Page 5 of Shredded Soul

At the order, his attacker released him. Charon considered turning the tables, but he had Paine to consider. He headed for the nearest chair. His attacker turned out to be the white-haired man. Charon didn’t know how he had gone from being in this room to getting the drop on him. Obviously, he moved fast and quiet. The hallmark of a demon leader.

“Snow, please take kitty back to bed.”

The guy moved to the edge of the bed. Charon assumed that meant his name was Snow. To Charon’s surprise, Paine crawled to him. Snow lifted him from the bed. Paine wrapped his legs around him and buried his face against the guy’s neck. Charon was confused as fuck. The only thing he knew for certain was Quentin had lied.

“You said you’ve never heard of the academy.”

Quentin nodded. “I did. Would you have told me your story if I had been honest?”

Charon ground his back teeth.

A kind smile touched Quentin’s lips. “That’s what I thought.” Quentin took a deep breath. “Everyone you’ve met since you walked through the door are people I purchased at auction. That’s the real reason I was in Greece.”

Charon wanted to lunge at the guy. “Only perverts and monsters attend those auctions. Which are you?”

Quentin blew out a tired-sounding sigh. “When you’re like me,” Quentin said, motioning toward his legs. “And also have the kind of money and power I do, that creates a very dangerous vulnerability. Every man here was bought and given their freedom. Because, do you know what money can’t buy? Loyalty. Every man here is free to leave whenever they like. They’re not prisoners. Here, they are gainfully employed with hefty wages and benefits. They’re safe. Loved. They’re loyal to me. These men keep me safe because I gave them what no one else would have.”

Charon hated to admit that was a solid story. It wasn’t good enough. “Tell me the real story about finding Paine. I thought your claims of not knowing his name sounded like bullshit. That means it’s highly likely everything you’ve said since I walked through the door is suspect.”

Quentin didn’t argue or deny Charon’s claim. “Paine begged Snow to kill him the night before the auction I was in town to attend. He wanted to spare you another night of torment. Instead, Snow took him to a nearby alleyway. He planned to escape during the auction and go back for him. It seems you two had that same plan,” Quentin added with a smile. “Instead, I spotted Snow before he got away and I bought him. Obviously, he was livid, being so close to freedom. When I explained to him what my plans were for him, I don’t know why he decided to trust me, but he did. He told me where he had left Paine and we grabbed him on our way out of the country.”

Despite everything Quentin said being the best-case scenario for everyone involved, Charon was still angry. “You know these auctions exist and do nothing but help fund them.”

Quentin’s chest rose and fell. He looked tired today. There were dark smudges under his eyes. “You know as well as I do, one rich guy not going to these things won’t stop a damn thing. I can’t save everyone. No one person can.”

“What about Paine? Has he been saved by you feeding into this ridiculous cat persona? Why didn’t you get him help?”

“For the damage you caused?”

Charon flinched.

Quentin sighed. “That was a low blow. Paine has a therapist. He’s had more than one. Every single one leaves here, saying the exact same thing. Paine is completely normal and sane.”

Confusion made Charon’s brain glitch. “What?”

Quentin’s hands rose and fell. “I don’t know. All I know is this is his home. He chooses to be here where he’s safe and loved. You’ll not be dragging him out of here against his will. Even though all these men are free now, they haven’t forgotten their training. If you try to take Paine against his will, or somehow succeed, you won’t live to see the next day.”

Snow reappeared. He climbed into bed next to Quentin and handed him a glass of water. “You need to be resting.”

Quentin flashed Snow a sweet smile before meeting Charon’s gaze again. “You’re free to stay here as long as you want. If you can coax Paine from his shell and he chooses to go with you willingly, then you have my blessing. I want Paine to have a normal, healthy life. But it has to be his choice. Understood?”

Since Charon had no choice but to agree, he nodded. “Understood.” Charon didn’t like it, but this was the only chance he had of being with Paine without a cloud hanging over their head. He had to take it. While Charon didn’t doubt his ability to keep them safe from Quentin’s band of misfits, he didn’t want to spend his life with Paine looking over his shoulder. It was time for them to have their peace. Now he just had to convince Paine to want the same.

The bed gently rocked, soothing Paine. Quentin had designed this entire area as a haven. The rocking bed had saved Paine’s sanity more times than he could count. He didn’t know how to feel. Snuggled deep into his blankets, Paine closed his eyes. The shaking from being torn violently from his sleep wouldn’t subside. It had been a long time since that happened. He had been triggered so fast. In an instant, he had been back in that horrible cage.

The bed shook, and Paine’s eyes shot open. Charon settled in beside him. Paine didn’t run. Snow would never let anything happen to him. Plus, it was Charon. If Charon hadn’t woken him the way he had, Paine didn’t know if he would’ve reacted the same way. He couldn’t say.

On their sides, they faced each other. “I’m sorry I scared you. I saw Snow and panicked.”

Paine lifted the covers, inviting Charon to join him. Charon scooted closer. Paine simply watched him. In all his days of wandering, Paine had never met a more beautiful man. His blond hair and whiskey-colored eyes haunted Paine’s dreams. Paine wasn’t beautiful any longer. His face had been badly and purposely scarred in his last days at the academy. Each day, when Charon left his torture chamber, other instructors poured in because Charon had been too light on him. Charon hadn’t known that part. Paine had kept his silence. Then they cut him deeply across his face, like claws. Paine hadn’t wanted to see Charon again after that. There was no longer a way to hide the nightly visits. He had known Charon would snap and get himself killed. So, Paine had begged Snow to finish it. Instead, Paine had ended up here, scarred as deeply on the outside as he was on the inside. Paine wasn’t trying to punish Charon. He simply didn’t know how to exist in a world so ugly.

Charon lifted his head and looked around. “How is this bed rocking like this?”

“It’s electric. There’s a button at the foot of the bed. Snow made it for me to help me sleep.”

Charon settled back down. “So you’re really safe here, huh?”

Paine shrugged. “Is anyone safe anywhere?”

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