Wyatt hated to think what his warped idea of treasured might be. He couldn't stand to hear any more. Wyatt wasn't usually one to settle things with violence, but just this once he really wanted to stop his lies with a fist. But then he felt Sam grab his arm.
Turning to him, he watched Sam's gaze drop to his clenched fists. Maybe that was another thing Sam was afraid of --Wyatt putting his fist through Brian's face.
Pushing down his own anger, Wyatt focused on what Sam needed from him, and it wasn't to lose control. But while he had taken his eyes off him, Brian moved closer, taunting him after seeing how Sam stopped him.
"You let the boy yank your leash. I guess you aren't the big dog here," Brian said.
"Rot in hell, Brian, and stay the fuck away from me!" Sam snapped. His fist went flying and Wyatt watched his ex stagger back as it connected with his jaw. He recovered and now he was pissed.
"You bitch," Brian yelled and started to move in Sam's direction.
Wyatt wasn't going to let that man get near him, but then a voice behind them made them all turn.
"Break it up over here!"
They all froze as a sheriff's deputy came over. Did he see Sam punch his ex?
"Move along," the deputy said. "This isn't a meeting place."
He wasn't making a move to arrest Sam so he couldn't have seen. That was a relief, but Wyatt was afraid Brian might speak up. Wyatt was prepared to lie for Sam, do anything to keep him out of jail, but Brian just gave them a hateful look and left after spitting on the ground.
"You two should know better," the deputy lectured Wyatt and Sam. He scowled at them disapprovingly, and Wyatt wondered if he was homophobic. "You two are new here, but let me tell you how it is. We don't like it when visitors get harassed. Around here, tourists are how lots of people make money. There better not be another incident like this one."
He walked away while Wyatt fumed. From what he said, Wyatt could tell that he wouldn't take their side if Sam's ex decided to make trouble again.
Once he was out of sight, Wyatt practically lunged at Sam. There was a relieved, breathless kiss then a pause as Wyatt stared into his eyes to make sure he was OK. He then clutched Sam to him like he would never release him, never let him out of his sight again.
Holding Sam clasped tightly against him, he could feel every breath he took and how fast his heart was beating.
"You OK?" Wyatt asked while letting his hand stroke over his hair and down his back.
"Yeah. I think so," Sam gasped against his shoulder. He then straightened and looked around him blindly.
"He's gone," Wyatt assured him.
"I never dared to do that before. Sometimes it was like all I felt was fear, like it was the only thing inside me. It felt good to get angry and hit him. Too good maybe," Sam said and gave Wyatt a questioning look.
"You were owed. I'm glad you got to strike back," Wyatt told him.
"Now I just have to wait for that deputy to come back and arrest me," Sam said with a deep frown.
"Over my dead body," Wyatt told him and wrapped him in his arms again.
Now Sam really looked alarmed. "Hey, no. You're not allowed to do anything crazy. You have two kids to think of."
"OK. Brian walked away. Is there any chance he'll change his mind and go to the sheriff?" Wyatt wanted to know.
"I don't think he wants to get mixed up with cops. He's likely to have a half smoked joint or a bottle of pills that doesn't have his name on it rolling around somewhere under his car seats, if not actually on him," Sam said. Maybe that's why his ex was so quick to walk away from this.
"That's good. Let's hope you're right," Wyatt said.
"We should get back to the kids," Sam said and they started heading for the alley entrance.
"How did he find you here?" Wyatt asked.
"I don't know. I must have slipped up, but I don't know how," Sam said. "Only my great-grandmother would know about this place and she was gone before I came here."
Sam was deep in thought, then he stopped right at the alley entrance. "There is someone. My great-grandmother's boyfriend, Don. He was there when she told me about this place, and I said I'd like to go there one day. I wouldn't think he would remember something like that."
