Chapter 11

Jacob

I was shocked for a moment but none of the other guys seemed affected by what Clarence did. Are they? Has it been going for long?

The car ride to the morgue was silent, a thick blanket of grief hung over them with the loss of the Marge woman and Mark. But it didn't stop me from getting curious about what's going on between that crazed demolitionist dude and Clarence. If I knew that Kenny was gay, I would've probably assumed he had something going on with Hunter but apparently that wasn't the case.

"So what's going on between you and Kenny?" I asked Clarence, getting close to him so the others don't have to hear me ask it.

"We have a friends with benefits kind of relationship going on. But I think I want to make it official. What happened tonight, losing mark, it got me scared but also got me realizing that. I'm shit scared to lose Ken." Clarence looked emotional, physically in distress, but he kept his eyes trained forwards onto the road ahead.

"I told you before, with how long you served me for, you paid back yours and Kenny's debt. You can leave the gang any time you want," Andrew said looking at the mirror to look at Clarence, eye to eye.

"No way, you earned my loyalty and respect big mam, I'll serve this gang as long as I'm capable." Clarence said and I looked around, the other men seem to feel the same thing. They all have mad respect for Andrew, I don't know what he did to earn it, but I think that he definitely deserves it.

The rest of the way to the morgue was filled with aimless chatter from the men. Much better that the complete silence we were in earlier. Clarence shared a couple of stories about him and Kenny to me, or ken ken as he calls him. To me, if you call the guy by a loving nickname and have this fond look on your face whilst you talk about them. I think that only a total idiot won't be able to tell that he already fell. That rhymed.

We got to the morgue and only Andrew, me, and three other men including Clarence stepped out of the van to carry the two body bags we have in the back. Andrew looked like he couldn't believe what was happening as he carried Mark's lifeless body to the doors of the morgue. But he held himself together. Not wanting to break down in front of his men. A small and curly haired man was the one who welcomed us in the front desk, his eyes landed on Andrew and he was immensely shocked.

"Andrew? I never saw you personally deliver the bodies, who is it this time?" The boy asked, apparently, Andrew also has connections to this specific morgue, so he can totally get away with murder every time he wants to.

"It's one of my men," Is all he said and The boy's face turned from welcoming to pity. We left the bodies for him to clean up and he said that he should be done in about two days time. Andrew told the boy, Harry, that he wanted to see both Mark and Marge before they were placed inside their respective coffins.

We had to take my sister home, and the drive was extremely silent this time around. I guess the reality finally did kick in, Mark was a long member of the gang and now he's gone, for good. My sister sat still in her seat not moving nor talking, i would've mistaken her for a statue if it wasn't for the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. I'm truly grateful to Andrew for saving my sister and I want to repay him in some way. I can't think of anything specific at the moment but I think I have an idea how I can.

We arrived at my parent's house, Andrew and I helped my sister out of the car and walk up to the gates of the mansion. I removed her blindfold and gag, along with the restraints around her hands. She didn't say any thing, just wrapped her arms around my neck and sobbed.

"Thank you for saving me, should we call the cops? Omg are they still alive? Out there? Plotting revenge?" Shay asked me and I looked towards Andrew, who shook his head no.

"No, because Andrew here took care of them already," I said. "So you should thank him more than me, he is your savior after all," Her eyes shone with gratitude as she shook Andrew's hand.

"Thank you thank you thank you." She then turned from us to run up to the mansion, across the neatly trimmed garden and onto the marbled tiles.

"Didn't know houses like that still exists in this city," Clarence said when we got back in the car, they were all looking around at all the houses that are widely spaced.

"Like what?" I asked ,perturbed.

"You know! big and bougie," Clarence said simply, as he drove out of the rich neighborhood.

We were all exhausted from tonight's events, so the moment we got back to the hideout, everyone went towards their own rooms to go and get some much needed rest. Andrew took the longest, his actions seemed slow and sluggish, as if he's drifting in and out of reality. Only when I decided to help him out of his shoes, did he realize that he was staring at the front door for minutes on end. I was concerned for him, I truly was, and I definitely understand where he's coming from. He went up to his room, with me trailing behind him. I don't know if what I do will work but I hope it eases the pain that he's feeling. Even if it's just a little bit. We both entered and I closed the door to the bedroom softly. Andrew stood there, staring out the window as if it showed him a vision from a different dimension.

I carefully placed my hand on top of his shoulder. "Hey Andrew?" I asked which seemed to snap him out of his reverie.

"Hm, what?" He said placing one hand in the space above my ass. I stood on my tip toes and planted a soft and quick kiss on his lips.

"You okay?" I asked and he smiled ever so lightly, placing his other hand on top of the one he already had on me. I softly caressed his cheek seeing him smile and nuzzle to the touch.

"Yeah, yeah," is all he said as he leaned down capturing my lips in a kiss once more. Maybe it's the fact that I was still traumatized by Jack and he knows this or maybe it's because he's grieving. But the kiss was so soft and so tender, it's making my heart flutter. We stood there, kissing in each other's arms as he slowly pushed me back onto the bed. Which was when the tear dams failed at keeping back the water. Andrew hugged me tight against him and I did too. Doing whatever I can to support him.

"It's more than just loosing Mark," Andrew said, again, he wasn't quivering nor shaking but I can definitely feel the hot tears hitting my shoulders. "I kept thinking, what if you were shot too, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I loose you," he said. If it was even possible, he pulled me closer to his chest rubbing the place where his hands lay.

"I won't be going anywhere, I'll be by your side," I said as I planted a soft kiss to his neck. He pulled back, looking at me once more, like I was some fine china he won at an auction.

"Thank you," he said capturing my lips in another tender kiss. We took off our shirts because it was hot but I was sure that both us did not intend to take things too far tonight and I was thankful for that. We kissed each other for minutes on end, he would occasionally dip down to my neck to kiss and bite there. I felt like I was being savored, treasured even, and it's the most thrilling feeling. To feel that someone sees you and appreciate you so much more than you do, yourself.

The terrifying thing was, I kept having flashbacks to that time. But I push it down remembering this is Andrew, not anyone else but him.

A few hours passed and Andrew was spooning me, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my arm. "Tell me, do you have any fond memories with Mark?" I asked. I wanted to know Mark even if the guy is gone. I wanted to get to know him a bit, learn what makes him special because to me. What he did tonight, the risk he took for my sister, it makes him a hero in my book. And I want to learn more about my heroes.

Andrew chuckled, "A lot actually, there was this time-" and he went on and on with stories about him, Mark, Aiden, and Wendy. We fell asleep eventually but by the end of the night I was sure as hell jealous. I also want to get to spend time with Mark, he sounded like an awesome guy to be around. But, that was too late now. All I can do is hope that the after life treats him well.

The morning came a bit too quickly and Andrew asked if he can come along and tag with me to my work place saying "I can't stand being idle today." And I let him, Mr. Yu lets him do house cleaning work around the office and gets paid fairly, by the end of the day. We arrived at the office and everything seemed to be normal, it's refreshing to have a taste of normality for once.

"I'll see you later, I'm going to your boss," Andrew said and left my office as I began doing my work. Zack and other team leaders occasionally enter my room to ask for advice, to pass a draft or to have me sign something. Zack visited a lot though, and he's been doing this a lot. When I'm checking something, he would also go behind me and stand extremely close, which I brought up to him a few times. He was nice enough to give me the space that I needed.

Andrew came back to my office on my break time, he looked exceptionally good. You know those uniforms that janitors wear, the blue one-set thing, well he currently has it off and over his shoulder. His yellow tee was a bit dirty and wet, the sleeves were rolled up till it reached his shoulders, his jeans were a nice fit too, embracing every nook and crevice of those sculpted legs. He was hot, like devilishly hot And apparently, my other employees think so too.

"My boss gave you a uniform," I pointed it out and he shrugged.

"He said he loved the way I work, not many young janitors these days I guess," He said taking out his phone to check on his messages and missed calls.

"Let me just send these documents and I can take my break," I told Andrew, who simply nodded, too focused on something else on his phone. I finished composing a letter to a higher-up and attached the design before sending it. It was a finished mock-up that will await her approval. If she approves it then that's a go signal for us but if she doesn't then it's back to the revision board or square one, it depends really.

I stood up and Andrew followed suit, pocketing his phone as he walked behind me, going ahead to open closed doors for me. Which annoyed me at first, but after a few arguments. He won and I just let him do what he liked to.

We reached the cafeteria and brought out the lunch I made for both of us. It was a simple fried egg along with sweetened ham but Andrew seemed to like it. He likes home cooked food a lot, no matter what it is. And so I did pack him a larger serving compared to mine. My phone chimed in my pocket, Andrew spared me a quick glance before he continued gulfing down his food. It was a message from Shay asking if she could call, I called her myself and she answered almost on just the first ring alone.

"Hello?! Brother?" Shaina sounded fine, something I'm totally glad about.

"Yes, Shay?" I asked waiting for her to get on with whatever she needs to say.

"Well, I really want to repay your boyfriend for-"

"Boyfriend?! He's not my-" I heard Andrew snicker in front of me but he immediately turned his head the moment I went to look at him. "So what is it? Spit it out."

"I was before you interrupted me, meanie," She huffed, "Okay so mom gave me a credit card and we can do whatever we want with it. So how about you, me, and your boyfriend, spoil ourselves this Saturday?"

"I don't know, I got to ask my boyfriend first," I said putting a lot of emphasis on the word boyfriend. I looked at Andrew and he gave me lazy nod, his food long finished.

"Yeah we're in."