"So, how far is the new place?" I asked as Zane and I loaded the last of the clothing boxes from his apartment into a van. "I know you guys couldn't choose one close to home, but I hope you're not too far away."

Zane, who was about 2 years my senior, shrugged. "It's about forty-five minutes South. I thought we'd have to go further since the FBI are still on the lookout," he explained. "But Cliff said as long as we keep our heads down for a while longer we should be okay."

"You have to promise to come over on Saturdays to play video games," I said only semi-sternly. "It's the only day neither of my parents are home."

"Kevin," my best friend said in mock insult. "Of course I will come over on Saturdays. But only if you provide me with games, food, and a day of fun-filled adventures."

The both of us laughed, knowing no adventure could ever compare to the daring rescue from several months prior when we, along with two criminals, had broken into a mental institution to rescue another criminal that ended up becoming Zane's boyfriend. There were a lot of other details that went into that interesting story, but we tried not to think too much about them as many were more depressing than exciting.

As we reentered the apartment, I grabbed my soda off the coffee table and took a sip. "So, how's your relationship with Cliff?" I asked. "You sounded a little miffed on the phone the other day."

"We sorted that out, no big deal," Zane said. "We're actually really happy. I never thought I'd say this, but Cliff is kinda the best thing that's ever happened to me. There are still moments when I need some space... but we're working on it. And Cliff respects everything I'm still sorting through in my life."

"That's good," I said, and it was good. I was happy for my friend, even if he was living with a murderer. "I'm glad you're not depressed or something like when you were living with me."

Zane rolled his eyes. "I'm so sorry," he said, sipping at his hot tea to avoid looking at me.

I shouldn't have brought that up, I told myself bitterly. Thankfully, the door opened just then and Zane's killer boyfriend walked in, and when I said killer, I meant it. Though he didn't do that sort of thing anymore, Cliff used to kill people. Zane had never explained why, I don't think even he knows, but before Zane and Cliff had settled down together, Cliff had murdered Zane's entire family and kidnapped him. There was a lot more to it than that, and if it wasn't for Zane, maybe Cliff would have gone on to kill even more people, but that was over, Zane was safe, and Cliff didn't kill anymore. At least, not to my knowledge.

Zane smiled at Cliff from the couch, seemingly just as glad for the interruption as I was. "Welcome home," he said.

Cliff smiled and gave him a one armed hug from behind; the other arm was loaded down with bags of groceries. "Thanks. Glad to be home" he said. Next, he waved to me. "Hey, Kevin. Zane said you'd be coming today."

"Yeah," I said. "He dragged me into moving duties."

That made Cliff laugh, still a strange look on him, but less strange now that he had color to his face. "Hope he wasn't annoying. He didn't talk about me too much, did he?" he asked sarcastically.

Zane rolled his eyes and I laughed. "No, he mainly talked about the new house you guys just bought."

At the mention of the house, Cliff suddenly looked very excited and I knew I was going to get another earful of how wonderful their new place would be; I had already heard all about it from Zane. "We got the real deal. It's a one story with big rooms and lots of space," Cliff explained. "It's probably this apartment times three."

"Wow. That's pretty big. When do you think you'll be finished moving?" I asked.

Cliff started putting groceries away in the fridge. "We only started a few days ago, so we're still pretty far from being finished," he said. "But hopefully in the next month or so."

Rushing to help, Zane put a box of Wheaties in the pantry. "I can't wait to be done. It'll be so good to live in a real house again," he said.

Cliff pecked him on the cheek as he passed to put some oatmeal on a shelf. "We can move in as soon as our bed makes it to the house," he promised. Then he paused. "Unless you want to sleep on the floor?"

After a moment's thought, Zane grinned and leaned towards Cliff in a suggestive manner. "Only if you're next to me to keep me warm through the night," he tempted. 

Wow, okay. This was getting real uncomfortable real fast. Suppressing a groan, I coughed awkwardly. "I think I should go. My mom's probably wondering where I am," I said.

Cliff smiled sympathetically. "She'd probably not be happy if you were late," he agreed.

We walked to the door, Zane and Cliff intending to see me off, only to open it and find a young man on the other side. He smiled. "Oh, hello, Kevin."

"Hi, Aaron," I said, shaking his hand. "What are you doing here?"

He chuckled. "I could ask you the same thing."

I shrugged. "Just hanging out with Zane. I was just about to leave though."

The visitor was Cliff's friend, Aaron, one of the criminals that had assisted in Cliff's rescue. As I had heard from Zane, Aaron was a hired assassin. He would receive a job to take someone out, get paid for it, and then carry out his objective. Sometimes he asks Cliff for help with a particularly difficult job, but mostly, he does solo work.

"This is a surprise," Cliff said, ushering his friend inside. "What brings you all the way out here without a phone call?"

Aaron opened his mouth to reply only to be interrupted by knock on the door, indicating yet another visitor. Being closest to the door, I opened it and we were greeted by the sight of a tall, slender man whose demeanor resembled that of a snake when he smirked at us. "Well, the gang's all here," he mocked. "You guys having a party or something? Was I not invited?"

Rowen, a mentor to Cliff when he was younger, had also been present the night our band of misfits saved Cliff's life; however, he was not quite as welcome as Aaron. According to Zane, Rowen had kidnapped and tortured Zane out of jealously when they first met. Thankfully, Cliff had saved Zane and warned the older man off of his ward without much trouble, but I still wasn't sure how welcome Rowen was, even if he had been detrimental in the rescue mission.

I was uncomfortably spurred from my thoughts by an arm looping around my neck. "No hello from the cutie?" Rowen asked. 

From the day I met the man, Rowen had taken every opportunity to tease me in the worst possible ways. Several times had had come just short of actually groping me, making his ulterior motives very clear. Frankly, I was surprised I hadn't become his latest victim. Maybe he had a moral compass, but I doubted it. I think he refrained purely for the fact that Zane would willing commit murder if it he actually tried anything serious.

"Cut it out," I grumbled, trying and failing to duck away.

"Awe, don't be like that," he said. "Don't I even get a kiss?"

My skin crawled at the contact of his skin on mine. "No," I said, finally shoving him away. I turned to Zane. "I should be getting home now."

Remembering that had been our initial intention when walking towards the door, Zane waved. "Be safe on the way home," he told me.

I said goodbye to the group and left the apartment. I was unlocking my bicycle from the bike-rack when a voice behind me said, "I can drive you. I brought my truck, so you can just put your bike in the back."

Snapping my pad lock closed and shoving it in my pocket, I turned to Rowen. "Thank you for the offer," I said, not really thankful at all, "but I'll be just fine on my bike."

As I pulled my bicycle off the curb and swung a leg over the seat, Rowen moved to block my way with a frown. "Honestly, I don't mind," he said, being pushy as always. "Besides, I wanted to talk to you."

There was the catch, there always was one with Rowen. He wanted something. "Talk about what?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes. "That's why I wanted to drive you. So, we could talk alone."

I looked between his car and the street, debating my chances of regretting this. Finally, I sighed and got off my bike. "Fine. But don't be a creep," I warned him.

He helped me get my bike into the back of his truck. I got into the passenger seat and he started the car. We drove for about five minutes in silence before I got fed up with waiting. "Well? Did you want to talk to me or not?" I snapped, hoping I hadn't just committed myself to being kidnapped by Rowen.

Finally, he spoke. "I'm going to a cabin for the summer," he started. "I'll be staying there for a couple of months at least."

"Okay?" I asked, unsure why this was relevant information for me.

"It's newly renovated, so it's not furnished yet, meaning I will have to bring my own. I'm going to I'm going to try to finish packing by next Thursday," he said. He actually seemed hesitant to talk. "Cliff and Zane are going to swing by to help me load up, and I wanted to know if your would join us."

I tilted my head at him, truly baffled as to why he seemed so concerned about formally asking for my help. "You want me to help with the furniture?"

He shrugged, attempting to play off his awkward request. "If you want. You don't have to."

Though he said it was up to me, I wondered if he would try to drag me into helping him one way or another. I wouldn't put it past him. It would be less of a hassle if I did agreed of my own volition. "I guess I can be there," I said.

On command, Rowen's serious attitude dropped and he grinned. "I knew you'd be a champ," Rowen said, reaching over to ruffle my hair. "Thanks."

I avoided his hand with a frown. "Don't make me regret saying yes," I told him. My house was right around the corner, so I pointed to a side street. "Hey, can you stop there? If my mom sees you drop me off, the questions will never end."

He parked the car on the curb and I got out. He helped me get my bike from the truck bed. "So, next Thursday?" I asked as I mounted my bike.

"If it's not too much trouble," he teased.

I nodded and sent him a waved before heading the rest of the way home alone. Something about Rowen's attitude about asking me for help rang caution bells in the back of my head, but I decided it was nothing and brushed it off. Besides, what about Rowen didn't make me cautious?

*******

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