Eclipse - Chapter 41. Naked Face
Title: Eclipse
Author: CC
Story: In a love triangle caught in a complex web of power, lies, deception, hatred, and dark obsession, who will pay the highest price to find true happiness?
Rating: Rated R
Warnings: Graphic Sex, Non-Con
Pairing: Kradam
Disclaimer: This is purely fiction.
Word Count: 3007
Chapter 41. Naked Face
Kris knew his parting with Adam was less than perfect. It was still very fresh in his memory. He was holding his sad beautiful face between his hands.
“Adam, let’s run away together.” Kris’s face lit up with hope and excitement.
The boldness of the idea caught Adam off-guard and left him both scared and unsure. “What about Katy? Your Mom?”
“You’re the only thing that matters to me.” Kris drew their heads together and kissed him on the lips with breathless longing.
“It’s not that easy, Kris. I can’t easily turn my back on Alex,” Adam lowered his head not wanting to see the look of disappointment on Kris’s face. “Even if I don’t love him, I still owe him my life. If it weren’t for him, I don’t know where I’d be right now.”
Kris resented the fact that Alex did what he wasn’t able to do, protect and save Adam and because of this Adam would always feel indebted to him. How could he blame Adam for that? Even if Kris had always admired Adam’s kindness, this time he felt it was misplaced, Alex didn’t deserve Adam’s love and kindness.
“I’m so confused, Kris. I don’t know what to do.”
“Promise me you’ll think hard about what I said.”
Adam nodded. “I have to go.”
Kris kissed him one last time.
“Kris, you need to let me go.”
Kris didn’t realize he was still holding Adam’s hands. He reluctantly loosened his grip and watched helplessly as Adam slipped away again from his fingers.
Despite the uncertainty of their future, Kris couldn’t help but feel like he was walking on cloud nine; his heart was swelling with happiness. He knew at least that Adam still loved him and that was all that mattered. He just had one important matter to take care of.
Katy was waiting for him when he got back to their hotel and she wasn’t pleased.
“Kris, I knew you were with Adam,” Katy paused challenging Kris to deny the truth but when no denial came she continued speaking, “I called his office and found out you met him at a hotel. Have you gone mad! You need to let him go. You’re just setting yourself up for more heartache. He’s already married.”
In a cold steely voice, Kris asked, “Why didn’t you tell me Adam called when we were in London?”
In a few seconds of confusion, Katy didn’t understand what Kris was talking about and then she heard her own taunting voice inside her head, Kris chose his family over you!
Katy’s color left her face at the ugly realization and she couldn’t speak.
“Do you have any idea how much that one phone call had cost me?”
The hurt in Kris’s voice made Katy cringe in regret, “Kris... I...”
“It cost me a year of pain and suffering. It cost me the love of my life! Why, Katy?”
She ran to him and hugged him tight. “I’m so sorry, Kris. I only did that to protect you. I love you so much, Kris.” She kissed him desperately in the mouth but Kris just stood very still.
Katy stumbled backward in shame. Kris’s cold treatment felt much worse than if he had just slapped her on the face. “Can you not find it in your heart to forgive me?”
When Kris didn’t reply, Katy was mortified at her impropriety, throwing herself at a man who didn’t even love her. She did not deserve to be humiliated and degraded; she was a decent girl and not some kind of a tramp. She regained her composure and did what she realized she should have done several months ago. She pulled off the ring from her finger and placed it in Kris’s hand. “If Adam breaks your heart again don’t expect me to come back running to help you pick up the pieces. I won’t be around the second time.”
And just like that, Katy was out of his life for good.
***************************************
Adam knew he was playing with fire, but he needed to be with Kris. The only thing their separation had managed to do was intensify their love for each other. Even the looming wrath of Alex couldn’t stop him from seeing Kris again.
He left word with his secretary that he would be out the entire day for a business meeting with a client. Their covert rendezvous was both exciting and terrifying for him. It was like a forbidden teenage love forsaking everything else for a few stolen moments of romance. Only it wasn’t quite that simple for Adam. His situation was a million times more complicated but he brushed all those thoughts aside and let himself enjoy the limited time he had with Kris.
Adam saw Kris’s car parked where he said he would be waiting. After making sure he wasn’t followed, Adam gingerly got in the car. The radiant smile he saw on Kris’s face made all his fears vanish.
“Where are we going?” Adam asked excitedly.
Kris looked at him lovingly and replied in a giddy tone, “It’s a surprise, you’ll see.”
They drove to a lovely park filled with trees and beautiful gardens. Ducks and swans swam gracefully in the lovely lake. All around, there were families with young children and their dogs, lovers strolling along hand in hand, joggers, bikers, and simple people just experiencing the simple joys of life.
The car slowed down near a huge tree in the more secluded area of the park. Adam watched Kris take a large picnic basket out of the trunk of the car. He spread the thick blanket on the grass underneath the cool shade of the tree and invited Adam to sit with him.
Kris had thought of everything they would need. He took out hefty sandwiches, green tea with honey lemon, hot coffee, and chilled fruits and champagne. While enjoying the food, they each took turn sharing his story and simply making up for lost time.
Then, out of the blue Kris blurted out, “I broke up my engagement with Katy last night.”
“Oh...” Adam was speechless. He didn’t know how to react to the sudden news. Words seemed unnecessary at the moment and so they just sat in comfortable silence.
The soft quiet breeze from the lake and the sweet chirping of the birds dulled the hustle and bustle of the outside world and gave them a feeling like they were in a remote place far from the city and out of reach from all the cares in the world. Adam wished the day would never end and in this wistful thought he saw Kris staring at him.
“Do I have something on my face?” Adam took a napkin and wiped his mouth.
“Your beauty makes me want to write poems about it.” Kris blushed at speaking his private thoughts aloud. He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
Adam tossed his head back and laughed out loud at Kris’s adorableness. “So why don’t you then, Romeo?” Adam teased.
Kris raised his brows at the challenge, “Well, I just might do even better than that.”
Adam watched him go to his car and returned carrying the guitar he gave him. He smiled and waited excitedly to be serenaded.
“Well, I’m not really a poet or a songwriter, or anything like that, but this song pretty much expresses how I feel inside right now, don’t judge me.”
“Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Just like me they long to be close to you. Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by? Just like me they long to be close to you. On the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true. So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair, the golden starlight in your eyes are blue. That is why everyone in town follow you all around. Just like me they long to be... close to you.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” Adam said with misty eyes and Kris willingly obliged. The day wore on with more passionate making out and sweet singing.
A chilly night had fallen and the dark starless sky foretold of a sad ending to their fairy tale romance. Adam was sitting between Kris’s legs and was snuggled within his arms. Adam spoke in a voice filled with melancholy, “Kris, thank you for a wonderful day.”
Kris kissed the back of his head and smelled his sweet familiar scent. He knew this time would come and he felt his heart tightening.
“I have thought about this long and hard. Do you believe in afterlife, Kris?”
“I don’t know. I only know that I love you.”
“I’d like to think that maybe our love was never meant for this world.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m no longer a free man, Kris. I’m bound to my fate and there is nothing I could do about it.”
Kris squeezed him tighter in his arms. “I’m so sorry for leaving you, Adam. All this is my fault. Just stay with me even for a few more hours. I’ll be waiting for the day you’ll come back to me, even until the end of time.”
The two wept and heavy rain dropped from the grieving sky, but neither of them was mindful of the fact that they were both drenched and cold so long as they were together.
Kris held Adam’s hand during the drive back and he brought it to his lips to kiss it from time to time.
“Kris, stop the car!”
The fear in Adam’s voice made Kris immediately step on the brake.
“What’s wrong?”
“My bodyguards are waiting for me. They can’t see us together. I’ll just walk from here. Go back. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I can’t leave you!” Kris pulled Adam back.
“Kris, please, let me go. I promise they won’t hurt me.”
Reluctantly, Kris loosened his tight grip on Adam’s hand and the two quickly hugged and kissed.
“I love you, Kris.”
“I love you more. Please be careful. You know where to find me, I'm not going anywhere without you.”
Kris stayed and watched nervously as Adam talked with the bodyguards and then disappeared into the building. He sat there for a few more minutes until he saw Adam’s car leave. With a heavy heart, he headed to his old apartment.
Adam knew his bodyguards would paint a very clear picture of his appearance tonight to Alex, so there wasn’t anything he could do but to act innocent.
“Sir, we have been looking everywhere for you. Mr. Kennedy is pissed at us for letting you go around on your own.”
Adam smiled inwardly at how smart Kris was for choosing the park. Alex would never suspect that place because he wouldn’t be able to understand the joy that comes from simple things. He ignored the guards and headed to the parking.
“Sir, Mr. Kennedy said that we have to bring you home. His plane will arrive in a few hours and he wants you home when he gets there. He said he had been trying to call you for hours.”
Adam stopped dead in his tracks and remembered that he had forgotten to turn on his phone after switching it off so he and Kris wouldn’t be disturbed.
He continued playing innocent and turned around to glare at his guards. “Do I look like I’m twelve?” The little time he spent with Kris made him do something he had not done in a long time since getting married to Alex-stand up for himself. “I can drive myself home.”
Adam made his car skid past his confused bodyguards. He stepped on the gas in anger and his mind was filled with horrible thoughts. Alex’s arrival scared him for two reasons. First, he knew that he would demand again for sex. Second, he was terrified that Alex would be able to see through him. If his husband would accuse him of being unfaithful, this time he would be guilty as charged.
Adam hurried to the mansion. He must not let Alex see him in this state. The rain had soaked his clothes and his hair was still damp from the downpour. While Adam was making his way up to his room, he heard laughter in Alex’s study and he recognized the voice of Alex’s personal bodyguard. They were deep in discussion and did not notice Adam peeked into the room.
What he saw drained the color from his face. Even without their uniforms, Adam couldn’t be mistaken. The two large men were the same police officers who arrested him.
Oh my god, did they come here to arrest me!
When the third man stood up as they were preparing to leave, Adam’s eyes widened in shock. He would never forget the face of his lawyer whose only strong legal advice to get him out of trouble was to marry Alex.
Adam’s blood turned cold with a more menacing thought, Do they all work for Alex?
Adam quickly hid when the men left the room but not beyond earshot not to hear his lawyer said, “Well, tell Mr. Kennedy we’re always happy to do business with him. Right, boys?”
Adam felt his heart racing. He felt nauseous, but the need to know the truth overrode his fear. After Adam was sure that the men won’t be coming back, he rushed inside Alex’s study with legs trembling in trepidation. Something didn’t sit right with him and he needed more proof to confirm his suspicion. He nervously went through Alex’s drawers and saw the last missing piece of the puzzle.
The room spun around, and he sat until the dizzy spell was gone. His body was trembling in shock. He needed to go someplace where he could think straight.
He hurriedly jumped back into his car and drove fast, but he was stopped at the gate by Alex’s security.
“Sir, I’m sorry but I can’t let you leave.”
“You better open the gate or I’ll slam the car right into it.”
“Sir, I’m just following orders. I don’t want to lose my job.”
“Well, I’ll make sure you lose it, if you don’t open that damn gate!”
The guard just scratched his head and opened the gate. Adam’s distress burned deep inside and it was all he could think about. His internal compass steered him toward the only place he knew he would be safe--Kris’s apartment.
When Kris answered his door, he couldn’t believe Adam was standing in front of him. Adam threw his arms around Kris and held him tight. He needed Kris’s strong arms to quell down the tremors racking his body.
“Adam! Baby, you’re shaking. We need to get inside.”
On the couch, Kris watched concerned as Adam pulled out an old phone from his pocket and held it out to him with shaking fingers. Kris took it from him. “What’s this about, baby? Are you okay? You’re scaring me here.”
“It was a setup,” Adam blurted out.
Kris put the phone down and held Adam’s face between his hands. “Look at me, Adam. What’s a setup?”
“Alex hired people to plant the drugs in the car so I’d get arrested.”
'You mean to say he framed you so you’ll be forced to agree to his sick proposal,” Kris’s brows were furrowed as he was trying hard to wrap his brain around the despicable thought in shock, fear, and anger, until he altogether lost control. “That son of a bitch!”
Kris reined in his anger and refocused his energy on Adam whose face was buried in his hands and sobbing hard. Kris held him in his arms.
Kris’s heart broke at the pain he saw in Adam’s eyes, and he listened to his soft broken voice. “He hid my phone to cut me off from everyone else, especially from you.” Adam lowered his head, “All this time he made me believe that he saved me. I was so stupid.” Tears ran down his face as he tried hard to comprehend the depth of Alex’s treachery.
“No, Adam. It wasn’t you. It was him. Come here, baby,” Kris held him in his arms until they both calmed down. “Listen to me carefully, Adam. He is clearly insane to go through such lengths to deceive you. We’ve got to get away from him as far as possible.”
“It’s too late to leave now. He’s on his way home and he’ll be furious if he finds out I’m gone. He’ll use everything in his power to hunt us down. I need to buy us some time, Kris.”
“What do you mean? You’re not going back there, Adam! I won’t let you!” There was utter desperation in Kris’s voice.
“Kris! It’s the only way. Please listen to me. I’ve got it all figured out. I’ll make him think everything is okay. As soon as he leaves for the office tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the airport. That will give us a good head start. Before he even knew that we left, we’d be long gone.”
The idea of letting Adam go back to that scumbag was making it hard for Kris to admit that Adam had a point. “I don’t know, Adam. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Kris, you have to trust me on this.”
Not even a few minutes had passed and Kris was already regretting his decision to let Adam leave. If he was only thinking of his own safety, he wouldn’t think twice of confronting Alex and making him pay for all the suffering he had put Adam through. But since Adam’s protection was at stake, Kris drew on all his willpower not to run after Adam and crush Alex with his bare hands.
If he hurts even just a single strand of hair on his body, I swear I would kill that son of a bitch! Kris felt that it was the longest night of his life and he couldn’t remember ever praying this hard for dawn to come.
Author: CC
Story: In a love triangle caught in a complex web of power, lies, deception, hatred, and dark obsession, who will pay the highest price to find true happiness?
Rating: Rated R
Warnings: Graphic Sex, Non-Con
Pairing: Kradam
Disclaimer: This is purely fiction.
Word Count: 3007
Chapter 41. Naked Face
Kris knew his parting with Adam was less than perfect. It was still very fresh in his memory. He was holding his sad beautiful face between his hands.
“Adam, let’s run away together.” Kris’s face lit up with hope and excitement.
The boldness of the idea caught Adam off-guard and left him both scared and unsure. “What about Katy? Your Mom?”
“You’re the only thing that matters to me.” Kris drew their heads together and kissed him on the lips with breathless longing.
“It’s not that easy, Kris. I can’t easily turn my back on Alex,” Adam lowered his head not wanting to see the look of disappointment on Kris’s face. “Even if I don’t love him, I still owe him my life. If it weren’t for him, I don’t know where I’d be right now.”
Kris resented the fact that Alex did what he wasn’t able to do, protect and save Adam and because of this Adam would always feel indebted to him. How could he blame Adam for that? Even if Kris had always admired Adam’s kindness, this time he felt it was misplaced, Alex didn’t deserve Adam’s love and kindness.
“I’m so confused, Kris. I don’t know what to do.”
“Promise me you’ll think hard about what I said.”
Adam nodded. “I have to go.”
Kris kissed him one last time.
“Kris, you need to let me go.”
Kris didn’t realize he was still holding Adam’s hands. He reluctantly loosened his grip and watched helplessly as Adam slipped away again from his fingers.
Despite the uncertainty of their future, Kris couldn’t help but feel like he was walking on cloud nine; his heart was swelling with happiness. He knew at least that Adam still loved him and that was all that mattered. He just had one important matter to take care of.
Katy was waiting for him when he got back to their hotel and she wasn’t pleased.
“Kris, I knew you were with Adam,” Katy paused challenging Kris to deny the truth but when no denial came she continued speaking, “I called his office and found out you met him at a hotel. Have you gone mad! You need to let him go. You’re just setting yourself up for more heartache. He’s already married.”
In a cold steely voice, Kris asked, “Why didn’t you tell me Adam called when we were in London?”
In a few seconds of confusion, Katy didn’t understand what Kris was talking about and then she heard her own taunting voice inside her head, Kris chose his family over you!
Katy’s color left her face at the ugly realization and she couldn’t speak.
“Do you have any idea how much that one phone call had cost me?”
The hurt in Kris’s voice made Katy cringe in regret, “Kris... I...”
“It cost me a year of pain and suffering. It cost me the love of my life! Why, Katy?”
She ran to him and hugged him tight. “I’m so sorry, Kris. I only did that to protect you. I love you so much, Kris.” She kissed him desperately in the mouth but Kris just stood very still.
Katy stumbled backward in shame. Kris’s cold treatment felt much worse than if he had just slapped her on the face. “Can you not find it in your heart to forgive me?”
When Kris didn’t reply, Katy was mortified at her impropriety, throwing herself at a man who didn’t even love her. She did not deserve to be humiliated and degraded; she was a decent girl and not some kind of a tramp. She regained her composure and did what she realized she should have done several months ago. She pulled off the ring from her finger and placed it in Kris’s hand. “If Adam breaks your heart again don’t expect me to come back running to help you pick up the pieces. I won’t be around the second time.”
And just like that, Katy was out of his life for good.
***************************************
Adam knew he was playing with fire, but he needed to be with Kris. The only thing their separation had managed to do was intensify their love for each other. Even the looming wrath of Alex couldn’t stop him from seeing Kris again.
He left word with his secretary that he would be out the entire day for a business meeting with a client. Their covert rendezvous was both exciting and terrifying for him. It was like a forbidden teenage love forsaking everything else for a few stolen moments of romance. Only it wasn’t quite that simple for Adam. His situation was a million times more complicated but he brushed all those thoughts aside and let himself enjoy the limited time he had with Kris.
Adam saw Kris’s car parked where he said he would be waiting. After making sure he wasn’t followed, Adam gingerly got in the car. The radiant smile he saw on Kris’s face made all his fears vanish.
“Where are we going?” Adam asked excitedly.
Kris looked at him lovingly and replied in a giddy tone, “It’s a surprise, you’ll see.”
They drove to a lovely park filled with trees and beautiful gardens. Ducks and swans swam gracefully in the lovely lake. All around, there were families with young children and their dogs, lovers strolling along hand in hand, joggers, bikers, and simple people just experiencing the simple joys of life.
The car slowed down near a huge tree in the more secluded area of the park. Adam watched Kris take a large picnic basket out of the trunk of the car. He spread the thick blanket on the grass underneath the cool shade of the tree and invited Adam to sit with him.
Kris had thought of everything they would need. He took out hefty sandwiches, green tea with honey lemon, hot coffee, and chilled fruits and champagne. While enjoying the food, they each took turn sharing his story and simply making up for lost time.
Then, out of the blue Kris blurted out, “I broke up my engagement with Katy last night.”
“Oh...” Adam was speechless. He didn’t know how to react to the sudden news. Words seemed unnecessary at the moment and so they just sat in comfortable silence.
The soft quiet breeze from the lake and the sweet chirping of the birds dulled the hustle and bustle of the outside world and gave them a feeling like they were in a remote place far from the city and out of reach from all the cares in the world. Adam wished the day would never end and in this wistful thought he saw Kris staring at him.
“Do I have something on my face?” Adam took a napkin and wiped his mouth.
“Your beauty makes me want to write poems about it.” Kris blushed at speaking his private thoughts aloud. He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
Adam tossed his head back and laughed out loud at Kris’s adorableness. “So why don’t you then, Romeo?” Adam teased.
Kris raised his brows at the challenge, “Well, I just might do even better than that.”
Adam watched him go to his car and returned carrying the guitar he gave him. He smiled and waited excitedly to be serenaded.
“Well, I’m not really a poet or a songwriter, or anything like that, but this song pretty much expresses how I feel inside right now, don’t judge me.”
“Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Just like me they long to be close to you. Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by? Just like me they long to be close to you. On the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true. So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair, the golden starlight in your eyes are blue. That is why everyone in town follow you all around. Just like me they long to be... close to you.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” Adam said with misty eyes and Kris willingly obliged. The day wore on with more passionate making out and sweet singing.
A chilly night had fallen and the dark starless sky foretold of a sad ending to their fairy tale romance. Adam was sitting between Kris’s legs and was snuggled within his arms. Adam spoke in a voice filled with melancholy, “Kris, thank you for a wonderful day.”
Kris kissed the back of his head and smelled his sweet familiar scent. He knew this time would come and he felt his heart tightening.
“I have thought about this long and hard. Do you believe in afterlife, Kris?”
“I don’t know. I only know that I love you.”
“I’d like to think that maybe our love was never meant for this world.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m no longer a free man, Kris. I’m bound to my fate and there is nothing I could do about it.”
Kris squeezed him tighter in his arms. “I’m so sorry for leaving you, Adam. All this is my fault. Just stay with me even for a few more hours. I’ll be waiting for the day you’ll come back to me, even until the end of time.”
The two wept and heavy rain dropped from the grieving sky, but neither of them was mindful of the fact that they were both drenched and cold so long as they were together.
Kris held Adam’s hand during the drive back and he brought it to his lips to kiss it from time to time.
“Kris, stop the car!”
The fear in Adam’s voice made Kris immediately step on the brake.
“What’s wrong?”
“My bodyguards are waiting for me. They can’t see us together. I’ll just walk from here. Go back. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I can’t leave you!” Kris pulled Adam back.
“Kris, please, let me go. I promise they won’t hurt me.”
Reluctantly, Kris loosened his tight grip on Adam’s hand and the two quickly hugged and kissed.
“I love you, Kris.”
“I love you more. Please be careful. You know where to find me, I'm not going anywhere without you.”
Kris stayed and watched nervously as Adam talked with the bodyguards and then disappeared into the building. He sat there for a few more minutes until he saw Adam’s car leave. With a heavy heart, he headed to his old apartment.
Adam knew his bodyguards would paint a very clear picture of his appearance tonight to Alex, so there wasn’t anything he could do but to act innocent.
“Sir, we have been looking everywhere for you. Mr. Kennedy is pissed at us for letting you go around on your own.”
Adam smiled inwardly at how smart Kris was for choosing the park. Alex would never suspect that place because he wouldn’t be able to understand the joy that comes from simple things. He ignored the guards and headed to the parking.
“Sir, Mr. Kennedy said that we have to bring you home. His plane will arrive in a few hours and he wants you home when he gets there. He said he had been trying to call you for hours.”
Adam stopped dead in his tracks and remembered that he had forgotten to turn on his phone after switching it off so he and Kris wouldn’t be disturbed.
He continued playing innocent and turned around to glare at his guards. “Do I look like I’m twelve?” The little time he spent with Kris made him do something he had not done in a long time since getting married to Alex-stand up for himself. “I can drive myself home.”
Adam made his car skid past his confused bodyguards. He stepped on the gas in anger and his mind was filled with horrible thoughts. Alex’s arrival scared him for two reasons. First, he knew that he would demand again for sex. Second, he was terrified that Alex would be able to see through him. If his husband would accuse him of being unfaithful, this time he would be guilty as charged.
Adam hurried to the mansion. He must not let Alex see him in this state. The rain had soaked his clothes and his hair was still damp from the downpour. While Adam was making his way up to his room, he heard laughter in Alex’s study and he recognized the voice of Alex’s personal bodyguard. They were deep in discussion and did not notice Adam peeked into the room.
What he saw drained the color from his face. Even without their uniforms, Adam couldn’t be mistaken. The two large men were the same police officers who arrested him.
Oh my god, did they come here to arrest me!
When the third man stood up as they were preparing to leave, Adam’s eyes widened in shock. He would never forget the face of his lawyer whose only strong legal advice to get him out of trouble was to marry Alex.
Adam’s blood turned cold with a more menacing thought, Do they all work for Alex?
Adam quickly hid when the men left the room but not beyond earshot not to hear his lawyer said, “Well, tell Mr. Kennedy we’re always happy to do business with him. Right, boys?”
Adam felt his heart racing. He felt nauseous, but the need to know the truth overrode his fear. After Adam was sure that the men won’t be coming back, he rushed inside Alex’s study with legs trembling in trepidation. Something didn’t sit right with him and he needed more proof to confirm his suspicion. He nervously went through Alex’s drawers and saw the last missing piece of the puzzle.
The room spun around, and he sat until the dizzy spell was gone. His body was trembling in shock. He needed to go someplace where he could think straight.
He hurriedly jumped back into his car and drove fast, but he was stopped at the gate by Alex’s security.
“Sir, I’m sorry but I can’t let you leave.”
“You better open the gate or I’ll slam the car right into it.”
“Sir, I’m just following orders. I don’t want to lose my job.”
“Well, I’ll make sure you lose it, if you don’t open that damn gate!”
The guard just scratched his head and opened the gate. Adam’s distress burned deep inside and it was all he could think about. His internal compass steered him toward the only place he knew he would be safe--Kris’s apartment.
When Kris answered his door, he couldn’t believe Adam was standing in front of him. Adam threw his arms around Kris and held him tight. He needed Kris’s strong arms to quell down the tremors racking his body.
“Adam! Baby, you’re shaking. We need to get inside.”
On the couch, Kris watched concerned as Adam pulled out an old phone from his pocket and held it out to him with shaking fingers. Kris took it from him. “What’s this about, baby? Are you okay? You’re scaring me here.”
“It was a setup,” Adam blurted out.
Kris put the phone down and held Adam’s face between his hands. “Look at me, Adam. What’s a setup?”
“Alex hired people to plant the drugs in the car so I’d get arrested.”
'You mean to say he framed you so you’ll be forced to agree to his sick proposal,” Kris’s brows were furrowed as he was trying hard to wrap his brain around the despicable thought in shock, fear, and anger, until he altogether lost control. “That son of a bitch!”
Kris reined in his anger and refocused his energy on Adam whose face was buried in his hands and sobbing hard. Kris held him in his arms.
Kris’s heart broke at the pain he saw in Adam’s eyes, and he listened to his soft broken voice. “He hid my phone to cut me off from everyone else, especially from you.” Adam lowered his head, “All this time he made me believe that he saved me. I was so stupid.” Tears ran down his face as he tried hard to comprehend the depth of Alex’s treachery.
“No, Adam. It wasn’t you. It was him. Come here, baby,” Kris held him in his arms until they both calmed down. “Listen to me carefully, Adam. He is clearly insane to go through such lengths to deceive you. We’ve got to get away from him as far as possible.”
“It’s too late to leave now. He’s on his way home and he’ll be furious if he finds out I’m gone. He’ll use everything in his power to hunt us down. I need to buy us some time, Kris.”
“What do you mean? You’re not going back there, Adam! I won’t let you!” There was utter desperation in Kris’s voice.
“Kris! It’s the only way. Please listen to me. I’ve got it all figured out. I’ll make him think everything is okay. As soon as he leaves for the office tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the airport. That will give us a good head start. Before he even knew that we left, we’d be long gone.”
The idea of letting Adam go back to that scumbag was making it hard for Kris to admit that Adam had a point. “I don’t know, Adam. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Kris, you have to trust me on this.”
Not even a few minutes had passed and Kris was already regretting his decision to let Adam leave. If he was only thinking of his own safety, he wouldn’t think twice of confronting Alex and making him pay for all the suffering he had put Adam through. But since Adam’s protection was at stake, Kris drew on all his willpower not to run after Adam and crush Alex with his bare hands.
If he hurts even just a single strand of hair on his body, I swear I would kill that son of a bitch! Kris felt that it was the longest night of his life and he couldn’t remember ever praying this hard for dawn to come.