Unlocking his Shutter

UNLOCKING

HIS

SHUTTER

River Mitchell

Copyright © 2018 by River Mitchell

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Dedication

For my LN

Love you xx

Chapter One

Drake

I knew I shouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning. My day had been one shit filled moment after the next, and this bullshit was a fucking joke.

I said stay down and don’t move Mother Fucker, the guy with gun pointed at my head screamed, quickly following his shout with another hard kick to my side. Fuck, that hurt! I had no idea where James was, and I hadn’t heard any shouting for a while, not that I could trust my own hearing at this point. I was just about holding it together enough to stay conscious.

We had just closed up the shop when the back door was kicked in. Two guys with stupid masks came in shouting and waving something that looked like guns. It was obvious even to me that these guys weren’t real deal. Probably a couple of tweakers looking for an easy score. Unfortunately for them, the money was long gone. Fear had taken it with him when he’d left for night. Thankfully, James and I had been the only ones at the shop, working on a couple of designs we had to have ready for tomorrow. Fuck only knew what would be happening if we’d had clients here for this cluster fuck.

Where‘s the money? one of the gunman had shouted at me, all while he’d pushed the gun into the back of my head with enough force my nose slammed into the floor. Fuck! That was going to leave a mark. These men were quickly losing patience and James and I were going to pay for it. With their guns pointed at both of us, they’d managed to separate us and tie our hands. As soon as my hands were tied, the guy nearest me started in with punches, and when I dropped to the floor the kicks started. James kept trying to stop the beating, but with a gun to his head and threats that they would kill me if he moved, he couldn’t do anything but watch me getting beat to shit.

When they’d tired of the beating, they’d taken James out of the room. I had no idea why. If they were looking for the safe, they were going to be shit out of luck. The safe was hidden in the receptionist’s booth.

Fuck! There is no money! We don’t keep money here over night. This a tattoo shop not a bank, I said, trying to keep my voice steady. All I needed was for this fucking junkie to freak and pull the trigger. And with the way my luck was going, he would hit me directly between the eyes.

Why are all the fucking doors locked? Where are the keys? Idiot two asked as he walked back into the room, coming to a stop right in front of me. I obviously didn’t answer fast enough, because he decided that a kick to the face was needed to speed things along. Proving yet again the level of their stupidity. It’s not like I could answer with a foot in my fucking face.

Where’s James? I asked instead of answering his.

He’s taking a little nap. If you don’t want the same, tell me where the fucking keys are? The gunman screamed as he kicked me twice in the torso. I’m pretty sure my ribs were cracked because it was getting harder and harder to catch my breath. My vision had started to blur, and I was doing all I could to stay conscious.

We don’t carry keys for all the rooms, I lied. We only have keys to our own stations, front and staff room doors. There was no way I was going to give these fuckers the keys to run riot. I knew they had already destroyed my station, because that’s where I’d been when they burst in. I’d come running out of my door when I heard the crash. James had been in the staff room shutting everything down, so I knew his room was locked up tight. Mine, sadly, was the first place they had torn apart and was fucked.

I was slowly starting to slip into darkness with the pain and continued punches and kicks. However, had my head not been facing in the direction of the open door, I would’ve missed the man creeping past the door and down the corridor. My vision was blurry and was getting worse by the second, so I didn’t know what was happening around me, but I could hear faint groans and grunts around me. I thought I was about to get another kick to the face when two boots entered my vision.

Drake, you doing ok? I called Fear; he’s on his way, a deep, warm voice said close to my ear. It was somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t place it; with all the kicks to the head, my brain was too jumbled to even try.

Is James ok? I asked as soon as I got my brain to work.

He’s out cold. I put him on the couch, but I think he’s going be fine. He’ll have a killer headache though. It’s you I am worried about. I don’t want to move you, ok? Just lay still and keep talking to me. I felt my wrists come loose, but I still couldn’t coordinate myself enough to move them. I was so foggy. Fear is going to be here any minute, the voice continued to talk. I had still yet to place it, but it didn’t matter. His voice was comforting; I felt safe, and in this situation that was curiously unexpected but very welcome.

In here, the friendly voice shouted, and seconds later, Alfie’s face was in my line of vision. He had lain down on his side so that I could see him.

Hey there, Drakey. You taking a little breather? Alfie asked. His voice though held a tremor that his lighthearted comment couldn’t hide.

Is James ok? I asked again, worried that he had yet to wake up.

Fear’s over there with him right now. We called an ambulance, and it’s on its way. Stay with me though ok. Talk to me, Alfie said in a panic when my eyes started to droop closed.

I’m really tired. I really wanted to go to sleep. The pain was getting to be too much.

I know, but can you hang on and talk to me while we wait for the EMT’s to show up? Fear is such a worrywart, and I need your help keeping him calm. Alfie knew I would do anything I could for both him and Fear.

Where are the nuggets? I asked, having a brief panic that they were there and could get hurt.

They’re with the crazy train. God only knows what I am going to find when I get home. I think I would much prefer to sit and chat with you for a while, Alfie told me. I wanted to stay awake like he’d asked me to but my eyes were suddenly too heavy, and before I could respond to Alfie’s worried shouts, everything faded away to nothing.

***

Shutter

I was so pathetic. There was no other word for what I was doing right now. I’d created an excuse to bring me by my nephew’s tattoo shop, in the hopes I would bump into him or one of the other guys from the shop. Yes, I had stooped that low.

For months, I had watched; I had gotten as a close as I could without being seen. I had learned everything I could about the group of men surrounding my nephew. For months, I had craved getting to know my family. I wanted nothing more than to tear down my walls and let them in. So I wouldn’t be alone. I’d finally have something real. Something mine. A family. A family that would maybe want me too.

The time wasn’t right for me to approach yet. I still had to wait—to be free and clear of my past—but the moment I was free, I was going to run, and run as fast I could toward what I hoped was an accepting home.

Why couldn’t I just walk up to the front door like a normal person? The answer was easy. I had a past. A past I was not proud of, but a past I was hoping to leave behind. I was almost there, for the most part. But until I was free and clear there was no way I could approach Fear or any of them. With all that I had learned about the men who worked at Living Art—and all the people that surrounded them—I knew that if they were going to accept me, I had to earn the right to ask to be allowed in. I wanted to be wanted, not feared or looked down on.

I was willing to put in the work for the right to be a part of Fear’s amazing family. I was willing to put the work in for the man who had taken up most of my thoughts since the day I first laid eyes on him. Yes, of course I wanted my family, but I also wanted him and hopefully, when the time was right, I could have both. The family and the man who had captured my heart.

I was approaching from the rear of the shop when I noticed the back door was hanging funny and propped open. Not stopping to think about anything other than someone being I trouble, I made my way inside slowly. The first thing I saw was a man lying flat on his back at the end of a long corridor. I quickly checked and found a strong pulse, relieved that it looked as if he was only knocked out. I knew it was James because of all my research.

As I untied James’ hands, shouting from down the corridor pulled my attention. I walked back down the corridor and around the corner to where I could see two men in an open doorway yelling and beating a third man who was on the ground.

Moving as fast as I could, I jumped the first guy, and with one punch to the temple, he was down and out. The second guy tried to point his gun at me, but I was quicker than his very drugged movements allowed, and before he could raise the gun, I had him subdued. Not knowing what else to do, I tied the two guys up and called Fear.

It didn’t take him long to get to the shop. He and his partner came barreling through the door and quickly ran to both Drake and James.

You need to call the cops. I can’t be here when they come. James, I’m pretty sure, is fine. It’s Drake I am worried about. I didn’t move him other than to untie his hands. I have to get out of here. I’m sorry I can’t stay. I hoped Fear could hear how badly I wanted to stay. I wanted to help. I wanted to be there for Fear. I wanted to be there for him. I wanted a lot of things, none of which I could have.

Shutter? Fear called just before I managed to make it out the door. Turning to look at him, I took in all that he was. Fear was a big man. I wasn’t short by any stretch of the imagination, but not many men where almost seven feet tall. I was 6’4 and not used to looking up to many people. But with my nephew I was happy to do it. Thank you. I owe you," Fear said in such a way that it was impossible to doubt his sincerity.

Always here for you. You’re family. I left without giving him a chance to respond.

I had just made it to the far end of the road when I heard the sirens. At least I knew now they were all safe and getting help. I knew that my being there would’ve only made an already shitty situation ten times worse. The police would try to pin it on me and forget looking for anything else. They’ve been after me for what feels like forever. And the fact that they’ve never found anything they can pin on me only makes them more determined to find something, anything, even if they have to fabricate it. I was not the man everyone thought I was. I have never been that man. I just had no way to prove it.

Chapter Two

Shutter

I waited as long as I could. If the police were still there, then so be it. They couldn’t pin anything on me. I really needed to check in and make sure everyone was ok. I made my way through the entrance and over to the first nurses’ station that I came to.

Can I help you honey, the elderly looking lady typing away on the computer asked me.

Yeah, I’m looking for James Noble and Drake Elton. They were brought it tonight; they were involved in a robbery. I tried to give as much detail as I could.

Now, let’s have a look see, she said, tapping away again. Here they are. Are you family dear? And that simple question hit me in the gut with enough force I thought I was going to lose my feet.

Yes, ma’am, I replied, not elaborating any further. As it turned out, I didn’t need to. She was only too happy to help, and with their floor and room number in hand, I made my way to the stairs and the correct floor. The moment I stepped out of the stairwell, I saw Carter on his ass, knees bent, back to the wall with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. I made my way quickly to the man who looked not only wrecked but utterly exhausted, and asked if he had any news on either man.

Yeah, sorry. Fear and the others are just in the waiting room at the end of the hall. I was in with Drake, but they are changing something or doing something. I’m not sure. They said they would come and get me when it was ok for me to go back in, Carter explained.

How’s he doing? I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. He was in bad shape the last time I saw him. But before Carter could answer, I heard my name called and was grabbed in a fierce hug.

Thank you. Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened to them if you hadn’t been there. I don’t think our family would have survived it if anything had happened to them, Fear said, still holding on tight to me.

Lifting my arms up to wrap around him, I whispered the words I had been aching to say. Anything for you. For them. You’re my family. Learning back so I could look