Embracing His Syn, page 16
Furi brought his knee up but ended up hitting Patrick in the thigh, completely missing his nuts. Fuck. Furi was ready to accept the inevitable when he heard the back door to the bar slam open and saw a dark figure barreling toward them, knocking Patrick to the ground with a hard blow to his ribs. Furi looked up into Syn’s scowling face, his black irises shimmering with anger. Holy shit. Syn reached out and pulled Furi to him. He did a quick perusal of his body before tucking him behind him like he always did. Brenden was the first to move in and Syn pushed Furi back, readying himself for the attack.
Syn had walked back into the pub and saw Furi wasn’t behind the bar. What really caught his attention was the two brick shit-houses in suits that were sitting there before were also missing. Syn’s sixth sense, the one that had always kept him two steps ahead, was propelling him forward, telling him to move faster. Syn ignored the curious glance from Furi’s uncle behind the bar, as he rushed toward the back door, pulling out his two-way radio as he ran. He heard the chirp and spoke into the receiver, “God, step on it. I think I got a problem.”
“On it,” God answered back in a serious tone.
Syn burst through the door at full speed and quickly took in the scene at the end of the alley. One of the men had his thick hands around Furi’s neck, choking the life out of him, yelling in his face about ‘never leaving him again.’ Shit, Furi’s husband. The other guy was leaning up against the brick wall holding one of his knees, looking pale and sick from pain. Syn figured he’d worry about him later. He hurled his fist into the ribcage of the man holding Furi, and he went down from the momentum of the blow but Syn knew he only had a few seconds before Ex-husband recovered and was back up again. But his first priority was Furi. For the most part he looked alright, there was no blood or bruising so Syn placed himself in front of his man and trained his eyes back on the two men who were staring at him in shock and rage.
“There must be a misunderstanding. This is no business of yours.”
“And you are?” Syn gritted through clenched teeth, already knowing the answer to that question, trying to stall a few minutes to get his anger under control.
“No one of consequence to you. But you’re standing between me and my husband, so I’m going to give you one chance to leave.”
Syn shook his head slowly. “You got that wrong. I’m standing between you and your ex-husband.” In that moment Syn saw the man’s eye’s go from an intriguing light gray to a haunting ashen gray like the sky before a thunderstorm. He was angry and Syn knew things were about to take a turn for the fucked.
“Furious is my husband. Like it or not. He belongs to me.”
“Belongs to you? So you can abuse him whenever you like and then let your pussy brother step in when you get tired?” Syn stepped closer. “I don’t fucking think so.”
The Ex tried to look around Syn, speaking to Furi. “Honey, come back home. I’ve changed. I will never hurt you again: I swear on my life.”
“Bullshit. He doesn’t believe you and I damn-sure don’t believe you,” Syn argued.
“I don’t have to convince you of anything.”
“The hell you don’t. I’m the main one you have to convince.”
The Ex put his hands out as if gesturing at his surroundings. “I came all the way here to get him. That’s enough. I’m here aren’t I?”
“So are the dumpsters,” Syn answered with a bored expression.
“You calling me trash,” Ex growled.
“No. Trash would be too nice a word. Do you really want to know what I would call you?” Syn smirked, his smile morphing quickly to a snarl before he spoke again, “Furi belongs to me now. If you want him you’re going to have to go through me to get him.”
Syn felt Furi pulling at his arm. Without taking his eyes off the Ex, he turned just slightly to hear what Furi had to say.
“This is not your fight it’s mine,” Furi hissed in his ear.
Syn fought the urge to roll his eyes. Yeah, you were really kicking ass when I got here. Syn looked up the alley seeing God and Day turn the corner and walk toward them, looking like two renegade bikers. God in his black, mid-thigh length leather coat, black clothes, his long hair flowing down his back, and black Timberland boots that you did not want to be on the receiving end of a kick from. Day in is tight leather jacket, black cargo pants, and Jordans. They looked like thugs, not cops.
Syn pulled Furi to his chest. “Furi, I want you to go back through the bar and go wait at my place. I’m going to have a little chat with your ex-husband,” Syn said extra loudly.
Furi huffed in annoyance, “Syn, I took six months of self-defense courses at the YMCA this year. I can fight for myself.”
Syn looked at Furi like he’d lost his damn mind. “At the Y? Well hell, that’s great Furious. If you ever get jumped by the Village People, feel free to pull out those moves. As for now, I want you to take your karate-kicking-YMCA-going-ass back to my apartment,” Syn snarled at Furi, urging him toward the door, having neither the time nor the patience to argue with his ridiculous pride. Thankfully, with one final glare Furi went back into the pub. When Syn turned back, God and Day were looking back and forth between him and his two foes.
“What’s going on here, fellas?” God asked casually, not acknowledging Syn.
“You look like you’re no stranger to a good fight. I’ll give you five hundred dollars if you’ll kick this idiot’s ass.” Ex-husband stood up straighter with an evil grin on his face directed at Syn, as if he’d just come up with the best, most diabolical plan ever. He straightened his tie and attempted to brush some of the grime off of his too-expensive suit as he waited for God’s answer.
Day looked Syn up and down as if he was sizing him up, shrugged his shoulders and turned to look at God. “What do you think?”
“You know I’ve never been one to turn down easy money.” God rubbed his hand over his beard stubble, giving Syn a wicked look before turning back to ex-husband and brother-in-law. “So both of you big motherfuckers against this one guy and you couldn’t take him down?”
“Don’t ask any questions. Do you want the money or not? This piece of shit is standing between me and something very important to me and I need him eliminated.”
Who the fuck did this guy think he was, fucking Tony Soprano? Eliminated. Syn clenched his fist over and over desperately wanting to teach this guy a lesson, beat it through his thick head that Furi was Syn's now and would never be any concern of his again.
Day stepped a little closer. “Alright, but it will be one thousand dollars each.”
Ex-husband didn’t even blink about the two thousand dollar ante. He pulled out his wallet and quickly counted off the right number of crisp one hundred dollar bills, slapping them into Day’s outstretched hand. Day took the bills and folded them in half, tucking them into his pocket. He backed up, returning to God’s side and nodded his head at Syn. “As you were.”
“Hey wait just a damn minute,” Brother-in-law piped up, but it was too late. Day had given Syn his cue. He quickly closed the distance between him and the Ex, giving him no time to put up his guard before he slammed his right fist into his jaw, followed by a quick left upper-cut. His opponent stumbled back, but just as Syn thought, the guy could take a punch. Ex-husband swung wide right, aiming at Syn’s temple, which he easily dodged. Desperate to gain the upper hand, Ex thought it was a good idea to just rush Syn and knock him off his feet, but that attempt was futile as well. Syn brought his booted foot up and connected it with the man’s mid-section, causing him to double over. Syn didn’t miss a breath. He quickly yanked Ex’s head into the crook of his arm, and delivered three knees to his gut in rapid succession. Syn loved the grunts and shouts of pain coming from this asshole. It felt so good to kick this guy’s ass for Furi that Syn was afraid he might not be able to stop. Ex crumpled like a piece of paper, going down on both knees, but Syn wasn’t ready for it to be over. He looked the man in the eye, cocked his right hand back again and sent a crucial punch dead center in that pretty face, fairly sure that he knocked a couple of teeth loose and permanently re-structured his nose. Ex flew onto his back, clutching his nose, spitting and grimacing at the pain he was surely going to feel for the next couple months.
Syn caught movement in his peripheral, but he’d been prepared for the brother-in-law’s cheap sneak attack. Before he could reach Syn, Day moved like a cobra, quick and precise, extending his arm straight out, swinging it hard, striking the brother-in-law in the throat before he could get anywhere close to Syn. He went down hard, grabbing at his throat, wanting to scream from the pain but unable to. No sound was coming out. His eyes were wide with shock as Day stared down at him, admiring his handiwork. Day looked back at his lover, enjoying the prideful look on God's face.
So it was true. Those two really got off on being complete badasses.
“This fucking city is full of nothing but thugs, money grubbing porn-bitches, and hustlers. I’m calling the police.” Ex fumed as he struggled to pull his cell from his pocket.
If Syn weren't so damn angry it would’ve been funny as shit the way the man’s jaw dropped when God and Day both pulled their gold badges out from under their shirts. Day smiled that sinister grin and kneeled in front of them, speaking in an official tone, “911, what is your emergency?”
With the brother taken care of, he was able to focus on his real problem. “Get up,” Syn growled. The bastard put his hand up to ward off Syn’s approach. Syn grasped the outstretched hand and frowned at the diamond wedding band glistening on the man’s ring finger. Syn twisted the finger, forcing the palm up and used it to jerk him to his feet roughly, making him cry out in agony. “Furi belongs to me. If you ever come near him again, I won’t be as nice as I was today. He wants a divorce, sign the papers or don’t sign the papers; I don’t give a fuck, just stay away from him.” Syn twisted and pulled tighter. A few more inches and he’d break the goddamn finger. Syn was reaching behind his back for his S&W; the urge to make the guy a permanent non-factor, strong. “Stay far, far away. Am I making myself clear?”
“Enough.” God’s gruff, distinctive voice snapped Syn back to reality.
Ex spat blood on the dirty concrete. Snot and sweat dripped down his face as he pinned Syn with a look that seemed to say, ‘Fine, if you want Furi you can have him and by the way, fuck you’.
“That works for me.” Syn threw the ex’s hand down and backed up a few steps, stopping himself from doing something that would cost him his shield. Thankfully God was there. He was relatively sure that ex-husband and his brother wouldn’t be filing a police report since Syn had intercepted them in the process of assault and attempted kidnapping.
“Leave. Now. I never want to see your pathetic asses in this city again, or I’ll make sure there’s no one around to stop me from doing what I really want to do.” Syn crouched down to where Patrick had dropped as soon as Syn released his hand and stared into those scared, gray eyes. He pulled his badge out and flashed it at Ex, briefly enjoying the look of disbelief on that bruised face before whispering harshly, “I know how to hide a body. I’ll put you where no one can smell you.”
Neither one of the men waited around to see if Syn meant what he said. They clambered to their feet and hobbled down the alley, halfway holding each other up, not looking back.
Once they were gone, Syn lifted his head to look at his Lieutenants. He knew how close he’d been to putting a bullet in that bastard’s head, because all he kept picturing were that man’s hands wrapped around Furi’s throat. Syn hadn’t lost control in a long time, and he wondered what that meant. How deep did his feelings for Furi run?
“Go home,” Day said, clasping him on the shoulder. “We’ll handle the rogue bitch clan at the station.”
“I can do my job, Day,” Syn snapped back at his boss.
“We know that. We’ll let Sasha Pain; aka porn bitch sit on ice and interrogate her in the morning see if there’s any connection with this ex-husband and BTNS.” God gestured with his head. “Go check on your man, you know that’s where you want to be.”
Syn was taken aback. God said nothing about him dating a prior suspect in a case they were still working, or about dragging them into a back alley fight while he took his revenge. God was actually being compassionate. Well, damn. Syn was astonished to see that side of him.
“Besides, you won’t be worth shit to me with a hard on all night.”
And he’s back. Well, that compassion sure was short-lived.
‘True Confessions’
Furi walked across Syn’s living room carpet for what felt like the millionth time while he waited for him to come back. How dare he order me to leave? Like I’m a damn kid. Furi decided right then and there that he was going to have a talk with Syn. Furi wouldn’t be his kept man or his bitch.
Furi stopped mid-stride when he heard the door open and close behind Syn. All the anger and hostility he’d felt while alone in Syn’s place just disappeared when the ruggedly handsome man yanked his dark coat off and threw it on the couch, approaching Furi with a hungry look.
“Did he hurt you?” Syn’s voice was gravelly. He put both hands on either side of Furi’s neck and lifted it gently, eyeing the slight redness there.
“I’m fine. Despite the fact you keep having to rescue me, I’m not a weakling. I can defend myself,” Furi said with venom, pulling away from Syn’s examination.
“Right. That Mr. Miyagi crash course at the Y.” Syn stifled a laugh, but Furi thought it was anything but funny and he let Syn know it.
“Don’t fucking mock me.” Furi stormed past him down the hall. Syn’s footsteps sounded behind him. He’d just caught up with him when he opened the bathroom door.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Syn said in a whisper. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t mocking you, I was teasing you.”
Furi frowned and Syn shook his head. “Let me clarify. Joking after an intensely stressful situation helps to calm me. I need to come down from the high of an adrenaline rush, that’s all that was.”
Furi looked skeptical before finally sighing. “I’m sorry too.” Furi kept his hand in Syn’s and walked backwards down the hall to the living room. “So, did you kill him?”
Syn’s head jerked back as if what Furi said was completely absurd. “Never mind. Forget I said that, I don’t want to talk about him.” Furi moved in closer, placing his hand on Syn’s waist. “Are you okay?”
Syn closed the small space between them, leaving only a couple inches. “I am now.”
Furi grabbed Syn’s right hand, but recoiled slightly when he felt wetness on his own. He looked at his hand, noticing the blood that was smeared across his fingers. Oh my god. Furi picked up Syn’s hand for a closer inspection and winced at the bruised knuckles. Each was an angry purple color, and on a couple of surfaces skin had been broken or scraped off. Syn's entire hand was swollen and no doubt had to be throbbing. Syn shrugged nonchalantly, “It’s alright. It’s just a scratch.”
“Fuck,” Furi whispered. “You sure you didn’t kill him?”
Syn’s coal black eyes were deadly serious. “I wanted to. He better be thankful God was there to stop me.”
“It’s good you listen to the Almighty. Patrick could use a little Jesus in his own life,” Furi added.
Syn busted out laughing. “No, God is my, oh never mind. It’s not important.”
Furi continued to examine Syn’s hand while swallowing hard at the emotion in his throat. He took Syn’s other hand and lead him to the kitchen. “Sit.” He pointed at one of the small dinette chairs in the kitchen. He looked in a couple cabinets before he found one with a bowl in it. He opened the freezer, glad to see that although Syn didn’t have any food, he did have ice trays. Furi cracked and dumped two into the bowl, pulled a beer out the fridge and set both in front of his prizefighter. Grinning to himself, he asked, “Where’s your first aid kit, Champ?”
“Under the sink.” Syn shook his head, watching Furi intently. “So are you back to the nick-names? Refusing to say my name again?”
Ignoring the question. Furi set a few napkins, along with the first kit on the table and pulled out the opposite chair, scooting it closer to Syn, his knees practically between Syn’s parted thighs. “Give me your hand.”
Syn twisted off the top of his beer and shoved his bloody hand into the bowl, hitting the bottom with a thud. Not even wincing at the pain.
“Augh! Jesus H! What the ..." Furi winced while carefully pulling Syn’s hand out the bowl of ice. “I said to give me your hand. Geez, tough guy.”
Syn brought his beer up to his lips and took a long gulp, finishing half the bottle before slamming it back down. “Mmm. Good.”
Furi worked as gently as he could on Syn’s hand, feeling the man’s powerful gaze on him the entire time. It was eerily quiet, not even the sounds of breathing could be heard, despite their close proximity. Furi had cleaned all the blood off his hand and was ready to sanitize the wounds. “This might sting a little,” he said quietly, not looking up. He poured the anti-bacterial wash over the knuckles, and quickly began blowing to try to ease the discomfort. After it finally registered that Syn’s hand hadn’t even twitched, Furi looked up at the amused smile on the man’s gorgeous face. Furi barked an embarrassed laugh, realizing that what he just did wasn’t typical of a grown man. I still blow on something when it burns. “You’re an asshole. Stop looking at me like that. I thought it stung.”
“It did.” Goddamnit, Syn’s voice sounded so mysterious and dangerous. Like a sexy, low rumble that reverberated from deep down in his chest. It drove Furi insane with want. “But you made it feel all better.”
“Fine, go ahead and make fun of me, HeMan.”
Syn tisked. “The nick-names again. Looks like I’ve been demoted.”
After Furi placed a small amount of ointment on the exposed flesh, he put a few cubes of ice in a cloth and placed it gently on the swollen part of the back of Syn’s hand. He looked up into Syn’s eyes before finally speaking, “You really hate nicknames, huh?” A small smile was tugging at the corner of Furi’s lips.
