Marcus glanced up and locked eyes with the sexiest man he had ever seen.
“Gavin,” Marcus breathed out, the name torn from his lips as he rushed over to the table and wrapped the boy in his protective arms. “Are you alright?”
Gavin nodded in his arms. “You came for me.”
“Of course I did. I’d move heaven and earth for you.”He kissed the boy’s head, then pulled himself back to quickly make sure he was alright.
Once he was satisfied that Gavin was okay, he tilted him back, then took his lips in his.
Joy, relief, love. His body was flooded with a barrage of emotions that he didn’t quite know how to deal with.
“God, I fucking love you,” Marcus whispered, locking eyes with Gavin and loving the way the boy’s face lit up. It was as if Marcus had given him the moon and stars.
“I love you too.”
They kissed once again like they were the only two in the room.
It wasn’t until someone cleared their throat that they remembered they had an audience.
Marcus adjusted his bulge, then helped Gavin sit up once again.
“What do you want to do with him?” Blade asked, holding a very angry Valentine Killer in a headlock, like it was no big deal.
Marcus picked up his gun and removed the safety.
“Wait!” Gavin said, placing his hand over Marcus’s gun. “I’ve got a better idea.”
32
GAVIN
Two days later, they were finally all organized and set up.
Gavin stood in front of Ace, who was holding his tablet out and ready to record.
They were standing in front of a large pit, surrounded by nothing but desert and hills. The area was desolate and unrecognizable. There were no landmarks or structures, nothing that could possibly give away their location to the untrained eye.
That was how they wanted it. They were about to hold a meeting… and sentencing… of sorts.
This was Gavin’s masterful plan. It had taken some work to set up and some arguments with Marcus, but in the end, Marcus and the guys agreed with what Gavin was proposing.
“Are you ready?” Ace asked. Gavin didn’t answer rightaway, his eyes fixed on Marcus as he tried to draw strength and courage from his big, strong protector.
Marcus never lacked courage. He was always so sure of himself. He was a born leader, and everyone knew it.
But this was something Gavin needed to do. This was how he could move on, closing the door on this horrific chapter once and for all.He couldn’t be a slave to his nightmares any longer.
“Yes, I’m ready,” Gavin finally responded, giving his friend a nod and waiting for Ace to give him the signal that they were live.
Ace raised his fingers, counting down from three. Once the last finger fell, Gavin began to speak.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. You probably don’t know who I am, but my name is Gavin, and I am a survivor of the Valentine Killer.” Gavin paused, giving his viewers a chance to let that revelation set in.
“I… I almost wasn’t though,” Gavin said, his voice unsteady. “A few weeks ago, I went on a date with a man who seemed perfect. He was sweet, charming… everything I thought I wanted. And then we went back to his house for a drink.”
He swallowed hard, shaking his head as he looked at his interlocked fingers. “He drugged me. I didn’t even realize what was happening until it was too late. And then… he attacked me. I don’t know how I got away. I just ran.”
Gavin looked back up at the tablet, his eyes beginning to tear up.
