AUTHORS NOTES: In this chapter there is no SLASH but there is talk about it. Then there is a part of this chapter is kind of dark you will know when you get there so that is all the warning I can give you all hope you enjoy!
Chapter#3
Vince wants to snarl at his family who are hovering in the living room when he enters with a very injured Brian tucked against his side again. The blonde has a limp and a scowl on his bruised face as Vince sits him in a recliner. Brian grunts as he goes down but he quickly bites off the sound "Hey" Brian hums out towards his family "sorry to intrude, kinda didn't want to spend the night in a hotel" Vince scowls at that "You gonna tell me what's happening now?" Vince asked, Brian scowls. "Got home last night, was going to go straight to bed but got my ass jumped as soon as I hit my room" Brian said and wraps his arm protectively around his middle "What the hell Brian?" Vince said, Brian scoffs. "Right? Such bullshit, my ass was so tired I wasn't paying attention. Then again, I wasn't expecting some fucker to jump out of my damn closet and tackle my ass to the floor either" Brian said "He in jail?" Vince growls out pissed with himself from not going home with Brian "Fuck no, shit head got away while I was bleeding like a stuffed pig on the floor" Brian said, Vince blanches at that "What are your injuries?" Vince asked, he can see the bruises on his face, the busted knuckles from where Brian had undoubtedly gotten a few hits in himself. The bandages around his arm, was also hiding some wound Vince couldn't see "Two broken ribs, one cracked, got slashed with a knife on my arm, stabbed in my back, got stitched up already though. Small concussion and a sprained knee" Brian said as he leaves his head back against the chair and sighs with a pout "didn't get to race again either" Vince groans "You get attacked and you're irritated you didn't get to race baby?" Vince said "Hell, yeah man, I was looking forward to that shit" Brian said "Good thing you weren't there tonight" Jesse said, then his eyes widen "not that I'm happy about the fact you got attacked!" Brian chuckles "It's cool man, but why? What happened tonight? Everyone alright?" Brian asked. It made Vince warm that Brian was concerned for his family "Cop's busted that shit up within two hours. Didn't even get a heads up on the scanner, it was blaring sirens and then everyone making a mad dash towards their cars" Leon said and Brian frowns "Someone tipped them off then" Brian said "That's what I'm guessing" Letty hisses out once again annoyed. Brian glances her way, his head tilts slightly to the side. Those blue eyes calculating "It wasn't me" Brian said after a moment's pause. Letty jerks like her ass just got electrocuted "How did-…" Letty starts and Brian shrugs interrupting her "It's my job to read people. You've been giving me the stink eye and a cold shoulder since I came through the door. When Jesse mentioned the cops, you sneered at me too. It's easy to assume you think I tipped them off since I didn't show up for the race earlier" Brian said, everyone gave the blonde a slow blink "You weren't even watching Letty" Leon said a bit of awe to his voice. Brian smiles "Don't need to be looking at her to watch her" Brian said "Why didn't you call me when it first happened? I've been trying to get a hold of you for hours Brian" Vince said steering the conversation back to what was important. "Phone's busted, took me an hour to remember the right order of numbers to even call you from the hospital phone" Brian said. Vince kneels down in front of Brian when the guy goes white in the face when he moves. The blonde huffs out another hiss of pain as he squeezes his eyes closed. Vince cups the back of Brian's neck and rubs the tension out of it "They give you something for pain?" Vince asked and Brian blinks hard "Yeah, didn't take it because it's gonna knock my ass out and I have to be woken every two hours" Brian said "Take it, I'll wake you up" Vince said **** Vince would say he was exhausted from spending all night making sure Brian woke up and answered his questions but each time Vince shook the blonde awake he was more adorable than the last time. A sleepy Brian was something only Vince had the pleasure of seeing and if that made him smile like an idiot then so be it. Now his mood was a bit sour because his lover was currently slipping on one of Vince's shirts and getting ready to head into work. Vince had already voiced the fact he didn't want Brian going in "Sorry V" Brian said while kissing Vince on the neck "I have to go in and give another report on what happened last night in case it's someone from one of my old cases that came after me" Vince frowned "Check in when you get another phone okay?" Vince said. As much as Vince didn't like the idea about someone coming after Brian it wouldn't stop unless there was an investigation "I will, now you going to drive me to my place to get my car or what killer?" Brian asked "Come on blondie I'll play taxi" Vince said shaking his head * Vince was shoulder deep inside a motor when his phone went off, with his hands full of tools and jammed into small spaces he misses the call. With a curse Vince throws the wrench aside and wipes off his hands and fishes his phone out of his pocket. The number is unknown but he calls it back anyways "Hey V" Brian said after two rings. The blonde sounds exhausted again but Vince is glad to hear from him none the less "Hey baby" Vince purrs back with a smile Brian couldn't see "this your new number?" "Yep, just wanted to do that check in with you. I probably won't be getting home till really late I have so much paper work so I thought I would let you know" Brian informs him, Vince frowns "You going back to your place?" Vince asked. The thought of Brian going to his place set him on edge "Yeah, won't be getting off till around 4 a.m, so I'll text you when I get home okay?" Brian said. Vince scowls though he knows Brian can't see it "Nah baby I'll go to your place and wait for you, okay?" Vince said. No way in hell was Vince letting his Brian be home alone tonight. Not when he was so tired that he could miss someone being in his house again waiting to ambush him "You sure?" Brian asked, Vince smiles "Course, I'll stop by and pick up the key when I head that way" Vince said "Okay killer, just ask for me and they will point you in the right direction" Brian said **** A police station was the last place Vince thought he would ever willingly enter but there was someone beautiful in there waiting for him, so he hurries up the steps and pushes the doors open. The woman sitting behind the circular desk looks up as soon as the door closes behind him. Vince tries not to sneer when he sees her adjust her bra and shove her cleavage further into view "Can I help you sir?" she asked "I'm here to see Detective O'Connor" Vince said, the woman smiles brightly "Detective Dreamy" she mutters. Vince scowls at the woman's low muttered words he didn't think she meant for him to hear, but it pissed him off none the less. While Vince thinks all kinds of pissy things about the chick, she picks up a phone and dials out "Detective O'Connor you have someone here to see you" she mumbles a few more words and then hangs up "he's free if you want to head to his desk, just go down this hall and take a right. You can't miss it" when Vince entered the pig pin, he had a moment urge to high tail it out of there. It wasn't just the men in police uniforms that got him twitchy, it was the ones he knew were detectives that followed him with their eyes as he moved passed. The only thing that kept him moving was the blonde sitting hunched over his desk in the middle of the room. Brian looked tired but if the stake of files on his desk was anything to go by, he wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. Vince didn't really know how to address Brain while at work, he didn't know if kissing was allowed. Calling him baby was probably out of the question as well. When Vince finally got close enough for Brian to hear him the blonde whipped his head up and smiled broadly "Hey killer" Brian breaths lowly as he stands and makes his way around his desk. Vince is shocked in the next second when Brain's lips meet his that he just stands there like an idiot until Brian is pulling away with a chuckle "Ugh hi" Vince said. Jesus was he an idiot or what? Where people watching? The back of Brian's hands slaps at Vince's stomach "Relax V, no one gives a shit and if they did, I still wouldn't give a fuck" Brian said and Vince leans against Brian's desk and crosses his arms "Did you know the chick at the front desk referees to you as Detective Dreamy?" Vince asked, Brian scowled "Yes, a lot of these asses do actually, shits worse when I'm in a suit" Brian said. Vince scans Brian with his eyes. The blonde is in jeans, Vince's shirt and his converse but the idea of him in a form fitting suit was mouthwatering "I can see it" Vince purrs in Brian's ear "you should wear one for me and give me a strip tease" Brian steps in Vince's space, uncaring that they were at the office "Only if you promise to tie me up with my handcuffs after" Brian purrs back. Vince was swiftly worrying about getting hard with so many damn cops around. Would that be considered indecent exposure? Vince kissed Brian on the neck none the less before pulling back with a grin. If Brian wanted to play around at the office, then Vince was all too willing to do that with him, plus the fat asshole behind the blonde was sneering at the pair so Vince was taking a bit of pleasure at making him uncomfortable "I'll do whatever you want baby" Vince said, then someone snorted "Yo, O'Connor that your man that's been making you go all soft in the eyes when your phone goes off?" a guys calls out. Vince glanced towards the tall dark-skinned man with corn rolls, with a raised brow "Can it Jordan!" Brian shouts back flipping the man off. The man named Jordan Smith barks out a laugh, that in most cases would piss Vince off but the man smiled at Brian before winking playfully "Yo! Shepherd, you owe me fifty bucks! I told your ass Brian's man would be tall and scowly with all that bad ass vibe" Jordan said "Ignore them" Brian said with a laugh as he fishes his keys off his desk. Vince waits till he removes the one for Brian's place and holds out his hand once it's free of the ring "you might want to grab yourself something to eat before you get there, kinda don't have any food at my house" Vince glares "Why's that Bri?" Vince asked and Brian scratches the back of his head "Just been busy with work" Brian mumbles "When's the last time you had a full meal?" Vince asked, he had a feeling he wouldn't like the answer before Brian even opened his mouth to speak "Ugh, Sunday?" Brian said and winces at Vince's growl "And before that?" Vince asked Brian gives a quite sigh "When you came over for the movie" Brian confesses. Vince kisses Brian on the forehead before pulling away "I'm going to stock you damn kitchen tonight, Bri, you better be eating got it?" Vince said "Yes sir" Brian said with a laugh towards Vince back as he leaves ***** A stack of files is tossed on Brian's desk just as he was getting ready to leave for the night. He wants to whine about that he really does, but with all the case loads him and others had it wasn't all that surprising to be sideswiped with more "I need you to review these for me" detective Kenny Miller said with a scowl "I'm pretty sure it's the damn brother-in-law but something isn't right and it's irritating the hell out of Jordan" Brian leans back in his chair and flips open the file; he schools his features at the bloody mess of a body in the picture that is paper clipped to the top of the file. The women, was nothing more than a mangled mess "Does the carving in her chest say slut?" Brian asked squinting at the photo "Yes, if you go to the next one you can see where whore is carved into her back too" Kenny said with a snarl. Brian's eyes scan over the police report and the medical examiners findings. No DNA under the woman's nails no defensive wounds. Brian tilt's is head to the side and goes back to the pictures; the woman's hair is a mess from the back. Like someone had grabbed fistfuls of it "Does she have a sister or sister-in-law?" Brian asked "Sister, weird chick honestly but it was hard to understand her she was crying so hard after finding her big sister like that" Kenny said and Brian closes the file and tosses it back on his desk "It's the sister, not the brother-in-law" Brian said "How do you figure?" Kenny asked surprised "She has no defensive wounds, no sighs she tried to fight at all. She knew her attacker well enough not to think of them as a threat. The report says she took a blow to the head, probably when she was turned around. Her hair has also been yanked, how tall is the sister?" Brian asked "About five four" Kenny said and Brian nods "Your victim is nearly six feet; her little sister probably grabbed a fist full of hair to pull her head down low enough to land the blow to the head. Plus, slut and whore are what a jealous woman will call another female. It says Libby, Gina and what was it Wade the husband all went to school together. I bet you Gina had a crush on big sisters' new husband and didn't take to kindly to Libby marrying him" Brian said "You got all that from hair pulling, name calling and no defensive wounds?" Kenny asked still shocked "Yep" Brian said popping the P "I've seen my fair share of jealous people man. A male or female in love will do some crazy shit. Human kind man, we can be some sick fucks" "You don't have to tell me. I had that case a few months back where that girl killed her friend over a pair of limited-edition shoes" Kenny said shaking his head. Brian stands then popping his back "I'm going to head home, let me know how the case ends" Brian said "No problem" Kenny said nodding ***** When Brian got to his house the last thing, he expected was to find Vince in the kitchen in nothing but a pair of jeans and no shirt cooking. It was even a bigger shocker because it was 1am. Brian leans against the door jam of the kitchen and watches Vince flips an omelet. The pair had been seeing each other for six months now, and if Brian was honest having Vince in his house waiting for him made him warm inside. Growing up Brian never really had anyone to care for him like Vince did. Sure, he had Roman for a while but once the man was busted his best friend cut all ties and kicked his ass to the curve. Then there was the added benefit of Vince's protectiveness. Since Brian had been attacked in his house two months back Vince would either show up here when Brian had a late shift or cart Brian's ass to his place late at night. It was enduring and another thing that made Brian warm inside. He often wondered if this was what it felt like to be properly loved by someone "You enjoying the view baby?" Vince's purred words make Brian jump. He had been so far off into his own head he never seen the man move from his spot in front of the stove "I love the view" Brian answer with a smile as Vince stalks towards him. The dark-haired man kisses Brian on the lips sweetly before pushing him towards the table "Sit, eat, and then shower. I know you're tired Bri" Vince said and Brian chuckles before shoving a mouthful of eggs, cheese, ham and mushrooms into his mouth. He gives a happy sigh at the bite of food and follows it quickly with another "Jesus marry me" Brian moans. Lips press into the back of his neck "I'd marry your ass in a heartbeat baby" Vince whispers into his ear. The next bite stops in front of Brian's mouth and hovers there. The blonde had only been making a joke but Vince sounded so serious that it gave him pause. Vince chuckles at the astonished look on Brian's face "don't panic Bri, we have plenty of time to think of the future and weddings" Brian smiles at Vince's easy-going nature when it came to him. Oh, he knew his lover was a hot head who would throw punches at the first hint of attitude but when it came to being in a relationship the guy gave so much Brian didn't even know what to do with it sometimes "I wasn't expecting you tonight" Brian said changing the subject. Not that he was opposed to marriage, he would gladly marry Vince but Brian was a bit afraid of how much he loved the man. Was Vince even to that point in the relationship yet? "I knew you had a long shift and would come home and not eat" Vince said shrugging as he drops into the chair next to Brian's "I like to make sure you eat so I came by" Brian grinned and wiggled his eyebrows "I can think of something better to do then eating" Brian said "Oh?" Vince said leaning forward "you want to get sloppy and wet before your shower baby?" Brian got hard at the feel of Vince's words ghosting over his lips. After the long day he had and the things he's seen, to have Vince pressed up against him pounding at his ass seemed like a fucking fantastic plan. Vince must have seen something he liked in Brian's eyes because he licked his lips before grinning ***** "Where's Brian?" Mia asked as she sets the table. Vince had let her know that morning that Brian would be joining them for dinner so she made sure to make enough for the night and for him to take to work the following day. Vince on more than one occasion voiced his worries about Brian's poor eating habits "He's swinging by his place to pick up his mail before heading over. He's been waiting for a mod for his car to come in" Vince said, Mia rolled her eyes "Gear heads all of you I swear" Mia said "There is nothing wrong with a man loving his car, Mia" Letty said as she slides into the kitchen and takes her seat beside Dom who was nodding his head in agreement "There's more then just cars in life Letty" Mia said with a laugh at seeing everyone's scowl. The conversation was quickly put on hold when the group hears the tell signs of Brian pulling up to the house. Mia sees Vince visibly brighten at that and move towards the living room "he's hopelessly in love" Mia said with a sigh and smile "Right you are sister" Letty said with a knowing grin ***** "Mia you are a God sent" Brian said with a happy sigh as he helps Mia wash the dishes. Vince is smiling at the pair as they banter with one another "I'm pretty sure I should be saying that, none of these heathens that live here ever offer to help with the dishes" Mia scolds jokingly. Brian gives a lazy shrug as he rinses and dries the plate in his hand "On the off chance I cook for myself I clean up myself so it's no big deal to help after you fed me" Brian said "What about your family Brian, don't you ever spend time with them?" Mia asked. Vince see's Brian tense at that. His back going impossibly stiff as the words wash over him. When Vince and Brian got into deep conversation's Brian rarely talked about his past. It was a sore spot for him Vince knew, with the foster homes he bounced back and forth from, then the stay in juvie family wasn't really a thing Brian had good experiences in. Other than a few basics Vince didn't know much about Brian O'Connor's past and that was fine with the older man. He didn't want to dig up any old memories that would hurt or bother Brian. Or the big one push the man away. Vince didn't want to jeopardize what they had together because he got too pushy and nosy about the guys past "Don't have one" Brian said. Vince schools his features at that. He hated the thought Brian went through life without a constant person in his life "dad walked out when I was young. Then when I got out of the academy, I was able to look him up he died of alcohol poisoning. He didn't have any brothers or sisters so no aunts, uncles or cousins on that side. Then my mom couldn't do the single mom thing so she would always have these abusive assholes in our lives for the longest time. She got worse with the drugs and she died of an overdose. Again, she had no sisters, brothers or cousins so no family on her side either. So, at a young age I was left alone" Mia gasps while Vince fights not to snarl at that. He's aware of Dom leaning in the door way listening in, the others in the living room could probably hear as well. It pissed Vince off slightly but it would just make his family more protective of the man "That's terrible Brian, how old were you?" Mia asked gently "Eight, that was when I got placed in foster home after foster home. It was horrible and a shitty situation but I just had no choice to take it day by day. Then by the time I turned thirteen I had enough of the shitty situation and ran away. Lived on the streets tell I was sixteen. I got busted for grand theft and got put in juvie up tell I turned eighteen. That was when I got my high school diploma because I was tired of the shitty life and the dark road it was leading me. So, I got accepted into the academy and became a cop, and then detective and here I am now years later" Brian said. Vince stands to move around the table when the tension seems to rise in Brian. This was the very reason he never brought it up Brian seemed like the type who was flighty about emotion baggage "both my parents had chosen alcohol and drugs over me. I always grew up wondering what the hell I did wrong for them not to love me" Brian shrugs "but then I realized you can't make someone love you; there really is no point in me being bitter about it" Vince was bitter; he thinks as he rests his hand on the back of Brian's neck. He was pissed on Brian's behalf, because fuck his parents and what they did "I'll love you enough for everyone who was too stupid to" Vince said. He doesn't really register what he said until Brian is whipping around to look at him with large blue eyes that are beginning to fill with tears "That your way of saying you love me V?" Brian asked. There was a deep uncertainty in those crystal blue eyes "Yeah Bri, I love you" Vince said. It wasn't really how he planned on telling the blonde that, but he guesses that didn't really matter when Brian was smiling so prettily up towards him "Guess you're lucky I love you too then. Huh killer?" Brian said, that cocky grin always got Vince, even as the tears fell, which broke his heart a bit. He smiled back with a chuckle "You know it buster" Vince said ***** "Did you ever open your package to check your mod, Brian?" Vince asked while everyone is sprawled out in the living room watching Jesse and Letty try to stop each other's asses in need for speed. Brian gives a tired grunt as he lifts his head off Vince's shoulders and nods his head "Yeah, my baby is going to purr so nicely once I install it" Brian said and Vince chuckles at the mumbled reply "shit, I forgot" Brian leans forward and pulls and envelope out of his back pocket "Don't go ignoring the bills that need to be paid Bri!" Leon said with a laugh as Brian rips the envelope open. The blonde flips Leon off just as he unfolds the papers inside. Vince turns his head back to watch the race between Letty and Jesse when Brian rockets to his feet "The fuck?!" Brian said loudly making everyone turn to face him. Vince leans forward and looks up, then he's standing worried at how pale Brian's complexion seems to be. There's also a small tremor in his normal steady hands that has Vince frowning "Bri?" Vince said. If at all possible, Brian pales more "Brian, what's wrong?" in almost a dazed state Brian hands the paper over to Vince. Concerned it was bad news that upset Brian he quickly went to reading them, but with each word his blood runs colder and colder. His heart pumping a mile a minute in his chest
My Dearest Love,
I'm disappointed in you my darling, I've been watching you from afar for so long now, and you've always been mostly loyal to me. Sure, there have been a few slip ups in the past, but you never were with them for long, were you? You knew they couldn't compete with the love I have for you. Knew they weren't made for you. But now you've strayed Brian, and even though I am most upset, I can't find it in me to be angry with you my precious. I could never be truly angry with you; you know that don't you, my darling? I am only hurt, sad that you can no longer see what is good for you, what you need. That's okay my love I will fix this for you. See I've always been fine watching you from the shadows, watching you leave for work in the mornings, coming back very late, or not at all. There are days I sit outside your office; watch you pour over your paper work. Laugh at the darling scowl you have on your face while you scribble along. I've seen you race as well; that's perhaps my favorite to watch you darling. You look so open, and so fearless. That's how I will fix you my darling by killing that fearless in you. I will break you down until all that's left is fear and me my love. I hope you know that I have to do this my darling, I have to kill you my love because I can't live with the sight of someone else touching you. I can't stand the thought of his mouth on your beautiful skin. How I love your skin, your golden glow that lays the sun to shame, your beautiful eyes, that I plan to pierce out and keep for all of eternity darling. I can't wait to see the beauty that is your blood staining the floor. I will paint the walls with your beautiful blood my darling so they are decorated by you. I will write my name across your back with my blade, so there is no doubt of who you belong to. I've thought long and hard about my knife piercing through your flesh and cutting you open, I bet your insides are as beautiful as you are. I will cut you open and tear your organs out so I can crawl inside you, so deep that only I am left in your skin. There will be no trace of him on you, my dearest. I will be the one that you see as you draw your last breath, it will be me that puts that fear and desperation in your eyes. My hands, my knife, my mouth, they will take you. I always knew we would be together Brian, but since you won't be with me in life, you will be with me in death
Love, your one and only
Quickly Vince glances up to check on Brian who was standing frozen, his eyes staring off into space "Brian?" Jesse's voice makes the guy flinch "Give me your phone Brian" Vince said, but when the blonde doesn't make a move to pull it out, he reaches into the Brian's pants pocket and pulls it out himself. He scrolls through Brian's contacts till he gets to a name he knows. Hitting call, he presses the phone to his ear and waits. "Yo, Brian what's up man? Calling to say you're wanting to help with my case load? Jordan asked as he chuckles "Nah, Jordan it's Vince" Vince said. He had gone to lunch on several occasions since his trips to the bull pin that day to get Brian's key. On a few of those lunch dates detective Jordan Smith had tagged along since him and Brian had been working together since Brian gotten to L.A "Vinny how's it going man?" Jordan asked and Vince rolled his eyes; he really did not like the man's nickname for him "You busy?" Vince asked, there was a pause, Jordan taking in Vince's tone of voice before the man became serious "Nah, man what's wrong?" Jordan asked "Brian just opened a letter" Vince snarls "there's some sick shit in this thing man. Talking about how someone has been watching Brian from the shadows, how lovely his blood will look staining the floors and shit. It even goes so far as to say they would tear out his organs and crawl inside him" "How many people have touched it?" Jordan asked down to business. Just repeating some of the things in this letter made Vince want to be sick "Just Brian and I" Vince said "You at Brian's place?" Jordan asked "No, we're at mine, you coming to get it?" Vince asked "Hell yes, shot me a text with the address I'll be there in twenty" Jordan said. Vince quickly says his goodbye and carefully places the letter on the table after warning his family not to touch the thing. Then he makes quick work of texting the address to Jordan and places the phone on the table. Brian is still a statue staring blankly off into space so Vince moves towards him and places his hands on Brian's shoulders. The blonde flinches, and then blinks hard as he comes back to himself. He still looks a bit dazed so Vince pushes him down on the couch, not unaware of his family looking on "You okay baby?" Vince asked, turning his head slightly when Dom leans over the table to read the note. The bigger man is cursing more and more the farther down the thing he reads. Then he's snapping at Mia and Jesse to keep away from it, telling them they have no reason to even read a word. Vince knew the two were pretty sensitive with violence and the things in that letter were as sick and violent as it got "This is some bullshit!" Brian said "who the fuck would be watching me? After the attack we went through every case I worked on. Everyone is where they are suppose to be" Vince knew Brian was smarter than that, but the letter had him so spooked he was missing some key points that were clearly in the letter "That's not a revenge letter Bri" Vince said with a disgusted face "that's someone who's got a twisted love for you" the word love had no right in that sentence but that's what this shit was, the only problem is who it was and if the threat was just that. A threat, or they planned on following through with their written plans "we don't even know if those two things are related" Vince just hoped the cops would find some finger prints on the thing and put this to rest before it escalated further