I couldn't stop staring at the folder underneath me sitting perfectly on the table. I blindly reached out and grabbed my coffee cup still staring at the folder. "Just open it you pussy…I promise you're not going to see Louis banging Logan on the copy machine." I looked up fast and flipped Kendall off while drinking the rest of my coffee. "Seriously…there is nothing in there dude. He's got a squeaky clean record of being an upstanding member of society. The only thing on his file was the problem a few weeks back about that guy Matthew." I raised my eyebrows and he nodded grabbing his still full cup of coffee. "Yeah I guess Matthew lost his damn mind. He came into the office broke a 2000 dollar computer and monitor. He set the curtains on fire, he smashed every piece of furniture in the office while cussing at Louis and calling him every name in the book. I guess he also threatened Louis by saying he was going to blow the building up. Cops were called and Matthew was sent to jail for like a week, and now I guess he's working at that café." I sighed out slowly opening the folder hating that the first thing I saw was Louis's face. "Honestly…the guy has done a lot of good for the world. He gives a huge chunk of his money, after taking care of himself and his family, to charity. The biggest thing that stuck out for me is he's been at the front lines trying to legalize gay marriage. He's a huge advocate for equal rights."
"I don't give a shit if he gave his kidney to a dying 4 year old girl." Kendall stopped mid drink of his coffee and I closed the folder sliding it over to Kendall. "Okay…so great. He's a fucking saint. I know he took Logan's phone and I know all he's trying to do is get in Logan's pants."
"Hey genius…you don't have proof. And the more time you spend thinking about this, the more likely you will go crazy!" I sat back letting my hands drop into my lap and gritted my teeth. "And you know I will do anything for you and Logan but this…" He raised the yellow folder and glare at me, not happy at all. "This sneaking around bullshit has to stop! Carlos probably thinks I'm fucking cheating because I left last night to get this form my friend in the LAPD. And I can't tell him my idiot best friend is suspicious of his boyfriends boss because who is the first person Carlos will go to?" I looked down at my naked torso and wondered how Logan would react to finding out what I had Kendall do. Run a background check on his boss. But then again, as long as Logan wasn't forced to do something from this douche bag, I didn't care what Logan found out. "And then I had to lie to Carlos again this morning about where I was going, because if I told him I was with you, he'd want to come along and…" He stopped short and slowly rose himself up in his chair. I opened my mouth to speak but then I also heard it. A car was shut off in the driveway followed by a door being shut. "Are you expecting someone?" I slowly stood up shaking my head just as the front door opened.
"Baby?!" I frowned and walked out quickly tot eh front door to see Logan hanging his coat up and setting his bag on the floor. When he turned to us he smiled big and put his hand son his hips. "Hi Kendall…"
"What are you doing home?" I walked into him loosening his tie while he smiled bright and set his hand son my bare waist.
"Well Louis saw my ring, I told him were engaged and he gave me the day off. With pay." I nodded slowly seeing Kendall walk up next to us, a smug look on his face He grabbed Logan's left hand a raised it chuckling.
"Definitely looks better on your finger then in that store." Logan pulled his hand away from Kendall and glared at me in the sexiest way possible.
"You went ring shopping with Kendall?" I nodded yanking his tie off his neck. He pushed me away gently but laced our hands together pulling me back out to the dining room table. I panicked a little seeing the folder, but Logan didn't stop at the table. He pulled me all the way out to the living room and pushed me on the couch kicking off his shoes and climbing on top of me. I laughed and wrapped an arm around him while my other hand started to unbutton his shirt. "If I were you, I'd go Kendall. It's about to get really naked in here." I laughed turning my head to see Kendall looking a little panicked, with his phone pressed to his ear.
"Babe?" Logan also turned and we both watched Kendall's face go form worried to pissed. "Carlos? Baby…calm down…what happened?" Logan jumped off my lap quick and hurried to his best friend's side. I also followed seeing Kendall looking more and more angry and even a little sad. "No honey…what do you mean? Who was it?...well how did they get in?" He paused raising his eyebrows before turning to us and looking like Carlos just told him horrible news. "What did they do to you?" Now I started to freak out and moved forward setting a hand on Kendall's shoulder. "Okay…baby I'm on my way. Don't leave and call the cops okay. Okay…I love you. I will be there as fast as I can." Kendall dropped his phone from his ear, turned and headed to the door fast. Logan cashed after him getting in front of him and stopping him as I slipped on a sweater and grabbed Logan's shoes.
"Kendall…what's wrong? What happened?" As I slipped on some sneakers I saw Kendall run a hand through his hair and shake his head.
"Someone broke into our house." I tied my shoes half hazardly staring at Logan and Kendall. I stood up, grabbed my phone, wallet and keys and walked to them handing Logan his shoes. "Carlos said he was in the shower…he heard glass breaking down stairs…and he walked down with just a towel around his waist and he was hit." I swallowed hard gently pushing both of them out. Kendall had his keys out and ready, but I don't think he's in any condition to drive. I took them form him still pushing both of them out noticing Logan looking pretty scared. "And he wasn't just hit once. He said there were three guys and one of them had a bat."
"Oh my God…" I set my hand on Logan's neck and after locking up our house I walked both of them to Kendall's rented four door sports car. I set both of them in the backseat because Kendall was slowly coming undone and Logan was the only one who has ever seen him like this. Well, Carlos too but he wasn't here right now.
I sped through town not caring if I got pulled over. Kendall barely got out his new house address and by the time I had pulled up the street Logan had managed to get him calmed down. I was expecting a parade of cop cars outside their new, fancy, huge million dollar house, but there was no car even in the driveway. I parked on the street and barely made it out of the car before Kendall was running up to the front door, Logan right behind. I locked up Kendall's car and walked up slowly hearing Kendall call out for Carlos, and Carlos answer he was in the bathroom. I didn't want to be here, and not because I hate Carlos and don't care. Carlos and I have an odd relationship. We can get really pissed at each other and scream in each other's faces. But…he was like a little brother to me. I don't know if I wanted to see him like this, especially knowing I couldn't do anything to protect him or make him feel better. And just as I walked in through the huge doorway, I saw something out of the corner of my eye out on the front porch. I backed out slowly and turned my body to the right. The glass form the front window was broken, and I saw the glass, but something else shinny caught my eye. I walked slowly to the broken glass and kneeled down next to it reaching out for a silver bracelet. It wasn't any normal kind of silver bracelet. It was one of those ID badges for people who have an illness. This one had a phone number, diabetic and a name. John Steele. I frowned and glanced around for any other kind of clue but heard footsteps and my name being called by Logan. I stood up quick and shoved the bracelet in my sweat pant pocket and turned just as he walked out. He sighed out softly and walked towards me looking at the broken glass on the ground. "Carlos didn't call the cops because the guys who broke in, told him, if he did, they would come back an kill him. He's a mess right now and I told Kendall we'd stay with them as long as they needed. Kendall wants to talk to you." I nodded softly and followed him into the huge house. There wasn't much inside yet. They had only been here for two nights now. There was a make shift bed of blankets and pillows along with a cheap lamp next to it. As Logan led me through the house, down a long hallway I heard soft talking and someone crying. I tensed up not knowing if I really wanted to see Carlos like this, but had no choice. Logan turned to the left fast and I followed, stupidly. I stopped however in the doorway and dropped my mouth open slowly. Carlos was sitting on the counter of the bathroom in nothing but what looked like Kendall's sweats. Kendall was standing in front of him, between his legs and had a wet wash cloth in his hands. He was gently patting at Carlos's face. Carlos had his eyes closed, with tears coming out. He was bleeding form his nose, his right eye and his lip. "Kendall…" Kendall turned his head quick and we locked eyes. Carlos made a little cry and fell forward into Kendall turning his head away from me.
"James…I…do you remember that thing we were talking about yesterday and this morning?" I closed my mouth and scrunched my eyebrows ignoring the confusing look from Logan. I nodded, but I wasn't quite sure if he meant about Louis. "This…" He motioned to his shaking and sobbing boyfriend while running a hand through his messy hair. "This is because of that."
"How do you know?"
"What are you guys talking about?" I set a hand on Logan's hips and pushed him back stepping closer to Kendall and Carlos. All Kendall had to do was point to the mirror behind Carlos and I knew what he was talking about. Written in something red…I hated to think it was Carlos's blood was "I know. L.S." I made a move to reach out and touch it, for whatever God awful reason but I was stopped. Logan yanked my head down and stood in front of me leaning forward. He was inches from the mirror for only a second before he pulled away and looked back at me. "It's his blood…what does that mean? What have you guys been talking about?"
"Nothing…nothing…just…"
"Kendall don't tell me knighting! Not when Carlos is hurt! Who did this!" The whole bathroom went quiet except for Carlos's cries. I was expecting Kendall to come out and rat me out then and there. I was waiting for him to just say I had lied to Logan about my job offer, about my suspicion of Louis and then me being paranoid enough to run a background check but he did none of it. He didn't say anything about it.
"Logan…can you please take Carlos upstairs and finish cleaning him up. I'm going to take care of this." Carlos pushed of Kendall's body fast and let his bottom lip quiver. He reached out touching Kendall who smiled and leaned in kissing his forehead. "I'll be just down here. I'm going to take care of this." Kendall had to use little to no effort to slide Carlos off the counter top. When he was on his two feet he hissed out and held around his sides. Logan pulled him in quick, never taking his eyes off Kendall. Kendall simply stared back down at him. I set a hand on the small of Logan's back getting his attention, but his fiery gaze turned to me. He shoved my hand off him and pushed me out of the way. Before he could lead Carlos out, I gently grabbed his arm and squeezed gently. Carlos looked up at me, crying still margin my walls cave in and reach out for him. I pulled him in, softly and let him hold around my body as he cried on my chest. I ignored the mean glares form Kendall to Logan, and Logan to Kendall and closed my eyes holding around my shaking little brother.
"We're gonna take care of it Carlos." He pushed away from me nodding and glance dup at me. I smiled small and went to wipe away under his eyes. He laughed quietly and with my hand on his face, he grabbed it and bowed his head down.
"Don't…don't let Kendall…" His voice was really quiet. I could barely hear him. I moved in and looked over his shoulder seeing Kendall looking at Carlos, with only sadness. "Don't let Kendall get hurt, or in trouble." I chuckled patted his back gently and kissed the top fo his head. Logan sighed and moved forward taking Carlos out of my arms, still glaring at me
"Maybe you guys could do something useful and get some food and some Advil for him." I rolled my eyes at Logan who held Carlos gently as they walked out of the huge bathroom. "We'll be upstairs." They disappeared, Carlos telling Logan to take it easy on us. As soon as I heard them all the way up the stairs, I turned to see Kendall looking at the mirror. I crossed my arms over my chest and walked towards the edge of the sink clearing my throat.
"What does he know?" Kendall shook his head, his jaw twitching.
"I don't' know. Maybe that your suspicious of him?"
"Then why would he come after you and Carlos?" He turned to me slowly and I turned sitting on the counter. "Carlos said there was three guys…probably because he knew not only Carlos would fight, but you would put up a hell of a fight. You're a hockey player. He probably knows that. So he sent three guys to fuck you guys up."
"But why? I know were all friends but why would he be threatened by me and Carlos?" I dropped my hands to my sides and shrugged.
"Maybe he found out about you going to your friend in LAPD." His mouth slowly fell open as he also sat on the counter next to me. We sat quietly for a minute thinking, probably of the same thing. I heard a floorboard creak and cleared my throat just as Logan walked in looking pissed. He started between the two of us before walking up to us, shoving us away by our shoulders and grabbing the wash cloth Kendall had just been using to clean Carlos's face.
"If you two wouldn't mind…" Logan stopped and bowed his head down swallowing hard. "He's hungry…you know Carlos. And he also wants to watch movies the rest of the day so…"
"DO you mind staying here with him?" I turned to Kendall fast who stood up and put a hand on Logan's shoulder. "I know you won't like hearing this, but James and I can take care of this, and were going to. Right now. We'll get him some food and some other stuff for you guys as well but were going to take care of this, alright?" Logan pushed Kendall's hand off his shoulder, stood on his tippy toes leaned into me, and kissed my lips softly. He turned and walked out of the bathroom, Kendall and I behind him. I watched him walk back up the stairs rubbing the back of his neck.
"Don't get arrested…"