Infinity Chapter 72 - Crash

[itztigress3]

Chapter 72 – Crash
POV: Zac / Emily
Word count: 6403


Monday; March 24, 2014

  I had been up super early with Alexander; he’d woken up at 5 and just wouldn’t lay back down. So, I’d fixed breakfast and we were sitting in the living room playing by 7. I had pulled away after Thursday, Ian reminded me that she didn’t love me that she would do anything to keep her cozy little life and that I needed to ask for the divorce and custody of Alexander. He made it sound very nice that he and I could be together and raise Alexander. He kept telling me how much he loves me, how special I was to him, how he wanted to just be with me.

The problem came from Thursday. Ian had gotten off every time I went to him, yet he didn’t return the favor. Emily hadn’t asked and I was pretty sure if I had walked away she wouldn’t have pushed for anything. The oral sex had lead to me wanting a lot more and I honestly couldn’t say I felt the same way with Ian that I did with her. Casey had been certain that while I enjoyed sex with him I was clearly straight because I enjoyed it with her more, I certainly enjoyed Thursday afternoon.

Ian kept telling me that Emily didn’t love me because she was never there, or didn’t do things for me, or didn’t seem to care. She’d been patient the last few weeks, doing whatever she could to make things easier on me. She didn’t like that I had to wait on her that week, she didn’t feel it was right. She had hung both paintings up before we left to get him Friday, right where she could see them every day. The butterfly painting was here in the living room, proudly displayed because she loved them. Ian didn’t seem to appreciate the ones he owned. Over the past seven years there had been so many special things she did, from singing when I needed it, the hair smoothing, calming me down, the special times at the apartment when we first got together and then the times she arranged things alone or with Casey.

I was so confused all weekend analyzing everything she’d done the last year, he claimed her actions were because she didn’t love me, but reality was she didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t fault her for pulling away because she thought I was seeing someone else and when she had found the truth out she had been very supportive and wanted protection for not just her, but me. After Ian had broken in at the hotel she’d held me and comforted me, even carried a gun for weeks. In addition, Emily had never hurt me like he had.

Alexander brought me a toy and we played for a while, she got up about eight and fixed herself breakfast and settled down, but I could tell she wasn’t real happy right now, after Thursday I’d pulled away. Truthfully, I didn’t think I could ask her for a divorce because I did not know who I wanted to be with. I needed answers from Ian, but I’d tried to send him messages all weekend and I’d been ignored completely. He was reading them, he just wasn’t replying.

I felt like I should do something maybe if I went to him and proved it to him! I got up about ten and put my shoes on.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Zac…”

“Emily just don’t, you’ll be fine here by yourself I am sure.”

She just looked at me confused. “I just want to know where you are in case something happens.”

“I have my phone you can call. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

I know she wanted to argue with that but I didn’t give her time to, I grabbed my wallet and keys and left. He would understand I was weak and I’d take whatever punishment he deemed fit. I just needed to know. I needed to have him tell me he loved me and I needed something. The gate opened for me, no problem even though it was not a sanctioned time for me to be here, but he had said the gate used facial recognition so who knows. I parked behind his car and got out; I went to get my phone and realized I’d left it at home. Shit! Well, if she did call she should hear it ringing because it was on the table. I walked to the door and went inside, the door wasn’t even locked. The living room was empty.

“Ian?” I asked.
His car was here, so he was here too. I closed the door behind me and checked the kitchen, finding it was
empty but there was a table setting for two with candles that were burnt down pretty low, indicating two people had been here and it was a romantic setting. But, Ian told me I was his only one. Maybe one of his helpers used the house.

“Ian? Are you here?” I asked.

I walked down to the bathroom, empty but then I heard sounds down the hallway so I turned and walked down to the master bedroom. I’d just shock him and wake him up, please him like he wants.

I pushed the door open. “Ian I…”

I trailed off because he was here with Glen and they were having sex. Glen was in top and based on his facial expressions he was enjoying the sex, I never had. I couldn’t move from the spot, everything he’d told me just crashed to the ground. Neither of them even seemed to notice and I heard him tell Glen he was special and that he loved him and that was moments before he realized I was standing at the door.
He moved quickly then and Glen looked confused and then irritated when he saw me.

“What are you doing here Zachary, you know the rules.”

“I…you…I don’t…”

“Calm down Zachary.” He cooed.

He went to touch me and I pushed him away. “No. Don’t touch me.”

“Baby, it’s ok. Come here.”

Glen was just sitting on the bed as if he didn’t care or didn’t understand something. I backed away from the door. He’d said I was special and he loved me, said Emily didn’t because she condone sex with Casey when we were all there. I didn’t know what to do, where to go, everything just seemed to crash at once and I didn’t want to be here anymore. So, I ran. Ian caught me in the living room, turned me to him.

“Calm down, let me explain. His boyfriend left him Zac, he just needed comfort.”

I saw him with Glen a lot…

Robert had said that Glen was around a lot that he knew of him and thought of him as a boyfriend. Glen wasn’t dating anyone, he’d come to dinner Thursday alone. He was rubbing my arms and I hated it, the smell of grass and the way he was touching me. I moved his hands off me and that seem to anger him!

“Zachary Walker! You will do what you’re told here. Now sit down.”

I stood there a moment, saw Glen walking up the hallway and he was naked still. I started to do what he said, to sit down in the chair.

“You could always let me have him for the day. I’m sure he’d be ok with it.” Glen said.

Ian turned to look at him and I saw the nod and since he wasn’t looking at me I stepped back and then ran like hell. I made it to the car before he caught up again, cussing at me for running. Being shoved against the outside of my truck didn’t feel good; the very hard pop to my thigh didn’t feel good. But I could still see Glen smiling at the door; Ian was willing to let Glen have me. I heard the sound of something hitting the glass and moved my head, my hand was against the glass and there on my finger was my wedding band. Impulse caused me to bring my arm down hard, I was sure I connected as I felt when I got him and heard the grunt. I turned and shoved him away and then got in the truck, I locked the doors and didn’t care that he was hitting the window; I put it in reverse and backed out. I didn’t expect the gate to open but it did and I didn’t even pause I just drove out.

I started to go home but I wasn’t sure what good that would do me. I felt very alone and hurt and I wanted something but I didn’t know what. I was so lost that I just drove until I couldn’t anymore and where I ended up was the same area where Ian had taken me and Casey; there was no snow now, no pristine cleanness. I looked at the lake and there was a part of me that wanted to drive the truck off into the lake, what stopped me was the picture of Emily and Alexander on the sun visor.

All I could do was cry because I had no idea what else to do.

-Emily-

I had no idea where the hell he was going but I couldn’t follow him because I had Alexander. I fixed us lunch and when I sent Zac a message to see if he wanted me to fix him something I heard his phone ring in the dining room. I found his phone laying on the table, perfect I could call if I needed him but I had his phone. I went ahead and fixed him something anyway, worst case scenario he could have it for dinner. Alexander ate well and played and eventually he fell asleep laying on the love seat about 12:30. I got up to clean the kitchen and heard Broken Angel playing, curious I picked up his phone and seen a message from Abraham Jones. I didn’t know that name so I opened it.

Zachary Walker Hanson! Bring your ass back here right now!!

I blinked, who the hell was this person? That wasn’t even a question or a statement that was a demand. I really shouldn’t go through the other messages but I did and the farther back I went the more it just hurt. The one that hurt the most was the one asking him if he’d asked for the divorce and custody of our son
yet. I felt the tightness in my chest but I laid the phone down and counted to a hundred. I could not pass out here with just me and Alexander. But I could feel something was different, I started to call Casey, but remembering how Zac had acted I called Christopher instead.

“Hey Sis, what’s up?”

I was feeling very strange, almost like I was going to faint but not quite there.

“Where are you?”

“I’m at work, Emily what is wrong?”

I got a sudden dizzy spell and gripped the counter hard to keep myself standing.

“I need…fuck…I need…”

Shit I felt it that deep pain and I couldn’t catch my breath and I couldn’t get the words to form.

“Emily! Talk to me right now.”

“Alexander…I…”

I couldn’t fucking breathe and I heard Zac’s phone ringing on the counter, it was broken angel. I could hear Christopher yelling my name, telling me to answer him but I couldn’t. Sheer panic took over. I just sat down in the floor so if I did faint, I wouldn’t fall. I laid my head against the counter and tried to breathe. I didn’t think I passed out but it was Isaac voice calling my name and putting a cold rag over my forehead. I was actually laying in the floor now.

“Emily, can you hear me? Where are you?”

It took me several moments to realize where I was. “I’m home.”

“Look at me, deep breaths.”

He guided me in inhaling and exhaling slowly. He helped me sit up and then he was putting a blood pressure cuff on my arm.

“Where did you…”

“I have one at home, blood clot remember? I sometimes check mine just to make sure.”

It was electronic and showed that my blood pressure was elevated but not high. He kept wiping my face off and he wouldn’t let me get up.

“Why are you here?”

“Christopher called me freaking out; he was working on location so he’s an hour away. Taylor is at the studio and I was at home. He said you called him and you just didn’t sound right, where is Zac?”
“I don’t know he left at ten.”

“He left? Like he just up and left?”

“He didn’t tell me where he was going and I didn’t argue with him. He said he had his phone but I texted him around 11:30 and his phone is here at the house.”

“I’ll make some calls; maybe he went to a family member. Just sit here for a minute; Zander is also on his way.”

He started calling cousins, aunts, uncles, their siblings, and their parents to see if he was with any of them or if he had been. Zander arrived while he was talking to his parents and he didn’t look pleased to see me sitting in the floor. He took my blood pressure and checked my heart rate and breathing and even did glucose test on me as well.

“What happen?”

I explained that I found messages on his phone and that I’d laid it down to keep myself from getting upset, I didn’t know what happen.

“You had a panic attack, not as bad as being upset but still not good.”

He helped me get up and moved me to the couch and had me lay down, he started calling my brothers and they were calling friends, Isaac called Casey to see if he had had from him at all. I wasn’t too worried, he’d said a few hours and he was usually back in that time frame so he should be home by 2 at the latest.
Christopher showed up at 1:45, Aaron right behind him and Taylor arrived at 2:15 with Casey. Zander didn’t allow me to sit up until 2:30. I got Zac’s phone and went back through the messages, carefully reading each one.

“Fuck…” I mumbled.

“What?” Aaron asked.
“It’s Ian.”

“What’s Ian?” Taylor asked.

“Abraham Jones, I didn’t recognize the name or number and I just thought it was someone new from Fool’s. The message told him to get his ass back there. It’s Ian; he knew I wouldn’t allow Zac to talk to him under his name.”

“Are you saying Ian’s been talking to him since he came home?” Isaac asked.

“Not just talking to him Ike, it’s where he went. The last several messages from Zac were asking Ian if he was mad, apologizing to him.”

“Why the hell would Zac want to see him after everything he done?” Taylor asked.

“That’s what I would like to know as well, Ian hurt him and made threats, why would he ever want to be around him on his own?” Isaac asked.

“May I see the messages Emily?” Zander asked.

I handed the phone to him and he read through the messages and then he looked at me.

“Some of the phrases remind me of BDSM, the reward for being good, punishment for being bad. Given what I know of the messages before he was attacked, you said he pinched Alexander as punishment?”

“Yeah, he wanted Zac to send him crotch shot photos, uh without clothes. Zac refused. Apparently LA was about that. Robert mentioned to me a few weeks ago that Ian was interested or involved in that.”

He looked to Aaron who looked quite uncertain about the topic and I glanced between them for several minutes before things kind of fell into place in my own head. I’d seen Aaron respond to something Zander had told him to do, often time without arguing even if he wouldn’t for anyone else. Likewise, Zander seemed knowledgeable in the area if he can simply read messages and know.

“Fuck..is this going to be one of those conversations like when we found out about Casey and Zac?” Christopher asked.

“Yeah, if you’d rather not know you might want to step out.” Aaron said.

Isaac and Taylor remained in their seats as did Christopher.

“Are you guys sure?” I asked.

“If what he’s about to say could potentially help us understand what is going on with our little brother, then yeah my ass is sitting right here. Just ignore the color of my face unless I faint.” Taylor said.

“Agreed.” Isaac said.

“Aaron are you ok with this?” Zander asked.

“I believe they don’t need details but if you can explain to them what’s going on then use what you feel is required.”

He looked at everyone here before he settled on me.

“What exactly did Robert tell you?”

“Not much just that Ian was into BDSM and sexual stuff. He didn’t elaborate and I’m not sure he really knew the details. He didn’t know much about him at all.”

“I’m sure everyone here knows what it stands for and perhaps maybe dabbled in light stuff, handcuff to the bed or something low key that really was just fun. There are men and women that are more heavily into the community.”

“You’re talking like 50 Shades of Grey?” Taylor asked.

“Well, that’s a good example and yes like that but I won’t debate that book, a real dominate person would only want to please the submissive and the person that is submitting would consent to what is being done to them.”

“I consent to what Zander and I do. It’s what I want and we have an agreement and we have limits and things are clear between us. He doesn’t do anything that I don’t agree too.” Aaron said.

“Ian’s not like that.” I said.

“No, he’s not. Ian uses the concept of BDSM to make people do what he wants. I would never hurt Aaron like he did Zac, nor would punishments involve family members or other people.”

“So, what did Ian do?” Isaac asked.

“Well, the first thing he did was isolate Zac; he kept it from you all that he was getting these messages, e-mails, and calls. Ian knew that because at one point he used telling Emily about it as a way to get Zac to cooperate with him. You said it was pictures of you guys asleep that caused Zac to re-add his number?”

“Yeah. He proved that he could get that close to us.”

“Ok. That was Ian getting Zac to do something he didn’t want. Zac didn’t want to speak to him, but to protect you he did. He systematically worked on Zac, getting him to sex text with him, even if Zac didn’t do anything the simple fact was he got Zac to do it. He then used those against him. The attack in LA was punishment and then the rape was as well. Everything he did was just pushing Zac where he wanted him.”

“Which was?” Taylor asked.

“Depressed, stressed, confused about things, he was acting different when he came to the hospital. Has he been that way at home?”

“Yeah. He hasn’t been around me much, he’ll stay with Alexander all day but he really only came around me when he had too, he secluded himself. He said Robert made him mad when we were at the studio and that’s why he wrecked it.”

Casey sat up. “But he wasn’t mad because of what happen when we were taken, he was mad because Robert was talking badly about Ian.”

Zander nodded and again he was quiet.

“I can’t be certain but my guess is that Ian used concepts of BDSM but twisted them to suit his own purposes. He basically created individuals that are dependent on him. Did Zac say what Ian told him while he was there?”

“Not really, I mean he told the agents what happened with the assaults, the hitting, he said he didn’t talk much during those or if he did it was to reinforce him on doing something. Eyes down, no talking, stuff like that.”

“Did Zac tell them everything?”

“I’m sure he did.” Ike and Tay said.

But, I shook my head. “No. The agents picked up on some time gaps but Zac never explained. I felt like he was holding back. Honestly I didn’t expect him to be so…easy with explaining.”

“Did what he told them seem practiced?”

“Not really, I mean he did day by day but so did Casey.”

“Zac asked me in the hospital when you fainted if you and I had sex while he was gone and then he asked about the last four years, he was asking if you and I had done things without him. I assured him that every time we’ve been together in that context he’d been there. I didn’t think about it at the time, but it felt like he doubted that we weren’t more.”

“He asked Dad if Alexander was conditioned to love him.” Ike said.

“He what?” I asked.

“I overheard them when he came home, Dad went up to get him and I went to check on them. Um, he asked Dad if children were conditioned to love their parents. Dad told him no.”

Zander looked truly worried about that. “I can’t be certain guys but it sounds like maybe a touch of post traumatic stress syndrome and if Ian triggered that while he had him he had a prime chance to get into his mind and wreck havoc. BDSM can hurt mentally because it’s not just a physical thing, its emotions and if Ian found that vulnerable spot he could have convinced him of anything. It wouldn’t take much.”

“Could he have convinced him that I didn’t love him?” I asked.

“Yes. He could have used anything, my bet is he used everything he could find to convince Zac that he loves him and wants what is best. Has anything significantly changed?”

I looked back at the messages and there was no divorce talk until our anniversary.

“He saw him on our anniversary and the text messages ask if Zac had asked for a divorce and custody of Alexander. Would he do that if Ian asked?”

“Has he asked you?”

“No. He hasn’t said anything about it.”

“Anything else change on your anniversary?”

I really didn’t want to tell them everything that happened that day, but what if that did change something? He’d acted strange all weekend.

“I apologize Taylor and Isaac for this…he gave me the paintings that morning and I remember hugging him and I kissed him, I had before but it was like the forehead or cheek, that morning it was his lips. He left and I showered when he got home I gave him his.”

“What did you give him?” Aaron asked.

“I gave him video games, which he seemed disappointed about and another black cord necklace which he seemed confused about, and then I gave him his wedding band back.”

“You…you had it fixed?” Isaac asked.

“Yeah, you can ask Casey I literally begged the jewelry store to fix it.”

“You fixed what Ian broke?”

“Yeah. Zac has always said it was the only ring he truly wanted to wear. When Casey found me and I’d calmed down I wanted it fixed.”

“What happen after that?”

“Sex, well oral sex to be exact. He kissed me and I just tested the waters. I had noticed times before but he hadn’t hinted or asked which was unusual for him. Um, afterwards we showered and had dinner, he seemed ok but maybe a little quieter but when we got home he pulled this greedy need type deal.”

“Was it different than normal?” Zander asked.

“Oh yeah. We came into the room intended on changing clothes and he had me against the door, it was almost like he couldn’t stop himself. He was careful when he needed to be, mindful that I am pregnant but it was rougher and harder than even normal.”

“And afterwards?”

“He was agitated Friday but not much, however by Sunday he really was agitated and apparently it’s because Ian wasn’t replying. The messages indicate he saw us at dinner and he saw his new wedding band.”

“Ian broke the band right?”

“Yeah, he took a hammer to it that Monday.”

“Ian pulled a silent treatment on him, but if he really had Zac convinced that he loved him and cared then having sex with you would have confused him, he wouldn’t understand why it felt ok with you. He probably sees it as cheating on Ian, betraying him and his lack of response evidently triggered Zac to go wherever he is.”

“But the message says he’s not there.”

“Ems, everyone that was in the house with us followed Ian’s orders. They didn’t talk, didn’t say much at all. My bet is they were all put through the same scenario Zac was. Except Glen, he didn’t seem to be like the rest.”

Zander’s head nearly snapped he looked at him so quickly. “What do you mean?”

“One of the guys there was Glen; he had more freedom to me. He left and came back and he was the one that had Alexander when they showed up. He didn’t seem to really take orders and he looked at Zac weirdly.”

“Glen is probably someone Ian trusts or he could be someone he’s with romantically, Glen may not be a slave or he might be an equal to Ian.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter at the moment. Have we called everyone?”

“Yep. No one has seen him or his truck.” Isaac said.

I called Agent Rodriquez and told them what I’d just found out and that Zac was essentially missing again. I wasn’t sure if Ian had him and this message was just a distraction or if Zac had left wherever he went and gone somewhere.

“I can’t sit here guys, not this time.”

“What about Alexander?”

He’d been awake and just playing with toys, he seemed ok. “He needs to stay here.”

“You need someone with you.” Casey said.

I sat there confused, Casey was right I needed someone with me but the problem was if I did find Zac, I didn’t need anyone else to be there because if what Zander said was true, what Zac needed was to be reminded and helped. I waited until 3:30 before I got up and put my shoes on and got my keys, wallet, phone and his phone.

“Emily.” Zander said.

“I sat here for a week while everyone else did everything. I’ll go to the places that mean something to us, there aren’t very many and I know he’s not at the studio. If I can’t find him I will come home. I have my phone and I have his, if he comes home then call me.”

“Please, Emily...” Casey said.

I only looked at him and then left the house. I went to the studio first anyway, just to make sure and I left a note on his desk to tell him to call me if he came here. I went by the apartment I had when we met, we’d shared a lot of time here and while I couldn’t go inside if he came here he’d be in the parking lot anyway. I went by the park, the church where we got married; I went by where we’d had pictures made with Alexander. I called Maddi to see if he came there, maybe he went to Max or her. I asked if she could touch a painting and see him and she said it didn’t work that way. I sat in the car at 6 wondering where the hell he would go.

Ian or Abraham had sent three messages, each one sounding angrier but the last one prompted me to call Casey because the last message asked if he needed to kill me or Alexander for him to comply. I told Casey to have an agent come to the house and to sit there. Agent Stewart already was there, so that worked out well, he re-set the alarm on high and closed all the curtains and blinds in the house. I looked at the messages and finally hit reply.

Zac doesn’t have his phone Abraham; I am not sure why you’re threatening to kill me and our son. I’m sorry you can’t reach him.

I expected a reply but didn’t get one. If Ian had lied to him, it explained the recent change.

“If Ian somehow convinced him that he loved him, he wouldn’t go to places we shared.”  I said it out loud just to hear it. Where would Zac think he and Ian would share?

They really hadn’t been in the same places many times, I went to the University first drove around the campus but no car, I even went by the address where Ian supposedly lived, but the place was still cordoned off and Zac’s truck was nowhere on the road. I was about to head home when a plane flew overhead; it was heading to the airport. Ian had taken him after he landed and it was secluded and close by. I drove to the spot where Casey had said they were taken and I saw his truck sitting there parked. I pulled up behind the vehicle, but I didn’t see him in the car. I sent Casey a message and told him to tell everyone I found the truck and would let them know in a moment if he was ok. I then got out and looked around, he wasn’t anywhere that I could see so I walked to the truck, I felt relief when I saw him laying in the backseat. I sent another message to Casey that said he was ok and I’d reply when I found out what was wrong. I moved to the side his head was on and knocked, when he didn’t move I got my set of truck keys and unlocked the door. I eased it open.

“Zachary?”

I paused where I was, I didn’t want him to lash out because I scared him, I called his name again a little louder and he stirred, looked up at me. His eyes were red and puffy, his face was still showing the tear streaks and he just looked lost.

“Emily?”

I stepped forward. “Hey, let me in its cold out here.”

He moved away and I got into the truck, closed the doors and I was barely in the seat when he laid his head down in my lap. I didn’t question anything, just began to play with his hair and for several minutes he was ok but then he moved again, he sat down between my legs on the truck seat, supported his own legs by leaving them in the seat and he turned to me and put his head on my shoulder. I put my arms around him and let him cry. I had no idea what was wrong still, but if this is what he wanted then it’s what he would get.

I could feel the hot tears landing on my shoulder, could even tell the whole top of my shoulder was wet. I heard my ringtone, heard it a few times but ignored it because they knew I was with him. The truck itself was cold so he’d been sitting here for a while; considering he was asleep in the truck said he’d probably been here hours.

He’d stopped crying so hard, was kind of just laying there.

“Do you hate me?”

“No.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

I pushed the hair from his face and then tightened my arms around him.

“I’m not mad at you, I can’t be. I don’t know what’s wrong but considering I had to track you down I image it’s pretty bad. I will never hate you Zachary.”

His phone went off, playing Broken Angel again and for a second he was ok and then the waterfall began again and I moved to shut it off and then tightened my arms around him, could feel he had a solid grip of my shirt; the second round didn’t last long though. I didn’t say anything until his breathing was normal and he wasn’t sniffing every second or two, although I was positive this shirt now needed a heavy washing.

“You say you’re not mad but you’re not saying anything.” He whispered.

“I honestly have no idea what to say, I don’t know what will make you feel better or worse. I don’t want to say anything that could make it worse.”

“I doubt you could make me feel any worse than I already do.”

“I know he asked you to ask for a divorce and for full custody, know he told you to ask when you got home on our anniversary. I won’t even tell you what that did.”

“Tell me anyway.”

I sat there a moment, maybe it’s what he thought would help. “Abraham Jones sent you a message at 12:40ish and used your full name and told you to get your ass back there, confused on why anyone would talk to you that way I read the previous messages. I made it as far as the 20^th before I laid it down to count, after that failed I called Christopher to come over, I was afraid I’d faint and since I was the only one there with our son I couldn’t do that. Yet, I couldn’t even tell him I needed help; Isaac brought me too with cold water. It wasn’t even my blood pressure, just a panic attack.”

He sat there quietly and again broken angel went off but he just sat there. I got his phone to check it because I needed to know if he knew where we were, I was sitting up open and a long range gun would take me out quickly.

If he does not have his phone, then who has it?

The silence tells me everything. I’m only trying to help your husband, perhaps you should allow him to. He’s expressed concerns over his well-being at home. I will try to find him.

“I know you want to sit here because it’s remote and there isn’t anyone around. But it’s not safe. I’m going to call the agent and have someone bring them to drive us back and for someone to bring my car. I’ll have Casey take Alexander down so he won’t see you upset and I won’t let anyone talk to you. You can go right to our room, no questions.”

He didn’t argue so I did just that. Aaron came to drive my car home and Agent Stewart drove the truck. Zander had driven them both over and he followed us home. Agent Stewart said nothing on the drive back and he parked in the garage. Zac moved only when we were parked, he followed me inside and he went straight to the steps and up-stairs and I stopped everyone.

“Let me handle it please. He’s ok physically just a bit chilly from being outside. Has Alexander had dinner?”

“Yes, dinner and a bathe and he’s ready for bed.”  Casey said.

“You know you’re staying and I would like for him to sleep with you downstairs in either guest room.”

“Why downstairs?”

“There are no windows down there…Emily what happen?” Aaron asked.

“One of the questions asked if he needed to kill me or him, I would prefer he be away from his room. But, Agent Stewart is going to stay; he’s also calling in two backups to patrol the property. The odds are Ian is not stupid enough to come here but I would rather Alexander not be where he is expected to be. In addition, if Zac gets upset he won’t hear him.”

Casey nodded; Alexander was busy with Uncle Taylor so he hadn’t seen Zac come in. I asked Casey to fix
a dinner plate for us both and bring it up but otherwise everyone was told to go home or find a room. Taylor and Isaac opted to go home but because they were here I asked the agents to send someone to watch their houses too. I then went up-stairs and found him just sitting on the bed. I didn’t say anything; I made him eat when Casey brought the trays up. I then got clean clothes for him, noted his shirt had dried snot all over it.

“Come on.”

He got up and followed me to the bathroom, where I started a hot shower and got us both cleaned up, dried off, redressed and then he laid down and I laid down beside him.

“You are safe here Zachary, no one will hit you, no one will make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

He moved putting as much of his body against mine as he could and his left hand got a hold of the shirt tightly.

“Don’t leave me.”

I kissed his forehead. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I began to smooth his hair back, running my fingers through the damp strands of his hair and while I wasn’t sure if he would sleep, he did fall asleep pretty quickly once he got warm and comfortable. I counted to maintain that I stayed calm. It was clear Ian had done something along the lines of what Zander said earlier. Physically he was fine, mentally he wasn’t. Casey sent me a message about 11 saying
Alexander was out and asked if Zac was ok. I told him he was and that until farther notice, he was in charge of Alexander, because Zac needed help and I knew Casey would take care of Alexander properly. He didn’t mind either and after putting the phone beside the bed I settled down. I was aware that Agent Stewart checked on us about 1 am, but otherwise I slept lightly, waking anytime Zac moved or made any noise.