Page 209 of Sticks and Stones
“Honestly, Corbin, I can’t answer that for you. Only you can make that decision. I understand why you couldn’t do it. As a gay man, in a hyper-masculine job, I know that you didn’t want this to define you and get out.”
He let him talk.
“It’s damn difficult being gay. It’s not a burden I’d put on anyone. Everything we do is questioned and scrutinized. It’s why so many of us don’t come out at work—especially if we’re in lawenforcement. That you didn’t want your sexual assault to define you is not surprising. I would have done the same exact thing.”
That was what he needed to hear.
Corbin trusted this man.
Gene was like the big brother he’d always wanted. He was smart, he was good at his job, and he was wise beyond his years.
“You had to survive. That was your instinct, and you went with it.”
He was to the point.
“But I made it more difficult for you and Ethan to handle this.”
He knew that, but it didn’t really matter.
“Let’s just say that I have a distinct feeling that it wouldn’t have mattered. If the bikers who raped you are tied to these drugs, Gabriel Rothschild will handle it. If he doesn’t, and any of them are back in society, I’ll handle it.”
He stared at him.
“That sounds ominous.”
Oh, it was.
For them.
Gene wouldn’t let Ethan or Corbin know, but if he ever found out that any of the five men hadn’t paid for what they did, he’d take out the trash.
On.
His.
Own.
It was wrong, and it was everything he wasn’t, but a man had to do what a man had to do to protect his family, and just like he’d kill Javier Hughes for touching Ethan, he’d kill some scumbag rapist for hurting Corbin.
If it put Gene in jail…well, so be it.
“Just survive,” Gene said, focusing on Corbin. “Just get up each day, and keep going, and if the day comes where youcan’t get up and take those steps, call me. I’ll show up and carry you until you can.”
Corbin needed to hear that. He wasn’t alone in this, and now, he could take his time to recover. Since his boss knew what happened, he wasn’t going to have to work for a while.
He’d use up his time, and heal. Then, he’d decide if he could be a cop again.
“Thank you for being my family,” Corbin said, still holding his hand as he sat beside him. “I love you and Ethan. Well, I would like to love Ethan, but you keep cock blocking me.”
He laughed.
“Ah, there he is. Already planning his conquest of my man. Let me remind you that you have a man of your own,” he said.
Corbin was aware.
Only, he’d made up his mind.
He was setting Will free.
