Page 24 of The Broker

It was just him on his own now.

With that terrifying realization, he was finally able to move his feet. He ran to the door and stole one final glance at his attackers.

This was the point that would change his life forever.

Taking a breath, he threw open the door and disappeared into the cold and rainy night.

8

ISAAC

Unable to sleep, Isaac flipped over onto his side and huffed. He shoved his hand under his pillow and waited for sleep to overtake him.

Nothing.

Not even a hint of a possible yawn or stretch of a tired limb.

He hated nights like these. His mind kept rushing; his thoughts kept thinking. It never ended. One moment, he’d be thinking about dance moves that he forgot, then suddenly, he’d be thinking about all the things he needed to tell Levi in the morning. Then, his thoughts would turn to ways he could torment Jared. Those thoughts he liked. Those thoughts made him happy. Those thoughts gave him a boner.

Then his thoughts would reach down that dark corridor and make their way into that locked room… before pulling back the flaps of that box marked “DO NOT OPEN.”

Those thoughts he hated. Those thoughts made him sad. Those thoughts made him want to go to the bathroom… lock the door… fill the tub with water…. and then…

Isaac flipped onto his back with an angry grunt.

No!

He’d spent countless hours lying on Dr. LeFleur’s couch, trying to explain to her why the darkness always followed him.

When he was younger, the answer was simple: drugs. At first, he began smoking pot when he was fourteen, which quickly changed to coke; then, when he took off on his own, he started using ecstasy. It was a quick fix and an easy way to get outside his body and finally feel good about himself and those around him.

Feeling your mind pull away from your body and having that sense of euphoria spread across your nerves… it all provided him with an easy way to escape the darkness and spend a few happy moments basking in the light.

Men used to pick him up on corners, take him to a seedy motel, pump him full of booze and pills; then, he’d spend the next four hours flying high while letting men suck on his cock. Occasionally, guys would ask him to fuck them… for a little extra cash, of course. Provided he was able to get it up, he was always happy to make a little extra dough. He didn’t care. They both got what they wanted; him an escape, them an easy way to get off.

It was only after Matteo found Isaac that he learned that there was another way to cope with his emotions. Another way to deal with those dark thoughts that invaded his mind.

He had been so good lately. Taking his meds and feeling whole and happy. But on nights like tonight, the darkness spilled out of that box and took hold of his mind.

A groan from next door caught Isaac’s attention.

He lay there in the darkness of his room and listened. More groans and what sounded like muffled talking came from the room next to his.

Isaac sat up in bed and turned his ear toward the shared wall between his bedroom and Jared’s.

Yes, their rooms were right next to each other’s. It wasn’t like Isaac had harassed Diesel into switching rooms with himtwo years ago so that he could sleep next to the man he enjoyed teasing or anything quite so pathetic.

More groans.

Jared was having another one of his nightmares.

When Isaac first noticed that Jared was having nightmares, he’d tried to wake him but only managed to get punched in the face… accidentally. Over time, he realized that it was easier—and safer—if he just tried to comfort the man while letting him ride out whatever nightmare he was living through in his mind.

Throwing the covers off his semi-naked body, he hopped out of bed and made his way into his neighbor’s bedroom.

Gripping the knob, he slowly opened the door and peeked inside.

Jared was lying on his side, mouth half open, brows completely scrunched together. The thin bedsheet hung loosely around his waist, only showing the hint of a bare ass cheek.

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