Fear Of Discovery [Eternal Flames 6]

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

The line was long and Avery was freezing his ass off. He was nervous and excited at the same time.

"My balls are going to fall off, it's so cold. How long will this take?" Manny asked.

Shrugging, Avery replied, "I don't know. Maybe we should just go."

Manny shook his head, hissing, "It's your birthday, Avery. We're getting into that club if it's the last thing we do. It just sucks that you didn't get that mind thingy from Jinx. It would come in handy about now."

Avery pursed his lips. "Manny, that s**t isn't funny. Even if I was able to f**k with someone's mind, it doesn't mean I would. It's just wrong."

Manny looked contrite, saying, "Sorry, I didn't think. I shouldn't have said that."

Five minutes later Manny was grabbing Avery's arm and pulling him out of line. "What the f**k, Manny?"

Pointing to where they had just left, Manny hissed, "I just saw Marco and Frankie getting out of Marco's car. If they see us our asses are grass. They'll tell my dads, and call Illan and Justice for sure."

Avery looked to where Manny was pointing and sure enough, Marco was walking to the line.

Stopping just before the alley, talking to Frankie. "This line is long as f**k tonight. Maybe this wasn't such a good plan."

"I know the bouncer, so we shouldn't have as long of a wait," Frankie replied.

Marco sighed as if the weight of the world were on his shoulder. "It's not like it matters. Time is something I have an abundance of tonight. Twixy's pissed at me again and told me to get out of his sight until he's calmed down."

"What'd ya do this time?"

"What don't I do lately? It seems anything I say or do pisses him off."

"Maybe so, but what did you do this time?

"Twixy is still trying to come up with a name for the diner. I told him at this point everyone will just call it 'The Diner'."

"Marco, that place is a dream come true for him. It's like trying to name a child. You only get one shot at it and then it's stuck with that name their entire life."

Avery felt Manny tugging on his jacket but indicated for him to wait.

Sighing, Marco said, "I know and I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. It seems like anything I say either makes him mad or makes him cry. I'm just so damn worried about Twixy. I'm scared he's sick like his dad. He keeps telling me I'm being silly, but I came home the other afternoon because I forgot my notepad and he was sound asleep on the couch. Twixy said he was on a

lunch break and thought he would take a nap, but Destrain said that fatigue was the first signs Clove showed during his sickness before he died."

"Marco, he's running a diner, plus I have no doubt having some very hot and heavy nights with his two mates. He's working hard and playing even harder, it's only normal he would be a bit more tired."

Marco sighed. "I know, you're right. I'm just worried about my mate."

"Take him to see the doc," Frankie said with a shrug.

Marco gave Frankie a droll look. "Finn and I have both tried to get him to go and he starts either slamming pots or crying." Marco became quiet for a second then quietly said, "I'm worried he's going to get sicker and it's going to be too late when we do finally get him to the doctor."

"Then why are we here? Shouldn't you be home making nice?"

Marco sighed. "Finn is working at the firehouse and Twixy’sworking late at the diner. I tried to hang out with him there, but then he got mad at me, and like I said, he told me to leave." Avery could hear Marco's sadness deepen. "I'm really worried that Twixy doesn't want me as his mate anymore."

"Twix loves you, Marco. Anyone that sees you all together can see how you feel about each other. Maybe it's just all the stress? He has the diner, then family coming here, and now this elf and fairy crap. Then there's the issue with the new council needing to be formed. I think he just has too much on his plate and you know, they do say, we only hurt the ones we love the most."

Avery felt Manny pulling on his jacket again, turning he whispered, "Just give me a second. I think they might leave."

"Yeah, maybe I just need some fun," Marco replied, looking closer at the long line.

"So, what― Vik and Angelo were busy?" Frankie asked.

"What the hell does that even mean? I realized you and I haven’t done anything in a while so I gave you a call. Frankie, are you alright?"

Avery could see uncertainty in the cop’s eyes even before he spoke. "It's just that ever since the dragons got here everyone is acting differently. No one talks to me anymore. Marco, until you

called me, except for work, I haven't heard from you, Vik, or Angelo in months, I'm not in the loop. I learn things second or even third hand. I'm never asked to attend any of the meetings you guys have. It's like I don't even exist to my own blaze anymore."

"Frankie, I'm so sorry. I never even realized. Maybe we can get Angelo and Vik and go out for a night on the town. I didn't know―Shit, you're right. As for not being in the loop, you should talk to Nash or Justice."

Frankie snorted, "Yeah and then I sound like a spoiled child. No thanks. I figure I'm not needed or wanted around. I'm actually thinking about transferring. I was going to go to the Pennsylvania pack, but that's out since they're coming here. Now I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Frankie, you should really talk to Justice before making any rash decisions. He wouldn't like that you're hurting and feeling like you're not part of our family and not telling him."

"He is either so into this s**t with the fairies and pixies or he is doing everything he can not to just f**k Illan like he wants to."

"You see that attraction as well? You think they're mates?"

Manny grabbed Avery once more and pulled him hard. Turning Manny pointed to a side door

that looked partially opened, then whispered, "Come on. I think I found another way in."

Avery wanted to hear more of what the two men were saying, but he also wanted to get into the club and that door was not going to stay open for long. Turning around, he and Manny made their way further inside.

Avery could feel the vibrations of the music more and more the further down the hall they walked.

"It's really loud," Manny yelled loud enough for Avery to hear.

Avery could see a lot of people just ahead. A large form stepping in front of him had he and Manny stopping, gasping, and looking up a long way.

Manny rasped, "Holy crap, he's tall. Is the air thinner up there?"

Avery hissed through gritted teeth, "No teasing Iron Man."

"You're in a restricted area," Iron Man said in a deep voice that sent chills down Avery's spine.

Swallowing hard, Avery stammered, "We──We got lost. I―It's our first time here and―and we were looking for the―uh―the uh―"

"Bathroom! We were looking for the bathroom," Manny finished.

Iron Man looked at Avery and Manny as if he was trying to decide if he believed them or not.

Avery was about to turn around and hightail it out of there when Iron Man said, "Down this hall and to the right. This area is off limits. Don't let me find you here again. I won't be so nice."

Ironman stepped aside. Avery didn't move right away, but Manny grabbed his arm and pulled him into the throng of people. The music was thumping. People were sitting and laughing as they drank their beers and whatever else they may have ordered, and those that weren't, were dancing to the beat.

Manny continued until they entered the bathroom. Avery looked around. "What the hell are we doing in here?"

Manny turned on the water and pulled a paper towel from the dispenser wetting it and dabbing his neck and brow. "We said we were looking for the bathroom. Redwood, out there was watching us. So, the bathroom it is."

Avery snickered. "Redwood?"

Shrugging Manny replied, "Well, it's better than Iron Man."

Manny tossed the paper towel in the trash and took a deep breath asking, "Are you ready to get out there and celebrate?"

Avery sighed. "Maybe we should just go. I don't know if I'm really into this kind of scene."

Manny let out a long breath. "Oh, thank the Gods! I really wanted to make this a great birthday for you, Avery, especially since Illan and Justice blew you off. But honestly, this places scares the poop out of me."

Thinking about Illan and Justice hurt. It shouldn't matter that they forgot his birthday, but it did.

He hadn't told Manny, but when Illan and Justice had talked about taking him away for his birthday, Avery had been so excited. He thought that they might actually see him like Avery saw them, but the fact that they forgot all about him on such a monumental day told Avery everything he needed to know. He was only a ward of the state that they felt a responsibility to. Maybe it was time for him to move out and start his own life.

"Avery? Hey, if you want to stay, then we stay," Manny said tentatively.

Shaking his head, Avery replied, "How about if we just head to the diner and grab something to eat?"

Nodding, Manny said, "That sounds like a plan. I think Twix mentioned having homemade blackberry cobbler tonight."

Both boys walked out of the bathroom just as an Ariana Grande song started. "Oh! I love this song!" Avery yelled.

Manny shouted, out, "How about a quick dance and then we head out? At least you can say you danced on your birthday."

"Let's go and Focus!" Avery replied loudly.

The two made it to the dance floor. Clapping their hands and wiggling their asses side to side, Avery and Manny laughed as they moved to the music. They lifted one leg and then another, turning and moving to the music. Avery felt hands on his hips and moved away, but the man behind him wasn't letting him go. Turning around, Avery found a man a good three inches taller and twenty pounds heavier than his own six feet and hundred and eighty pounds. Not wanting trouble, but also not wanting the man's hands on him, Avery firmly said, "Dude, I'm not interested."

"Then you shouldn't shake that sexy ass in invitation," the man said in what Avery figured the guy thought was a sexy tone.

Manny took Avery's hand. "Baby, is there something wrong?"

Avery was startled by Manny's words for a second, but then quickly understood what Manny

was doing. "No, sweetie, just a misunderstanding is all."

The large man grabbed Avery's other arm and pulled hard enough that Avery slammed into his massive frame. "There is no misunderstanding. You sent an invitation for a good time with those fuckable moves and I'm taking you up on the offer."

Avery pulled back, snapping, "Look, fucker, I told you I'm not interested. Let me the f**k go!"

"I suggest you listen to the kid. I'd hate to have to mess up that face before I have you arrested for unlawful detainment."

Avery recognized the threatening voice all too well. "s**t!" Avery hissed as he looked over the big guy's shoulder to see Marco and Frankie standing there looking beyond pissed off.

Frankie snorted. "You mean to tell me someone didn't already mess up his face?"

"f**k you, asshole!" the big man snapped.

Snorting Frankie replied, "Not even if you dressed in a pink tutu and danced around singing, ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop’. Not even if you were rolled in bacon and crispy fried would I come near you. Not even if―"

"He gets the idea, Frankie," Marco replied with a short laugh.

Marco pulled his badge and flashed it at him. "Now, do you want to go find someone else to dance with or spend your night in county lockup?"

The man looked as if he was about to argue then suddenly pushed Avery away and into Manny.

"His ass isn't worth all this trouble."

As the man walked away, Marco looked at Avery and Manny, then tossed his head to the side.

"Let's get you two out of here before more trouble finds you."

As they were walking to the door the man that had accosted him was talking to a twink at the bar. Frankie walked over and slapped him like a buddy. "Hey, we're leaving. Let me know how those sores heal up on your balls. I'll say some prayers."