Fear Of Discovery [Eternal Flames 6]

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

"Slow down, Illan. We want to get there in one piece," Justice said as he held the b***h bar tightly.

Illan pursed his lips, snapping, "What the hell was that boy thinking going to a club? He has no business flaunting his business around asking for trouble."

Justice smacked into the passenger door when Illan took a right too fast, Justice gritted his teeth, saying, "Illan, slow the f**k down. Avery and Manny are safe and at the crisis center with Marco and Frankie." Trying to look behind him, Justice asked, "Are Angelo and Morgan still behind us?"

"They passed us a couple of minutes ago. I wouldn't want to be Manny when Angelo gets through with him," Illan said taking another right, but this time a bit slower.

Justice could see Maddox up ahead and was thankful. First, if they made it alive to their destination, and second, they would see for themselves that Avery was okay.

A few minutes later, Illan pulled into the crisis center and Justice noticed Morgan's truck parked cockeyed with neither man in it. Illan stopped and turned off his SUV as he opened the door at the same time.

"Illan, don't go in there yelling. Let him explain himself first," Justice yelled as he did his best to catch up to the large man.

Illan grabbed the door and flung it open, turning towards Justice as he walked into the building,

"He just got off probation, Justice, and already he's getting into trouble. Is he ever going to grow the f**k up or are we destined to bail his ass out of trouble every step of the way?"

Hearing Avery and the others in the room behind Illan, Justice tried to calm the man. "Illan, let's give him a chance to explain."

Illan tossed his hands in the air. "Explain what? He went to a gay club and got into an altercation with a man trying to play grab-ass. If Marco and Frankie hadn't been there who the f**k knows what would have happened to him."

Justice cupped the large man's cheek. He still couldn't believe that fate had blessed him with such a gorgeous and wonderful man as his own. Illan was almost seven feet tall with short black hair that Justice couldn't wait to run his hands through one day, soon. However, his deep blue eyes were so clear and beautiful, Justice could happily spend hours just looking into them. When Illan was this intense it only made Justice's c**k that much harder. Damn, he couldn't wait until they could finally make their mating official. The way Justice saw it, everyone had to know about

them, it was just a matter of taking things to the final level. They had intended to do so a year ago, then Avery had come into their lives and everything had been put back on hold.

Illan's blue eyes softened. "I'll give him a chance to explain, Justice, but I swear that boy is not going to be out of our sight again. Not even after our mating."

Justice didn't know what came over him right then and there, but he did something he had

dreamed about since the moment Illan walked into his life. Justice kissed his mate.

The kiss started off slow and sensual and gradually grew until tongues were dancing and teeth were clicking.

"Now, I'm normally not into the voyeur thing, but I have to say, that s**t is something I could record and watch for hours and never tire of m**********g to. Just, Damn!" Frankie said in a gravely tone.

Justice pulled back in time to see Frankie adjusting himself. "I ever find out that you recorded my mate, I'll castrate you myself."

Frankie gave a knowing smile, raised his hands, saying, "'Bout time you admitted you two are mates."

Justice sighed. "Just take us to see Avery."

* * * *

Illan had to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew Justice was right when he said he needed to calm down, but fear of the unknown had consumed him from the moment Marco had

called Justice and told him that he had found some guy mauling Avery at the club in Maddox.

All that he could think about was what could have happened had Marco not shown up. Would

Avery have ended up like Angelo so long ago? Would he have been killed or injured without Illan or Justice there to help him?

Angelo arguing, with his son, could be heard before Frankie even opened the door. "Manny, why the f**k would you two even go into that club without talking to Morgan and me?"

Manny gave Angelo a smart-ass look. "And you would have just let us go?"

"Hell no! You're not ready for a place like that," Angelo said louder than a moment before.

Manny crossed his arms. "Which is why we were planning on leaving and going to the diner.

We just wanted to dance to that one song to say we did it and then we were leaving. How were

we supposed to know that Neanderthal man would come up and get all possessive over Avery like that?"

"You volunteer here three times a week. Why would you all of a sudden decide to go to that club tonight?" Morgan asked.

Manny tightened his lips and turned his head, refusing to answer.

"Whose idea was it to go to the club?" Justice asked.

Avery opened his mouth, but Manny shook his head, saying, "Don't, Avery. Don't try and cover for me. It was my idea."

Avery looked at Manny as if he wanted to argue, but Manny looked at him and then Illan and Justice and Illan was surprised by the anger he saw in the young man's eyes. "It was my idea. I wanted to have a great time with my best friend."

"Devonte said he didn't remember letting you guys into the club," Frankie said.

"Who's Devonte?" Justice asked.

"He's my bouncer friend that man’s the door," Frankie answered.

Avery went to open his mouth again, but Illan was not surprised when Manny jumped in. "That's because we didn't use the front door. It was cold as heck out there and we were freezing our balls off. I found the side door open and we got in that way. The music hurt our ears and we decided that it wasn't our kind of place. So we were about to leave when a song came on we both really liked. We thought one dance and we were out of there. You know the rest."

Angelo let out a slow breath. "You're grounded for a month. No phone, no internet, nothing. You go to class, you come home, and then straight to your room."

"I'm eighteen! You can't ground me!" Manny argued.

Angelo went to say something, but Morgan jumped in. "You are still our son and live under our roof. Your actions were careless and one of you could have been hurt. As a result, you need to be punished."

Avery stepped forward. "No please, I──"

Manny stood up, facing Avery. "Yes, you tried to warn me but I was too stubborn to listen. It's fine, Avery. I can live a month without my phone... It's not like I haven't lost it before."

Something in Manny's tone caught Illan's attention, but he couldn't quite grasp what it was.

Looking at Avery, Illan asked, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Avery looked down and said nothing. Illan had spoken and expected an answer. "What would you two have done had Marco and Frankie not been there to help get you out of that mess? What would you have done had that man tried to grab you and take you even if you had been kicking and screaming?"

Avery shrugged and that pissed Illan off even more. "Do you ask for trouble to find you, Avery?

Have you not been through enough in your life because of stupid decisions?"

Avery gasped and Justice stepped between him and Illan. "That's enough, Illan."

Illan was about at his wits’ end. For years he has wanted nothing more than his mate. Then he finds him only to have to put his mating on hold because of Avery coming into their lives. Illan was tired of being patient. He was 1050 years old. He had been through the loss of most of his family, his wife, a war, and now all that had happened here in Crystal. How much more must he endure in order to have the love he so desperately needed?

Justice sighed. "We're all tired. I say we go home, get some rest, and talk in the morning."

"Fine. Thank you both again for helping Manny and Avery," Illan replied turning and walking back towards his vehicle.

* * * *

Avery sat in the back with his head back pretending to sleep. How shitty was this? His twenty-first birthday would go down in history as the worst f*****g day in his life. First, the two men he cared for and respected the most had completely forgotten his birthday, then they go into a place and have some f*****g asshole ruin the only dance he would ever have on this monumental day, and then the crème de la crème of the evening was disappointing both Illan and Justice.

Avery did his best not to cry right now, but it was really hard. His heart was heavy and he felt so lost. Seeing the hurt and betrayal in both men's eyes was like a knife straight into his heart. His infatuation with Illan and Justice had been almost from the moment he laid eyes on the two. He had been mortified the first time his c**k had gotten hard when he had accidently walked in on Illan shaving. The man had been standing there in nothing but a towel with the blade slowly sliding down his cheek to his chin. Avery felt his breathing increase and quickly closed the door to hide his growing erection. Racing back to his room it was the first time he had ever jerked off in his life, and all to that one image drilled into his brain.

Another time, Justice had been vacuuming the house and dancing to Poker Face by Lady Gaga.

His hips were swaying as he belted out the wrong words in that off key tone, but Avery had stood smiling and watched the man's hips swaying around and he could have sworn he fell in

love. It was just too adorable. Again, his c**k enlarged and Avery was forced to go back to his room and relieve the pressure in his balls.

He had spoken to Manny and then as hard as it was, he spoke to Ethan about it. That s**t was hard. Telling Justice's own son that he was getting hard for his and Day's dads. Ethan, however, was really professional about it all. He listened to everything and then explained to him about transference. It was as if he had taken the kindness and caring of Illan and Justice he craved as a child and created these special feelings for them deep into his very heart and soul. He was told it would go away with age, but so far, his feelings for the two had only grown stronger.

Avery was taken out of his thoughts when he heard Justice saying, "I think he's asleep now."

Illan sighed. "Justice, I don't know how much longer I can wait. I want my mating. I think we've waited enough."

"Avery just needs some more time, Illan. We can talk to him about it in the morning," Justice said quietly.

Avery watched through his lashes as Illan shook his head. "No. We've waited long enough. We deserve happiness, Justice. What happens if Avery is never ready for our mating? What do we do then? Do we just go through life wishing and hoping that he will grow up enough to

understand?"

"Of course, not. Illan, it's not like he went out there and got drunk off his ass. He went to a club,"

Justice said calmly.

"Yes, and damn near got molested as a result. Just when I thought he was ready to talk to us about the future, he pulls this stunt. I'm torn on what needs to be done. I know I'm sounding childish, but I want my mating! We have given so much to so many. We deserve to experience just as much love and happiness as Day and Ethan or any of the others," Illan insisted.

Nodding his head, Justice whispered, "You're right. We'll talk to him in the morning."

Neither said anything else until they pulled into the driveway. Justice stated, "We're here, Avery."

Avery sat in the vehicle as Illan and Justice got out and made their way inside. Neither man looked behind them and Avery came to a quick decision. Running towards the woods, Avery

grabbed his phone and sent a message on the burner phone he knew Manny had gotten the last time his parents had grounded him and took it away. I'm leaving Crystal. Illan and Justice deserve to be happy and it seems I'm in the way.

Seconds later Manny's message came through. Don't be stupid, Avery. Just give it a day and things will work out.

Tapping rapidly on the keys Avery replied, Can't. They want to mate and I'm holding them back.

They deserve to be happy.

Quickly another message pinged. Meet me behind the diner. We can talk there.

No, I just want to get as far away as I can before they discover I'm gone.

Damn it, Avery, meet me at the diner. I can at least give you some cash. You'll need it to help with some food and stuff. Please.

Fine, but hurry 'cause I won't stay long.