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Rian’s attention is drawn to the small television set on the kitchen counter. The volume is muted, but he hardly needs it on to gasp in shock.
His face is plastered all over the display, shortly followed by a picture of Bran. He freezes in his seat, his eyes lock on the television. Ty turns to him startled and scrambles for the remote control, turning the volume up.
The news report is from CNN, and they are catching the end of the commentary stating Rian Kelly has kidnapped Brandon Kelly after a domestic dispute over financial matters with his husband Harris Kelly. The authorities were investigating a possible connection to a child abuse ring and the distribution of illegal illicit digital materials and pornography.
There were no direct accusations, and Harris had not been filmed making an actual statement, but there is no doubt in Rian’s mind that he was heavily involved in putting together the information for this news report. The vague delivery and heavy implications insinuating sinister activity he may or may not be involved in, reek of his husband’s personal touch.
A photograph of a run-down caravan park in Alabama flashes on the screen, making Rian almost lose the content of his stomach. He sucks in a big gulp of air but can’t stop his body from shivering and hyperventilating. He is paralyzed in his seat, unable to look away from the small television, feeling utterly horrified. Ashamed.
I messed up. I failed us all. I fucked this whole thing up.
A series of blurry photos of him, Bran, and Ty follow, all taken at the airport. The quality is poor, but with all the additional information that has been brought forward, Rian has no doubt, that he would be easily spotted if he chose to leave the villa.
Rian wasn’t in the spotlight more than it was required for a book promotion or a charity appearance. He certainly didn’t have celebrity status, but that didn’t matter anymore. His husband had made sure to put him in the limelight and under the scrutiny of the public, accusing him of kidnapping their child, because of disagreements over financial matters.
Surprisingly in the report, Ty was referred to as amystery accompliceoran unknown male.There was no way Harris Kelly didn’t know exactly who he was. If anything, it seemed an extra effort had been put in, for his name to remain anonymous and his images doctored to appear blurry. There was no mention of Sebastian or Cyril.
Rian is only able to shake himself for a moment and steal a glance at Bran. His son is nibbling on a soft biscuit, making a mess on the tray of his highchair. He looks up to his daddy and grins, crumbs slipping down his chin.
He’s okay. He’s safe. We’re safe.
Rian chokes on a sob and cups his face in his hands, feeling completely shattered.
For how long? How long before this gets taken away from me? Before Harris completely crushes my soul!
Ty rushes to him, dropping the remote on the floor. The back pops open, and the batteries clang loudly when they hit the kitchen cabinets.
“Rian! Baby, please, breathe. Ri, look at me. Rian, look at me!” Ty pries his hands away from Rian’s face gently and holds them tight in his own, leaving him feeling exposed and cornered.
“Baby, listen to me. Look at me, please. We knew this was coming, okay? That's what we were preparing for? Remember? We knew he would do this. Rick gave us as much time as he could. We’re safe, okay?”
Rian is shaking his head, tears running down his face. “You don’t know him. He’s insane. He swore he would never let me go. He swore to take Bran away from me.”
He sobs, feeling lost and useless. Cy’s last words to him may have been expressing his enormous pride for Rian, but he feels so undeserving of it today. Whatever he has done, to put some distance between himself and Harris, it isn’t enough. He will find them and drag him back into the nightmare he had barely escaped.
Ty is kneeling on the floor, between his thighs, holding his hands. “You’re not alone. We can do this. Rian look at me! Rian listen to me! Even if you were alone, even if I never made it through, for this little guy here,” Ty inclined his head to Bran, “you would have pulled through for him. I know it. You are so brave, my love. I believe in you!”
Rian hears the words. He understands what was being said to him. Ty's eyes tell him he is being sincere with him. However, in his severely anxious mind, Rian can’t help but feel completely trapped again. He is desperately trying to breathe, but with every gulp of air, he can only sense his lungs constrict and tighten, with the invisible pressure of Harris’s hands around his throat suffocating him.
Ty lunges forward and seals their lips urgently, breathing with him, kissing him, clutching him tight to his chest. “Breathe, my love.” He breathes for him, sharing his breath as if Rian is a drowning victim. “Breathe,” Ty croons and repeats the action. One small gasp, then another. “That’s it. There you go. You’re doing so well. Breathe, Rian.” Ty never stops. Over and over again, he encourages, kisses, soothes and shares his breath with Rian until Rian can do it on his own again.
* * *
“I'm sorry.”Ty is looking back at him in the mirror, his left hand gently resting on Rian's shoulder. Rian nuzzles his face in his forearm and sighs, releasing a shaky breath.
“It’s okay.” He chuckles uneasily and wipes the last of his tears away.
Ty leans lower and kisses the top of his head. “I love you,” he murmurs into his soft locks. Rian goes slack against Ty’s strong body. The admission is not entirely unexpected, but it still stirs his already unsettled heart.
He swallows thickly, but before he can say anything, Ty murmurs, “You don’t have to say it back, Ri. I know it’s too soon. I get it – you’re not there yet. You’ve been through so much, but I want you to know it. I love you and I’m very proud of you. You are the most amazing person I’ve ever known, Rian. You and Cy changed my life. Saved my life. Forever won’t be enough for me to express how much I cherish you.”
Rian turns around, arms circling Ty’s waist, dragging him lower for a kiss. Ty comes willingly. Overcome with emotion, Rian simply kisses him for a long while before his words return to him. Cupping Ty’s face, he pulls away slightly and says, “I love you. I’ve loved you for years.” He chuckles, kissing him again, and mutters, “One day, I'll show you.”
Ri is thinking of the countless emails he has written, that have never reached Ty, about all the unanswered phone calls, about all his futile attempts to get a hold of Tayida, while completely unaware his lover had been locked away in prison.
So much time wasted.
Ty can't stop kissing his face and running his hands all over Ri’s back and arms. “This is...I don't even know what to say. I love you.”
