Savior: A Tattered Club Story (Tattered Social Club Series Book 1) (15 page)

Ethan stuffed his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t flip the guy off and get his ass kicked for sure. First, he wasn’t anyone’s kid. He was turning twenty next week. Diapers and bottles got thrown out a long time ago.

The Professor peered in Ethan’s direction. “This is Niko’s friend. From the look on his face, I would suggest you keep your distance. I think he could give you a run for your money. I mean what I said, Knox. You have my number. Call if you need me.”

Knox nodded, keeping the corner of his eye on Ethan. “Will do, boss man. Ethan, right? Prince Charming said you were moving in upstairs. Welcome to the club.” Again with the sinister clown grin, but this time one of his ice-blue irises disappeared with a wink.

Knox passed, humming a tune much too cheery for his battered and I-don’t-give-a-shit appearance. “Knox is one of the newer artists. He specializes in biomechanical designs. Have you ever heard of Roman Abrego or Nick Baxter?” Ethan shook his head. “Knox’s work blows them out of the water. He came to us from a shop in Los Angeles. I believe you’ve met Ben. He has a hand for portraits. You’ll meet everyone in a couple of days.”

Ethan was excited but overwhelmed. He ran upstairs, grabbed his backpack with laptop inside, and headed back downstairs. The sleeve of his jacket caught on his arm as he fumbled down the hallway. When he walked into a wall of flesh, he almost tripped back against the wall.

“Easy there, skinny jeans.” Niko had a yellow legal pad in his hand. “Headed to school?”

Ethan righted his jacket and nodded. “The Professor is taking me. I’m going to be working here. I hope you’re okay with that.”

Niko leaned against the wall, the pad hanging by his side. “I’m okay with anything, Ethan. Are you okay hanging out here while I’m working?”

“I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to jump your bones in front of everyone. I have a little more control than that.”

Niko lifted from the wall. “We’ll see.” He turned and headed into his studio.

After The Professor dropped him off, Ethan had time to get to class and prepare for the lecture. Having a steady ride to school without having to pay with his body made him feel like he could actually sit still in the chair. He tapped the keys on the laptop, preparing to take notes for the class.

As several of the other students gathered in the surrounding seats, his phone sang out a Katy Perry song alerting everyone that, yes, he was
way
gay. He swiped the screen when he saw Niko’s name pop up.

“Hello,” he said, more than curious.

“I have a client in ten minutes.”

Ethan smiled but didn’t want to. He hated that Niko did everything like a boyfriend but wanted to use their relationship as a booty call. “Okay, do you need emotional support for the session or is this a checking-in-on-me call?”

Niko chuckled. “I don’t ever need emotional support and, no, I’m not checking in on you, but do you need anything? Did you take money to eat today? Is The Professor bringing you home?”

Ethan rested his elbow on the white-top table and looked over the theater style lecture hall. So, this was a checkup call. “No, yes, and yes.”

“What time do you get done today?”

Either Niko needed to keep this new thing they had going on a professional level or he needed to jump into the kiddy pool. Asking the man to go feet first in the deep end would be a bit much at this point.

“My last class ends at three and I don’t have a study session today. I have to come home then get with Scarlet to start learning my new job. I’m going to be working at the shop so I’m going to quit my other job. The Professor is a really great guy. I’ll be able to afford to do the basics and buy things for school. So, Charles can kiss my ass. Just like my dad, he said I wouldn’t be anything without him, and I’m going to prove them wrong. I’m going to make it on my own.” He paused and thought about the last couple of weeks. “Well, I got this start with your help. And…I love the comforter you got for me. It’s so soft and I used the extra pillows to lie on and pretend they…were you.”

The phone was silent then a metallic
clang
rang out on the other end of the line. “Dropped the tray. Casper wants to see your place tonight.”

The instructor walked into class and the other students began to dampen the humming noise of voices echoing off the walls. “I have to go,” Ethan said, not wanting to rush the conversation, but also not wanting to get called out in front of class. “I don’t know how late I’ll be with Scarlet, but I guess he can come over. Can you ask him to bring his owner, too? He’s the tall guy with the big muscles and scary tattoos. Oh yeah, and he’s kind of grouchy sometimes. Gotta go.”

“Smart-ass,” Niko said just before Ethan swiped the screen to end the call.

He silenced the phone and was stuffing it in the front of his hoodie when the case vibrated in his hand.

So, can we come over?

Ethan tapped his foot on the floor. Whether from excitement or nerves he wasn’t sure. Maybe hanging out as friends could be uncomplicated if they both agreed to no touching. Or licking. Or getting naked. Or touching each other’s asses.

Yes

I’m not sending you a smiley face or heart

Ethan snorted, catching the attention of the woman sitting next to him.
Didn’t think you would. See you tonight.

The large screen at the front of class was filled with notes from the class website. With limited attention, Ethan did his best to keep up with the instructor. Flashes of Niko in his bed had his cock thickening. Moving his legs and scooting back in the chair did little to ease the ache. He had to get this under control before he left a wet spot on the front of his jeans.

His phone vibrated again and he saw the woman’s agitated expression when he slipped the phone from his pocket. If Niko asked to stay the night, he didn’t think he had the strength to refuse the request.

When Charles’s name lit up the screen, Ethan froze.

Five hundred dollars. Be at my house by nine.

Ethan’s stomach soured. He looked up to make sure the professor was still pacing the front talking about Hemingway’s influence on modern writers.

No. Leave me alone or I’ll tell your wife you’re contacting me.

Ethan started to stuff the phone back when it vibrated.

One thousand. I saw your boyfriend. Tell my wife and he’s going to find himself in trouble.

How in the hell did this asshole know anything? He’d heard Charles talk before about being ruthless in business, now he was trying the tactic on him.

No boyfriend so shove your money up your ass. Leave me alone!!

Your choice, my love.

When Charles was calm, there was going to be hell to pay.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Niko tapped the heel of his black leather boot almost as fast as the needle of the gun pierced the woman’s skin. He’d made it over an hour without checking the clock on the wall or his phone. When had he turned into
that
guy? The one who called his girlfriend to make sure it was okay that he went out with the guys or changed the channel so she could watch
The Notebook
.

“Are we getting close? I’m excited to see it!” The woman rested her cheek on the towel. “I really thought it’d hurt worse than this, but I guess that’s why you get paid the big bucks. You know how to make your clients feel at ease.”

How? I haven’t said two whole sentences since you lain on the table.

“So, a couple of my girlfriends and I are heading into the city tonight for a party. Would you be interested in coming? I have a feeling after they see you, the night will go wild. You look like you’d know how to take care of a girl…or two.”

When her saccharin laugh seeped over his ears, he almost cringed. Thank God he knew how to hold his shit together or the red rose would look like a fucking stop sign. “Can’t. Got plans.” The fantasy of a naked Ethan covered in suds in the shower made his dick press against the zipper on his jeans.

He kept his hand steady for the last petal, despite the woman’s rambling. “We can make your change of plans worthwhile. I promise.”

Niko didn’t take the time to acknowledge her expression. Instead, he grabbed the bottle of green soap and wiped the residual ink from his masterpiece. “Done.” He snapped off the gloves. “I made the vines longer to come over the back of your hip. It blends the design of the stems to make the piece seamless.” He rolled the black padded stool back to reach up on the counter and grab a tube of ointment. “See Scarlet on your way out and she’ll give you instructions.”

His last appointment was waiting in the cigar lounge, but he had to take a second to check on Ethan or he wouldn’t be able to concentrate long enough to put a damn outline down.

Where you at?

LOL. Out here. Can’t text. Learning a new job.

Ethan was in the shop. Niko looked at the clock on the wall. He’d gotten out of class an hour early.

Tell Scarlet you need to bring me more paper towels. Get your ass in here.

Niko cleaned up the studio instead of focusing on the fact he was a total pussy. He’d decided the moment Ethan had come in his mouth that trying to fight his dark thoughts was useless. At least his thoughts could be kept secret. The guys, and, hell, anyone else for that matter, wouldn’t be able to accuse him of being a sissy fag if they didn’t have proof.

“So.” Seth tapped his hand on the open door. “I have this little problem.” Niko hung his head. Seth always had a little problem.

Like six months ago when he was breaking down a 1984 Rolls Royce he’d bought to customize for resale. A real fuck storm popped up when Seth had discovered the guy who’d sold the car failed to mention there were two bricks of cocaine hidden in a compartment in the trunk. Oopsie.

Seeing as Seth had a criminal history longer than Niko, Seth didn’t want the heat if the Feds were following an open case on the dope. They both knew the game. The asshole who sold the car was flipping the thing to pin the shit on Seth.

Fun time started with sinking the fucking car and coke two states over before the cops showed up with their little notepads asking questions. Seth had a talent for borrowing people’s cars without permission and selling them for a ton of cash, but this time the sale was supposed to be legit.

Niko kept the story simple. Guy came by the shop to sell the car and they turned him down. Snitches get stitches and they kept their fucking mouths shut. They might have been on the up and up these days, but there was still a Goddamn code.

The police took the report and Niko took three teeth out of the guy who’d sold the car. Seth’s probation wasn’t in danger and they made a pocket full of bills from the guy’s wallet and pictures of his kids. Yeah, Niko wasn’t above blackmail either. Take care of shit kind of guy.

“Little problem, man? You don’t have someone duct taped in the trunk do you?” Niko was only half kidding.

Seth walked in, crossed his arms over his thick chest and smiled. “Not this time. Remember that club I told you about? The one on King and Vine? They’re having a leather night and I thought maybe you could be my wingman. There’s this guy I’ve been trying to get for months and he’s kind of shy. I think he’s straight wanting to explore. I thought having a straight friend there might ease things up.”

Niko sprayed the table with disinfectant before wiping it clean. “I’m not into that, man. I’m going to have to tap out on this one. I have plans tonight.” He laid a fresh strip of paper on the table. “Ben wants to go out tonight. Take him.”

Seth uncrossed his arms and started to neatly fold the sleeves of his white dress shirt up his meaty forearms. “No go. The place would scare the shit out of him. It’s cool. Mr. Shy Man’s ass is mine—gay or straight. It’s just a matter of time.” Seth winked, making Niko’s stomach ache. “They all come around eventually.”

When Seth turned, Ethan was standing at the door with two rolls of paper towels. “Hey, little man,” Seth grinned. “Hope you’re settled in.” Seth passed his gaze from Ethan back to Niko. “See you later, brother. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Niko curled his fingers into tight fists. First, he wanted to throttle Seth. Second, what in the fuck had Ethan been saying? Seth was out the door before he could explain. “You.” He pointed at Ethan. “Get your ass in here and shut the fucking door.”

Ethan’s wide eyes blinked. He clutched the rolls of paper towels to his chest. “I didn’t say anything. I swear. The Professor figured it out this morning. I denied it, though. Niko, don’t look at me like that. You can trust me.”

Heat rushed to Niko’s head. He felt dizzy, drunk, Goddamn horny. “Get on the table. Now.” He stalked in Ethan’s direction to make sure he didn’t try to run. He was scaring the shit out of the kid, but, hell, he was scared, too. What if the guys realized what was really going on? Would they feel betrayed?

“Listen,” Ethan pleaded as he hurried and slid his ass onto the thin mattress. “If you’re going to hit me—”

Niko shook his head. What the fuck? Before Ethan’s fear fully registered in Niko’s head, he bumped into the table, forcing Ethan’s thighs to split to accommodate his size. Ethan dropped the rolls and wrapped his lithe arms around Niko’s neck. This was what he needed. Fuck the rest of the shit right now. This was where he needed to be.

Niko palmed the back of Ethan’s head, forcing him to look up. “I missed you. I can’t believe I just said that, but it’s true. I needed to punch the wall a million times today because the thought wouldn’t leave my head. I hate this. I don’t want to feel like this.”

He massaged the back of Ethan’s head. Niko leaned in to explore the smooth skin, slipping his tongue over the bump on the front of Ethan’s neck when he swallowed.

“I don’t want to hide,” Ethan said. “I thought about you all day, too.”

The idea of Ethan sitting in class daydreaming about touching and fucking made Niko press into the space between them. He trailed soft kisses across Ethan’s rose-colored cheek to slip the tip of his tongue into the corner of his warm mouth.