Chapter 28

“Babe, what’s taking so long?” Tom asked. He increased the friction of the towel he was drying his hair with as he walked into the kitchen.

“Timmy?” Tom asked, sounding baffled as he walked back into the living room. “Why didn’t you answer me?”

Tim tried to warn his boyfriend, but it was too late. Brandon jumped up and knifed Tom in the back. Tim cried out, but Tom crumbled to the ground and lay there unmoving.

* * * *

Tom woke up some time later, a fact that Tim became aware of when Tom attempted to speak.

“Timmy?” Tom said. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

Tim’s head shot up. “Tom! Please just talk to me,” Tim said through the tears. He clutched at Tom’s hands through the binds that were tying them together.

“Tim, what’s happening?” Tom asked.

“I don’t know what-” Tim was cut off by Ryan’s thunderous yell to James when he saw both were awake.

“Ryan? Man, what the hell?” Tom asked.

“Shut the fuck up, Tom,” Ryan said and stared him down.