Page 86 of Joey

Grey cupped his hands around his ear and waved them forward, his smile never wavering. Why had Joey not seen the maniacal look in his eyes before?

He took the seat, Ethan standing behind him with his hand on his shoulders.

“I hear you have a question for me,” Grey said. “Go ahead. Don’t be shy.”

Joey bit his lip, trying to contain an outburst that wouldn’t help anyone. He swallowed it down. “Why did you want Elliott’s name on your back?”

“That wasn’t too hard now, was it?” Grey chuckled. “You gave me the idea for it, actually.” He crossed his arms.

When he said nothing further, Joey gritted his jaw and played the game. “What idea was that?”

“A list of my conquests.”

Joey frowned. “Conquests? How did you get that from me?”

“I heard you spouting off several times about the people who could’ve been involved with Elliott’s death. It made me realise I could have a list of all those who I’ve…dealt with. Kind of like a tally.”

Joey clenched his fists, and Ethan’s hand tightened. “Why get me to do it?”

Grey laughed, a full belly of humour that echoed through the grate. “I wanted to see how far I could push you.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I was sure you were on to me. So sure. But when you agreed to tattoo me, I second-guessed myself. Maybe you weren’t so clever after all.” He grinned. “It’s the best feeling in the world.” Joey couldn’t say anything, but Grey was on a roll and didn’t need any prompting. “Having my brother’s name tattooed on me by his best friend. My brother—the man I helped destroy. And the first of many conquests I plan to claim.”

Joey closed his eyes and battled with the heat rolling through him in waves. “Are you not planning on leaving this place, then?”

Grey’s confidence faltered. “What do you mean?”

“If you plan to claim all these ‘conquests,’ as you put it, surely, you’re advertising what you’ve done. If the police get wind of it…” Joey didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.

Grey shook his head. “No one will know.”

Joey chuckled and shook his head. “How will they not know?”

“They’re just names. Could be anyone.”

“What did you want with Elliott?” Ethan asked.

Grey glared at Ethan. “Dad wanted him in the business, but when we realised he wouldn’t be turned, we needed him gone. He knew too much.”

Joey stood, finished with the guy once and for all. “Good luck then. I’m sure the police will love to wait and see who you ‘claim’ so they can charge you for it.” He gripped Ethan’s hand and walked away, stopping when Grey said his name.

“Elliott looked—”

Ethan shoved him through the door before he could hear what Grey was going to say, and as much as he wanted to hear it, he also didn’t.

“Sorry. I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say, and it would’ve riled you up on purpose.”

Joey hugged Ethan, taking strength from him to replenish his own. “Thank you. I probably would’ve listened and ended up in prison myself.”

“Yeah, we don’t need that.” Ethan kissed him and led him back to security. “Let’s go home. We need to pack.”

Joey chuckled. “Yes, we do.”

Despite wanting to know every titbit of information Grey could give about Elliott, just to shed some light on the parts of his best friend he hadn’t known, he couldn’t trust what the man said. But he could trust one person. Denny. After they visited Italy, he planned to sit down with the man and fill some gaps in his knowledge, and maybe he could share some things with Denny, too. Something that might ease the pain of Elliot’s death. Nothing would ever take away the pain, but the memories would always be with him. And with Ethan at his side, he could weather even the most heartbreaking memories.

They settled into the back of the taxi, and Joey slid his arms around his boyfriend. He had plans for Italy. Plans Ethan didn’t know about. He couldn’t wait to see his face when they arrived.

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Chapter 23

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