Speaking of Aaron. We’re here.
I pull myself up with difficulty, into a seated position. I thought we were going to the main airport, but this looks like some small private airfield. Two shiny jets are parked to the side of a small building. One silver and the other white with a red stripe down the side. Are they both Noah’s? I knew he was rich, but this is another level.
Jules comes around to my side of the car and helps me out. Just as we move toward the entrance, a dark haired rocker boy comes running outside like a labrador greeting its owner. Aaron.
“Simon, they got you,” he says, bounding towards me.
“Don’t rush at me and don’t touch my back,” I say, holding my hand up to stop him from hugging me.
“Shit. I’m sorry they did that to you. Hopefully Carlos will do worse back. I’ve asked Lev to film it for us, so maybe we can watch it on the plane ride back,” he says, that joker smile brightening his face. He’s so fucked up, and I like it. It's nice to have normal again.
“Let’s get inside,” Jules says, and when we walk in, Chase stands from the sofa to greet me. I don’t know Chase that well as we only briefly met in passing the last time him and Noah were in town. He’s much more tanned than before and his light brown curly hair is fuller than it was. The tan makes those blue eyes pop. He looks like a surfer boy. Happy. Whatever that means.
“Hey Chase,” I greet, as Jules sits me down. I whimper at the contact of my back against the sofa, the familiar sensation of stretching skin burns through me.
“Hi Simon. Do you want a drink?”
“I’d love a cold glass of water, please.”
Chase returns with a tall glass of water with a straw, and I gulp it down, enjoying the cold bite that quenches my thirst. I can feel their eyes on me. They want to ask questions, but are unsure. They want to advise me but I don’t want to hear any of it.
“I’m gonna try and sleep until they get here,” I say, handing my empty glass back to Chase. I manage to maneuver myself onto my side, the pain in my back has become my friend. I’m used to its presence. As I close my eyes, immediately the sound of the whip fills my ears and my hands begin to shake. I just want to fucking sleep.
“Hey, try these,” I open my eyes and Aaron is crouched next to me, holding his headphones and music player.
“They helped me when…you know…my head was too loud. Trauma and shit.”
I look at him for a moment and I remember all the breakdowns he has suffered through after what his brother did to him. Trauma. Lev had mentioned that Aaron used music to help him sleep and disconnect. I suppose it's worth a try, and I take them off him.
“Thanks,” I say, placing the buds in my ear and pressing play, hoping for some miracle that I can get a peaceful sleep.
36
CARLOS
“H e’s ready,” Mark says, and I throw back the small glass of bourbon that I poured myself, a little celebration of the festivities that lay ahead.
I remove my shirt, throwing it over the back of the chair in the living room, and double check that I have what I need in
my pocket. My knuckle duster that I’ve picked out especially.
“Someone means business,” Ivan says to me, smirking knowingly with Noah hovering behind him.
“What’s that?” I ask Ivan, pointing to what looks like some kind of BDSM equipment.
“Oh this? It's my newest invention. You know those paddles that people like to get spanked with to get them off?” I nod, wondering where this is going.
“Well this is special, look.” He turns over the paddle to reveal multiple nails of all sizes and shapes that have been attached to the paddle.
“Nice,” Lev says as he enters the room and goes over to inspect the torture device.
“Right? I haven’t tried it out yet. Can I use it on one of your guys? Or are you gonna be selfish?” he asks me, and I smile. Ivan is unique.
“There is someone you can try it on, but only when I say and you can only hit him a couple of times with that thing. I have other plans.”
“Excellent,” he says.
“Ready to start?” Lucas asks, and I walk over to him and pat him on the shoulder.
