Before There Was You, There Was You

Chapter 13

“We know one another's faults, virtues, catastrophes, mortifications, triumphs, rivalries, desires, and how long we can each hang by our hands to a bar. We have been banded together under pack codes and tribal laws. We are family.”~Rose Macaulay

 

*****

Rena stepped out of the elevator into the hotel lobby, her eyes searching for Shane. They had six o’clock dinner reservations at Nino’s and she knew traffic would be a bitch at this hour.

James followed behind her carrying her Alta Moda, white mink coat over his arm. He looked elegant in his slate gray Baroni suit. At the age of fifty, James maintained the body of a man twenty years his junior. He had a rugged, sexy look about him. More then one appreciative eye graced the stunning couple as they walked through the lobby.

Rena wasn’t what one would call a classic beauty, but she had a sex appeal that attracted both men and women. She had sharp stunning features and carried herself with the confidence of a seductress. The combination was lethal.

She rounded the corner of the lobby and spotted Shane leaning against the hotel desk. She knew she would find Shane there. That little red head was working the night shift again. Shane was having a good time playing with her new toy.

She looked over her shoulder at James. “How long do you think till Shane grows tired of this new conquest?” She asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

James looked past Rena to where Shane was standing.

“Judging by the way Shane is sizing up that blonde boy, I’d say the little red head is about to get her heart broken,” James replied.

Rena turned her head back around to see who James was talking about. Her eyes skimmed over to the blonde boy standing next to Shane. She frowned. There was something familiar about him. She could tell by Shane’s body language she was definitely setting her sights on new prey.

Rena couldn’t get a good look at the boy from that distance. She walked towards the lobby desk and stopped dead in her tracks, when the boy’s features came into view. James almost bumped into her from her abrupt halt.

There, talking to Shane, and smiling with the most brilliant smile Rena has ever seen, was the boy in the drawing. Rena couldn’t move, she could barely think. It couldn’t be… She felt as if she were dreaming. That must be it she thought. This couldn’t be real. Somewhere in the back of her mind she felt James’ hand rest on her shoulder. Then she heard a loud noise. Someone clearing their throat and she knew she must have been making a scene with her gawking.

She turned her head to look at the man who was trying to get her attention.

“Sorry, Re, but we forgot his armor at home.”

Bean! Ok, now she KNEW she must be dreaming. But the reassuring hand on her shoulder squeezed lightly to remind her she was still very much awake.

Her hands flew to her mouth to muffle the choked sob that threatened to come out. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her heart pounded loudly. There, in front of her, stood her brother. After all these years…

Rena let out a loud screech right before she ran and jumped into Brian’s arms. People in the lobby turned to see what caused the commotion. Rena grabbed a hold of Brian’s neck and pulled herself up to wrap her legs around his waist just like she use to jump on him when they were kids fooling around.

Brian braced himself for the onslaught. He saw it coming the minute before Rena launched herself at him. He laughed with such joy it almost burst his heart. He lifted his sister and squeezed her tight. Rena cried into his neck.

“Oh, Bean, Bean…” She kept the mantra up as Brian buried his face in her hair. His own eyes were dangerously close to overflowing. The sight of the reunion was not lost on the lobby’s occupants.

Justin looked on with tears of his own. He had never seen Brian so happy. And Rena, well, it was obvious how deeply she missed her brother.

“Come on, Blondie,” Shane said to Justin. “Let’s take this show backstage. I don’t think they’d appreciate an audience.”

Justin looked over at Shane and nodded. He grabbed Brian’s credit card and their room cards, and gently nudged Brian towards the elevator. The man who stood behind Rena came around to shield the couple with his body as Shane and Justin guided the siblings out of the Lobby.

Brian let himself be led away, carrying Rena with him. He just couldn’t put his sister down, and she was not about to be dislodged.

They were escorted to the elevators. James pressed the button. The three of them, Shane, Justin and James, watched on in silence as the siblings hugged and cried, and muttered words that were unintelligible due to the strong emotions each were experiencing.

The elevator doors opened and Justin and Shane guided Brian and Rena inside. James stepped in last and stopped anyone from entering with them.

The doors closed.

“What room are you guys in?” Shane asked Justin.

Justin shook his head to clear his thoughts. His emotions were running pretty deep at the moment. He was overwhelmed with relief that this reunion was so joyous for Brian. He knew how nervous Brian was about seeing his sister again. He worried that it would be strange between them. After all, it had been seventeen years and Brian had remarked on more than one occasion that they were strangers now. Too much time had passed and he knew that made Brian sad to think about.

But when they saw each other, Justin could see all the years melt away. They were once again the children they left behind. Brian finally had his family back and Justin reveled in Brian’s happiness. He knew what family meant to Brian after not having one for so long.

Having Gus breathed new life into Brian. That little boy owned Brian’s heart, though most of his friends would scoff at that notion since it was well known that Brian fucking Kinney didn’t have a heart. But Justin knew differently.

He saw evidence of that heart, and how big it was, when Gus was born. The way Brian held the baby in his arms, the way he looked at him. Justin had just met Brian a few hours before they went to the hospital and he was able to see what Brian’s friends, who knew him so much longer, couldn’t see. Nothing was more important to Brian than family. From the moment Gus was born, Brian’s life belonged to that child. He would do anything for Gus to protect him.

And now, his sister, whom he had done just about everything to protect, had returned to him. They were going to be a family again.

Justin wiped a tear from his eye, and then answered Shane. “Shit, I didn’t ask.” He looked at the key card. “3303,” he answered.

“Rena has a four-bedroom suite on the 43rd floor. Let’s go there first, and then you guys can check into your room,” Shane advised.

Justin nodded in agreement. He was glad Shane was taking over. Brian was lost in his sister right now and Justin had no idea what to do.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. James stopped the people who were standing there from coming in and pressed the elevator button for the 43rd floor. He wasn’t going to let anyone in.

Once they reached their destination, Justin and Shane guided Rena and Brian out of the elevator. Brian was still carrying Rena. They stood in front of the suite’s door while James slid the card in to open it. He then turned around and put his hands on Rena’s waist to try and pull her away from Brian.

Rena felt herself being pulled away and screamed. “NOOOOO…” She grabbed on tighter to Brian. Brian instinctively pulled her back and stepped away, not letting the man take her from him.

She was lost in a past memory. She was thirteen, saying good-bye to Bean as Viv came to take her away. She hugged him tight, and Viv had to literally pull her away from Brian. It was a very traumatic parting, and Rena was reliving it.

Justin, being no stranger to post traumatic syndrome, saw the signs. Rena was lost in a bad memory.

“Stop, don’t touch her!” Justin yelled at the man.

James looked at him, momentarily stunned. The boy had a dangerous look in his eyes as if he would do damage if James dared touch the pair. Such courage from one so young, he thought. James respected that. He backed off, yielding to the boy’s better judgment. It was obvious he had an understanding of the emotions the two were experiencing at the moment.

James opened the door to the suite and gestured for Justin to enter. Justin turned to Shane.

“Shane, is there a couch inside?”

“Yes.”

“Good, we’ll guide them to the couch. They can sit there and hold each other as long as they need. It’s important they not feel threatened. They’ll eventually feel safe enough to let go.”

Shane was impressed as well. She did as he asked. They guided the pair to the couch. Justin gently pushed Brian back until the back of his knees came in contact with the couch. He automatically sat down, bringing Rena down with him onto his lap.

She curled into him and cried. Brian looked up through hazed eyes at Justin and gave him a thankful smile. Justin reached out and rubbed his arm, and smiled back through his tears. He nodded his head as if to say, “It’s ok”, then left the pair on the couch.

Justin looked around at the suite. It was large, extravagant and fully equipped. There was a full kitchen and bar to the right, and to the left a row of doors, which he was sure housed the bedrooms. The wall directly behind Justin hosted a large window that scanned the length of the living room. The view was spectacular.

James and Shane stood behind him, watching him. Justin all of a sudden felt awkward. He didn’t know these people yet he was giving them orders. He blushed at his own brashness.

Shane saw his blush and smiled. God he was adorable, she thought.

James just huffed and went to the bedroom to put Rena’s coat away, leaving Shane and Justin alone in the living room. Well, they might as well have been alone since Brian and Rena were in another place at the moment.

Justin smiled weakly at Shane. “I’m sorry,” was all he could think to say.

“Bullshit, you’re not sorry one bit.” She laughed.

“Come on, let’s get you a drink.” She led Justin over to the bar and opened the refrigerator pulling out two bottles of Corona beer. She flipped the caps off both bottles then handed one to Justin. “Or would you prefer a glass of Jim Beam?” Shane asked.

Justin took the beer. “Rena has Beam?”

“Oh, yeah. There’s not much Rena doesn’t know about Brian’s habits,” Shane said as she took a long pull from her bottle.

Justin lifted the bottle and drank deeply himself. He felt like he had an ally in Shane. It wouldn’t hurt to befriend her since he felt he was going to be on his own for a while. Brian and Rena were going to need some time to get reacquainted.

“You know those two are going to be preoccupied all night?” Justin informed Shane.

“Good, it will give us time to get to know each other better.” Shane winked at Justin and gave him her most sexy smile.

Justin couldn’t help but grin. “You do know I’m gay, right?”

“And that changes, what?” Shane asked. “Do I look like someone you’d have a hard time fucking?” she asked bluntly.

Justin sputtered causing beer to spit from his mouth. Shane laughed and handed him a napkin.

Justin wiped his mouth. “Um, no, but…” Justin tried to answer Shane with out insulting her. Truth was, he saw the way Brian looked at her when they entered the hotel. Shane looked like a very hot young boy. Brian could never resist hot young boys. Justin smiled to himself.

“Look, Blondie, I’ve tricked for more gay and straight men than you can count in that pretty little head of yours. Trust me, you’ll feel like you're fucking the hottest little piece of “boy” ass this side of fag city.” Shane took another sip of her beer.

“Listen, Shane, you are hot, no doubt, and yes, I could fuck you, and by the way, you’d LOVE it,” he added for emphasis, “but I’m with Brian.”

Shane laughed. “You are so full of shit. I saw the way your boyfriend looked at me. He had me nailed beneath him the moment he laid eyes on me. You telling me he fucks around and you don’t?”

Justin was truly astonished at Shane’s audacity. Yet, he couldn’t be angry. She was the most intriguing person he ever met.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Never is.”

James joined them over at the bar. He pulled out the Gin and French Vermouth and proceeded to make himself a martini.

“Leave the boy alone, Shane,” James admonished. He looked over at Justin. “Seems we haven’t had an opportunity for a proper introduction. I’m James, Rena’s personal bodyguard.” He didn’t offer his hand since they were currently busy shaking his drink.

“Hi, I’m Justin.” He wondered why Rena needed a bodyguard.

“Uh huh,” James said, eyeing Justin skeptically. James wondered who this boy was. Was he anyone important to Rena’s brother, or just some trick he picked up? If he was just a trick, then James was going get rid of him. Rena needed this time to reconnect with her brother without some little twink interfering.

“How long do you intend to stay?” he asked Justin as he poured his martini into a glass.

Justin didn’t understand exactly what James was asking, but there was no mistaking the hostility in the man’s tone.

“Back off, James. This one’s Rena’s boy,” Shane said. She couldn’t tell James about the drawing. It wasn’t her place. But she knew Rena would flip if James threw out her “Knight in Shining Armor.” Shane was chomping at the bit to find out what the story was behind this kid.

James gave Shane a sharp look.

“I’ll stay until Brian wants us to leave,” Justin shot back at James, challenging him with his eyes.

James once again saw that same courage spring forth. He smiled at Justin. “You’ll stay until I kick your ass out,” James retorted.

Shane threw her hands up. “You’re fucking impossible, James, you know that? Trust me, you don’t know who you’re fucking with.”

“As if you know who you’re fucking with half the time!” James shot back.

Shane glared at him. “What’s the matter I-Spy? Having a hard time keeping up with my fucks, or just having a hard time not being invited to be one of my fucks?” Shane’s voice raised a notch.

“As if you could “keep me up” for any amount of time!” James yelled back at her.

They were glaring at each other, the hostility between them thick in the air; Justin thought it might come to blows.

“Please, we don’t need to…” Justin tried to calm the situation down.

“Shut the fuck up!” both James and Shane shouted at Justin.

“I suggest you BOTH shut the fuck up and leave my boyfriend alone.” Brian entered the discussion. All three looked over to him. He stood there, daring anyone to say another word to Justin.

Rena stood by his side, clutching his arm, her face puffy and red from crying, yet a look of pride shone in her eyes. “Hey, Guys, I suggest you listen to him. He’s very protective of what’s his.”
 

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