Twelve Abel

That. Was. Fucking. Insane.

It was the hardest I'd ever come. Twice. I could still see spots seconds after I milked the last drop of jizz out of my dick. I'd fantasized about my dad's best friend since I discovered jacking off, but tonight was a hundred times better. I pictured Tobias's hard body against my back, one of his hands wrapped around my chest while the other gripped my hip to keep me in place as he came inside me while uttering filthy words in my ear. For someone who'd never been fucked, I had a vivid imagination. I'd messed around with a guy before, but he'd been plucked out of our group before we had the chance to go all the way. But if being railed by Tobias in real life was half as incredible as what I envisioned, sign me the fuck up. Dreaming was free, after all; one thing this oppressive reality could never take away from me. I could've gone for another round, but I had to clean up and wait to see if Tobias would show up.

I quietly descended from the top bunk, my feet landing softly on the warm concrete floor. My body was covered in cum from blowing my load onto my stomach, and with sweat from the unseasonably warm evening. I placed my hand below my belly button to catch my dripping spunk. I fucking loved the heat. It beat the cold, which I hated. I glanced around the room, making sure I hadn't woken any of the guys from my little display. They wouldn't mind anyway; we were young and always horny. Beating off was a common occurrence, especially in the shower.

I tiptoed past a sleeping Seven and entered the bathroom without turning any lights on. Inviting unnecessary attention toward our room, especially this late, could only lead to dire consequences. I twisted the shower knob and let the water run until it was just the right temperature. I lathered my body with soap, avoiding my semi-chub that was one tug away from a full salute. I leaned back against the tile, thankful for the coolness that grounded me from the high of my Tobias-induced orgasm.

With my eyes closed, questions flooded my mind about the new world around me and my place in it. "What do we do now?" I whispered, waiting for the empty space to tell me something. I tried to listen but heard nothing. I yearned for the day when I was no longer a chess piece in The Creed's game, not a number but a person. I wanted my life to matter.

I quickly rinsed off as soon as the sound of footsteps approached the bathroom door. He was here.

A half-naked Tobias bumped into me when I cornered the shower stall. "Fuck," I cursed. I hadn't expected him to be waiting behind the darkest corner of the room. His body was as hard as I imagined. He smelled amazing too, intoxicating my senses with the scent of spice, wood, and citrus mixed with sweat and musk.

Tobias didn't speak but simply stared; something I noticed he did a lot. While staring into his mismatched eyes, I wondered how he'd look smiling. His body was damp, glistening from sweat and perhaps water from our body contact. My suspicion from earlier was confirmed: he was covered in tattoos. The black ink made him appear more seductive and extra intriguing. We were about the same height, but he had a good fifteen to twenty pounds of delicious muscle on me. Who knew I was into veiny arms? And those nipples. I'd love to run my tongue over them, biting, sucking.

I gripped the towel wrapped around my waist tighter when it loosened from my growing erection. This would be the second time he'd witness me with a boner. I didn't want him to think I was always horny; walking around sporting a fatty, always ready to rub one out. Often overlooked and underestimated, my desire to prove my worth had never been stronger.

Tobias's eyes raked over my body from head to toe. We were so close. His eyebrows shot up when my undeniable excitement brushed against his pants. He staggered back, shaking his head.

I should be careful. I had teased one of the straight guys last year and was met with a black eye. With Tobias's size, he could knock me out with one slug.

"Get dressed, I need to talk to you," he whispered.

Right. He was here to talk, not to serve as my eye candy. "You okay?" I asked. Tobias appeared confused and all over the place; so different to the man who faced off with Napoleon earlier. He averted his eyes to the cement floor, his eyebrows knitted together, avoiding all further contact. I shouldn't care. He was none of my business. I had enough troubles of my own. Thinking about Tobias was a waste of energy, no matter how fun it made me feel.

"Me? Am I okay?" He frowned.

"Yeah, you," I said, nodding toward him.

"You ain't gotta worry about me. Can you just hurry the fuck up? I'll wait outside. And be quiet," he added, before marching out, somehow moving with authority without making a sound.

What a dick. I obeyed, curious about what he had to say and why he was here. So, begrudgingly, I pulled on my pants and made my way out.

"Where do you wanna go?" I asked.

Tobias leaned against the wall near the door looking like a god, one leg bent and the sole of his boot pressed against the wall. "Where's your shirt?" he asked. Not even the dark hallways could hide his perusal—the second time I'd caught him checking me out. Maybe he was interested. Wishful thinking.

"Why?" I asked, wincing as my loud voice carried through the corridors. "It's hot as Hades out here."

He dashed toward me, swift and stealthy. "I told you to be quiet." His face was inches from mine. The soft light coming from the bedroom reflected on a small metal orb inside his mouth. Holy fuck! Tobias's tongue was pierced. Tattoos and a piercing. Yes fucking please. I'd been so distracted by his ripped body that I hadn't even noticed the bling in his mouth. Such a shame he was straight and associated with Orcus, the man I despised. I could please him six days from Sunday.

I mimed zipping my lips shut and throwing away the imaginary key. Messing with Tobias was becoming my new favorite pastime.

He grabbed my arm, dragging me with him. "Follow me," he whispered, pulling a key out of his pocket.

"I know how to fucking walk," I hissed through gritted teeth, yanking my arm from his grasp. How could this man turn me on, amuse me, and piss me off in the span of ten seconds?

"Then start walking," Tobias grumbled, motioning to the hallway leading to the exit.

"Are you crazy?" Those barred gates were off limits, and breaking the rules came with a hefty punishment. I promised myself to never give the guards reasons to reprimand me nor to raise any suspicion.

"Why?"

"I can't go there." I crossed my arms, my feet planted in place. "No fucking way I'm going out there."

"Abel, why?"

"We're not allowed to. The guards will kick my ass again if they find out."

His face darkened; sharp lines appeared on his jaw. "I'm not gonna let them do that to you."

"I don't know about this …"

"Abel. I'll break their bones if they lay their hands on you. I promise."

His words filled me with warmth, but it didn't change who he was and his role in all of this. People didn't care about me often. Around here, we were nothing but a revolving door of guys; dispensable, replaceable, and expendable. We could disappear and no one would ever look for us. It had happened to the guys before me and would happen to those who followed. A diabolic cycle I hoped to break. I couldn't remember how many times I'd asked about the guys they took from the compound, but the answer was always the same: none of my business.

"What are you waiting for? Go," Tobias instructed.

"Shit." I cast a glance behind me before taking another step. This could blow up in my face, undermining the progress I'd made.

"No one is out here," he said, reading my mind.

My eyes darted around nervously as I followed Tobias outside and deeper into the woods. We moved in stealth, creeping with our backs against the walls, avoiding the cameras installed outside the building until we were out of their line of view. We crouched behind a stack of weathered crates when a duo of guards replaced the tandem manning the entrance to the warehouse.

Tobias moved silently, his form almost melting into the shadows. Every step he took was calculated, avoiding loose rocks and dried leaves that could betray our presence. He moved like a fucking ghost.

It was as if he'd done this a million times before.

The darkness closed in around us; the only sounds were our breathing and the distant hoot of an owl. I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. I was involved, after all. All I had was bad luck. "Are you sure there aren't cameras here?"

"Yes." Tobias finally came to a halt, and the moonlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting haunting silhouettes across his face.

"How do you know?" I couldn't make out his expression, but I felt his gaze.

"I checked," he answered, shrugging. The silence hung heavy between us, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind through the leaves. What did Tobias have to say that required us to be out here in the middle of the night?

"What do you want from me?" This was the last place I wanted to be: high risk with no payout.

"I need you to tell me where the rest of your family is."

Why did he care? "I don't need to tell you anything." Their location wasn't a secret. All he had to do was ask his buddies.

"Don't test me, boy." Tobias's expression was resolute: pressed lips, locked jaw. "Where are they?"

"Why do you wanna know?" I was learning that he had two demeanors: enraged and more enraged.

"Because I made a promise to Oliver."

That statement didn't sit well with me. The mention of Dad made me see red. "Don't you dare say his name. Dad trusted you, and you know how much he hated this place."

Tobias appeared undeterred by my outburst. He remained stoic and composed. His expression didn't waver as he continued to eye me.

"Does he even know you're here?" I doubted my dad knew. He would've told us if he'd known.

Again, Tobias's eyes bounced between my lips and eyes. He was hiding something, and I didn't care to find out. He was one of them and he needed to be treated like one. "There are things you don't understand," he said.

"Like what?"

"Listen, kid—"

"Don't fucking call me kid. I'm not a kid," I fumed. Was that why he wouldn't tell me? Because he thought I couldn't handle it? "And don't you fucking treat me like one." I stood toe-to-toe with him to prove that I could take him and the truth. "Now you tell me, Uncle Tobias, where is my dad?"

"Don't call me uncle." He shook his head, fuming and turning his back on me. "I'm not your fucking uncle." I didn't know what the big deal was. My sister and I used to call him that when we were younger. Mom and Dad told us to call him that. Tobias faced me. "Don't ever call me uncle." Discomfort pinched his handsome face. "Never again, boy!"

"Fuck you!" I turned to walk away.

"You better watch your mouth," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back toward him.

"Or else what?" His lips were inches from touching mine. Our panting intensified, our breaths fusing into one.

"Abel, I told you. This is serious." Tobias let go of my hand and stepped back, keeping me at arm's length.

I narrowed my eyes as I clenched my fists. "And you think I'm a joke?" I snapped. "You think I'm too dumb?"

"That's not what I meant," he said, his harsh tone softening.

"What did you mean then? And don't you dare tell me I'm too young to understand."

He sighed in surrender. "I just need to get you and your family out of here safely."

My irritation diminished slightly, but it didn't change anything. "Are we in danger?" I asked. Did Tobias know something we didn't? Was he actually on our side, or was he gathering info for Orcus?

"I don't know, but your dad was never sold on all of this." He gestured around us.

I knew that. "I can't leave. Yet." I had responsibilities.

"Why?" The lines on his forehead deepened.

"I just can't." I didn't know if I could trust him. I didn't know him. Life in these walls had taught me to never let my guard down.

"I don't think that's up to you, Abel. I'll drag you out of here if I have to."

"I'd like to see you try," I said, calling his bluff.

"You want to be treated like an adult? Then act like one."

"Don't you have better things to do?" I asked. "What does your wife think about you being here?"

Tobias's face darkened into such a profound sadness that I instantly regretted bringing her up. Maybe she left him. His eyes turned gloomy and distant before he slipped on the mask of indifference.

I couldn't let his presence affect me anymore. My family needed me here. "I'll keep your secrets," I said. "You can stay or go, but I'm not leaving. Not until we're ready."