(Joshua's POV - Fri. 16 May 2014)

"What's wrong, Josh? You sound... nervous..." Aaron then says, much more seriously.

"We have a problem here... Liam has disappeared..." I breathe out, trying to control the panic in my voice and closing my eyes, but only disastrous and horrifying images form in the darkness of my mind. An horrible and suffocating feeling seizes me at the thought of losing the love of my life. Not now. Not when he has only just unveiled the lover in me. Not now. Not ever.

"What do you mean? What have you done? Has he run away again??" Aaron exclaims.

"I haven't done anything, Ron! He has just disappeared..." I defend myself before I briefly explain the situation to him. "And his mobile has just been found in the alley, so this is not even helpful to locate him!" I add, and at the exact same time, just like an epiphany, my brain seems to start working again and memories of Wednesday evening rush back into my head... that moment when I slipped the collar around his neck and locked it, cautiously brushing my thumb over the tiny tracking cheap welded between two links.

"You stupid asshole! Have you tried his collar??" Aaron asks. Holy shit!!! I slap my forehead in annoyance to myself. My friends made fun of me when I told them that I had a GPS device welded to the collar. I never thought it could turn so useful so quickly but I can only blame myself for not thinking about it sooner. Not even Tony knew about it. How stupid of me! If something happens to Liam or if we are too late, I will never forgive myself.

"Fuck! I only just remembered that!!" I scream, catching Tony's attention.

"Call me back as soon as you know where he is!" Aaron shouts.

"I'll call you back in a few minutes..." I reply but the line has already gone dead.

"What was that?" Tony asks, looking over my shoulder as I open the application that I am supposed to use to locate the collar.

"There's a tracking device on Liam's c... necklace..." I explain.

"And you couldn't say it before??" Tony growls.

"I've only just remembered Tony, and I don't need your lecturing right now..." I bitterly reply as a map displays with a flashing spot. "He's there!" I then say, showing the screen to Tony, who snatches my phone from my hands and slides his fingers over the screen to get a better view of the location.

"That's the Ashburn district... what the hell is he doing there? There are mostly warehouses in this area..." Tony mutters.

"We have a worksite in this area too," Allan comments thoughtfully.

"Mr. Jacobson...?" one of Tony's guys calls him out hesitantly from his workspace. "I'm sorry but I heard what you just said and this might interest you... I am still working on the list of mobile phone numbers you gave me and checking their positions and there's one that is in the same area..."

"Who's that?" I ask.

"This is Dominic Parson's mobile number, Sir," the young man replies confidently. At the mention of this name, I can feel my blood coursing through my veins at high speed. Tony, Allan and I bend over the guy to have a better look at his screen and as we compare this map with the one on my Iphone, we realize that it's exactly the same location.

"Let's go, Josh... David, thanks, I'll call you in a minute to give you more instructions, but finish checking the list. There might be more people there. Stan and Joachim, you're coming with us!" he then calls to two other men.

We all head to the elevator and rush in. Once in the underground parking, Tony, Allan and I get into a car while the two other guys take another. Tony plugs his own phone at the same time as he bursts out of the parking lot, pulling into the rather light traffic, while dialing into his phone.

"David, have you found other numbers around there?"

"Not yet, Sir..."

"Keep searching. Try for that guy we caught on the video system too. Kenny something... Please also call Jeff and tell him to meet us at the address where we spotted Liam Reed. Thanks," he says before he cuts the call. The clockwork of my brain is steaming at full speed by then and I can only think about Liam and what Dominic and that Kenny could be doing to him. For fuck's sake, the collar only says where it is situated but it doesn't tell me if Liam is still alive. And we are still at least half an hour from the location... If we are too late, I'll never forgive myself...

"Josh... Josh!!" Allan calls me from the back of the car. "Weren't you supposed to call back Aaron?"

"Yeah... you're right..." I reply absent-mindedly and pull out my phone to call my friend and update him on the situation.

"It's only five minutes from the club... I'll go and check!" Aaron exclaims, as I hear some shuffling in the background.

"Don't go there Aaron, we don't know what the situation is..." I warn him. I don't want him to take risks but I don't want his presence to precipitate things before we get there.

"Cam is with me, I won't be alone..." he argues.

"Tell him to wait for us," Tony groans, understanding Aaron's intentions.

"Yeah, yeah, tell grandpa I heard him... we will wait..." Aaron sarcastically comments before he hangs up just as Tony's phone rings again.

"Yes David?"

"Jeff is already on his way. I have spotted two more persons there. Kenny Olson and Devon Howler..."

Devon Howler. Somehow, I am not that surprised. After all, Derek was the one who introduced him as his friend and insisted that we hire him. Even if I don't understand what Liam has to do with all this shit, pieces are starting to fall into place and I wonder how many people are involved in the situation. So many questions are still missing their answers. My phone goes off again and when I see Ally's name displaying on the screen, I curse because she must be looking for me.

"Where the hell are you? Is that a car I hear in the background?" she squeals as soon when I pick up the call.

"Yes, I'm in a car. Cancel all my afternoon schedule please..."

"What? But I have Mr. Myers waiting for you in the meeting room!!" she whisper-yells into the phone. Fuck! I had forgotten about that.

"I can't see him now, Ally. I have a more important issue on my hands at the moment."

"Joshua, I have a copy of the report and believe me, you're not going to like it at all..." Ally continues, ignoring what I just said. "Jones is clearly convicted of embezzlement, as is his supposedly friend Devon Howler; Dominic as well. Tony will need to investigate, but it seems like a few more persons are involved," she quickly adds.

"I already know that, Ally, but we have a more serious problem right now... Liam has disappeared and I think he's in trouble," I am finally able to tell her, and I give her a brief summary of the situation. "Please call the police and send them to the address you will get from... David, one of Tony's guys."

"Oh my God... that's awful..."

"I know that too, Ally. Please just do what I said. Tony will have another of his guys to look after Derek then if his implication is now confirmed."

"Josh... Get Liam back... Good luck..." she whispers before she hangs up.

With a sigh, I lean back into my seat. Tony must have blown the speed limits because we are soon almost there. My body doesn't relax and it tenses even further as we drive along West 87th Street and get closer to South Kedzie Avenue. Tony has called back David to ask him to send a guy to see how things are going on the 17th floor and to make sure that Derek doesn't slip away from us before the police arrive. The closer we get there, the more frightened I am about what we are going to face. Why did Liam follow these guys and what happened in that alley? Did he follow them from there or did they take him to the Ashburn District? If they did, what are they doing to him? What if we are too late? What if they have already killed him? I know I shouldn't be thinking things like that, but I just can't help it and I am scared shitless to lose the love of my life.

We finally reach our destination and stop a little further away from the address where the GPS device has been located. This seems to be an abandoned warehouse. Cam and Aaron are waiting for us nearby and Jeff arrives at the same time as we do. I am ready to launch myself at the entrance but Tony holds me back and immediately gives his orders to everyone.

"We are not the Police and I'd rather we avoid using our guns. I doubt that they have any on their side, so use yours only if they threaten you. Joachim and Stan, you take the back of the building. Jeff and I will take the front door. Joshua, you stay here with Allan, Aaron and Camden," Tony instructs as the first guys start running for the back of the long building.

"Like hell I'm staying here..." I grumble and already head for the front door.

"Joshua! Stop!" Tony shouts, pushing me behind him. He pauses to listen at the door and that's when we hear some shouting coming from inside the warehouse.

"Let's go in!" I grunt, trying to push the metal door open. There must be something blocking or maybe it is just too old and stiff, and it takes both Tony's and my shoulder to shove it. When I finally get in, I immediately catch sight of someone tumbling down the stairs to our far left, rolling down until he reaches the ground. My heart nearly jumps out of my chest when I realize that this is Liam, screaming in pain. It all goes very quickly but then I see two angry and shouting men coming down the same staircase after him, that I recognize as Devon and that Kenny guy; when they see us rushing toward Liam, they turn around and back up, but Jeff and Tony launch themselves after them right away just as I fall to my knees beside a whimpering Liam, soon joined by Cam.

"Liam... Baby... I'm here..." I whisper, not knowing where he hurts, how bad he is injured or how I could grab him into my arms.

"Aaron, call an ambulance!" Cam shouts at our friend who is standing behind me. "Josh, don't move him. Let me have a look first..." Cam removes my hands from Liam and begins to unknot the rope that is tied around his wrists. Bile rises in my throat when I take in his state; his bloody and injured hands; a large bruise forming on his left cheek; scratches and more blood on the right one; my poor boy is whining in pain "Liam..." Cam calls him, lightly tapping his right jaw. "Can you hear me, boy?" Liam only moans a little more in answer and Cam begins to palm his neck and then his head, before he uncurls him on the floor, making him lie flat and using his jacket as a pillow. "Liam, can you move your feet?" There is a slight movement of his shoes, and then of his hands when Cam asks him to move them.

"J... Josh..." Liam whines as Camden continues to check his body. Some growling and shouting echo from a distance inside the building but I don't really pay attention at what is happening. I trust Tony and his guys to take care of the situation for now.

"I'm here, Baby... Tell us where you hurt..."

"...'vry wher'..." he manages through his painful panting.

"I don't think he's got any broken bones... maybe a rib or two... but he'll get some bruises..." Cam says reassuringly. "He will need some X-rays to check his head though; I'm a bit concerned about a potential concussion..."

"The ambulance will be here within five or ten minutes," Aaron confirms.

Just then, Tony and his guys come back from a corridor, encircling three men and pushing them to a corner a little away from us. They all bear some bruising marks on their face and I wonder if this is Liam's doing as he tried to escape them but then I see Jeff and Joachim shaking their hands and I understand that catching them must have been sporting. I actually wish I could punch them myself but as Tony informs me that he has called the police and that they are on their way, I bring back my attention to Liam. That's when I realize that his shirt has been ripped open, his belt unbuckled and the first two buttons of his jeans undone. A wave of nausea seizes me as various disgusting scenarios pop in my head and my shaking hands try to zip up his hoodie.

"Liam, Baby... what did they do to you??" I whisper-growl in his ear, feeling my heart speed up by the second. When I lean up a little, I see tears filling up his eyes and my body starts shaking. Whoever did this is about to die...

"They... tried... Devon... tried..." he sobs but cannot finish his sentence.

Without even thinking twice about further consequences, I hurl up on my feet and launch myself at the ugly Devon, catching the lapels of his jacket and start punching him ferociously and I don't give a fuck that he can't protect himself due to his hands tied in his back. However, I don't get to punch more than two or three times before two sets of strong hands pull me back and shove me against a wall much further away from the three disgusting men. My body is trembling with hate and anger and I am cussing all sorts of incoherent insults and threats.

"Josh, calm down..." Aaron growls as he tries to hold me back.

"Like hell I'm gonna calm down! Let me go and beat those bastards down!"

"Joshua! You can't do that! The police will deal with them! You just can't do that!" Tony adds in a whisper.

"Yes I can! They fucking tried to rape him!! I swear I'm gonna kill them!" I growl, struggling in their hold and only seeking revenge but Tony suddenly grips the collar and pins me against the wall. His military past and constant work-out have left him in good shape, and I don't stand a chance against his strength.

"No you can't! We are not doing a repeat of twelve years ago..." Tony seethes in my ear, bringing even more wrath within me and making Aaron tense. "Let the police take care of them... They will pay for that!"

"Have you seen what they've done to him?" I rage. "They deserve to..."

"Tony is right, Josh... We can't do that... Calm down, Bro... And it wouldn't help Liam at all!" Aaron concurs with a quavering voice.

"Josh, stop fooling and get your ass here! Liam's claiming you!" Camden calls out to me and all thoughts of revenge vanish at the back of my mind; at least for now. How could I leave his side, even if for only a minute? My boy needs me much more than my thirst to kill these guys! Feeling my muscles relax, Tony and Aaron let go of me, still careful that I won't return to the three bastards, and I hurry to kneel by Liam, my hands hesitatingly hovering over his body because I don't even know where I can touch him without hurting him more.

"Sorry, Baby... I'm here now," I whisper with a strangled voice, seeing how his face is contorting with pain.

"Tired..." he seems to say as a bit of blood licks from the corner of his mouth.

"You can't sleep, Baby... the ambulance will be here soon," I try to reassure him, gently brushing my thumb over his eyebrow, where his skin is still intact.

"Try to stay awake, Liam," Camden orders.

"Head... hurts... t'much..." he tries to speak and his eyes squeeze shut.

"Liam!!" I call out, finally hearing the siren of the ambulance joining that of a police car in the distance. I gently slip an arm beneath his shoulders and softly shake him. "Liam!! Stay awake! You can't let yourself go..." I order him but he has no reaction and even if I guess that he may have just fallen asleep, I feel a slight panic rising within me as some rummaging takes place in my back. Looking briefly over my shoulder, I see that Tony's guys are trying to contain Devon, Dominic and Kenny who have also heard the Police sirens and register what they are in for, while Aaron and Allan are struggling with the old door to open it fully for the ER people. "Liam, wake up... the ambulance has arrived... come on, Baby..."

"Don't shake him..." Camden scolds me, and a few seconds later, we are surrounded by three men who kneel beside us with a stretcher and pull out some medical material. While Cam gives them details on what happened and on the first check-up he did, I keep hold on my boy who no longer reacts. I just can't let go of him.

"Josh... let them do their work..." Aaron says in my back, trying to pull me away but I resist. "Josh, you can't help, so move back!"

I know that he is right so I reluctantly let go of my sweet blond head and rise to my feet just as some policemen reach us, accompanied by Tony. I watch the doctors take care of Liam and lay him on the stretcher while Tony and Allan explain the situation to the officers. After a few minutes, Tony suggests that he and Allan go themselves with the policemen to the station; at the same time, they are going to deal with Derek's case, for which I am grateful because I am not leaving Liam's side. The policemen accept and just remind me that they will need to talk to Liam later to hear his version of what happened. I can't wait for that too because I still don't know what he had to do in this mess and I would really like to understand how he managed to get himself into such trouble.

After a few minutes and once Liam has been given the first care, we all head out of the building, following the stretcher. Kenny, Dominic and Devon and shoved into different police cars and Tony and Allan follow them. Jeff, Joachim and Stan head back to the office to take things over there. And I get into the ambulance truck while Aaron and Cam follow us to the hospital after the doctors have told them that they are taking Liam to the Holy Cross Hospital on West 68th Street.

The ride to the hospital lasts for less than ten minutes but once there, I am forbidden to follow Liam any further and I am shown into a waiting, soon joined by Aaron and Camden. I guess that I probably won't hear back from a doctor for some time but even if I know that Liam is within good hands now, I can't help worrying, pacing back and forth on the tiled floor. The door reopens maybe half an hour later and... Mark barges in, rushing to hug me.

"Sorry I couldn't be here any sooner, Bro..." he says, patting my back before he pulls away. "How is he doing? Do you have any news?"

"No, nothing new..." I reply with a sigh.

"How the hell did he get into this?" Mark asks.

"I have no clue..." I groan. "But believe me that I will find out... We had that investigation going on at work and I never told him about it... I don't understand how he could find himself in the middle of this shit..."

The next two hours are like living in hell. Despite my numerous visits to the nurses' office, I don't get any news about Liam and it is starting to drive me nuts. I suggest to the guys to go back to their own occupations and that I will keep them informed but they refuse to leave; Cam didn't have any appointments at all this afternoon and Mark and Aaron affirm that their businesses can run without them. Sometime later, Tony arrives with a worried expression, but unfortunately I have no reassuring news about Liam. On his side, he informs us that the four men have been put under arrest and that the Police are taking over the investigation. Tony has updated Ally and she said that I must call her as soon as I know more about Liam. Time seems to stretch on and on as the five of us remain silently seated on our chairs.

"Mr. Reed's family?" someone suddenly calls and my head immediately lifts toward a petite woman doctor, who seems to be in her middle thirties. Five large men suddenly rise to their feet and dawn on her; I guess we must have looked impressive to her because she takes a step back.

"I'm Joshua Pierce, his boyfriend. How is he doing?" My voice tries to be gentle but it clearly holds a tone of worry.

"I am Doctor Stark. Mr. Reed is out of danger and has been settled down in a bedroom now. Please follow me," she says solemnly before she spins around and heads toward a large corridor that leads to individual bedrooms. We eagerly tag along until she stops in front of a door. "Three visitors are allowed at a time; two of you will need to wait outside. There's a waiting area further down the corridor if you'd like," she explains, looking with voracious eyes at Aaron. Poor girl, someone should tell her that she is wasting her time here... Mark and Camden decide to go and wait over there while Tony and Aaron follow me inside the room.

I can't help the painful pang in my heart and a grunt when I see my sweet boy lying on the bed, even if he looks much more relaxed and less strained than earlier. Some plastic tubes are delivering oxygen to his nostrils and fluids are passing through other tubes and into the veins of his right arm. They have cleaned his face but his right cheek bears bloody scratches and large bruises have formed on the left one. Some bandages have been wrapped around his hands and wrists, hiding their injuries.

"We have sedated him and he probably won't wake up until tomorrow," the doctor says softly as I reach for his left hand and gently take it in mine. "He has a light concussion that will reduce by itself. He might suffer from headaches for a few days but we will give him analgesics. All the scratches are superficial and will heal up with time. As will the bruises on his body," she explains. He has been dressed in one of those hospital gowns, way too large for him, but I can distinguish some bruises on his arms and there are probably some more all over his body.

"Did he break any bones?" I ask in a small voice, my eyes never leaving his sleeping form.

"No, it could have been much worse and he was lucky enough that he didn't break any bones in his fall. However he has two cracked ribs covered by deeper bruises..." the doctor continues. My body tenses. I saw him fall in the staircase and this is not where he hurt his ribs; his hands tied at the front protected his chest each time he bumped on a step. I swear to myself that those bastards will be charged for every single thing they did to him. My stress doesn't get any better with Tony's next question.

"He was held by a bunch of men and before he passed out, he said that they'd tried to..."

"We checked him and he hasn't been raped, Sir..." the doctor replies reassuringly.

"Are you sure?" I enquire.

"Yes, he would have been bleeding otherwise."

I don't feel much of a relief because Liam said they tried to and the fact that they didn't succeed doesn't soothe any of my hate and anger. The doctor then says that she will visit him tomorrow morning and that only I am allowed to spend the night here, before she goes back to her other patients. My eyes haven't left Liam and I suddenly feel a firm hand squeezing my shoulder just as I see Tony walking to Liam's other side.

"He'll be okay, Josh..." Aaron whispers.

"He'd better... Fuck... If only we'd been there earlier... I thought I was going to lose him..." I say, my voice breaking as some tears escape my eyes.

"You were right on time and this is all that counts, Joshua," Tony comments.

"That GPS beacon is actually a great idea..." Aaron then admits. "I'm not sure that all the collared Subs would like it, but that's definitely a great idea... I'll go and update the guys, okay?" he then adds, hugging me from behind.

"I also need to go and call Liz and Ally," Tony says and I just nod in answer.

Once I am left alone with Liam, I allow myself to fully break down. I can't believe that a simple embezzlement could turn into such tragic events and it could have been worse. I don't know yet what their intentions were exactly but I doubt that they were going to release him. I thank myself for being so overprotective and having had that GPS tracker welded to the collar, but I wish I had remembered it earlier. It was still not enough though since they still managed to abduct him and that will probably increase my sense of overprotection. However frustrating Liam may find it, he will get it. He will learn not to take risks anymore. I cautiously bend over until my lips reach his and kiss him softly.

"You'd better wake up soon, Baby... I love you... I love you so much..." I murmur against his lips before more tears run out of my eyes, rolling along my cheekbones and onto Liam's face. He can be sure that after this, he will be under close surveillance.

Published on 11 Dec 2016

Sorry for the late update! But it's finally there! Next chapter is a pretty short one, so it should come up on time :)