Desmoterion, page 35
“I might love her already,” Mike said and pushed past Emyr on his way downstairs, muttering about pancakes the whole way.
Emyr frowned at Trent. “You love him, don’t you?”
“Mike? No, he’s a dear friend.” Trent’s eyebrow rose. “Even if he annoys me like no other.”
“You know who I mean, Trent.”
Trent scratched his head. “I don’t want to talk about that. What’s done is done.”
* * *
Katya stared at the gathering of men surrounding the kitchen table. “It seems you’ve tripled in size.”
Trent flushed. “They arrived last night. I told you before that we’d get more people.”
“Yes, but this isn’t six people. This is seven.” She looked around the room. “Or make that eight. Where’s Girish?”
Trent winced. “He’s not here at the moment. I believe he left before you arrived.”
Katya frowned at Trent. “You made him leave?”
“No, he chose to. I wanted him to stay... and he ended up leaving.”
Katya shook her head. “Stupid man, he liked you a lot.” She went back to making pancakes while tutting under her breath.
Kipper rolled his eyes. “Can we stop talking about Kannan? He ran away like a coward because he was too ashamed to admit his feelings for Trent. I mean, Trent’s difficult to deal with, as all of us know, but walking out on him was the last straw with me.” He turned to Trent. “You’re better off without wishy-washy people in your life.”
“Says the guy who has never been in a relationship.” Mike scoffed. “It takes two to make a relationship, and Kannan could not hold up his side of the deal. Whether or not it was fear or shame, either way, he’s gone. One less mouth to feed, Katya.”
Katya raised an eyebrow at Mike. “Maybe so, but I liked Girish. He was nice to me and always amusing around Trent. He’d act all flustered, but I knew he was trying to pretend it didn’t matter. It did, and even Trent knows that.”
Trent stared down at the table. “Kipper’s right, Girish is gone, it’s his choice. But none of us would be here if it wasn’t for him. You’ve no idea what he went through; we have got a lot to thank him for. This discussion ends now.”
Ward spoke up. “So, what’s being done with the remaining rooms? Will they just be storage space?”
“I guess so. We still need to clean them before we do. We also have the basement to do as well. Also, to be honest, the walls could use a good coat of paint. My bedroom does.”
Mike pulled the napkin off the table to put on his lap. “Mine does as well. What we could do is paint the rooms while we swap rooms until the painting is finished. All the rooms have beds in them, and they’ll all be clean as well.”
Emyr looked at Katya. “Where can we get some painting supplies?”
“There’s a paint store in the far corner of the village.” Katya served up some pancakes. “I can come with you to translate.”
Trent noticed Emyr’s frown. “How are your foreign languages, Emyr?”
“Actually,” Emyr said slowly, stroking his beard. “I still have the translation earpieces that we created for missions. No good for speaking, but fine for understanding.”
Mike shook his head. “But that won’t help us talk back to them.”
“Perhaps.” Ward cocked his head to the side. “Can we modify a device to do that? Like some kind of handheld thing that we can have translate what we want to say?”
Katya looked between them. “Why do you not want me to be there?”
Trent smiled at her. “It’s a force of habit for us. We want to be independent. And those guys love their gadgets.”
* * *
CHAPTER TWENTY
Three months later, the house was finished. All the bedrooms upstairs had a fresh coat of paint, and the downstairs did as well. Emyr had transformed the garden in the back and front into a colorful pathway to admire. Even the locals would come by and snap pictures of it or look at it from afar.
The only place inside left untouched was Girish’s room. They hadn’t bothered to repaint it, fearing that Trent would get angry with them. A few of them caught Trent going into it occasionally and sleeping in the bed.
Mike knew Trent was missing Girish and tried to distract him with projects around the house until there was nothing left to do.
Then Trent would wander around the garden, sit at the stone bench they’d acquired from a local artisan, and stare into the distance.
They were at a loss about what to do with Trent to make him happy. They were used to him not showing emotions, but that was in the Desmoterion prison. Free at last, this constant sadness wore on them in ways they couldn’t comprehend.
Naturally, Katya wanted to help as well. She dragged Trent outside to local events like the village anniversary fayre.
Trent browsed around the craft booths just to pass the time. He stopped short when he saw a small painting of a long-haired man. The older woman smiled and said to him, “You like that? My daughter did it, and the subject is my son-in-law.”
Trent took the painting from the woman’s hands and stared down at it. The face was a spitting image of Girish other than the nose. Same long brown hair forming the face and the same warm brown eyes staring back. He’d tried so hard to forget Girish, and for a while, it worked, but this just brought it all back.
The woman frowned at his sad face. “Is there something wrong with it?”
Trent handed it back to her. “No, it’s a beautiful painting. It just reminds me of someone from my past. Well, other than the nose.”
The woman smiled at Trent. “A friend?”
“Not really, just someone I was fond of. Thanks for letting me look at it.”
The woman was about to ask further about it, but Trent had already drifted away from the table.
Trent wandered around until he was near the local pub with Mike, Kipper, Emyr, and Arden beside it while Katya chastised them for drinking too much. He smiled at them, knowing that he had a very weird mix of friends.
It was then that something stuck him in the middle of his back. He tried to turn around, but it pushed harder. Trent turned his head and swore at the redhead behind him. “How the fuck did you survive?”
“That doesn’t matter right now. I’m taking you back.”
“You think you can keep me like this?” Trent scoffed. “I’m one of the best men you’ve ever had.”
“Not even you can dodge a gun in this location.” The leader jammed the gun into Trent’s lower spine. “It’s one of the few places you can’t. Now move back slowly before I cripple you forever.”
Trent’s jaw clenched as he moved back from the pub.
Mike glanced up when Trent shuffled away. “Trent? What’s wrong?”
Trent mouthed, “Leader.”
Mike’s hands tightened at his sides, and he turned to say to the others, “Looks like our asshole leader survived.”
“How the hell is that possible?” Emyr jumped out of his seat to follow Mike.
“Just give me the word, Mike, and I’ll take him out.” Arden pulled out a handgun from his pocket.
“We can’t shoot someone in the middle of a festival.” Kipper glanced around the area. ”The local authorities will arrest us, and not to mention the diplomat is attending this, and his armed men are all around us.”
Mike advanced on Trent. “You think you can take him away that easily?”
The leader’s head popped out from behind Trent. “Yes, I can. None of you can make a move because it will let everyone know you’re wanted criminals.”
Katya frowned at that statement. “They are?”
Kipper turned to her. “We used to be, but not anymore. That man now holding Trent hostage forced us into things we didn’t want to do.”
“He’s guilty of murdering thousands for his own gain.” Mike pointed at the leader. "In fact, he had Girish draw up a mission to kill Trent because he could.”
“That’s a stupid idea.” Katya scoffed. “Girish couldn’t kill Trent. He loves him too much.”
The leader eyed the surrounding area. “Where is Kannan?”
Trent winced at Girish’s name. “He left several months ago. I don’t know where he is.”
The leader laughed. “He abandoned you like I figured he would do.”
Anger coursed through Trent’s veins.
“Don’t even think about it, Dupont; I’ll put you in a wheelchair with one shot.”
Arden aimed the gun at the leader’s head. “I have the shot, Mike. I can make it before he shoots Trent.”
The leader shook his head. “Put that gun down, Michel, or I’ll scream out for the authorities that you have one.”
Mike turned back to Arden. “Lower your gun, Arden. I don’t want anyone to see it and get the wrong idea.”
Trent continued to back away as they shuffled forward to keep him in sight.
Kipper’s eyebrow rose, the subtle tell that he’d spotted something. He went over to Arden and whispered into his ear. Arden’s gaze roved over the scene.
Mike’s focus was fixed on Trent the whole time to make sure the leader didn’t drag him somewhere and make him disappear in the blink of an eye. “I’m going to keep following you, so there’s no point in keeping this charade going.”
“Or I can just shoot you when I reach my transporter? Following me will only lead to your death.”
Emyr moved forward after Arden whispered into his ear. “Uh, Mike? I need to talk to you about something.”
Mike didn’t acknowledge it, his eyes still on Trent.
Emyr tried to grab Mike’s arm, but he sidestepped it. “Mike, I’m serious. I need to tell you something.”
Trent moved several steps and with his captor was clear of the main part of the festival. People weren’t around them anymore. Trent turned his head and spit out, “I’m going to break your fucking neck as soon as you remove that gun.”
The leader jabbed the gun harder into Trent’s spine. “You’re all talk, Dupont. I dare you to try anything. You may be able to get away with stuff on lesser men, but I have twenty years of military training.”
Emyr rushed forward and pulled Mike back. “Listen to me!”
Kipper and Arden moved back from the gathering, hiding Katya behind them. She protested loudly, but they ignored her.
Emyr was about to whisper into Mike’s ear when a loud thud caught everyone’s attention.
* * *
The strange sound caused Trent to freeze, with the weight of the man leaning on him, he couldn’t shuffle backward any further. What was the leader’s intention?
Trent glanced back to see that his mouth gaped open and his eyes closed. And he wiggled free to see the leader tumble to the ground with Girish standing behind the man.
With a frown, he glanced at the others, who all looked equally shocked by what they’d witnessed, though as it happened behind him, Trent wasn’t sure what he’d missed.
He looked back at the leader, who was now lying in a pool of blood with a dagger buried in his side. Trent stepped away from the corpse.
He looked back at Girish and, this time, noticed the gun in his hand, but no shots had wrung out. He might have knocked the leader out with the gun before stabbing him. Good fucking work, Girish.
“Figures that asshole would live on and track us down to the very end.”
Trent gaped at him.
The man shuffled his feet, kicking up dirt around them.
Nothing came out when Trent opened his mouth. He couldn’t even think of words.
Girish laughed nervously. “You mean I actually made you speechless?”
Trent rolled his eyes.
Mike led the others over. He patted Girish on the back, “Good work.”
“Great to see you,” Emyr added. “We’ll drag the crap out and deposit it into the tall grass.”
He and Mike stood over the body of their leader contemplating the best way to move it.
Kipper was quick to help them, but not without first saying, “Katya, you shouldn’t look. You shouldn’t have seen this. Just stay back.”
At the same time Arden groaned. “Kiss and makeup, Girish, while we take care of the garbage. No one will know who he was, nor care.”
Girish moved closer to Trent, who still stood gaping as if in shock. But Katya ran over to stand between them. She fussed over Trent, saying she was pleased he was all right, and she fussed over Girish in a similar way, giving him a big hug and saying she was pleased to see him.
After checking with Emyr, Arden took Katya’s arm and pulled her away. “Sort it out fellas.”
“I had to leave, but I hope it’s okay to come back. I hope I haven’t left it too late,” Girish said when Trent said nothing.
“Perfect timing, I call it. And pleased you’ve got over your concerns about killing people.”
“Collateral damage. The leader understands that.” Girish waved a hand in the direction of the corpse.
“I hate that you once again saved my life.” Trent trembled slightly until he got a grip on himself and guarded his emotions in the way he had mastered over the years. “I owe you my life and freedom. Thank you for that, and I hate that you left.”
Girish stepped a little closer, and Trent raised a hand to maintain the space between them. “I hate you, you hear me?”
“You have every right to be angry with me. You gave me my life, and I saved yours. And I owe you for that, so I figure we’re even.” Girish bit his lip. “I’d be a fool if I expected you to run into my arms like long-lost brothers. I’m sorry for leaving.”
Trent wished he had the strength to say goodbye and turn away, but he wasn’t that strong. “What did you do for the last three months?”
“I am thankful for a chance to be on my own, to see the world with nothing to hold me back. It’s something I’ve never done before. I fended for myself. I slept in various hostels. That money went a long way out here. To be honest, I struggled, but it felt right to do so. Instead of my prison record looming over my head at every step, I had to start anew and discover how to live again.” He stopped to reach out for Trent’s hand, pulling him close. “The only thing missing was you. This thought is eating away at me.”
“What thought?” Trent swallowed, determined to maintain his hard, emotionless exterior.
“What would have happened if the others hadn’t crashed in on us that night? What would have happened if you’d told me what I wanted to hear? I wanted you to want me like I wanted you. I mean, actually desired me and cared about me. You acted like you weren’t bothered.”
“Not bothered? Are you kidding?”
“What would have happened if I’d kissed you like I wanted to?”
“Fuck.” Trent removed his dark glasses and looked into Girish’s eyes. “I’m not ready to get my heart broken. I should never have fallen for you, and you made it plain enough that you weren’t interested in me. Isn’t that so?”
Girish smiled and then leaned in...
Trent pushed him away. “You didn’t answer my question, Kannan.”
Girish leaned in again, getting close to hovering over Trent’s lips. “I’m trying to.”
“A kiss is not an answer to my question.” Trent pushed back again. “That’s not good enough. Didn’t you make it plain you weren’t interested in me? Did you expect me to keep chasing you — like I did — even though you said it would never happen?”
Girish groaned and looked to the others for help.
They were clearly more interested in watching the scene more than they were making an effort to hide the body.
“Don’t look at me,” Mike said. “I’m not the one who ditched the man I love. Hell, I had to hide my feelings for him for five years until I got a chance to kiss him again. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Kipper and Arden just gave him shrugs.
“How about telling him you won’t leave again unless you’re able to beat Trent with your bare hands,” Emyr suggested with a grin.
Mike laughed and said to Emyr, “That will never fucking happen.”
“Exactly my point. But they can have fun trying.”
Girish rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to leave again.”
“Then tell that to him. I’m not the one you need to convince.” Emyr nodded to Trent.
Girish turned to gaze into Trent’s eyes through the dark glasses. “I know we’ve butted heads and said stupid things, but I believe we’re good together. Soulmates sounds cheesy, but I know it’s true.”
Trent took several steps, backing away from Girish. “I’m not ready to hear this. I’m going home. Alone.” He turned and walked away.
* * *
After watching Trent walk back towards the fayre, in the direction that also took him home, and Katya chasing after him, Girish turned to face the other guys.
“I think putting this body in the transporter is the best option.” Mike was almost single-handedly propping up the bloody body. “Can someone get the door?”
Kipper moved over, digging his hand into the dead man’s pocket to retrieve the keys. “You’re so lucky no one saw us.”
Mike snorted. “Yeah, dead companions is never a good look.”
Emyr helped Mike shove the body into the transporter and then wiped his hands off. “Where are we going to dump it? Or do we leave it here?”
“Best leave it here. The more we interact with the body and the vehicle, the greater chance we’ll be linked to them.” Kipper walked away from the vehicle and approached Girish. “Did you finally man up, or did he tell you where to shove it?”
“It’s complicated.” Girish stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“It’s not,” Arden pushed forward. “Either you like him, or you don’t. It’s that simple.”
“It is that simple. Girish either likes Trent or doesn’t. If not, why come back here?” Emyr leaned against the transporter.
“Get away from there.” Mike pulled Emyr away from the vehicle. “We don’t want forensics identifying your arse print, or finding dust from this hulk of metal on your clothes.” Mike rolled his eyes and then smirked at Emyr. “Girish’s back because he’s been alone for three months and can’t take it any longer. Is that right?”
