PHILLIP COULDN’T seem to get warm. In bed, in the loft, in his office at work…. He felt chilled to the bone, and thoughts of people dying filled his mind. He had to force himself to pay attention to what he was doing, and faked his way through his meetings, something he never did.
“Your four o’clock is waiting in the conference room,” Leonard said as he came into his office. “Are you okay? You’ve been distracted all day. Do you need something? I can bring you something for a headache if you want, or see about canceling the meeting.”
Phillip sat taller, bringing Barry’s kiss to the forefront of his mind instead of the morbid information he had been able to find afterward. That one memory was what had kept him moving forward through the day. Well, that and the way his lips still tingled when he thought about it. “No. They’ve come halfway across the country to meet with me about enhanced distribution opportunities.” It was part of his plan for the company’s new generation of products. “I’ll be just fine. Thank you.” He pushed back from his desk, then strode out of the office, picking up a bottle of water on his way as he headed to the meeting. Leonard followed him to the conference room. “Really, I’m okay. But I do need you to get the information together for tomorrow, if you could. I have to go over it tonight, and I don’t have the time to pull it together.”
“No problem.” Leonard turned back to his desk.
“Oh, and could you get us each one of those pecan rolls from that place around the corner? I think I’ll need one after this.” He smiled. Leonard grinned and hurried away as Phillip entered the conference room. He took his seat at the head of the table and started doing what he did best—wowing his guests with his vision for the company.
THE PECAN rolls were waiting for him on his small conference table in the corner. He called Leonard in, and they sat down together to take a break. He always did his best to make himself accessible to his employees, and with Leonard, he went even further. Hell, he’d be lost without the man. “So, how is everything going? You seeing anyone?” he asked, making small talk. There were times when Phillip knew he was oblivious about other people’s lives, but he did his best to keep up.
“I was for a while, but not right now.” Leonard took a bite and chewed, pretty much cutting off conversation. “Things have been busy… too busy in some ways.”
“If you want, you could take some vacation time. It’s tough when you’re gone, but you need to have some time for yourself.” Phillip ate a small bite and drank some water. “Assistants, I think, have the hardest jobs… especially around here. I rely on you so much, not just here at work, but to help keep my private life from falling apart. But that doesn’t mean you should drive yourself crazy. Maybe you should check out one of those all-inclusive resorts. Heck, find a gay one, book a week, and treat yourself to a little hedonistic fun. Or go on a cruise. Do something for yourself.”
“I’ve been thinking of taking a trip out to the West Coast sometime in the fall,” Leonard said, finishing up his pecan roll.
When Leonard started to tidy up, Phillip said, “Just leave it for now.” His personal phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out. “I need to take this.”
“Of course.” Leonard left the office, closing the door, and Phillip smiled as he answered Barry’s call.
“Hi.” This was the first bright spot in an otherwise long and boring day. “I’m glad you called.” Barry’s bright blue eyes flashed in his mind, and Phillip’s office suddenly grew warmer. He tugged at his collar to cool his skin a little.
“Is this a bad time?” Barry asked. “I didn’t want to call too early because I figured you’d be in meetings.”
“It’s good. I’m just finishing up for the day and was about to head home.” He didn’t want to think about the fact that he was going to spend the evening alone at his loft—just him and his imagination.
“Do you work on the weekends? I was hoping that maybe we could have lunch together on Saturday.”
Phillip found himself smiling uncontrollably. He usually came in to the office, but mainly just to check on his team and make sure the support staff had everything they needed. “I’d like that.” He pulled up his schedule and blocked out the time. “Do you want to meet somewhere?”
“I’ll pick you up at your building, and we can ride together. How does noon sound?” Barry asked, and Phillip agreed, just as someone knocked on his door. He called for the person to come in. Then, turning back to the phone, he added, “I need to go. But I’ll see you Saturday.” He hung up as Leonard hurried into the office and handed him the materials he’d requested earlier.
“I emailed you the rest. You should have them all.” Leonard stood across from his desk. “Is there anything else?”
“No. Thank you, this is exactly what I need,” Phillip said, leafing through the information. “You have a good night.” Phillip turned his attention earnestly to the paperwork Leonard had found for him, but his mind wouldn’t settle. So he decided to go home—he’d try again tomorrow. After packing up his attaché and locking his computer and office, Phillip strode to the lobby, saying good night to his staff along the way.
He stood in the lobby, watching the elevator’s floor indicator. It didn’t seem to be moving. Rather than wait any longer, he pushed open the door to the stairs and descended toward the lobby, his footsteps echoing off the utilitarian walls of the stairwell. But when he reached the second-floor landing, his feet suddenly went out from under him. What the…? The stairs came up to meet him, and Phillip tumbled to the next landing, ending up in a heap against the wall.
He stayed there for a minute. His head throbbed as he slowly took stock of what hurt and what he could move. His ribs ached, and when he gasped, a stab of pain went through his side. Phillip slowly reached for his phone, holding his body as still as he could. He called 911 and explained where he was, then asked for an ambulance. Then he dropped his phone to the floor and concentrated on breathing, trying to avoid doing any more damage.
He’d never felt so alone in his life. Phillip wondered if he should call Leonard, but he would only fuss, and help was on the way. His phone buzzed, and Phillip slowly reached for it, pressed the button to respond to the text with a call, and then put the phone on speaker. “Barry….”
“What happened? You sound like you’re in pain.”
“I fell down the stairs at the office. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but I don’t dare move in case I make things worse.” Heavy footsteps sounded below him. “I think help is here.” He tried not to breathe too heavily as relief washed over him.
“I’m on my way,” Barry said.
“No. Please. By the time you get here, I’ll probably already be on my way to Emergency. I’ll call you and let you know what’s going on. I promise.” He shouldn’t have called Barry. Phillip could easily become dependent on him, and if what he was afraid of was true, then getting involved with Phillip could put Barry in danger. That was the last thing Phillip wanted. A man and a woman in uniform reached him. “I have to go, but I will call as soon as I can.” He ended the call and closed his eyes, letting true relief—and the fact that Barry was so concerned about him—warm him just a little.
“I’m Walt, and this is Elana,” the EMT said gently. “What happened?”
“I lost my footing just as I was going down the stairs. But my side hurts when I try to move,” Phillip explained.
“Did you hit your head?” she asked. “Did someone push you?”
“I wasn’t pushed, and I don’t think I hit my head. My neck and back seem to be okay too. There’s no pain there. It’s just my side. I think I did something to a rib, but I’m not sure.”
“I’ll get a backboard to be safe,” Elana said and hurried away.
“It’s okay. Can you tell us your name?” Walt said.
“It’s Phillip Barone, and I work on the fifth floor. The elevator was taking forever, so I decided to use the stairs. I guess I took the stairs a little too quickly.” He shivered, and Walt put a blanket over him. “That’s better.”
“Good.” He took Phillip’s vital signs, and Elana returned and they got him on the board. As soon as he was immobilized, the pain lessened and his breathing became less painful. God, that felt so much better. A second team came up the stairs with a gurney, and the board was placed onto it. Then he was taken the rest of the way down the stairs and out to the ambulance, which was parked in the garage, right near the door. Phillip answered all their questions, and soon enough they were on their way through the city, the siren blaring and clearing a way for them.
“Which hospital are we going to?” Phillip asked.
“St. Luke’s. We’ll be there in a few minutes, and they will help you call your family.”
Phillip closed his eyes again. It made the ride easier. “Don’t have any family left.” There was no use bothering everyone.
“You shouldn’t be alone,” Elana told him, gently patting his hand.
“I’m used to it,” Phillip said, but her expression told him she wasn’t going to take that for an answer. But she didn’t press as they slowed, and soon Phillip was taken out of the ambulance and wheeled into the emergency department, where he was taken to a room and transferred to a bed.
“Hi, I’m Marty. I’ll be taking care of you tonight.” A male nurse pulled up a rolling computer on a cart and began asking a ton of questions that Phillip was easily able to answer. “Nothing wrong with your head, then.”
“No.” Phillip closed his eyes to block out the light and continued to answer questions. “Just my side.”
He went into the information about allergies and other health issues. Phillip answered all the inquiries, and the doctor came in, asked even more questions, then told him that they were going to send him for X-rays to see what was going on. Once he left, Phillip was alone with Marty. “Don’t you have other patients tonight?”
“Thankfully, it’s quiet.” He made sure Phillip was comfortable. “One of the orderlies will be in to take you for your X-rays soon, and….” Marty turned to him, a puzzled expression on his face. “I’m sorry, but I’d swear I’ve seen you before, though we’ve probably never actually met. Have you been here before?” Marty smiled, and Phillip couldn’t help doing the same when he noticed the nurse’s purple scrub top. It was covered with unicorns and rainbows.
“No. Not that I remember….” Phillip’s voice trailed off as he tried to figure out if he’d ever met Marty, but he came up a complete blank. “I’m sure I’d have remembered the unicorns.”
“Is there anyone I should call?” Marty asked.
“I suppose I should call my assistant and let him know what’s going on.” Phillip got his phone out, moving slowly. He punched in Leonard’s number. When his assistant answered, Phillip explained where he was and what had happened.
“My God. Are you okay? I’ll be right there.” Leonard seemed a little frantic, and as soon as Phillip hung up, an orderly came to take him down for X-rays. Thankfully, that didn’t take too long. When he returned to the room, it was empty, but Marty came in a few minutes later with an iPad. He set it aside and checked to make sure Phillip was comfortable.
“I figured out why you seem familiar.” Marty pulled up an image, and Phillip smiled. “That is you, right?”
“Yeah.” Phillip was much more comfortable now and actually smiled slightly at the image. He loved that painting. Phillip’s friend Mark Burke was an artist, and he had asked if Phillip would sit for a portrait. Phillip had agreed, and Mark had used it in a recent exhibition. “That painting will hang in my loft once the show is over.” He’d bought the portrait to support his friend, but also because Mark had made him look really, really good.
Marty smiled brightly. “I have a few of his prints in my living room. I met him once at a show, and he was so nice.” Marty was gushing a little and practically bouncing on his heels. Phillip smiled at his energy. He needed some of that tonight.
“Mark and I have been friends for a number of years now. I see him just about every Friday evening for dinner. Maybe you could join us when it’s my turn to host in a couple of weeks. He and his husband, Tyler, are wonderful guys.” A knock on the door interrupted them, and Leonard hurried into the room. “Remind me to give you a card before I leave, and we can get together. It would be great to have you over for an evening.”
Marty excused himself and left the room, and Leonard began fussing. “Are you really okay? Will you need someone to take care of you?”
“I don’t know yet. They haven’t told me what’s wrong.” He was feeling a little better now that he was lying down, but moving was still painful. “Why don’t you have a seat. They already took pictures, so I’m waiting for the doctor to get the results and figure out what they’re going to do.” He wasn’t in a hurry, and other than being hungry, he was at least comfortable for the most part.
“Mr. Barone,” the doctor said as he came inside. “You were very lucky. The pain you’re having is from a cracked rib and some bruising. It could have been much worse. We’re going to give you something for the pain so you can sleep, and you’re going to need to take it easy for a few weeks. The rib should heal on its own, but you’ll have to be careful not to reinjure it. And the bruising should ease in time. Once we get your prescriptions ready, the nurse will have some things for you to sign. Then he’s going to wrap your ribs to give you some support, and you can go home. Do you have a ride?” The doctor turned to Leonard.
“I’ll take you,” Leonard offered.
Phillip took Leonard’s hand. “Thanks, but it’s really out of your way. You live on the other side of town. I’ll call the service and have a limousine meet me here. They can take me home. But I do appreciate you coming down here to be with me. It means a lot.” Leonard was a good friend, but Phillip wasn’t going to inconvenience him any more.
“It’s no trouble,” Leonard said. “Really.”
“I’ll be fine. Once I get to the building, I’ll lie down and that will be it. But can you please handle things in the office tomorrow? Clear my schedule and take messages. I’ll stay at home and rest, I promise.” He let go of Leonard’s hand and lay back.
“Are you sure?” Leonard asked.
“Of course I am. It’s already late, and I really need you to take care of things for me at the office tomorrow. I know I can count on you.” He trusted Leonard with every facet of his company. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“If you’re sure,” Leonard said, as he headed for the door. “Are you sure there isn’t anything else I can do for you?”
“No. I’ll be fine.” Phillip smiled. Leonard left, and Marty came into the room.
“I’m here to wrap your ribs and give you the final paperwork before we let you go.” He helped Phillip to sit up and wrapped his ribs. “This is going to help remind you that your posture is important and that you need to keep your upper body as still as possible.” He finished with the wrapping and handed Phillip his prescriptions and a pill, which he downed with water. Phillip got his wallet and gave Marty a business card.
“I’m serious. You’re more than welcome to come over when I have the guys at my place. Mark is always happy to meet someone who appreciates his work, and I can show you some of the other paintings I’ve bought from him.”
Phillip lay back down for a moment, resting while Marty filled out the last of the paperwork. He was about to call Barry to let him know what was going on when Barry beat him to it.
“How bad is it? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just some bruising and a cracked rib. They wrapped me up, and I can go home. I was just about to call a limo.”
“Don’t go anywhere. Are you at St. Luke’s? I’ll be there in ten minutes, and I’ll see that you get home safely. Don’t let some stranger take you home. I’m leaving now.” Barry hung up before Phillip could protest, so he put his phone in his pocket and signed the last few forms Marty handed him.
“I’ll see you out in a few minutes. Let me get this paperwork filed, and then you can stay here until your ride arrives.” Marty gently patted his shoulder and left the room.
BARRY HAD pulled his car up to the door and watched as Phillip slowly walked out of the hospital and into the night air. Phillip opened the door and gingerly slid into the passenger seat. Barry helped him get his seat belt on and then pulled away from the curb.
“You should have called me. I would have been here for you,” Barry said and then reached across the console to take Phillip’s hand. “Are you really okay?” God, it felt so good to hold his hand, the simple physical touch reassuring.
“Yes. I’m going to be fine. They said I was lucky, that I could have really hurt myself.” Phillip closed his eyes, and Barry hoped some of the pain medication was kicking in. “Please just take me home. I want to lie down and not get out of bed for two days.”
Barry thought that sounded like a great idea.
“I bet you do.” Barry squeezed his hand. “By the way, I don’t want to frighten you, but I think you need to know. The guy from the restaurant last night? I saw him leave by the other door as we were coming out. Same coat, same jacket. I’m going to take a guess that you might have picked up a stalker.” He hated the very idea that Phillip was in danger.
“A what? You have to be kidding,” Phillip said. “Maybe he was following you.”
“I don’t think so.” Barry looked over at him. “Why would he follow me, when I could snap his neck like a chicken? Nope, this guy was waiting for you. I think he was about to approach you when he saw me and bolted. I got a glimpse of him, but it wasn’t enough to really see him.” Barry made the turn onto 27th Street, heading toward the freeway. “Geeky kind of kid.”
“Wonderful,” Phillip breathed. “Although this might not have anything to do with me at all. Whenever there’s a new high-profile game about to launch, we sometimes see people hanging around, as if they can get some sort of inside scoop before it comes out. And our newest game, Harbinger of Doom, is creating a lot of hype. That’s probably it. Or maybe someone is trying to steal it from us.”
“So, you’re saying you think you might be being stalked because of a game?”
Phillip shrugged slowly. “It happens. Believe me, my games and the platform they run on are a lot more interesting than I am.” Phillip sighed.
At that moment, Barry couldn’t believe anything could be more captivating than Phillip. Phillip fascinated him—he always had. Maybe it was because his mind worked so differently from other people’s. He saw the world in a different light—he had to, in order to create the games he came up with.
Barry chuckled. “Do you always joke around when you’re hurt?”
“It’s better than whining all the time. I could do that, if you’d prefer.” The lines around Phillip’s eyes and mouth grew softer. Hopefully some of his pain was easing.
“No thanks.” Barry pulled to a stop and grinned. “You’re something else, you know that?” Keeping his sense of humor in a situation like this? That took guts. “But I’m not kidding. You need to be more careful. I wonder how he knew you were here….” Barry continued driving, and Phillip held his hand a little tighter.
The freeway was hell, and Phillip clenched his teeth together, but to his credit, didn’t make a sound at the sudden movements of the car, keeping his eyes clasped shut until Barry came to a final stop outside Phillip’s building. “I’ll have to go through the lobby. My garage door opener is in my car,” Phillip said. Then he opened the door and got out. Barry got out too, hurrying around to steady him as they went inside, then rode up with him to his apartment. Phillip unlocked his door, and Barry followed him inside.
“This is stunning,” Barry said as he looked around the loft. The space was large, with huge windows. Even some of the old brick had been left exposed.
“It used to be part of the Blatz Brewery, and I bought the space unfinished. My friend Mary helped me design the place and decorated it for me.” Phillip set his keys on the table and held the back of one of the dining chairs to help keep him upright. “I have drinks and food in the fridge.”
“Okay,” Barry said as he came over and gently took Phillip’s arm. “Let’s get you to the bedroom.”
“I like the sound of that.” Phillip slurred his words slightly as he rubbed his hand up and down Barry’s arm. Barry carefully drew Phillip a little closer as warmth spread through him.
“Phillip…,” Barry breathed as he drew nearer, Phillip’s deep eyes calling to him. Phillip was so tempting, and he needed to taste him. His heart raced as the thought of having Phillip all to himself grew nearly overwhelming. More of Phillip’s weight shifted to him, and Barry realized just how exhausted Phillip was. He was also probably a little loopy on the drugs he’d been given. Barry shook his head slightly. As much as he would have liked to be with Phillip tonight, Barry wasn’t going to take advantage of him. If it was meant to be between them, it would happen. And he could wait.
He gently guided Phillip through the apartment, happy to get to hold him a little. Phillip opened his bedroom door and lay down on the bed without even taking off his clothes. The medication must have really kicked in, because he seemed to have no energy left, and in minutes, Phillip had dropped right off to sleep. Barry carefully undressed Phillip and covered him before turning out the light. He paused in the doorway, just watching him. It was so easy to forget that Phillip was younger than him, even though they’d been in college together. Barry closed his eyes, picturing the young, almost vulnerable guy Phillip had been back then. He’d been a wunderkind, and had never quite fit in with the regular college crowd. He was different now, but so was Barry. Phillip had always been smart as a whip, almost intimidatingly so. But now there was a kind of light around him. He was confident in what he knew, and where most people would have freaked out, Phillip was strong enough to carry on and push forward.
Barry, on the other hand, had seen things he wished he hadn’t. Hell, there was a year where he’d almost destroyed himself completely. What would Phillip think if he found out? The corps had done a lot for him, but it had left him with scars, some on the outside, but with more on the inside. Thankfully, they’d all begun to fade, but they still left their mark.
Barry knew he should turn away, because watching a guy sleep could be considered creepy, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of Phillip. He was tempted to climb into bed with him and simply hold him for the rest of the night. His pants grew tighter just at the notion, so he turned away. It was a bad idea, and no matter how attracted he was, Phillip was hurt, and that had to take precedence. Maybe Phillip didn’t see him that way anyway. And if that was the case, he’d have to accept that friendship might be all he was ever going to get, and be happy with it.
PHILLIP WOKE stiff. His shoes and socks were gone, and so were his pants. A single blanket rested over him. He needed to use the bathroom, but was afraid to move in case the pain that had eased would only start again. But he had to, so Phillip gingerly got off the bed and took slow, small steps to the bathroom. After relieving himself, he wondered what time it was. The hospital had given him a few pills to last him through the night. Hopefully it was time for him to take them.
He left the bedroom and found Barry on his sofa. His friend sprang awake as soon as Phillip came into the room. “I didn’t want to scare you, but I wasn’t going to leave you alone.” Barry hurried to the kitchen and poured a glass of juice, then handed it to Phillip. “You need to stay hydrated.”
“Thanks. What time is it?” He drank the juice, and his throat felt so much better. Then he set the glass on the table.
“About four. It’s probably time for more painkillers,” Barry said, going to get him a glass of water. Phillip stared at his boxers-covered butt, letting himself imagine just what wonders that cotton held, then dug out his pills. Barry brought the water, set it on the table, and sat down. Phillip played with the bottle of medication, but he wasn’t quite ready to take the pills yet. He knew they’d only put him back to sleep, and this was too unbelievable to sleep through. “Not tired?” Barry pulled out one of the chairs.
“I just slept for hours, and I need to work some of the kinks out before I go back to bed.” He yawned and tried not to stare at Barry, but it was hard, and he felt the beginnings of a stirring in his own boxers. “Maybe we can talk.”
Barry got some more to drink and sat back down. “What do you want to talk about? This stalker?” Barry’s eyes were hard as stone. “I went back to your office. Sorry, but I took your keys and went over there while you were sleeping. I saw where you fell. Something slippery had been spilled on the landing, although it had been wiped up. Now, it could have been an accident, but somehow I doubt it.” Barry took his hand. “I think maybe you were meant to fall.”
“But why?” Phillip asked.
Barry shrugged and shook his head. “Maybe so the stalker could help you and be a hero? Or so they could get close to you and your new game. Maybe you were meant to get hurt worse than you did? I really wish I knew. There are a lot of possibilities, more than I like.”
Phillip went cold, and this time the shivers wouldn’t stop. Barry hurried away and got a blanket, and pulled it over his shoulders. “I had hoped it was my imagination.”
“So there is more?”
Phillip nodded. “I told you that the last three guys I was involved with died. Well, I think they were killed because of me. All three had accidents, and I’d been waiting to hear from them when those accidents happened. I went online to find out the details of each death, and in every case, it was something that could have been set up. Have I been watching too many CSI episodes? I thought it was just a coincidence at first, but three? And now this.” He swallowed and put his hands over his face. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if I were a character in one of my games, I’d be the next victim. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Everyone at work noticed.” He huffed out a breath. “I need to do something, but don’t know what to do to protect myself.”
“Give me the names of the people who died and anything else that you consider suspicious. I’ll look into it.” Barry took a drink of juice and set the glass down.
“How can you?” Phillip asked. “It isn’t like you’re in law enforcement, and people aren’t just going to hand over the records.”
“No.” Barry smiled. “But do you remember all those friends and brothers that I told you about?” His expression turned playfully devious, and Phillip groaned, pondering if that attitude extended to other areas of his life. “I have a few buddies that I can call. They know how to get information. I’m willing to bet that there’s something suspicious about the death of each guy, but it wasn’t enough to dig any further, and alone, it didn’t mean anything.”
Phillip scratched his head and wondered if he should just go ahead and take that damned pill. His side ached, and his head pounded just thinking that someone was killing the people he got close to. Phillip lifted his gaze and had an “oh shit” moment. “Maybe you should just stay away from the whole thing… and me. What if this guy is killing the people I date because he wants me to somehow turn to him or something? What if they go after you?” Phillip bit his lower lip.
“Okay, I think you’re jumping to conclusions here. Yes, I think you might have picked up a stalker, and it’s clear something had been put on that landing to make it slick. It could have been spilled accidentally, I suppose….”
“Are you trying to protect me?” Phillip interrupted. “You don’t have to treat me like a child.”
“Then don’t treat me like one either. I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions, thanks.” Barry leaned over the table, his face coming closer to Phillip’s. “Right now, it’s four in the morning and neither of us is at our best. I’ll see what I can find out about the death of your friends, and you should take your pills and go back to bed. You need to give yourself a chance to heal.”
Barry stood and came around the table, helping Phillip up. He was careful and yet strong, making it so much easier for Phillip to navigate back to his bedroom. Barry brought the pills and the glass of water. Phillip took the medication and lay down, carefully removing the shirt he’d had on since yesterday and then pulling the covers over himself. Barry leaned over the bed and lightly kissed him. “Rest, and I’ll be right out there in case something happens. You need to get better so you can get those bandages off and we can figure out exactly what happens next.” The growl in his voice was deep and intense. Phillip wished the kiss had been longer and that he had the energy to do something about it, with Barry so close. Still, it gave him something to look forward to as he closed his eyes and let the medication carry him away.