Warnings for murder, violence, attempted rape, lots of drinking, drug use, Kurt suffering, Cooper being an evil bastard, and Blaine falling apart.
Chapter 21
I have no time for fear
Or people in my ear
Head down and running so fast
Try not to dwell on the past
I'm fighting through this pain
And things I cannot change
Running right into the flame
Rather than running away
No Curtain Call by Maroon 5
Burt stared angrily and suspiciously at Luther as they sat across from each other in the living room of the Hummel-Hudson home. It was 1:00 am in the morning, a strange time for Burt and Carol to have guests, but Luther insisted their meeting couldn't wait. It was important to stay in control of the situation and that meant getting Burt to cooperate.
By not calling the police.
"And exactly who are you?" asked Burt, his voice full of loathing.
"I'm Mario Anderson's best friend and Godfather to Blaine. I'm also the CEO of Anderson Construction."
Burt huffed angrily "Oh. So you're a criminal too."
Luther didn't flinch or deny. "I act as a consultant to Blaine's father on various matters, so yes, I suppose you could consider me a criminal."
Burt shook his head, disgusted by the way Luther so easily owned it.
"You people have no shame. None. Your cavalier attitude makes me sick."
Luther wasn't about to engage. "Mr. Hummel, have you called the police?"
"Not yet. I was trying to wait just in case…"
"Good. Don't."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't call the police. Kurt is 18, an adult. You can file a missing persons report, but the police won't take it seriously until several days have passed. It won't do any good."
"Oh, really? Do I look stupid? Do you think I don't know the real reason why you're here and why you don't want me calling the police? You don't want the police involved because you're all a bunch of got-dammed criminals!"
"That's right. So, who do you think has the best shot at finding Kurt? A bunch of small town cops who have to play by the rules, or an army of men who answer with their lives to the man who loves your son more than anything? Let us use our power and connections to find Kurt. I guarantee you we'll do a better job than the police. The police will only complicate matters."
Burt was about to argue when he felt Carol's hand on his arm. He looked at her, took a breath, and sat back on the couch. Carol leaned forward and stared hard at Luther.
"You know who took Kurt, don't you?"
"We have a good idea."
"Who?"
"I'm not at liberty to say yet, but trust me. Blaine has every man who works for his family out searching for information and clues. We will find him. Just don't make it more difficult by calling the police."
Carol looked at Burt, and then back at Luther.
"Bring our Kurt home."
Telio climbed into the driver's side of Blaine's BMW. He put the key in the ignition and turned to look at Blaine.
For the first time in all their years together Telio didn't know what to do for, or about Blaine.
Blaine was out of control.
Seven men dead in 30 minutes.
K&B&K&B
After discovering Austin's body in the lobby of Anderson Construction, Blaine, Telio and Elian immediately headed to Cooper's condo. They didn't expect to find Cooper there, but Blaine hoped they would find something indicating where Cooper may have gone.
They arrived to find a cleaned out, spotless condo except for the following written on the wall in black paint:
My Kurt, my Kurt. My kingdom for a Kurt.
"Richard III," said Telio. "My horse, my horse. My kingdom for a horse."
Blaine stared at the words, stomach churning, blood racing as anger swelled and filled his chest.
As they walked to the car Telio tried to convince Blaine that they should head back to the compound.
"We need a plan, Blaine. Cooper had to have help. We need to talk to people, find out who he's been hanging with. We can't do that at 2:00 am. Let's go home, rest, and then we'll…"
Blaine stopped walking. "Rest? You think I can fucking rest? Cooper has Kurt! Do you have any idea what that means? He helped arrange a hit on our father! God knows what he'll do to Kurt! We have to find him! NOW!"
"Blaine, we don't know where to look. We don't know who Cooper's friends are. He could be anywhere. He could have Kurt anywhere. We have to talk to people, and we can't do it now. We're going home."
"No, we're not. We're going back to Lima. We start at the shop and go from there."
"Vince and the guys have already been there. There's nothing. Kurt's bag, keys, car, it's all gone. The security tapes are blank. We need to go home, and you need to…"
"I need to find Kurt! Why can't you understand that?"
"I'll help you."
Blaine and Telio turned to look at Elian. They'd forgotten he was there. Elian was staring at Blaine.
"Telio can go home. I'll help you, Blaine."
Telio felt like clocking Elian. "You're not helping."
"No, I'm not helping you. I'm helping Blaine."
"Blaine, you know he doesn't give a shit about Kurt. He's just hoping you'll thank him later by fucking his brains out. We're going home. Now. Even if I have to knock you out and put you in the trunk."
Blaine closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair. It was 2:00 am and they were standing in the middle of a condo parking lot. If they drove back to Lima where would they begin looking? Did it even make sense to go to Lima? Westerville was Cooper's home. It made more sense for him to operate there. And who were his friends? Who would be willing to help him pull off such a dangerous plan? Telio was right. He needed to think. He needed to figure out with whom and where to start.
"Okay. Let's go home."
Telio was surprised, but relieved at Blaine's sudden surrender. He quickly ushered him to the car.
Once they arrived at the compound Blaine immediately headed to his father's study. He sat down at his father's desk and began to make lists. A list of everyone he could ever remember his brother hanging out with or mentioning. A list of places his brother liked to go. A list of all the suspected places Chartussi was possibly operating from. A list of known Anderson family enemies and potential enemies.
By the time Blaine fell asleep on the desk he had a list of almost 30 names and places.
His hit list.
x-x-x
Telio came downstairs around 10 am to find Blaine dressed, armed, and ready to go. He handed the list to Telio.
"This is what we're working from. We'll start with Cooper's friends."
"Blaine…you can't go running all over Ohio looking for Kurt. We're at war, remember? You gotta let Vince and the guys handle this."
"Shut up, get your fucking gun, and let's go."
Blaine turned and walked out the door followed by Elian who couldn't resist sticking his tongue out at Telio. Telio swore under his breath and followed them out.
The first person they visited was a guy named John who had sometimes hung out with Cooper and Skylar back in high school. Now John was an accountant working for a small CPA firm. Blaine marched into the office, right past the receptionist, and walked down the hall until he found John sitting at his desk. Telio and Elian grabbed him and dragged him out of the building to the parking lot. Shocked and terrified, John swore up and down that he hadn't seen or heard from Cooper in almost two years. "Last I heard he and Skylar were drug dealers."
The fact that the guy didn't seem to know that Skylar was dead convinced Blaine of his innocence. Blaine apologized and gave him a $100 bill. "Take your office out to lunch."
The next guy wasn't so lucky.
Jude was evasive. Not because he knew anything, but because he'd bought drugs from Cooper in the past and didn't want anyone to know. He was a store manager for Kroger, a job he really liked. He was hoping to make it to corporate one day.
Blaine quickly lost patience with his limited answers. He dragged Jude out of the store, pulled him around to the side of the building and started beating the hell out of him. Jude responded by confessing all the times he'd bought drugs from Cooper and the locations, but he swore he'd never heard of or met anyone named Kurt, and he hadn't seen Cooper in weeks.
Telio pulled Blaine off of him. "He's just a fucking drug user! He doesn't know anything!"
When they pulled up in front of the sandwich shop used as a front by Chartussi, Telio knew Blaine had lost his mind.
"What are we doing here?"
"Cooper helped Chartussi arrange the hit on my dad. Perhaps Chartussi returned the favor by helping Cooper grab Kurt."
"Are you out of your mind? I can't let you go in there! The three of us cannot take on Chartussi's crew! We need more people!"
"Already arranged."
Four cars pulled up, two in front and two behind them. The doors opened and several Anderson men poured out and stormed the shop. Two minutes later one of the men poked his head out and gave Blaine the thumbs up. Blaine relished Telio's shocked expression.
Blaine stepped inside the shop and walked to the middle of the room. Chartussi's men were lined up on their knees, hands behind their heads. Blaine took out his gun and studied it while he spoke.
"A beautiful man named Kurt Hummel was kidnapped yesterday. I need to find him. Those who give me useful information live. Those who don't die. Let's begin with you."
Blaine walked over to the third man in the line of seven and pressed the gun to his temple.
The man glared at him. "Fuck you."
Blaine shoved his gun into the man's mouth. "No. I really wanna fuck my boyfriend, but someone took him, so I'm really, really angry. Out of my mind angry. So speak now, or I'll make sure you forever hold your peace."
"I aint telling you shit about shit!"
Blaine shoved the gun back into the man's mouth and pulled the trigger.
Two more of the men refused to talk.
Blaine casually blew their brains out.
The remaining four offered up location details about other Chartussi hideouts, and one even spilled about a possible attack at an Anderson Construction worksite, but no one knew anything about Cooper or a kidnapping.
Satisfied that the men were telling the truth, Blaine turned to Elian.
"Kill them."
Elian, who was unbelievably hard from watching Blaine question and kill the first three men, thought he might come from the tone of Blaine's voice and the look of murder in his eyes.
"Yes, Blaine."
Blaine sat on a stool at the sandwich counter and watched as Elian quickly and expertly choked the life out of the four men. He would lunge forward, knocking them backwards, pin their arms with his knees ,and lock his hands around their neck with surprising quickness and grace.
"Thank you, Elian."
"You're welcome."
In the car Blaine crossed the sandwich shop off the list. He felt Telio staring at him.
"Whatever you have to say…unless it's going to help find Kurt, I don't wanna hear it."
"So, is this what we're gonna do all day? Go around beating the shit out of people and killing them until someone tells you what you wanna hear?"
"Not what I wanna hear! What I need to hear! I have to find him!" Blaine's eyes shined with a fiery mixture of desperation, panic and bloodlust.
"I get that, Blaine, but this isn't gonna get us anywhere except on everyone's most wanted list. Look, I don't think Cooper's gonna hurt Kurt. That won't help him get what he wants."
Blaine shook his head. "You don't know that. Cooper didn't go through all this trouble for nothing. He wants revenge. Revenge for my being boss, revenge for you being my consigliere. In his twisted mind probably revenge for whatever the hell happened to Skylar. Cooper's obviously been planning this for a long time. Somehow he figured out that the best way to get revenge on me was to take Kurt. There's no telling what he might do. I have to find him. I have to."
Telio sighed and started the car.
"Where to next?"
Kurt slid down the wall, closed his eyes, and let his head fall back.
He felt weak, hungry and exhausted.
How long had he been locked away?
With no clocks and no windows his sense of day and night was nonexistent along with his sense of time. Had it been days? A week?
No. It hasn't been that long. It hasn't. Just stay calm. Blaine and your dad are looking for you. They'll find you. You just gotta stay calm.
But Kurt's chest filled with panic as the door slid open. He quickly stood up, placing his hand on the wall as his head swam. A tray was shoved in and the door quickly shut and locked. On the tray was a club sandwich, chips, grapes and a bottle of water.
Kurt stared at it for a moment of debate before devouring everything on the tray, not noticing the slightly off taste of the water.
He passed out six minutes after finishing the meal.
Fifteen minutes later two men came and pulled him to his feet.
"Come on, princess. Showtime."
Kurt opened and closed his eyes. He felt groggy and confused. Where was he?
The men dragged him upstairs to the middle of a room. When they let go he fell to the floor. He slowly managed to sit up on his knees. He blinked and looked around trying to focus, but he couldn't see straight, and his mind felt like mush.
"Well, that's perfect. It's like he knows what he's here for." Cooper cracked up laughing. He knelt down and grabbed Kurt's hair to hold his head steady. He studied his face before letting go and standing back up.
"I gotta say I'm a little disappointed in squirt. I always thought he'd go for the tall, dark, handsome type. Not tall, pale, and girly." The others in the room laughed. "Oh, well. It actually works out perfectly. George is gonna love you."
Kurt stared wide eyed at Cooper, but couldn't make out his face. His head felt too heavy, and his mouth like it was full of cotton.
"Okay," said Cooper excitedly. "Let's stage this." Cooper pulled Kurt's shirt up and off.
"Come on, Rocko. Pull 'em down and take it out."
The large man with a moustache, tattoos, and hoop earrings who had grabbed Kurt from the shop looked hesitantly at Cooper.
"Dude…I'm not gay."
"I know that you idiot. Don't worry. Your face won't be in the picture, we just need your dick."
Rocko reluctantly stepped in front of Kurt who looked up at him with glassy, unfocused eyes. Rocko unzipped his pants and pulled them down. He eased down his boxers and was about to take hold of his dick, but stopped.
"Why does it have to be me?"
"Because you have all the tattoos. It adds to the visual aesthetic. Fairy boy sucking the dick of a huge, tattooed man, and then taking it in the ass." Cooper laughed gleefully.
Rocko looked alarmed. "He's not really gonna suck it, is he? I'm not gay!"
"Will you relax and shut up! We know that! I would think you'd be thrilled to have anyone suck your ass off. Now take your dick, grab his hair, and hold him still."
Rocko grabbed the top of Kurt's head with one huge hand and held his dick in the other. Cooper knelt down by Kurt and spoke softly.
"Kurt?" Kurt tried to turn his head, but Rocko held him steady. "You don't need to look at me, Kurt, just listen. Place your hands on Rocko's thighs." Kurt blinked. What? Cooper took Kurt's hands and placed his palms on Rocko's thighs. "Good. Now close your eyes and open your mouth. Come on, Kurt. Open your mouth."
Kurt closed his eyes and opened his mouth. Cooper grinned. "Okay. Put your dick in his mouth."
Rocko looked a little sick. "Dude, I told you…"
"Would you just fucking do it!" screamed Cooper.
Rocko held his dick right by Kurt's mouth.
"Is this enough? I don't wanna…you know."
"Just a little more."
Rocko scooted forward an inch. Much to his embarrassment his dick suddenly hardened.
"Is this good?"
Cooper was practically jumping up and down. "It's perfect! Hold it right there!"
Cooper grabbed a digital camera and started snapping away.
"Dude, make sure…"
"I know, I know. No homo. I'm nowhere near your face. Relax."
When finished Rocko quickly did up his pants and wandered off with the pressing need to jerk off. Cooper pulled Kurt to his feet and took him back to his cell.
He pushed Kurt inside with a hard shove. Kurt stumbled and fell into the wall, his head spinning.
"Make sure you get some rest. You have a real client coming soon."
Kurt slid down the wall and passed out.
Luther sighed heavily and reached for a bottle of ibuprofen as he listened to a detailed account of Blaine's activities for the day. He'd had a feeling Blaine might go off the rails, so he'd asked one of the men, Matthew, to keep an eye on him.
Unfortunately Luther's hunch was correct.
"…two of the guys killed at Chartussi's place were his nephews. As a result Chartussi has made it very clear that he wants Blaine dead as soon as possible. After leaving the sandwich shop, which by the way was a hell of a scene, he beat up some small time drug dealer in an alley who worked for Cooper, attacked a chauffeur who knew Cooper in high school, and shot another of Chartussi's men who happened to see Blaine and came after him since he'd heard about what went down at the sandwich shop."
Luther opened his bottom drawer and took out a bottle of bourbon. It hasn't even been 24 hours.
"Thanks for the update, Matthew. I appreciate it."
"No problem. Just make sure Blaine's off the street. Chartussi is coming for him with everything he's got."
Luther called Telio.
"What the hell have you two been up to today?"
"Sounds like you already know."
"Yeah, I do, so I'll spare you the lecture and get right to the point. Thanks to your little stunt at the sandwich shop, Chartussi's orders are to shoot Blaine on sight, not capture. Get Blaine back to the compound and tell him to stay there! I know he's worried about Kurt, but we have everyone out looking for him. Take Blaine home and don't let him leave."
Telio hung up and immediately turned the car around.
"What are you doing?"
"We're going home."
"No we're not. We're going over to Lennox Place. Cooper used to…"
"We're going home, Blaine! Now!"
"Stop the fucking car!"
Telio pulled over and turned off the car. He took the keys and got out. Blaine got out as well and the two stood in front of the car a few feet from each other.
"Give me the keys."
"No."
"Give me the keys, Telio!"
"No! You're out of control, Blaine, and you're in danger! We're going home!"
Blaine rushed him. "Give me the fucking keys!"
Telio blocked Blaine's punch and landed two hard, quick jabs to Blaine's stomach. Blaine fell, but quickly jumped up.
"I gotta find Kurt!"
"No! Chartussi's flooded the streets with people gunning for you! We're going back to the compound!"
"You go back to the compound! I'm gonna find Kurt!" Blaine attacked again.
Elian was frozen in place watching the two wrestle and attack each other. He wanted to help Blaine, but he wasn't sure if that would be appreciated or not.
So he pulled out his gun and fired several shots into the air.
Blaine and Telio stopped and stared at him.
"Let's go back to the compound. We can come back out tonight when the druggies are looking to score."
Telio's blood boiled as he watched Blaine walk to the car and climb in. Since when does he take advice from Elian?
As Telio went to get in, Elian smirked at him.
"You're welcome."
"Fuck you."
x-x-x
Back at the compound all three boys disappeared to their rooms to take showers. Blaine's plan was to eat, rest, and then decide what drug dens to visit that night. Maybe some of Cooper's regulars could lead them to him. Blaine knew it was a longshot, but it was something for him to cling to.
And he needed something to cling to.
Because he was quickly losing his mind.
Blaine's mind was a fucked up mess incapable of thinking rationally. It probably wasn't a good idea to murder seven of Chartussi's men days after kidnapping his consigliere, Sammy. Rational, in control Blaine would have never done that.
But crazed out of his mind over Kurt Blaine didn't give a fuck.
Blaine came out of the shower to find a bottle of red wine and a glass on his nightstand placed there by the ever attentive Elian. Blaine poured a glass and drank it slowly, allowing the strength of the wine to slowly warm his throat. He refilled the glass and downed it quickly as if it were a shot. He put on a pair of sweatpants, poured another glass and slowly finished it before lying down on the bed. He was exhausted, but unable to sleep. Not with his imagination creating images of Kurt scared and crying in his head. Was he hurt? Was he bound and hanging from a ceiling somewhere like all the men he'd seen hanging in his father's barn? Blaine felt sick. His stomach was twisted in a tight knot, and there was an aching throb in the center of his chest.
I'm sorry, Kurt. I'm sorry I failed you. I broke my promise. I failed you and now you're in trouble and it's all my fault.
After 20 minutes he decided to go downstairs to the library. He stood up and almost fell as the effects of the wine spilled through his body. He steadied himself, grabbed the wine bottle, and walked shakily down the stairs. He collapsed in his father's chair and stared at the several lists he'd made the night before.
I'll find you, Kurt. I'll bring you home. I promise. I swear.
He drank the rest of the wine directly from the bottle and finally started to feel like he could possibly fall asleep. He put his head down on the desk and closed his eyes.
His cell phone rang with a text. He immediately sat up and grabbed it.
At first I was surprised by your choice of lover, but then I saw the way he takes cock and it all made sense. #hellofacockslut #eagerforit
Blaine stared at the picture on his phone.
And stared.
And stared.
And stared.
He wanted to stop staring, but he was frozen as thick, sick, dread and loathing consumed him.
Telio burst into the room.
"Blaine!"
Blaine didn't move. Didn't look up.
Telio walked over to him and snatched the phone away. He knelt down and took Blaine's face in his hands.
"Listen to me. That wasn't necessarily what you think it was. Photoshop, Blaine. You can do a lot with Photoshop. You can make all sorts of things look like…" Telio trailed off as he realized Blaine was shaking.
"Blaine?"
"Blaine?"
Telio's attention was pulled away as his phone rang.
Luther.
"Telio, I just got a picture…"
"I know. I got it too."
"Did Blaine…"
"Yeah."
"Shit. How is he?"
"I don't know. He seems…comatose."
"Let me talk to him."
Telio held out his phone to Blaine. "It's Luther."
Blaine took the phone without looking up.
"Blaine? Blaine, listen to me. Don't assume anything, okay? That picture is probably not real. Cooper's doing this to fuck with you, Blaine. Don't let him. Blaine? Blaine?"
Telio took the phone from Blaine. "Luther, I'll call you back."
He hung up and knelt down again in front of Blaine.
"Blaine? Please say something."
Blaine looked up slowly. His eyes were cold and lifeless, his face expressionless.
"We'll find him, Blaine. I promise. We'll find Kurt and rescue him and then we'll kill Cooper, okay?"
"Okay, Blaine?"
"Blaine?"
"Blaine?"
Blaine said nothing. He just stared at Telio with cold, lifeless, emotionless eyes.
Two days later Cooper snorted a line of fresh new coke, closed his eyes, and sat very still. After a minute he hummed, savoring the familiar burn and blast sensation.
"So?" asked George with a sly grin.
Cooper opened his eyes, snorted another line, and nodded. "Yeah, yeah…good shit...great shit. It's really great shit."
George clapped his hands happily, his eyes shining with anticipation. "So, do we have a deal at the price I quoted, and a percentage off if I like what you have to offer me?"
"Yeah, we got a deal and trust me, you're gonna like what I have to offer, but remember he's only a loan. You can't take him from the house, and you can't kill him. I need him. At least for a while longer."
George eagerly agreed. "Of course, of course. I understand, but…if I like him…could I maybe have him once you're done?"
Cooper turned thoughtful. "Maybe. I'll let you know."
George clapped his hands again. "Excellent! Russell, please bring in the rest from the car."
Russell went out to the car and returned with two large duffel bags. Cooper peered inside each and motioned to Rocko.
"Stash these in the back and then bring up our guest."
George Hassel came to the drug game late in life after a highly successful and legitimate 20 year career as a real estate attorney. One morning while getting dressed for work, George stopped to stare at himself in the mirror. He decided he had to change his life immediately or else he was going to shoot himself.
So, he quit his job and started selling coke.
He loved the illegality of it all, the money, freedom, and the danger. Selling drugs freed him and gave him a new lease on life. He stopped drinking, started working out, and never used his product. He was rich, healthy, physically fit, and hungry for young men.
Preferably tall, slender, pale young men, but not too twinky. He liked them strong, but not too muscular.
And he didn't want them willing.
Consensual sex was a reminder of his boring past life. George found physically fighting with a lover more fun.
And fucking a lover he'd just beaten the shit out of incredibly erotic.
George stood up and pressed his hands to his mouth in joyful awe when Rocko appeared with a very frightened, hungry, tired, shirtless Kurt.
George spoke with hushed reverence. "Oh, Cooper. He's lovely."
Cooper stared at Kurt trying to figure out the appeal. "Glad you like him."
George stepped forward and slowly reached for Kurt's face. Kurt drew back from his touch. George practically squealed.
"Oh, yes, yes. Perfect. So perfect."
Rocko started dragging Kurt towards the stairs. Kurt tried to pull away from him.
"Stop it! Let me go! Let me go!"
George clapped happily. "Ooo, he's feisty! Oh, we're going to have such fun!"
Kurt struggled in vain with what little strength he had. Rocko dragged him up the stairs and pushed him into a bathroom.
"Take a shower and just put your boxers back on, or whatever you fags wear. I'll get you new clothes."
Kurt quickly closed the door. There was no lock. The bathroom was empty except for a bar of soap, a wash cloth, a towel, a toothbrush and toothpaste. There wasn't even a mirror.
Kurt stood thinking for several minutes, debating what to do. The idea of a shower was very appealing. He felt sticky and stinky, but he was scared to remove his clothes. What if the guy downstairs was the one that attacked him? What if this was all a trap to get him naked?
After several minutes he finally decided to go for it. He turned on the water and slowly removed his clothes, his eyes locked on the doorknob in case it turned. He felt better the moment the hot water touched his skin. He took his time soaping up, scrubbing his body, and then rinsing. He stood under the water long after all the soap was gone, allowing the hot water to take away some of his tension. He knew it would return the moment he stepped out of the shower, but for a few minutes he relaxed.
He finally turned off the water and toweled off. He slipped on his boxers and folded his clothes. He wasn't sure why, but for some reason he felt the need to hide them. He wrapped the towel around them and placed the bundle in the empty cabinet under the sink. He slowly opened the door and was surprised to see a different man from the one who brought him up.
Russell ran his eyes up and down Kurt's body and smiled.
"Hello. You can follow me."
Kurt didn't move. "I…I was told I would get new clothes."
Russell smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. Just follow me."
Kurt still didn't move. "C-can you bring them to me?"
Russell didn't flinch or stop smiling. "They're laid out for you in the bedroom."
"Um, okay, then I'm gonna put on my clothes."
Russell pulled out his gun and pointed it at Kurt's head.
"Walk."
"Please…can I just put my clothes…"
Russell pressed the gun into Kurt's forehead.
"Walk."
Kurt trembled as he slowly walked down the hall.
"Please…I don't know who you are, but please…please help me…"
Russell stopped him in front of a bedroom door.
"George?"
"Yes, come in."
Russell opened the door and pushed Kurt inside. "I'll be right outside, George."
"Yes, thank you." Russell smiled at Kurt, winked and closed the door behind him.
A completely naked George smiled, his eyes gleaming with a hot lust that terrified and sickened Kurt.
"I'm George. It's Kurt, right?"
Kurt stepped back.
"Oh, sweetie Russell is right outside that door. You can't leave, so why don't you just relax and come here."
Kurt scanned the room. There was a large bed with nightstands on either side with lamps on top. There was a desk and chair in the corner and a flat screen TV on the wall. He could see George's clothes laying on the window seat.
"Please…please leave me alone."
George started walking towards him. "But honey you are too delicious to resist. Your skin…such gorgeous, creamy, pale skin. I bet you look amazing covered in bruises. The contrast…" George stopped, closed his eyes and hummed.
Kurt moved closer to the wall. "Please don't do this. Please…I…I can't do what you want…please…"
George opened his eyes and smiled. "Oh, sweetie that's the whole point." The sick lust in George's eyes deepened. "If you wanted to give me what I want this would be no fun."
George lunged forward grabbing Kurt by the shoulders. Kurt yelled and pushed George away. The slap George delivered reminded Kurt of the slap he'd suffered days earlier. Was this the same person?
The slap was followed by a punch to Kurt's jaw and a hard shove towards the bed. Kurt fell back on the bed, but rolled off on to the floor.
George laughed. "Come on, sweetie. Up, up, up."
Kurt lay still, eyes closed, his body absorbing the pain. He was so tired, and hungry, and his hunger left him weak and lethargic, but there was no way he was going to let this lunatic rape him.
He slowly rose to his feet, much to George's delight.
"There we are. Come on sweetness. Let's have fun."
George charged forward. Kurt ducked and ran to the opposite end of the room. "Leave me alone! Stay away from me!"
George laughed. "I love the chase!"
George came after him again. Kurt tried to run, but George grabbed him around the waist. Kurt bucked and thrashed until George threw him against the wall. Kurt managed to turn quickly and kick George in the stomach as he rushed towards him. George stumbled back and laughed joyously.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
He advanced again, grabbing Kurt and throwing him down on the bed. He climbed on top of him and punched him square in the eye before pinning his hands down.
"Oh, how lovely! You're going to have a black eye. Several by the time I'm done."
George released Kurt and jumped off the bed. Kurt scrambled off the bed and ran to the corner of the room near the door.
George smiled his sick, depraved smile and eyed Kurt's crotch.
"It's time for those to come off."
George rushed forward.
Kurt grabbed the gold candlestick lamp off the nightstand and swung, bashing the side of George's head.
George stumbled back from the blow and fell. Kurt stood over him, raised the lamp, and brought it down with all the strength he had.
Again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Terror, fear, and desperation turned into strength.
Kurt completely bashed in the head of George Hansel.
He dropped the lamp and sat down shakily on the bed. He wasn't sure when he'd started crying, but tears were rolling down his face. He stared at the body in the middle of the floor.
A body without much of a face or head left.
Kurt put his face in his hands and silently sobbed for several minutes as both exhaustion and momentary relief crashed down on him.
Now what?
He walked over to the window seat and picked up George's shirt and pants. He spied George's gun laying on the window seat. He glanced at the bedroom door and picked up the gun.
Out in the hallway Russell was thinking about plans for dinner. Where should they eat tonight? George always had quite an appetite after sex. Made sense with all the energy he spent beating the hell out of his victims before fucking them.
Russell suddenly noticed the silence.
He glanced at his watch.
That was strange.
Yelling, crying, bodies being thrown and broken. That was normal.
Silence? Never.
Russell knocked on the door. "George?"
"George?"
He slowly opened the door a crack. "George?"
He saw the body on the floor and ran in.
"Geo…"
Kurt shot him four times.
Kurt quickly stepped over the bodies and ran down the hall to the bathroom. He closed the door just as Cooper and several men arrived upstairs and ran to the room. Kurt could hear Cooper yelling as he quickly put his clothes on.
"Shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Find him! Fucking find him! He couldn't have gone far! Shit!"
Kurt held the gun close to his chest and listened to the men running down the hallway.
Please don't think to look in here.
Please don't think to look in here.
Please don't think to look in here.
They didn't look in the bathroom.
Kurt waited for several minutes of silence to pass before slowly opening the door and peeking out. The hallway was deserted. He slipped out of the bathroom and quickly hurried down the hall back to the room. George and Russell's bodies were still on the floor. Kurt stepped over them and ran to the window. He raised it and carefully climbed out on to the roof. He slid the window closed and scooted over a few feet, settling behind a brick chimney stack. He laid back on the roof, bent his knees and placed his feet against the stack. He gripped the gun tightly against his chest. His heart was racing and he was breathing hard. He could hear the commotion below as cars were moved to block the driveway, and men ran around the grounds searching for him.
Eventually it grew quiet below as the sky began to darken. Kurt focused on calming himself, telling his body to relax. Gradually his heartbeat slowed and his breathing evened out.
Kurt closed his eyes.
Within minutes he was asleep.
Blaine was not doing well.
Not well at all.
He never spoke the night he received the photo. Telio had eventually given up and left him sitting in the library. Blaine sat there for another 15 minutes before getting up and going to his room. He opened the text message again, looked at the picture, and proceeded to destroy his entire bedroom before collapsing on his bed.
There were no tears.
Instead he was consumed with a thick black rage that choked all other emotion out of him. His sleep was restless and fitful as the image of Kurt sucking some faceless guy's cock burned itself on Blaine's brain. As Cooper had hoped, the image was soon joined by others conjured up in Blaine's imagination. Kurt being held down and fucked by faceless guy. Several faceless guys. Blaine woke up, the rage thicker and heavier than before. He grabbed his gun, ready to kill those hurting his Kurt, but of course no one was in his room.
The next morning he turned his rage on Telio. Blaine was determined to leave to search for Kurt, especially now. Telio was determined to make him stay home.
Things turned physical fast. Telio tried to stick to only half his strength because he didn't want to really hurt Blaine, but Blaine left him no choice. Blaine's rage and desperate need to find Kurt pushed him to beat the shit out of anyone who tried to get in his way. Even his best friend.
It was a fierce fight, but not a fair one. Telio was simply stronger, faster, and better trained. He finally knocked Blaine out and carried him to his bedroom, dumping him on the bed. Telio sat in a chair in the corner of the room, his heart aching for his best friend and brother.
I'm sorry I had to beat the hell out of you, but I love you and I will protect you, even from yourself.
Curiosity was killing Elian. He knew something had been sent to Blaine, Telio and Luther, but he didn't know what and no one was willing to tell him or show him. He figured it must be a picture or video having to do with Kurt, and it must have been really awful to turn Blaine into the cold, angry, silent creature he'd become, but what was it? He hoped it was Kurt's dead body laying in a hole somewhere.
The next day Blaine didn't leave his room. He sat in his boxers and drank bottles of wine until he was completely drunk out of his mind. Late in the evening he finally wandered out, stumbling and falling into the walls. He made his way to the kitchen where Elian was sitting with a magazine. Elian looked up and hoped for the thousandth time that Kurt was dead. Even drunk Blaine was gorgeous. His hair hadn't been cut in a while, nor had he gelled, so it was a mess of curls all over his head. He hadn't shaved so he had just the right amount of stubble on his face. Caveman sexy.
"Hi Blaine. Can I get you something?" Or give you something? Like a blowjob?
"Cookies."
"Cookies?"
"My mom…cookies…"
"Um…there aren't any cookies, but I could make you some."
Blaine shook his head drunkenly. "No…I only want…mom cookies." Blaine closed his eyes and stood there.
Elian looked at him for a moment before standing up and walking over to him. He placed his hands on Blaine's shoulders and slowly backed him towards the wall. Blaine's eyes remained closed. Elian tangled his fingers in Blaine's curls and began gently massaging his scalp. Blaine hummed.
"You're so beautiful, Blaine. So incredibly beautiful."
Kurt thinks I'm beautiful.
"No…you're beautiful…so fucking beautiful."
Elian thrilled at the compliment, unaware that in his drunken stupor Blaine thought he was Kurt.
Elian stepped closer, pressing his body against Blaine's. He whispered in his ear.
"Take me. Please…fuck me. Right here, right now."
Yes, Kurt. Yes, yes, yes. I wanna fuck you, Kurt. I wanna fuck you so bad…but...you don't smell like you…
Blaine opened his eyes.
And punched Elian in the face.
"What the fuck! You're not Kurt! Where is Kurt?"
Elian was too shocked by the first punch to duck the second. Blaine started wailing on him, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Where the fuck is, Kurt? What the fuck are you trying to pull! Where is Kurt? Where is Kuuuurrrrttt!"
Telio came running in just as Blaine pulled his gun and pressed it to Elian's head. Blaine's eyes were wild and deranged. Elian was terrified.
"Blaine…Blaine…easy, Blaine. I…I didn't mean anything. I-I-I thought you knew it was me. Please Blaine…put the gun down."
Telio crossed his arms and leaned against the entrance way. Did he want to stop this or not?
Blaine was shaking as he cocked the gun. "Where the fuck is Kurt?"
Elian glanced desperately at Telio. "Do something!"
Telio shrugged. "That's what you get for fucking with him."
"Telio! Please!"
At that moment Luther walked in.
"What the…Blaine! Put that down!"
Blaine slowly lowered his gun. Luther grabbed it from him. Elian scrambled backwards like a crab. Blaine looked around at all of them and then calmly walked over to the bar as if nothing had happened. He took out his father's favorite bourbon, Woodford Reserve, and poured two glasses. He held one up.
"Luther, join me?"
Luther accepted the glass and sat down.
"Thanks, but I don't think you should have anymore."
Blaine ignored him, downing the glass and pouring another.
"Blaine, that's enough."
"I'll say when I've had enough." Blaine poured another glass, left it on the bar, and took the bottle with him to his room.
Luther turned to Telio. "We can't let him fall apart. I know he's devastated, but he still has to lead. The other families are getting nervous and more than a little annoyed. He has to understand that his actions have ripple effects. He starts acting like he's out of control, he loses credibility. We need to have a family meeting to demonstrate that he's still capable of leading."
"But he's not," said Telio. "Not right now. Right now he's obsessed with finding Kurt. The only reason why he's home is because I beat the hell out of him yesterday. I had no choice. He was determined to leave."
Luther nodded in agreement. "You did the right thing. He can't be on the street right now, but we definitely need to schedule a full family meeting. People are starting to talk. They're either impressed with what went down at the sandwich shop, or they've decided he's nuts."
Telio sighed. "We gotta hurry up and find Kurt, and in order to do that we gotta find Cooper. Any new leads?"
"Nothing. It's like he disappeared into thin air and took Kurt with him."
"No," said Telio shaking his head. "Somebody knows something. We just aren't asking the right people."
Timothy nervously followed the young kid down the hall past several rooms. Despite never having touched a gun before he suddenly wished he had one. Walking into a drug den was dangerous shit. He hated buying like this. It was scary, dangerous, and they charged more, but he was desperate. He'd tried calling Cooper, but the number was disconnected. He even stopped by the manufacturing company he'd found Cooper at before, but no one was around except a security guard who chased him away and threatened to call the police on him for loitering suspiciously.
Timothy followed the kid through a door into a large room. Dirk Mason was sitting at the head of a table. The kid stopped and held up his hand for Timothy to wait. The kid approached Dirk and whispered in his ear. Dirk nodded and motioned for Timothy.
"My man here tells me you're hoping for snow?"
"Um…yeah."
"8-ball?"
"Double."
Dirk looked Timothy up and down. "Ooh, big spender. Where you from white boy?"
"Um, Westerville."
"Westerville? Really? What the fuck you doing all the way up here?"
"I-I heard you had good stuff."
Dirk laughed. "Well, you heard right. Dirk Mason's shit is the best shit."
Dirk nodded to one of his assistants who disappeared behind a screen. "Westerville, huh? I guess that means you usually buy from Anderson."
Timothy opened his mouth but then closed it. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to admit he knew a rival drug dealer.
"Um…I think I heard the name before, but I don't know him."
"Anderson ain't supplying the streets of Westerville no more?"
"Um…I-I don't really know."
"Well he must not be if you driving all the way up here for some blow. Shit ain't no surprise though. I heard the fags been off the chain since his lover went missing."
"What?"
Dirk waved his hand and laughed. "Nothing, nothing. Street gossip. You got cash, right?"
x-x-x
Timothy waited until he was safely locked in his room to make the call. Dirk's words haunted him all the way home.
"I heard the fags been off the chain since his lover went missing."
He couldn't be talking about Blaine. Blaine doesn't deal drugs, Cooper does.
But Cooper isn't gay, is he?
"…his lover went missing."
Timothy dialed Kurt's cell number.
He got a no longer in service recording.
He called Blaine.
"'ello?"
"Blaine? It's Timothy."
"Hey Timmosee…"
"Um, Blaine are you okay?"
"Yeah…fine, fine, fucking…fine."
"Uh…um…how's Kurt?"
"Kurt…"
"Yes, how's Kurt? Are…are you having a good summer together?"
"Kurt…Kurt…Kurt…"
"Blaine?"
"Blaine?"
"Blaine?"
Blaine had passed out drunk on his bed.
Timothy hung up and reached for the bag of coke.
Kurt opened his eyes. The stars were disappearing as dawn arrived. He sat up slowly and took a deep breath. It was quiet and still. He carefully inched out from behind the chimney stack and peered over the edge of the roof. He could see a few men with large guns leaning against a car blocking the driveway. He sat back slowly as his head swirled and raced with dizziness while his stomach swam.
He carefully returned to his spot behind the chimney stack and took stock of his body. His face felt swollen and his side throbbed, but above all he was hungry. If he ran how far would he get? He couldn't stay on the roof forever. Maybe he could sneak back in the house and steal some food. No, that was too risky. He'd just have to figure out a way off the roof and make a run for it.
He sat up when he heard car engines starting below. The cars blocking the driveway were pulled back to allow a red Porshe Cayenne to pull into the drive. A man got out and headed into the house. Kurt scooted back to his hiding place and thought about his next move.
x-x-x
Sam Hirschfield walked into the house and angrily headed to the great room. He couldn't believe Cooper had fucked up so royally.
Cooper was shirtless, jeans hanging off his butt, eyes wide, blown, and slightly crazed. Sam noticed the half pack of coke sitting on the table.
"Alright, so what happened?"
Cooper bounced around the room talking too fast, arms flailing.
"He's gone! He's fucking gone! The little faggot killed George! He killed Russell! He's like a gay fucking version of Telio and shit!" Cooper picked up a vase and threw it into a wall.
"Hey! Remember whose house you're in!" yelled Sam.
"Sorry, sorry."
Sam shook his head in disgust and went to get a broom and dustpan from the closet. He started sweeping up the glass. "Okay, start at the beginning. He was upstairs with George…"
"Yeah. He was upstairs with George, and then we heard shots. We ran upstairs and George and Russell are dead, and fairy boy is gone!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. Why was he upstairs with George in the first place?"
Cooper squinted as if trying to figure out why Sam would ask such a stupid question.
"We had a deal. He could fuck the fairy for a 40% discount on our first large buy."
Sam gave Cooper a disapproving look.
"Alright, fine, whatever. So you ran upstairs the moment you heard the shots and then you started searching."
"Yeah."
"Within seconds of hearing the shots you're upstairs, you see the bodies, and immediately start searching?"
"Yeah. That's why I don't get it. Where'd the little faggot go?"
Sam sat down to think while Cooper paced aimlessly around the room muttering. "Only seconds, one minute…fucking fairy…probably fucking flew away."
Sam looked up. "Maybe he didn't go anywhere. Maybe he hid in the house."
Cooper looked at Sam with wide, shocked eyes. "In the house?"
"Yeah. Think about it. He couldn't have left that fast with all of you running around. He must have hid in the house and then snuck out. Or…he's still in the house."
Cooper ran outside and started screaming. "All of you get in here! Now!"
x-x-x
Kurt watched curiously as all the men suddenly ran into the house. Perhaps this was his chance.
He slowly scooted out from behind the stack and started to inch his way across the roof. He stopped as a wave of dizziness floated through him. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
You have to keep going. You can't stay up here forever.
He started inching again, slowly making his way around to the back of the house. To his relief there was a drop off to a lower roof over a patio.
He carefully dropped down. Ohhh…His stomach swirled nauseatingly as another wave of dizziness rolled through him. He carefully sat down and closed his eyes. He needed a minute.
x-x-x
Sam ordered three guys to recheck the house. "The rest of you go outside, and you two check the roof. You go down the road to the Keegans. They're the closest neighbors, so he may have gone there for help. They're an older couple, so be nice and be calm. We don't wanna raise suspicions."
Sam walked through the kitchen to the breakfast nook. He stopped and looked out the sliding glass doors to the patio and deck.
x-x-x
Kurt's stomach settled. He still felt dizzy, but that seemed to be a new constant. He looked over the backyard. He couldn't tell how far the land went. He just hoped there wasn't a fence.
He scooted to the edge of the roof…
x-x-x
Sam unlocked the patio door and was about to slide the door open when he saw feet dangling down. Good. The guys must have checked the entire roof. He opened the door.
"Did you…"
Kurt jumped down.
"Hey!"
Kurt turned and fired. Sam barely ducked in time.
Kurt ran.
"He's here! He's here! In the backyard!"
Kurt ran as fast as possible. Sam followed him and was soon joined by the other men. Kurt kept moving, his eyes fixed on where the grass ended and tall stalks of corn began. If he could just make it there maybe he could disappear among the stalks.
A bullet whizzed by him.
Oh, God…
"Don't shoot," screamed Cooper. "We need him alive!"
Kurt pushed himself harder as he sensed Sam and another man gaining on him.
Sam reached out and just missed his shirt.
Kurt pressed forward despite feeling sicker than sick. Days of no food, the drugs he'd been given, fighting with George, it all took their toll. His body was weak and exhausted, He kept going, but his body couldn't keep up with his mind's determination.
Sam grabbed his shirt, jerking him back. He fell, but didn't give up. He kicked his feet and thrashed violently.
"No! No! Get off me!"
Sam punched him before flipping him over, and grabbing his wrists. He pulled him to his feet and started dragging him back to the house. When Kurt tried to wrench away, Sam punched him several more times until Kurt blacked out.
Sunday morning.
Kurt had been missing since Wednesday.
Luther sat in his car in front of the Hummel-Hudson home. Burt and Carol had agreed to give Blaine three days before calling the police. Luther needed to negotiate for more time.
Burt wasn't having it.
"You said you could find him! You haven't! I'm calling the police!"
"Mr. Hummel, please. We know who has him. It's just a matter of finding them."
"Who has him?"
Luther hesitated. He didn't want Burt to know about Cooper in case he decided to call the police. The name Cooper Anderson would trigger an investigation into all things Anderson. He couldn't let that happen.
But…
The idea of leaving Burt in the dark about his son didn't sit well with Luther. The man deserved to know the truth. Luther decided to take a chance and hope it didn't come back to haunt him.
"I can only tell you who has him if you promise not to go to the police."
Burt shook his head. "I can't make that promise. It's been four days! Four days since I've seen my son! For four days we've been going out of our minds with worry! You tell me you know who has him! Then why haven't you gone to get him?"
"I promise you we're doing everything to find him. You've got to trust us, Mr. Hummel. Blaine is just as worried and very determined. We will find him."
"Oh, yeah. He's so determined that he doesn't have the guts to come here and speak to me personally."
Luther sighed. "That's my fault. I thought you might respond better if I was your contact instead of Blaine. I know he's not high on your list."
Burt's eyebrows rose. "And you think you are?"
Luther shook his head. "No, of course not."
The two men sat in silence. Burt shook his head with a resigned sigh.
"Tell me who has my son."
"Are you going to the police?"
"Maybe, but I won't reveal what you tell me."
"I have your word?"
"You have my word."
Luther studied Burt for a moment before deciding he could trust him.
"Blaine's older brother. His name is Cooper. We think he took Kurt to blackmail Blaine. Blaine is prepared to give him whatever he wants. We're just waiting for his demands."
"His brother did this?"
"Yes. Blaine and Cooper's relationship…it's complicated."
Burt processed this new information. His son was a pawn between two brothers. Over what?
"You say Blaine is ready to give his brother whatever he wants to get Kurt back. What does he want?"
"We're not sure, but we feel very confident that he won't hurt Kurt. Cooper needs him."
"And if this Cooper demands something Blaine can't give?"
"There's nothing Blaine won't give to get Kurt back. Nothing."
Blaine sat in his father's chair in the library.
He'd spent two days being completely drunk out of his mind. He couldn't remember anything beyond seeing the photo.
His rage was now joined by shame and guilt.
How dare you spend two days being drunk when Kurt is somewhere out there at Cooper's mercy? You fucking suck.
"Okay, so where are we?"
Telio handed Blaine the list. "While you've been wallowing in wine, we finished talking to everyone you thought was an associate of Cooper's. Frankly, Blaine they were all old names. Most either hadn't seen Cooper since high school, or didn't even remember him. The few current names you listed were clients who haven't seen him in weeks if not months. A few even asked about Skylar, so that tells you just how long it's been."
Blaine ran his hands through his hair and held his head in his hands. "What about the Chartussi contacts?"
"I instructed everyone to leave the Chartussi contacts alone."
Blaine's head snapped up. "What? Why?"
"Because we can't afford to have Chartussi anymore pissed off with us than he already is. In case you've forgotten we killed his consigliere and 8 of his men, including two nephews. We gotta be careful. Just for a little while."
Blaine gripped the desk. "Careful? Careful? Are you fucking kidding me? Kurt is out there somewhere and you wanna fucking…"
Blaine stopped and stood up so fast the chair rolled back and slammed into the bookshelf.
"Fuck you! Fuck all of you!"
Blaine stormed out of the library. Elian and Telio exchanged worried looks before following him.
They were just in time to see Blaine jump inside his father's Porsche.
"Blaine! Wait!" yelled Telio.
Blaine sped off.
Telio and Elian jumped inside Blaine's BMW. Telio started the car and hit the gas, the car wobbled along.
"What the hell?"
They jumped out the car and looked at the tires.
Two were slashed.
Kurt woke up in pain. His entire body throbbed and ached, his face felt swollen, and his head was ringing. He could hear voices floating above him.
"…need to get on with it. I don't understand why you didn't make the call four days ago. What are you waiting for?"
"I want him to suffer. To know what it's like to have something taken away. To have something stolen."
"You sound like some 16 year old girl in a bad teen movie. Just fucking call him, tell him to either abdicate, immediately or he'll never see his lover again."
"Ab duh what?"
"Abdicate. You know…give up the throne."
"Oh. Yeah. Abdicate, or else I'll make his boyfriend fornicate." Cooper cackled loudly. "Hey, let me show you what I sent him."
Sam looked at the fake blowjob photo of Kurt and shook his head.
"I don't understand. Why would you do that? And I still don't get why you gave him to George. Everyone knows what he does to guys."
Cooper turned serious and sober as his hatred of Blaine flowed with every word he spoke.
"I told you. I want him to hurt. He lied to me. He lied to everybody. All his denials and claims of not wanting anything to do with the business. He screwed me outta what belongs to me. So…I'm gonna screw him. Starting by screwing his boyfriend."
Sam smirked. "Didn't know you were gay."
"You know what I mean," growled Cooper.
Kurt tried to put it all together.
These people took him to hurt Blaine because Blaine took something that belonged them? Who were these people? He very slowly rose his head and tried to sit up. Sam watched him with amused interest and curiosity.
"You know, to look at him you'd never think he could be so lethal. I can't believe he killed George and Russell."
Kurt's voice was horse and rough. "Who…are you? What…what do you…want?"
Cooper's eyes narrowed with anger, his voice steadily escalating. "Who am I? Who am I? I'll tell you who I am! Cooper fucking Anderson! First born of Mario Anderson! The rightful heir to the Anderson Family Empire! That's who I am!"
Kurt made the connection. This is Blaine's brother.
Cooper snatched a cell phone off the table and dialed Blaine's number.
x-x-x
Blaine was pushing 100 miles an hour as he sped down the highway. He didn't care that it was dangerous, or that Telio would be furious with him for leaving and slashing the tires on the car. He had to get out. He had to figure out how to find Kurt. What was he missing? Cooper wasn't this smart. Who was helping him?
His phone rang.
He ignored it, sure it was Telio calling to yell at him for taking off alone when Chartussi was itching to kill him. So what? If something happened to Kurt…well, he'd walk into Chartussi's house unarmed.
The phone stopped ringing but started again a minute later. Blaine decided to get it over with.
"What?"
"Nice way to answer your phone, squirt. Mom would not approve."
Blaine slammed on the breaks and pulled over to the side of the road.
"Cooper…"
"What's up little brother?"
"Where's Kurt?"
"Again with the being rude. I asked you a question."
"Stop fucking with me! Where is Kurt? Let me talk to him!"
Cooper laughed. "Fucking with you? Oh, Blaine. I haven't even begun to fuck with you. Starting with your boyfriend. Not that I'm interested, of course. I prefer the ladies, however I know several guys who'd love a piece of your boyfriend's ass. That's when the real fucking will start."
Blaine's stomach lurched, his blood boiled, and bile coated his throat.
"I swear…if you…I'm gonna kill you, Cooper. I swear I'm gonna kill you."
Cooper laughed. "Whatever asshole. Don't be mad at me because your boyfriend is a cockslut."
"Let me talk to Kurt! Now!"
"No! You're not in charge! I'm in charge! The way it should be!"
Blaine closed his eyes and tried to calm down. Don't piss him off. Play it right and maybe you can talk to Kurt, or better yet get a clue about where Cooper's hiding.
"Please let me talk to him. I…his father is worried sick. Let me talk to him so I can tell his father he's okay."
Cooper's evil streak burned. "But he's not okay, Blaine. He's a fucking mess. He's suffering, and he's gonna keep suffering until you give me what I want."
Blaine started shaking slightly as his rage swirled. He swallowed hard, the bile tasting thick and nasty in his throat.
"What do you want?"
"Your kingdom for a Kurt."
"What does that mean?"
"Just what I said. Your kingdom for a Kurt. Actually, it's my kingdom. You stole it. I want it back."
"What exactly are you saying, Cooper?"
"You know exactly what I'm saying you little faggot! You want your boyfriend back? You hand over the empire! The empire that's rightfully mine in the first place!"
Blaine was prepared to do anything to get Kurt back.
But this?
Hand over his family's future to his coked out, dumb as rocks, incompetent, incapable brother? Blatantly go against his father's wishes?
He chose his words carefully. "Cooper, there's no guarantee the other families will follow you. They know what dad wanted. He told them. What you're asking…it's not that simple."
"Yes, it is! You just don't wanna do it because you're a lying, greedy, sneaky son-of-a-bitch! All that talk about wanting nothing to do with the family business. Lies! All fucking lies! You and Telio planned to take over all along!"
Cooper pulled out his gun and walked over to Kurt who'd been slipping in and out of consciousness. Cooper pulled him to his knees and pressed the gun to Kurt's forehead. He made sure he held the phone so Blaine could hear Kurt's gasp and whimper of, "Please…please don't…oh, God…please…"
"Kurt! Kurt! Kurt are you okay? Kurt!"
"If you're not going to give me what I want, then I have no reason to keep fairy boy alive."
Panic and hysteria slammed down on Blaine, crushing his chest with desperate fear.
"No! I just…we have to figure out a way to make it work. To make the other families accept it."
"Bullshit! They'll accept it because I'm an Anderson!"
In that moment Blaine understood exactly why his father never wanted Cooper in charge. It wasn't just Cooper's litany of mistakes, stupidity, and drug use. Nor was it his greed and hunger for power. Cooper didn't understand the delicate balance of being a crime boss. It wasn't just respect earned through fear. It was the respect you gave those who pledged allegiance and loyalty to you. Respect was a two way street greased by both fear and mutual admiration. Being generous with money helped too. The fact that Cooper believed all it took was his family name proved that he would never be able to lead. The mutiny would happen within minutes followed by his execution. There would be an internal war for control, and the Anderson crime family would be destroyed, replaced by whatever family won the war. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather's legacy would be erased.
There was no way he was going to hand over the family business to his brother.
He had to find Kurt and kill Cooper.
"Let me talk to Kurt."
"I thought I explained that you're not in charge! Now, do we have a deal or what?"
"I'm not agreeing to anything until I talk to Kurt. I need….proof of life."
"But, Blaaainnee, I sent you a picture. Didn't you like it? Couldn't you see how alive he was? All alive and happy to suck cock. He's gonna reward every man in my crew." Cooper laughed loud, and long. The bile returned to Blaine's throat.
"I do nothing until you let me talk to him."
Cooper pulled Kurt up again and gave him the phone. "You've got 20 seconds."
Kurt clenched the phone, his voice a hoarse, rough whisper. "Blaine?"
"Kurt! Oh, Kurt. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, sorry. I promise to get you outta this. I promise. I swear. I love you, Kurt. I love you so much."
"I love you, too. Please, Blaine…please…please come get me…"
"I will! I am! I promise! Do you know where you are? Is there anything you can tell me? Any hint you can give me?"
"I…I don't know…just…please…hurry…"
"I'm coming, Kurt. I promise. I promise."
Cooper snatched the phone from Kurt.
"Alright, enough. When are we gonna do this?"
"I'm not doing anything until you let him go."
Cooper laughed. "Do you think I'm stupid? Fuck you! You don't lay eyes on him until everything is set. I'll be in touch." Cooper hung up.
Blaine flung his phone to the floor and covered his face with his hands.
Kurt was suffering.
Suffering because of him.
He'd promised to protect Kurt from his world, and instead Kurt was trapped right in the middle of it.
Luther stood in the lobby of Anderson Construction watching Anastasia say goodbye to a local businessman. She had his hands clasped in hers and was smiling while looking directly into his eyes. The man looked enraptured, nodding and agreeing with everything she said. When she turned she could feel the man watching her walk away. She didn't mind. For the size of the donation he'd just agreed to, he could watch her walk all day long.
She stopped at her assistant's desk.
"Beth, Mr. Carter has just agreed to host the foundation launch party!"
"Oh, Mrs. Anderson!" Beth squealed and clapped happily. "Congratulations!"
Anastasia beamed. "Thank you. Oh, my gosh we have so much to do to get ready. I wasn't expecting him to say yes so easily or quickly. I can't believe it."
"I can."
Anastasia turned to see Luther standing there. She ignored the heat in her belly and the ripple down her spine. "Thank you, Luther. Thank you for your confidence in me."
Luther said nothing. The two stared at each other for several long seconds. Beth turned and busied herself at her computer. The obvious heat and attraction between them was palpable. And so very dangerous. The entire situation scared Beth. There was no way for things to end well.
Anastasia headed inside her office. Luther followed her and closed the door.
He couldn't take it anymore.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
"No, Luther. Let me go."
He pushed her up against the wall, pinned her hands above her head, and pressed his body into hers. She stifled a moan.
"Luther…"
"Look me in the eyes, Anastasia and tell me you don't want me. Tell me you don't want this and I will leave you alone. I'll help you move back to the compound and I'll never approach you again."
"I…we can't….I'm still married."
"We both know Mario is never getting better. You just won't pull the plug. Why can't you break free from his grip?"
"He's my husband!"
"He's dead!"
Anastasia slapped him. "How dare you? You're supposed to be his best friend!"
"Tell me you don't want this and I'll leave you alone."
Anastasia opened her mouth but no words came. How do you explain that you crave being sexually dominated? That you needed it and had been suffering without it. Nice girls didn't say or want such things, right?
"Tell me you don't need me. Tell me to leave you alone and I will."
Her silence was enough for Luther. He leaned in close and could feel her release as she closed her eyes and allowed her body to melt into his. He wrapped her hair around his hand and roughly pulled her head back. Every nerve of desire in her body opened. Luther kissed her long and full, tasting her mouth, drinking her in, savoring the feeling of her finally giving in.
His cell phone rang.
"Yes, Blaine?"
"I just talked to Cooper. He'll let Kurt go if I step aside and turn over control of the family to him."
Luther swore under his breath. "I figured that was what he wanted, but I was hoping it would be something else. Anything but that. Shit."
"Naturally I can't do that, but we need to figure something out and fast. I talked to Kurt…he sounded terrible, and Cooper…I don't know if he was lying or…Cooper said he was gonna…"
Blaine couldn't bring himself to say it, and he didn't have to. After the text photo Luther could imagine what Cooper had threatened.
"I need to finish up a few things here and then I'll come out. Don't worry, Blaine. We'll come up with a plan. We'll get Kurt back and we'll…"
Luther caught himself. Anastasia was standing right there looking at him. He couldn't say they was going to kill her son.
"…we'll figure it all out."
Luther hung up and pulled Anastasia into a kiss before she could speak. When they separated she looked into his eyes.
"Blaine is going to kill you."
Luther nodded. "I know."
I'm tired of the boys being apart, so it's time for Blaine to go get his Kurt.