Chapter Nineteen

Blaze

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I watched Galen walk off with his mom and suddenly felt very exposed. No one was looking at me, but I felt like I was on display.

“Blaze?”

I turned around and saw Galen’s dad standing behind me.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Come have a chat with me before the speeches.”

I nodded and followed him. I had no idea what the fuck was going on, but it probably wasn’t a good idea to piss his dad off the first time I met him.

He brought me into a sort of office, and I couldn’t help wondering if it was the same one Galen had threatened to drag me to and fuck me over the desk.

“Blaze, that’s an interesting name.”

“Um, yes Sir. It’s kind of a nickname.” I had no idea why I told him that, but I was nervous, and when I was nervous I tended to babble.

“A nickname?”

“Assumed name, I guess.”

“What’s your family name?”

“Templeton, Sir.”

“Any relation to Henrik Templeton?”

“No, Sir.”

“So, you and my son.” He looked at me and I suddenly felt naked under his gaze.

“Yes?”

“You’re gay, I assume.”

“I am.” I bit back my real retort because I figured I’m fucking your son so it’s pretty obvious I like dick would be too far.

“How much?”

“What?”

“How much will it cost me to make you disappear from Galen’s life?”

“Excuse me?” I stared at him, dread washing over me.

“I don’t care who you latch onto after my son, but I’ll be damned if I let him ruin his future for a cheap lay.”

“What—”

“He’s a Wells. He has a future and he’s going to eventually realize that it’s time to settle down and take his place in the family. And that will be with a wife and children.”

I couldn’t say a word as I stared at Galen’s dad.

“You might have convinced him to have a little fun, and maybe he’s doing this as some sort of late rebellion, but you know you don’t belong in his world. So I repeat, how much to make you walk away?”

I felt like time was slowing down and everything was moving in slow motion. It might have been Galen’s dad talking, but it was my father I was seeing.

“Twenty thousand? Thirty?”

“What?”

“Thirty thousand dollars, made to cash, and you walk away from Galen tonight.”

“I don’t want your money.” I shook my head.

“Forty, right now. That’s my last offer.”

“Fuck you and fuck your money,” I burst out.

His dad sighed and pulled his phone out of his pocket. I watched as he called someone, but my pulse was pounding in my ears so I didn’t hear his words.

“You should have taken the money. At least then you’d have a consolation prize.” He shook his head ruefully and a moment later the door to the office opened. “Gentlemen, please escort Mr. Templeton out through the back entrance. Put him in a cab and make sure he leaves.”

I turned and saw two rather large men in dark suits standing in the doorway, and I didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what the bulges under their jackets were.

I wasn’t in any shape to argue with his dad, or fight armed men, so I let them take me by the arm and pull me out of the office as my brain desperately tried to keep up with what was happening.

I was in a daze as the men brought me through the house and out the door in the kitchen. I didn’t fight as they put me in a cab and managed to tell the driver my address.

As the cab drove away from the house I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message to Tristan.

Need extra hours?

His reply came in less than a minute.

Always. You okay?

Fine. Coming down with something.

8-close?

Yeah.

I’ll take it.

Thanks.

Sure. Call if you need to talk.

I’m fine. Thanks again.

I put my phone in my pocket and stared out the window as I was hit with wave after wave of memories.

My father hitting me, calling me a fag and telling me I wasn’t his son.

My mom, on her knees screaming and crying, asking God why he’d cursed her with a perverted child.

My father shoving a bag and a wad of cash in my hand as I begged him to send me back to camp. Promising I could change if he gave me another chance.

My mom shouting at Dad to get me out of the house because she couldn’t stand to look at me for a second longer.

My father shoving me out the front door, telling me I was dead to him before he slammed it.

Walking to the bus stop, taking the first bus I saw and getting off at a random stop as I tried to wrap my head around what had just happened.

Ending up at the bus terminal downtown, alone and scared as night fell.

Lying under a bridge, using my bag as a pillow as I shivered and tried to curl up as small as possible to try and get warm.

Being so hungry I couldn’t stand without passing out.

Sucking off a motel manager in exchange for a room.

Getting fucked against a brick wall in an alley for fifty bucks, then waking up with a pounding headache and my pants around my ankles with no money in my hand.

Sucking dick, over and over again to try and get enough money to sleep in a bed and get off the street.

A bottle in my hand, warm liquid running down my throat, leaving a trail of fire in its wake to numb the pain of having my ass fucked over and over again by random men.

Blissful warmth spreading through my body from the needles I’d manage to get hold of. Pure euphoria that never lasted long enough.

Galen looking down at me as I lay on the ground.

I didn’t even realize when we’d made it to my building. I managed to stumble out of the cab, but just stood there as it drove off.

My body didn’t feel like my own, and instead of going up to my apartment I turned and headed out of the lot and down the street.

I was barely aware of what was happening, but I was too numb to fight or even think. I was heading to the corner store, and I was getting a drink.