At the same time that Zack saw the kids, Brian spotted him and Dallas and beckoned them over.
“This could be interesting, to put it mildly,” Dallas said.
“No kidding. Why the hell didn’t someone warn us?”
“Why would they? No one knows our…” Dallas smiled wryly. “Our secret identities.”
“True,” Zack agreed as he sat next to Brian. “So what do you think?” Zack asked him, echoing Mackie’s question from a few moments ago.
“Takes me back to my childhood,” Brian replied. “Or my young adulthood.”
“Same with Zack,” Dallas said. He stood next to Zack with his back to the kids, obviously trying to act as a shield so the teens wouldn’t get a good look at them. “Not me so much. As Zack pointed out, I was only three.”
“Brian, look!” Zip called out. “I beat the level. You said I couldn’t, but I did.”
“So go on to the next one,” Brian said, giving Zip a thumbs-up.
“I’m going to try that one,” Raven said, heading to the game on the other side of the bench. Suddenly she stopped, looking a Zack. “Uh-uh. No way,” she whispered in disbelief.
“Jig’s up,” Zack said with a small smile, putting a finger to his lips. “But you have to keep it to yourself.”
“Keep what to herself?” China asked, joining them. “Oh, my God.” She glanced at Dallas, shaking her head. “I…you… Both of you… You’re here.”
“Shush,” Raven told her.
“What’s going on?” Brian asked with a puzzled frown.
Zack sighed. “Let’s find a quiet room, if we can, and I’ll tell you. Raven, if you’d grab Zip and the others.
Please
.”
“Hang on while I see if there’s an empty room we can use,” Dallas said then strode to a door half hidden from view by one of the machines. He was back moments later, saying, “We’re good.”
Zack helped Brian to his feet, before handing him his crutches. By then Raven had rounded up the other teens and they all made their way to a small, and at the moment empty, lounge. Once everyone was inside, Dallas closed the door and leaned against it.
As the girls had earlier, Zip looked from Dallas to Zack and back to Dallas again. “Raven was right the other night. You
are
a cop,” he said accusingly. “I’ve seen you patrolling Uptown.”
“That’s my—what did you call it?—my real-life job,” Dallas agreed.
“Okay, does someone want to fill me in on things?” Brian asked.
“You might want to sit first,” Zack told him.
“That bad, huh?” Brian took a seat in one of the armchairs. “Okay, lay it on me.”
“You’ve heard of Reaper. Right?” Zack said.
“Hell, everyone in Uptown has. Well, at least all the kids, to hear them tell it. He’s a… Well, some would call him a vigilante. I think he’s an unsung hero, if the stories going around about him are…” Brian stopped dead, looking up at Zack. “Oh, shit. You?”
Zack shrugged. “In the flesh. And thanks to Zip and company, now you know.”
“Fuck, Zack, you coulda told me a long time ago.”
“If I had, you’d have tried to talk me out of it, knowing you. What I do—what Reaper does—is necessary, to my way of thinking. But I figured the way I go about it probably wouldn’t sit well with you.”
“But it’s the only way he can do it,” Raven said with a hard nod, getting equally firm nods from the others.
“You knew about this, I presume?” Brian said, giving Dallas an exasperated look.
Zip snickered. “Hell, Brian, he’s Wrath. Robin to Reaper’s Batman.”
“You did
not
just go there,” Dallas grumbled, earning laughs from the others.
“Kato and Green Hornet?” Colly suggested.
“Butch Cassidy and Sundance,” one of the others threw out.
“Do I look like a cowboy?” Dallas asked.
“No.” Zip grinned. “You look like a penguin.”
Zack bit his lip to keep from laughing before turning serious. “This has to be kept between us.” He looked at each teen, one by one. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to keep on helping you. At least not the way we have been. That’s especially true where Dallas is concerned. He could lose his job.”
“Worse than that,” Brian said pointedly, “they could end up in prison.”
“Shit,” Zip muttered. “Truth?”
Zack nodded. “We’re not exactly law-abiding. But then neither are the sons of bitches we deal with. Unfortunately, the courts won’t take that into consideration when it comes down to it. Vigilantes are not looked on fondly by law enforcement.”
“But you’re just doing what the cops can’t,” Raven protested.
“Speaking as one,” Dallas told her, “that really doesn’t count in the grand scheme of things. Cops might wish they could do what we’re doing. Hell, they do sometimes when they…we see the results of some kid being beaten up or raped or worse because they have no safe place to go. Unfortunately, we have to abide by the law. Arrest the perp if we can then more often than not, watch them lawyer up and walk free.”
“That’s why you’re helping Reaper,” China said, looking gratefully at Dallas.
“Yep. Pretty much.”
“Bet there’s another reason too,” Colly said. “You and him are like me and Zip. Right?”
“A bit older, a bit wiser, but yeah,” Zack replied with a wink.
“That’s too cool.”
“I think so. Okay, we should get back to the party. After all, it really is for all of you and every other kid who needs Off-the-Street. Just remember…”
“Our lips are sealed,” Raven told him before he could finish. “We’re not stupid and we need you—both of you.”
Zip nodded, looking at Zack. “You never told us what you do in real life.”
“What the hell, since you know who I am now, there’s no reason not to. I’m an investment counselor.” He had the feeling none of the kids really knew what that was, but Zip had asked, so he tried to explain it in a way they’d understand.
“He’s also the man who thought up this whole gala to raise money so we could move,” Brian said as he stood. “And he found the new building.”
“Whoa.” Colly looked impressed. “I want to be like you when I grow up.”
“Then get off the streets. All of you. If I could do it, you can too,” Zack told him.
“Sure gonna try,” Raven replied.
“That’s all anyone can ask of you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Zack woke Sunday morning to the sound of the phone. Groaning, he rolled over to grab it before it woke Dallas as well.
“Zack”—he yawned—“here.”
“Did I wake you?”
“Brian? Why are you up at such an ungodly hour?”
Brian chuckled. “Check the time. It’s almost noon.”
“Okay. That still doesn’t answer the question.”
“I wanted to thank you again for all you did for the shelter. I just got off the phone with Mr. Mackie. He told me that he had the initial figures on what the gala brought in.” Brian paused before saying in apparent disbelief. “We can buy the building, Zack! And fix it up, and furnish it, and… I still can’t believe it.”
“Oh, ye of little faith. I told you that would happen.” Zack was grinning by then, both at Brian’s elation and the fact the Dallas was leaning on his shoulder, trying to listen in on the conversation.
“Now I have to get in touch with the man who’s selling it, and my lawyer, and hire plumbers and electricians and—shit. I have a list of mile long of things to do,” Brian rattled off.
“Take a deep breath and relax. You don’t have to figure everything out right this second.”
“I bet there are a lot of kids who’d dive in to help fix the place up,” Dallas said.
Brian chuckled. “You eavesdropping, Dallas?”
“Well, duh.”
“He’s right, Brian,” Zack said. “We already talked about that. Once the basic work is done to bring the building up to code, put out the word and half the homeless kids in Uptown will descend to help.”
“I know. It seems a bit overwhelming right now, but it’ll all come together, thanks to you and all the people who donated to the cause.”
“Six months from now, you can have a grand opening party to thank them.”
Zack could visualize the grin on Brian’s face when the man replied, “With you as the guest of honor.”
“I’ll pass.”
They talked for a few more minutes before hanging up. As soon as Zack put the phone back on the charger, he found himself wrapped in a tight embrace.
“You are,” Dallas told him, “an exceptional man.”
“What brought that on?”
“As if you didn’t know.” Dallas planted a kiss on Zack’s lips. “You take on people’s problems and do everything in your power to eliminate them.”
“I’m just helping out,” Zack protested. “The same as a lot of other people.”
“Shush. You’re one in a million.” Dallas kissed him again. “And I’m going to show you how special you are.”
“Any chance I can go to the bathroom first? My bladder is about to burst.”
Dallas snorted. “Special and practical. Go. I’m right behind you. Well, not literally, but…”
They were back in bed moments later. Zack was flat on his back with Dallas sprawled over him.
“You are not to move,” Dallas told him before kissing him deeply. When the kiss ended, as it had to so they could catch their breaths, Dallas slid down, laving his tongue over Zack’s nipples.
Zack groaned when spikes of electricity seemed to travel from there straight to his groin. His groans deepened as Dallas worked his way slowly down, kissing and licking as he went. When he cupped Zack’s balls in his hand, rolling them gently, Zack hissed in a breath, his cock growing even harder.
“Now what to do with you,” Dallas said with a wicked grin, looking up at his lover.
“If you don’t know after all these years, I’m trading you in for a newer model,” Zack replied with a gasped laugh.
Dallas proved that he did know. Taking Zack’s cock into his mouth, he sucked, licked and swallowed, his fingers tightly wrapped around the base to keep Zack from coming.
“You are…driving me to…distraction,” Zack managed to get out, his fingers tangled in Dallas’ hair. Then he came when Dallas released his hold on his cock, arching up as his orgasm flooded him.
Dallas pulled back, licking the last traces of cum from Zack’s cock. Crawling back up Zack’s body, he kissed him, and Zack could taste himself on Dallas’ tongue and lips.
“Now it’s your turn,” Zack said once the kiss was finished. He slid his hand between them, gripping Dallas’ hard member. “On your back.”
Dallas complied, obviously expecting Zack to go down on him. Zack had other plans, however. Getting the lube, he squirted some onto his fingers then straddled Dallas. Using two fingers, he readied himself, smiling when he saw Dallas watching lustfully. Soon, he withdrew his fingers and liberally lubed Dallas’ rampant, leaking member. “Ready?”
“Oh, yeah. More than, and you know it.”
Zack eased down on Dallas’ cock, all the time watching his lover’s face, loving the heated expression he was engendering. When he was fully settled, Zack leaned in to kiss the man he loved with all his heart. Dallas’ passion as he responded to the kiss told Zack he was loved in return.
Then, slowly at first, Zack rode Dallas, the pleasure he was giving him returned when Dallas stroked him until his cock was hard again. Soon they were moving with well-practiced ease, ecstasy mounting until as one they exploded with matching cries of release.
“Thank you,” Dallas whispered long moments later.
“For making love to you?” Zack asked with a broad smile.
“No. For loving me.”
“How could I help but love you? You are the man who makes life worth living.”
“Back at you,” Dallas replied, gripping Zack’s shoulders to ease him down for a heartfelt kiss. “Now, I suppose, we should get up, as much as I hate the idea.”
“Probably. I worked up an appetite and I don’t think lunch is going to come upstairs to us.”
“Well, damn,” Dallas said, giving an exaggerated pout.
Laughing, Zack kissed him again then disentangled himself and slid off the bed to go shower. Dallas joined him, and they managed to wash without engaging in another bout of sex.
Not that we have it in us at the moment for that to happen
. Zack smiled, knowing they were both well sated, and happily so.
Once they were dressed, Zack led the way downstairs to fix lunch then suggested they go out to the backyard. “So we can enjoy what might be the last half-way warm day before late autumn descends in full force.”
* * * *
“One thing about this time of year,” Reaper said, gripping his battered overcoat tighter around him, “there are fewer punks out looking to cause trouble.”
“But when they do, they do it in spades,” Wrath replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he pointed to the alley across from them.
In the dim moonlight, it took Reaper a moment to see what he meant. Then he was following Wrath, racing into the alley right at his heels.
Three young men, who looked barely out of their teens, stood over two homeless people—an older man and his young companion. The pair cowered as the men kicked them with heavy boots.
“Scum like you,” one of the attackers growled out, “should be castrated then tossed in the trash like the detritus you are.”
“Very descriptive,” Reaper said, closing in on the men. “I’m surprised a punk like you even knows what those words mean.”
“Well, look who showed up to make our night even more fun. These pieces of garbage”—the assailant spat on his victims—“have friends. Come on. Show us what you got,” he said, whipping out a switchblade and flicking it open.
The other two attackers, though weaponless, looked ready to back up their leader, balling up their gloved hands into fists.
“Three on two. Not bad odds,” Wrath commented as he circled to one side of the men, drawing the attention of the two unarmed ones to him.
One of them took a swing, only to find himself on the ground when Wrath grabbed his arm, twisted and kicked his knee in one fluid motion.
Reaper danced away from the thrusts of the knife blade, glancing between it and the punk’s face, looking for tells as to his next move.
The punk sneered, taunting Reaper. “Afraid of a little knife?” He lashed out, ducking then jumping back when Reaper made a grab for him. “You can do better than that, you filthy piece of trash.”