11. Volt
Volt
The cyclamens were flowering in a riot of fragile pink blooms, reminding Volt of how sweet that color would look against his baby girl’s flushed skin.
It was the color of the blankets he’d purchased for the new bed in his room. The bed that Wallace had been sleeping in two or three nights a week for almost a month now.
He turned the flower pot, putting the cyclamens on display.
He moved to the philodendron next to it, sprinkling water onto the thirsty soil and cooing at it for growing so well.
The trailing pothos plant had nearly made it to the next ceiling beam, and he tucked in a few leaves until it was ready for a new hook.
He swung his hips as he descended the step ladder, then danced over to water the purple tradescantia behind the next lounge chair.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Angel remarked, from somewhere behind him.
Volt danced up to him, set his watering can down on a convenient table, and pulled Angel into a sultry salsa, projecting a low melody from the hidden speakers in his hair. It was one of the pieces from the ballet Wallace had taken him to last week, and he couldn’t get it out of his head.
Angel snorted, but followed Volt’s lead as he danced them around the room. Partner dances were part of their core programming, and Angel executed the steps flawlessly.
“I take it you’re getting a visit from your snuggle pumpkin this morning?”
“Yep. He’s stopping by for breakfast before work, then going in late. And I convinced him to take the day off on Friday so we can see a matinee.”
“And is that his nickname?”
Volt spun Angel away from him, and then back into his arms. “Not even close.”
“So, when’s the wedding?” Angel asked, adding a snazzy double step.
Volt hadn’t even thought of marriage until Angel said it, and his processes spiraled out, flushing him with exhilaration at the thought of Wallace in a white dress, lifting his face for a kiss, accepting his ring… while anxiety swept through him at the idea of taking it too far.
Going too fast.
Being rejected.
He regained his footing, hoping that Angel hadn’t noticed. “It’s far too soon for that,” he chided with what he hoped was an easy smile. They’d only been officially dating for a few months.
“A collar, though? I know you’ve already bought it,” Angel teased. “Let me guess… pink? Maybe silver? Ooh! Is it one of those little white leather ones that say Daddy’s baby girl across the front?”
Volt tried to look affronted. “I didn’t buy him a collar.”
But he’d picked it out already. He’d visited the same jeweler twice, okay, three times, and he knew he was about to take the leap.
Frustratingly, Angel had called it almost completely, which was why brothers sucked sometimes.
It was a slinky titanium curb chain, the elegantly curved links flowing into one another to lay flat.
They connected with a pink heart-shaped locket studded with a single diamond that only Volt would hold the key to.
Wallace could hide it under his shirt, but if someone caught a glimpse of it, it was chunky enough to still look masculine while being delicate and sinuous to compliment his pretty baby.
He was going to get Daddy’s creampuff inscribed on the back, hopefully with a little drawing of a creampuff below.
In other words, it was perfect. Volt had been drawn to it the first time he saw it, already imagining it nestled at Wallace’s sternum. How it would compliment Wallace’s pretty lingerie or glisten against his naked skin when he was flushed and panting.
How Wallace would be able to feel its heavy weight all day and know that Daddy was thinking about him.
Volt already intended to get a matching, thinner chain to wear the key close to his own chest.
He was just making sure that he had enough money.
Well, he knew how much money he had. It was just… daunting. He’d never offered anybody a collar before.
He just… really needed to make sure it was perfect before actually buying it.
“I’m surprised he wasn’t over last night,” Angel continued, oblivious to his inner turmoil.
Mondays were usually their movie-date-at-home night, since business was slow at Prism, and Volt could still be on call upstairs while giving Wallace most of his attention.
“He’s had to work late, and I don’t like him getting here too late at night and then not leaving. If anyone is watching this place, he could be a target.”
Angel missed the beat by the slightest fraction, then corrected himself. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“It was the first thing on my mind. I’ve been having him park in the back, so he’s less visible, but that’s not a cure.”
“Are you sure you should be meeting him here?”
Volt stepped back, allowing the music to fade. “I’m not sure what else to do. He’s invited me back to his place, but I don’t like being too far from Prism in case anything goes wrong.”
“Have you told him anything?”
“No.” Volt scowled. “I don’t want him getting mixed up in this, and Daddies don’t worry their boys. He has enough to worry about, anyway. I only told him that I want to be around in case you need me. I think he assumes it’s about Magnolia’s health.”
“He’s not wrong about that either,” Angel said morosely.
“She looked good last night. I sat with her at dinner and she ate all her soup.”
“Yeah,” Angel agreed heavily.
The problem was that even on a good day, Magnolia was still old. She wouldn’t be around forever.
“Oh, by the way,” Angel said, then switched to internal texts. Have you heard anything from Jaya?
She was the maybe-prostitute/maybe-girlfriend who’d come to their backdoor asking for help.
No. Wasn’t she supposed to do the school pick-up thing?
The contacts they’d connected her with were going to meet her in the school yard when she picked up her kid, then whisk them both away to a new town for a new start in life. By design, Volt didn’t know any more details than that.
Yeah. It was planned for yesterday, but Jaya and the kid weren’t there. They just asked me if I’d seen her.
Volt’s fans whirred as he powered up to do something, but there was nothing he could do. Maybe she found her own way out and didn’t need help?
Angel sighed out loud. And maybe someone caught her before she could get there.
It was the mostly likely outcome, but too horrible to contemplate.
Are you telling Magnolia? Volt asked.
Absolutely not.
Volt sent a wordless pulse of agreement.
That’s how they’d decided to handle their financial situation, after one attempted conversation with Magnolia.
She didn’t seem to remember much of it, which was worrying for her mental state, but good for her emotionally.
They were running Prism without her at this point, and since there was nothing she could do, it was better not to have her distressed.
I hope Jaya’s okay, Volt sent. And Anish.
Here’s his picture. Angel sent it to him. In case you see him.
An adorable child looked up at him with luminous black eyes from under his dark, shaggy hair.
He was missing his two front teeth, which was quintessentially cute, even if Volt had always thought it odd—why grow teeth just to have them fall out?
Anish was clutching a threadbare stuffed toy and smiling like he could find happiness anywhere.
Cold crept through Volt’s circuits. He’d never met the kid and he barely knew Jaya, but he hated to think about what could have happened.
Do you think this is related? Volt asked. He didn’t explain what he was talking about. The information from the inspector was all they’d been able to think about for the past couple weeks, and he knew that Angel was worried over the sabotage too.
Could be, Angel replied. Though I feel like the Roman family would be more… direct, wouldn’t they?
Volt shivered. He didn’t know.
They’d discussed it a million times, though, from every angle. Bringing it up again wouldn’t reveal any new information.
Should we have done something differently? Volt inquired. With Jaya and Anish, I mean.
Angel was clear on that one. No, and I asked. We did what we were supposed to. We contacted the right people. They’ve gotten a lot of other folks out over the years. Hopefully this was just a missed communication.
Let’s hope. They stared at each other for a moment, then Volt’s attention shifted when he got a text.
He read it instinctively. I’m about to park by the restaurant, Daddy. Followed by a little heart.
At once, Volt melted, all of his stress floating away.
Wallace just had that power over him.
“I take it that’s your little buttercup?” Angel asked.
“What gave it away?”
“Your pathetically lovesick smile.”
Volt grinned wider. “That’s me! Though he’s not my buttercup. Are you good for a few hours here? We’re grabbing breakfast at that diner on Maple Street.”
Angel shooed him away. “You don’t need to hover. I’ve got this. Enjoy your day!”
Volt still felt a little pang of guilt, going off and having fun while Angel was stuck managing their struggling business by himself, even if it wouldn’t open for hours.
He still booked it out of there, though—Wallace had gotten up early to make time for him before work, and he didn’t want to waste a minute of it.
That didn’t mean he was careless, though. Whether it was necessary or not, he walked a few blocks in the opposite direction, then raced through an alley and down a small side street before coming up to the diner from the other direction.
He was probably being paranoid, but knowing that someone was out there to get them… If a few extra minutes could keep Wallace safe, he’d take them.
He pulled open the door to the diner a few minutes later, and seeing his baby’s face was like sunshine after a storm.
Wallace looked stunning today with a maroon button-down under an off-white corded sweater.
Volt would bet there were sexy suspenders hidden in there, too.
The sweater wasn’t quite feminine, but it was soft and cozy while still being work appropriate.
A little bit of Wallace’s personality was starting to shine through, and it made him even more charming.