Page 47 of Deep Down
Logan smirked at him. “Darren won’t be leaving prison now. There’re copious amounts of evidence against him. Craig’s safe.” Logan’s forehead creased, his gaze dropping to the table. “We found out he’d done it before. An ex-boyfriend came forward and is willing to testify.”
Alex’s hand covered his open mouth, not believing what Logan said. “Fucking hell. And there was nothing on record from before?” He stared at Logan.
Logan shook his head, glancing back at him. “No. The guy hadn’t pressed charges at the time. He left the area. It was when we investigated Darren’s past, we found he’d had another long-term boyfriend. We decided to check on the ex. Once we told the guy Darren had done it again, he was willing to help.”
Alex was silent. “I saw Craig last week.”
“He mentioned he’d seen you.” Logan narrowed gaze spoke volumes.
“We bumped into each other in the restaurant at the hospital after Craig’s appointment. I didn’t go searching him out!”
Logan’s expression smoothed out. “I know, I’m sorry. I don’t want either of you getting hurt.”
Alex sat back in his chair. “I need another beer.”
“My turn.” Logan stood and headed to the bar.
“He means well.” Casey gave a small smile.
“I know. I guess I don’t trust myself.”
Casey leaned towards him across the table. “You are an honourable man, Alex. You won’t do anything to hurt Craig. I know you won’t. Trust yourself. Trust your instincts.”
“I wish I could.” Alex had always trusted his instincts, until his last relationship, if he could call it that.
Alex had been covering in A&E when a guy was brought in unconscious with severe bruising around his neck. They worked on him steadily, getting in an IV for fluids and patching him up as best they could.
When the guy woke, he gave his name, Grayson, and explained that his boyfriend had strangled him. Alex stepped in to help the guy through the police procedures and counselling sessions and anything else Grayson needed. Grayson clung to Alex: overwhelmingly happy when Alex was around; depressed and remote when Alex wasn’t., he’d been told.
Alex developed an attraction to Grayson, which was reciprocated, and once Alex’s part in the case was over, they embarked on a relationship.
Everything seemed perfect for a few months. Until Grayson asked Alex to hit him during sex. Alex didn’t mind smacking asses with the best of them, but Grayson was not happy with that. He needed more. Grayson brought in a paddle one day, and Alex refused point-blank.
“I need it to get off, Alex!”
“You’ve never had trouble before?” Alex had no idea where this was coming from. Their sex had been phenomenal as far as he was concerned.
“Did you ever see how tight I had to hold my cock to be able to come!” Grayson shouted, arms swinging wildly.
Alex stared at him, seeing a stranger. “I can’t do it, Grayson. I won’t.”
“Fuck you, Alex! At least Vance had been able to give me more of what I needed!” he screamed, getting into Alex’s face.
Alex lost his cool. “What? You need your boyfriend to strangle you, do you?”
“Vance didn’t do it! I did! He couldn’t take the heat of erotic asphyxiation. I had to take it into my own hands.”
Alex silently gaped at Grayson, realising he had been duped. Grayson had pretended to be what Alex needed before returning to what Grayson alone needed.
“Sorry, Grayson. We’re done.”
Alex spoke to the officers at the police station, giving a statement about what Grayson had said. He couldn’t bear the thought of this Vance guy being arrested for something he may not have done.
Since that day, Alex had never trusted his instincts without double-checking things first. If he had trusted them, Craig’s injuries might not have been as severe. It was also the reason why he shied away from relationships. Until now.
Alex returned home, more than a little tipsy, if his staggering steps were anything to go by. He’d enjoyed the hours with Casey and Logan, especially when Logan’s friend, Trent, arrived with his friends in tow. Alex had met Max, Sean, Asher, Ethan and Zak, and what had followed had been an enjoyable night at Crush. Alex didn’t usually like going out when it was busy, neither did Casey, but as he’d told Logan earlier that night, they’d both needed to let off steam. And those guys had been the ones to help. He didn’t think he’d laughed so hard in his life.
Dropping to his bed, he tried to summon the energy to have a shower but decided it could wait. Fully dressed, he laid on his side. Sleep claimed him seconds later.
