think I am? I don’t settle the books until the last
week of the month, which is still a week and a half away. Vin always said he liked me because I kept a clear head and knew my shit, but apparently he didn’t believe that if he thinks I’m going to fall for this stunt.
There’s a second text, this time from Joey Biggs, the guy Vin sends out when he needs to heavily negotiate with someone who pissed him off. Getting a text from Joey is never ideal.
Joey: Hey, Money Mannnnn. Vin is running out of patience with your little games. Check in or else we’ll find you and you won’t like that much.
A shiver runs down my back. I clearly need a better plan than ignoring them. Thinking quickly, I check to make sure my location services are off, then I type out a quick response to Tony first.
Me: Hey Tony. Sorry man. I had a family emergency in California. Dead aunt I didn’t know about. As soon as the funeral is over, I’ll be back.
I send off a quick text to Joey telling him I’m in California for family and that I let Tony know, then I shut off my phone before they can respond or try any methods to locate me.
Luckily, Vin is still pretty old-school when it comes to tech, but he’s got some younger guys on the crew who might know tricks.
My ears are freezing, so I tuck the phone away and step inside the shop. Deo is standing near what I think are dressing rooms at the back. He looks bored already as he stares at the floor.
“Hey.”
His head pops up, a smile spreading across his pretty face. “Hey. Everything good?”
I nod. “Yep. How’s shopping going?”
“Brogan has a stack of things.”
“Be right out,” Brogan calls.
Just a few seconds later, they swish the curtain open, stepping out in what I can only describe as a unique outfit.
Brogan is wearing a black dress with bold pink flowers on it, but the dress is short, so underneath it, they’re wearing ripped bell-bottom jeans.
Over the bodice of the dress, they have on a salmon colored velvet jacket. Somehow it works.
“What do you think?” Brogan asks, strutting in front of us.
“You look fantastic, as always,” Deo says. “I don’t know how you pull stuff like this off, but you do.”
Brogan preens, flipping their hair off their shoulders. “I scored big time today. Let me get changed and then we can go somewhere normal and boring.”
Deo playfully shoves his cousin as Brogan sticks their tongue out and disappears inside the dressing room again. He turns to me, grinning.
“Brogan keeps us all on our toes.”
“I see that. Unique fashion sense, but like you said, it works.”
“Yeah. Brogan helped me a lot with finding my own style. I’m not as quirky, obviously, but thanks to them, I really learned how to embrace what feels good.”
“It definitely works on you too.”
“Thanks.” Deo plays with the collar of my coat. “Bet you’re excited to get into some fresh clothes.”
“I am. You’ll have to help me though. My casual wardrobe skills are limited at best.”
“Lucky for you, me and Brogan are up for the task. If we let them, Brogan will have you in an entire new wardrobe and persona.”
The idea is oddly comforting. The farther I am away from the way Vin and the guys know me, the better.
“I’ll remain open-minded.”
Deo rises slightly on his toes and kisses me. It’s brief, but the promise of more behind it stirs my cock.
“The great thing about cold weather,” Deo says, grazing his bottom lip with his teeth, “is getting warm later.”
“I agree.”
Brogan pulls the curtain open again, a pile of clothes tucked over their arm. “I’m ready.”
As Brogan checks out, I’m surprised that the stack of clothing comes to less than a hundred dollars. That’s pretty impressive.
Deo rubs his hands together. “Okay, there’s a shop on State Street that I want to check out. From their website, it looks like they have a good mix of things.”
“That place is very popular,” Brogan says, tossing their bag onto the back seat. “A little too posh for my taste, but it’ll be your vibe.”
“Are you calling me posh?” Deo asks, raising an eyebrow.
Brogan shrugs. “If the designer label fits…”
“I’m stylish. Not posh.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, cuz.”
Their banter amuses me as I slide onto the seat next to Deo. It’s the type of familial relationship I spent years longing for, but the age gap between me and my sister was too vast, and after the fire, she couldn’t bear to face me anymore. Fair, really, all things considered.
When Vin entered my life, there was a sliver of hope that maybe I could find the family I was missing, but I quickly realized his affection came with some dangerous strings attached.
That knowledge didn’t keep me from trying though, and now, well, now I’m living vicariously through a man I hardly know and his cousin.
When we arrive at our destination, Brogan finds street parking, and while we exit the vehicle, I take in the city around me. First off, the very thought of finding street parking where I came from, even at midday, is laughable, but Brogan manages it without too much hassle.
Madison is missing the cacophony I’ve grown used to—of too many vehicles clogging the road, citizens filling the sidewalks, street vendors hawking their wares, and so many voices mixing together in an urban symphony.
It’s quiet here in comparison. Calm. There’s still a nice energy, but everything feels so organized and clean. There’s breathing room here.
Brogan is talking nonstop about something that seems to keep Deo enthralled while I lose myself in the ambience of the city, imagining what it would be like to live in a place like this all the time.
I could get a job as a regular accountant, doing taxes and documents and nothing else.
I would need a way to get Vin to let me go though, and that is an impossible task.
“Here we go,” Deo says, gripping my wrist to lead me into the shop.
I didn’t catch the name of it coming in, but as I glance around, it brings a smile to my face. These kinds of casual clothes I can handle. Fine fabrics, interesting colors, and modern cuts. It beats constantly recycling a jogging suit.
Brogan excitedly runs to a rack of what looks like jumpsuits. “You would look so good in this, Deo.” Brogan holds up a silky item in a soft blue. “Try it on.”
Deo scrunches his nose. “A jumpsuit, Brog? I don’t know.”
“Just try it on. I think it suits you, pun absolutely intended.”
Deo chuckles, taking the item. “Okay, why not.” He turns to me. “See anything you might like?”
“I think so. Have fun. I’ll look around.”
Deo nods with a pretty smile on his face before allowing Brogan to drag him off to another rack of clothes. I saunter over to a display with a mannequin wearing silky looking trousers, but when I touch the material, I’m surprised by its texture.
“Performance fabric,” a man beside me says. He’s wearing a name tag that says Nick on it. “The look is silk, but it’s wrinkle free and water repellent. Very good choice for an active man.”
“Hmm. These might work.”
“I can start a dressing room for you.”
I nod, still surveying the slacks. “Thank you.”
Nick eyes me up and down, nodding before choosing a pair off the rack. “Are you looking for the full outfit?”
“I could use some shirts, yes. Do you have casual footwear?”
“We sure do. In the back.” He gestures for me to follow him to another section behind the one we were at. “You’ll find a variety of shirts here. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
Nick walks off, and when I glance up, Brogan is fawning all over Deo and holding up clothes against his frame. A smile tugs at my lips. This is… nice. No pressure. No fear. Just enjoying life.
I grab several shirts and a pair of jeans—who am I?—and then find the back of the store where the shoes are. Brogan and Deo are already there trying things on. Brogan is wearing a sneaker with a thick sole.
“These are fire,” they say, twisting their foot back and forth in front of the mirror. “I didn’t think I’d find anything I like here.”
“That’s why I said to stay open-minded,” Deo says, tugging on a pair of the same sneakers in a different color. He chose a baby blue pair with a yellow stripe across the side and top. “These are adorable.” He meets my gaze. “Do you like them?”
“For you, yes. Is there something more basic?”
Deo nods happily, twisting around and then back, holding out a pair of stylish tan sneakers. “These would look great with just about anything.”
“I like them.” I check the size and smile when they actually match my desired choice.
Nick is back, taking the rest of my clothes from me and walking off again. That’s when I notice Deo checking the price on the bottom of the shoe and biting his bottom lip. Brogan and Deo whisper together, and when Brogan frowns, I insert myself into their conversation.
“What’s going on, Deo?”
He turns to me, his cheeks pinking slightly as he forces a smile to his face. “Nothing. Just deciding what I want to get.”
“Don’t lie, Deo,” Brogan says, pushing Deo’s arm. “Balt’s your man. Doesn’t he know?”
“Know what?”
Deo looks irritated with his cousin now, giving them a sharp look. He purses his lips as he shakes his head. “Nothing important.”
I tilt my head. “Brogan’s right, Deo.” I use my best authoritative voice. “You shouldn’t keep secrets from me. Tell me what’s going on.”
Deo’s cheeks flush a deeper shade as his lips part. “Um, funds are…”
“Oh.” I chuckle. “Is that all? Babe, come on. I got you. It’s the least I can do.”
“I don’t want you to do that.”
“What?” Brogan exclaims. “Are we even related? Your man wants to spoil you and you’re going to pick right now to be an independent man?”
“Stop it,” Deo hisses.
“Could you give us a moment, Brogan, please?”
Brogan nods, blowing Deo a kiss before they walk to the front of the store. Once we’re alone, I gesture for Deo to come closer and settle in a nearby chair.
“Balt, I don’t think—”
“Deo, come on.” I tug on his wrist until he plops onto my lap. “Let me do this for you. You saved my ass by letting me stay here. I can afford it and I want to.”
He searches my eyes. “You can afford it, so you could afford to go anywhere. You could stay at a nice hotel or travel to an amazing city. Why me and why Madison?”
I don’t want to lie to him, but it’s necessary if I want to keep him and his family safe. I decide on a version of the truth.
“Have you ever wanted to run away? Just disappear for a little while you got your head together? Become a different person, even if it’s just temporary?”
Deo slowly nods with a thoughtful expression. “I guess so, yeah.”
“Sure, I could go somewhere else, and maybe I will once you get tired of me.”
Deo chuckles.
“But right now, this is perfect.” I gently pinch his chin. “I’m enjoying my time with you and your family and experiencing a city so different from the one I live in. If I was your man in real life, you’d never pay for anything again. Let me do this.”
Deo purses his lips before dragging his hand down my chest. “It sounds nice, it does. There’s just one problem. When you’re gone, the bar will be raised. I’ve never had a guy pay for more than dinner or a drink. I shouldn’t get used to it.”
“Why don’t we focus on the moment? It’s not like we’re going shopping every day.”
“That’s true.”
“Will you let me spoil you, Deo? Just a little bit?”
A shy smile tugs at his lips. “Okay. Just a little bit. Maybe I can find a non-monetary way to show you how thankful I am.” His tone slips into something far more sultry. “Would you like that, lover?”
I nod, swallowing hard as my dick swells between us. “You are so sexy.”
His smile blooms now as he slides off my lap, slightly grinding his perfect ass into me as he does so. “So are you.”
“Gag,” Brogan calls out. “Are you two done?”
I chuckle as I stand, hoping the current situation between my legs isn’t too obvious. “I need to try my things on.”
“Me too. Brogan, get over here.”
“At your service, cuz. What’s up?”
“We’re trying on clothes now. Give us your honest opinion.”
Brogan rubs their hands together, grinning. “I always do.”