As soon as he did, he kicked the front door, ignoring the tape that covered the entrance, and ran inside. He grabbed anything he could lay his hand on and threw it. He kicked the old ratty furniture, grabbed the empty booze bottles that littered the place, and threw them. TJ came in and grabbed him, but Orsen shook him off. How he managed it, he didn’t know, but he did, and he grabbed an old frame hanging on the wall and smashed it on the floor.
TJ stepped in front of him, hands held up and murmured his name. Orsen screamed at him, then screamed again because it felt so fucking good. He screamed and screamed, then suddenly stopped. He stared at TJ, then fell to his knees and curled over. All the anger and hatred bleeding away, leaving him weak and trembling. He took deep shaky breaths, then muttered, “Burn it to the ground. I want it gone.”
Chapter Four
“Hello.”
“Santino, it’s TJ. I need some help with money.”
“Speak to Cody.”
TJ chuckled. “It’s about a case. It’s closed now, but one of the individuals involved has come into some land and we’ve found money, too.” Santino heard the deep exhale and waited. “Can you come over and help?”
“I can have a look for you. Who is the person I’ll be dealing with?”
“His name’s Orsen Catlow. Seventeen.”
Santino’s eyebrows shot up. “The boy from the hospital?”
“Yeah. If you’re free, you can come over. Cody’s cooking.”
“So I’ll survive.”
“I lived on my own before Cody came along, but I can admit he is a far better cook than I am. Say six?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I’m just finishing off a case now, and handing it over to the team. I don’t expect to be called to court, but you never know. Want me to bring anything?”
“Nah, we have it covered. Seeya later.”
Santino hung up and sat back in his chair, intrigued. He’d heard much about Orsen Catlow since news broke about him killing his father. Self-defense, from what Santino heard. Pausing, Santino sighed softly. To have to kill a parent when that parent was supposed to protect and cherish you. What kind of life had Orsen lived? Santino knew they had been so broke that Ambrose had made Orsen set traps to catch the local wildlife. If Orsen had inherited money, then why had they lived that way? Why beat Orsen? Humming to himself, Santino shook his head. He’d find out soon enough.
Putting the final touches to one of the cases he was currently working on, Santino closed the file and emailed the details over. Once that was done, he jumped in the shower and freshened up. Making sure Charlie had what he needed, Santino got in his car and drove to TJ and Cody’s house. He’d been there a few times recently and liked spending time with the couple. The age gap disappeared fairly quickly when you saw them together. Cody was all tall and strong, but quietly confident. A man who knew what he wanted and went for it. That was how he’d been with TJ, who by all accounts struggled at first but then accepted Cody’s love.
Santino ignored the scars he’d seen on Cody’s wrist, the few track marks in the crook of his elbow. He never asked, but he knew Cody had seen him looking at them. If Cody wanted to tell him his history, then Santino would sit and listen, but he didn’t need to know. The gossip had filled him in on some of it, especially how Cody’s parents, Cass and Emily, along with Angelo Ricci, were now behind bars, and his younger sister Cassy lived with her uncle Carter and his wife Toni. Carter wasmarried to TJ’s ex-wife, Toni, after TJ had apparently set them up on a blind date.
Shaking his head, he parked behind TJ’s truck and got out. Imagine divorcing someone, then still loving them enough to find them the perfect man. They all got on well and shared custody to the point Santino knew TJ and Cody regularly looked after Carter and Toni’s two children as well.
Santino walked around the back and waved when Cody spotted him. Cody froze, then slowly picked up his T-shirt. That was when Santino saw his back. “I’m sorry. I should have come through the front.”
“It’s fine.” Cody pulled his T-shirt on and shrugged. “Only a few people have seen them. I tend to keep them covered.”
“A whip in the hands of someone inexperienced can do considerable damage.”
“You know about that?” Cody flipped the steaks as he spoke.
“I’ve been on a certain scene. I investigated the club as funds were disappearing. The accountant had his hand in the till, so to speak. I always had this view that it was disgusting and perverted, but that’s far from the truth. I have stayed in contact with a few of the Doms and subs I met there. It isn’t for me, but I learned a great deal about trust from my time there.”
“I guess you would have to trust the person holding the whip.” Cody checked the potatoes. “It didn’t happen at a club.”
“No reputable club would ever allow something like that to happen. Some of the others might.”
“It didn’t happen in a club,” Cody repeated. “I think these are ready. Want to let TJ know you’re here? I think it’s cool enough to eat outside.”
Taking the dismissal for what it was, Santino walked into the kitchen and paused when he saw a young blond-haired man sitting at the table. “Hello. I’m Santino.”
“Orsen.” The words were barely audible, but he heard them and nodded.
“How are you feeling?”
