Page 22 of Up in a Blaze (Polished P & P #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

HENRI

A t the compound, Country and Rommy climbed out after I promised we would be back to see Rommy. While they headed inside, Blaze and I got into the front of the car, and my lover drove us to the address Sawyer gave.

I shifted on the seat to look back at Sawyer. He gazed out the window, biting his bottom lip as his leg bounced up and down.

“Chéri, are you all right?”

He glanced to me and then back out the window. Releasing a heavy breath, he softly said, “It’s not a nice area I live in.”

“We do not judge, Sawyer. You don’t need to worry about what we think. All we wish to do is help you, and if you will allow us, we would like to take a look around.”

He nibbled on his thumbnail and looked at Blaze before his eyes landed on me.

“They could be there,” he whispered. “Tomorrow is usually the night they collect the money, but sometimes they come early and before I finish work to threaten Miss Cora and Arlo. My wallet’s in my car back down the street where you saw me.

I didn’t want to carry it with me in case… .” His bottom lip trembled.

In case he hadn’t been imagining being watched and was attacked or taken.

“Henri?” Blaze wanted to know what we were talking about.

Sawyer leaned over, moaning like he was in pain.

“Can I tell him, chéri?” When the boy nodded, I rested back in my seat and spoke to Blaze about Sawyer’s past and how there could be loan sharks waiting at the apartment.

Blaze grunted, glancing at the rearview mirror and back to the road. “It’ll get sorted.”

“I don’t want my trouble to?—”

“Kid,” Blaze called, stopping Sawyer. “You’re one of us. We take care of our own in all fuckin’ situations. This’ll be nothing I can’t handle, so don’t even worry about me dealing with this.”

“I can’t ask?—”

“You ain’t asking, Sawyer. If they’re there, I’ll have a nice friendly chat with them while Henri gets you and Arlo out.

Hell, we’ll take the old lady neighbor too if we have to.

We’ll make sure everyone in your life is safe.

You’ve done a fuckin’ good job at dealing with all this shit on your own, kid. But no more. We’re here to help.”

A strangled sound escaped Sawyer right before he started sobbing. Covering his face, he curled into himself.

“Fuck, did I say something wrong?” Blaze asked, worry clear in his tone.

“Non, mon amour. It was perfect,” I told him before I kissed his cheek, undid my belt, and climbed through to the back where I pulled Sawyer into my arms. “Oh, sweet boy, we have your back from now on. You and Arlo are no longer alone. I promise, chéri. We are here.” I looked at Blaze.

“And I am sure that if they are there and see Blaze covered in blood, they will know what fear is.”

Blaze grunted, studying his clothes for a moment.

Sawyer snorted, then sniffed, wiping at his face. “I hope you’re right. But… they’re scary, too, Henri.”

I brushed hair from his face and cupped his cheek, swiping the tears away with my thumb. “No matter who they are, I know my Blaze will be able to sort this out quickly. Besides, they may not even be there. Either way, we will resolve the issue. You believe in us, oui?”

He whimpered, but he also nodded.

“I am glad.” I hugged him tightly against me again. “You are not used to having people care about you, are you, chéri?”

Another sob caught in his throat as his hands tightened on my arm that was wrapped around him. I felt him shake his head against my neck.

“You will now have to get used to it for me. You and Arlo are stuck with Blaze and me. And I am sure we won’t be the only ones caring about you. Supporting and helping you. We want to be there, chéri. Will you let us?”

For a moment, he said nothing, just kept sniffing and wiping at his face, but his tears wouldn’t stop. My heart lodged in my throat, anxious he would tell us to just leave him alone.

But then, finally, the sweet boy nodded. “Okay,” he whispered.

This poor child had been through so much already in his short life.

“Kid, we’re pulling up now,” Blaze said as he slowed the car and stopped at the curb out front of a building that had seen better days. The paint was peeling off, boards were falling apart, and the garden was unkept.

Sawyer drew in an unsteady breath and straightened. He once again scrubbed at his face.

“You can stay here. You just need to tell us where?—”

“No, please. Let me come.”

“Okay, chéri.” We all exited the car and the noise from the building amped up; music, loud voices, and to go with it all was a strong scent of weed.

Blaze’s gaze shot to a vehicle pulling to a stop behind ours.

When the lights turned off, I saw who was behind the wheel. The door opened, and Loyal climbed out with a thinned-lip frown as he looked around.

“What’s he doing here?” Sawyer whispered harshly. He took a step away, shaking his head. “No. He can’t be here. Not him. No.”

Loyal paused upon seeing Sawyer’s reaction.

Blaze stepped forward and in front of Sawyer as the boy tried to catch his breath. I moved beside Sawyer, rubbing his back.

“Did Loyal do something to upset you, chéri?”

“What? No!”

“Then why do you not want him here? He could help Blaze if there is trouble. You and I both know we aren’t the strongest tools in the shed.

The smartest, oui, but not the strongest. I can throat punch a bully, but I would also hurt my hand in the process.

I do not want that. You do not want that, and Blaze especially does not want that because I am the worst patient. However, if you wish Loyal to leave….”

He shook his head quickly, heat hitting his cheeks.

He shifted closer and whispered, “I didn’t want him to see where I lived.

” He gave me eyes that wished I understood more than he was saying, and I believed I read him right.

Sawyer had a big fat crush on Loyal and wanted to hide the life he had been dealing with.

Unfortunately, he didn’t understand that Loyal was also smitten and was ready to take care of what was his. However, sweet Sawyer was not ready to deal with Loyal’s emotions just yet.

I smiled and nodded. “He will not care, chéri. This I promise. Loyal wishes you and Arlo safe like Blaze and I do.”

He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “Okay.”

“Loyal,” Blaze called, tipping his chin up the brother’s way.

“Yo,” he called as he approached. “What’s happenin’?”

“How come you were tailing us?” Blaze asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Saw you guys leavin’ the compound. Just wanted to make sure you got home all right.”

That was very sweet.

“We’re just getting Sawyer home. Check the place and see how his brother, Arlo, is,” Blaze explained.

“Cool.” He tried to look at Sawyer, but the kid stayed behind Blaze with his head down. “You think I can meet Arlo, Sawyer?”

The boy’s eyes shot to mine, wide and worried. I shrugged.

He opened his mouth and closed it, then took a breath. “I… all right.”

“Let’s go,” Blaze said.

At the entrance, Blaze shifted to the side and looked to Sawyer.

Sawyer stared back. Then he looked at me, Loyal, and Blaze again. “What?”

“The code for the door, chéri.”

His cheeks flushed as he stepped forward and pushed the door open.

Blaze wasn’t the only one whose expression had darkened, but it was he who asked, “Who’s the fuckin’ landlord of this place?”

To my surprise, Sawyer jutted his chin out and up. “He’s an old man who can’t afford to fix everything, but it’s a roof over our heads at a cheaper rate because of those repairs needed. You leave him alone.”

We all stared at him.

My lips twitched, but I covered it with my hand. Loyal had to look away, and I knew he thought Sawyer snapping at Blaze was cute too. But I also loved seeing it; his actions showed how he didn’t fear my big beast. He was accepting us and confronting us.

It was beautiful to see.

Blaze reached out and ruffled Sawyer’s hair before he stepped into the building. “What floor?”

“The top.” Blaze and Loyal made their way to the elevator, until Sawyer cleared his throat. They turned, and Sawyer shook his head. “That hasn’t worked since I’ve been here.”

Their jaws clenched in unison.

“How many stories are in here?”

Sawyer winced. “Four.”

These boys had been climbing up and down four flights of stairs every day and night.

“What about your elderly neighbor?”

“The top floor too. She can do it. She’s fit for sixty-five, but I also help her out by getting her things from down the street because she doesn’t have a car.”

Blaze’s nostrils flared. “Wait,” he ordered and then he took Loyal’s arm and pulled him off to the side, whispering things.

“What’s he saying?” Sawyer asked me quietly.

“He’s probably warning Loyal about what could be happening up on the top floor.” Since it was so far away, it was hard to hear through the other noises coming from within apartments.

Sawyer dropped his gaze, curling his shoulders in.

“Okay.” He disliked Loyal knowing what had happened in his life and was likely worried Loyal would think him weak.

But he was not. He was the strongest boy I knew at his age.

His parents passed away, and he stepped up to take care of everything.

I was sure Sawyer wouldn’t be the only one who would do the same in this situation, but there were also many who wouldn’t.

Arlo was lucky to have Sawyer as his brother.

“Let’s go,” Blaze announced before he started for the stairs. Sawyer and I followed while Loyal took up the rear.

There were a few things we had to step over, like trash, but we ignored them all and kept moving.

On the third set of stairs, I was huffing and puffing.

Loyal snorted. “You need more cardio, Henri.”

“Fuck off, chéri. I get my workout in when Blaze screws my brains out.”

“Yeah, but I do all the work,” Blaze announced. He stopped, looked at Sawyer, and was that a hint of a blush showing under these dim lights? “Sorry, kid.”

Sawyer blinked and started laughing. He looked at me. “He does realize I’m a sex worker, right?”

I grinned. “But in our eyes, you are but a little boy who shouldn’t hear those types of conversations come from us. Sorry, I should not?—”

Sawyer groaned. “Please don’t. I work at an escort agency run by bikers. I’ve heard worse things. Maybe don’t talk about it in front of Arlo, but I’m not a child. I’m only a few years younger than Loyal.”

“Six years,” Loyal said. Like he had done the math many times already.

It was my turn to groan. I shoved at Blaze to keep moving. “You both make me feel so old. How are you faring, mon amour?”

“Fine since I’m not the one panting like I’ve done a marathon.”

“Shut up, you big ogre, or I will?—”

A loud bang sounded above, and someone yelled, “Open the fucking door, you old bitch.”

Sawyer gasped, pressing a hand to his stomach.

Blaze tore off, bounding up the stairs, his heavy feet slapping hard to the ground to reach the fourth floor.

Sawyer and I rushed behind him, and Loyal was close to our backs.

Once out the stairwell door, we rounded a corner to see two men down on their knees trying to pick the lock on the door and five others standing around.

“That’s them,” Sawyer whispered.

“Back the fuck off,” Blaze snarled, starting for the group.

There were many of them and only two of us who could actually fight.

Loyal shifted Sawyer and me off to the side. “Wait there,” he ordered.

“It’s Sawyer,” one guy called. “And he’s brought some muscle with him.”

Another laughed. “Fat lot that’ll do.”

The first one shifted more our way since Blaze was nearly on them. “Hold the fuck on, big guy. Your little pussy owes us money. You don’t want to get in the middle of this.”

Blaze pulled his arm back, and it flew forward as he said, “I really do.”

One punch and the guy hit the ground with a thud. Another launched at him, but Blaze just picked him up and threw him on the dirty carpet while Loyal slipped in to break some fingers while disarming the ones who tried to use a weapon against Blaze.

They whimpered and cried out, slipping to sit on their asses in the hallway. No one landed a single blow on Blaze or Loyal. They moved in sync and took them all out in one way or another.

“Wow,” Sawyer breathed.

“Oh yes. Wow indeed.” I nodded.

I was going to suck Blaze’s brains out through his dick for making me all hot and needy from watching his gorgeous body move while making people pay.

When the fighting stopped, the only noises in the hallway were of the loan sharks who were still conscious and moaning, holding their hands to their chest.

Blaze stomped back to the first guy and picked him up, shaking him. “Quit fuckin’ faking.”

The guy’s eyes went wide. He struggled and tried to kick Blaze, but Loyal drew a gun and pressed it to the guy’s temple.

“We’re gonna have a nice conversation,” Blaze said.

The snort escaped me, and I quickly slapped a hand over my mouth.

“You two, inside with Arlo,” Blaze ordered. “No one touches them,” he warned.

I took Sawyer’s hand, and we made our way toward Miss Cora’s place, stepping over bodies and watching the others who were awake but too scared to move.

At the door, I reached up and knocked. “Bonjour, Miss Cora. It is safe out here now. I have Sawyer with me, and we would like to see Arlo.”

“Child, no,” I heard Cora say.

“It’s okay. That’s Henri,” Arlo told her.

“I’m here too, Miss Cora. It’s safe,” Sawyer called.

There was some unlocking before the door swung open to reveal a happy Arlo and a concerned Miss Cora.

Arlo cried, “Henri.” He ran forward and hugged me around the waist, clogging my throat with warm emotions.

I cupped the back of his head to me. “Sweet Arlo, it is good to see you.”

He tipped his head back and smiled up at me, but then something caught his attention, and he shifted away to take in the hallway. His mouth and eyes went wide.

“Inside,” Blaze ordered.

Arlo’s gaze snapped to Blaze, and he waved. Blaze tipped his chin up, lips twitching.

Sawyer took hold of Arlo’s shoulders and moved him back around and into the apartment. I quickly followed, leaving my lover to do what he had to, to make sure no one bothered these people again.