Page 47 of Vail

“Vail will be okay. We’ll see him through and give him anything he needs. Whether it’s more therapy, a safe place to let out his fears, or a sledgehammer and a saw to tear down what used to be a place of abuse for him.”

“You talk about destruction so easily.”

“Yes, well, I’m all for ripping down and building anew. Vail once told me he was reborn from the ashes. This is him taking another step to reclaim what was stolen from him.”

“He’s stronger than both of us.”

“That he is.”

We found Vail downstairs, standing near the counter, talking to Irene while petting Tahoe.

“There you are,” he said. “Irene made French toast.”

“Thank you,” I told her.

The three of us took our seats to eat. There was no conversation while we did so, though I saw Vail’s smile slip until what remained was stark fear.

“Vail.” I reached for his hand to get his attention.

“What if I can’t do it?” he asked. “We could go there, and I won’t be able to do anything.”

“Then you do nothing. We’re here for whatever you need. If that means we take a ride and you stare at the cabin for four hours, then so be it. If you want to drive a sledgehammer through every interior wall and window, we’ll be there for that as well.”

Tears pooled in his eyes. “We’re bringing tools?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to use your bare hands.”

Vail stood from his chair to lean over the table and kiss me. “Thank you.” Then he did the same to Hartley. “You two being here for me means more than you know. You both have jobs you should do today, but you’re helping me.”

“We’ll always be here for you,” Hartley said. “No matter what we’re doing, you’re more important.”

He gave a watery smile and sat. “Let’s eat before Irene yells at us for letting the food get cold.”

Irene brought over a pitcher of orange juice to refill our glasses. “Nonsense.” She brushed a kiss over Vail’s forehead. “You take your time.”

“Where was that attitude when it was just me here?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. Anything to make Vail smile more.

“If I didn’t get on you to eat, you would have starved most days, not paying a bit of attention to your body and what it required. You’d run yourself ragged. These boys are good for you. They keep you healthy and on time, which you should be for my meals.”

I hated being told what to do. Every part of me rebelled at the act. For Irene, I’d tamp down my growl and the urge to remind her she worked for me and not the other way around. She’d tested me many times over the years, knowing how far she could push me. With her, she could push me clear across the fucking state and I still wouldn’t fire her. The woman was a gem and one I would hold on to for as long as I could. Few people could put up with my moods.

It wasn’t only her either. I had men who worked for me who could find employment with another. Money wasn’t the only important factor. Yes, I paid them well, but they could earn the same elsewhere. I built a place of loyalty, rewarding those who stayed true to me and were there when I needed them.

What I never expected was to find two partners who would take my moods, my behavior, and see past what I said, what I projected. They peered deep into the heart of me, where I was hurting and keeping myself from loving another. They pulled me from my self-imposed shell and made me see how amazing we could be together. I’d be here for them for whatever they desired. They were mine and I loved them with every fucking fiber in my being.

21

VAIL

The drive to the cabin wasn’t short. It was up in the mountains on a lake. The whole way there, it was on the tip of my tongue to have Albert turn the SUV around. But I didn’t because this was a chance for me to take out my pain, anger, and so much fucking emotion on a place that did nothing but remind me of awful times.

This was never my cabin. Gil tried to say it was both of ours, but nothing in it felt like mine. Not the decorations nor the furniture. Not the kitchen, where in most settings I felt at home. The cabin held memories of pain, both internal and external. Times I bled and others where I had injuries that couldn’t be seen, like a cracked rib. Or when Gil simply fucked with my head because he could.

Every mile we went, more memories flooded me. It didn’t matter where Gil took me. At some point, he hurt me. Not every visit, but more often than not.

I sat in the back of the Navigator with Jordan on my left and Hartley on my right. Oleander rode up front with Albert. Behind us were Sheldon, Raiden, and Rory. Forest offered to come, but Hartley reminded him he was working a new job and probably shouldn’t take off so soon. Barry got Forest set up with internet access in his apartment and anything else he needed. Jordan wasn’t going to spoil him, as he did Hartley and me, but he gave him the necessities like the furniture that came with the home and a stocked fridge and pantry, as well as towels, bedding, and other items.

We finally turned onto the gravel driveway, winding through the trees, until we got to a clearing where the cabin was. It looked the same as I remembered it. Two stories, natural wood logs on the exterior, and a deep navy door. It was rustic inside, with modern amenities. Gil even had professional-grade appliances put in for me. He could have hung the fucking moon in there and I still would have hated it.

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