“Like I’m going to give you that. He did what I wanted. Bent me over the back of his couch and fucked me like I told him to.”
The blood froze in TJ’s veins. Fifteen. Cody was fifteen, and he’d… “How old was he?”
Cody shrugged nonchalantly. “Thirtyish.”
“You look like a kid, and he took you back to his place and had sex with you?” Fuck. TJ knew it had happened. He worked for the police, but this was Cody. “He knew how old you were.”
“I said I wanted to with him, and we did.”
“When did this happen?” Cody mimed zipping his lips. “When? Last month? Last year?”
“A few months ago. Happy now?” Cody tilted his head. “I’m not a kid anymore and he hasn’t been the only one. I’ve had sex with a few guys since then.” Shrugging, Cody then stretched. “Not sure what the big deal is.”
“Because you’re underage!” TJ snapped, feeling his blood boil. An older man who had to know Cody was underage had sex with him.
Cody pushed back from the table and walked around it to stand in front of TJ. “It’s done. I’m not a boy now, TJ.”
TJ reared back in his chair. “What—” He never finished what he was about to say. Cody straddled his thighs and kissed him, his tongue shoving into TJ’s mouth. TJ grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed back. “What the hell are you doing?”
Cody knocked a hand away and kissed him again, grinding his erection on TJ. TJ grabbed him by the hips and physically picked him up, moving him away. As soon as Cody was off him, TJ stood and moved away. “Don’t do that again.”
“Why not? You’re gay and I’m gay, so let’s be gay together and fuck. I have experience if that’s what you’re worried about.I switch too.” Cody walked over to the bar area and grabbed a bottle of vodka, opening it and taking a large mouthful. TJ snatched the bottle away from him and Cody reacted by trying to get it back. “That’s mine!”
“Where the hell did this come from?”
“Give that back, you bastard. That’s mine.” Cody tried to snatch it back, but TJ moved his arm up so Cody couldn’t reach it. “You fucker!” Cody screamed before kicking TJ in the balls. TJ dropped, curling up as intense pain ricocheted through his body. Cody stopped and stared, then dropped to his knees. “Oh god, I’m sorry.”
“Give me a minute,” TJ wheezed out. Fuck, it hurt. He gritted his teeth as the pain began to subside, then gingerly sat up. “Why are you doing this?”
Cody rocked on his butt. “Please don’t hate me.”
“All I want to do is help you, but you have to let me in. Sex and the drinking and drugs aren’t going to help. Please, Cody. What’s going on?”
Cody shook his head. “Can I go back to bed?”
TJ coughed, winced, but nodded. “I have to go to work, but I’ll be back later. We can talk then.” Cody nodded and stood, then went upstairs, leaving TJ attempting to stand. Stumbling over to a chair, he sat and waited until he felt like he could breathe again and that his balls hadn’t taken permanent residence in his stomach.
Once he felt comfortable enough to move, TJ poured the vodka out, then checked on Cody and found him asleep. Deciding to leave him alone, he got ready for work. Once he was ready, he checked on Cody again, saw he was still sleeping, then left.
Calling Carter, he sighed when he answered. “Has Cass said anything?”
“Nothing. All he talks about is Cody going back home where he belongs. How is he?”
“Asleep. I got him to eat last night, but it’ll take some time for him to put the weight on. He’s almost skin and bones. Why haven’t they done something before now?”
“I don’t know and when I ask, Cass shuts down.” TJ heard Carter sigh. “I’m sorry, TJ. You shouldn’t have been dragged into this.”
“I know I’m not family, but he knows I’m here. Look, I’m on my way to work. I’ll call you guys later and let you know how he is.”
“Stay safe.”
After a long shift dealing with idiotic complaints—the wrong pizza had been delivered, so police involvement was necessary to arrest the delivery driver—TJ drove home. When he walked in, he called for Cody but received no answer. Figuring Cody was upstairs and hadn’t heard him, TJ went upstairs. Checking the bedroom Cody had been sleeping in, TJ found it empty. So were the other bedrooms. After searching the house, he called Cass.
“Is he with you?”
“No. He’s not there?”
TJ searched the bedroom, realizing Cody’s bag had disappeared. “I’ve just come back from work. His bag is gone as well. Shit. Let me call Toni and see if he’s there. In the meantime, get together a list of people he may have gone to.”
