Love in La Terraza (17 page)

Hanging his head, Henry begged whoever might be listening out there in the universe to give him this one thing—the love of this one man. He would never again need to ask for anything else because he’d finally have everything he ever needed.

He listened to a door open and slam shut and knew the natives had finally become restless.

“You have some nerve showing your face here!” Nic screamed from her own stoop.

“I take it this means there’ll be no coffee this morning?” Henry asked, already cussing himself for tweaking her nose with sarcasm.

“You son-of-a-bitch!” Nic’s voice ratcheted up into some otherworldly shriekish octave. “You don’t deserve him.”

“I don’t doubt that, Nic.” Henry sighed.

“I truly hope your job is worth making each of us homeless, not to mention backing poor Cain into a corner and forcing him to give up.” Nic stopped, her arms trembling she was so mad.

Henry watched her, thinking she literally might burst into flames she was so pissed. “I quit my job last night, I’ll have you know.”

“What do you mean you quit! Cain went to your office this morning to sign the papers.”

Henry slowly stood, his hand on his chest, thinking someone had just socked him a good one. “Say that again?”

“Henry… Cain’s at Hamilton-Bach, signing the papers right now. He’s selling La Terraza to the real estate company. He’s doing it so he can be with you, you asshole!”

Henry was halfway certain his heart had stopped beating, but before there was time to even register what was happening or make any attempt to offer an explanation to Nic, he leapt off the porch, over his suitcases and began sprinting for the gate.

“Hey…where the hell are you going?” Nic yelled. “I’m not done chewing your ass!”

Henry rummaged through his pockets for his keys as he flew out of the gate and onto the sidewalk, Nic still cussing him from inside the courtyard.

“Oh come on!” Henry yelled, throwing his hands in the air as he discovered a delivery truck blocking his car which was parallel parked on the street just outside the complex. “Can you move your god damn truck?”

“Hey, fuck you, pal,” the delivery guy said in response as he unloaded a dolly full of meat and produce for the restaurant across the street. “You’ll have to wait.”

Having some sort of spastic fit, Henry’s arms flung wildly through the air before he took off running on foot. The offices of Hamilton-Bach were only six or eight blocks away, all he could do at this point was get there as fast as he could and pray it wasn’t too late.

He managed his cell from his pocket, thinking he could text or call while he ran, perhaps he’d get lucky and catch Cain before he did something neither of them would be able to undo. Dialing as he rounded the corner, Henry was only vaguely aware of the shadow cutting across the sidewalk. He looked up just in time to see it was Cain.

They both grunted from the impact, and Henry’s phone flew out of his hand as he attempted to grab hold of Cain.

They both toppled over one another.

Henry managing to twist his body just enough to take the brunt of the impact as he pulled Cain down with him.

They each grunted a second time upon hitting the ground and sprawling out amongst the grass and ivy alongside of the building.

Henry held on tight, afraid to let Cain go, despite Cain’s groan of discomfort and the pain shooting up his own back.

“You okay?” Cain finally asked, crawling up Henry’s body until they were face to face.

Henry’s face was currently contorted in pain, but he popped one eye open to see Cain rubbing his forehead.

“Please tell me you didn’t sign anything,” Henry said. “I’ll never fucking forgive myself if—”

Cain silenced him with a kiss, the taste of him was like coming home after a long absence, even though it had only been a day since their last kiss. The fact Henry had feared he’d never get another opportunity made it all the sweeter.

Tongues softly danced as Cain for once demanded control. Lips lightly smacked as Henry lay back, afraid for it to end for fear it would allow the rest of the world back in. That was the last thing Henry wanted, preferring to have Cain all to himself for as long as he could.

“I was afraid you left,” Cain said in a hushed breath between kisses.

Henry could tell Cain had been crying, and he finally couldn’t take it any longer. He took Cain’s face in both hands to stop the kissing long enough to get an answer to his question.

“Good god, man…put me out of my misery already…did you sell La Terraza?”

Cain laughed, shaking Henry’s hands loose and wiping his cheek onto his shoulder. “No sir, I did not, thanks to this.”

Cain rolled off of Henry, and they both sat up.

Cain passed the note over.

Henry read it and laughed. “God bless you, Anna!”

Cain seemed confused and rightfully so. “You didn’t leave?”

“And I won’t so long as you tell me I have a reason to stay,” Henry said.

Cain laughed, rolling his eyes when he started to get misty again. He shook his head, forcing all of it back inside.

“I solemnly swear to never leave you, Cain, if you can look me in the eye and make me believe the reason you wouldn’t accept my help was because you were unsure whether or not you truly loved me?”

Cain looked really confused. “Are you kidding? I fucking worship you, Henry. You’re the kindest, most considerate… There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you…to you… You’re like oxygen to me, baby. I can’t breathe without you nearby, can’t imagine any life worth living without you in it. There is no place or person…no building that means more to me than you do, Henry Abrams. I could suffer the loss of anything so long as I have you.”

Henry nodded, rolling his eyes as he reached out and gently caressed Cain’s cheek with the back of his hand. He sniffled back his own mess, taking Cain’s hand and placing the palm onto his chest, just over his heart.

“Thank you for saying all of that, Cain. I promise you I will never forget a single word of it, and I’ll endeavor to ensure that I never again take all that you have offered me for granted. My heart is yours for as long as you’ll have it, and I will protect yours with a fierce determination unlike any you have ever seen before.”

“Holy shit…I do,” Cain whispered.

Henry started to laugh, leaning in for another kiss to seal the vows they’d just made to one another in front of God and every other random stranger who had happened by them on foot or in their car within the last few minutes. He’d been aware people were watching them as he’d shared a kiss with Cain, sitting cross-legged in the grass.

Nothing else mattered since Henry had already been given all that he could ever want and then some. The entire world could witness his love for Cain and could kiss his hairy ass if they didn’t fuckin’ like it.

Cain slowly managed to scoot even closer, placing his legs over Henry’s in an attempt to wrap them around his waist. “I’m thinking we better find our way inside before we really put on a show.”

“Think you might be able to find me one or two more drawers?” Henry asked, running his fingers through Cain’s hair.

“So long as you let me into your drawers, I don’t see why not,” Cain said, grinning.

“Like that’s a problem we’ve ever suffered from?” Henry shook his head as he shoved Cain off of him so they could both get up.

Cain waited while Henry went to grab his phone out of one of the shrubs then took his hand when he finally returned. “You’ll have to let me carry you over the threshold, though.”

Henry laughed, shoving his phone into his back pocket.

“I’m serious. You’re moving into my place so I have to carry you. Won’t be official otherwise, and we’ll be living in sin.”

“You can’t carry my big ass. I’m twice your size, buddy.”

“Dude…don’t be a size-ist. I may be compact, but I pack a mean punch. It’s just wrong… You should know better.”

“Fine,” Henry said, “but we’re getting someone to record it, ‘cause I’m puttin’ this shit on YouTube.”

Cain laughed. “I’ll be the poster boy and hero to scrawny, short men the world over.”

“Hopefully not a hero with a broken back.”

“Oh ye of little faith…so sad.”

Henry dropped his hand and tossed an arm over Cain’s shoulder. “Now that’s where you’re wrong, babe. Faith is all I have left.”

Cain glanced his way, a familiar look of lust written all across his face. “After I get you inside, I’ll show you exactly what faith gets you in this day and age.”

Henry laughed, throwing his head back as they rounded the corner.

* * * *

Detective Mitch Grantham and his partner Paul Warner were each hovering over the computer monitors as a young female officer adjusted the feeds from the cameras they’d set up all throughout the cellar underneath La Terraza. In all, eight hidden cameras had been put in place, hoping to catch Ned Snead in the act.

Henry had gone to the police to report what he’d overheard Franklin Bach saying about having a man on the inside. The good detectives had immediately gone about setting up a sting, even though Henry had told them Bach would have likely already warned the man.

They not so kindly disagreed, stating he wouldn’t have continued to hang around had that been the case. It was obvious they didn’t care to hear any theories outside of their own, and Henry got the impression they’d had their eye on Franklin for some time. They wouldn’t have been this eager to expend all this time and expense on busting a low-level deviant like Snead unless they believed it could lead them to a much bigger fish.

They’d completely taken over the spare bedroom on the main floor of their apartment, turning it into their on-site command center.

“So you live here, too?” Warner asked, smirking as he looked at Henry, before surveying the bedroom noting there was no bed in the second bedroom, only office furniture.

“I do, indeed,” Henry said, all but daring the man to say something.

“I hate to break up the tea party, ladies,” Grantham said, scowling at his partner. “But we could use your input over here, Warner.”

Detective Warner gruffly muttered something under his breath as he went back to staring at the monitors.

Henry nodded his thanks, not really caring too much for either of them, despite catching a bit of a vibe off Grantham.

“Anything?” Cain asked, rushing into the room as fast as he could while balancing a tray of coffee mugs, all filled with steaming black brew.

Grantham shook his head, taking a mug from the tray. “Nothing yet. This could take a while, Mr. Elliott. Thanks for this.”

The other two officers chimed in with thanks as well as they each took a cup for themselves. Henry could tell Cain was extremely impressed by all of it, thinking they did this sort of thing for everyone no doubt. He didn’t have the heart to burst Cain’s bubble by informing him that wasn’t the case.

“You have an incredible place, Mr. Elliott,” Grantham said. “You’re very lucky. Can’t imagine it would suck to come home to La Terraza at the end of the day.”

Henry was about to say thanks for the compliment when Cain blurted out, “We have a vacancy, officer. Hell, we’re likely about to have two of them if Henry’s right about Ned. I’d be happy to show you the one that’s open though.”

“Thanks,” Grantham said, with a sly smile Henry didn’t care for, as if he’d been hoping Cain would say something like that. “I recently relocated here from Chicago. Been looking for a place.”

“How cool!” Cain was visibly excited. “Wouldn’t suck having a real life cop around, huh Henry?”

“Not in the least,” Henry said flatly, not bothering to hide his lack of enthusiasm.

Grantham grinned again, as if he could tell Henry might be a little jealous over Cain’s level of interest.

“What was that you said before about a tea party, Mitch?” Warner asked.

“Sorry,” Grantham mumbled, turning his attention back to the monitors.

Cain whacked Henry on the arm, so excited over the prospect of having an empty apartment filled that Henry couldn’t help but smile and shake his head. It was difficult to imagine he had anything to be jealous about considering the way Cain looked up at him, all swoony and exuding sweetness.

Henry had respected Emily’s wishes and not informed Cain that her father was the one trying to purchase La Terraza out from under him. He’d told her he would be reporting Bach, hoping she’d understand that fact could eventually lead back to her father.

Of course, he’d have promised Emily just about anything at the time in order to get her to stop crying. She’d been teetering on the verge of hysterics for a good thirty minutes after the confrontation with her father, the evil Conrad Haven.

He’d managed to get a hold of her fiancé, Greg, who’d come and collected her from Henry’s hotel room. He hadn’t known where else to take her at the time and still wasn’t even sure how she’d gotten to Hamilton-Bach, let alone how she’d gained access to the office at such a late hour. Each time he’d gotten Emily calmed down to the point he could attempt to get any information out of her, she’d burst into tears again.

The one sentence she managed to get out was a plea for Henry to never tell Cain that her father was involved.