Chapter Fifteen

 

“Blare.”

He looked to the doorway to see Takayuki almost frantically waving him over. He hurried over to him and placed a hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

Takayuki grabbed his hand and pulled him through the house. “Something’s wrong with Rivet.”

His heart nearly stopped, and he set his drink on a free surface as they hurried out of the house. He felt Takayuki let go of his hand just as he saw Rivet huddled at the end of the lawn.

“Stay there,” he said to Takayuki as he walked toward Rivet. He stepped deliberately, but slowly toward his boyfriend. Blare crouched in front of him just out of arm’s reach. He took an audible breath and spoke softly trying not to startle Rivet further if his steps weren’t heard. “Rivet?”

Rivet glanced up from his knees. “I’m so sorry.”

“Sweetheart, what happened?”

“I did not—I’m sorry, sorry, sorry.”

“Okay, sweetie, it’s all right,” Blare slowly extended his arms to embrace him but paused, catching sight of the blood dripping down Rivet’s forearm. “Are you bleeding?”

Rivet latched onto Blare, burying his face into his boyfriend’s chest.

“I don’t know how to help, if you don’t tell me what happened,” he whispered, running his fingers through Rivet’s hair. He heard Takayuki sigh softly and saw him open his mouth and hesitate. Blare turned his gaze fully to face him. “What happened?”

Takayuki shook his head. “I didn’t see much.”

He was desperate to know what caused his boyfriend to become so terrified. He wrapped his arms tighter around Rivet. “Please. Whatever you know.”

“It was Claire and Clarence,” whispered Takayuki. “When I walked by the room I heard Rivet,” his eyes shot to the mentioned man, “he sounded scared.” He shook his head and continued, “I opened the door and saw the twins holding him down. Rivet broke free. He pulled the door from my hand and ran right past me. I don’t think he even saw I was right there. I followed him and then went to get you.”

Blare carded his fingers through Rivet’s hair. “What happened, sweetheart?” He felt Rivet shake his head in a negative response. “You can tell me,” he soothed. “It’s okay.”

“They… they…”

“Hey, breathe,” said Blare patiently. He fought to keep the edge out of his voice and posture, knowing Rivet would pick up on it. He watched Rivet struggle to regain his breath. “I’m so sorry.”

He gently rocked them from side to side, waiting for Rivet to calm down. He laid his cheek on Rivet’s hair focusing on comforting his boyfriend rather than his ire at the twins.

“I,” Rivet croaked before clearing his throat. “I think they meant to rape me.”

Blare gasped, tightening his hold on Rivet. He felt his face flush and he grew dizzy. He hoped he’d never be in a situation where one he cared for was assaulted in anyway, let alone sexually.

“I-I know you have little reason to believe me,” said Rivet. “I should have been able to fight them—”

Blare softly shushed him, running his fingers through the blond locks. “I believe you. It’s not your fault,” he whispered and turned to look at his wide-eyed friend. “Taka, call the police—”

Rivet cut him off. “No, Blare—”

He couldn’t believe Rivet would rather forget about it and let the twins go free. “No, sweetie. What they did was unacceptable, not to mention illegal.” He turned to Taka. “Tell them sirens aren’t necessary, but to please hurry and bring an ambulance.”

“Yes, sure.” Taka fumbled with his phone, nearly dropping it.

“I do not need an ambulance,” whispered Rivet.

He ran his eyes down Rivet, seeing the alarming dark spots soaking his shirt and jeans. “There’s blood everywhere, sweetie.”

“My medication thins my blood, so I bleed extensively. No need for such fuss.”

“All the more reason to worry. Are you feeling faint?”

Rivet shrugged.

He frowned. “What does that mean?”

“I usually feel faint after a panic attack. I do not know if it is because of that or because I am losing blood. It could even be the effect of something else entirely.”

He felt his face pale at Rivet’s quiet nonchalance. “Is this your argument for no ambulance? If anything you’re making me want you to get checked over anyway.”

“You may do as you wish.”

“I care for you, sweetheart.” He paused to swallow the lump in his throat. “I’m doing this for you. I don’t want to see you hurt, and I definitely don’t want you to die in my arms from bleeding out because an ambulance wasn’t called. Do you understand?”

“I don’t. I am sorry.”

He squeezed Rivet tighter but didn’t answer for a few moments. At least he was honest. “One day you will. One day.”

He kept up his comforting touches, finding it soothing him too. He kissed Rivet’s temple, smoothing his hair back, away from his face. He blinked his burning eyes, letting loose a few silent tears. The cold presence of guilt pitted his stomach. He should’ve left as soon as he saw the twins at the party. Flashing lights caught his attention. He looked up as the lights of a police car cut off. He watched as the car pulled in front of the house. He could see the ambulance in the distance.

“Good evening,” said the female officer as she shut the passenger’s side door behind her. “I’m Officer Powel, and this is my partner, Officer Carty.” She motioned to the male officer who climbed out of the driver’s seat.

“Somebody called from this residence about an assault?” asked Officer Powel.

He nodded. “My boyfriend was attacked.”

“By whom?” Officer Powel reached into her breast pocket, retrieving a little notebook and pen.

“They’re still inside the house. They’re twins—Claire and Clarence Morales.”

“And he needs medical?” asked Officer Carty.

Blare nodded and watched Officer Carty calmly wave over the EMTs.

Officer Powel stopped flipping through the notebook and jotted a few things down. “Will you repeat their names?”

“Claire and Clarence Morales,” Takayuki answered and gestured back to the house. “I can show you who they are.”

“Please do.” Both officers began following Taka into the house, but Rivet stopped them.

“Wait. I-I hit him.” Rivet struggled to get that much out.

Blare rubbed his back. “I’m sure the officers understand. It was self—”

Rivet shook his head, eyes boring into Blare’s pleading he understand what his muddled mind was trying to tell him. “He, uh,” he blinked his eyes and shook his head, “Broke. I broke his rib and his foot. He didn’t…” he trailed off.

“He didn’t feel it?” asked Blare.

“You believe him to be under the influence of drugs?” asked the female officer.

Rivet nodded. “He didn’t even flinch, but I…”

Blare grew more concerned at Rivet’s breathy and incomplete sentences.

Officer Powel nodded. “Get yourself checked by medical. We’ll need a statement after we take them into custody.”

Blare nodded and looked to see a female paramedic walking their way.

“Who is hurt?” she asked.

“He is,” he murmured, keeping his hold on Rivet.

She set her bag down and knelt in front of them. “Sir?” she asked as she snapped on a pair of gloves and rummaged one-handed in her bag.

“I’m bleeding and my neck hurts.”

“Can you stand? We will go into the back of the ambulance, so I can see better.”

“Okay.”

Blare and the paramedic helped Rivet to his feet, walking him slowly to the back of the ambulance, where the other paramedic was grabbing various packages from the storage containers. Blare stepped back once Rivet was settled in the back, letting the paramedics do their job, but staying close enough to comfort. He watched, arms crossed low at his waist, trying to stave off his sudden chill. Rivet lifted his head at the EMT’s prompting, revealing purple bruises mottling the entire surface of his neck.

“Do you know what caused this?” asked the EMT, checking the bruising.

“His arm,” whispered Rivet. “He was choking me.”

“Were you conscious the entire time?”

Rivet gave a small nod. “Hold—I can hold my breath for over ten minutes. That wasn’t an issue.”

Another police car pulled up next to the other one. Two male officers stepped out and walked straight to the house, going through the open door. He hoped the twins went to prison forever. He clenched his teeth against his anger. There was no excuse. He knew Rivet didn’t do anything to them. On drugs or not, how could they be so inherently evil?

“Did they inject you with anything?” asked the paramedic.

Blare startled, hands tightening at his sides. He focused on Rivet’s answer.

Rivet shook his head. “Claire tried, but.” He shook his head once more.

Blare let out a little sigh of relief. He felt guilty enough for bringing Rivet into a place where something like this could happen.

“Sir?” asked Officer Powel.

He looked in the direction of the voice, seeing the remaining officers putting the twins in the back of the squad car.

“Do you mind stepping over here and speaking with me for a moment?” she asked.

Blare did, indeed, mind, but he stepped a few yards away from the ambulance, not taking his eyes off Rivet’s sluggish movements.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Blare snapped his gaze from Rivet sitting in the back of the ambulance to the female police officer in front of him. “I honestly don’t know much. I wasn’t with him.” He bit his lip and blinked a few times, willing the tears to go away.

“Tell me what you know.”

“Okay.” He let out a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Rivet and I were sitting next to each other in the living room with some other people. We stayed inside, away from the twins.”

“When you say the twins, you mean Mr. and Ms. Morales?”

He wiped at the tear that ran down his check. “Yes.”

“All right and then what happened?”

“I went to the bathroom at the front of the house and then into the kitchen to get some food. I was getting something to drink just as Taka showed up in the doorway and told me something happened to Rivet.” He glanced over and watched Rivet shake his head and look down, speaking with Officer Carty. He returned his gaze to Officer Powel and wrapped an arm around his torso, resting the other on top of it. “We both came outside, and he was sitting on the grass. When I was able to calm him down, he told me what happened. I can’t believe they did this.”

“They never showed any aggression toward him before?”

“Well, yeah, kind of. When they first met him, they were super rude. I told them off for it.”

“How positive are you that he didn’t, in fact, do anything?”

Blare fought down a glare that he wanted to aim at the officer. “About one thousand percent sure he did not, would not, or could not even think about doing something for them to retaliate in any way. He’s strong, and I know he looks intimidating, but he wouldn’t want to hurt anybody.”

“Okay, thank you.” Officer Powel, glancing behind him. “Both Mr. and Ms. Morales will be booked tonight. They’ll have to wait for arraignment Monday morning because of the weekend. I’m sure a condition of their bail will be no contact with Mr. Scalzo; however, I suggest both of you go first thing in the morning Monday and get a civil protective order on both of them, just for extra security.”

Blare nodded, fighting another shiver. “Okay.” He felt a gentle touch on his arm. He turned to see Rivet in front of him, shoulders hunched. Blare wrapped his arms around Rivet’s shoulders.

“Can we leave,” whispered Rivet looking up with red-rimmed eyes and adding, “please?” before returning his gaze to the ground.

He looked up at the officer questioningly and hoped that the officer was done. “Of course, sweetie,” agreed Blare when the officer nodded. “I’ll take care of you.”