Chapter 15
Edd: I still can't get in touch with anyone
Kevin: keep trying, maybe they are in an area with no service.
After a 4-hour flight, the couple finally arrived in Las Vegas, the minute they touched down Edward received a text from Eddy. Apparently, he and Ed were separated from Nat and Naz when they realized they were being followed. The mysterious stranger tracked them to Caesars palace, and they were trying to lure him into a trap. Edd typed up another message to Eddy and put his phone away as they made their way to the Rent-a-car parking lot.
Edd: I have a bad feeling about this, what if something happened? What if the guy following them is another assassin?
Edd's phone beeps again and the other male pulls it out and reads the message. Meanwhile Kevin went to go get their car. When he returned with the car, he began to load the trunk with their luggage while Edd got into the passenger seat. Edd finally looked up from his phone as Kevin slid into the driver's seat.
Kevin: What is it?
Edd sighed in annoyance: they confronted him; it looks like he is hiding out at some sort of burlesque bar about a block away from the hotel.
Kevin: you mean strip club.
Edd: uh, yes one of those.
Kevin: alright, let's move.
The two take off, the ride was swift but not so much to draw attention from the cops.
Edd: it's only five minutes from the hotel. Turn left here.
Kevin turns left: What's our ETA?
Edd: 10 minutes, keep going straight, turn right at the third light.
Kevin followed his directions: any new texts?
Edd: no, I think we are here
Kevin slows down a little: how can you tell?
The two came to a screeching halt as a brunette woman dressed in a pink bikini ran in front of their car and kept on moving. The two males looked in the direction she came from and noticed a few more people came pouring out of a bar called "the pink pussycat". This was followed by the sound of gun shots ringing out from the establishment. Without another word the two men got out of the car and moved quickly to the trunk. They grabbed their guns and heading inside. With their rifles ready they eased their way further in, random people ran past them all heading for the exit. The entire area was lit in bright red and loud music vibrated from the speakers on a stage to their right. They didn't have time to admire the setting as they made their way to the staircase on the other end of the room. They reached the bottom of the stairs to enter another red tinted room with a stage. Kevin recognized this room from his dream, he also remembered what happened next.
Edd: we should split up, you search the stage, I'll…...
Kevin: nope, we're sticking together. Nick's heading our way.
Edd: Nick? What does Nick have to do with…?
Kevin shot someone off in the distance behind Edd and a scream was heard. Edd turned around only to see a blond man with dark brown eyes down on the floor holding his bleeding arm, his gun a few feet away. He was dressed in a gray sweatshirt with blue jeans, he glared at the two and reached for his gun again. But before he could reach it Double D kicked his gun away and punched him in the face. Nick struggled to remain conscious but between the gunshot wound and the throbbing in his head he didn't have a chance, he drifted quickly into the darkness.
Later
Eddy: took you long enough shovel chin.
Kevin: yeah, no shit, that's what happens when you leave without back up.
Eddy: relax, we had everything under control.
Kevin: so much so that you nearly let him get away.
As the two spoke, Double D glared at Nick as he stood in front of him.
Edd: of course, you would be involved in this. Why am I not surprised?
Nick began to slowly stir from his unconscious to the sound of 5 men talking around him. He had no idea where he was or who had accompanied him, all he knew was that he was tired and wanted to go back to sleep.
Nick: twitchy, turn the fucking light off.
Edd: I'm sorry dear, but I do believe it's time to get up.
A splash of ice-cold water stung his face and chest causing him to scream out in shock. His eyes popped open wandered frantically around the room taking in the scenery. To his horror he found that he could not move his arms nor his legs. He took another glance around the room finally noticing the other men. Edd had walked away from him and disappeared into the bathroom carrying a small plastic ice bucket. Ed waved at Nick and sat Indian style on the hotel room bed along with Eddy who took a seat at the edge. Kevin sat backwards on a chair off to the left of him grinning a bit wickedly and Nat, who had caught up with them after the fight leaned against a wall near the bathroom.
Nat: nice of you to join us Nicky.
Edd emerged from the bathroom, this time with a medium sized iron, he stood next to Nat with a serious look on his face. He had promised Nat he would let him question him, but he knew he was about to break it just by looking at him.
Nat: now as I was trying to ask you earlier, you mentioned that you saw the weapon…
Nick: GO FUCK YOURSELF.
Edd approached Nick: hey now let's be smart about this, we could either do this the easy way, or the hard.
Nick looked over at Edd: what? You going to hit me twitchy, you? Since when did you grow balls.
Edd: since I cut you out of my life like a cancerous tumor.
Nick: yeah right, you know you miss me twitchy.
Edd glared at him for a few moments, then turned to the others.
Edd: guys, may I have a moment alone with Nick
Kevin looks at him confused: uh why?
Nick: so, we can fuck in private.
Edd: ACTUALLY, I just need to talk to him for a moment…...alone
Eddy suddenly jolted upward: yeah, no problem sock head, come on Kevin.
He quickly yanks Kevin out of his seat and pushes him and Ed towards the door, making sure to grab Nat and a large bag of popcorn on the way out. He successfully got everyone out the door before closing it, he then leaned against the wall and opened the popcorn while the other males stared at him in confusion.
Kevin: dude what gives?
Eddy: think about it, Kev, he's in the room, alone, with his abusive ex-boyfriend who a couple of years ago had him arrested for attempted murder and may now be involved in the near death of his parents.
Kevin thought for a moment, but then broke out in a smile: scoot over and give me some of that popcorn.
Nat: I don't get it, why's everyone so relaxed about this?
Ed also smiled and ate some popcorn while sitting Indian style on the floor: you'll see.
Edd turned on the iron he had brought out and plugged it in. He then left it on the ironing board and went over to the dresser across from the bed. Out of one of the drawers he pulled out a shirt and laid it carefully on the bed. He took a chair from a nearby computer desk and rested it in front of where Nick was sitting. Edd gave him an unreadable expression and sat in the chair across from him. In a quiet and calm tone, he spoke.
Edd: look Nick, I can't even fathom why you thought it would be a good idea to work with a bioterrorist and I don't care. I am letting you know right now that you are backing the wrong team.
Nick smirked at him: doesn't seem that way, I am making a shit ton of money right now.
Edd: and you feel good about that? Even though people are dying around you.
Nick: not my problem. I'm not crying over every schmuck that kicks the bucket.
Edd stared at him with the same unreadable expression before getting up. He went back over to the ironing board and picked up his shirt. He placed it on the iron and began using it to smooth out his shirt.
Nick: wow, you haven't changed a bit, have you? Still more concerned over cleaning and ironing then actually being a man.
Edd: my parents were one of the schmucks who were infected by the virus.
Nick smirks: so?
Edd: so, I want to know where Jaguars headquarters are located.
Nick chuckles: so that's your plan, asking me nicely? Typical spineless little bitch.
Edd stops ironing and glares at him: Nick I need you to be a decent human being for once in your life and please tell me the location of his HQ.
Nick: holy shit, you really do think that you can get whatever you want by asking nicely.
Edd sighs and finishes ironing his shirt: I am not asking you nicely, this is for your own good. If we don't stop him, he will continue to contaminate the world until there is no one left. You're not just giving me what I want, but you will also be saving lives.
Nick: and there it is, the noble, virtuous Edward Vincent. Appealing to my good nature and being as polite and pure as the driven snow.
Edd: Nick….
Nick: I am so sick and tired of the whole holier than thou bullshit. You may have a little muscle now but deep down you are still so fucking weak.
Edd folded his shirt quietly and rested it on the bed.
Nick: you've always been that way, you think because you're smarter than me, that makes you better than me. But you're not as smart as you think you are.
Edd picked up the steaming hot iron and placed it on the dresser.
Nick: cause if you were really that smart you would have killed me and gotten away with it. But no, your integrity landed you in prison.
Edd: no that was you, you were the one who landed me in prison. My integrity kept me from hunting you down like the dog you really are.
Edd folds up the ironing board and moves it to rest inside of the nearby closet. He then moved over to the dresser and picks up the hot iron.
Edd: Unfortunately, I now see that my integrity is getting me nowhere, you truly are a horrible person.
Nick chuckles while eyeing the iron: look whatever you're trying to do right now ain't going to work. I know you twitchy, we both know you're not going to do a goddamn thing.
Edd reaches him, still holding the iron: normally I wouldn't, but there's far too much at stake here.
Nick rolls his eyes: come on twitchy put the iron doAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
The red-hot flash of pain seared into the left side of his face as the iron was slowly pressed against his flesh. Nick screamed like he had never screamed before, he struggled and bucked against his restraints as nothing, but pain and agony invaded his mind. Edd slowly pulled the iron away taking burning skin and flesh along with it. He stood there watching Nick cry and whimper wordlessly as his left cheek and chin continued to burn and bubble and a small stream of urine flowed down his pant leg.
Nick: AHHHHH, HOLY SHIT MAN, FUCK…. NGH..JESUS CHRIST.
Edd: Nick
Nick starts crying: NO, NO, NO, PLEASE, NO MORE, JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.
Edd: Focus Nick
Nick becomes a sobbing mess: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME, PLEASE...OH GOD!
Edd addresses him in a calm tone: Jaguars headquarters Nick, where is it?
Nick: I…I can't, he'll kill me.
Edd pressed the iron against his lower jaw on the same side as his already burning cheek. Nick's screams became high pitched and panicked. As Edd removed the iron from his face Nick continued to scream. Edd regards him with yet another unreadable expression. He draws the iron close to Nicks forehead but does not touch him. Nick freaks out and tries to move his head backwards away from the smoking object of pain and he frantically continues to beg for his life.
Edd: Nick, let's try to put things in their proper perspective. If I don't get information on Jaguars base, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU. I don't care about what we have had together in the past, I don't care about integrity, I don't care about your stupid insecurities or what you think of me. You are wasting my fucking time and I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
He took the iron away from Nick and glared at him. Edd realized he was losing his patience and decided to take a breather. He inhaled deeply ignoring the smell of burnt flesh. He then exhaled slowly and went back to regarding Nick with his usually expressionless gaze.
Edd: either tell me where his headquarters is and we let you go or continue to piss me off and I will continue to turn your face into a living breathing Picasso painting, until you die screaming. Your choice.
Nick: ok, ok,ok, he's in an old military base in New Mexico.
Edd: where?
Nick: Silver City, it's underground near Boston Hill.
Edd: weird place to station at.
Nick: he's been using the City as a testing site. I'm telling you, that guy is crazy. He kept talking about cleansing the world so only he and Kevin can exist.
Edd: wait, he knows Kevin?
Nick: I don't know, I…I guess, he's obsessed with him.
Edd gave this some deep thought: interesting
Nick: dude seriously, I need a doctor.
Edd: is that why he attacked my family?
Nick: I don't fucking know; I didn't even know you were still alive much less dating Kevin.
Edd: how long were you working for him?
Nick: dude, come on I'm fucking dying over here.
Edd: and I still have the iron, HOW LONG NICK?
Nick: a year, we never met in person, but he sent someone to meet up with me. I think his name was Rave.
Edd tried to absorb what he was just told and stays silent for a while before actually answering him back.
Edd: when the ambulance gets here, you will tell them you fell and burned your face on a hot radiator. That understood?
Nick started drooling from the left side of his cheek not being able to feel it anymore: yeah, sure, just get me to the hospital, please.
Edd ignores him and walks towards the door, he opens it to meet everyone who all dawn matching shocked expressions. He looks back at them with a look of slight shame. The men remain silent for a while before Eddy breaks it.
Eddy: I fucking called it.
Edd: really Eddy
Eddy: I knew you were going to go ham on that guy.
Edd: this is not something to be proud of.
Eddy: I know but admit it, that felt good.
Kevin peeked into the room and gasped: holy shit.
Edd: yeah, he needs medical attention.
Eddy: I bet he does you animal.
Edd: no seriously, he might die from what I did to him.
Eddy and Nat also peaked into the room, Eddy's eyes widened, and Nat immediately dialed a number on his phone for an ambulance. Ed peaked into the room and regarded nick with an amazed look.
Ed: He looks like two-face from the batman movies.
Eddy: please say you got something out of that guy after all that.
Edd: I'll tell you about it later.
Nat came off the phone just as Kevin was coming out of the room.
Nat: we have 15 minutes to get out of here before the EMT" S get here. I'll stay behind and let them know I found him here.
Kevin: thanks man.
Kevin made his way over to Edd and hugged him: you alright?
Edd hugs him back: no, I'm not, but thanks for asking sweetheart.
Nat approaches them: Edd, what did he tell you? I bet he sang like a canary.
Edd still held onto Kevin while addressing Nat: he really has no idea who Jaguar is, and I couldn't get his location.
Nat: well shit after all of that? Are you sure?
Edd: positive
Nat looks at him for a bit before breaking out into a smile. He walks over to Edd and gives him a hug.
Nat: it can't be helped, don't worry, we'll get this dirt bag. In the meantime, get some rest, I'll meet back up with you guys tomorrow.
As they separated, there seemed to be some sudden tension between the two. Nat's smile remained and he eyed him for a quick second before walking back into the room. Kevin wrapped an arm around Edd and led him away from the scene and down the hall.
Eddy: finally, I need some R and R. I already booked me and Ed a room here.
Ed: we're down the hall if you need us.
Edd quietly waved to them while leaving with Kevin, the arm around him was comforting, and seemed to put him at ease. However, there was something else that bothered him. In fact, it invaded his thoughts as they made his way to the lobby. Now all he had to do was tell his boyfriend that his best friend is…..
Kevin: hey Edd, you hungry?
Edd: famished
They reached the front desk and waiting for their room key. Edd really needed to speak with Kevin but they were out in the open and for all he knew Jaguar could be listening in on them. So, he decided to act natural until he could get him alone.
Kevin: I've been to this hotel before, the room service is ridiculously expensive. There's a burger place close by, you want anything.
Edd: whatever you're getting is fine.
Kevin chuckled as he received the keys: you sure? You might live to regret it.
Edd smiled: I'm sure.
The two shared a kiss and Edd picked up his room key. He retreated to where his room is to wait for Kevin to come back with the food. After getting on the elevator he checks the key number, their room was on the 13th floor. When he arrived on the floor, he made his way to where his room was when he noticed someone leaning against the wall across from it. Someone that made him stop dead in his tracks.
"Hey double delish".