Penguin - 8. Chapter 8

Robbie

It took Danny a long time to answer the door. I still had my key and was just about to use it when the door opened a crack.

“Go away, Robbie. I’m really not in the mood for an argument right now.”

“Open the damn door, Danny. I’m not here to argue.”

Danny sighed and opened the door. He motioned me in and I gasped when I saw him. He had a black eye and a cast on his left arm. He limped his way to the couch and sat down. I looked at Sean and he looked like he was ready to kill something. I had to turn away because I was shaking so bad. I was having flashbacks to a year ago. At least this time Danny was conscious and not bleeding to death.

Sean gently sat down next to Dan on the couch. “Oh my god… sweetheart, what did he do to you?” he asked softly.

Daniel tensed and his face hardened. He was trying to put on a tough guy act, but I saw right through it. He was very close to having a total breakdown. Sean was right; he was trying to protect him.

“You guys need to leave. Trevor is at work, but he could stop in anytime. You can’t be here if he does.”

“Or what? He’ll actually kill you this time?” I snorted.

“When did he do this, Daniel?” Sean was as white as a ghost.

Danny shook his head. “Just leave, ok? Both of you, just get the fuck out of here! I know what I’m doing, ok? Go. The. Fuck. Away!”

“No!” I yelled. Danny cringed away from me. “Look, asshole. You’re not the only one affected here. It’s killing me and it’s killing Sean seeing you like this, knowing that you’re doing it to protect us.”

I could see that Danny was starting to lose the battle to hold it together. “I told you we’re not here to argue. We’re here to get you the fuck out of here. We won’t let that son-of-a-bitch hurt you anymore!”

Sean lightly stroked Danny’s cheek. “Let me protect you, sweetheart. I meant it when I said I love you. I won’t let him hurt you anymore.” He gathered Danny to him and Danny finally lost it. He clung to Sean like a lifeline and sobbed and sobbed until he wore himself out.

Danny sniffled and hiccupped. “He’ll kill you,” he whispered.

“I won’t let him.” Sean replied, laying his cheek on Danny’s head.

I went into Danny’s room and found it a complete disaster area. I shuddered when I saw blood on the edge of the nightstand and wanted to find Trevor and beat the ever-loving shit out of him. I had to get my best friend out of here. I grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started throwing Danny’s things into it. When it was full, I went into the kitchen to grab some garbage bags. Sean was holding Dan close and kissing him softly. He brushed Danny’s hair back and peppered his face with small kisses, and then held him tightly.

I felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Danny was always teasing me about being a slut, and I totally was, but it seemed like lately I was wishing for something more than just easy sex.

I filled up a couple garbage bags and dragged them out to the living room. Danny looked apprehensive.

“I don’t know about this, guys. I can handle Trevor. I don’t want either of you getting hurt, or worse, because of me.”

Sean turned Dan’s face so he could look him right in his eyes. “We are hurting because of you. Everything he does to you, he does to me.”

“Me too, asshole. I’m not letting you make the same mistake again. This has gone on long enough. Now let’s get your sorry ass out of here.”

Sean

Holding Daniel in my arms again felt so right. I was devastated when I saw the condition he was in. I wondered if Trevor found out about my visit. The thought of him beating Daniel because of me made me want to throw up.

I was grateful to Robbie for letting me hold and comfort Daniel while he packed his things. Robbie had already made one trip to the car while Daniel and I were getting ready to grab the rest of his things. The door was flung open, and then Robbie flew backwards through the door and fell onto the couch.

“Mother fucker!” He got up and launched himself at Trevor, fists flying. It looked like they had already thrown some decent punches. Robbie had a bloody nose and Trevor had a split lip. Robbie held his own pretty good, but Trevor was bigger than him and eventually slammed Robbie into the wall, where he slumped down in a daze.

I stood in front of Daniel protectively. I was not going to let that piece of shit anywhere near him! Trevor wiped the blood from his lips and smiled at me coldly.

“So I guess I get to officially meet the slut that’s been banging my boyfriend.” He laughed and the sound chilled me to the bone. “He’s a pretty good fuck, isn’t he? I can understand why you don’t want to give him up. Of course, it would have been a lot better for you if you had.”

“Daniel is coming with us. He’s through with you.”

“Is that so, Danny boy? You think you’re leaving me? I don’t think so.”

“I am leaving, Trevor. I never should have listened to you in the first place. I love Sean, not you.”

Trevor got a dangerous look on his face. “I don’t know why you always lie to me like this, Danny. I know you love me. I love you and need you here with me. You’re the only good thing that’s ever happened to me, Danny. Now tell your slut to pick up your asshole friend and get the fuck out of here.”

“No.”

“What did you say to me?”

“I said, no. I’m leaving with Sean and Robbie and we’re through, Trevor. I won’t be your punching bag anymore!”

“You know I don’t mean to do those things, baby. It’s the alcohol. I’ll change, Danny, I swear! You can’t leave!”

Daniel sighed and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go, Sean.” He started to head toward Robbie.

“I said you can’t leave.”

I heard the unmistakable sound of a trigger being cocked. My blood turned to ice as I turned and saw Trevor pointing a gun at Daniel.

Daniel

It’s amazing how much your life can change in a matter of a few seconds. When I saw Trevor point that gun at me I froze. Sean shoved me out of the way as I heard a gunshot. The bullet slammed into Sean, spinning him around before he crumpled to the ground. He looked up at me in shock and I think he was trying to tell me that he loved me, only it was blood coming from his mouth instead of words. There was blood everywhere. I held Sean tightly to my chest and sobbed into his hair. There was commotion all around me; lots of yelling and I heard someone screaming. It took me a minute to figure out that it was me screaming. I felt hands pulling me away from Sean and I screamed even louder and did my best to kick and fight my way free, but to no avail.

“Danny!”

I kicked even harder.

“Danny! Stop! They’re trying to help him!” Robbie shook me, and then gathered me to him; turning me away from Sean and the paramedics working on him.

“Your neighbors called the police when they heard me and Trevor fighting. It’s a good thing they got here when they did.”

I looked at him incredulously. “How can you say that? He shot Sean!”

Robbie stiffened and held me even tighter. I heard one of the paramedics say “He didn’t make it.” A strangled sob escaped me before I passed out in Robbie’s arms.