Michael and Craig had finished talking about their plan and there was something that Craig was curious about. "I'm curious about something. Why are you wanting... Justin away from here so bad?"
Michael was silent for a minute. He had known instantly how Craig Taylor felt about gays. He decided to just be truthful. "Because I'm in love with Brian."
"Another fag. I should've known," Craig sneered in disgust.
"Look, Mister Taylor, you want Justin to go with you. I want Brian. So, let's just work together. Then, we'll never see each other again."
Craig sighed. "Fine. When are we going over there?"
Michael looked at his watch. It was late. "In the morning. Brian will have to go to work and Justin should be at the loft."
"Fine. See you then." With that said, Criag left the apartment. As he got in his car, he couldn't help but shiver in disgust. The sooner he got Justin and retuned to Mississippi, the better!
It was midnight and Justin and Brian had just finished another wonderful bout of sex. Brian was laying on his back, starring at the ceiling, and smoking a ciggarette. His mind wouldn't shut down enough for him to sleep. Feeling eyes on him, he turned his head. Justin's blue eyes were open and watching him.
What are you thinking about so hard?
Brian sighed, not knowing whether to tell Justin what was on his mind. He decided he should. No sense in keeping stuff from the younger man. Especially when the things that Brian was thinking about concerned him.
"I'm thinking about... your father."
You mean Craig. I stopped considering him my father a long time ago.
Brian nodded his understanding. "I'm just wondering how he found out where you were. You haven't had any contact with your mother or Craig since you left. Right?"
Right. I had been wondering that myself.
Brian's face was scrunched up in thought. "I have a theory but I hope to God that I'm wrong." After a slight pause, he continued. "I think Michael had something to do with it."
Michael? Why would he do that? Never mind, I know why.
Brian nodded. He knew why, too. Michael hadn't gotten over his "love" for Brian. Brian was starting to wonder what kind of best friend that he had. He and Michael had been friends for so long. He hoped that he was wrong. But, in his heart, he knew that he wasn't. Michael had something to do with Craig Taylor being in Pittsburgh.
"Well, your mother and sister will be here at seven in the morning. I have to be at work at eight. Emmett and Daphne also mentioned stopping by sometime, tomorrow."
Justin smiled. He knew that Brian was worried about him. But, Justin also knew, Brian would protect him.
Brian could read the love in Justin's eyes and felt humbled by it. Leaning over, his lips met Justin's and all worries went out the window.
As Brian downed the last gulp of coffee from his coffee mug, he could see Justin smirking at him. He raised an eyebow in question.
I think you are going to need a lot of coffee today to be able to make your brilliant presentations.
Brian was tired from being up until two in the morning. But it had been worth it! "Who's fault is that?"
With an innocent expression, Justin signed, It's not my fault that you stayed 'up' for so long.
Brian grinned at Justin's double meaning and fondly shook his head. Just then, the buzzer rang. A few minutes later, he was letting Jennifer and Molly into the loft.
"I'm going to head on to work." Goodbye, Sunshine, Brian signed. After giving Justin a kiss, he picked up his briefcase and long-coat. "Bye Jennifer, Molly. Call me, Jennifer, if there's any problems." After getting a promise from Jennifer that she would, Brian left the loft.
As Brian got into his jeep, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that he had. Resistig the urge to run back upto his loft, he stated his jeep and headed to work. 'I'm just being paranoid,' he thought to himself.
Craig pulled onto Tremont and parked his car in front of an old warehouse building. Seeing Michael waiting for him in front of the building, he walked over to him. "He gone?" Craig asked, getting right to the point
Michael nodded. He had been hiding across the street two hours before, and had seen Brian drive off. Michael used the key that Brian had given him, for emergancies, to let Craig into the building. He was going to stand outside and keep watch.
Craig entered the building and walked up the stairs to the top floor. He didn't trust the unsafe looking elevator. Pounding on the loft's heavy steel door, he waited. A few minutes later, the door slid open a few inches. To say he was surprised would've been an understatement.
"Craig!" his wife gasped.