Before You
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
20,070
Reviews:
556
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
20,070
Reviews:
556
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Forty-four
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The following morning, Roth made it in extra early. He had some supplies arriving and wanted to check and sign for them himself. Naddy blew into the clinic within minutes. He hadn’t known someone could glow and glare at the same time.
“This all your fault,” she proclaimed at once.
“You slept with him again.” He waited to see if she’d shove him around with that jabbing finger of accusation.
“Again? We haven’t actually slept yet.”
Screwing up his courage, he said, “It’s healthy for you to have some fun.”
“I don’t know about fun.” She strode into their shared office to place her purse and jacket into one of the combination protected lockers. “Might as well be in church for all the talking to God I do.”
“I’ve always known Luc for a gentleman. Has it occurred to just say ‘no’?” He watched warily as stomped back to him.
“How the hell am I supposed tell him ‘no’ while I’m yelling,” she held up her arms like someone fervently religious at worship, “’Oh Sweet Jesus!’ at the top of my lungs?”
Roth laughed before he could stop himself. “Maybe you could just enjoy him.” To his complete consternation and contrition Naddy burst into tears. He pulled her into his arms holding her head to his chest. “Honey, I’m an ass. Don’t cry, please.”
With her voice muffled in his shirt and lab coat, and choked by weeping, she confided, “It’s me. I’m all fucked about since Denny kicked me out.” She sniffed. “I met you and started secretly wishing I could find someone like you. Now maybe I have and I’m scared shitless.”
Holding her tighter, he pressed his lips to her hair. She always smelled so good. “I love it you’ll trust me enough to let down that prickly guard. But, you need to tell him this.”
She pulled away, swiping the wetness from he face. “Why? So he can give the I’m-only-in-town-for-a-while-and-can’t-offer-anything-except-sex talk?”
“Do you want more than sex?”
Desperate hope flashed in her eyes followed by painfully raw doubt. “I didn’t even know I wanted that. How can I know if I want more?”
“You said you wished you could find someone like me. Meaning?” He studied her, trying to see passed her defensive walls.
“A person who could look at me at not see a dumb black girl who got herself knocked up and kicked to the curb.” She hung her head.
Roth’s entire body reacted. Rage rippled through him, radiating under his skin. Catching her face in his hands, he made her meet his gaze. “You’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. You learn faster than I can hardly believe. You make me laugh, and I depend on that as much as your competency. Never again speak that way about yourself.”
She closed her eyes, nodding. Then, she stepped close to hug him tight enough to crack ribs. “Not where your white ass can hear it.”
Her spirit, even in her current state, made him smile. “I’ll talk to Luc.”
Roth had intended to call his cousin and have him swing by the shelter following his meeting with the potential clients he’d come to Savannah for in the first place. Luc beat him to the punch. He showed at lunchtime, tasteful bouquet of pale peach roses in hand. His cousin lacked his normal swagger. A new vulnerability offset his exotic masculine beauty and powerful presence.
He clapped eyes on Roth and tracked his approach. “She send you to tell me to bugger off?”
“No.” Roth greeted his cousin with a long embrace. “We need to talk.”
Once they had the men’s locker room to themselves, Luc open-fired. “I really like her. You know I love you, and I’d hate to cross swords with you -”
“Just listen,” Roth interjected. “Sit, please.”
They each settled upon the bench. Luc placed the white tissue paper-wrapped bouquet to his right. “Listening.”
“You know about the pregnancy?”
“Yes.” Luc’s arched brows lowered. “Is she at risk? Did I hurt her?”
“No, no,” Roth rushed to reassure, “she’s physically great. It’s her mental state that concerns me. A man who said he loved her tossed her to the wolves when he learned of the pregnancy.”
“That worthless shit.” Luc’s throat worked and a vein popped out at his temple. Temper always strengthened his Caribbean accent. “Just because it wasn’t the product of his busting a nut, does not mean he could not be a father.”
Roth knew right then he had nothing to fear. “Luc, the baby belonged to him.”
Roaring like a lion, his cousin rose. “I’ll kill him. Where is she, Roth? Have to talk to her.”
“Don’t forget the flowers. You might find yourself assaulted, but don’t mind that. She’s in the clinic.”
Roth made a point of having lunch with Joseph whenever he could. He loved seeing the happiness and health transforming his brother-by-choice. As they sat laughing and talking over bowls of white chicken chili, Roth’s private cell rang. “Excuse me.” He withdrew the device from inside his lab coat. Seeing Nathan’s number, he flipped it open to answer. “Everything okay?”
“Special Agent Spelling came by today, Roth. They’ve gone through all the files, done a lot of research and about three dozen arrest warrants have been served.”
“This’s good news. Progress.”
“Not entirely.” Nathan’s voice changed. “You both need to get back here. There’s considerable proof Adam’s sister got out of the vehicle to walk back to comfort him as he suffered his carsickness.”
“What?” Roth stood so abruptly Joseph flinched.
“I hate this like hell for you both, Roth. My sincerest sympathy.”
“What’re you telling me, Nathan?” He swallowed with great difficulty.
“The results of this investigation indicate Adam’s sister survived the same way he did. It’s just, the bad guys got her.”
“And did what?” Roth already felt like puking.
“Kept her alive for about ten years as a fuck slave, killed her and buried her in a shallow grave.” Nathan cleared his throat. “Your man needs you. Quick.”
The following morning, Roth made it in extra early. He had some supplies arriving and wanted to check and sign for them himself. Naddy blew into the clinic within minutes. He hadn’t known someone could glow and glare at the same time.
“This all your fault,” she proclaimed at once.
“You slept with him again.” He waited to see if she’d shove him around with that jabbing finger of accusation.
“Again? We haven’t actually slept yet.”
Screwing up his courage, he said, “It’s healthy for you to have some fun.”
“I don’t know about fun.” She strode into their shared office to place her purse and jacket into one of the combination protected lockers. “Might as well be in church for all the talking to God I do.”
“I’ve always known Luc for a gentleman. Has it occurred to just say ‘no’?” He watched warily as stomped back to him.
“How the hell am I supposed tell him ‘no’ while I’m yelling,” she held up her arms like someone fervently religious at worship, “’Oh Sweet Jesus!’ at the top of my lungs?”
Roth laughed before he could stop himself. “Maybe you could just enjoy him.” To his complete consternation and contrition Naddy burst into tears. He pulled her into his arms holding her head to his chest. “Honey, I’m an ass. Don’t cry, please.”
With her voice muffled in his shirt and lab coat, and choked by weeping, she confided, “It’s me. I’m all fucked about since Denny kicked me out.” She sniffed. “I met you and started secretly wishing I could find someone like you. Now maybe I have and I’m scared shitless.”
Holding her tighter, he pressed his lips to her hair. She always smelled so good. “I love it you’ll trust me enough to let down that prickly guard. But, you need to tell him this.”
She pulled away, swiping the wetness from he face. “Why? So he can give the I’m-only-in-town-for-a-while-and-can’t-offer-anything-except-sex talk?”
“Do you want more than sex?”
Desperate hope flashed in her eyes followed by painfully raw doubt. “I didn’t even know I wanted that. How can I know if I want more?”
“You said you wished you could find someone like me. Meaning?” He studied her, trying to see passed her defensive walls.
“A person who could look at me at not see a dumb black girl who got herself knocked up and kicked to the curb.” She hung her head.
Roth’s entire body reacted. Rage rippled through him, radiating under his skin. Catching her face in his hands, he made her meet his gaze. “You’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. You learn faster than I can hardly believe. You make me laugh, and I depend on that as much as your competency. Never again speak that way about yourself.”
She closed her eyes, nodding. Then, she stepped close to hug him tight enough to crack ribs. “Not where your white ass can hear it.”
Her spirit, even in her current state, made him smile. “I’ll talk to Luc.”
Roth had intended to call his cousin and have him swing by the shelter following his meeting with the potential clients he’d come to Savannah for in the first place. Luc beat him to the punch. He showed at lunchtime, tasteful bouquet of pale peach roses in hand. His cousin lacked his normal swagger. A new vulnerability offset his exotic masculine beauty and powerful presence.
He clapped eyes on Roth and tracked his approach. “She send you to tell me to bugger off?”
“No.” Roth greeted his cousin with a long embrace. “We need to talk.”
Once they had the men’s locker room to themselves, Luc open-fired. “I really like her. You know I love you, and I’d hate to cross swords with you -”
“Just listen,” Roth interjected. “Sit, please.”
They each settled upon the bench. Luc placed the white tissue paper-wrapped bouquet to his right. “Listening.”
“You know about the pregnancy?”
“Yes.” Luc’s arched brows lowered. “Is she at risk? Did I hurt her?”
“No, no,” Roth rushed to reassure, “she’s physically great. It’s her mental state that concerns me. A man who said he loved her tossed her to the wolves when he learned of the pregnancy.”
“That worthless shit.” Luc’s throat worked and a vein popped out at his temple. Temper always strengthened his Caribbean accent. “Just because it wasn’t the product of his busting a nut, does not mean he could not be a father.”
Roth knew right then he had nothing to fear. “Luc, the baby belonged to him.”
Roaring like a lion, his cousin rose. “I’ll kill him. Where is she, Roth? Have to talk to her.”
“Don’t forget the flowers. You might find yourself assaulted, but don’t mind that. She’s in the clinic.”
Roth made a point of having lunch with Joseph whenever he could. He loved seeing the happiness and health transforming his brother-by-choice. As they sat laughing and talking over bowls of white chicken chili, Roth’s private cell rang. “Excuse me.” He withdrew the device from inside his lab coat. Seeing Nathan’s number, he flipped it open to answer. “Everything okay?”
“Special Agent Spelling came by today, Roth. They’ve gone through all the files, done a lot of research and about three dozen arrest warrants have been served.”
“This’s good news. Progress.”
“Not entirely.” Nathan’s voice changed. “You both need to get back here. There’s considerable proof Adam’s sister got out of the vehicle to walk back to comfort him as he suffered his carsickness.”
“What?” Roth stood so abruptly Joseph flinched.
“I hate this like hell for you both, Roth. My sincerest sympathy.”
“What’re you telling me, Nathan?” He swallowed with great difficulty.
“The results of this investigation indicate Adam’s sister survived the same way he did. It’s just, the bad guys got her.”
“And did what?” Roth already felt like puking.
“Kept her alive for about ten years as a fuck slave, killed her and buried her in a shallow grave.” Nathan cleared his throat. “Your man needs you. Quick.”