Full Circle (7 page)

“When will Mr. Sydney arrive?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Would you like to see your stepson?”

“Is that necessary? Isn’t he doped up from the surgery?”

“Well, yes, but I….”

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“I’ll see him tomorrow.” She picked up her purse. “I’m

going home. It’s late and I really need a few hours’ rest. I trust someone on the staff can call me if there is a serious problem.” Her tone as well as her words made it clear she

didn’t give a damn about Max. Jaylin glared at her, but she didn’t notice, or pretended she didn’t, as the doctor nodded.

“Of course, Ms. Sydney.”

Satisfied with the doctor’s answer, she turned her cool

eyes to Jaylin. “I would suggest you see Max now, if that’s what you want, young man. And I would use it as a chance

to say goodbye. As soon as my husband arrives, I assure

you, he will limit your access to Max.”

“No one can keep us from each other.”

“You think so?”

“I love Max and he loves me.”

“Love? Please. Max’s father will never allow him to be a

fag.”

Jaylin winced, because Trent and Greg had repeatedly

used that word before and during the assault and it made

him ill.

“Don’t use that word.” Jaylin blinked, as his mother

moved to stand in front of him, her arms folded over her

chest. “Don’t use that word to describe Max or my son.

Neither of them deserved to suffer what happened tonight.

Max is a good boy, the same as Jaylin is, and you should

respect them and, at the moment, you should find a way to

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express some compassion.” Kayla’s voice was hard with

anger; it was obvious Maryann Sydney had crossed a line,

and the way the blonde paled slightly suggested she knew it wouldn’t be wise to provoke her further.

Clearly desperate for an escape, Maryann nodded at the

doctor once more and moved down the hall, her high heels

clicking loudly. Watching her go, Jaylin sighed.

Forcing the things Maryann said from his mind, he

looked at the doctor. “Could I please go sit with him?”

“Of course. Follow me.”

“I’ll wait here for you.” His mother squeezed his hand

and he nodded, knowing it would be just about pointless to

tell her to go on home, because she wouldn’t leave him. “Go sit with Max and don’t worry, sweetheart. Everything will be just fine.”

Jaylin wasn’t certain he believed that. He had no idea

how anything could be fine, especially if what Maryann had

said was true, but he followed after the doctor, who guided him down a long hall and finally paused in front of a closed door.

“He is sedated. If he wakes up, it won’t be for long.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

“Have you been examined, son?”

“Someone looked at me, but I wasn’t hurt. Not like

Max.”

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The doctor nodded, leaving him. Jaylin drew in a breath,

pushing the door open and quietly stepping inside.

A dim light fixture above the bed provided the only light

in the room, but it was bright enough for Jaylin to clearly see Max as he went to the bed and sank down into a stiff chair.

He could feel a rush of fresh tears burn his eyes and he

didn’t make even a token effort to stop them, as he reached for Max’s hand, holding it gently.

His head was bandaged and his face was covered with

bruises. His wrists were wrapped— they had been cut badly

by the handcuffs—and his chest and back were also

wrapped in white gauze. What skin that wasn’t horribly

bruised and discolored seemed unnaturally pale and he

recalled what the doctor had said about the amount of blood he had lost.

He really could have died. I could have lost him tonight.

He suffered so much. And tonight, it was supposed to be
special. Somehow, I’ve got to make all of this up to him.

Holding Max’s hand, he cried openly. He couldn’t help

it. Everything kept replaying itself, again and again, like some twisted movie he wanted to turn off but couldn’t. He

would never find a way to put the sound of Max’s screams

from his memory. And it would be worse for Max. He was so

badly hurt, he certainly wouldn’t be able to finish the

baseball season, and if he didn’t heal properly, he would

never play football or baseball again.

His father was going to be so furious, and not because

he cared about Max.

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What if Maryann is right? What if Chad tries to keep us
apart? What will we do?

He shook the thought away, brushing at his tears, as a

low moan sounded and he watched, holding his breath, as

Max’s eyes fluttered several times, before finally opening

completely.

“Jay.”

“I’m here, baby. Right here. It’s okay. I swear, you’re

safe now.”

He swallowed hard and winced. “You…did they…?”

“No. No, they didn’t hurt me.”

His eyes closed. “Good. Don’t…don’t want you hurt….”

He opened his eyes again and fresh tears slipped down

Jaylin’s cheek as he lifted the hand he held to his lips,

kissing it gently. After all he had suffered, Max was worried about him. “So tired….” Another low moan escaped him and

Jaylin kissed his hand again.

“Close your eyes and sleep, baby. I’ll stay here. I won’t

leave you.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. No one can make me leave you. Ever. I love

you.”

Max tried to speak, only to have the words fade as he

drifted off to sleep again, but Jaylin knew what he had been trying to say.

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He wants me to know he loves me and that’s all that

matters. I won’t let anyone keep us from what we are meant
to have together.

They had faced hell and they were alive and while they

weren’t completely back from the brink, Jaylin assured

himself they would be.

All they needed was time, because they already had

their love.

That had to be enough.

AT seven o’clock the next morning, Max was still asleep and Jaylin left him long enough to go to the bathroom and get a cup of coffee.

His mother tried to get him to eat something, but he

refused. He wasn’t certain his stomach could handle food.

He still felt ill. And he was so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. But Max needed him, and he wasn’t about to

leave Max.

Walking back down the hall, toward Max’s room, he

stopped when he saw a striking figure standing just outside the door. Jaylin felt his heart fall to his stomach.

Chad Sydney had arrived.

He was dressed in an expensive-looking three-piece suit

and, as he approached, Jaylin realized Chad and Max had

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similar eyes, but Max’s eyes were warm where Chad’s

seemed cold and angry when they turned on Jaylin.

“Mr. Sydney….”

“Don’t you fucking speak to me, you fag.” He jabbed a

finger in Jaylin’s direction. “I heard about what happened. I know you…you somehow pulled my son into your sick

lifestyle, and look what happened to him as a result! All of this falls on your shoulders.” His eyes blazed, his face was red, it looked as if he might have a heart attack he was so angry, and Jaylin nearly shivered because Chad seemed just

as hate-filled and crazy as Trent or Greg.

Mind reeling, wondering why he hadn’t better prepared

himself for this moment, Jaylin was fairly certain he

wouldn’t be able to find a way to reason with Chad.

“I didn’t…. There’s nothing wrong with me or Max or

what we feel for each other.”

“Bullshit. It’s sick. And disgusting.”

“It’s not. And Max…. This happened because Greg and

Trent are sick….”

Chad waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, I am fully

disgusted by everything those two did to my son, but none of it would ever have happened if you hadn’t turned Max into a fag.”

“Don’t use that word!”

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“Don’t tell me what to do! I give orders. And you listen.”

He took a step closer and Jaylin couldn’t help himself; he

took a retreating step back. “My son is a mess. He may never play football, or baseball again and I’m not even certain he will recover enough to finish high school or start college on time and I blame you for that.”

“Mr. Sydney….”

“I don’t want to know exactly what happened between

you and Max.”

“I wouldn’t give you the details. Because they aren’t any

of your business.”

“Smartass, aren’t you?”

“I love your son.” Jaylin found strength to face the man.

“And he loves me. And now, this isn’t how Max wanted you

to find out. He…he didn’t deserve what happened. He is a

good person, better than you could ever hope to be, and I will not allow you to make what we have seem ugly or wrong,

because it’s not.”

“Young man, you will never see my son again.”

“You can’t…,”

“I can!”

Terrified, Jaylin shook his head. He was close to a panic

when a hand touched his back. He looked to find his mother

there.

“I would thank you not to raise your voice to my son.”

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“Lady, I’ll do a lot more than raise my voice to your

faggot son if he ever comes near Max again, so you keep him away.” The elder Sydney glared down at Kayla, who stared

back at him without so much as flinching.

“They are adults.”

“I really don’t care.” His eyes returned to Jaylin. “Get

out! Now!”

“I want to see Max!”

“Too fucking bad. Get out. Or I will have security throw

you out.”

Jaylin shook his head. He wanted to argue, but he knew

he couldn’t. He couldn’t fight this man and win. At least

now. He needed time. He needed to get his thoughts in order and decide what to do, what to say. He had to find a way to make Max’s father understand how much he loved his son,

how they loved and needed each other.

“I’ll go. For now. But I’ll come back.”

He turned then, walking down the hall with his mother

at his side, well aware that Chad watched him and hated

him. But Jaylin didn’t care.

He would fight anyone who dared to stand between him

and his love.

I’ll be back, Max. Don’t worry. I’ll be back and we’ll be
together, I swear.

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FIVE hours after Chad Sydney arrived at the hospital, he

had made a dozen calls, securing the necessary

arrangements.

By this time tomorrow, Max would be on the other side

of the country in a rehabilitation center where he would get the help he needed. And more importantly, he would be well

away from his so-called boyfriend. No chance would that

bastard get near his son again. He didn’t care what Max, or Jaylin, or anyone else said: Max would never have been in

harm’s way if he hadn’t gotten involved with that prissy

bastard.

Max wasn’t gay. No way was his son gay. He wouldn’t

stand for it, wouldn’t allow it. He would realize that, once he was away from Jaylin’s twisted influence. He couldn’t even

place much blame on Trent and Greg. They had obviously

been provoked, likely by Jaylin. Max had suffered and Chad

was furious.

And determined.

Max’s disgusting relationship with Jaylin Ryan was

over, even if Jaylin and Max didn’t realize it just yet.

Sliding his cell phone back into his pocket, Chad went

into Max’s room, to find he was finally fully awake, sitting up in bed. He was reclined against some pillows and he looked

like hell. Chad and the doctors had already engaged in

several long discussions and he knew it would take months

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legs and his ankle were mended, he would need intense and

painful physical therapy.

Football and baseball were out of the question, as was

Duke, which pissed Chad off more than anything, but what

was done was done and he couldn’t change the past.

But he could and he would direct the future.

Pausing at the foot of the bed, Chad glared at his son,

until Max lowered his eyes, staring at his hands and the

bandages on his wrist.

“I don’t even know where to begin, Max. Needless to say,

I am disappointed.”

“Where’s Jaylin?”

Eyes narrowing, Chad remained silent, until Max looked

at him again. “Jaylin isn’t here and I for one do not care

where he is at. He’s a bastard and you will never speak to

him or see him again.”

“But, Dad….”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it. Besides, I know

enough.” His hands gripped the footboard of the bed until

his knuckles ached. “I know you have been involved in some

sort of relationship with a fag and it ends. I don’t care what you think or what Jaylin told you, because you are not gay. I will not stand for it, young man.”

“My being gay isn’t something you can decide. It’s a fact.

It’s part of me.”

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“It’s a sickness.”

Max shook his head, but winced in obvious pain. “I

knew you would react badly and because I knew that, I put