RESCUE WHAT'S LEFT OF ME
Rescue What's Left Of Me
Chapter Eight: More Shattered Pieces
Summary: Brian decides to tell everyone he's married, Michael doesn't take it so well. Justin is once again in danger.
AN: Thanks to my beta Helen. Couldn't do it without her. I hope you guys enjoy this. Many hugs, Tay
“I hate this weather,” Brian muttered to himself as he waited for the hot chocolate to get ready. He couldn't wait for the cold to be finally over.
He moved to open the door in the pantry and scanned the place. He grabbed the marshmallows as soon as he saw the bag. He closed the door and for a few seconds stared at the door next to the pantry. He wondered what was under there. Maybe Justin had killed someone and buried them there and that’s why the blond didn’t want him there.
The brunet sighed and walked away from it while he rolled his eyes. He knew that Justin wouldn’t be so stupid to hide the body so close to him, at least he hoped so. Then he shook his head for thinking all of that. He had way too much imagination for his own good.
“Jesus Brian,” he said to himself. “He hasn’t killed anyone,” he said and after a long pause. “Yeah right.”
He heard the door to the house open and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Brian?!” Justin called as he took off his coat.
“Kitchen,” the brunet yelled.
Justin walked to the kitchen and then kissed the brunet on the neck. Brian frowned and moved away.
“What is it?” Justin asked.
“You smell of nothing but alcohol,” the younger of the two pointed out.
“I had a few drinks with the guys,” Justin said. “What’s up with that?”
Brian sighed. “I don’t like that smell.”
“I’ll take a shower,” Justin assured him.
“Whatever,” Brian muttered.
The sandy haired man rolled his eyes. “Are you in one of your moods?”
The brunet just glared at him. Justin tried to pull Brian into his arms hoping to win him over but that didn’t work.
“Don’t touch me,” Brian said.
“Fine,” Justin said. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Brian watched him go and sighed. He didn’t know what happened to him sometimes. It was like he was bipolar or something. He couldn’t wait to see Justin and when he did most of the times they would end up arguing about stupid things. The brunet served himself his chocolate and then put in the microwave. He made sure that the stove was off and then headed to find the blond to give him a proper welcome.
When the younger man got to the bathroom Justin was washing his mouth. The sandy haired man gave the man a smile as best as he could. Brian thought that the man looked cute. Justin was already naked so Brian decided to get naked as well. Justin arched a brow but didn't say anything about it. He finished what he was doing and pulled Brian to him. They kissed and smiled at each other before they got in the shower.
Brian helped Justin wash up and the older man let him. He knew that sometimes Brian got bad swing moods and he didn't mind them. It was part of the pregnancy and he recognized that. When they were done they exited the bathroom. Brian quickly got dressed while Justin walked around with his towel wrapped around his waist.
The brunet went to get his chocolate. He hated it up and then grabbed a chocolate cup cake to go along with it. He was sitting on the kitchen island when the blond came down. He saw Justin going into the living room and when he came back he was holding a black duffel bag.
"What's that?" Brian asked.
"Work," Justin responded and went to unlock the door in the pantry.
Brian rolled his lips and didn't say anything about it. He frowned as he looked at the clock on the wall. He wondered what it was but he didn't dare ask. He had agreed when Justin said that he would keep his work away from him. The younger man knew that Justin was doing the best he could. Twenty minutes later, because Brian was counting, Justin was back. The blond wrapped his arms around the brunet as he stood behind him.
"You smell so good," Justin told him.
Brian smiled at that.
"How is the baby?" Justin asked as he caressed Brian's protruding belly.
The brunet looked down and Justin's hands and couldn't help but smile even more. He always filled with happiness when Justin did that. He grabbed one of the man's hands and kissed it.
"She's doing fine," Brian said.
"You keep thinking is a girl," Justin pointed out. "Do you know something I don't?"
Brian shrugged. "I just got a feeling."
"We can always ask the doctor," Justin told him.
"Nah," Brian said. "Let it be a surprise."
"Come on to bed," Justin whispered.
Brian nodded and quickly got up. He put his cup on the sink and followed his husband. When they got in the bed Brian yawned and Justin arched a brow.
"You tired?" Justin asked.
"A bit," Brian told him.
"Then go to sleep," Justin said with a big smile as he lay next to the taller man.
"I don't think so," Brian replied. "I have plans for you."
"Oh you do?" Justin asked grinning.
Brian nodded and moved so he could kiss the man. Justin wrapped his arms around his lover. He moaned when Brian reached for his manhood. He was already hard. In a swift move the sandy haired man pushed Brian on his back. He got on top of him, making sure that he was keeping most of the weight off, before he started to kiss the brunet in a downward direction.
"Mmm," Brian moaned as Justin covered him with feather light kisses.
Justin pushed Brian's sleeping pants down and Brian took off his shirt. Justin smiled at how eager Brian was. He caressed the man's belly and then bend down to kiss it. Then he kept going down after his target.
“Justin,” Brian groaned after a few seconds. “Please.”
Justin had been teasing the man. He pushed Brian's legs open and let his fingers tease Brian's entrance. He smiled briefly when Brian responded with a guttural moan. The older man leaned closer and his tongue moved slowly up and down Brian's crack before he parted the man's ass cheeks. The tip of it teased the orifice that was twitching with yearning. He moved up and started to lick Brian’s sac before he started to lick the man’s cock.
“You’re driving me fucking crazy!” Brian hissed. “Please Justin.”
The blond smiled and moved up yet again. He licked a path from the brunet’s shaft to Brian’s belly button. Then he started planting kisses as he kept moving up. He sucked one of Brian’s nipples while his fingers played with the other.
“You’re so beautiful,” Justin said as one of his hands rubbed Brian’s belly. “I love you so much.”
The brunet lifted his right leg and wrapped it around the older man.
"Fuck me now," Brian hissed.
"I need a condom," Justin told him.
"I'm already pregnant," Brian pointed out.
"I know that," Justin said grinning as he moved to grab a condom.
"Why don't you want to? Are you fucking other guys?" Brian asked. "Why are we still using condoms?"
"What?" Justin asked shocked. "No, Brian. But after you got pregnant when I went away I was with someone else. I didn't know I was ever going to see you again. I'm just trying to be safe. Maybe after a few more months we can go get checked and then we can put them behind us."
Brian nodded slowly.
"Hey kid," Justin said. "You're the only one for me. That's why I married you. Don't ever doubt us, ever," Justin told him as he kissed Brian.
The blond pulled back and put the condom on. He grabbed the lube from the night table and put some on. He then positioned himself between Brian's legs and aligned his cock to enter Brian. The brunet gasped as his mouth opened. His head lulled back and his eyes closed. Justin kissed Brian's neck as he waited for Brian to adjust. He didn't wait long knowing how much Brian liked the friction. His kid like the pain and the pleasure he got out of him fucking him when he wasn't fully prepared.
Their bodies started heating up as they moved together. Brian was in heaven as his husband made love to him. His fingers wrapping around the man's hair and arms each time a wave of pleasure hit him. Justin kept whispering sweet things to him and he loved it all. Brian's eyes opened when he was close to reaching his orgasm. He watched the man atop of him and how lost he seemed to be. He smiled and held on to Justin as he started to spill his cum in between them.
“Oh fuck!” Justin yelled as he felt Brian's walls clamping around him. He threw his head back and pushed all the way inside his man before he climaxed.
Their bodies were spent as they held one another. Justin pulled out slowly and quickly got rid of the condom. He kissed Brian and smiled at the brunet. Brian had a dreamy look on him.
"I love you," Brian whispered as his eyes closed.
Justin got up and went to the bathroom. He cleaned himself up and then grabbed a cloth to go clean Brian. He wetted it first with warm water. The brunet didn't even move. When the older man was done he covered Brian's body with the duvet. Then he went back to the bathroom to rinse the cloth.
The sandy haired man grabbed the bottom part of his pajamas before he went downstairs. He also grabbed his keys and when he reached the pantry he looked around and grabbed a bag of chips before he went to the basement. He locked the door behind him. He hated keeping Brian out but it was a part of his life that he couldn't share with the brunet.
He had set a table there and he sat down in front of it. He had a little of everything down there. He had his guns and knives, his computers, a phone, cell phones, files, etc. He grabbed the duffel bag and opened it. Inside were two guns and money. One of them had blood in it. He stared at them for a while before he reached for a plastic bag. He knew that one day it would all come back to him but he had enough shit on everyone just in case. He knew where all the bodies were buried, metaphorically and literally, and if he was going down he was going to take with him as many people as possible.
***
Brian parked his car in the front of the house and grabbed his briefcase. He wondered what was going on at his house. There were like ten cars parked all around the house. He sighed and undid his tie as he walked to the entrance of his home. When he opened the door he was assaulted with the smell of cigarette and booze.
“Fucking great,” Brian muttered as he made his way inside.
A few people were staring at him like he was from another planet. He just walked to his bedroom and changed as quickly as he could before he went to find his husband and an explanation.
When he did find the man in question Justin was laughing at something a woman was telling him. Brian felt jealousy course through him not liking how close she was to his man. If it had been a guy Brian was certain that he wouldn’t have left the house still breathing. He wondered who the fuck she was but he had other things in mind.
“Justin, could I speak to you?” Brian asked.
Justin smiled as he saw his lover. “Kid, you’re home.”
Brian swallowed and tried to focus on the fact that he was angry. But it was pretty hard to do when Justin looked so edible at the moment. The older man was wearing his holster and nothing to cover up the fact. He had a pair of tight jeans and a black wife beater with his black leather boots. Justin was holding a beer in one hand and his cigarette between his lips. The man looked like the bad boy he was. Brian was starting to think he liked that look way too much.
“I was waiting for you,” Justin told him.
“Are you drunk?” Brian asked.
“Of course not,” the blond assured him. "At least not yet."
“Who was that?” Brian asked crossing his arms.
Justin looked back and smiled. “That’s Janice,” he said and then looked back at his kid. “She’s an old friend.”
“Right,” the brunet said. “Justin, what is going on here? Have you lost your mind?”
Justin frowned. “It’s only a few friends that came over. They wanted to see the house.”
Brian didn’t like it. “I’m tired. I’ve been working all day. I thought I would come home to relax.”
“I told you to quit,” Justin said and pulled the cigarette away from his mouth.
“And I said I would when the baby was born,” Brian hissed.
“Okay then,” Justin said taking a sip from his beer and walking away.
Brian sighed. “Give me strength,” he said to no one in particular. Then he walked away to the kitchen because there was nobody there and he was fine with that. Plus he didn’t want to be in the living room being a second hand smoker.
“Hello,” a tall, dark haired man said as he stood across Brian.
The brunet put his hand on the kitchen island and stared at the man for a few seconds. He thought the guy was definitely hot and if he had met him before he would have definitely fucked him.
“Hi,” Brian said.
“I’m Jake Vitto,” the man said. “And you are?”
“Brian Kinney,” he said as he tapped his fingers on the counter.
“I haven’t seen you around,” Jake said.
“I haven’t been around,” the brunet pointed out.
Jake moved around and grabbed a beer from the sink where someone had dumped them with a lot of ice on top. “So you’re working for my father now. How is it going?” he asked and pulled another beer for Brian.
Brian shook his head declining the beer. “I don’t work for your father.”
“What are you doing here then?” Jake asked with a frown.
“I live here,” Brian said.
Jake arched a brow and smiled. “So you’re it.”
The brunet frowned not sure what he was supposed to be.
“I heard about Justin getting married and having a kid,” Jake said as he move closer. He looked down and could see the shape of a belly. It was hard because the brunet was wearing a sweater that concealed the fact.
Brian put his hand over his belly. He frowned because he didn’t like being ogled.
“Too bad,” Jake said moving closer. “We could’ve had some fun.”
“Could have is about right,” the blue eyed man said smirking as he appeared behind the brunet and put his arm around the man’s waist.
“He’s too much for you, Taylor,” Jake told him.
“I can handle him just fine,” Justin assured him.
“Could you two stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Brian said and moved away from Justin.
“Trouble in paradise?” Jake asked just above a whisper to the blond just before he walked away.
Justin had a frown in place as he stared at Jake’s retreating back. He looked back at the brunet who was leaning against the counter. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you that they were going to come. It was kind of last minute and I should have called you anyways.”
Brian nodded slowly as he looked at his husband.
“Forgive me for being so stupid?” Justin asked and smirked.
How could Brian resist the man was a mystery to him. But he could pretend pretty well. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
Justin smiled and put his beer on the counter before he moved in front of the brunet. He kissed Brian’s jaw and then moved to the kid’s neck. He smiled when he felt Brian shaking.
“Stop it!” someone yelled from the living room.
“What was that?” Brian asked.
“Not our problem,” Justin assured him.
“It’s our house, Jus,” the younger of the two pointed out.
There was another scream and Brian went to check it out. Justin shook his head and grabbed his beer before he followed the brunet. Then he leaned against the doorway from the kitchen and the living room and wasn’t surprise to find that Phillip and Diana were having a fight.
“Hey,” Brian said stepping in front of the couple. Before he could say anything else Phillip was slapping the woman.
“Leave her alone,” Brian hissed pushing the man back. “What the fuck is your problem man?”
Phillip slapped Brian’s face hard. The brunet gasped and his hand flew to his face. He was shocked more than anything else.
“You don’t tell me what to do,” Phillip growled. “Now be a good host and get me a fucking beer.”
Brian was about to retaliate but before he could, Phillip was turned around and Justin punched him on the face drawing blood. Phillip only had time to clean the blood away before he was pushed face down into the floor; a gun pressing to the back of his head. Brian swallowed as he stared at Justin and for a brief moment he thought his husband was going to kill the man on the floor.
“Let me explain something to you,” Justin said in a deadly voice.
“You fucker,” Phillip hissed as he was face down on the floor.
“Listen to me you fucking piece of shit. If you ever hit him again you will pay. You even look at Brian cross and I will put a bullet in you,” Justin hissed.
“Okay,” Phillip grunted as he tried to pull his arm away from his back where Justin was twisting and pushing it upwards.
“Good then,” Justin said. “You won’t see it coming if you do.”
Justin stood up and put the safety back on. He then put the gun in the holster and for good measure kicked Philip, who was still face down on the floor, hard on the ribs. Then he turned to look at Brian. “Are you okay?”
Brian nodded slowly.
"Get out of my house Phillip," Justin told the man who was slowly standing up with the help of Diana.
Justin shook his head and walked way with the brunet. The brunet couldn’t believe everything that had happened.
"Never miss a chance to show your wild side," Jake teased.
"Fuck off," Justin told him as they stood in the kitchen.
"Do you want me to kick everyone out?" Slater asked coming into the kitchen with Dexter and J.C.
"Yes," Justin said.
"No," Brian told them. "What is everyone going to think?"
"Hey," J.C. yelled towards the living room. "Get your things and leave. Party is over."
Brian sighed and tried to keep calm.
"See ya, Brian," Jake said smiling.
Brian frowned as he watched the man go.
"We're going to go too," Dexter said.
"Call me if anything," Slater told him.
Justin nodded.
J.C. walked over to the brunet and smiled. "Hi, I'm Jason," the man said. "Everyone calls me J.C."
"Hi," Brian said.
J.C. looked down at Brian's belly. His hand reached out and touched it. He couldn't stop smiling. "If you ever need anything you let me know. And I mean anything. It doesn't matter what it is. You need money or a ride or me to kick someone's ass and I'm there for you."
Justin sighed. "Time to go J.C."
J.C. looked at the sandy haired man and nodded. "Sure thing, boss," he said and pulled his hand away. He stared at Brian and smiled before he left.
"What is with him?" Brian asked.
"Don't mind him," Justin said. "Come on," he said and walked to the bedroom.
“Jesus Justin,” Brian said once they were in their bedroom. “That was fucking nuts.”
“I’m sorry he hit you,” Justin told him as he caressed the offended spot. “I should have fucking killed him.”
“Please no,” Brian told him and took a deep breath. He rubbed his belly and move to sit on the edge of the bed.
Justin kneeled in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
“You already said that,” Brian pointed out. “Promise me something.”
“Anything,” the sandy haired man said.
“Don’t throw a party like this again,” Brian told him.
“Whatever you want, kid,” Justin told him.
Brian smiled leaned forward to be able to kiss Justin’s neck. “Make love to me now.”
“That’s what I live for,” Justin whispered. “To make you happy.”
The brunet couldn’t help but smile like a fool.
***
Brian sighed as he looked at the sketches in the computer. He was working on a new account and for some reason something was wrong. He just couldn't put his finger on what it was exactly. He rubbed his face and decided to shut off the computer for a while. He looked at the files next to it and grabbed one. He was about to start reading it when the bell rang. He stopped what he was doing and didn't move to answer it. It was so strange to have that sound instead of the one he used to have at the loft. When it rang a second time Brian put the folder on the desk and got up to answer the door.
"Hello, Brian," Diana said.
"Hi," Brian said and frowned as he looked at the woman.
Diana bit her lower lip. "Um..."
"Do you want to come in?" Brian asked not sure what she was doing there.
"Sure," she told him and stepped inside.
Brian closed the door and turned around. He was waiting for her to say something. "Uh, do you want something to drink?"
"Okay," she told him.
"Come on," Brian said as he walked to the kitchen.
Diana followed him and sat down on the kitchen island while he grabbed a soda and a bottle of water from the fridge. He put the can in front of her. She smiled at him and took it.
"So, what brings you here?" Brian asked opening his water.
"I just came to apologize for what happened," Diana told him. "He should have never done that."
Brian nodded slowly. "It's not your fault."
Diana looked down at the wooden surface. "No one has ever gotten in the middle of it before. They just look away while it happens. So thank you for giving a fuck."
The brunet nodded. "It's no problem."
"He won't do that again," Diana assured him. "For one, he's terrified of Justin. Everyone is."
The brunet frowned. "Is that so?"
"Well he's one of the guys in charge," Diana said. "That doesn't happen just because, you have to do..." she stopped talking when Brian frowned. "Well, you know the line of work they have."
"Right," Brian whispered.
"I should leave," Diana said. "You probably have to start dinner or something."
"I don't cook," Brian said.
"What?" Diana asked.
"Well, I'm kind of learning still," Brian told her. "But I don't like it."
"And Justin doesn't mind?" Diana asked.
"Why should he?" Brian asked arching a brow as he leaned against the counter behind him.
“You’re so lucky to have him,” she informed him. “He’s like them but he not a total ass, you know what I mean.”
Brian nodded slowly. He knew that Justin was great with him no matter what he did with his buddies. He should count himself lucky that the blond wasn’t like Phillip. If Justin was he wouldn’t be with him.
“You could do better,” Brian pointed out.
“I love him,” she said sadly. “I know he’s not perfect and that one day he might get out of hand and hurt me but god,” she groaned, shaking her head. “I love him so much.”
Brian frowned thinking she was crazy. Then again he knew love made you do stupid things. Because he knew what Justin did and he was still there. He loved the man and couldn’t walk away from him either. He sighed and to a point understood what she was going through. Because he did his blond but he wouldn’t stay with him if he was being abused. He had to think of himself so he could protect the child he was carrying. Everyone’s story was different, he guessed. He thought everyone else wasn't as strong when it came down to leaving the person you loved even if it was for your own good. He wondered himself, if he ever had to leave Justin, if he could do it.
***
"Where is Justin?" Debbie asked.
"He couldn't make it," Brian told her. "Oh, pass me the potato salad. That looks delicious."
Lindsay giggled.
"How are things?" Ted asked.
"They're good," Brian assured them. "I talked to my boss and I would be able to work from home. I'm that good."
Vic smiled at that. "That's good."
"If you ever need someone to watch the baby I'm available," Lindsay offered.
"Me too," Emmett said.
Brian smiled and nodded since he couldn't answer. He had his mouth full of food.
"So, do you know what you're having?" Vic asked.
"No," Brian answered.
"Do you want more pepper stake, Brian?" Debbie asked.
"Not right now," Brian replied. "We want it to be a surprise."
"That's nice," Michael said. "But I say it's a girl."
"Oh that would be so cute," Lindsay said. "Brian with a baby girl. That is going to be priceless."
"Tell me about it," Debbie said smiling.
"Brian with a baby period," Vic said.
"I can't wait," Emmett said. "I like babies so much."
"How many are you and Justin going to have?" Ted asked.
Brian stopped eating for a second and looked at the man. "I don't know. We haven't talked about that. For now just this one; we have way too busy lives for more."
"Look at him," Debbie said. "He's glowing with happiness."
"I'm not," Brian said rolling his eyes but ended up chuckling.
"You look very happy, Brian," Vic said smiling. "I'm happy for you."
The brunet smiled at that. He was truly happy. He took a deep breath and decided it was time to tell them that he was married. He hadn't before because part of him thought that they were going to tell him he was crazy for marrying the blond so fast. He didn't want to deal with that then. Then he didn't tell them because he married Justin and hadn't invited anybody, with the exception of Emmett and Slater, and he felt kind of bad about it. He knew he couldn't keep postponing the fact. "Guys," Brian said.
"What is it, honey?" Debbie asked as she finally sat down to eat her food.
"There is something I have to tell you about Justin," Brian said.
"Brian," Michael gasped. "Are you sure?"
"Shut up, Michael," Emmett said. "Let's hear it out."
Brian opened his mouth and closed it. He smiled and sighed and then dug into his pocket. He put his ring on and then lifted his hand so they could see it.
"You're going to get married?" Michael asked.
"No," he said and grinned.
"Oh my god," Lindsay said standing up. "You already are, aren't you?"
Brian nodded and received a hug from the blonde. He smiled at that.
"Oh, Brian," Debbie said sadly. "I'm happy for you but I wish we would have been there. We're your family."
"I know, Deb," Brian said. "But it happened a while back and it was all so sudden. I promise I'll talk to Justin and maybe we can have a ceremony for you guys. I would like that, to have you guys there."
"Congratulations, Brian," Ted said raising his beer.
Emmett, Vic and Lindsay did the same. Debbie smiled at the brunet. Out of nowhere, Michael who had been really quiet all this time, stood up angrily making the chair fall back. He didn't say anything as he stormed up to his old room. Everyone in the table stayed quiet for a few minutes.
"I'll go talk to him," Emmett said getting up.
"No," Debbie said. "Let him cool off. Trust me."
Brian sighed and stared down at his food. "I guess he's really mad that I didn't tell him."
"I don't think that's why he's mad," Lindsay said. "What?" she asked when everyone gave her a look that said 'just shut up'.
"I should go," Brian said.
"No honey," Debbie said. "Finish your dinner," she said getting up to go check on her son.
"Oh my god," Ted said and then look at Vic. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Vic said. "We all know that Michael has a thing for Brian."
The brunet groaned.
"He will get over it," Lindsay said.
"Just like you did," Vic said smirking at her.
"Hey!" Lindsay protested as she narrowed her eyes at Vic, but then she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, at least Brian fucked me."
"What?" Ted asked.
Emmett laughed at that. "Wow."
Brian covered his face. "Could we stop this conversation?"
"You fucked Lindsay?" Ted asked.
"We were experimenting and kind of drunk," Brian pointed out.
"You weren't so bad," Lindsay said.
"You're telling me this now?" Brian asked. "I could have been straight."
Lindsay and Brian looked at each other and laughed. Just then Debbie was coming down the stairs with a sad face.
"It's everything okay, sis?" Vic asked.
Debbie gave them a smile and a nod. She sat down and they finish eating. When they were leaving Emmett asked Brian for a ride and Brian told him it was no problem.
"So, how's married life?" Emmett asked once they were in the car.
Brian smiled. "Fucking great."
Emmett looked at Brian and laughed. "They are right, you're glowing."
"Shut up," the brunet said.
"You think Michael is going to be okay?" Emmett asked.
The brunet sighed and shrugged. "I don't know."
"Why didn't you ever get with him?" Emmett asked. "I mean you guys are pretty close, right?"
"He's my best friend," Brian said. "Almost like a brother."
"I see," Emmett said.
"I know he's mad but I can't do anything about that. I don't regret marrying Justin, no matter what," Brian said. “God knows what would have happened if Justin had never come along. I would have pretty much turned into Cole and now that I have a family I don’t think I would have liked being alone that much.”
Emmett nodded. “No one likes being alone, honey.”
The brunet knew now that was very true. He was sure that if he'd never met the blond, his life would have been miserable.
***
Justin stopped the car and got out. He went into Jake's house wondering what was going on. Slater had called him telling him that they were having a meeting. When he got there two of Jake's guys were there, Alan and Jimmy, along with some of his own guys, Dexter, Slater, Tony and J.C.
"So what's going on?" Justin asked.
"Come on," Jake said gesturing at all of them to follow him.
They exited the house through the back and went to the house guest's garage. The blond's blood ran cold. He knew that when Jake brought people there not everyone made it out alive. He started thinking that maybe they knew that he'd been talking. He knew that if that was true Brian was at risk. They would kill his husband just to prove a point for the rest of them.
"So what's going on?" Justin asked.
"Funny that you would ask something like that," Jake said.
Justin arched a brow.
"What's going on?" Tony asked.
"You know how we have someone talking," Jake said.
Slater nodded. "So, you think that it's one of us?"
"Ah," Jake said. "Right on the nose."
"Who?" Justin asked.
Jake licked his lips and looked at Dexter. The man in question raised a brow.
"Search him," Jake said.
Justin watched as Jimmy and Alan searched Dexter. When they were done they had pulled out a badge and a recorder from off the man. Justin thought it was way too easy. Right away he knew that there was something wrong. No one could be so stupid to let be found out like that.
"He's one of yours," Jake said. "Kill him."
"You heard him," Justin said and looked at Slater. He stayed stoic no matter how conflicted he felt inside.
Slater pulled out a gun and aimed at Dexter.
"No," Jake said. "You do it, Justin. You kill him."
Justin grinned and walked closer to Dexter. "Is it true?"
Dexter glared at Justin and looked away. Right away Justin knew what was going on. Things like that you couldn't think much. For one, they would screw up with your head and for another, timing was very important. He moved back as he pulled out one of his guns. He took the safety off and shot Alan and then Jimmy who was reaching for his gun.
"What the fuck?" Jake asked taking a step back. The man tried to reach for his gun but Slater shot him as well as Justin.
"Fuck," Dexter said. "I..."
Justin aimed at Dexter. "You're not a cop."
"I...Jake wanted you out of the game because..." Dexter said.
"Because he doesn't like me," Justin said. Everyone knew that piece of information, but Jake kept things strictly about business. So for Jake to go after him, meant that there was something else that he didn't know about.
"You..." Dexter said but J.C. shot him.
"Well then," Tony said. "We just killed Jake Vitto. We're dead men."
"Not necessarily," J.C. said. "So it went down like this. Jake accused Dexter and he accused me."
"What?" Slater asked.
"Hear me out," J.C. said.
Justin kept looking at all the bodies. He felt like he was going to throw up. He didn't know what he was doing anymore. His life was truly going down the drain; everything was spiraling out of control.
"Okay," Slater said. He put his gun away. He knew that if Jake had brought them all there just to kill Justin, he would have killed all of them just out of fear that one of them would say something or retaliate for killing their boss; and how right the man had been about that. If anyone had harmed Justin he would go after them no matter who they were.
"So while all this happened Dexter shot Jimmy and Alan and Jake," J.C. said.
"And none of us got to him?" Tony asked.
"I got him," J.C. pointed out. "That's why I killed him."
"Okay," Slater said.
"You two weren't here," Justin said. "Just me and J.C."
"What about the guns?" Tony asked. "We have to drop them. Shit, we can't. Everyone knows what your guns looks like."
"I know," Justin said. "Go to my trunk," he said to Slater. "I'll fix it all."
"Fuck, fuck," Tony said.
"Relax," Slater told him as he grabbed the keys that Justin was giving him.
"Are you going to talk to the boss?" Tony asked.
Justin nodded slowly. "He'll probably kill me just by being the bearer of bad news."
"Yeah, probably," J.C. said putting his gun away. He didn't have to worry about that one in particular.
The blond turn around and pointed at J.C. He shot him in the shoulder.
"What the fuck?" Tony said getting his gun out.
"Well, I'm making it look believable," Justin said.
"Does that mean I get to shot you?" J.C. asked from the floor where he had landed after the impact. "Motherfucker!"
"Jesus," Tony said shaking his head.
Slater came back a few minutes later and wondered what the fuck was going on. They did everything like professional's because they were. They knew what to take out and what to drop in to make the scene be just like they wanted it to. Slater even went over the trouble of shooting a few extra rounds towards the general direction of where the guys had been standing. Justin told Slater and Tony to disappear for a few days and that if they talked to anyone he was going to kill them.
"I can't believe Jake had the nerve to try and cross you all by himself. What a fucking idiot," J.C. said. He ran his hands through his blond hair. "God, you think this is going to work?"
"Yeah," Justin said and using his old guns with the new components he shot at Dexter.
"For good measure?" J.C. asked.
"Appearances," Justin responded. He kneeled in front of Dexter and using the dead man's hand to use one of the new guns he looked away as he pointed it at his shoulder. He took the shot and fell back. "Fuck!"
"I could have done that!" J.C. pointed out.
"That fucking hurts," Justin said. "Shoot me again."
"Seriously?" J.C. asked.
Justin nodded. "On the side, don't kill me and then you call Smith. And you better fucking hurry up because if I bleed to death, I will kill you."
"Is this really going to work?" J.C. asked. "Because…"
"Just do it," Justin hissed. "I'm not giving up now. Not now."
"Shit," J.C. said and did what his boss was telling him to do. Then Justin told him to call someone to inform them what had happened.
J.C. didn't want to leave Justin there but he did. If their plan was going to work he had to do it right. So he called Smith and told the man that Jake had called him to their house and then explained why. He told him how he had come with Justin and what had happened. He told the man that everyone was dead.
About an hour later Smith and John were at the house. They had a few guys with them to take care of the mess. First they moved Jake's body out of there. Then they dosed everything with gasoline. One of John's guys was pouring gasoline on Justin when the man opened his eyes and started coughing.
"Justin," Smith gasped. "Fuck, get him up."
"No," Justin groaned when they did.
"He's in bad shape," John said.
"He's been shot more times than I can remember and he always makes it. The man has more lives than a damn cat," Smith said. "Bring J.C. here. We need to get him to a hospital, right away."
Justin closed his eyes and thought about everything he'd done. He couldn't believe it. He'd killed those men in cold blood. But then again they were probably going to kill all of them. He didn't have any other option. He groaned as they put him on the back of a car. J.C. got inside with him.
He opened his eyes and stared at the other man. Two pair of blue eyes stared into each other and only saw pain. Justin covered his face and tried not to let the tears fall. He was falling apart. J.C. sighed and knew that everything that had happened had to be reaping the blond inside. He sure as hell had never thought of shooting anyone; certainly not a friend like Dexter had been. But in the end it was either them being dead or he and Justin. The blond was the most important person he had in his life and he wasn't going to let him down. The choice had been obvious.
Chapter Eight: More Shattered Pieces
Summary: Brian decides to tell everyone he's married, Michael doesn't take it so well. Justin is once again in danger.
AN: Thanks to my beta Helen. Couldn't do it without her. I hope you guys enjoy this. Many hugs, Tay
“I hate this weather,” Brian muttered to himself as he waited for the hot chocolate to get ready. He couldn't wait for the cold to be finally over.
He moved to open the door in the pantry and scanned the place. He grabbed the marshmallows as soon as he saw the bag. He closed the door and for a few seconds stared at the door next to the pantry. He wondered what was under there. Maybe Justin had killed someone and buried them there and that’s why the blond didn’t want him there.
The brunet sighed and walked away from it while he rolled his eyes. He knew that Justin wouldn’t be so stupid to hide the body so close to him, at least he hoped so. Then he shook his head for thinking all of that. He had way too much imagination for his own good.
“Jesus Brian,” he said to himself. “He hasn’t killed anyone,” he said and after a long pause. “Yeah right.”
He heard the door to the house open and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Brian?!” Justin called as he took off his coat.
“Kitchen,” the brunet yelled.
Justin walked to the kitchen and then kissed the brunet on the neck. Brian frowned and moved away.
“What is it?” Justin asked.
“You smell of nothing but alcohol,” the younger of the two pointed out.
“I had a few drinks with the guys,” Justin said. “What’s up with that?”
Brian sighed. “I don’t like that smell.”
“I’ll take a shower,” Justin assured him.
“Whatever,” Brian muttered.
The sandy haired man rolled his eyes. “Are you in one of your moods?”
The brunet just glared at him. Justin tried to pull Brian into his arms hoping to win him over but that didn’t work.
“Don’t touch me,” Brian said.
“Fine,” Justin said. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Brian watched him go and sighed. He didn’t know what happened to him sometimes. It was like he was bipolar or something. He couldn’t wait to see Justin and when he did most of the times they would end up arguing about stupid things. The brunet served himself his chocolate and then put in the microwave. He made sure that the stove was off and then headed to find the blond to give him a proper welcome.
When the younger man got to the bathroom Justin was washing his mouth. The sandy haired man gave the man a smile as best as he could. Brian thought that the man looked cute. Justin was already naked so Brian decided to get naked as well. Justin arched a brow but didn't say anything about it. He finished what he was doing and pulled Brian to him. They kissed and smiled at each other before they got in the shower.
Brian helped Justin wash up and the older man let him. He knew that sometimes Brian got bad swing moods and he didn't mind them. It was part of the pregnancy and he recognized that. When they were done they exited the bathroom. Brian quickly got dressed while Justin walked around with his towel wrapped around his waist.
The brunet went to get his chocolate. He hated it up and then grabbed a chocolate cup cake to go along with it. He was sitting on the kitchen island when the blond came down. He saw Justin going into the living room and when he came back he was holding a black duffel bag.
"What's that?" Brian asked.
"Work," Justin responded and went to unlock the door in the pantry.
Brian rolled his lips and didn't say anything about it. He frowned as he looked at the clock on the wall. He wondered what it was but he didn't dare ask. He had agreed when Justin said that he would keep his work away from him. The younger man knew that Justin was doing the best he could. Twenty minutes later, because Brian was counting, Justin was back. The blond wrapped his arms around the brunet as he stood behind him.
"You smell so good," Justin told him.
Brian smiled at that.
"How is the baby?" Justin asked as he caressed Brian's protruding belly.
The brunet looked down and Justin's hands and couldn't help but smile even more. He always filled with happiness when Justin did that. He grabbed one of the man's hands and kissed it.
"She's doing fine," Brian said.
"You keep thinking is a girl," Justin pointed out. "Do you know something I don't?"
Brian shrugged. "I just got a feeling."
"We can always ask the doctor," Justin told him.
"Nah," Brian said. "Let it be a surprise."
"Come on to bed," Justin whispered.
Brian nodded and quickly got up. He put his cup on the sink and followed his husband. When they got in the bed Brian yawned and Justin arched a brow.
"You tired?" Justin asked.
"A bit," Brian told him.
"Then go to sleep," Justin said with a big smile as he lay next to the taller man.
"I don't think so," Brian replied. "I have plans for you."
"Oh you do?" Justin asked grinning.
Brian nodded and moved so he could kiss the man. Justin wrapped his arms around his lover. He moaned when Brian reached for his manhood. He was already hard. In a swift move the sandy haired man pushed Brian on his back. He got on top of him, making sure that he was keeping most of the weight off, before he started to kiss the brunet in a downward direction.
"Mmm," Brian moaned as Justin covered him with feather light kisses.
Justin pushed Brian's sleeping pants down and Brian took off his shirt. Justin smiled at how eager Brian was. He caressed the man's belly and then bend down to kiss it. Then he kept going down after his target.
“Justin,” Brian groaned after a few seconds. “Please.”
Justin had been teasing the man. He pushed Brian's legs open and let his fingers tease Brian's entrance. He smiled briefly when Brian responded with a guttural moan. The older man leaned closer and his tongue moved slowly up and down Brian's crack before he parted the man's ass cheeks. The tip of it teased the orifice that was twitching with yearning. He moved up and started to lick Brian’s sac before he started to lick the man’s cock.
“You’re driving me fucking crazy!” Brian hissed. “Please Justin.”
The blond smiled and moved up yet again. He licked a path from the brunet’s shaft to Brian’s belly button. Then he started planting kisses as he kept moving up. He sucked one of Brian’s nipples while his fingers played with the other.
“You’re so beautiful,” Justin said as one of his hands rubbed Brian’s belly. “I love you so much.”
The brunet lifted his right leg and wrapped it around the older man.
"Fuck me now," Brian hissed.
"I need a condom," Justin told him.
"I'm already pregnant," Brian pointed out.
"I know that," Justin said grinning as he moved to grab a condom.
"Why don't you want to? Are you fucking other guys?" Brian asked. "Why are we still using condoms?"
"What?" Justin asked shocked. "No, Brian. But after you got pregnant when I went away I was with someone else. I didn't know I was ever going to see you again. I'm just trying to be safe. Maybe after a few more months we can go get checked and then we can put them behind us."
Brian nodded slowly.
"Hey kid," Justin said. "You're the only one for me. That's why I married you. Don't ever doubt us, ever," Justin told him as he kissed Brian.
The blond pulled back and put the condom on. He grabbed the lube from the night table and put some on. He then positioned himself between Brian's legs and aligned his cock to enter Brian. The brunet gasped as his mouth opened. His head lulled back and his eyes closed. Justin kissed Brian's neck as he waited for Brian to adjust. He didn't wait long knowing how much Brian liked the friction. His kid like the pain and the pleasure he got out of him fucking him when he wasn't fully prepared.
Their bodies started heating up as they moved together. Brian was in heaven as his husband made love to him. His fingers wrapping around the man's hair and arms each time a wave of pleasure hit him. Justin kept whispering sweet things to him and he loved it all. Brian's eyes opened when he was close to reaching his orgasm. He watched the man atop of him and how lost he seemed to be. He smiled and held on to Justin as he started to spill his cum in between them.
“Oh fuck!” Justin yelled as he felt Brian's walls clamping around him. He threw his head back and pushed all the way inside his man before he climaxed.
Their bodies were spent as they held one another. Justin pulled out slowly and quickly got rid of the condom. He kissed Brian and smiled at the brunet. Brian had a dreamy look on him.
"I love you," Brian whispered as his eyes closed.
Justin got up and went to the bathroom. He cleaned himself up and then grabbed a cloth to go clean Brian. He wetted it first with warm water. The brunet didn't even move. When the older man was done he covered Brian's body with the duvet. Then he went back to the bathroom to rinse the cloth.
The sandy haired man grabbed the bottom part of his pajamas before he went downstairs. He also grabbed his keys and when he reached the pantry he looked around and grabbed a bag of chips before he went to the basement. He locked the door behind him. He hated keeping Brian out but it was a part of his life that he couldn't share with the brunet.
He had set a table there and he sat down in front of it. He had a little of everything down there. He had his guns and knives, his computers, a phone, cell phones, files, etc. He grabbed the duffel bag and opened it. Inside were two guns and money. One of them had blood in it. He stared at them for a while before he reached for a plastic bag. He knew that one day it would all come back to him but he had enough shit on everyone just in case. He knew where all the bodies were buried, metaphorically and literally, and if he was going down he was going to take with him as many people as possible.
***
Brian parked his car in the front of the house and grabbed his briefcase. He wondered what was going on at his house. There were like ten cars parked all around the house. He sighed and undid his tie as he walked to the entrance of his home. When he opened the door he was assaulted with the smell of cigarette and booze.
“Fucking great,” Brian muttered as he made his way inside.
A few people were staring at him like he was from another planet. He just walked to his bedroom and changed as quickly as he could before he went to find his husband and an explanation.
When he did find the man in question Justin was laughing at something a woman was telling him. Brian felt jealousy course through him not liking how close she was to his man. If it had been a guy Brian was certain that he wouldn’t have left the house still breathing. He wondered who the fuck she was but he had other things in mind.
“Justin, could I speak to you?” Brian asked.
Justin smiled as he saw his lover. “Kid, you’re home.”
Brian swallowed and tried to focus on the fact that he was angry. But it was pretty hard to do when Justin looked so edible at the moment. The older man was wearing his holster and nothing to cover up the fact. He had a pair of tight jeans and a black wife beater with his black leather boots. Justin was holding a beer in one hand and his cigarette between his lips. The man looked like the bad boy he was. Brian was starting to think he liked that look way too much.
“I was waiting for you,” Justin told him.
“Are you drunk?” Brian asked.
“Of course not,” the blond assured him. "At least not yet."
“Who was that?” Brian asked crossing his arms.
Justin looked back and smiled. “That’s Janice,” he said and then looked back at his kid. “She’s an old friend.”
“Right,” the brunet said. “Justin, what is going on here? Have you lost your mind?”
Justin frowned. “It’s only a few friends that came over. They wanted to see the house.”
Brian didn’t like it. “I’m tired. I’ve been working all day. I thought I would come home to relax.”
“I told you to quit,” Justin said and pulled the cigarette away from his mouth.
“And I said I would when the baby was born,” Brian hissed.
“Okay then,” Justin said taking a sip from his beer and walking away.
Brian sighed. “Give me strength,” he said to no one in particular. Then he walked away to the kitchen because there was nobody there and he was fine with that. Plus he didn’t want to be in the living room being a second hand smoker.
“Hello,” a tall, dark haired man said as he stood across Brian.
The brunet put his hand on the kitchen island and stared at the man for a few seconds. He thought the guy was definitely hot and if he had met him before he would have definitely fucked him.
“Hi,” Brian said.
“I’m Jake Vitto,” the man said. “And you are?”
“Brian Kinney,” he said as he tapped his fingers on the counter.
“I haven’t seen you around,” Jake said.
“I haven’t been around,” the brunet pointed out.
Jake moved around and grabbed a beer from the sink where someone had dumped them with a lot of ice on top. “So you’re working for my father now. How is it going?” he asked and pulled another beer for Brian.
Brian shook his head declining the beer. “I don’t work for your father.”
“What are you doing here then?” Jake asked with a frown.
“I live here,” Brian said.
Jake arched a brow and smiled. “So you’re it.”
The brunet frowned not sure what he was supposed to be.
“I heard about Justin getting married and having a kid,” Jake said as he move closer. He looked down and could see the shape of a belly. It was hard because the brunet was wearing a sweater that concealed the fact.
Brian put his hand over his belly. He frowned because he didn’t like being ogled.
“Too bad,” Jake said moving closer. “We could’ve had some fun.”
“Could have is about right,” the blue eyed man said smirking as he appeared behind the brunet and put his arm around the man’s waist.
“He’s too much for you, Taylor,” Jake told him.
“I can handle him just fine,” Justin assured him.
“Could you two stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Brian said and moved away from Justin.
“Trouble in paradise?” Jake asked just above a whisper to the blond just before he walked away.
Justin had a frown in place as he stared at Jake’s retreating back. He looked back at the brunet who was leaning against the counter. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you that they were going to come. It was kind of last minute and I should have called you anyways.”
Brian nodded slowly as he looked at his husband.
“Forgive me for being so stupid?” Justin asked and smirked.
How could Brian resist the man was a mystery to him. But he could pretend pretty well. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
Justin smiled and put his beer on the counter before he moved in front of the brunet. He kissed Brian’s jaw and then moved to the kid’s neck. He smiled when he felt Brian shaking.
“Stop it!” someone yelled from the living room.
“What was that?” Brian asked.
“Not our problem,” Justin assured him.
“It’s our house, Jus,” the younger of the two pointed out.
There was another scream and Brian went to check it out. Justin shook his head and grabbed his beer before he followed the brunet. Then he leaned against the doorway from the kitchen and the living room and wasn’t surprise to find that Phillip and Diana were having a fight.
“Hey,” Brian said stepping in front of the couple. Before he could say anything else Phillip was slapping the woman.
“Leave her alone,” Brian hissed pushing the man back. “What the fuck is your problem man?”
Phillip slapped Brian’s face hard. The brunet gasped and his hand flew to his face. He was shocked more than anything else.
“You don’t tell me what to do,” Phillip growled. “Now be a good host and get me a fucking beer.”
Brian was about to retaliate but before he could, Phillip was turned around and Justin punched him on the face drawing blood. Phillip only had time to clean the blood away before he was pushed face down into the floor; a gun pressing to the back of his head. Brian swallowed as he stared at Justin and for a brief moment he thought his husband was going to kill the man on the floor.
“Let me explain something to you,” Justin said in a deadly voice.
“You fucker,” Phillip hissed as he was face down on the floor.
“Listen to me you fucking piece of shit. If you ever hit him again you will pay. You even look at Brian cross and I will put a bullet in you,” Justin hissed.
“Okay,” Phillip grunted as he tried to pull his arm away from his back where Justin was twisting and pushing it upwards.
“Good then,” Justin said. “You won’t see it coming if you do.”
Justin stood up and put the safety back on. He then put the gun in the holster and for good measure kicked Philip, who was still face down on the floor, hard on the ribs. Then he turned to look at Brian. “Are you okay?”
Brian nodded slowly.
"Get out of my house Phillip," Justin told the man who was slowly standing up with the help of Diana.
Justin shook his head and walked way with the brunet. The brunet couldn’t believe everything that had happened.
"Never miss a chance to show your wild side," Jake teased.
"Fuck off," Justin told him as they stood in the kitchen.
"Do you want me to kick everyone out?" Slater asked coming into the kitchen with Dexter and J.C.
"Yes," Justin said.
"No," Brian told them. "What is everyone going to think?"
"Hey," J.C. yelled towards the living room. "Get your things and leave. Party is over."
Brian sighed and tried to keep calm.
"See ya, Brian," Jake said smiling.
Brian frowned as he watched the man go.
"We're going to go too," Dexter said.
"Call me if anything," Slater told him.
Justin nodded.
J.C. walked over to the brunet and smiled. "Hi, I'm Jason," the man said. "Everyone calls me J.C."
"Hi," Brian said.
J.C. looked down at Brian's belly. His hand reached out and touched it. He couldn't stop smiling. "If you ever need anything you let me know. And I mean anything. It doesn't matter what it is. You need money or a ride or me to kick someone's ass and I'm there for you."
Justin sighed. "Time to go J.C."
J.C. looked at the sandy haired man and nodded. "Sure thing, boss," he said and pulled his hand away. He stared at Brian and smiled before he left.
"What is with him?" Brian asked.
"Don't mind him," Justin said. "Come on," he said and walked to the bedroom.
“Jesus Justin,” Brian said once they were in their bedroom. “That was fucking nuts.”
“I’m sorry he hit you,” Justin told him as he caressed the offended spot. “I should have fucking killed him.”
“Please no,” Brian told him and took a deep breath. He rubbed his belly and move to sit on the edge of the bed.
Justin kneeled in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
“You already said that,” Brian pointed out. “Promise me something.”
“Anything,” the sandy haired man said.
“Don’t throw a party like this again,” Brian told him.
“Whatever you want, kid,” Justin told him.
Brian smiled leaned forward to be able to kiss Justin’s neck. “Make love to me now.”
“That’s what I live for,” Justin whispered. “To make you happy.”
The brunet couldn’t help but smile like a fool.
***
Brian sighed as he looked at the sketches in the computer. He was working on a new account and for some reason something was wrong. He just couldn't put his finger on what it was exactly. He rubbed his face and decided to shut off the computer for a while. He looked at the files next to it and grabbed one. He was about to start reading it when the bell rang. He stopped what he was doing and didn't move to answer it. It was so strange to have that sound instead of the one he used to have at the loft. When it rang a second time Brian put the folder on the desk and got up to answer the door.
"Hello, Brian," Diana said.
"Hi," Brian said and frowned as he looked at the woman.
Diana bit her lower lip. "Um..."
"Do you want to come in?" Brian asked not sure what she was doing there.
"Sure," she told him and stepped inside.
Brian closed the door and turned around. He was waiting for her to say something. "Uh, do you want something to drink?"
"Okay," she told him.
"Come on," Brian said as he walked to the kitchen.
Diana followed him and sat down on the kitchen island while he grabbed a soda and a bottle of water from the fridge. He put the can in front of her. She smiled at him and took it.
"So, what brings you here?" Brian asked opening his water.
"I just came to apologize for what happened," Diana told him. "He should have never done that."
Brian nodded slowly. "It's not your fault."
Diana looked down at the wooden surface. "No one has ever gotten in the middle of it before. They just look away while it happens. So thank you for giving a fuck."
The brunet nodded. "It's no problem."
"He won't do that again," Diana assured him. "For one, he's terrified of Justin. Everyone is."
The brunet frowned. "Is that so?"
"Well he's one of the guys in charge," Diana said. "That doesn't happen just because, you have to do..." she stopped talking when Brian frowned. "Well, you know the line of work they have."
"Right," Brian whispered.
"I should leave," Diana said. "You probably have to start dinner or something."
"I don't cook," Brian said.
"What?" Diana asked.
"Well, I'm kind of learning still," Brian told her. "But I don't like it."
"And Justin doesn't mind?" Diana asked.
"Why should he?" Brian asked arching a brow as he leaned against the counter behind him.
“You’re so lucky to have him,” she informed him. “He’s like them but he not a total ass, you know what I mean.”
Brian nodded slowly. He knew that Justin was great with him no matter what he did with his buddies. He should count himself lucky that the blond wasn’t like Phillip. If Justin was he wouldn’t be with him.
“You could do better,” Brian pointed out.
“I love him,” she said sadly. “I know he’s not perfect and that one day he might get out of hand and hurt me but god,” she groaned, shaking her head. “I love him so much.”
Brian frowned thinking she was crazy. Then again he knew love made you do stupid things. Because he knew what Justin did and he was still there. He loved the man and couldn’t walk away from him either. He sighed and to a point understood what she was going through. Because he did his blond but he wouldn’t stay with him if he was being abused. He had to think of himself so he could protect the child he was carrying. Everyone’s story was different, he guessed. He thought everyone else wasn't as strong when it came down to leaving the person you loved even if it was for your own good. He wondered himself, if he ever had to leave Justin, if he could do it.
***
"Where is Justin?" Debbie asked.
"He couldn't make it," Brian told her. "Oh, pass me the potato salad. That looks delicious."
Lindsay giggled.
"How are things?" Ted asked.
"They're good," Brian assured them. "I talked to my boss and I would be able to work from home. I'm that good."
Vic smiled at that. "That's good."
"If you ever need someone to watch the baby I'm available," Lindsay offered.
"Me too," Emmett said.
Brian smiled and nodded since he couldn't answer. He had his mouth full of food.
"So, do you know what you're having?" Vic asked.
"No," Brian answered.
"Do you want more pepper stake, Brian?" Debbie asked.
"Not right now," Brian replied. "We want it to be a surprise."
"That's nice," Michael said. "But I say it's a girl."
"Oh that would be so cute," Lindsay said. "Brian with a baby girl. That is going to be priceless."
"Tell me about it," Debbie said smiling.
"Brian with a baby period," Vic said.
"I can't wait," Emmett said. "I like babies so much."
"How many are you and Justin going to have?" Ted asked.
Brian stopped eating for a second and looked at the man. "I don't know. We haven't talked about that. For now just this one; we have way too busy lives for more."
"Look at him," Debbie said. "He's glowing with happiness."
"I'm not," Brian said rolling his eyes but ended up chuckling.
"You look very happy, Brian," Vic said smiling. "I'm happy for you."
The brunet smiled at that. He was truly happy. He took a deep breath and decided it was time to tell them that he was married. He hadn't before because part of him thought that they were going to tell him he was crazy for marrying the blond so fast. He didn't want to deal with that then. Then he didn't tell them because he married Justin and hadn't invited anybody, with the exception of Emmett and Slater, and he felt kind of bad about it. He knew he couldn't keep postponing the fact. "Guys," Brian said.
"What is it, honey?" Debbie asked as she finally sat down to eat her food.
"There is something I have to tell you about Justin," Brian said.
"Brian," Michael gasped. "Are you sure?"
"Shut up, Michael," Emmett said. "Let's hear it out."
Brian opened his mouth and closed it. He smiled and sighed and then dug into his pocket. He put his ring on and then lifted his hand so they could see it.
"You're going to get married?" Michael asked.
"No," he said and grinned.
"Oh my god," Lindsay said standing up. "You already are, aren't you?"
Brian nodded and received a hug from the blonde. He smiled at that.
"Oh, Brian," Debbie said sadly. "I'm happy for you but I wish we would have been there. We're your family."
"I know, Deb," Brian said. "But it happened a while back and it was all so sudden. I promise I'll talk to Justin and maybe we can have a ceremony for you guys. I would like that, to have you guys there."
"Congratulations, Brian," Ted said raising his beer.
Emmett, Vic and Lindsay did the same. Debbie smiled at the brunet. Out of nowhere, Michael who had been really quiet all this time, stood up angrily making the chair fall back. He didn't say anything as he stormed up to his old room. Everyone in the table stayed quiet for a few minutes.
"I'll go talk to him," Emmett said getting up.
"No," Debbie said. "Let him cool off. Trust me."
Brian sighed and stared down at his food. "I guess he's really mad that I didn't tell him."
"I don't think that's why he's mad," Lindsay said. "What?" she asked when everyone gave her a look that said 'just shut up'.
"I should go," Brian said.
"No honey," Debbie said. "Finish your dinner," she said getting up to go check on her son.
"Oh my god," Ted said and then look at Vic. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Vic said. "We all know that Michael has a thing for Brian."
The brunet groaned.
"He will get over it," Lindsay said.
"Just like you did," Vic said smirking at her.
"Hey!" Lindsay protested as she narrowed her eyes at Vic, but then she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, at least Brian fucked me."
"What?" Ted asked.
Emmett laughed at that. "Wow."
Brian covered his face. "Could we stop this conversation?"
"You fucked Lindsay?" Ted asked.
"We were experimenting and kind of drunk," Brian pointed out.
"You weren't so bad," Lindsay said.
"You're telling me this now?" Brian asked. "I could have been straight."
Lindsay and Brian looked at each other and laughed. Just then Debbie was coming down the stairs with a sad face.
"It's everything okay, sis?" Vic asked.
Debbie gave them a smile and a nod. She sat down and they finish eating. When they were leaving Emmett asked Brian for a ride and Brian told him it was no problem.
"So, how's married life?" Emmett asked once they were in the car.
Brian smiled. "Fucking great."
Emmett looked at Brian and laughed. "They are right, you're glowing."
"Shut up," the brunet said.
"You think Michael is going to be okay?" Emmett asked.
The brunet sighed and shrugged. "I don't know."
"Why didn't you ever get with him?" Emmett asked. "I mean you guys are pretty close, right?"
"He's my best friend," Brian said. "Almost like a brother."
"I see," Emmett said.
"I know he's mad but I can't do anything about that. I don't regret marrying Justin, no matter what," Brian said. “God knows what would have happened if Justin had never come along. I would have pretty much turned into Cole and now that I have a family I don’t think I would have liked being alone that much.”
Emmett nodded. “No one likes being alone, honey.”
The brunet knew now that was very true. He was sure that if he'd never met the blond, his life would have been miserable.
***
Justin stopped the car and got out. He went into Jake's house wondering what was going on. Slater had called him telling him that they were having a meeting. When he got there two of Jake's guys were there, Alan and Jimmy, along with some of his own guys, Dexter, Slater, Tony and J.C.
"So what's going on?" Justin asked.
"Come on," Jake said gesturing at all of them to follow him.
They exited the house through the back and went to the house guest's garage. The blond's blood ran cold. He knew that when Jake brought people there not everyone made it out alive. He started thinking that maybe they knew that he'd been talking. He knew that if that was true Brian was at risk. They would kill his husband just to prove a point for the rest of them.
"So what's going on?" Justin asked.
"Funny that you would ask something like that," Jake said.
Justin arched a brow.
"What's going on?" Tony asked.
"You know how we have someone talking," Jake said.
Slater nodded. "So, you think that it's one of us?"
"Ah," Jake said. "Right on the nose."
"Who?" Justin asked.
Jake licked his lips and looked at Dexter. The man in question raised a brow.
"Search him," Jake said.
Justin watched as Jimmy and Alan searched Dexter. When they were done they had pulled out a badge and a recorder from off the man. Justin thought it was way too easy. Right away he knew that there was something wrong. No one could be so stupid to let be found out like that.
"He's one of yours," Jake said. "Kill him."
"You heard him," Justin said and looked at Slater. He stayed stoic no matter how conflicted he felt inside.
Slater pulled out a gun and aimed at Dexter.
"No," Jake said. "You do it, Justin. You kill him."
Justin grinned and walked closer to Dexter. "Is it true?"
Dexter glared at Justin and looked away. Right away Justin knew what was going on. Things like that you couldn't think much. For one, they would screw up with your head and for another, timing was very important. He moved back as he pulled out one of his guns. He took the safety off and shot Alan and then Jimmy who was reaching for his gun.
"What the fuck?" Jake asked taking a step back. The man tried to reach for his gun but Slater shot him as well as Justin.
"Fuck," Dexter said. "I..."
Justin aimed at Dexter. "You're not a cop."
"I...Jake wanted you out of the game because..." Dexter said.
"Because he doesn't like me," Justin said. Everyone knew that piece of information, but Jake kept things strictly about business. So for Jake to go after him, meant that there was something else that he didn't know about.
"You..." Dexter said but J.C. shot him.
"Well then," Tony said. "We just killed Jake Vitto. We're dead men."
"Not necessarily," J.C. said. "So it went down like this. Jake accused Dexter and he accused me."
"What?" Slater asked.
"Hear me out," J.C. said.
Justin kept looking at all the bodies. He felt like he was going to throw up. He didn't know what he was doing anymore. His life was truly going down the drain; everything was spiraling out of control.
"Okay," Slater said. He put his gun away. He knew that if Jake had brought them all there just to kill Justin, he would have killed all of them just out of fear that one of them would say something or retaliate for killing their boss; and how right the man had been about that. If anyone had harmed Justin he would go after them no matter who they were.
"So while all this happened Dexter shot Jimmy and Alan and Jake," J.C. said.
"And none of us got to him?" Tony asked.
"I got him," J.C. pointed out. "That's why I killed him."
"Okay," Slater said.
"You two weren't here," Justin said. "Just me and J.C."
"What about the guns?" Tony asked. "We have to drop them. Shit, we can't. Everyone knows what your guns looks like."
"I know," Justin said. "Go to my trunk," he said to Slater. "I'll fix it all."
"Fuck, fuck," Tony said.
"Relax," Slater told him as he grabbed the keys that Justin was giving him.
"Are you going to talk to the boss?" Tony asked.
Justin nodded slowly. "He'll probably kill me just by being the bearer of bad news."
"Yeah, probably," J.C. said putting his gun away. He didn't have to worry about that one in particular.
The blond turn around and pointed at J.C. He shot him in the shoulder.
"What the fuck?" Tony said getting his gun out.
"Well, I'm making it look believable," Justin said.
"Does that mean I get to shot you?" J.C. asked from the floor where he had landed after the impact. "Motherfucker!"
"Jesus," Tony said shaking his head.
Slater came back a few minutes later and wondered what the fuck was going on. They did everything like professional's because they were. They knew what to take out and what to drop in to make the scene be just like they wanted it to. Slater even went over the trouble of shooting a few extra rounds towards the general direction of where the guys had been standing. Justin told Slater and Tony to disappear for a few days and that if they talked to anyone he was going to kill them.
"I can't believe Jake had the nerve to try and cross you all by himself. What a fucking idiot," J.C. said. He ran his hands through his blond hair. "God, you think this is going to work?"
"Yeah," Justin said and using his old guns with the new components he shot at Dexter.
"For good measure?" J.C. asked.
"Appearances," Justin responded. He kneeled in front of Dexter and using the dead man's hand to use one of the new guns he looked away as he pointed it at his shoulder. He took the shot and fell back. "Fuck!"
"I could have done that!" J.C. pointed out.
"That fucking hurts," Justin said. "Shoot me again."
"Seriously?" J.C. asked.
Justin nodded. "On the side, don't kill me and then you call Smith. And you better fucking hurry up because if I bleed to death, I will kill you."
"Is this really going to work?" J.C. asked. "Because…"
"Just do it," Justin hissed. "I'm not giving up now. Not now."
"Shit," J.C. said and did what his boss was telling him to do. Then Justin told him to call someone to inform them what had happened.
J.C. didn't want to leave Justin there but he did. If their plan was going to work he had to do it right. So he called Smith and told the man that Jake had called him to their house and then explained why. He told him how he had come with Justin and what had happened. He told the man that everyone was dead.
About an hour later Smith and John were at the house. They had a few guys with them to take care of the mess. First they moved Jake's body out of there. Then they dosed everything with gasoline. One of John's guys was pouring gasoline on Justin when the man opened his eyes and started coughing.
"Justin," Smith gasped. "Fuck, get him up."
"No," Justin groaned when they did.
"He's in bad shape," John said.
"He's been shot more times than I can remember and he always makes it. The man has more lives than a damn cat," Smith said. "Bring J.C. here. We need to get him to a hospital, right away."
Justin closed his eyes and thought about everything he'd done. He couldn't believe it. He'd killed those men in cold blood. But then again they were probably going to kill all of them. He didn't have any other option. He groaned as they put him on the back of a car. J.C. got inside with him.
He opened his eyes and stared at the other man. Two pair of blue eyes stared into each other and only saw pain. Justin covered his face and tried not to let the tears fall. He was falling apart. J.C. sighed and knew that everything that had happened had to be reaping the blond inside. He sure as hell had never thought of shooting anyone; certainly not a friend like Dexter had been. But in the end it was either them being dead or he and Justin. The blond was the most important person he had in his life and he wasn't going to let him down. The choice had been obvious.