Aria Graice - 42. Chapter 42

You knew it was coming
WARNING Possible triggers. Forced intimacy. 

Aria set his back against the wall in the corridor and leaned over, grasping his knees with his hands, as if he’d been running a race. He glanced up at Drew. “Did I do alright?” he asked nervously. “Could you tell I was shitting myself?”

Drew snorted and grinned at Aria. “You astonish me,” was all he could think of to say.

“Come on you,” Jeff said, ruffling Aria’s hair, much to his chagrin. “Let’s get back to that lot downstairs. No doubt they’re getting into some kind of trouble.”

There was, in fact, no trouble. Jay was still asleep and Amara was chatting to Ceriann. Well, to be exact he was sitting on the, sofa, his eyes fixed on the door while Ceriann talked at him about some of her adventures.

“There you are,” she said as they walked it. “Thought you’d gone to India.”

“How did it go?” Amara asked. His eyes were wide and his voice shook a little, but his expression was expectant rather than fearful.

“It was great,” Aria said, rushing across the room to throw himself onto the sofa next to Amara, where he snuggled in to his side. “I gave the old goat what’s for.” His words had the tone of repetition and Drew glanced sharply at Ceriann who simply smiled and shrugged.

Amara’s still posture sagged and he rested his cheek against Aria’s hair as Aria excitedly told him, with minimum embellishment, what had happened.

“I think she got the message,” Aria said with a smile, that started off bright and proud, but grew darker when his eyes strayed to Jay. “I hope she’ll apologise to Jay and help us fix things for them.”

“We can’t fix things for them,” Amara said sadly, mirroring his twin’s expression. “We can only help.”

“I know.” Aria sighed. “I wish I could fix everything though. Do you think they’ll get better now? Now we know and they don’t have to pretend anymore?”

“I don’t know. We should try to persuade them to speak to someone, like we do.”

“We’ll talk to them, but we mustn’t put pressure on them.” Aria frowned at Amara, who ducked his head and blushed, then raised his chin defiantly. “You know how hard it was for us. It will probably be harder for them.”

“I don’t regret it,” he said. “I know I was hard on them, and maybe I shouldn’t have pushed so hard, but you know how scared we’ve been, I was just so frightened it would push them into doing something bad, and I knew it wouldn’t be something we couldn’t handle.” Aria nodded and they both paused to think. “Maybe Alice can help.”

Aria nodded. “Do you think she’ll be allowed to be their friend when everything comes out?”

“Probably not, but she still will be. She doesn’t listen to anyone if she doesn’t want to. I think they’ve given up now.”

“Yes, but this is big.”

“It is.” Aria turned back to Jay. “Very big.”

“What should we do?”

“Whatever Jay wants us to.”

“Good point.”

Drew backed off leaving the twins to their curiously mature and intense conversation. It wasn’t that they were excluding him per se, but there was just something…closed about it, as if they’d shut themselves away in a bubble that only they could get into and no one, not even the twins could see. Drew could, though and he instinctively moved away from it. He didn’t feel excluded. In fact he was almost disproportionately proud.

“Sounds like the kitten turned into a lion,” Ceriann said when Drew joined her and Jeff at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee.

“More like a tiger,” Jeff said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I can tell you something—I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of that one. With Amara you get what you see, but Aria…I think we’ve still only seen the tip of that iceberg.”

“Oh I don’t think we’ve seen all of Amara either,” Ceriann said, smiling fondly at the twins, who were still deeply engrossed in their conversation. “Isn’t it awesome? Aren’t they? I can’t wait for Sioned to meet them.”

There was something mischievously malignant in her tone that caused Drew’s heart to drop. “Just don’t conspire with them.”

“I have no idea what you mean?” Ceriann said with an expression of such innocence Drew almost laughed.

“You know Sioned’s a bit…”

“Old. Boring. Straight. Stiff.”

“Okay, okay, she’s not exactly the most worldly and open minded. She’s going to find it…difficult at first. She can do without your stirring, and so could the boys.”

Ceriann chuckled. “I’m sure the boys won’t have a problem.”

“No, but Mam will skin you alive so keep me well out of anything you cook up.”

“That, I can promise. You’re hopeless at keeping secrets.”

“Thanks.”

Slowly, as he drank coffee and chatted with his sister and oldest friend, Drew began to relax. The events of the last few days were catching up on him, leaving him restless and jumpy. Maybe he shouldn’t have been drinking coffee, he thought half way through the mug, and set it aside.

“So, what are our plans?” Ceriann asked brightly.

“Your plans are going home,” Drew said firmly. “Ours are to chill out here for a few days, get our heads together and see what we can do for Jay. I think we’ve all earned a rest.”

“Me too,” Ceriann complained indignantly. “I saved your arses, don’t forget. I deserve to chill here, too. Didn’t you hear? There’s a pool, and a sauna, and a games room where I can make a bit of money hustling…er challenging my good friends to a game or two.”

“No one who knows you is going to play you.”

“Ah, but this big, old house, must have a big old staff who have nothing to do in their off time than to play around with a sweet little thing like me.”

Jeff snorted.

“Just go easy on them. Aria and Amara are trying to build a relationship with their grandmother, which you have to admit hasn’t got off to the best start. The last thing they want is a staff revolution on their hands.”

“Ooh, starting a revolution. I’ve never done that before. Well…except for that one time in Africa, but that doesn’t really count. It was just a local thing.” She shrugged as Drew and Jeff exchanged glances. Jeff shook his head and Drew decided it would be a good idea not to go down that road.

Drew got up and wandered back to the boys, who had fallen silent. He thought they’d be asleep, but they weren’t, even though Amara had his eyes closed. He opened them when Drew approached.

“How are you doing?” Drew asked, and was rewarded by a bright smile from both of them.

“Great,” Aria said. “I was amazing wasn’t I?”

“You definitely were.”

“Thank you for what you did for Jay.”

“No need to thank me. Jay’s an incredible person, and what your grandmother was doing to them was wrong. I’ve no doubt she thought her motives were good and the end justified the means, but there’s no excuse for treating anyeone like that.”

“What happened to Jay wasn’t their fault,” Aria said.

“It doesn’t matter,” Amara said. “It doesn’t matter if Jay had been the happiest, sluttiest whore in London—they’re our friend and she should have honoured that.”

“Actually,” Jay slurred, sitting up, “I like the sound of that. The Happy Slutty Whore, sounds like the title of a very alternative children’s book.”

“For very alternative children,” Aria said, siding closer and cuddling up to Jay.

“They’d have to be, for sure,” Amara agreed. “How are you feeling now?”

Jay’s smile slipped away. “Scared.”

“Why? We’re here. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“You can’t promise that, Aria,” Drew cautioned.

“Why can’t I?”

“Because the world doesn’t work like that,” Amara said softly. “Haters will hate. There are so many people out there who would like to see us fail just because we have things they don’t and have the balls to go out there and do something when all they do is sit at home and judge. I know that, you know that, and Jay knows that. Not everyone had kind things to say about you when you came out. Not everyone has kind things to say about my music or about me and not everyone will have kind things to say about Jay.”

“I know.” Aria jutted his bottom lip. “I didn’t mean that. Jay can stand a bit of heat from trolls, but their fans aren’t going to turn on them. Their friends aren’t going to turn on them.”

“That’s true. Alice said she’ll have anyone who hurts Jay beheaded.”

“She can’t really do that, can she?” Jay asked, their eyes wide.

“Of course not,” Aria said, “she’s not the queen. In fact, I don’t think even the queen can have people beheaded anymore. Can she? Can she? No, of course not. Capital punishment isn’t legal anymore.”

“It might be for treason,” Amara said thoughtfully.

“Nope, not even that,” Jeff said cheerfully, “although I wouldn’t recommend it because in that case, life imprisonment would really mean life.”

“I’m not intending to,” Aria said firmly, “I was just wondering.”

Jay snorted. “You’re a doofus. As if.”

“Now I know where you get those silly words from,” Aria said. “America.” He grinned at Jay, who seemed surprised. “Well you do use weird words sometimes. I thought it was because you watch all those American reality shows.”

“I do,” Jay said, grinning back. “Werk.”

The twins and Jay went into peals of laughter that had Amara, breathless and clutching is side. Drew was lost, but went with it because it was so good to hear them laughing.

“Not today, satan,” Ceriann chimed in causing a renewal of laughter.

“I love her.” Aria bounced, clapping his hands. “I’ve met her and she’s amazing. She’s the best. My favourite.”

“No, no, no. no, no,” Jay said, shaking their head vigorously. “Adore’s the best ‘Party’.”

“What are you talking about?” Drew asked.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Ceriann said as if she was shocked Drew didn’t know. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen it?”

“Don’t tell me you have. Since when are you into drag?”

She shrugged. “Who doesn’t love a man in heels and a fabulous dress? Besides, it’s where I get all my fashion and makeup tips.”

“Figures.”

The twins insisted Drew sit down and watch some Drag Race and he found himself in a whole different world, comprised of sequins, sparkle and some rather imaginative daydreams about his boys. Jay, of course, would be the one to sparkle most on the runway, although perhaps runway models needed to be taller. He’d heard that somewhere once.

A little later, Aria called someone on the internal phone. Drew barely took notice because by then he was engrossed in playing video games with Jay and Ceriann. Half an hour later, a tap on the door had Drew instantly alert and on his feet. He relaxed, however, when Jeff opened the door to a procession of employees—Drew refused to think of them as servants—bearing trays of food which they quickly set out on the dining room table. Drew abandoned the game and hurried over, drawn by delicious aromas, and unexpected rumbles from his stomach, that reminded him he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

The food was amazing, better than anything Drew had eaten in a restaurant, let alone a hastily put together buffet. He ate until he was far too full, then settled down on the plush leather sofa, to watch a film. Aria and Amara cuddled in to his sides, but didn’t get half way through the film before they fell asleep. Jay and Ceriann, cuddled together on the other arm of the L-shaped sofa had already dropped off, leaving only Drew and Jeff awake.

“I said it before and I’ll say it again,” Jeff said, affectionate humour warming his tone, “you’ve got your hands full with that lot.”

“A whole different world.”

“Are you ready for it?”

“Not in the slightest. Talk about being dragged out of my comfort zone kicking and screaming, but I’d do anything for those two. Hell, Jay too. It’s about time someone had their corner.”

“It’s not going to be pretty,” Jeff said, his tone more serious. “You know that, right? When your relationship with the twins gets out. You’re going to get your fair share of heat. There will be plenty of voices yelling that you’re taking advantage, that you’re sick, that you only want the twins for their money. Raising all the insecurities you have yourself, over and over.”

“I know,” Drew said scowling. “That’s the part I’m most worried about, because they are insecurities, and I haven’t come to terms with them in myself yet.”

“You’d better work on that.”

Drew fell silent, thinking, and realising as he did so that he really was his own worst enemy. Over thinking was his thing and it rarely ended well outside of the military environment. Hell, it was one of the things that had kept him away from his family when there had never been any good reason for it. Now, having seen how everyone had pulled together when the chips were down, he made a vow to himself that he would see far more of his mother and sisters and that Aria and Amara would definitely be spending more time in Wales as soon as all this blew over.

Jeff fell silent, leaving him to his thoughts and soon the older man was dozing. Drew, too began to feel the tug of sleep. He was well fed, safe in the bowels of one of a house that was practically a fortress—from what he’d seen, Lady Jane’s security ran like a military operation—with some of the people he loved best in the entire world. Maybe it was time to relax a little and just rest. It seemed to have been a long time since he’d done that and something, somewhere deep within his body was screaming for it. And yet.

The sound of the door at the end of the corridor opening had him on instant alert. He’d been trained too well not to react in such a way, even when he knew the staff were expected to collect the dinner debris. He remained as relaxed as possible but wouldn’t be able to get fully comfortable again until the unknown strangers were out of their space. He’d have to ask Aria and Amara if the outer door could be locked, although that might be a fire risk, given they were effectively in the basement with only one way out. He noticed Jeff had sat up a little straighter too, and smiled to himself, almost sad at how ingrained the suspicion of every unknown element was. He wondered if that would ever change, if he would ever be able to entirely relax in Aria and Amara’s world and let go of the soldier and bodyguard.

The silence that followed the door opening was disconcerting, even though Drew knew it would be impossible to hear footsteps on the lush carpet in the corridor.

His eyes were on the door so when it opened to someone he wasn’t expecting he was on his feet in an instant, dumping the twins unceremoniously on the sofa behind him as he took a few quick steps towards a familiar person. Jeff, he noticed was a beat behind, at his shoulder.

Ignoring the grumbles of the twins and sleepy mumbles of Jay and Ceriann, Drew faced off against an old adversary, his blood pounding and his mind flying over possibilities and calculations. Over and above everything else was one dominating thought—he would do everything in his power, and more to keep his family safe.

“Hello, Drew. Nice to see you again, mate. And I suppose this is my replacement. Bit old, eh? How you keeping up with the kids?

“How in the hell did you get in here?” Drew growled. “It was the biggest mistake of your life. I’m going to do what I should have done before and take you apart piece by piece.”

“Now, now,” Ben said, waving the semi-automatic firearm he was carrying, “I don’t think you’re in a position to be making threats, are you?”

“Do you think that gun scares me? I’ve faced down worse.”

“Sure you have, big rough, tough soldier, and I guess the old man here might have too, which is why I didn’t come alone.”

As he spoke, the door into the kitchen area opened and two large men, each carrying a similar gun entered and walked swiftly across the room until they stood behind the sofa, their guns trained on the twins, Jay and Ceriann.

“I’ve no doubt you could rush me, even take me out before I shot you both, but you can’t be in two places at once, and the moment you take a step toward me the twins go down, so I don’t think you’re going to do a damn thing. Now, shall we be civilised about this and all sit down and have chat?”

“I’ve nothing to say to you.”

“Ah, but I’ve plenty to say to you.” The crackle of a radio drew Ben’s attention for a moment and for a second Drew was tempted to rush him, but he had no doubt that if he did, the other goons would hurt the twins and he was prepared to go to hell and back to prevent that. “All clear. We’ve got the house locked down and I’m with the kids in the basement flat. It went smoothly and we’re ready for you.” Drew didn’t hear the response on the other end but it made Ben smile. “See ya soon, Boss.”

Drew’s stomach tightened. So, they were about to meet the person who had masterminded this. A sick feeling followed soon after. To break through the security on this house Ben must have had someone on the inside—just like at the party. This was either someone with influence on the security team—no two teams because he couldn’t imagine Lady Jane would go with anyone but her own choices—or was a member of the family. Could it be Alicia? Lady Jane herself? He had to admit that would make more sense. Had he been responsible for leading the boys into a trap? Was what was about to happen his fault?

While Drew’s mind raced, Ben strolled casually past him, as cocky as ever and certain of his power, which Drew had to, reluctantly, admit was absolute at the moment. There was too much at risk because neither Drew nor Jeff could get to the other gunmen in time to take them down before they hurt someone he loved.

The twins were huddled together on the sofa, staring at Ben with frightened, but wary eyes. Ben forced them apart and sat between them. The struggled but he held them firmly, his eyes on Drew.

“You’d better persuade your little pets to calm down or I’ll take down their precious little pixie and whoever the hell that hag is.”

“Oi, who are you calling a hag you piece of shit. Call your dogs off and be a man and I’ll show you what this hag can do to your fucking face.”

Ben laughed as the twins stilled and sat stiffly at his side. He draped an arm across Amara’s shoulders, holding the gun loosely on his lap, although it was pointed right at Drew and Drew had no doubt he had his finger on the trigger.

“Come on, Amara, I thought we were friends. Aren’t you going to give me a kiss? You’ve been eager enough before.”

“What? No. Leave me alone. Don’t believe him, Drew. I never wanted to.”

Drew went cold. “Never wanted to what?”

“Oh, this is precious. Didn’t he tell you? Don’t you know?”

“Know what?” Drew kept his features as blank as he could even though he wanted to beat Ben to a pulp just to stop him speaking.”

“Amara and I were far better friends than you thought. I tried to tell you the day you threw me out. Okay, so maybe I got carried away that one time, but it didn’t start out unwilling, did it sweetie?”

“Yes, it did. It was always unwilling.” Amara turned a tortured gaze on Drew. “I never did anything willingly, and I never slept with him. No matter what he says, I never slept with him.”

“No,” Ben said, his expression dark. “You were a precious little cock-tease, weren’t you? But you let me watch when you slept with others. Sometimes you were so fucking high you wouldn’t have known if your own father had joined in.”

The colour drained from Amara’s face and he looked grey. “That never happened,” he said, but there was uncertainty in his tone.

“You should listen to your sheepdog, little lamb. Drugs are bad. They fuck you up.”

Amara dropped his head. “I know,” he said. “I never wanted to.”

“No one held you down and forced you.”

“No.”

“Yes you did,” Aria said, anger replacing fear.

Drew turned cold all over again. “Aria,” he warned, “don’t.”

“No, Drew. I don’t care if he shoots me but he’s not going say those things about Amara to you. He made Amara do things he didn’t want to do, and Amara took drugs because he couldn’t handle it straight. That’s exactly the same thing as forcing him.”

Ben chuckled. “So, he told you.”

“Amara never lies to me. He tells me everything.”

“Really? Did he tell you what went on in the attic in the middle of the night? Did he tell you about the private dances and heavy sessions that might as well have been sex?”

“You made me do that. You told me that if I wasn’t a “good boy”, you’d hurt Aria.”

Aria make a choking sound, tears sliding down his cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” Amara said, first to Aria, then to Drew, his voice and expression filled with pained desperation. “I’m sorry I did it. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry sweetheart,” Ben said, freeing him to hold his chin and tilt his face up. “You were a good boy, a really good boy, and I understand why you’re pretending it meant nothing to you, but you’ve got to face facts—we had a thing, and there was nothing about it you didn’t do willingly, that you didn’t love.”

“No.” Amara tried to shake his head but Ben held him in place with a grip that made Amara yip. “I didn’t, I didn’t, I didn’t. I hate you. I’ve always hated what you did to me and I hated you. I still hate you.” His hands came up, even though Drew could see it hurt his ribs, and pulled ineffectually at Ben’s arm. He never had a chance of moving it, even when Aria leaned in from the other side and tugged at it.

“Stop.”

Drew was surprised when Jay spoke. They unwound from their hunched place on the sofa and stood in a fluid motion that had Drew’s eyes widening. It appeared that Ben was surprised too because his gaze raised from Amara.

“You were focussing on the wrong person, Ben. You should have been looking at me. I did try. Didn’t you notice? I wouldn’t have teased you. I won’t now. Do want this?” They ran their hands over their body and Ben almost drooled.

“Now things are getting interesting,” Ben said, his eyes sparking. “Come on over here sweet thing. I have a space right here.” He spread his legs suggestively and Jay sashayed over, dropping to his knees with the grace of practice. “Oh yeah, baby,” Ben said. “You know your place don’t you, little whore?”

“No,” Amara said. “Please Jay, don’t do this.”

“Don’t call them a whore,” Aria snapped.

Ben casually slid his arm from behind Aria’s shoulder and drove the heel of his hand into Aria’s jaw. Aria slumped, dazed.

“Aria.” Amara tried to scramble across Ben but was stopped dead by an elbow to the ribs. He cried out and doubled over.

“Behave yourselves,” Ben said, his tone almost amused.

“Let them go,” Jay begged. “Please. Let them go and you can do anything you like with me.”

“Jay, no,” Drew said, and Jay threw a fatalistic glance his way. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I’ll do anything,” Jay said, turning back to Ben. “Anything you want. I’m very flexible and I’ve been told I’ve got the best mouth in London.”

“I believe it,” Ben said, his eyes gleaming.

“Let them go,” Jay said smoothly. “Let them go and you can do anything you want to me. I’ll make it good for you, I swear. You’ve never had anyone like me. I’m really good. Better than anyone you’ve ever tried.”

“Oh God, you’re such a filthy little whore, aren’t you? If only I could take you into the bedroom right now, but sadly I have work to do.” A slow grin crawled over his face. “I’ll save you for later.”

The door at the end of the corridor opened with some force, and Ben surged to his feet, sending Jay sprawling. “Get back up there,” Ben snarled and Jay crawled up onto the sofa with the twins. They clung together, all crying.

Moments later, the door was flung open and a lone figure breezed in, a gun held in a casual grip that spoke of familiarity. Drew was used to assessing situations like this and he had no doubt that there was skill behind that apparent casualness. The assessment came as second nature and a step behind the utter shock when he realized that this was the mastermind behind the whole thing. This, finally was the missing piece and it was the last person he had expected.