Chapter 16
The Aftermath and the Search
Summary: Every minute is measured in the time since Hermione was taken and blood that is spilled. CW: Murder, Torture, Blood, Graphic Violence, Non-Con Body Modification. Things get a lot more unhinged.
Twelve hours since Hermione's kidnapping
Theo took up residence in one of the back tables in the bar at the Hotel Casablanca. He hadn't been here in ages, he was only a part owner after all, and preferred to drink in places where he controlled everything, from the general managers all the way down to the dishwashers and what type of mousetrap was used out back. But this place was good for meeting people who weren't within the confines of his organization. It had an air of plausible deniability that his properties didn't have.
He had the waiter bring him a scotch and water, ignoring both while he waited for Marcus to arrive. He looked up and smirked at Fleur and Pansy who were sipping their drinks at the bar. His girls weren't letting him out of their sight despite the fact that there were other things they were supposed to be doing right now. And he couldn't even find it in himself to scold them. Loyalty was something that you couldn't buy in a store.
Marcus arrived about fifteen minutes after Theo did. He ordered a draft beer from the bar and then leaned back looking around as though he just happened to be there. He leaned over and flirted with Fleur, who flirted back, a dance that the two of them had long ago choreographed. Fleur tossed her hair in Theo's direction and Marcus looked over and smiled. Nodding to Fleur, he walked over to Theo who stood and the huge man enveloped him into a bear hug.
"I'm so sorry," Marcus whispered in his ear, but louder said, "Theo! Great to see you, it's been too long."
"Marcus," Theo patted his back. "I know. What a surprise to run into you here." He gestured for the burly man to sit across from him.
"I already promised Blaise that I would do everything in my power to find your lost girl." Marcus sipped his beer. "I was at work when he called, so I pulled up the LAPD's traffic surveillance cameras near the club. I could see the vehicle Blaise described heading south on Five, but half the fucking lens is obscured with bird shit. I found it on another one heading into a sketchy area of the port, but then I lost it. The plate was stolen, but it belonged to a Mercedes owned by one Rabastan Lestrange. His body was found in Death Valley a couple of years back after he got released from Corcoran. Somebody was not happy to see him after he got out."
"Or they thought he talked while he was in," Theo pointed out, signaling the waiter for another drink.
"Could be either," Marcus shrugged. "But, in some more weird shit. Rabastan was the younger brother of Narcissa's older sister's first husband."
"The one that left the family business to marry some MI5 guy?" Theo asked as he tried to recall how many sisters Narcissa had. She'd rarely spoken about her birth family back in England, even to Theo.
"Nooo," Marcus answered, shaking his head. "The one that's mad as a hatter. She didn't just murder her first husband, she eviscerated him. That's what got her sent to prison. I found some institutional records. She's still got a court order keeping her from owning guns in California after multiple 5150 holds and no one's seen her since she escaped from Azkaban Psychiatric Prison in New York eight years ago."
"Well that's comforting. Good to know my federal tax dollars are being well spent." Theo considered the possibility that Narcissa's family had something to do with Hermione being taken and couldn't make a connection that made sense.
"Your father had some business with the Lestranges, but it was before we were born. It appears that there was some sort of falling out around 1975 based on the files I pulled. Thoros Nott drops from their known associates list that year." Theo desperately wished Narcissa was still alive so that he could ask her what happened that year between his father and her sister's in-laws, but alas she was gone.
Theo whistled low. "Marcus, you are always so fucking thorough. Are you sure that you don't want to come work for me?"
"And how would you get this much information in under an hour if I wasn't working where I am?" Marcus asked rhetorically, well aware that Theo had several other people in the department, but none quite as quick as him.
Theo sighed. "So there's clearly a connection between whoever killed Lestrange and took Hermione."
Marcus nodded. "That's what my gut says. And it looks like a family thing. I'll bet you Draco's aunt's involved and that's why he didn't get taken. I'd like to send Pucey some flowers by the way. That fucker saved my life with that Raven Street Eightballer last year." Marcus looked at him seriously. "Pucey is still alive isn't he?"
"Yeah, Adrian saw a little action, but it'll take more than a couple bullets to lay Mr. Pucey in the ground." Theo reassured the man, knowing full well that the actual question was did you kill Adrian for fucking up? It was always a pleasure working with someone with whom you could have conversations at unplumbed depths.
Marcus nodded, looking grateful. "So I'll keep looking around on my end on the Lestrange angle and try to pull some surveillance from some of the private businesses near you. What about your outdoor cameras?"
"They spray painted them black. I was distracted and didn't notice."
"It's not like you to be distracted, Theo. She must really be something special." Marcus raised his eyebrow. "I have to admit it's a surprise, I thought you played for my team?" He paused. "I was sorry to hear about Cedric." Marcus took a deep drink of his beer, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.
Cedric might be the worst kept secret Theo had ever had, at least amongst his closest friends. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Me too," Theo responded as the waiter finally brought him another drink. The two men waited until he was gone before continuing their conversation. "Obviously it's all tied together."
Marcus nodded in agreement. "I'll keep at it on my end. Do you want me to interface with Blaise on this or come to you?"
"My dear Marcus, that all depends on what you find."
Amos Diggory walked into the hotel bar like he owned the place, flanked by two security people that he sent to a table near the exit. Ordering from the bar, once he received his martini he wasted no time in walking immediately over to Theo's table.
"I admit that I was surprised to hear from you after your denial of the facts," the mayor said without preamble.
"Sometimes it's best to keep things close to the chest, but I am here because you asked me to do something. And I'm gonna need something from you in order to make that happen."
"After how our last meeting went, why would I do anything for you, Mr. Nott?"
Theo shrugged, but pulled a small voice recorder from his pocket, the earbuds hanging limply as he passed them to Diggory. The man looked at it confused.
"Give it a listen."
Theo watched the man's face as he listened to the recording of himself from Theo's office.
Theo had listened to the recording enough times that he could have quoted it back verbatim.
"I could only hope," Diggory murmured, "That Cedric's lover wasn't the one who killed him, and would do something...extra judicial to handle the situation."
"Mr. Mayor," Theo breathed, "I am shocked that you would want vigilante justice for the murder of your son. I wouldn't admit that in mixed company if I was you. Perhaps you should take some time off for bereavement."
Tossing the recorder to the side, the Mayor snarled, his voice deadly quiet. "What do you want from me?"
"I need a few days of hunting without interruption." Theo's tattooed fingers tapped on the tabletop waiting for the Mayor to make a decision on whether or not he wanted the revenge that he'd already asked for.
"We're conducting our annual natural disaster response drills for the next whatever, so I'm afraid we can't assist in your investigation."
"I appreciate your cooperation Mayor Diggory," Theo swallowed the rest of his drink, standing and smoothing his suit. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
The Mayor started to hand him the recorder back.
"Keep it." he said, like it was a gift or a tab for a meal covered. "It's a copy."
The Mayor's sour expression amused Theo, but he kept it to himself, simply nodding as he headed towards the door.
It was good that the Mayor was basically giving him free reign to do whatever he wanted, not that a refusal would have stopped Theo anyways. He was going to get Hermione back, avenge Cedric and find out who he'd pissed off badly enough that they'd target him like this.
Fleur and Pansy fell into step behind him as they walked out into the warm Los Angeles night.
Twenty Hours Since Hermione's kidnapping
"People can never keep their mouths shut," Blaise said, over the phone. "Thor called me with a lead that we've been following."
"Tell me," Theo commanded tersely, wondering what useful information Rowle had to offer. He'd brought Draco back to the house and he was sleeping in their bed, the blonde's face pressed into the pillows that still smelled of Hermione. Theo stood on the balcony smoking his fourth cigarette in a row watching his beloved dragon sleep.
"Stan Shunpike was in the Leaky Cauldron," Blaise began.
"The shitty pub in Pasadena?" Theo asked, not sure why he was fixated on that detail.
"Culver City, but that doesn't matter. He's been with the East Side Snatchers for a year or so and he said something about stealing a mob boss' girl from under his nose yesterday. Thor was drinking in there with one of his side bitches and overheard him."
"Did he now?" Theo's voice promised violence.
"Sorry T, Shunpike's already a floor stain," Blaise laughed. "But he sang like a good little bird and now we've got some names. Greg and I are following the little threads now. Thor is going through Shunpike's place in North Hollywood. He'll bring you any computers he finds. He said that he wished Pucey was well enough to help out, but he's pretty sure that he knows how to strike a match."
"Have you already given Marcus the names?" Theo asked, stomping out his cigarette and immediately lighting a new one.
"Of course. One's a C.I. so he's reaching out to the detective he works with to get info on where they meet up."
"Is that detective on my payroll?" Theo took a deep drag. He wasn't above killing a cop if it was necessary, but they were often such greedy shits that it wasn't.
"Conveniently, yes."
"Have your tech guy see if he has any obscure debt, a mom's medical bill or a child's car payment, something not in his name that will remind him we can find out anything about him we want."
"A little reward for being helpful, along with a reminder of the possibility for retribution, how classic."
"A little stick and carrot never hurt anyone." Theo cracked his neck.
"A little stick and carrot never hurts you, you mean," Blaise snorted. "By definition the stick fucking hurts."
"Stop analyzing my metaphors and get back to fucking work." Theo hung up without waiting for what Blaise would say next. He appreciated the man's wit, he did, but he wanted Hermione found.
Twenty-six hours since Hermione's kidnapping - 9am Day 2
Theo was laying in bed, not sleeping, with Draco asleep across his chest when his phone rang. He stopped running his hands through the blonde's hair.
"Good news or bad news first," Blaise asked when Theo hit the green button.
"Bad news," Theo said, sitting up in bed.
"Bad news is I haven't slept yet and I'm getting cranky so I apologize in advance if I kill someone too quickly, and it looks like two of the names are Pack affiliated."
"How do you know?"
"Greg and I have been chatting people up all night. They weren't terribly forthcoming at first, but we convinced them."
"And the good news?"
"We're sitting outside a diner in Inglewood where the leader of the crew that took Hermione eats lunch every day. He's extremely predictable. Also he's the one that's a C.I."
"So Pack and a snitch, why am I not surprised?" Theo stretched his neck. "Pick him up after his lunch and bring him to the refrigerated warehouse. Text me when you are on the way and I'll meet you."
Theo got up and started to dress for the day. Black on black was best for what he had planned. It always hid the blood better.
Theo paced as he waited for Blaise's call. It must have been the world's longest lunch and Theo's patience was running thin. Draco watched from the couch, Theo tried to ignore that Draco had dressed in all black too.
Blaise didn't call. He sent a text.
OTW
Theo gave himself a little mental shake and grabbed his favorite gun from the side table drawer, tucking it into his shoulder holster before turning towards Draco to tell him goodbye.
"I'm coming too," his dragon said as he rose, face stern.
"Draco, baby, you can't be serious. You know how this is going to go." Theo tilted his head at the other man. "I don't need your help."
"I know that, Theo, but I need to help. It's my fault that she was taken." Draco smoothed his black pants. "And I want to help get her back. I can't just sit here and wait."
Theo was going to argue with him more, but decided against it in the name of time. He pulled Draco to him, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing him deeply. "It's not your fault, but if you want to help, I'll let you. We need to go."
Theo wasn't surprised when Blaise and Greg had already softened up the cretin before he arrived. His face was untouched of course, because men with broken jaws couldn't talk, at least not intelligibly.
Theo moved back the plastic sheets that were hanging from the ceiling allowing Draco to pass before him. Blaise and Greg raised their eyebrows in surprise at Draco's inclusion in this escapade, but knew better than to say anything.
"Boss, Scabior. Scabior, our boss." Blaise introduced. "Scabior was just telling us that he has no idea who took Hermione." The man was the kind of greaseball that was common enough in the underbelly of Los Angeles, greasy hair in a ponytail, band t-shirt and ripped jeans.
Theo looked over at the tools that Blaise had already had out and chose a nice long knife, and without saying a word cut, a long slice down the man's cheek.
"Really? Is that what you want to stick with?" Theo snarled, playing with the knife in his hand.
"You're a fucking psycho, Nott!" The man in the chair screamed, his greasy ponytail thrashing as he tried to free himself futilely from the ties.
"Yes, well that's an established fact and if you don't want to die today, then I'd suggest telling me everything I want to know." Theo put the knife to Scabior's throat. "I would suggest talking now." Scabior didn't speak at first, so Theo applied just enough pressure to knick his skin.
"Fuck! Stop! Greyback took the bitch for his boss," he hissed, pain on his features.
"Greyback works for someone else now?" Theo asked, not pulling the knife back.
"Yeah, a real psycho," Scabior added, looking as though he wanted to insult Theo, but thought better of it with a knife pressed to his throat.
"Do you know his name?" Theo stared at him, the world narrowing to the man with blood dripping down his face and the knife at his throat.
"Naw, they've been keeping it real hush hush, only calling him stupid nicknames like the Dark Lord."
"I need more information." Theo nicked a little x marks the spot on the man's shoulder that was exposed by the stretched neck of his worn out shirt.
"Well I don't know anything else." The man spat.
Theo took the knife and cut down the front of the man's vintage Led Zeppelin shirt, the thin fabric giving way as the tip of the knife cut into Scabior's flesh, pulling more blood and screams from the man. Theo yanked the man's shirt apart, revealing a huge poorly rendered wolf tattoo across his pecs and another tattoo, a huge distinctive letter "P" above his navel.
"You have some things to add, Scab?" Theo asked, the tip of the knife now approaching the man's crotch.
"Fuck! Fuck! Stop Nott, stop. They dumped the van by a homeless camp near the river."
"I don't care about the fucking van." Patience was not in huge supply today and the man needed to stop wasting Theo's time. "Where is my girlfriend?" Theo's knife pressed into the thin denim on Scabior's thigh, knowing that the artery was so close to the surface one good slice should do it. Scabior's expression said that he knew as well.
"I don't know! Greyback didn't trust me enough to tell me where the fucking Dark Lord is holed up. That's who has her, he's got her in his spot." Scabior was sweating and it mixed with the blood on his face. He was shaking in fear.
Good, Theo thought.
"Who, other than Greyback, knows where this spot is?"
"I dont fucking know…" The man started to cry. "No, I do know, your boy, Snape, he's been working for the Dark Lord too. Greyback complained about him, repeatedly, every time he came back from a meetup. Called him a stuck up cunt."
"Are you sure?" Looked like Pansy and Fleur were going to get their wish, they'd be happy. He'd never liked the old bastard, but Theo hadn't thought Snape would be ballsy enough to betray him. It was a surprise, and Theo hated surprises.
"Fucking positive, how many cunts are named Severus Snape in L.A.?" Theo stepped back, sitting the knife on the table, noting Draco's pale pallor and offered him an encouraging smile. His dragon was doing well for his first torture session. Greg and Blaise watched indifferently, arms crossed. He had no idea how many people the two of them had killed overnight so that Theo could get to this piece of shit.
"Did Greyback kill Diggory for the new boss as well?" Theo asked, even though he knew the answer just to test the man's honesty.
"Yeah that was supposed to be a message for you. Didn't get it though, did you?" Theo backhanded him, and when Scabior smiled his teeth were red with blood.
"I'd try to remember who is tied to the chair and who is doing the questioning, you fucking prick," Theo snarled. "What's this Dark Lord's endgame? Murdering me?" A turf war was just what Theo did not need, but it appeared a war was on his doorstep.
"Fuck if I know," Scabior answered. And Theo was simply over his shit, pulling out his gun he put it to the son of a bitch's knee and pulled the trigger, blood sprayed on Theo and the floor. He screamed in pain and surprise as Theo smirked in pleasure at the agony on his victim's face.
The sound of retching behind him surprised Theo and he turned to find Draco bent over as he vomited onto the concrete floor.
"Honey, I told you you didn't need to come with me," Theo said, grabbing a bucket and rubbing his back. "Let me just finish up and I'll get you home okay?" Draco looked at him and nodded before throwing up again into the bucket. Blaise and Greg looked at Draco with sympathy briefly, but then went back to their impassive countenance.
"Just a couple more questions," Theo stated. "And then we'll be all done here. Do you know anything about the Blacks and the Lestranges?"
Scabior was crying now, the blood from his facial slash mixing with tears. He gasped several times. "The crazy bitch is one. A Lestrange, she's come to the Pack house before to see Greyback."
"Where's the pack house?" Theo asked, putting the barrel of his gun to the man's other knee.
"It's a green warehouse on West Jefferson," Scabior sobbed. "Mint fucking green."
"Thank you," Theo sighed. "Was that so hard?" Then shot him in the eye without saying another word. Draco, still dry heaving into the bucket, did not see the brains and blood splatter on the plastic sheets behind the restrained corpse.
"Zabini, Goyle, clean all this up. I'm taking Draco home." He took a washcloth from the bowl on the table and rinsed the blood off his hands and then slid his gun back into his holster.
"Of course," Blaise says. Goyle merely grunted.
His town car was outside and Pucey stood there next to the vehicle as though he had been his driver for the entirety of this outing.
"What the fuck are you doing out of the hospital?" Theo asked in surprise, his arm around Draco's waist, the blonde's head on his shoulder.
"I'm fine." Adrian groused, holding the door. "I can work a couple hours anyway. No one else should be driving you. Already missed burning down a shitty apartment building."
Theo tried to ignore Adrian's limp, but shook his head. "Don't even go home. Just use one of the guest rooms at Nott Castle. If you overdo it and bleed everywhere I will be annoyed with you. Obviously, I need to keep a better eye on you."
Adrian just nodded, clearly clenching his teeth because he was in pain. Stubborn motherfucker.
Theo eased Draco into the backseat of the car, before searching through the compartment he had installed into the door of the car. The pillbox had a variety of things and Theo dug through it until he came to the one that he wanted, a Klonopin. That should help Draco calm down.
"Open your mouth," Theo commanded. Adrian started the car not bothering to acknowledge what was happening in the back seat.
"Theo, I can't," Draco pleaded, his eyes closed and his breathing erratic.
"Do as I tell you," Theo urged. "Don't make me punish you." Draco opened his mouth then and Theo put the pill on his tongue, grabbing a bottle of water from the cup holder and twisting off the lid. Draco gulped at the water desperately when Theo brought the bottle to his lips.
"Just let me take care of you," Theo ordered. "Don't fight me. Do what I say, dragon."
The tiny pill disappeared easily and the car was moving. Theo kneeled on the floorboard, unbuttoning Draco's pants, kissing his lower abdomen, the perfect pale skin there unscarred by his father's brutality, which reminded Theo that he had some calls to make about that old bastard as well.
Theo's tongue laved the pale blonde happy trail and Draco gasped as Theo nipped at his hip bone as he slowly pulled Draco's pants and underwear down his thighs. Theo looked up and caught Draco's hooded eyes, the pill already calming Draco and ending the panic attack that had caused him to puke back at the warehouse. The hard cock was revealed by slow degrees, and Theo did not allow the car's turning to deter him from taking care of his dragon. He licked and sucked, taking Draco down his throat. His beautiful lover's fingers were in Theo's hair as he pleasured him, making Draco's hips buck and thrust into his mouth. Theo pulled back and looked up at Draco's glazed eyes as threads of saliva connected the tip of Draco's hard length to Theo's tongue before he dove back into pleasing his dragon.
Theo teased and tortured Draco before taking his cock all the way down his throat energetically giving the blow job all that he had until Draco came hard with a loud moan. Theo swallowed all that he could, but a little dribble escaped the corner of his mouth. He caught it with his finger and licked it off, noting with satisfaction that Draco had passed out as he tucked him back in his pants.
Theo settled into the seat next to him and Draco dozed away on Theo's shoulder. He was soon lost in thought about the next steps to get Hermione back.
When they arrived back at Nott Castle, Theo carried his dragon to bed, grateful that Pucey knew to mind his own business. And the man was nearly dead on his feet as it was. He stumbled inside behind them and Theo doubted that he'd be awake long enough to undress. Theo would do alot for his people, but he wasn't putting Adrian in pajamas. The man could suffer a little for his stubbornness.
Theo carefully stripped off Draco's clothes and his own, putting everything into one of the paper bags that he kept in the closet before walking downstairs clad only in his boxers to drop the bag into the shoot to the incinerator. He peeked into the guest room and Adrian was passed out across the bed, still in his clothes with his shoes on. Theo shook his head, but went in and pulled the man's shoes off, pushing him fully onto the mattress. He looked him over for any sign of bleeding and saw none, but still frowned. Adrian should not have left his hospital bed.
Theo shot off a couple texts.
One was to his house call physician commanding him to be at Nott Castle in the morning by 8am. The second was to his man at the prison letting him know that his dog was rabid and needed to be put down. Theo received a thumbs up emoji in return.
Lucius Malfoy had already been breathing longer than necessary.
It was time to rectify that.
9am - Day 3
Fifty hours since Hermione was taken
Draco was not eating much at all since Hermione was taken and throwing up anything he did manage to force down. Draco starving himself was not on the list of things that Theo was capable of dealing with at the moment.
When Theo came out of the shower, Draco was curled up in a ball in the center of their bed. He'd already cursed out Adrian and dealt with the house call, but he wanted another hot shower before dealing with the drama that was sure to come today.
Sighing as he looked at his dragon's fragile countenance, Theo threw on a pair of black sweats without bothering with boxers and hung his towel back up.
He walked down to the kitchen and made Draco some tea and toast, lightly toasted and lightly buttered. Theo carried it into the room, sitting it on his night stand, before pulling Draco into his arms.
Theo brushed the blonde hair out of Draco's eyes, and soothed him with kisses on his temple.
Grabbing the piece of toast and tearing it in half, Theo put it in front of Draco's mouth while continuing to stroke his hair and rub his back with the other.
"Please dragon, can you eat this for me? Just a few bites." Theo encouraged his lover.
"One more, that's good, you're doing so good. I'm so proud of you. You have to stay strong for our princess, love." Draco continued eating and Theo grabbed another piece of toast. "Hermione would be so proud of you," Theo whispered as Draco finished the food.
At the mention of Hermione's name, Draco started to cry, pressing his face into Theo's naked chest. Theo wanted to curse, but he didn't want to make Draco cry harder, so he just rubbed his back and tried to soothe him with his words.
"I love you," Theo whispered. "We'll get her back. I love you."
"I promise we will get her back. Please don't cry anymore," Theo begged. "Please baby."
He was going to take the cost of Draco's tears out of Hermione's kidnappers in blood.
Noon - Day 3
Draco needed to get out of the house, Theo could tell. And he could wait for phone calls on the status of the various things that he had ordered from anywhere, the club was as good as the house. At least now with the improved security around the club.
Theo refused to let Adrian drive him again and threatened to shoot the man again if he attempted to get out of bed. Theo's expression had allowed for no argument and the stubborn man had subsided and actually taken his pain medicine despite looking sullen about it the entire time.
Parking in the alley behind the bar, Theo took Draco by the hand towards the rear entrance, not the one that Hermione had been kidnapped from which was on the other side. His dragon was not as compliant as Theo would have liked him to be. So Theo pulled Draco into his arms kissing him so deeply that it was as though Theo wanted to devour him. Pushing him against the wall, Theo slotted his thigh between Draco's legs applying just enough pressure to make the blond moan. Theo continued kissing, caressing and stroking Draco until his dragon, finally, fully relaxed; the man complying with Theo's every silent command. This was how Theo preferred Draco, obedient and inflamed.
Theo had just untucked Draco's shirt and was starting to touch his stomach when the sound of someone behind them had Theo whipping around to look.
"Fucking fags," the man snarled. Man he had really picked the wrong day to fuck with Theo, his fist clenched as he felt and overwhelming desire to beat the shit out of the homophobe in front of him. "What are you gonna do faggot?" The man was slurring, maybe a little drunk, but he started to reach into his waistband.
Was that a wolf tattoo peeking out from the man's shirt? Was he a Pack member? Theo pushed Draco behind him and pulled his gun while the word faggot was still on the man's lips.
With a bang, a bullet went through the man's eye, brain matter exploding on the alley wall. The corpse fell to the ground.
Theo moved his shirt back and discovered it was a terribly done shark tattoo.
Was he supposed to feel sorry about it? Theo couldn't find it in himself to bother. The man had interrupted a perfectly good kissing session. He looked back at Draco who was pale, but hadn't puked this time.
"Oh baby, you did so much better," Theo smiled. "Let me call Dolohov real quick." Theo pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial for his clean up artist. "Antonin, I need a clean up on aisle three."
"Behind the bar? Seriously? During the day?" The older man complained. "Toss some trash over the mess and I'll be there in fifteen."
"Fine." Theo hung up and looked at his shell shocked little pet. He sighed. He couldn't ask Draco to help with this. "Just give me a couple minutes and we can go up to my office."
4pm - Day 3
Fleur's number lit up Theo's screen and he answered, "Yes?"
"We're outside of Snape's place on Spinner's End," Fleur sighed. "He's in the house, as soon as he moves we'll follow him."
"Good girls, make sure he doesn't see you."
"Theo, I love you, but fais pas chier I'm a professional. Yes?" Fleur always reverted to a little French when annoyed.
"Yes you are. Just stay safe alright?"
"Évidemment." She hung up with a click. Theo looked up to see Draco staring at him with a forlorn expression on his face. The notification chime of a text message went off and Theo looked down to see a series of fire emojis from Blaise. The Pack house would soon be nothing but rubble. Unfortunately Greg and Blaise had spotted Greyback leaving the warehouse as they'd arrived. They'd wanted to follow him, but they hadn't thought they could without him making them.
His two right hand men had killed enough members of the Pack over the last day that they were certain that Hermione wasn't being held there. So they were going to follow the plan that he'd already established. They'd block the exits and then set the place on fire, eliminating everyone loyal to Greyback in one blow. If things went Theo's way then Greyback wouldn't even know before Theo figured out where this fucking Dark Lord was hiding out.
Theo dropped his phone onto his desk and looked over to see Draco looking even more despondent.
"Love?" Theo asked, coming to sit by him. "What's bothering you now? We're going to get her back, you know that we will, right? I won't give up til we get her."
"That's not it," Draco whispered. "After you've done all this to get Hermione back, are you even gonna want us anymore? Are you even gonna want me? What good am I? Useless, I'm useless just like Lucius always said that I was."
"Fuck Lucius and any of the fucking venom that he has ever spat," Theo hissed. "You aren't useless. You are wonderful. I don't need another killer Draco, I have plenty of those. What I need is you." Theo ran his hand over Draco's cheek and stroked his jawline with his thumb.
"How long are you going to want me, Theo?" Draco asked. "No one has ever wanted me for very long. Only Hermione and she might already be dead. Are you going to get rid of me if something has happened to her?" Tears threatened in Draco's eyes when he mentioned the possibility that Hermione might be dead.
Draco's doubts and questions had Theo feeling irrationally angry. He stood and pulled a long sharp dagger from one of the hidden drawers by his desk.
"Are you seriously going to fucking doubt me?" Theo asked his lover as he walked toward him, pulling the knife out of the sheath. "After I fucking killed my father for you? I killed your father for you. I've done everything I could think of to make you happy and this is what you think? That I'm just going to get tired of you one day and throw you out like you are trash?" Theo didn't yell, his voice just grew more calm, more cold. "I guess I need to take away all your doubts about who you belong to, pet."
Theo shoved Draco back onto the bed, ripping his shirt down the middle as he did so. The beautiful pale skin of Draco's chest was going to be Theo's canvas and he was going to make sure that Draco never again wondered who he belonged to. He climbed on top of him using his entire body to keep Draco pinned down although Draco didn't even try to fight back. He only watched Theo and the knife with those wide silver eyes.
"You made me do this," Theo whispered in Draco's ear.
"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave." Theo told him as he took his blade and started to cut into Draco's skin.
Draco had been numb since Hermione had been stolen from them, so the pain was welcome. He held still as Theo carved into his skin that covered his heart. The cuts slowly shaped into Theo's initials, the blood dripping down Draco's skin.
It burned in Draco's flesh like the way that it had hurt when he'd had to leave Theo all those years ago. He grit his teeth like the good boy that he knew Theo wanted him to be, staying impassive as Theo worked the knife tip into him.
"You are mine, Draco Malfoy, are you ever going to doubt me again?" Theo's eyes were wild and he still had the bloody knife in his hand, but Draco wasn't afraid. Theo had only cut him to show Draco who he belonged to. If Draco hadn't doubted Theo's affections, it would never have happened.
He'd never doubt Theo again. Draco shook his head, "Never, Theo." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Theo dropped the knife; it clattered against the floor. He leaned down, licking Draco's blood from his chest.
"Fuck, Theo," Draco gasped raggedly watching Theo taste the cuts like a vampire. The pain wasn't overwhelming, Draco couldn't describe it as anything other than erotic.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do." Theo grinned, blood on his lips. "I'm going to fuck you until you forget you ever dared doubt how I feel about you."
