Page 31 of Seamus's Basement
“Good.” Seamus pulled the blanket up to his neck and then held him tight. “I’ve got you.”
“What did you mean about him making it impossible?”
“I mean he’s a thief not a money lender.”
“He leant my grandfather money. When I was in high school, he’d come by the house sometimes and collect it. I know my grandfather owed him.”
“DJ, an unwritten, unsecured deal with some unlicensed guy off the street isn’t an enforceable loan. Even if it was, it wouldn’t be enforceable against someone who had no part in taking it out, especially someone who was a child at the time it happened. And most importantly, he’s assaulting you. Anyone who does that isn’t doing business, they’re committing a crime. None of what’s happening here is legal, and he won’t stop because he knows he can keep taking your money.” He tipped DJ’s head back and met his gaze. “I know this is hard to hear and I’m sorry to speak this way about your family, but your grandfather decided to trust a criminal and you’re paying the price.”
At some level, he knew most of that, but he had been ignoring it because there was nothing he could do about it and admittingthat meant coming to terms with the reality that he’d never, ever be free of the debt. He’d always be scrambling and working and falling further and further behind.
“If I thought offering to pay him whatever he claims he’s owed would stop this, I’d do it, but I’ve given this a lot of thought and I believe that would make things worse.”
“I don’t want you to pay my debt.”
“It’s not your debt, and like I said, I don’t want to pay it, because if I do, this guy’ll realize you have access to money and then he’ll come up with some bullshit excuse about why you owe him even more. Telling him you can pay him off won’t end this harassment, it’ll escalate it.”
All of that made sense. There was no way out. DJ squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to take slow, even breaths.
“So what I’m going to do is call Richard Davis.”
DJ snapped his eyes open. “Sheriff Davis?”
Seamus nodded. “He’s a friend of mine.”
The sheriff had come across as a giant, emotionally unregulated jerk earlier that night, but Todd seemed to like him, and if Seamus called him a friend, then maybe he had been having an off night. DJ could understand that; it happened to everyone.
“What can the sheriff do?” DJ asked.
“I don’t know exactly, but I’ll talk to him and get his advice. He’s smart and he doesn't put up with any nonsense. There’s a man coming into our town and beating people. That’s not going to fly with Richard.”
“You think he’ll help me?”
“Absolutely.”
DJ considered that plan. “What if my grandfather’s loan shark gets mad that we got the police involved? What if it makes things worse?”
“He is assaulting you. I know it’s happened a lot just from looking at you. You’re more injured than you’re admitting to me. What happens if next time he hits you in the wrong spot or too hard or for too long? One of these days, you’re not going to be able to recover.” Seamus rolled to the side, taking DJ with him, wrapped his arms around him so they were chest to chest, and tucked him against his body. “This can’t continue.”
Tired of pretending everything was fine and carrying the burden alone, DJ leaned into his husband and buried his face into his neck. “I’m scared.”
“I know. It’s a bad situation but I’m going to make it stop. And until then, you’re not going to answer his calls, you’re not going into work because he knows to look for you there, and you’re not going out alone.”
He would have balked about being told what to do as if he was a small child and not a grown man who had been taking care of himself for most of his life, but the truth was, he appreciated having someone care about his safety and his welfare and he yearned to take a break from managing everything alone.
“Okay,” he agreed and closed his eyes. He was so tired and Seamus smelled so right.
“I didn’t think you’d give in so easily.”
“I trust you,” he slurred, already half-asleep. “Good night.”
When DJ woke up the next morning, he was surprised to find Seamus still in his bed, arm around his waist. With him being naked and Seamus in his underwear, the situation was incredibly arousing but also potentially uncomfortable so he slowly moved to the side in an effort to get out of bed before Seamus woke up.
Immediately, Seamus gripped his hip. “Go back to sleep,” he mumbled.
“I’m used to getting up early.”
“I know. You don’t rest enough. I’m fixing that problem.” His eyes were still closed.
