Medallion
Part 3
The loud screeching sound of rubber echoed across Tony’s front lawn as both guards opened fire on the rear tires of the SUV. Still Brian didn’t stop, he continued barreling down the driveway, headed for the mansion. Justin heard the shots, and raced down the long staircase, as Tony stepped out onto the front door landing. Brian braked when he spotted the gun in Tony’s hands, and slowly stepped out of the vehicle with his arms raised. “I’m not leaving without Justin.” he said.
“The fuck if you aren’t!” Tony aimed, and fired.
Brian gasped, and closed his eyes.
“OH MY GOD, TONY NO!” Mary screamed, as Justin made it to the bottom of the staircase, and charged toward the front door.
Strange things flash through a man’s mind during those split seconds, when he knows he’s about to die. Brian’s first, and only thought was of his two babies. Gus would miss him, and Brian would miss watching his son grow. As quiet as it was kept, Brian secretly looked forward to experiencing all of the traditional rites of passage that came with fatherhood. He mourned the loss of Gus’s first day at school, his graduations, and his first date (gay or straight). Who would give Gus his birds&bees talk, and help him with his tie on his wedding day? Brian’s heart rested in the comfort that Lindsey, and Mel would always be there for his son, and that they wouldn’t let Gus forget him.
Justin was another story, this was going to devastate him for sure. Brian wondered who would take care of his baby now that he was gone. As much as he hated to admit it, Tony would have been Brian’s first choice. Tony obviously loved his princess, and Brian had no doubt that the wealthy man would lay the world at his baby’s feet. The question was if Justin would accept him. Even though Brian was certain that Justin loved Tony, he knew that his baby would never forgive him for the shooting. Justin was going to be alone, and grieving. Brian made a vow that somehow he would come back to him. After all if Patrick Swayze could do it for Demi Moore, surely he could do it for Justin.
Brian waited for the pain in his chest. He had read somewhere that it takes a while for the pain to register in the brain, but this was taking awfully long. Suddenly he felt the weight of something pressing against his chest. It didn’t feel painful, in fact it felt quite familiar. Brian opened his eyes, and looked down to find Justin clinging to his body. “Hi baby.” Brian smiled.
Tony flashed a sardonic grin, and once again took aim. “That was your customary warning shot Kinney. This one’s for you!” he hissed.
The guards finally arrived. “We’ve got him Mr. Massey!” They called out as they drew their guns, and positioned themselves on both sides of Brian.
Brian looked over Justin’s shoulder at the guns pointing toward him. “Oh god. Justin, get out of the way baby!” He gasped, and attempted to peel Justin’s arms from around his waist. “Let go baby, please!”
“GET OUT OF THE WAY PRINCESS!” Tony roared his final warning.
“NO!” Justin held on tighter.
Mary, and the guards watched in horror as their wild eyed boss, now blinded with fury repositioned his angle. “Fine, stay right there.” Tony concentrated as he moved his aim away from Brian’s chest, and focused in on his head. Mary closed her eyes. “Sweet Jesus, stop him.” she prayed.
Suddenly Justin began to feel the weight of Brian collapsing onto his shoulders, as miraculously the combination of pressure, missed medications, summer heat, and exhaustion finally caught up with him. Tony and the guards slowly lowered their guns, as Brian crumbled to the ground in an unconscious heap. “Thank you lord.” Mary prayed.
“CALL AN AMBULANCE!” Justin cried out.
“Fuck him, let him die!”
“Tony!” Mary snapped.
“What!”
The two guards rushed over to assist Justin, as Mary went to call for the ambulance. Tony returned to his study, poured himself a double scotch, and took a seat in his big leather chair. “Stupid whore.” he growled.
Brian opened his eyes, and slowly focused in on the white ceiling fan circling above his bed. “Ummm.” he groaned. Where the hell was he? He scanned the spacious, unfamiliar surroundings, white walls, white leather sofa, white carpet, glass tables, with red roses. He must be in a hotel suite, but who’s, Kevin’s? Brian attempted to sit up in bed, but a throbbing pain forced his head back to the pillow. He rolled over onto his side, to find a wall of electronics at the other end of the room, next to a sliding glass door that lead to a balcony. Suddenly Brian remembered the last thing that happened before he blanked out. Tony was going to shoot him. Brian quickly placed his hand to his chest, but there was nothing there. Had it all been just a dream? What about Justin, and Kevin, and the cowboy, was that a dream too? Maybe this was just the hangover morning after a wild night of partying. Maybe it had all been a drunken nightmare, and Justin was at home safe in his bed. Brian watched as the bedroom door began to open. He was expecting to see Kevin, or perhaps last night’s trick, but Tony walked in instead.
“Welcome back.” Tony said.
“Where am I?” Brian asked.
“You’re in Justin’s room.”
“Justin’s room?” Brian held his head, and slowly sat up in the bed. Once again he scanned the opulent surroundings, this time taking a closer look. There were several of Justin’s paintings hanging on the walls, including a nude portrait of Tony sleeping. Brian looked over at the laptop computer that sat on a nearby desk. Sitting next to the laptop were pictures of Tony, and Justin in various dress, including one of them in black tuxedos.
“We had that picture taken at the opening of P.I.F.A’s new gallery.” Tony said. “That one was taken the first time I took him horseback riding, and this one was taken the night we danced all night on my friend’s yacht.” Tony pointed out.
“Where’s Justin?” Brian demanded.
“He’s downstairs talking to the police. He’ll be up in a few minutes. Don’t worry, I won’t be pressing charges against you for breaking down my fence, and fucking up my driveway. However you will be hearing from my insurance company.” Tony assured him.
“Thanks.” Brian said sarcastically. “In that case I won’t press charges against your ass for trying to kill me.”
“Sorry about that, I lost my temper.” Tony said. Brian watched as Tony strolled over to the bedroom bar, and twisted the cap off a bottle of water. He poured the clear liquid over ice, then strolled over to the bed, and offered the drink to his guest. “Take small sips.” Tony ordered. “The paramedics said that you were dehydrated, and exhausted. They gave you a bolus of IV fluids, and said to let you rest.”
Brian looked at the water, then back at Tony. “Did you lace it with poison?” he asked.
“Don’t give me any ideas.” Tony smiled.
As Brian reached for the glass he noticed the gold bracelet on Tony’s wrist. Tony stretched out his arm for Brian’s closer inspection. “That’s a nice piece, don’t you think so?” he asked. “I had it made special for me a couple of years ago when I was in Tuscany. If it looks familiar to you, that’s because Justin wears the matching chain around his neck. I gave it to him for his birthday. It compliments your medallion quite nicely.” Tony said.
Brian’s eyes narrowed as they followed Tony to the oversized, white leather chair near the sofa. Tony took a seat, and leaned back, then abruptly sat up. “What the fuck?” He reached behind him, and pulled out a tee shirt that was stuck between the cushions. Tony smiled. “I can’t get the boy to keep his room tidy.” he said. “So Brian, what do you want to know?”
Brian took a sip of his water. “I want to know everything.” he said calmly.
“I can’t tell you everything.” Tony said. “Some things are only between Justin, and myself. I’m breeching a major trust by offering you anything.”
“What trust is that?” Brian asked.
“Justin never wanted to hurt you. He never wanted you to find out about our relationship.”
“Relationship?”
“That’s right, relationship.” Tony repeated. “Justin came to me a little over eight months ago with an interesting proposition. He said that you wanted an open relationship, so that you could continue to fuck anything that moves. Justin on the other hand wasn’t crazy about the idea of fucking Pittsburgh, so he decided to compromise by choosing only one other man to be his lover, me.”
“Lover?”
“I’m sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself.” Tony said. “Of course we didn’t start out as lovers, I was only suppose to be Justin’s trick-on-the-side. However as time went by, and you kept fucking up, that allowed us more, and more time together. I was soon upgraded from sometime-trick, to part-time lover.”
“Why did he choose you?” Brian asked.
“That was never discussed. Of course my ego would like to tell me that it’s because of my sexual prowess. I know I’m good, and I know Justin loves to fuck me, particularly in this chair.” Tony smiled, and patted the arm rest of his chair. “Still I can’t overlook what a skilled tactician you are. I’m sure a slut like yourself can compete with me in bed. However when it comes to being Justin’s man, I am by far your superior.” Tony said with authority.
Brian laughed. “Where are you getting this false confidence?” he asked sarcastically.
“From Justin, obviously I give him something that he needs, he keeps coming back to me.”
“Pray tell grandpa, what exactly is it that Justin needs?”
“Someone who’s not afraid of commitment, someone who’s there for him instead of cruising the bars, someone who listens to him, and touches him even when they’re not fucking him, someone who’ll protect him, someone who........”
Brian rolled his eyes. “Who do you think you’re bullshitting Tony? You’re no saint, you’re a bigger whore than I ever was. You’ve laid that pipe of yours all over the world. The difference between you, and me is that I’m up front, and honest about what I do. You’re more of an undercover man.” Brian said.
“That’s true.” Tony agreed. “However, unlike you, I know when I’ve had enough. I would give it all up for Justin. Can you say that?”
“No I can’t, and neither can you. You’re not ready to give it all up, you just hate to loose. Your promise of undying love, and fidelity is just another Anthony Massey ploy, a last ditch effort to try to lure Justin away from me.” Brian smirked. “Face it Tony, it doesn’t matter how much money you throw at him, how great your fucks are, or how many promises you make, Justin’s not going to leave me for you. He loves me.”
“He loves me too.”
“Maybe in a fatherly way, but not like he loves me. I’m his boyfriend.” Brian reminded Tony.
“I’m his man.” Tony informed Brian.
“The hell you are! Where’s my goddamn clothes?” Brian barked.
“Hanging in the closet, next to Justin’s tux.” Tony smirked.
“Damn you. JUSTIN!” Brian called for his baby.
“Don’t try to get up.” Tony warned.
“Fuck you! JUSTIN!” Brian bellowed again. He attempted to get out of bed, but a surge of dizziness foiled his efforts. Brian placed his hands over his eyes, and fell back onto the pillow. “Oh shit!”
Tony shook his head. “I told you not to get up.” he said. “Now lay down fool, before your head explodes. The doctor’s on his way to check you out.”
“What fucking doctor?”
“My doctor, the one who took care of Justin after you let him get raped!”
“I didn’t let him get raped!”
“Some fucking boyfriend.” Tony growled. “Where the hell were you when your tricks were raping your baby?”
“I didn’t know he was there!”
“You should have known!”
Justin suddenly opened the door. “Stop it, both of you. I can hear you all the way down the stairs.” he said.
“He started it!” Tony pointed at Brian.
“Fuck you! You tried to kill me!”
“I should have, it’s not too late you know.”
“Stop it!” Justin said again, still trying to keep his voice down. “Tony, go downstairs.”
“What?”
“Go on.” Justin insisted. “I need to talk to Brian.”
Tony begrudgingly walked over to Justin, and placed his arm around his waist. He leaned over, and gave the teen a light kiss on the forehead. “Alright princess.” he grumbled. “Call me if you need me.”
“Why would he need you?”
“Brian!” Justin snapped.
Brian waited until Tony closed the door behind him. “Where’s my clothes? We’re getting the fuck out of here now!” Once again Brian attempted to get out of bed.
Justin walked over, and sat down on the bed next to him. He placed his arms around Brian’s waist, and gently eased him back onto the pillow. The teen cradled his lover in his arms, and wrapped his legs around him. “Are you alright?” Justin whispered.
“No I’m not alright, I’m laying in the bed of the man who fucked my lover, then tried to kill me!”
Justin kissed Brian’s forehead. “Don’t mind Tony, he was only trying to protect me.”
“It’s not his job to protect you, that’s my job!” Brian barked, then quickly remembered why he was there in the first place. He looked at the red marks on his baby’s face, and neck, then at the bruises on his wrists. “Oh my god, baby I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I let them hurt you.” he said.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m alright.” Justin said. “You need to relax now, and wait for the doctor.”
“I don’t have time to relax. I have to go find that son-of-a-bitch Kevin.” Brian growled.
Justin hugged Brian tighter, and gently stroked his hair. “Leave it alone Brian, It’s all over now. Close your eyes, and rest.” he whispered.
“This is all my fault.” Brian whimpered.
“No Brian, it’s not your fault. It’s all my fault.” Justin said. “None of this would have happened if I had been honest with you from the beginning. I should never have agreed to a set of rules that I knew I couldn’t keep. I should have thought more of myself than to accept anything just to keep you. All of that is going to change, I promise.”
Brian looked up at Justin. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“I love you Brian, just as you are, and I believe that you love me as well.” Justin began. “I understand that you’re not ready to settle down, and that you need to have an open relationship. I can live with that as long as we respect each other, and agree to keep each other as number one. There won’t be any more “date nights” for me Brian. From now on you do what you have to do when I’m not around, not in front of my face.”
“I promise.” Brian agreed.
“One more thing.” Justin added. “I’m not giving up Tony.”
“WHAT!” Brian forgot about his headache, and sat up in the bed. He looked at Justin. “NO FUCKING WAY, I’M NOT SHARING YOU WITH HIM!”
“You want an open relationship, and I’m giving you one.” Justin reminded him.
“It’s not open to him!”
“I can’t tell you who to fuck, and you can’t tell me who I can fuck.” Justin said calmly.
“I don’t want you with him!” Brian insisted.
“I don’t want you with everyone else.” Justin fired back.
“It’s not the same Justin. My tricks don’t mean anything to me, you know that.” Brian defended his position.
Justin took a stance of his own. “I don’t like tricking.” he said. “I prefer to be with someone that I care about, someone that I’m comfortable with, who happens to also be a great fuck. I choose Tony as my trick-on-the-side, you can keep the rest of Pittsburgh.”
“No!” Brian said firmly. “I know what you’re trying to do Justin, and it’s not going to work. You’re not going to coerce me into a relationship that I don’t want. We’re not lesbians, we’re gay men, we weren’t meant to be with just one person. I can’t believe you’re buying that lesbian love story bullshit that Massey is selling? Fine, go to him if that’s what you want.”
Justin climbed out of bed, and walked over to the door. He turned, and looked at Brian before turning the doorknob. “It’s not bullshit.” he said. “I never wanted to be with anyone else Brian. I was perfectly content just loving you. You’re the one who decided that I wasn’t good enough, that you needed to turn me into your version of the best homosexual that you thought I should be. That meant turning me into a mini version of you.” Justin closed his eyes, and sighed. “God knows I tried to be the kind of boy that you wanted me to be. I told myself that love, and monogamy was only for lesbians, I even had myself fooled for a while, but I could never fool Tony. He saw right through my false bravado, and let me know that I was ok. He let me know that gay men weren’t all the same, that there was nothing wrong with caring about the person that you’re fucking. I’ll always love him for that Brian, I’ll always love Tony for teaching me to love myself.”
Justin turned back toward the door, and once again placed his hand on the doorknob. “I do love you Brian.” he whimpered. “I always have, and I always will, but I’m not going to let you hurt me anymore. Goodbye Brian.”
Brian watched as Justin began to leave. Like so many times before, he waited for the teen to concede, and give in to his wishes, but this time Justin wasn’t backing down. For the first time Brian actually felt threatened. He knew that his replacement was only a flight of stairs away. There was no time to argue his point, no time to be macho. “Justin wait. I...I love you.” Brian stammered. “I know I’m not good at it, but I do love you. Please don’t leave me baby.” Brian’s voice trembled.
Justin returned to the bed, and embraced his lover.