Page 28 of Matthew

The comforter and sheet flew off his naked body, exposing him to the cool air. He gasped, his eyes flying open as Lucas cried out.

“Deviants!” Matt had just enough opportunity to recognize his father Sven and uncle standing over him before Valter wrenched him out of bed and threw him face down on the throw rug next to the bed.

“Leave him alone!” Lucas sprang at Valter, but the monster caught him and slammed him to the wooden floor. Sven’s large-knuckled fist rose and slammed in the middle of Lucas’ face, cutting off his scream.

“No!” Matt tried to get his knees under him, but Valter was on top of him, wrenching his wrists to the small of his back. Circles of cool metal gripped them, then the click of handcuffs.

“He’s immobilized. Want some help?” Valter’s pants were obscene, overlaying Lucas’ moans as the monster crouched over him.

“No.” He glanced briefly at Matt, eyes of ice blue that knew no pity. “This is on you, Matthew. This is yours.”

The fists went to work, pounding Lucas, bloodying a thin but attractive face, breaking his teeth, bruising his chest. Destroying the man Matt had loved since they’d discovered each other three years prior.

Through the endless beating, Matt yelled and screamed for the monster to stop, begging for Lucas’ life, fighting to break free of Valter, who sat on him and pinned him in place. He was helpless to save his lover as the monster bashed him senseless.

At last, Sven straightened and inspected his knuckles, coated in blood. The monster looked at Matt.

“Your uncle, in his infinite kindness to me, has agreed to not report you two. The neighbors have been alerted today’s visit is merely a warning for suspected activity, and they aren’t to interfere.”

The monster held Matt’s weeping gaze while his hand circled Lucas’ throat. “You’ll go home with me. You’ll behave as a proper man from now on. Step out of line again, and I promise Valter won’t have anything of this degenerate or you to take in for questioning. Is that understood?”

When Matt refused to answer, he squeezed Lucas’ throat. The unconscious man gurgled, his hands and feet twitching.

“Stop!”

The claw tightened more. Lucas’ eyelids fluttered, the whites glaring bright in the red mask. “Do you understand my terms, Matthew? Or I can finish him now.”

“Yes! Please. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him anymore.” Matt sobbed, certain Lucas would die.

The grip loosened but didn’t release. “Uncuff him, Valter. Put your clothes on, Matthew. We’re leaving immediately.”

“But—”

The hand tightened.

“Don’t kill him! I’ll go with you!”

Barely five minutes later, they shoved Matt out the door, ignoring his pleas for an ambulance for Lucas.

* * * *

Present day

The monster always kept his promises. He and Valter knew how to find Matt. When they found him, they’d find Clan Avir.

He had to escape before they got to the men he loved, the men whom his mere presence would destroy.

His surroundings came and went in flashes. The elevator. The shuttle docks. The shuttle service, where the frowning man took payment from the account Avir had set up for Matt. “Are you all right, sir?”

The shuttle’s interior, and the pilot who glanced at him often and finally stopped trying to make small talk.

The vast spaceport. It was filled with a whirling kaleidoscope of vessels. Cargo ships, pleasure cruisers, moon-hoppers.

People. People everywhere, looking at him. Kalquorians who despised Earther men living on their planet, using up their resources, Kalquorians who’d tell Valter and the monster they’d spotted him. He felt them tracking his passage, marking where he was going, watching and maybe dialing the frequency he’d blocked, speaking,he’s here he’s here he’s here…

* * * *

Kom stared at the shattered ruin of a com unit on the music room’s floor. His gaze went to the Martin, propped against the recording stand. Not on the hanger. Not slung on Matt himself.

---