Rivals ? - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Nervously, Juice twisted the skull on his thumb. The past ten minutes he had walked to the window five times to see if Raine was coming. This felt wrong. So wrong. Inviting Raine over because his club wanted information from him. Since Clay had given him this task yesterday, it had been the only thing on his mind. He had no idea how to get this done, but the last thing he wanted was Raine being violently interrogated by his brothers. Perhaps Raine could think of a solution, an answer with which his club wouldn't feel betrayed. Or maybe, he would become furious when he found out that Juice had agreed with this plan.
As the doorbell finally rung, his heart was racing in his chest. How could he think the worst was over now their clubs knew about them? He had the feeling that it was only starting now; only now, their love was tested. His insides seemed to slosh through his body as he reached the front door and opened it. Hoping that Raine's smile would melt away his insecurities, he looked up to his boyfriend. He wasn't smiling. His face was pale and there was no spark in his eyes. Even though he had seen him yesterday, it felt like weeks had passed.
Raine didn't look at him as he walked past him. Juice closed the door behind him and grabbed his hand before he could walk to the living room. With an empty look in his eyes, Raine looked over his shoulder. A terrible feeling came over him. His glance reminded him of the days after his sister's passing.
Juice pulled his boyfriend in his arms and held him tight, especially when Raine pushed his body against his. Pressing his face against Juice's shoulder, he breathed heavily. Juice laid a soft kiss on his temple. What on Earth had happened to him? Did they kick him out? His response to Juice's invitation had been short, but he hadn't given it a second thought.
"Hey... What's going on baby?"
"They're a bunch of assholes," he muttered.
The words ached his heart. Juice didn't pry further, he rubbed soothing circles on Raine's back and ignored the bruises on his own body. For a long time they were just standing there, until Raine's breathing slowed down and his grasp became looser.
After a deep sigh, he let go of Juice. "Sorry for this dramatic entrance. Today was just really shitty."
As Raine pulled back his arms, Juice noticed the bandage on his left forearm. He decided not to mention it yet and led Raine to the kitchen where he poured them a drink.
"Have you eaten already?" Juice asked.
It was 8.30. He himself had grabbed a quick bite a while ago.
"I wasn't hungry," Raine muttered, slamming the drink.
"You gotta eat something," Juice said, keeping to himself how terrible he looked. "I'll make you some burgers."
Raine offered him a tired smile to show his gratitude before sitting down on the couch. Juice watched him worried while he took rolls from the fridge and put the burgers in the frying pan.
. . .
Raine didn't say much the whole evening. Juice didn't even dare to bring up Clay's words. The silence between them was anything but comfortable. Usually Raine was very open; Juice never had to try to get him to talk and that why he wasn't sure if he should push for it. The consequence of not knowing however was that he was getting all kinds of horrible ideas. Countless scenarios played his mind and he couldn't stop his brain unless he did something about it. Snuggling up to his lover on the couch, he took Raine's hand. With his thumb, he traced the edge of the bandage.
"You want to tell me what happened?"
Raine's jaw clenched. "Go see for yourself," he grumbled.
Confused, Juice searched for his eyes. These were dark. Cold.
Carefully, Juice unwound the bandage until a fierce wound was revealed. It looked shiny because of the salve and a pungent smell came from it. Was it... His eyes shot to Raine's. "Did they... brand you?"
As Raine looked away, Juice caught a glimpse of tears on the edges of his eyes.
"I — I don't get it," Juice stammered. Why would they do that? "Did they — kick you out? They burn away our club tattoos... is this what your club does?" He tasted bile.
"It's a warning," Raine said.
Juice stared at the burn mark with the seize of a ping pong ball on the inside of Raine's arm, right below his wrist. It was an elongated cirkel with three curl-like symbols beneath it. In the middle of the oval he thought to distinguish the head of an animal — a dog?
He gave Raine a questioning look.
"It's a Mayan glyph. A dog — it symbolizes loyalty. A reminder of my loyalty to the club. Apparently, I need it." He sounded bitter. "El Perro. The dog. That's my nickname now. I can be seen as a loyal companion — or as a stray dog. Which one kills when it's vicious. And now, I have to prove which of those two I am. The lap dog or the stray dog."
Juice had no idea what to say. Shame was burning in his gut at the thought that he'd asked Raine to come here so he could try to get information from him. He didn't even dare to look at his boyfriend anymore. Quietly, he covered the wound.
"I told my brothers I want out," Juice said in the end. "I gotta stay for one more year to train a tech guy, then I can leave."
He bit his cheek. Was it was wise to tell him this? Wasn't it cruel, after how the Mayans had treated Raine? An apology burnt on his lips. Skittishly he looked up to his friend, not knowing what to say.
A small smile was tugging at Raine's lips. "I'm happy to hear that your brothers aren't assholes like mine."
"I thought the same hing," Juice muttered. He sighed. They may not have harmed him physically and he didn't wear a memory of so-called disloyalty for the rest of his life, but his president did threaten his boyfriend. "Until my president decided that it was a nice way to pressure me. He wants me to use our relationship to get intel. About some deal. I obviously said I wasn't going to do that, but then he said he would make you talk himself if I didn't listen — and that you wouldn't be able to talk after that anymore."
Bending his head, he stared at his knees. The thought that he had really considered to obey his President made him feel sick. Clay had been threatening Raine, but if Juice really got him to talk, he would be dead. By the hand of his own club."
Hollow laughter rolled over Raine's lips. "What a prick. Bet you gonna hear that many more times." The lines on his face became harsh. "But fine. Take me to him."
Juice stared at him. "W-what?"
He was kidding, right? Did he really plan to just walk into his rival's clubhouse?
"What do you think he's gonna do? Beat me to death? That president of yours ain't risking a gang war over me."
"Well he obviously isn't going to hug you," Juice mumbled.
Raine shrugged and got up from the couch. "I don't care if he's your president — even if he was the president of the United States; I won't allow him to use our relationship to pressure you."
Juice sucked at his bottom lip. The protectiveness that radiated from him filled him with warmth, but at the same time he was afraid that he would only make the situation ten times worse. As much as he loved Raine, he couldn't see himself walking into a clubhouse full of Mayans just to tell Marcus Alvarez how he thought about certain things. Not even now Raine was having a fucking burn mark on his arm. Was he a coward in Raine's eyes?
If he could, he would leave, together with Raine. Just move to another state or country. But they couldn't; Raine's family would have to leave too, if not they were in danger. Sammy and Elijah however had their own lives — and Juice didn't want to leave Mouse behind either. And what would that kind of life look like? They would always be on he run, they would always have to look over their shoulder. He didn't want that.
But having to hear threats like this, time and again — he neither wanted that. He didn't trust himself; perhaps one day, he would give in, if only because he was trying so hard to protect his boyfriend that he wasn't thinking clearly anymore.
Juice got up too. "I don't know Raine..."
Raine stood across from him, looking him straight in the eye. "I'm your boyfriend, Juice. I protect you and you protect me. Next time Clay wants to know something, he's going to ask me and he's going to leave you out of it." He leaned his forehead against Juice's. "I won't let our clubs turn us against each other. I won't. You and me — we're a team. And one way or the other, they're going to learn that."
Juice closed his eyes for a moment. A team.
The word sounded so unfamiliar to him. His whole life he was trying to fit in, to become part of something bigger. Cupping Raine's face with both his hands, he looked deep into his eyes. "I love you so much it's insane," Juice whispered. Something vibrated in his chest, he closed his eyes again and kissed him passionately. The love between them — it kept surprising him.
"I love you too, baby," Raine said after an intense kiss. "I love you too. And neither Son nor Mayan is ever going to change that."
Taking Juice's hand, he led him to the hallway. "It's time to have a serious conversation with that president of yours." Raine winked at him.
It gave Juice a little bit of courage. A little bit — for deep inside, a fear was growing with every step they took. Taking a Mayan to the clubhouse right now; he couldn't think of something more stupid to do.
And yet, that was exactly what they were going to do.