Page 35 of Hammer & Gavel

They satin relative silence during the journey to 4 St Irving Way. Oliver dozed in the back of Julian’s 4x4, hand pressed under his chin as he tried not to think about how much of a pain in the arse it all was. Blinking, he looked up to see Matteus and Julian sharing a concerned look from the front of the vehicle.

“I hope you aren’t talking about me,” he drawled, finding his jaw inexplicably slack. The last dose of pain relief was making him woozy.

“Of course we’re talking about you,” Matteus replied, stroking the back of Julian’s hand as he held the gear stick.

Pulling onto the driveway of the four-bedroom house on the outskirts of town, Oliver suddenly realised just how long it’d been since he’d stayed over. A picket fence, planted borders and a ‘Welcome to our Home’ doormat completed the picture of quaint suburban living. All they needed was ‘Live Laugh Love’ emblazoned on their living room wall, and the look would be complete. Though, he supposed a police officer and a registeredpsychiatrist could put down roots pretty much anywhere they pleased, with any homeowner association glad to have them.

The familiar smell of pine and linen wafted into his nose—Matteus’ scented candle of choice. Some things never changed.

“I’ll take your bags up and run you a bath,” Julian said, hooking Oliver’s duffle bag over his shoulder. He kissed Matteus on the forehead before making his way upstairs. Oliver glanced at his brother, an apologetic expression on his face.

“Don’t you dare say it, Ollie.”

“What?”

“That you’re sorry for being a burden. You aren’t.”

Oliver looked at his feet as he allowed Matteus to usher him into the house. Glimpsing his reflection in the living room mirror, he finally saw the deep purple bruises circling his under eyes, and how the bridge of his nose was a sickly green mess. It was a wonder the attack hadn’t caused more damage, because that second headbutt had been ahellof a blow.

“See why I wanted you to stay with us?” Matteus said, squeezing his shoulder.

“I might scare the neighbours,” Oliver replied.

Matteus smirked. “Good. They need a good scare, the stuck-up pricks.”

Oliver chuckled. “I’ll stick my head over the fence later tonight.”

Gettingout the bath proved to be a slow and painful process, given that Oliver felt as if someone had put him through a wood chipper. Backwards. Whilst on the back of a speed boat. He winced as he struggled to dress, his t-shirt proving particularly troublesome as it brushed over his face. Matteus finally took pityon him after his third attempt, frowning as he pulled it over his head.

“What arethose?” Matteus said, gripping Oliver’s shoulder as he turned him towards the bedroom light. Following his brother’s gaze, Oliver blushed a deep shade of red when he realised he was looking at the cluster of love-bites peppering the crook of his neck.

“They…are…just another injury, I guess.”

“Bullshit, Ollie. I know mating marks when I see them.”

Oliver blanched, pulling the shirt down over his shoulders. “Well, clearly not, because they aren’t mating marks. Absolutely no mating has occurred here.”

“Maybe not, but someone clearlywantedto mate with you. And I’m sure I can guesswhothatsomeoneis.”

Oliver huffed as he slid on a pair of purple slippers. “Guess all you like, because you’ll not get a word out of me. Not one peep.” Matteus didn’t try to hide the smirk spreading across his face as he followed Oliver out of the room and down into the back garden.

Julian ordered pizza and put on the patio heater, so they could eat outside and enjoy the last of the day’s sunlight. Brushing past his brother-in-law, Oliver plucked up the pepperoni pizza that was waiting for him on the countertop. To avoid any further embarrassing reveals, he wrapped a fluffy blanket around his shoulders and slouched back in the wicker chair.

He heard Julian chuckling from the kitchen, and when Oliver looked back, he and Matteus were exchanging hushed words. Because if Matteus knew, Julian also knew.

“Beer?” Julian asked, holding out two bottles as he padded into the garden.

“Thanks.” Oliver nodded as he placed one on the table.

“So,” Julian began, running his fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair as he slumped into the chair opposite. “Matteus tells me you were assaulted at work.”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Matteus joined them, sipping a glass of orange juice as he peeled a piece of pizza from the cardboard tray. “And how is Op Sceptre going? You’re on DS White’s team, aren’t you?”

Oliver swallowed, tipping his head back against the chair. “Not anymore.”

Matteus snorted. “What? But I thought?—”

---