Rating: MA

Disclaimer: All fiction

Note: Proof read a hundred times in the wee hours of the morning. Forgive any mistakes!

Cody sat quietly as he looked out over the rolling hills and trees of his fiance's land from the solid cherry-wood porch swing he'd bought and placed on the back porch months earlier, absently day dreaming he was anywhere but there and tried to block out the pain radiating over his forehead and temple. Days had passed and still the healing cut over his brow hurt but not as much as his throat still did. It was a constant throb and ache he could barely think passed and at times it was almost too painful to swallow or BREATHE, especially when he tried to sleep. He was exhausted and the dark circles under his eyes almost matched the dark bruises that had formed in the shapes of long thick fingers around his throat and the sides of his neck where Ted had mercilessly nearly squeezed the life out of him. He didn't know how long he'd been outside and didn't really care either. Being inside the house when Ted was home was...beyond nerve wracking. He never knew when Ted was going to pass by and give him another disappointed scowl or worse, give him another long, mind numbing lecture on how he was expected to act and treat his future husband.

Truth was he just didn't care about what Ted expected from him anymore and listening to him go on and ON about manners and proper behavior after a while had become like nails on chalk board. It even began to sicken him to the point where he thought he might actually wretch with disgust and had sought relief outside the house, hoping the fresh air would quail his quivering stomach. And thankfully it did. He got comfortable in his seat and even with another fierce storm rapidly approaching, bringing heavy winds that blew leaves and rain across the wooden planks towards his feet, he had no intentions going anywhere any time soon. He only snuggled further down into Randal's black sweater he still refused to take off, despite Ted's negative comments about it's worn edges and faded material.

He didn't care too much about what Ted thought of it and why should he? Ted's opinion meant SHIT to him now and he wasn't going to take it off no matter what he said. It was the only thing he had to remind him of Randal and he NEEDED IT. Especially during times like these when he felt so broken, so beat down and trapped. Randal might have been gone but his sweater made him feel like he was still there, hugging him, comforting him, gazing at him with those intense blue eyes that always threatened to steal his breathe. He couldn't bare to take it off but, he was willing to compromise and assured his fiance that he wouldn't wear it out of the house. So beneath it he dressed "appropriately" in a dark purple long sleeve silk shirt and a tight black vest that Ted had tied painfully tight around his chest.

Ted may have been a good provider but he certainly wasn't a good fiance. He expected too much and gave too little. And if he wanted Cody to act like he was "supposed to" then he should have been too. Meaning he never should have fucking hit him. If he'd never started hitting him he knew he probably never would have let himself be seduced by the mysterious Randal and they'd actually be the happy couple Ted liked to pretend they were. But that bastard could care less that he wasn't actually happy, Ted didn't care about anyone but himself and what made HIM happy. So it was acceptable in his mind to hit someone until he got what he wanted out of them. After all he wasn't the one who had stepped out of line and caused himself to get hurt so why should he feel bad? Not even seeing the bruises and scares he left behind made him remorseful, because, he just wasn't. Ted was a bastard and he wished with all his heart and soul that he could leave him.

But he was trapped, stuck, SCREWED and forever promised to him. There was no way out, there was no running away. He had no where to go and no money of his own to even make it out of Harmoneyville. And even if he did Ted would still find him and bring him back and beat the life right out of him. He knew that now, he knew that Ted would kill him if he pulled a stunt like that. So what could he do but sit back and pretend to be the perfect, loyal little spouse that he was expected to be? He only had a little over a week left to figure that out because after that, Ted would officially and completely OWN him.

Despite the hideousness of his bruises and the new scar over his brow he was almost happy they were there because Ted had been forced to push the wedding back another week. Of course he blamed him for it and it prompted another sound scolding for his "appalling" and disrespectful behavior that left him completely puzzled. He just didn't get it. His fiance was growing increasingly tired of his presence and he still wanted to marry him? Why? If Ted was so unhappy and so disgusted with how he'd been acting then why was he still pushing to move up their wedding date? And why was he suddenly in such a rush?

It wasn't sex that he was after, he knew that much, especially since Ted refused to even kiss him good night anymore. And Ted sure as hell wasn't so consumed with love that he just couldn't bare not to be his husband for a second longer, as he so often wished he was. No, it was something else, something terrible that he just couldn't put his finger on.

"There you are!" Suddenly broke threw his thoughts and he cringed as he heard the door open and Evan step out onto the porch, "I've been calling you why didn't you answer?"

He tried to turn away to hide the bruises, to hide his shame. But his younger friend let out a loud startled gasp and he knew he hadn't moved in time and nearly crumbled to pieces all over again. Why would Ted let company over with him looking like this? How could he be so cruel! Ted knew he hated for people to see any bruises he'd inflicted, he knew it made him feel so horribly ashamed! The bastard was trying to humiliate him!

It's fucking working.

"Oh my god what's happened to your face?" Evan exclaimed, his eyes wide with concern and worry as he reached down and grabbed his face in his hands. "And your neck! Oh my god you're all beat up Cody!"

"It's nothing," He answered quickly, and his voice was still horribly hoarse. "I got thrown by Phinny."

"Really?" Evan huffed skeptically as he put his hands on his hips clearly eyed the bruises around his neck. "Since when does Phinny have hands?"

"Evan please," He implored softly, shaking his head and refused to meet his eyes. "Just mind your own business this time okay? Just leave it alone. This was my fault and I had it coming."

"What? Had it coming? Why?"

"Because...I wasn't...I mean I'm not..."

Because I can't pretend I love him anymore.

He heaved a heavy sigh before he was able to continue, fighting tears and still couldn't bare to look his friend in the eye. "Things just got out of hand. "

"Oh Cody," Evan whispered sorrowfully as he slowly sank down on the swing beside him, putting his hand on his knee and gave it a tender squeeze, "I'm so sorry..."

He shrugged, fighting a tightening ball of agony in the pit of his stomach and forced out more words that left such a bitter taste in his mouth. "It's okay, I learned my lesson."

"No!" Evan gasped softly. "It's not okay! No one deserves to be hurt like that Cody..." He trailed off as he grabbed his hand, curling his small fingers around it firmly as his eyes grew wide and shiny with unshed tears, "It's been him the whole time hasn't it? The other bruises you said were from Phinneaus were really from Ted weren't they?"

He cringed again and couldn't stop himself from nodding, letting out a strangled breathe as Evan started to pull him into a tight hug. "Shh don't cry," Evan soothed in such a warm and comforting tone that if he'd actually been aware that he was crying it might have stopped him. "It's okay Cody. Everything's going to be alright."

No it isn't! I'm marrying him in a week and then I'll be fucking trapped with him forever! No! Everything is not going to be alright!

"Hey," Evan called gently after a moment as he lent back and gently wiped a few tears from his cheek. "Why don't we go pick out something new to wear to the party tonight? I bet a new silk shirt would perk you right up."

Shit!

He'd forgotten all about the high society party that evening! Fuck that meant everyone was going to see his bruises! They were all going to see his shame!

FUCK!

Shopping was the LAST thing he wanted to do. Going into town meant everyone would see his bruises that much sooner and by them they'd know what a terrible companion he'd been to his future husband! Why would he want to expose himself to that when he was getting plenty of disgusted looks at home? And going into town also meant he'd be crushed all over again when he looked for and still didn't find his mysterious paramour. He didn't think he could handle that again, it just hurt too fucking much. "I don't know Evan, I've got these bruises and there's a storm coming and it's already raining and the roads are wet-"

"We'll be fine Cody." Evan encouraged in a gentle tone. "We'll hide your neck with a scarf if you'd like and the driver told me he knows a solid path we can take to keep ourselves out of trouble."

"We'll get caught out in the rain." Cody whined as he lent back and crossed his arms over his chest. "I really don't want to go."

Evan stood up and put his hands on his hips with a frustrated huff, "Alright YOU. I'm not letting you sit here and wallow in self pity. On days like this the merchants stands are either moved inside or covered. We'll be fine, I promise. Now come on don't you want to get out of here for a while?"

"Yeah," He finally forced himself to agree with a slight smile, giving up on refusing his persistent friend who he knew was only trying to help him. Might as well face everyone and get it over with. At least most everyone would know his condition before he showed up to the party and surprised them all. "I guess I could use some time away from the house." He stood up, keeping his head low as he prepared to approach his easily angered fiance who he could hear sharing heated words with John inside the house. "I'll just ask Theodore."

"He said you could go." Evan informed as he grabbed his hand again and his tone was oddly nervous, almost AFRAID, "Let's just go around the house and leave those two alone."

Cody looked towards the door, listening hard to make out the angry voices coming from behind it but gave up quickly and scowled as he dropped his eyes back down at Evan who's sudden fear troubled him. What in the hell was going on? Why were Ted and John suddenly fighting and why in the hell was Evan desperately trying to drag him off to town so they couldn't hear them "What's going on?"

"I have no idea but John asked that I stay out of it in case it got ugly and I wasn't about to argue with him. He's been a bit on edge since the last murder was so close to home so I'm just trying to be as helpful as I can to ease his worries."

"Shouldn't we at least check in before we go? I don't need Theodore any more upset with me than he already is." He started to step towards the house but Evan gave his hand a sharp, almost desperate tug and stopped him.

"You don't want go in there." Evan quickly advised. "They both asked that we not interrupt them and by the sounds of it I doubt we could even get their attention anyway." He tugged his hand harder and made him follow as he began to lead the way around the back of the house, "Let's just go."

Cody opened his mouth to object, readying more words he knew would leave a bitter taste over his tongue but quickly closed it and covered the wound on his brow. He shuddered and almost had the urge to smile. If Ted wanted to be left alone with a guy who could easily knock him on his ass for saying the wrong thing then that was FINE with him. And even though he knew it was terribly wrong, he HOPED John hit him, he hoped John made that son of a bitch bleed.

He was quiet most of the way into town and after arriving and shedding Randal's sweater as he promised his fiance that he would before shopping there he made an excuse about needing to hunt down the "perfect" shirt and took off. Mostly he just wanted to get away from Evan who was only trying to help but just didn't see that he was failing, miserably. Nothing was going to make him feel better about having to go out into public where he'd not only be looked down upon but also where, even though he knew he wouldn't find him, he'd look for Randal and let him break his heart all over again. One last time.

Finding a new shirt was easy once he found the right merchant stand that was so conveniently located close to the path that would take him back to the alley where he and Randal had shared their first kiss. What hadn't been easy was ignoring all the horrible looks and stares he was getting. It seemed every time he turned around he discovered a whole mess of people standing behind him just staring, wide eyed and flabbergasted as they whispered and gossiped amongst themselves. Tears welled and came dangerously close to spilling as his stomach tightened and coiled into a sickening knot. Who the fuck were they to judge him? They didn't know shit! They didn't know how MISERABLE his life was. Sure he had money and lived in a huge house filled with many expensive things, but that didn't make him happy! It was Ted's money, Ted's house, Ted's possessions that he was now forever a part of. How dare they judge him! They had no idea what it felt like to be OWNED by someone!

He threw some gold at the merchant and grabbed the first shirt hanging on a rack beside the small counter and rushed off down the path away from the many eyes that were on him, judging him, SHAMING him like he was just some pathetic commoner. He hurried down the path, slowing when he reached the abandoned buildings he'd followed Randal to what felt like weeks ago and looked back over his shoulder to check if the coast was clear. It was, there wasn't a soul in sight...Not even Randal.

His heart started to race as he stepped between the building into the alley way and he lost his breath as the spot where Randal first kissed him instantly drew him in like a magnet he didn't dare fight against. He folded his arms, crossing them over each other as he pressed them to the wall and buried his face against them. It didn't make him feel any closer to Randal like he'd hoped, nor did it ease the bundle of nerves that suddenly trembled within his stomach and made him dizzy. But it did slow his heart and he took a full breath and collapsed against the wall.

Please come back...Even if only for a moment...Please Randal, I need you...

Randal peeked around the corner of the building, some how already knowing he'd find Cody there and cursed himself for even coming to check. Why couldn't he just leave the poor boy alone? Hadn't he caused him enough trouble? Everything would be fine if he would just stay away and keep his hands to himself!

Run you fucking idiot! He was never part of the plan! Get out of there and don't let him see you!

But he couldn't run, he could barely even breathe as he watched Cody cry softly into his arms against the wall like a small child who'd gotten lost and finally gave up on ever finding his way home. It killed him to see him like this, his poor sweet Cody was so alone and so lost and it was all his fault.

Oh love I'm so sorry I did this to you. I'm so sorry I turned your whole world upside down.

He took a step and was behind him before he knew it, his body moving on it's own accord as he mind fought vehemetly to make him turn around and leave. His heart told him to stay, his heart told him that Cody needed him and if he didn't go to him now he may never be able to again. And he just couldn't live with that. "Cody?" He called gently, expecting him to whirl around and tear into him like he normally did when he snuck up on him. But, he didn't. Cody barely jumped and only hid his face deeper into his arms as if he were too terrified to even look at him.

What the fuck?

Frowning and now suddenly very aware that there was something terribly wrong he started to reach for his shoulder, wanting to guide him into turning around but was stopped short when he heard Cody whisper and he started to turn on his own. "Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have..." He trailed off as he spotted the cut over his brow, his eyes growing wide as they traveled lower and found dark bruises around his neck. What the fuck! The bastard had CHOKED him? His jaw tensed and for a moment his hands curled into tight fists as the flame that normally drove him to kill started to burn deep within his chest. How could Ted scar his beautiful face like that? How could that bastard even imagine hurting him so badly?

Oh love I'm on fire! If only your fiance was on my list! I'd kill him right now love, I'd make that bastard SUFFER for what he's done to you!

He knew he shouldn't but he reached out and grabbed him by the hips and coaxed him into his arms with a gentle, tender tone. "Come here. It's okay...It's okay..." He wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tight as Cody quickly buried himself deep into his arms and hide his face against his chest. All he could do was hold him, unable to trust himself to speak as he tried to comfort and sooth the younger mans pain with gentle strokes of his hand down his back, flinching each time he heard a muffled sob escape his precious Cody who was so desperately trying to keep it together.

Only when he knew he could trust himself and thought Cody was ready he cupped the nape of his neck and carefully guided his face out of his chest just enough to see his once vibrant blue eyes that were now dark and glazed over with something he couldn't quite place. Sadness? Misery? Devastation...

"Why would he hurt you like this?"

Cody sniffled softly and gave a slight shrug as he refused to meet his eyes, "Because I told him not to touch me."

"So instead he hits you?" He asked as he grabbed his face in his hands, "He chokes you? That's so fucking wrong!"

"Yeah well so is this." Cody mumbled and without having to explain he knew what he was referring to and tensed as he dropped his hands away from his perfect face.

"That's why I ended it." He explained as he slowly took a step back to put some space between them again, "We were only headed for trouble and I've caused enough of that for you already."

Cody noticeably did nothing to hide his disappointment as he stared up at him and the pain he saw burning in his beautiful blue eyes nearly killed him. Fuck, had he put that there? Had he...broken his heart? How? Cody couldn't possibly love a poor man like him...Could he? He shivered and hide it with a soft sigh. No. It was impossible. He wasn't good enough for Cody on so many levels and as astute as the younger man was he was bound to know that.

"You should have at least said goodbye."

"I couldn't-"

"You should have!" Cody shouted hoarsely as his face crinkled into a weak scowl, "You just let me there alone and damn you I deserve better than that!"

"What did you expect me to do Cody? Stay and play house with you until your fiance got back?"

"I expected you to have the balls to tell me to my face that you weren't coming back!"

"I couldn't!" Randal repeated as he shook his head frantically. "Don't you get it? I can't say no to you! And I try to stay away to save you from me and I just can't fucking do it!"

"No one said that you had to!"

"Of course I do! I'm not good enough for you!"

Cody suddenly closed the distance between them again and caught Randal's face in his hands before mashing their lips together for a passionate kiss that he refused to let him pull away from. What was Randal thinking? How could he say such a thing? Of course he was good enough for him! Would he have wanted him so badly if he wasn't?

"Cody don't." Randal implored softly as their lips parted just barely to take a breath, "You don't understand."

Cody chewed his bottom lip roughly as he worried Randal might try to leave again and shook his head slowly as he slid his hands down to his neck. "Kiss me?...Please?"

Oh God love, I can't deny you. I doom us both and I can't stop...Forgive me.

Randal pulled him in tighter, his hand going to the small of his back where he clawed his fingers gently into the flesh beneath his tight fitting clothes. "Is this really what you want?"

Cody moved his hands from his face to the back of his neck, shuddering as he nodded and spread his fingers over his skull and pressed the full length of his body against him. "Yes." It wasn't right but he did. He wanted him more than he'd EVER wanted anyone or any thing in is entire life and he didn't give a damn about the consequences anymore.

Randal guided his head back, his thumbs stroking his jaw tenderly as he flicked his eyes to the scar over his brow. "What about your fiance?"

Cody tensed as he drew in a deep breath and grabbed handfuls of his sweater, "Randal-" He murmured as he tugged him along, stepping back and they easily burst threw a door to the abdandoned building behind them and he tore his sweater down his broad shoulders, refusing to let them go another second without their skin touching. "FUCK my fiance."

"Oh LOVE." Randal growled deep as he covered the back of Cody's neck with a firm hand and forced his head back roughly. He kicked the door closed behind him as he crushed his mouth in a passionate kiss and together they worked Cody's vest open and their pants down their hips, both stumbling slightly as they slowly made their way towards a reliable surface that could support them. Eventually they bumped against a table as their bodies, hands and mouths came together wildly when they finally freed Cody of his vest and shirt, carelessly tossing each of them aside.

Cody quickly whirled around and slapped his hands down on the table, his tight fitting black slacks a puddle around his feet until he kicked them out of the way. Randal shook, trembled, spasmed with need as he watched Cody slide his feet threw the dirt, spreading his legs wide as he looked back over his shoulder to reveal eyes that were glassy and dilated with overwhelming desire as he shamelessly bent himself over the table.

He felt something snap as he slapped his hands around his perfect little hips and without any preparation he barreled into his tightness and stretched him, filled him full until he cried out and reared back. The sound drove him wild, made him burn and ache with such need he couldn't breathe or feel anything but the exquisite tight muscle squeezing around his pulsing shaft. If he hurt him he didn't know and barely had time to hope that he hadn't before the desire finished consuming him .

He roared as he wildly, ferociously, snapped, thrusted, and barreled into him over and over. He felt him try to rise up on his hands and fail to hold himself there and laughed as he saw him collapse and let out a deep scream. "Too much?" He heard himself ask although he doubted he'd have been able to stop or even slow down at this point.

"Not enough!" Cody cried out and almost sounded angry as he attempted to rise up again. "Ohh god yes Randal give it to me!"

"Not enough?" He snarled as he forced him back down and grabbed a handful of short brown hair, tearing his head back as he sought to punish him with his cock like he wanted. "How's this?"

Cody screamed, clawing at the table frantically as he fought to hang on and arched his ass into his ferocious fucking. "Oh god!"

He drove in faster, harder, never giving him a second to catch his breath, "I'll tear you up!"

"Oh yes! Oh please yes! Oh god Randal yes!"

They worked perfectly together to open Cody up and brought him to life around his cock. He screamed, moaned, snarled and begged for more, never once letting the hoarseness of his voice hold him back. He was finally free from all the pain and suffering, the shame and humilation. His precious Cody was...HAPPY. And that alone made his groin tighten and coil into release, that alone set him off harder than ever before.

The world went dark as his climax shot out of him in long hot spurts, filling his beautiful lover and he thought for a moment that he'd be trapped in the euphoric state forever as it relentlessly pulled him in deeper and deeper. But a loud deep scream tore threw the darkness, shattering it and brought him back in time to see the dashing younger man beneath him writhing and convulsing with ecstasy. He reached and found his cock, stroking it furiously to draw out more screams and more of the sweetness that shot out generously onto his fingers. He lent down and kissed along his shoulders and neck, dragging his tongue over the soft flesh as their bodies cooled and slowly came down from their always so passionate fucking.

"Ohhh my GOD." Cody moaned hoarsely between breaths. "Shit."

Randal smirked, bringing the sticky hand from his lovers cock to his lips and flicked his tongue into the mess for a taste, "You like that did you?"

"Fuck yes." Cody rasped as he lifted his head, "Fuck I needed that."

Randal continued to clean his hand, barely stepping back to free him as he smoothed his free hand down his back. "Mmm yeah." He agreed with a soft moan as Cody gracefully turned onto his back and sat up. "Me too." He cupped his chin gently and titled it back before claiming his perfect lips in a tender kiss that ended all too quickly. They broke apart and quickly retrieved their clothing from the ground, both getting their pants secured in place around their hips first before even daring to look at the other again.

Randal smirked as he nodded towards the younger mans abdomen and eyed a shiny pearl of his sticky sex glimmering in the darkness below his belly button, "You got a little something there..."

Cody followed his gaze and snickered as saw the lonely drop of his sticky essence and swiped it onto his finger, "Wow, don't you normally get it all?"

Randal chuckled softly as he caught him by the wrist and brought his hand to his lips. "I can't believe I missed it. I love the way you taste." He drew the sticky finger into his mouth, moaning as he curled his tongue around it sensually, collecting every ounce of his wonderful taste smeared there before drawing back and released it with a slick POP. "So sweet."

Cody stepped back and plopped onto the table and lent back on his hands as his lips curved into a smile, "Come see me tonight?"

Randal sighed, trying to fight a smile of his own as moved closer and slid his hands up Cody's thighs, cocking his head slightly in curiosity. "How would I do that?"

"I could sneak you in after Ted goes to bed?"

He sighed again, his body betraying him and letting a smile break free as he nodded, "Okay."

Cody's smiled widened as he lent forward and curled his arms around his neck carefully, "You Promise?"

"I PROMISE." He assured and brushed their lips together for a soft kiss, chuckling as Cody tightened his arms around his neck and tugged his head down. "Oh you're going to kiss me better than that." And he did, just the way he liked, deep, slow, passionate and until Cody tore away with a startled gasp. "Shit! I have to go!"

"So soon?" He asked, pouting slightly and moved back further to let him off the table.

"Yeah I'm sorry but I told Evan I wouldn't be too long. We only came to town today to buy new outfits for party tonight."

"Ah yes, the high society celebration."

"Not just that, I have a curfew as of late because of that psychopath who's going around killing people. The "phantom" or whatever. Ted wants me home before dark."

Randal almost flinched but caught himself just in time."Psychopath?" He repeated and struggled to keep the disdain out of his voice. "I find the tale of the Phantom to be quite...devastating."

"The story is sad but it can't be true." Cody reasoned as he started lacing up the front of his vest over his shirt, "Other wise the high society would know who to look for and they would have caught the guy already."

"Unless they're trying to keep it a secret."

He frowned and glanced up at him as he continued quickly lacing the ties of his vest back into their appropriate hooks. "Why would they do that?"

"Because they don't want anyone to know that they robbed a man of his money, his land, his dignity. And they especially don't want people to know that they had him wrongfully imprisoned where he was tortured for weeks until he escaped and vowed revenge on everyone involved."

"Jesus you sound like Evan." Cody said with a skeptic chuckle and glanced at him again. "How do you know all that?"

Randal grew tense again, afraid he might say too much or not enough and give himself away and chose his words very carefully. "Because I was there."

Cody's head jerked up, his eyes wide, "What do you mean you were there?"

"I was at the man's wedding," Randal began, careful with his words and careful to avoid his eyes as he relived the story of how he came to be the monster that he was. "The whole town was there because they were interested to see how he was holding up after losing all his money...It was so horrible..." He had to pause for a moment, his throat suddenly went dry and he had to swallow hard. "His fiance never showed...Instead a messenger came... You could see the devastation in the guy's eyes. He was crushed. And to make things worse, his friends, neighbors, everyone, they LAUGHED at him."

Cody gasped softly, shaking his head in utter shock. "That's so horrible!"

Randal nodded slowly, barely able to keep the bitterness out of his voice now as he thought back to the day when his world came crashing down around him. "I thought so too."

"What did the messenger say?"

He cringed and almost refused to answer him. It wasn't that he didn't remember or that it wasn't important enough to mention. It was because those words had stuck with him for the last ten years of his life and he was convinced they would ring in his ears until the day he died. "I found someone who can take care of me, and you aren't half the man he is."

"How terribly cruel." Cody commented in a soft, sad tone and hugged himself tight as if he were cold. "The poor soul."

"It only got worse from there. When he tried to convince his fiance to come back him they were waiting for him...They beat him...They beat him within an inch of his life and then threw him in prison..."

"Who is they?"

"Several members of the high society, most if not all the richest that were here at the time."

"So the story is true, and the guy killing members of the high society is really him?"

"I believe so, yes."

"And everyone he's killed has had something to do with the cover up?"

"That or they were present when he was wrongfully imprisoned and did nothing to stop it...I've heard that he made a list of names."

Cody brow arched and huffed, "Well if they know it's him then they should already know who's on it. No one should be surprised by this if it's all true!"

"You would think."

Cody grew quiet for a moment he stared down at his arms and thought back to all the times Ted had insisted he leave the room to discuss "business" with other high society members and remembered how he couldn't shake the nagging feeling then that something just wasn't right. He'd always been suspicious that his fiance was up to no good, he just never had any proof. "Do you know who's on the list? Would you know if...If Ted was involved?"

"Not that I've heard. But your friend Evan's fiance is."

"John?"Cody exclaimed,. "No way!"

Randal nodded firmly and finally met his gaze again. "I heard that his father started the cover up and John took over a few months ago after he passed away."

"That can't be true. John's a good man, he's the only decent kind hearted man IN the high society. He wouldn't do that."

"That's just what people are saying." Randal added with a shrug, already convinced that John was behind it from the many people who'd confessed to him before he took their life. All of them, every last one had blamed the men of the Cena family...

"Well they're wrong." Cody said with another huff and shook his head. "John's father didn't even live in Harmoneyville ten years ago."

Randal scowled, stepped closer and cocked his head to the side. "He didn't?"

"No, John and his family didn't move here till about four years ago. His grandfather lived a couple of towns away from here but they only visited until John bought land off the back roads four years ago."

Randal found himself putting his arms around him without even having to think about it and pulled him close as Cody did the same. "Seems the cover up goes deeper than I thought."

"It also seems like someone pinned everything on John's family to save their own skin! Cowards!"

How astute you are love! Thank you! You may have just saved an innocent mans life!

"John should watch his back but I'm sure this Phantom guy will discover the truth and spare him." He tried to ignore the scar over his brow but his eyes kept flicking to it and when they weren't they were examining the nasty bruises around his neck.

"I'll warn Evan..." He heard Cody say and felt him try to pull away as he brought his hand up and tried to cover his face.

He stopped him, grabbed his hand and forced it back down easily. "Why do you let him do this to you?"

Cody shook his head and pushed at him, weakly trying to free himself from his grasp."I don't have a choice."

"Of course you do! Look at you, you're a big, strong man Cody. Not his obedient little lap dog."

"Stop it-"

He grabbed his face and forced their eyes to meet, hating that there were glassy with unshed tears but refused to let him go even though he knew he desperately didn't want to hear his words. "You have a choice."

"No-"

"You can defend yourself! You could hurt him, you could make him pay-"

"STOP!" Cody cried out as he shook his head profusely. "You don't understand! Let me go!"

"Damn it Cody don't let him hurt you!"

Cody jerked free as tears spilled from his eyes and he jumped down from the table and hurried out the door to hide them. Randal just didn't get it. There was NO paying the money back that Ted had paid to have his hand, his father had already used the money, it was LONG gone. And the land Ted was set to inherit when they married already had a good amount of Dibiase business spread out over it. Everything was final. He was stuck, and there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it.