Josh couldn't believe he had been a part of this...
"BRETT! FUCKING ANSWER ME! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT GETTING THEO BACK!"
Brett laughed on the other line. "Josh. This is getting him back. Don't you see? He ruined us and now we ruined him."
"Bonus points for ruining his boy-toy" Josh heard Donovan say.
"Liam didn't deserve that!" Josh said, tears threatening to come out of his eyes.
"Had to do it Joshy boy" Brett said. "It's all a part of it. You'll understand later."
"What do you mean?"
"Well obviously he's gonna go to the person he thinks he can trust. He's gonna be vulnerable. People think they're together. Am I painting enough of a picture or do I have to spell it out for you?"
These two idiots.
"Ok but what if Liam did a rape kit? What if he tells the police you did something?"
"You put your marks all over him. They could have been fighting. If he blames me, I'm just the guy that hit on him at his job a few times. Maybe that's why they fought even. Whoo knoowwss?"
"Brett you said the police are his guard dogs! I can't go to prison for this!" Josh was seeing red. He was in deep shit, he knew that much. He didn't realize that it was this deep.
"Calm down" Brett said, actually having the nerve to laugh. "You will be completely safe."
"Why are you so sure?! We could go to prison for the rest of our lives!"
"Because Theo has a track record for domestic violence at this point. Three is a pattern. The cops will suspect him because he was the only one there with Liam. Theo comes across as intimidating when he's under that kind of pressure."
"This still doesn't make sense! Why do you think they wouldn't come after us?! They would at least have to question you if they get your name!"
"Josh. Relax. Enjoy your cash."
Brett hung up and Josh was driving like a crazy person. He was crying and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't reason with Brett. He couldn't reason Donovan. He was Brett's little lap dog.
I need to tell somebody.
He didn't even realize he had been driving the way he was, but he hoped that it would make sense when he got there.
Theo looked at Liam's sleeping, naked body wrapped in all of the blankets Theo owned. Theo had done this same thing after Brett attacked him. He had done it after his first job being a sex-worker. He doesn't sleep much without the perimeter of his bed lined with pillows and/or blankets. It feels safer for some reason.
Maybe it's the warmth.
Maybe it's the illusion of a protector laying next to you.
Maybe both.
Either way, he can't go anywhere without it.
His phone buzzed with worried texts from Josh. At least he seemed more concerned than mad. He couldn't handle mad right now. Especially from his new... whatever this was...
His stomach churned.
Would it be inappropriate to be laying with his naked friend if he had a boyfriend?
Surely this would be an exception. Right?
Whatever. If that would lose him a boyfriend, then he doesn't obviously need one. Just add that to the list of things.
Theo could hear Liam start to snore, but not any louder really than he was breathing. He had to listen to make sure that he was even breathing correctly.
Corey had apparently done that to Theo, too.
After everything, Corey was really the only person he trusted with his life... Theo didn't know why he had pushed him so hard. Malia and everyone else too. They all were there to protect him. As hard as this is for Theo now with Liam, it had to be a million times harder for everyone else with Theo.
He was going to make sure they knew he was sorry. That he appreciated them.
"Hey... Is the sheriff here?"
"No he just left, but is there something I can help you with?" asked a man named Parrish.
"I really should talk to the sheriff about this..."
"Hey... It's ok. I'm his next in command and if it's something serious, I can call him back here." Parrish said with a smile. He looked young, but something about him seemed older.
"My name is Josh Diaz... I don't know if you have had any calls come in tonight but-"
"Parrish! You let me leave without my wallet." Sheriff Stilinski's voice rang from another room. He stopped to look at the two of them and his demeanor changed. "What's this about?"
"Sheriff... I have some information for you about Liam Dunbar, Brett Talbot, and Theo Raeken-"
"Is that the call we got earlier?" Parrish asked.
"Yes" said Stilinski suspiciously, almost accusatory.
"Look. I know what happened. I-"
"How do you know what happened? There was no information to be released."
"Brett... He.. I-" Josh was flustered. Noah could tell. This kid came to turn someone in and he may even be turning himself in by doing so. He wants to do what's right.
"Look kid. Take your time. Gather your thoughts. Breathe."
Josh took a deep breath, looked Sheriff straight in the face, and unloaded everything.