Lost - Two Timer series - 13. Chapter 13

Adam found a parking spot close to his destination. He walked in an even pace towards the Pleasure Hole, preoccupied. Why did AJ’s kiss affect him? Certain his feelings for his ex was dead, at least he thought.

“No, Patrick is who I love,” he snapped, as guilt bled through him. “Did I push him away fast enough?” he wondered. “Or did I linger, giving him the wrong signals?”

He stood outside the door desperate to sort his emotions when it opened. A husky, pale male, bald and clean shaven wore an off the rack suit that hugged his thick neck, leered at him. Adam stepped out of his way, as he moved pass, eyes glazed over Adam’s body.

Not in the mood to entertain, Adam took a defensive stance.

“Is there a problem?” Adam asked, his tone sharp.

This caused the man to narrow his eyes before walking off saying nothing. Adam hesitated before walking into the store watching the direction the man was going not looking back. When sure he was not a threat he entered.

The inviting Victorian atmosphere welcomed Adam. They displayed various adult devices as show pieces in a boutique. He shut the door finding no one in sight.

“Hello,” he called out, no response. Concern crossed his mind going back to the strange guy he passed. He considered going after him when a door opened. A red headed middle-aged female entered the room carrying broken riding crops. Adam relaxed when he recognized her.

“Aunt Molly,” he said smiling.

Molly’s mouth dropped opened when she saw him.

“Adam?” she questioned. She hadn’t seen him since he was a teenager.

“Yeah.” He moved in to hug her which got awkward with the whips in her hands. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders still holding the broken items. “It’s great seeing you again. It’s been so long.”

“Yes, too long,” she said, flustered.

“You work here?”

“I’m the owner.” She discarded the broken items behind the counter and turned back to Adam.

“Dad never told me. I have a detective agency close to here.”

“Well, me and your father haven’t been seeing eye to eye.”

“The house?”

“I don’t want to pull you into that. I’m just glad to see you. It’s been so long.”

“Too long. I loved it when you came to visit. Your stories of your travels were amazing.”

Molly reached up and cupped his face. She tried to keep her emotions in check as she kissed his cheek.

“Now you know where I am, you can come and visit. I even have a place upstairs.”

“Do you have time for a visit?”

“For you, anytime. Let me put the close sign up and we can catch up over a stiff drink.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

When I was coming in some weird guy was leaving. He gave me bad vibes.”

“Well, this place attracts some not so normal clientele,” she said, turning the open sign to close.

“You shouldn’t be working here alone.”

“I have an employee, it’s just his day off. Besides, the door can only be open with a buzzer and I have a camera to see who’s ringing.”

“Still, have someone else here when your employee is off.”

“You sound so like your father.” Adam saw the pain in her eyes when she mentioned Troy.

“Aunt Molly…”

“No, come on, I need a stiff drink and I want to hear everything about you since I last saw you.”

She took his arm and led him up to her apartment.

*************

Patrick and Anton’s journey ended when they arrived at a closed night club called The Blackheart Gentlemen’s Club.

Anton exited the car followed by Patrick urged by the man with the gun he kept concealed. The driver came around to keep an eye on their passengers while he knocked on the door. It opened revealing a third man.

“All right, inside.”

“Well, if it’s all the same to you we can wait here for whomever wants to see us,” Anton said, keeping Patrick behind him.

The man who sat with them on their journey approached and opened his jacket displaying his gun.

“Would you like me to bring this out?”

“That’s not necessary,” Patrick said, squeezing Anton’s arm.

“Good, inside.”

Anton took the lead holding onto Patrick’s hand tugging him close. They’re rushed through to an open door with stairs leading upward.

They’re moved down a hallway towards another door where they waited as one of their captors knocked.

“Are there anymore doors? I’m feeling like I’m in a fun house,” Anton snapped. No one responds as the door opens and they’re shoved inside.

The grand room held a lounge, private pool, a full-size bar with bartender and a group of young adoring, males. Each with their own charisma, wearing a thin chop tops with shorts.

“Did we walk into a Harem?” Anton whispered, more to himself.

Males were swimming, sitting on bar stools sipping colorful drinks or lounged on a long expensive couch with scattered foot stools. Majority of them looked their way as Anton and Patrick moved past them. The young men winked and blew kisses as they approached a grand stained oak desk with no one there.

“So, who is it you want us to meet?” Anton asked, tired of being shoved.

“He’ll be out soon. Have a seat,” their escort said, as two high back leather chairs where presented to them.

Patrick followed Anton’s lead and took a seat. Their backs were to the lounge, but they had full view of the pool that had four males, one sat on the edge with his legs dangling in the water as the others swam.

Two males approached, one with short, twisted locks with blue high lights in the front. His mahogany skin glowed with youth. The other had long, straight, red hair, and his creamy complexion complimented his companion.

“Hello,” the one with twist said. “My name is Theo, and this is Elijah. Would either of you like a beverage?”

Anton looked at Patrick who sat with his arms and legs crossed seemed indifferent towards them. He turned back to them and raised an eyebrow,

“Are you old enough to be here?”

“All of Sergio’s beauties are at least twenty-one,” Elijah said.

Voices behind them greeted someone with a good afternoon sir. When the man came into view Theo and Elijah brushed pass him returning to their friends on the lounge.

“Welcome,” he said, with a sincere tone. Dressed in a silver paisley jacket with black straight leg pants, his shoes were hand made with the same design as his jacket. His long black hair tied back with a free strand brushing his cheek. His fresh face showed confidence as he leaned on his desk. “I know you,” he said to Patrick. “You’re Raoul’s son.” He cooed, catching Patrick off-guard.

Not pleased Sergio addressed his father by his first name. Patrick tried to question him when Sergio interrupted him.

“You, I don’t know,” he directed his statement to Anton. “But want to.” He ended with a smile.

“Who the hell are you?” Anton asked.

“How rude of me. I’m Sergio Blackheart.”

“Is that even your real name?”

Sergio laughed at the question.

“I assure you it is.”

“How do you know my father?” Patrick asked.

Sergio turned to him still smiling.

“We’ve met in various circles.” His held Patrick’s gaze then glanced over at his mischievous beauties at the bar flirting with the bartender. Patrick followed his eyes and seemed insulted by whatever he was implying.

“Why do you want to know me?” Anton said pulling Sergio’s full attention from Patrick’s.

“Because you are upsetting a friend of mine and I want you to stop.”

“Who?”

“His name is Devin.”

“Devin, Murphy?”

“That’s right.”

“Who is he to you?”

“I told you. He’s a friend.”

“Well, he happens to be my son.”

“Son? Then your…” He stopped before saying anything else, his questions finally being answered.

“Then I’m what?”

Sergio walked behind his desk thinking about his next move. When he said nothing, Patrick glanced at Anton who shrugged.

“Mr. Blackheart, if you know my father, you also know he would not be please his son was being held against his will.”

“Held?” Sergio glanced at him confused. “Who said you were being held against your well?”

“Your men brought us here by gun point.”

“Oh that.”

“Oh that?” Anton chimed. “Look, we need to leave now, are your men going to stop us?”

They watched Sergio lean back in his chair as a young Chinese male with blue hair, walked up massaging his shoulders.

“I don’t need you any further.”

“We should report you to the police,” Anton said.

“I don’t think you will. It would cause such a scandal if the media ever found out. Don’t you agree Mr. Valdez?”

Anton saw Patrick tense up over the statement. He stood grabbing Patrick’s arm raising him to his feet. He turned them towards the door to leave when a question popped into his head causing him to look back at Sergio.

“Does he work here?”

“No. So, I’m sure you have places to be so don’t let me keep you.”

“What, wait…”

They didn’t give Anton time to speak as they grabbed him and Patrick and rushed them out in the same manner they rushed them in. They were out the door, down the stairs, and in the car taken back to Devin’s place.

*************

Molly served coffee with a shot of creamy rum. The room hummed with music as she got him up to speed with her life.

“So, my mother stayed in contact with you all these years?”

“Yes. And to be honest at first, I didn’t want to know nor wanted his help. Then the pictures arrived of you and your brothers and my cold heart melted. Anton kept me informed about your accomplishments and your fails. He told me your breakup crushed you and I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for support.

Adam held a pause for too long as AJ’s kiss infected his mind. Molly noted his attention floating away and touched his arm bring him back.

“Adam, did I say something wrong?”

He jerked himself back and saw her worry.

“Sorry, it was painful, but I got over it and moved forward, thanks to Damien,” he said, taking a long swallow of his coffee.

Molly took a sip from her cup and sat it down.

“Tell me about your new love.”

“His name is Patrick Valdez.”

“Valdez?”

“I know what you will say, and the answer is yes, he’s the son of the tycoon Raoul Valdez.”

“How’s that going?”

“It was shaky at first, but I believe I’ve earned his father’s trust.”

“Has he met your family yet?”

“Yes, and they love him. In fact, he’s big in Cosplay like them.”

“That’s wonderful, he connected with them.

We have a house together.”

“A house? Such a big step. Are there wedding bells near?” she teased.

“We haven’t talked about it but I’m hopeful.”

“Well don’t hesitate too long.”

A clock chimed. Adam noticed two and half hours had pass.

“Sorry Aunt Molly, I’m due back at the office.”

“Well I won’t keep you any longer.”

“Can I help clean up?”

“No, I don’t mind, I get so few visitors.”

“Well I’ll visit more often and bring Pat. And you must come over to see the house. I’ll make dinner.”

“I’d would love that.” Molly walked with Adam back to the shop to see him out. But he stopped in his tracks when he remembered why he came turning to Molly.

“I almost forgot,” he said pulling out a folded piece of paper. “Can you tell me if you can recognize this person?” He gave her the paper. Molly looked at the blurry image of Anton and hated lying to Adam.

But when she was about to say she didn’t know the person Adam’s cell rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw his father’s name.

“Sorry, it’s dad.”

“Adam, could you not mention me.”

“Why not?”

“It’s still complicated between us. For now, just don’t say you’ve seen me.”

“Okay.” Adam answered and could only say hello.”

“Adam, your mother left the hospital.”

“Again?”

“We need to find him. He left his cell behind.”

“Okay, where are you?”

“I was hoping he went back to your place but no one’s home.”

Adam wonder where Patrick was and assumed he went to visit his parents.

“Okay meet me at my office we’ll get Justin to help us.”

“All right, see you there.” Adam hung up and looked at Molly.

“Aunt Molly did my mother come by here at all?”

“Anton’s in town?”

“Yes, he’s having fainting spells and got admitted to the hospital but he left telling no one.”

“Oh, my.”

“If he comes by can you keep him here and call me.” Adam pulled out a pen and wrote his cell number on the back of the folded paper in Molly’s hand giving it back to her.

She promised to call him as he dashed off back to his jeep. She stepped back into her store and locked the door hurrying back up to her apartment.