Page 18 of Angels of the Night

CHAPTER 13

As Saint and Zachary headed to Ardan's house, they both wondered what the reason was that the boss summoned them at that hour in the evening. It had to be something very urgent that couldn't wait until the morning and chose his private residence as the place for the meeting. The two men decided to walk to their destination, hoping that the cool, fresh air would help them clear their minds and find an answer to the question plaguing them.

In fact, each of them had their own ideas about the reason behind Ardan's request, but neither of them could explain the other one's presence there. Saint suspected the boss wanted a report on what he did during the time he spent in London and was prepared to present it, especially since the information was of great interest for all those at The Base.

Zachary, on the other hand, was convinced Ardan wanted to see them because of what both of them did to Caleb. His heart wrenched in pain at the thought of hurting the boss's younger brother the way he did, but there was no other way. The man squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment, thinking that Saint would probably want him every night from then on. At least, he tried to make it pleasurable for him, too, Zachary thought.

“Welcome to our home. My Ardan is waiting for you. He'll be seeing you as soon as he frees himself. I'm afraid my husband is a little tied up at the moment.” With a big, cute grin on his face, Alasdair guided the guests into the living room.

“I could use some help here, good people. The little monsters are keeping me prisoner.” Ardan was sitting on the carpet, surrounded by Paisley and Axel, his younger children and their cousins, Selma and Alexis. “I fell prey to their sticky kisses and ticklish little fingers, and no one can save me.”

“Let me help you.” Zachary sat next to Ardan but, instead of helping him, switched sides, much to the four young children's delight. Fifteen minutes later, the toddlers were exhausted but happy, the enemy finally defeated. Zachary’s stomach muscles ached after all the laughter. “Well done, team. I'm proud of you.” Zachary took them in his arms, a peaceful, gentle smile on his face.

“Pa'ley want bed.” The little girl put her head, adorned with fiery red curls, on Ardan's chest, yawning. “Papa, give 'Guin. Ax bed, too.” The last part was spoken in a lot firmer, almost demanding voice.

“Of course, princess. Everyone's tired, your brother, Selma, Alexis, Papa and Dad. Who do you want to sleep with tonight?” Ardan got up from the carpet, taking the half asleep toddlers in his arms.

“Let me help you with these.” With infinite tenderness, Zachary picked up Selma and Alexis, their scent a balm on his aching, tortured soul, comforting and making him forget all the bad things in his life. “There you are, little ones. Already sleepy, are we?”

“I...I'll pass this time, sorry. C-can I help you with these? I would love to,” Saint stuttered, starting to pick up the plushies and other toys scattered all over the place and put them in the plastic bins Alasdair provided.

The man loved everything related to taking care of babies and toddlers, from bathing and getting them dressed to feeding and playing with them. That night, however, he could barely look at Ardan's and Alasdair's children and their young cousins because it was his brother's birthday. The boy, whose life was so brutally ended at the tender age of fourteen, would have turned twenty-five that day.

Winter's age, Saint smiled with melancholy, and while his hands were busy putting the toys in the bins, the man started to wonder how his brother's life would have looked, and what he would have became. The gentle touch of a hand on his shoulder made the man flinch, and he raised his head, meeting Zachary's compassion-filled gaze.

His British and American secret services collaborators were familiar with the tragic story of his brother's death, but only one of them remembered the boy's birthday and visited his grave, always bringing a big bouquet of white roses, the symbol of purity. That man was crouching next to him, hand on his shoulder, unfeigned sadness in his eyes.

Ardan stepped into the room, just in time to witness the silent, moving scenes between Zachary and Saint. He felt a pang in the chest at the sight of the two, but at the same time was glad to see that the spark was still there, waiting to be rekindled. Maybe, after hearing the other one's side of the story, they would put the past behind them and start to build a new relationship, one that would also include Caleb.

Scratch that, Ardan thought, smiling, it would definitely include his younger brother, who was a much wiser guy than those around him thought. Both Zachary and Saint needed Caleb in their lives. He was the one who would confer stability to their relationship. After waiting a few more minutes, Ardan discreetly cleared his throat, making the two men turn their attention to him.

“It seems both of you dumped my younger brother this morning, telling him you got together and couldn't see him anymore. According to him, there are a few issues you need to address, so you can start this relationship on the right foot. Apparently, you can't do this without a mediator, so I volunteered. Questions and answers, no yelling, no accusations, you can proceed whenever you are ready, gentlemen.”

“Last time we...after you made love to me, we started to talk about the case, which we never did before. Why didn't you stop me or at least change the course of the conversation? I told you things I shouldn't have, and that information fell into wrong hands, causing Cedric's death.” Zachary blankly stared ahead, his voice breaking.

“I swear on my brother's undying memory that I didn't pay attention to what you said that night. I may sound like a total bastard, but I had a lot on my mind. My direct superior asked me to go back to London, insisting the case was closed, although I knew his claims were far from true. Your words hit me two years after the events, and the thought that you could be sent to martial court and accused of treason for revealing important information from the case.”

“When you said I should calm down and talk to you once my mind was clearer, I fell apart. Nothing mattered anymore. I resigned from the Agency and returned to the Army, where I enrolled in an elite intervention unit, volunteering myself to take part in the most dangerous missions, but death eluded me.” Zachary's voice died down, and he lowered his head, pain and shame washing over him.

“Back when the two of us were together, my mentor asked me to investigate a child trafficking ring with ramifications all over the world, the same my brother fell victim to. However, he swore me to secrecy. That's why I could never tell you about it. Right after the tragic outcome of our mission, he ordered me to join a group of agents who were after the leaders of that bloody organization. We got close to him but were accused of the crimes we were investigating and sentenced to life.”

“You...landed in jail for investigating those who killed your brother? How did you get out, and what happened to the other guys?” Pure disbelief and utter shock were written across Zachary's face as he stared into Saint's eyes. “Did you, at least...I hope prison life wasn't too hard.” He extended a hand, tentatively brushing his fingertips across the other man's cheekbone, descending to his jawline.

“No, we had some kind of special regime and were kept separate from the other inmates. However, life wasn't so generous with Winter, who was transferred to our block after being gang-raped and beaten within an inch of his life.” Saint fell silent for a brief moment, intensely staring into his ex-boyfriend's light-green, sorrow-clouded eyes. “How did it happen? Only if you can tell me, of course.” He took Zachary's hands between his own, patiently waiting for the man's answer.

“Cedric and I went to where they kept the documents, and he made sure no one was tailing us. We made it out safely but were surrounded after about a hundred yards and taken to one of the warehouses. Phillip was also with us, but they took him elsewhere. The captors ordered us to undress and hung Cedric from the ceiling. I thought I could save him, so I volunteered as their fuck toy. After they were done with me, the bastards started to torture the kid and made me watch.”

Tears streamed from Zachary's eyes, long after he finished talking, leaving two silver streaks on his pale cheeks. After recovering from the initial shock, Saint wanted to yell his anger, curse the monsters who tainted his poor lover's body and ripped his heart out of his chest, but he didn't. Instead, he moved closer to Zachary and put his arms around his waist, holding him like that, without a word.

The warmth radiating from Saint's body slowly brought his ex-boyfriend back from the darkness he had once again descended into, the emotions more intense than ever before. Gradually, Zachary became aware of the other man's presence but didn't reject him, on the contrary. Scooting closer, he sought more of the comfort and safety he’d craved for over the last seven years.

Putting his head on Saint's shoulder, Zachary let out a long, heavy sigh, closing his eyes. Ardan looked at the two men, none of them able to walk back to The Base, and his first thought was to tell them to spend the night there, in one of the guest rooms. However, after being separated for so long, the two needed to spend some time alone, so he took the car keys and helped Saint get the other man to his feet.

Too weak to walk by himself, Zachary was flanked by his former lover and Ardan, who carried him to his room. Left alone, Saint undressed the other man, intending to get him ready for the night, when a pleading sound stopped him. Taking his hand, Zachary kissed it, then climbed on the bed, laying on his back, legs wide spread, welcoming his lover, hungering from his touch.

Saint nodded and, just like the first time, put patience and tenderness in preparing Zachary, then carefully filled him. The other man greeted his lover with genuine enthusiasm, undulating beneath him, thirsty for more with each thrust, closing the space between them until they became one, in body and soul.

Bright smiles on their faces, light in their eyes, Saint and Zachary brought each other on the highest peak of ecstasy again and again, until they fell into the delightful abyss of pleasure. When the two men gathered enough energy to move, they got into the shower together, washing one another, worshipping each other's body again and again.

“It felt so right, like we had never been separated, like the past seven years never existed. Thank you for not giving up on me, even when I pushed you away,” Zachary whispered and traced Saint's face's contour with the tips of his fingers, the facial hair feeling silky against his skin.

“So, I guess I can get touchy-feely from now on.” Saint grinned, kissing his lover's palm. “Nothing is going to be the same again, and, even if I want this as much as you do, I’m terrified at the thought that something could go wrong and...”

“Shh, don't worry, things can only get better. Caleb will see to it.” Zachary cupped his lover's face with both hands and gently kissed his lips.

“Yes, he will. Together, we will become unstoppable. Unbreakable.” Saint planted a chaste kiss on Zachary's temple. The ones who hurt us will pay for it when they least expect, he thought, bringing his lover closer.

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