It was going into the fourth week, and the four of them were seated around the table at dinner. They were staying at the apartment on the complex under safe watch constantly. The security guard sat in his chair at the door. In his hand was a book that he had been reading for days now. And he paid no attention to them at the moment.
The silence seemed to fall around them as usual. With so much security, it was difficult for a private reprieve and they all were beginning to feel the stress of it mounting inside them.
The only one that didn't seem to be affected by it was Tony. And he was on one of his kicks that he didn't want to be messed with at all. It seemed since they had gotten back from that last trip, he had withdrawn from them all. The three of them each wondered in his own mind, if he were only concentrating on the conflict ahead, or was he loosing his faith in his own abilities because he hadn't accomplished what he so desired.
Over and again Bruce recalled that night, how Tony had demanded of himself, that he had to kill Maurice. It plagued him over and over, wondering if he felt less than he is, because he had not done so. Plus, by coming short of killing their allie, he had almost fallen prey to the demented mind of his opponent.
Jonathan stared at Tony. His heart was aching for him. He could tell something wasn't right with him. But his every attempt to soothe his heart was warded off by the man's insistent alienation. There wasn't anything else he could do. He had tried everything he knew to do. Even praying had begun to keep him company at night. No one else was.
Sitting straight, he tossed his fork down. Standing he rushed into his room. There he hid, feeling he was to blame. There was no one here that had brought so much trouble to them. No one else had almost gotten them killed. And not one of them had such a vindictive uncle, who was cruel and heartless.
He began to want to punish himself for all the trouble he had caused. Hugging his pillow, he rocked as he sat on the edge of his bed. Nothing was right now. They all had changed. His eye filled with tears. His heart breaking, he went into his adjacent bathroom locking the door. Even though it was a rule here that no one lock there door, he did it anyway.
Tony stared at Jonathan's now empty spot. His mind racing with so many thoughts, all at once. How they had shared such a wonderful night. The same night Maurice had almost killed him. And he missed Jonathan. He missed all of them. But he couldn't stand the fact that he had failed. All his training, all of his hard work, and he still had not made his mark.
Then it suddenly occurred that no one had gotten up to check on the kid. Bruce had gotten up and went out onto the balcony. Greg was just sitting there staring like he was. What had happened to them? Why were they all like this?
As he stood, Bruce's cell phone rang. This was the call they had been waiting for. In its charger on the book shelf, it buzzed and vibrated, ringing all the while.
The security guard stood to his feet. He looked to the balcony, but Bruce didn't come. "Hey, you wanna get that!" he called to the sliding glass door.
Suddenly coming to his senses, Bruce rushed inside picking it up. His eyes locked with the guards, nodding as soon as he pushed the talk button. In the same instant, the guard pressed the button on his watch starting the timer.
The call was patched through the system in the tech room. Every second counted that Bruce had to keep him on the line. And the call was recorded, every word would be analyzed.
"Well, Bruce Crawford, is it?" the strongly amused voice came over the cell phone.
"Yes, James bowman, I presume." Bruce returned with a bit of distain.
The man laughed on the other end. "Oh, don't sound so modest, Bruce. I know you have no love toward me. And in fact, I must say, I have grown to appreciate your tenacity. And I also have grown to respect you. You've given my people a very difficult time. And that I just cannot allow, sir."
"Allow it or not, that's how it is, 'sir'." he emphasized that word with much emotion.
Mr. Bowman laughed again. "Well, whatever it is, you still have something that belongs to me. I want it back." his tone became harsh now.
"Oh, is that it? You think you can just order me?"
"I am not calling you to pick a fight, Mr. Crawford. I only want the kid."
"And you can just keep wanting, Mr. Bowman." Bruce maintained his allegiance to Jonathan completely.
His eyes lifted to see the youth slowly come out of his room. He had heard the cell phone ring, which had stopped him from his dreadful deed. Now, he stepped one foot before the other toward the dining room again. Watching. Listening. Waiting to see what would happen to him now. Would Bruce just give him over to his uncle? Or would he remain the strong friend he had been all this time? His breath caught in his throat, he waited to hear.
"You have a very nice home, my friend. It would be a shame to watch it go up in a blazing fire. Ruined and left in ashes, along with everything inside." the man on the other end played his piece, now waiting for Bruce to take his turn.
"Torch it, bowman. Jonathan's more important to me than my house."
"I see..." the man seemed very disappointed now. "...Well, is you truck as important? More, maybe? It would be difficult to make what you make with a new truck payment, now wouldn't it?"
Bruce sighed.
"Ask him what he wants, Bruce." Tony whispered harshly.
"What do you want, bowman?" he growled into the phone.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve, sir? Pardon me." he chuckled. "Bring the kid to your place. One hour, Bruce. That's all you have. Or everything you own will disappear. I will kill you. And I'll take your doctor friend as my...ahem...well, pet. I'm sure you'd like that, now wouldn't you. Knowing I'm having my way with him. He is such a lovely man, too. I may even torture him a time or two, just to see how much he can stand. I love to hear a grown man scream."
"You leave Greg out of this!" Bruce yelled into the phone. He was trembling now. His anger soaring to a height he had never experienced.
Greg coiled suddenly as tears of frustration ran down Bruce's face. He wondered what had been said that he would react this way. And it involved him. What in God's name?
"Then I guess, you'll concede by bringing Jonathan back to me. Your place, Bruce. One hour." the line began to make that awful sound of an ended conversation.
"Damn it!" Bruce angrily threw the phone on the floor. He stomped it to pieces not thinking what he was doing.
Greg slowly stood. He had never seen Bruce like this. His hands went to his face in total disbelief.
"Okay!" Tony turned to the security guard. "Fuck...you!" he jabbed a finger in the air at him.
The guard lifted his hands wondering what he had done.
Tony moved to Bruce grasping his arms. He shook him back to reality vigorously. "Bruce! Stop it! Take it out on Bowman!" he then pulled him to his body holding him desperately close.
"That man is evil..." Bruce sobbed.
"He's always been that way." Jonathan muttered. "Did he threaten to take Greg? Make him his toy or something? Maybe offered to change his looks a little? He'll do it, too." tears streamed down the youth's face as he spoke.
Bruce nodded. He couldn't answer.
Ben burst in through the door. A tall man with short light brown hair, His eyes an even lighter brown, they were gleaming with unbridled passion to trap Bowman at the moment. A very handsome face and strong cut features he stepped toward the two that were hugging at the moment.
"It's time, Bruce. We have to go." the man's smooth sultry voice washed over them.
