Chapter 12 #2
Ella and I exchange a look before I turn to Jaxon.
“Leon took acid at a party once.” I feel Oliver’s stare boring into me as Jaxon’s eyes widen.
“He took it just because they offered. He wasn’t sad just wanted the experience.
Now, he’s dealing with his shitty, ex-boyfriend.
So, if someone offers him coke, I don’t think he would say no. ”
“We need to find him now!” Ella adds with a little cry.
Jaxon’s body stiffens, and his face darkens. “Oliver and I will check the bedrooms. You girls check the bathrooms.”
Both of us nod before Jaxon is out of the room like a bullet, with Oliver giving me a single look of reassurance before he runs after his best friend.
I might regret sending Jaxon to help Leon, but right now, I need the blond boy’s dominant personality in case something goes wrong.
Ella and I start to check each bathroom in the house. Rich people have too many things, honestly. Who needs four different bathrooms? Ella starts to sob next to me as we come up short.
“Hey, Ella, we are going to get him before anything happens,” I say, not really believing my words, but I need some form of hope that Leon is perfectly fine and being his drunk, happy self.
“I should have been paying more attention,” she scolds herself, but I shake my head, taking her hand in mine.
“Don’t blame yourself for having fun. You’ve spent plenty of time looking after people.” I force a smile. “We are definitely going to talk about you and Jaxon tomorrow, though.”
She smiles softly. “And you and Oliver?”
I cringe and nod.
“What the fuck!” We hear Jaxon scream from upstairs.
Ella and I run upstairs to one of the bedrooms, where we find Jaxon kneeling down with his fists gripping the collar of some frat-looking douche.
Jaxon’s face is red with rage. My eyes find Oliver, who’s pinning another dude to the wall, and that’s when I finally look at the bed to see Leon looking as innocent as ever.
“Leon!” Ella cries, running over to my brother, but I remain still. His head rolls back, and he giggles as Ella reaches him. “Are you okay?”
Our brother doesn’t respond with words, just half sounds like he’s trying to talk. but his brain doesn’t know how to make the right fluctuations.
Leon must be on something, and he’s alone with two guys.
If they intended just to beat him up, they wouldn’t need to drug him, but they wanted my little brother ready and without a fight.
I take in the whole scene that feels hauntingly familiar.
The haze of not having control. Except I wasn’t drugged.
I was just someone willing to do anything to feel loved, and Dalton took advantage of that.
My cheeks turn cold as tears run down my face. I can’t keep it in anymore.
Finally, I work up the strength to step forward and reach for Leon. His eyes are glazed over, barely present, as his body feels limp. I hold my breath, fearing he might fall backward just from an exhale.
“What the fuck did you give him?” Jaxon growls.
“Nothing, assholes.”
Jaxon releases a punch to his face, inciting a call from his friend, but Oliver pushes him harder into the wall.
“What the fuck did you fuckers give him?!”
“Nothing he didn’t want.” the wall guy says it like that makes it better.
“He’s sixteen!” Ella shouts, standing up as I continue to inspect Leon. He’s barely conscious, but the yelling is starting to wake him up.
A laugh comes from the guy on the floor, causing Jaxon’s face to twist even more. “We’re just twenty, and he begged us for a good time. It’s not that big of a deal—”
Jaxon’s fist connects with his face two more times. His white knuckles turn red with slits in his skin. “You drugged him, and that’s your fucking excuse?”
“Just let us go, man, and we’ll leave,” the wall guy pleads.
“You really think I’m going to let this fucker walk away?”
“Jaxon,” Leon’s voice comes out, barely audible. His eyes are still glazed over, and I don’t think he actually knows what’s happening, but Jaxon’s rage seems to have brought him to life just a little bit.
“Leon, are you okay?” I ask. Why the fuck am I asking that? Of course, he’s not okay. I don’t know what to do. “What did you take, honey?”
“Just…just um…I don-don’t know what’s in my…cup,” he slurs, but his eyes don’t leave Jaxon.
I need him to look at me right now, but even if his blue and brown eyes look dull and empty, at least they are focusing on something.
“Don’t you ever show your fucking face around us again!” Jaxon reluctantly lets go of the predator and marches over to Leon, kneeling down and taking the boy’s face in his hands.
The douches run out of the room, and I back up, colliding with Oliver’s firm chest. I fight the urge to turn into him, not wanting to look at my brother’s state any longer. It reminds me too much of Dalton and our last night together. My lack of control and Dalton’s lack of character.
“Can you stand?” Jaxon growls, still pissed at the situation. None of it is pointed at Leon, though. I can see the concern in the soft glow of his eyes.
“You’re pretty.” Leon presses his face further into Jaxon’s hands, and my stomach twists even more.
I’m glad Jaxon is here to help, but now that he and Leon are interacting, I know Leon will take this as some sort of romantic interest. I just hope he remembers none of it. I don’t want my little brother to bark up a tree he can’t climb.
“The room is spinning,” Leon adds before focusing on Jaxon again. “Jax—Jaxon,” his voice comes out strained. His expression shifts, eyes darting around the room like he’s starting to realize he’s not in control.
“Let me try to get a hold of Mimi to pick us up. Then we can take it from there.” Ella reaches for her phone.
“No,” Jaxon deadpans. “I’m staying with him until he’s okay.”
“Fine.” Ella dials Mimi, but her voicemail rings loud enough for me to hear. “Fuck.”
“We can take my car,” Oliver says, lightly tracing my arm in comfort.
“Can you stand, Leon?” Jaxon asks, biting back a growl in his throat.
“I don’t think so.” Leon starts to fall backwards again, but Jaxon catches him.
“I’m going to pick you up, okay?” he says with gentle concern. “Better not throw up on me.”
I half expect the brute to throw my brother over his shoulder, but no.
Jaxon wraps his arms around Leon, positioning one along his back with his hand, reaching to take hold of Leon’s head.
He is pressing the boy’s head into his chest. Jaxon’s other arm wraps under Leon’s legs.
With a shift, Jaxon is standing, and Leon is cradled into his body.
Jaxon then whispers in Leon’s ear, “We’ll be home soon. ”