Squeezy appeared to find this acceptable and left.He was owed.Jono had been one of life’s gentle souls.Nikolas turned his thoughts briefly to Julian Wood and the sting of a cold needle.It was a pity he hadn’t been here as well.He’d find him eventually.
Eventually, everyone stopped running.
* * *
Tim Watson had been given his place on the ANGEL team mainly by being Ben’s friend.He earned it more that day when Ben, clearly exhausted, fuelled only by good intentions, found him sitting down alongside him.Tim introduced himself to the group, confirmed he was a doctor, and that he worked in the field of ethical psychology—that they’d been manipulated by men using unethical psychology.He was going to help them.They were impressed.Nicholas thought they were more impressed when Tim added that he was gay.
Ethics?
Nikolas wondered idly what Tim thought his boyfriend was doing at that moment.Perhaps he thought Squeezy was taking the unconscious Francis J to the hospital.
Andrea Gillian arrived later that day.Nikolas had begun to think of her as his heavy hitter, which amused him, as she barely made four feet and probably weighed less than he had when he’d come out of the Gulag.She’d told him on the phone that this wasn’t her area of expertise.He’d told her it surely wasn’t Ben’s.He needed her.
They couldn’t stay in the pub.It didn’t set the right tone.
By lunchtime, Kate had them booked into the exclusive spa hotel they’d enjoyed for a brief few hours on their course.She booked the conference room as well.Andrea and Tim left to set up.
For a brief few minutes, Ben was back up front and centre on his own, six desperate men now looking to him to bring them out of darkness by talk alone, by sharing and guiding and effective counselling.
Ben was empty.Nikolas could see it.He was losing them.All Ben really had were good intentions and a perfect face and body.There was only so much you could do to de-radicalise angry men with a good heart and a pretty face.
Nikolas plunged his hands into the pockets of his coat.It smelt faintly and very pleasantly of Kate.He had a feeling he’d bought her that scent on a whim because he’d liked the crystal bottle, which had been a miniature version of the onion dome on a Russian orthodox church, exquisite and beautiful, and he couldn’t exactly buy it for himself, and Philipa wouldn’t have appreciated it.
The rumblings of discontent had turned more vicious.Ben was floundering badly.
At the time, it had been the most expensive perfume in the world.Perhaps he should have mentioned this when he’d given it to her…
One of the men shoved Ben, and he staggered slightly, the others then holding the enraged man back.
Nikolas hoped Philipa had got his text about Radulf.The cleaning service would feed and water him if she hadn’t, but he’d enjoy a stay with a pack of royal dogs if he got the chance.He could make them a bit more streetwise.
A few militant men were standing up to leave now.
Fucking hell!
Nikolas strode up to the front of the group.He pointed to one of the men standing.“Why did you think you needed therapy?”Before the astonished man could reply, he gestured to the man next to him.“And you?”The other men sat very rapidly.He felt a hand on his wrist, Ben tethering him once more, but he shook him off.“No.I want to know.All of you, what did you think therapy was going to do for you?I was taught the facts of life by my father when I was ten years old.He forced his cock inside me and told me he loved me more than anyone else in the world did or ever would.Do you think therapy is going to make that right?I’ll tell you what makes that right for me.”He yanked Ben to his feet and repaid the kiss Ben had given him earlier, and when Nikolas wanted to he could put on quite a show with his body—after all, as he’d told Ben, he’d been doing it since he was ten.He then eased them apart until just their foreheads were touching and elaborated so quietly every man present had to strain to hear him, but he had a totally captive audience by this time, so there was a great deal of concentration on his words, “I’m gay, but as that means I get to do this…” He kissed Ben again, slower, more loving, a very private kiss which was not for show at all.“…then I’m extremely glad I am.”He turned to the men in the room.“It’s really not something to make a big deal about, is it?”
* * *
Andrea and Tim stayed in the hotel with six men who’d been so confused and traumatised by their experiences of therapy that they’d almost been excited to hear they were going to attempt to assassinate the President of Russia.Rest, food, and professional expertise would eventually undo the chaotic radicalisation they’d been subjected to.Kate had been sent back to London before Ben had even noticed she’d been in Burnley.
Ben and Nikolas went home.
Ben drove because he now knew the way.
After a few miles, when he hadn’t put Radio 1 on, Nikolas asked quietly, “What?”It seemed like a good question to him.It sort of encompassed what he’d been thinking for some weeks now.
Ben shook his head slightly.“I think parts of my memory are still missing.”
Nikolas turned to face him, a slight frown beginning to form.Ben smirked.
“My boyfriend has just told me he’s gay.Eight years—I had no idea.No clues whatsoever…”
Nikolas just pursed his lips and turned to stare out of his side window.
“I guess the things he wanted to do in bed should have—”
“It’s not funny.”
