Savior: A Tattered Club Story (Tattered Social Club Series Book 1) (4 page)

He was exhausted and needed his bed. Of course, like everything else tangible in his life, the bed didn’t belong to him. Charles reminded him often.

“So, you think I can get those notes?”

“Huh?” Ethan leaned down to the floor board to grab the handle of his backpack. “Notes, sure. I’ll email them to you.”

“Hey, man, are you all right? You’ve been in a funk for a month.” Michael turned the radio down to a low hum. “Has the old guy decided to kick you to the curb?”

Michael stopped the car in front of the house. Ethan opened the door. He had three more paychecks and figured if he pawned the jewelry Charles had given him he’d have enough to move out. “Not yet.”

“Damn this place is huge. No wonder you don’t leave. This guy is loaded.”

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. The tension wasn’t due only to the fact he’d been hunched over a computer in the library most of the day. The coil in his neck signaled the prickling threat of another panic attack. Would Charles be in a good mood, wanting to watch a movie and ask him to sleep in his bed? Ethan always had an excuse to avoid that one. Had he taken a pill that would make his dick hard? Ethan shuddered.

A year ago, he wouldn’t have minded so much. Charles was into pain. Ethan’s pain. Charles dick never stirred any attraction, but that didn’t matter. Ethan had been there for the money from day one. Besides, it wasn’t like Ethan had to take it up the ass. Only two months had passed since Ethan couldn’t bear sticking his dick inside Charles any longer.

There was no hiding the fact when he couldn’t get a hard-on unless the lights were off. Ethan only let Charles suck him off a couple more times before Charles’s preference for pain took control of their arrangement. The alternative to sex was a relief in many ways. Besides, Ethan knew he deserved every pinch and snap of the belt.

At this point, all he could do was pray Charles was in his bed reading
The Wall Street Journal
and ready to fall asleep.
To be that lucky.
Ethan didn’t seem to have much luck these days. The only thing he had to look forward to was getting his new tattoo and he wasn’t even sure if that was going to happen. He just wished Niko would’ve saved him money and gone with the phoenix.

Ethan gathered his bag. “Thanks for dropping me off. I really appreciate it. I hope five is enough.” Ethan dug a bill out of his pocket.

Michael waved his hand in front of his face. “Keep your money. It was my pleasure.” He turned the key, silencing the engine. Light spilled onto the curve of the drive where they were parked. “I’ve been thinking. We’ve been friends for a few months now and I know you’re shacking up with the old man, but I think we should go out. God, Ethan, you’re so fucking hot. Maybe even hook up? I don’t know. You turn me on so much.”

Ethan swallowed the bile rising in the back of his throat. Michael was gorgeous. With a full ride scholarship for soccer, his toned body was proof he deserved the star athlete title, but Ethan was tired. Dealing with Charles had been enough to weaken his thoughts. He didn’t need another complication in his life. Every friend he’d gotten slightly involved with eventually only wanted a hook up. The effort to get close to anyone wasn’t worth the heartache anymore.

If his own parents could throw him away, what would stop a guy he’d been friends with for only a few months from doing the same?

“Michael, things are complicated for me. I wouldn’t be good company on a date. I’m not interested in hooking up.” The sides of the car felt like they were closing in, crushing his lungs.

“Come on.” He leaned in and wrapped his large palm behind Ethan’s neck. When he tried to pull him in for a kiss, Ethan turned his head. Michael leaned back into the seat and huffed. “I see. I give you free rides home after class and the best you’ve got for me is a diss. I know you’re pretty and all, but, damn, I didn’t figure you for a tease.”

The heat in Ethan’s cheeks slid down the skin of his neck. A jumble of anger and hurt spiked his temper. “I’m not a tease, Michael. I’m sure there are a million guys out there dying to go out with you and…hook up. This is just a complicated time in my life.” Ethan opened the door. “I hope you understand. I’ll figure out a way to get home next time. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”

Michael turned the key. “Got it. I thought I’d give it a try. I don’t mind giving you rides. I hope this didn’t fuck up our friendship. I have a couple of booty calls in my phone so no worries.” Michael smiled. Ethan almost regretted not taking his friend up on the offer. Having someone touch him without pain would be amazing, something he hadn’t felt since his senior year in high school. Now it was just Charles and bruises…some done in anger and others for his sadistic pleasure.

“I’ll email those notes tonight. Thanks again for the ride.” Ethan stepped out of the car and looked over his shoulder as Michael drove away. Even though the offer still stood, he’d figure out another way to get home. He didn’t want to rely on anyone anymore.

The past year had sped by as a blur of thinking he could trust someone with disastrous results. The fact Charles’s bidding war for the restoration projects was with Ethan’s father added salt to his wounds. Ethan suspected somewhere in Charles’s selfish ego he felt powerful knowing he had won by keeping his rival’s son.

Memories had become a slice across his thigh. He’d picked up the first job he could find. There he’d been, standing in middle of a crowded ballroom, holding a silver tray, waiting for a balding man with the buttons of his suit jacket stretched almost to popping to grab another piece of shrimp. Making minimum was and sleeping on any couch he could find had been taking an emotional toll.

He’d been stuck; his parents made too much money for him to qualify for financial aid and, because their son was a deviant sexual pervert, they’d only pay tuition for school. After they found him pumping his cock into Kevin Sanderburg on the living room couch, they figured the time had come for Ethan to hit the road.

Charles had slipped two one hundred dollar bills in his pocket that night and Ethan had seen an easy way out. Books needed to be paid for, and, with fall coming, he’d needed a new coat. Hell, by that point, finding money for food was a problem. Charles was a convenient pile of cash. So, there he’d found himself, in a hotel room with Charles sucking his dick. What seemed like a lifeline then had become a slow death.

Ethan shut the heavy glass door leading to the marble-floored foyer. As he passed by the rooms, he let his breath escape. Charles must’ve already gone up to bed. When he flicked the light on in his room, he jumped back hitting the back of his head on the doorframe.

“Where have you been, Ethan?” So he hadn’t gone to bed. Ethan dropped his backpack and braced himself for what was to come. Charles had done this before, gotten pissed Ethan had stayed late for projects at school. It didn’t matter if he tried to explain. The punishment was the same.

Charles unfolded his arms, walking so close Ethan could smell the musty scent of liquor on his breath. “That young man brought you home again. Did you suck his cock? Did he like it? Tell me!”

Ethan flinched. “No. I’ve told you a thousand times, he’s just a friend. We have no commitment. You let me move in here and we agreed this was a mutual arrangement for what we both needed.”

Charles raised his hand, making a stinging impact on Ethan’s cheek. Ethan didn’t move, his pride keeping his feet rooted. “You can do this again, Charles, but the fact is you can’t hurt me anymore. This arrangement is over!” Ethan mentally patted himself on the back. The time had come to stand up and say enough is enough. “I’m moving out in a couple of weeks.”

Charles reared his hand again, slapping Ethan’s face, knocking his shoulder blades against the hard wall. “Like hell, you will. I own you. You have nowhere to go. What are you going to do without having me to fall back on? That pretty face will only get you so far.”

“I’ll figure something out,” Ethan said, quickly moving to the door by the bathroom. “I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but it’s time I move on. You need to move on, too. You and your wife might be separated, but she’s eventually going to find out I’m not an intern working at your office. She’ll never reconcile and your kids will always hate you. Let me go, Charles. Just let me go.”

Charles turned, holding onto the door to keep his balance. “When I leave for the office, you’d better be out of my house. You came here with nothing and that’s all you’ll ever amount to. Your father was right when he told you self-respect is something you’ll never know. Be out by the morning.”

Ethan flinched when Charles slammed the door. His newfound courage plummeted and his body shook in violent waves. What in the hell had he done? There was no way he was going to be able to afford an apartment yet. He ran to the dresser and pulled out the envelope from behind the folded T-shirts. Recounting the bills he’d counted a million times before, he realized the reality that as of tomorrow morning he’d once again be homeless.

*****

Niko unrolled a tube of white paper and spread it on the table in his mentor’s office. “I think I should go with a playground scene. What do you think? Does it look like shit?”

The Professor stood and rounded the mahogany desk. “Very impressive. Do you want it more realistic or whimsical? This is a great start. This is the building on fifth, the boys’ and girls’ center?”

Niko scanned the artistic blueprint. Maybe whimsical was a better idea. “Yeah, the director wants me to stop by tomorrow for a tour of the building. I wanted to use bright colors. I should make the scene more like a kid’s imagination. He wants me to paint the cafeteria too.”

The Professor patted Niko on the back. “I think that’s great. You should make the kiddos multicultural. The neighborhood is getting more diverse by the moment. Did they give you an equipment stipend? You know, I can help out with supplies if you have to cover the cost. Buying a million cans of spray paint can hurt the wallet. And, Niko, you should wear something professional. Do you own a tie?”

Niko turned his head so the heat creeping over his cheeks was hidden. He could afford the equipment and no, he didn’t own a tie. When Caleb, the center’s director, offered to purchase the supplies, Niko had told him to keep the money. He’d spent too many hours shooting hoops at the place while his mom and dad were throwing punches at each other. Taking the extra money felt wrong. “I got it covered, but…Thanks.”

“You know, it’s a shame that place doesn’t offer an after school art program.” The Professor’s white and grey eyebrows rose when he casually peered over at Niko. “Maybe you could suggest starting something when you go over there. The club would be happy to fund the program.”

Niko wasn’t too excited to jump right into volunteering. He was making killer money and for the first time in his life looking forward to the days ahead. Worrying about what a bunch of kids were doing after school didn’t fit into his life. Instead of giving his mentor some asshole excuse for not doing it, he opted to say nothing and nod.

“Niko?” Scarlet leaned in the doorway. “There’s a client here to see you.”

Her always cheerful smile seemed wider than usual. Already on a tight schedule, he didn’t have time to see someone without an appointment. “They’re going to have to schedule a time.”

She stepped into the room, her hands planted on her rounded waist. “I think you’re going to want to see him.”

Damn, he couldn’t catch a break. “Send him back. What does he want?” He looked at The Professor. “Yeah, I think the art program would be cool.” God, when had he become a sucker?

Niko walked into the hall where Seth waited. “Hey, man.” He rubbed his palm over the smooth skin on top of his head. “So, I’ve got this little problem.”

Niko never knew Seth to have a problem. If anything, he fixed problems.

“What’s up?” Niko tucked the blueprint under his arm.

“So, I’ve got this chick on my table. Apparently her hubby’s been to the club and I... Well, I fucked him and she found out. Now, she’s in my studio with her tits hanging out saying she wants some of what her old man had.”

Niko tucked his fist against his mouth to stifle the laugh. “And?”

Seth rubbed the tight T-shirt covering his thick pecs. “I don’t. Jesus, I don’t do women. Stop laughing.” He looked first to the right then to the left and leaned in closer. “Her man is a bigwig downtown, owns a business and shit. I don’t want him to bring trouble here. Come on, take one for the team. There’s no way Ben will do it. Hell, he barely talks to his clients when he’s inking them.”

Niko had no fucking desire to fuck someone’s wife, but Seth was his brother, had become his family like everyone at the club. Niko looked over his shoulder at the closed door to Seth’s studio.

“Goddamn it. Just get it up and get it done, man.” Niko had done it a million times. Seth could struggle through the shit.

Seth shook his head. “Can’t man. Big guy downstairs won’t budge for pussy and besides I only fuck subs. Her husband...oh Niko, he did everything I told him. He was one nasty fuck.” Seth winked, tipping his firm lips into grin. “So, help me out? She’s in there. When I turned the chair around, her naked ass was spread-eagle on the table. It’ll take you ten minutes, tops, to get her off. Come on, man.”

Ben walked out of the cigar lounge at the end of the hall. He lifted the brim of his cap and bit down on a candy bar. “What?”

Niko hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. Seth leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. “Nothing, just talking To Nik about a new design. He’s stoked to help me get right into it.”

Ben took another bite. “Let me know if you need any help. I’ve got a client in fifteen, but I can help after if you want to brainstorm.”

Seth patted Niko on the shoulder. “Great.” Ben passed and Seth tugged Niko toward the door. “Box of condoms in the second drawer of the file cabinet. Lube’s in there, too, if you need any. Have fun, big guy.”

Seth walked away as if the next fifteen minutes of Niko’s life was going to be a no brainer. Fuck. That. The club had become the only real home he’d ever known. He’d do whatever it took to protect it and his family.