Justin wasn’t sure how long he walked around, but by time he finally became aware of his surroundings again, the sun was high in the sky and he was standing at the edges of a small park. The same park, his mind told him, that he and JC had spent time in the day JC’s parents had been killed. And today he’d almost killed JC, could have with nothing more than a flick of his wrist.
The anger was still coursing through him. And as he sat down on the soft grass, mind flashing back to the things JC had said, the look on his face, in his eyes, the arrogant smirk, Justin could feel that anger taking over again. It grabbed a hold of him, surging through his veins in a white-hot rush. And he knew he had to calm down, knew he couldn’t lose control sitting here in a park.
Taking a few deep breaths, he let his eyes slip closed. JC had done it on purpose, he knew. It was nothing new for smart-ass remarks to come out of JC’s mouth, directed at Justin. He knew each and every one of Justin’s buttons, and used that knowledge to his advantage as often as possible. Justin hated, despite his best efforts to keep himself apart from JC, that JC could still get to him so easily. But he’d never reacted like this before.
JC had said this was the kind of emotion that Justin needed to do the job Randy wanted him to do. But if feeling like this, feeling like his mind was running in ten different directions, feeling like his muscles, his entire body, was strung tight, feeling jumpy and scattered, then he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to do what his father wanted him to be able to do.
He knew he’d scared JC this afternoon. That, in itself, was slightly rewarding. There wasn’t much that scared JC. But he’d felt JC trembling against his chest, heard his sharp intake of breath followed by the shallow breathing as Justin had held the knife to his throat. But he’d scared himself as well. And he wasn’t sure that was something he’d be able to do again, especially without being provoked.
Sighing, Justin climbed to his feet. His hands were still shaking. He was jumpy and nervous and he needed to do something besides just sit here and think about what had almost happened, what he had almost done. It was only noon, but he needed a drink.
*****
JC slipped his hat off as he stepped out of the bright sunlight and into the dark warehouse. The Timberlake family has been involved in the import market for years. Randy’s grandfather had made a small fortune in his day, passing his money and his business down to his son, and then eventually to Randy. And although Randy led a different life than either his father or grandfather, he still held the trade market close. Not only did he make money off the business, but it also made importing bootlegged alcohol immensely easy. He already had all the facilities to hold anything that was imported and the crew to work at unloading it all. Plus the cover of legal goods for show.
Randy’s office was a long walk to the back of the warehouse and up a flight of stairs and JC nodded to the people he knew along his way. He’d calmed down considerably since this morning, putting off his report to Randy for as long as possible, but he knew it was time now. He just still wasn’t sure exactly what he was going to say. He knew Randy would ask about Justin. He always did. JC just wasn’t sure what answer he was prepared to give. On one hand, Justin had threatened JC, held a knife to his neck. Randy wouldn’t be pleased by that. But on the other hand, JC had provoked him enough to get a real reaction out of him. A reaction that, although directed at JC, would still, in some sense, make Randy proud. Proud because his son had finally found the emotions needed to do what was expected of him.
The two men, standing guard outside the door, nodded at JC as he knocked quickly and entered upon Randy’s answer from inside. Three men were seated with him. JC knew all of them, but didn’t really care at the moment to make small talk with any of them. With a simple motion of Randy’s hand, two of the three men stood and disappeared out the door. Jimmy Palotti was the only one who remained and JC knew whatever he was going to say would be said in front of Jimmy.
“Everything taken care of?” Randy asked after giving JC a quick hug. JC nodded as he sat down across from Randy. Joey had reported back to him not long after JC had taken off. They’d finished the job, like he knew they would, and disposed of the body in a place that Vanvino’s men would find it but the cops would not. That had been part of Randy’s plan. Let Vanvino know the Timberlake’s knew what was going on, know that Randy knew Vinny had double crossed them, and that they’d taken care of it.
As he relayed everything Vinny had told him, JC watched Randy’s face. Randy looked controlled as JC explained just how much information Vanvino had on them, how many plans he knew about, how many jobs were ruined because of the information that had been leaked, and how many names Vanvino now had that were connected with the Timberlake’s. But JC knew better, knew that the set face, the hands clasped together on the desk was all a façade. To most people, Randy looked like this didn’t really affect him at all. But JC knew him well enough to know this was how he controlled the anger he was feeling from bubbling over.
They talked for a while about what to do, how to take care of this. And although no concrete plans were made, JC knew Randy was working on it. Knew that he’d come up with a plan and let JC know when the time was right. And then, finally, it was time for him to answer the question he still wasn’t sure how to answer. Randy ran a hand over his face before meeting JC’s eyes once again.
“How’d Justin do?” JC swallowed thickly, fingers itching to run across the cut on his throat, but knew better than to draw attention to it unless he was prepared to explain where it came from. And he wasn’t so sure he was ready to explain that.
“He didn’t do much of anything. He stood there, just watching everything go down.” JC shrugged helplessly. Then, taking a deep breath, he started to talk again. “After I’d gotten all the information, I pulled him out of the alley and he,” JC paused. He couldn’t tell Randy. Not now, not yet. “He just took off.” He knew Justin would never confess to holding a knife to JC’s throat, so he was safe from Randy hearing about it from anyone else. “I haven’t seen him since.” Randy nodded solemnly, running a hand over his eyes again.
“I thought it might go something like that. That boy...” he shook his head and JC knew the conversation was over. He said goodbye to Randy and slipped back out of the office, a sigh slipping from his lips. Was he a coward for not telling Randy the truth? As he walked back out in the bright sunlight, he caught his reflection in a pane of glass from one of the windows. Yes, he told himself. He was a coward. He was more afraid of Randy finally believing in Justin than anything else. Including the fear he’d felt when Justin had held the knife to his throat. He was afraid of Randy finally putting Justin first in his professional life. Justin already held that spot in his personal life, and there was no way JC’d let him have it in the professional life too. If that made him a coward, then so be it.
*****
JC bowed toward the Alter as he entered the Church doors, fingers dipping automatically into the holy water and moving to cross himself. As he made his way up the aisle, prepared to pray for forgiveness of the sins he had committed today, he spied Justin sitting in a pew about halfway into the Church. His elbows were resting on his knees, hands folded in front of him, head bent in prayer. JC knew, even though Justin hadn’t done anything this morning, that he still felt he needed to pray, needed to be forgiven.
JC moved down the aisle and into the pew behind Justin. Kneeling down, JC folded his hands together on the pew in front of him, saying a quick pray of forgiveness before lifting his head and leaning forward slightly, mouth near Justin’s ear.
“Praying for you sins, baby J?” Justin’s head shot up and he turned, eyes meeting JC’s. JC saw the anger flash in his eyes for a moment, the same anger he’d pushed out of Justin this morning, but soon, as if Justin remembered exactly where he was, the anger faded and he turned back in his seat, bowing his head again.
They both sat quietly for a while, both absorbed in their prayers and in their own thoughts. JC could see the tense muscles across Justin’s back and it took all he had to keep the insults to himself. This wasn’t exactly the place for that. They were in the house of God and JC had more respect than that. JC finished praying, but didn’t move to sit back in the pew. Instead, he waited until he saw Justin unclasp his hands, knowing he too was done praying.
“You felt it this afternoon,” JC said, voice a whisper. It wasn’t a question and when he got no response from Justin except for a quick intake of breath, he continued. “You felt what it was like, the energy coursing through you, knowing you held a man’s life, my life, in your hands. Knowing you could have killed me with a simple movement of your hand.” He could hear Justin’s ragged breath, see the quick rise and fall of his chest. “How’d it feel, Justin?”
Again he got no response from Justin, but he hadn’t expected one. A smile slid across his face and he leaned in closer, mouth mere inches from Justin’s ear.
“You felt powerful, didn’t you?” He saw Justin clench his hands together on his lap, squeezing them tightly. “But you also felt fear. You were afraid of what happened. Afraid of the emotions that took over. Afraid what you could have done.”
“You were scared, too,” Justin hissed, head turning slightly so he could see JC’s eyes. Blue met blue and held, neither backing down, neither looking away. Emotions neither of them could name passed between them. “You were just as afraid as I was. I felt it, JC. I felt you shaking, felt your muscles tense. Felt your breath quicken.” Justin finally turned, eyes sliding away from JC’s. “You act tough, but today, underneath it all, I found a weakness. You’re not as brave as you like people to think.” He turned back, a sly smile now on his face. “And that pisses you off, doesn’t it? It pisses you off that I have something over you now, that I know your weakness. That I can use it to my advantage.”
JC cursed under his breath. He’d hoped Justin hadn’t caught that, didn’t know what power he held in his hands and that he could use it against JC. But there was nothing he could do about it now. It was already done. And he wouldn’t let Justin use it against him again, no matter what.
“You’d never do anything about it. All that power, all those emotions scared you. That’s why you ran, Justin. Just like you always do. You don’t have the strength to do anything about it. And that’s why your father knows I’m better for this job than you’ll ever be.” Justin’s eyes went wide. His mouth opened as if to speak, but instead he stood, casting one more hard glare at JC before heading down the aisle and out of the Church. JC finally sat back in the pew, hands behind his head, a smile on his face.
*****
Over the next few weeks, as autumn turned into winter, the two men avoided each other as often as possible. It was impossible to avoid each other completely, since JC was at the Timberlake house three nights a week for dinner, but even then, things were more tense than normal. Neither of them could put a finger on the change, except to know it had to do with what had happened outside the flower shop on the other side of town and in the Church a few blocks away.
When they did happen to see each other, instead of the insults that usually ran back and forth between them, they said nothing, choosing to simply ignore each other. It was strange and awkward. For as hurtful and spiteful as the insults could be, it was what they were use to when dealing with each other. This new tactic was unnerving. They’d grown so use to how they dealt with each other and suddenly it was changed and neither of them knew quite how to deal with it. So instead of dealing at all, they avoided any kind of contact unless absolutely necessary.
Lynn and Randy noticed, knew something had happened, but when they questioned either man about it, neither would speak about it, instead simply shaking their head in dismissal. So far Randy had only questioned the tenseness from a father’s perspective, but JC knew that if Randy approached it on a professional level, he’d have to tell Randy something.
Randy, for as much as JC cared for him, was like two completely different people to JC when dealing with him personally versus professionally. On a personal level, he was like a father. JC knew he could go to Randy with any kind of problem he was having. He knew that Randy loved him like a son and in his home, he treated him as such. But when dealing with him professionally, he was JC’s boss. There was a line there JC would not let himself cross. He still cared for Randy, but treated him with respect more reserved for a boss than for a father.
So when JC looked up from his table at a small club one evening and saw one of Randy’s messengers headed toward him, he took a deep breath and grabbed the glass in front of him, knocking back the whisky in one gulp. It burned going down his throat and he winced slightly, shaking his head to clear it. He’d never liked whisky much, but he’d needed something to get his mind off Justin and how to get back whatever had changed between them. He didn’t like the man, but he liked the way things had been between them. This new routine was too strange and he was tired of trying to figure it out, tired of trying to guess Justin’s next move. Drowning himself in a drink had seemed like a good escape.
The messenger, a man who’s name JC couldn’t remember, moved to his table, standing silently until JC acknowledged him. JC kept his eyes on the stage, on the woman singing a slow, soulful song, for a few minutes. Her voice, the words and notes hit JC deep inside. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the music take over, letting it sooth him before finally looking up and meeting the man’s gaze.
“Curls wants to see you, as soon as possible.” His English was thick and broken, the accent slipping out obviously. JC simply nodded his head, glancing once more at the woman singing before grabbing his coat and hat and moving out of the club.
JC climbed into the back of the car that was waiting for him, instructing the driver, one of the men on Randy’s payroll, to take him to the warehouse. His mind raced throughout the ride, wondering what Randy wanted to see him so late in the evening for. Business was usually dealt with during the day, so JC convinced himself that this had something to do with what was going on between him and Justin. He leaned back against the seat, the alcohol he’d consumed swimming through his system, fogging his brain slightly.
When they reached the warehouse, JC climbed out and headed inside, taking as long as possible to reach Randy’s office, dreading what was going to happen behind the door. He knew he couldn’t tell Randy the truth. Partially for the same reasons he’d kept it from him before and partially because he’d lied the first time. Randy wouldn’t be happy knowing that. Finally, when he couldn’t stall anymore, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door before entering.
Shock was apparent on his face when he walked into a room full of people. Six men were already seated around Randy’s office and Randy motioned for JC to take a seat. JC did, his hazy mind trying to shift gears, knowing this wasn’t something that had to do with Justin, but not having a clue what it was about.
“Gentlemen,” Randy began, hands folded together on his desk. “I’m sure everyone here knows each other.” He glanced around for a moment, eyes resting on each man briefly before moving on. Once he was satisfied there were no strangers amongst them all, he leaned back in his seat, a smile on his face. “We have a plan in place, ready to be put into action immediately.” JC leaned forward, listening intently as Randy revealed his plan.
*****
JC woke up early. The sun was barely starting to rise in the sky yet, but instead of turning over and closing his eyes again, he pushed the covers off and slipped out of bed. His suit coat from the night before was laying over the back of a chair in the corner of his bedroom and he grabbed it, reaching for the cigarettes in the inside pocket. Lighting one, he took a long drag as he moved to the window. His bedroom window overlooked one of the main streets of Chicago and as he sat there, cigarette between his lips, smoke billowing up into the air, he watched the city start to come alive below him. Young boys on the street corners, stacks of newspapers in their hands. Smoke billowing out of the bakery across the street as the fresh bread was made for the morning customers. Men, some of them wearing suits, others dressed much less extravagant, walking or driving, heading out in the early morning for their jobs.
JC sighed, opening the window to toss the cigarette butt out, watching it fall to the ground below. Sometimes, early in the morning on days like this, he wondered what life would be like if he wasn’t part of the Timberlake family. When he was younger, before he understood what his dad did, when he’d simply thought his dad worked for Randy in the import business, before he knew about mobs, and family and honor and what it meant to be part of the Timberlake gang, he’d had dreams of heading east, going to school. Maybe of one day becoming a lawyer.
He’d only ever shared that thought with one person. One summer evening when he was ten, he and Justin sitting on Justin’s front porch steps. A lawyer had been inside in a meeting with Randy and the dream had slipped out of JC’s mouth. Justin, eight years old and still so innocent, had looked at him with bright eyes and a happy grin. He’d encouraged JC, believing in the dream almost as much as JC did at the time.
JC laughed now, at the irony of the situation. The type of lawyer he’d wanted to become was the type of lawyer that would stop at nothing to put the man he was now away in prison for many years.
Finally moving away from the window, he quickly got dressed and headed for the door of his apartment. It was getting later, but maybe if he hurried, he could still catch Joey before he finally headed home after a long night.
Randy had told him, the night before at the meeting, to get a crew together. JC had the most critical part of the plan and he knew to pull it off, he needed a good crew. He needed the best. Randy would expect nothing less. And that’s exactly why he was out at such and early hour, looking for Joey Fatone.
Joey was a hard man to keep track of, but JC knew him well enough to know where to begin looking. Joey’s apartment, three blocks from JC’s own, was first on the list, just in case he’d made it an early night. After knocking for a few minutes and concluding Joey was still out somewhere, JC finally turned and headed back in the direction he’d just come from. It was in his third stop of the morning that he found Joey.
The underground casino was in the basement of an old abandoned dress shop. It was the type of establishment that could be packed up quickly, with several different exits in case the cops showed up. And there was a guard on watch twenty-four hours a day. No one even got inside unless they were recognized by the guard. Lucky for JC, the guard on duty this morning was a part time employee of Randy, working as a hit man when needed.
JC slipped down the alley and knocked quickly, three times, on the door. It opened and Tom McNair stepped out into the dim alley, eyes looking at JC intently for a moment before reorganization dawned on his face.
“Good day to ya, Chasez.” JC nodded his greeting as Tom stepped aside and allowed JC into the building. JC spotted Joey immediately, involved in a game of cards, a nice stack of money laying before him. JC stood out of the way, waiting for the hand to end. He didn’t want to be the cause of any controversy by standing near Joey if he won. This way, no one could say they’d cheated. These men took their cards very seriously. And Joey, who played just for fun, cleaned them out every time.
Once the hand was over, JC made himself known, moving toward the table and dropping a hand on Joey’s shoulder. Joey looked up, startled for a moment, before relaxing, a grin spreading along his face at the sight of JC. He saw the look in JC’s eyes and knew immediately that JC needed to talk to him.
“Well boys,” Joey said, grabbing up all the money in front of him. “It’s time I beat it on out of here.” He stood from the table and flashed them all a wide smile. “As always, it’s been a pleasure taking your money. So until next time,” he tipped his hat and turned, following JC out the door.
Once they had stepped out of the alley into the bright sunlight, Joey turned to JC.
“Butt me and I’ll buy you breakfast.” JC pulled out his cigarettes, holding them out for Joey to take one. He lit it, stopping to inhale deeply, then continued walking, headed toward a small restaurant.
They stepped into the small restaurant and took a seat toward the back. Once their coffee was served and their orders taken, Joey turned to JC, meeting his eyes.
“What’s going down?” JC smiled at how well Joey knew him, knew with just a look that JC had some information for him.
“Curls has a plan.” Joey stopped, coffee cup raised halfway to his mouth and peered at JC over the top of it, waiting for him to continue. JC looked around the small restaurant and leaned across the table closer to Joey. “He wants to knock off Vanvino.” A low whistle escaped Joey’s lips and he set his coffee cup back down, leaning in as JC relayed the details of the plan to him. “He’s had guys trailing Vanvino for months, even before the whole thing with Skinny Vinny went down. He’s got informants on the inside, gathering information. Vanvino knows too much. And with some of the shipments Curls has got coming in soon, he doesn’t want to take the risk of still having Vanvino around.” JC left out the part about it being personal. Randy had been waiting patiently for this moment for almost ten years. Roy Chasez was Randy’s best friend, had been since they were children. And there was no one else he’d want by his side. So when Vanvino had ordered him and his family killed, Randy had taken it as a personal insult.
JC paused, leaning back as their food was placed in front of them, but continued again once they were alone.
“Curls put me in charge of putting a crew together and then making it happen. I need the best, Joe. And I need you to help me get them together.” Joey nodded, mouth full, and swallowed before looking a JC, a look of concentration on his face.
“Well, we’ve got Chris,” he paused and quirked an eyebrow. “The kid gonna be part of this one?”
“Not this time.” JC smiled slightly. “Curls specifically told me not to include Justin. In fact, he’s to know nothing about this. But keep that between us.” Joey nodded, then shook his head sympathetically.
“His own son. It’s kind of sad.”
“He can’t handle it. We know that, Curls knows that.” JC shrugged. “Curls has known that for awhile. I guess he’s finally accepting that fact.” A part of JC felt guilty. After the incident between he and Justin, a part of him knew that Justin might be able to handle it. The emotions were there. And the kid had a steady hand with a gun, was a terrific shot in fact. All he needed was to be able to control that power. JC knew that he could get Justin to the point Randy wanted him to be at, could help him achieve what his father wanted of him. But the other part of JC was too selfish to keep his own spot in Randy’s life than to ever tell anyone that. And somehow the selfish part kept winning over the guilt.
*****
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Justin asked, stepping into Randy’s office. He noticed the books spread out in front of Randy and had to smile. Timberlake Shipping had accounts, some of the best in Chicago, but Randy still insisted on going over the books on his own once a month, just to be sure everything was on the up and up and that none of his employees were cheating him out of any of his money.
“Justin, son, come in. Jimmy, can you leave us alone for awhile?” Jimmy Palotti nodded and shuffled out the door, closing it behind him. Justin didn’t know Jimmy very well, aside from the fact that his father trusted the man completely. But Justin knew it was different than when Roy Chasez had held that job for his father. Before he’d been killed, Randy rarely made a decision without discussing it with Roy first. He was Randy’s most trusted confidant and there was nothing going in any of Randy’s businesses, the shipping company, the restaurant, or any of the illegal activities Randy engaged in that Roy didn’t know about. Jimmy was most of that to Roy, but the difference was, Roy had been a friend. They’d joined each other’s families for dinner and conversation late into the evening, they’d gone to baseball games together, they’d sat together bullshitting over drinks. Jimmy wasn’t a friend. He was just an employee and Justin knew Randy missed that friendship he’d had with Roy.
As Justin took a seat across from his father’s desk, he noticed the photograph that had been sitting on the desk for as long as he could remember. It was right next to the family photograph. It was of Randy and Roy as young boys, arms slung compatibly around each other’s shoulders.
His mind slipped back to the present when he caught his father looking at him, an amused expression on his face.
“Feel like sharing those heavy thoughts?” Justin just shrugged and dropped his eyes. But Randy caught his attention again with a soft “Justin.” Justin looked up, seeing the smile in his father’s eyes. “How are you? Aside from dinner I don’t see much of you anymore.”
“I’m ok,” he shrugged again, but held Randy’s gaze this time.
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“Dad, if this is about JC.” Justin knew both his parents were trying to figure out what had happened between the two of them, but Justin wasn’t ready to confess that he’d held a knife to JC’s throat. They thought of JC as a son and there was no way he could tell them he’d done that to JC. But he was cut off by Randy holding up a hand.
“This can be about JC, if you want it to be. But this is about you, Justin. I mean it. Anything you want to talk about.” Justin thought about it for a moment. Now was his chance. He could tell his father all his fears about the future of the Timberlake gang, how he was so afraid Randy was going to let JC take over, how he, himself, knew that JC was better for the job and how angry and frustrated that made him. Tell him he’d overheard him talking to Jimmy about the future and what was to happen when Randy was ready to retire. Tell him about the fear and the anger. Tell him about the power he’d felt, the power that he needed, but was too afraid of to harness and use it. Tell him that he was so afraid of disappoint Randy. He could tell him all the thoughts that wouldn’t stop running through his own head. But instead, he simple shrugged again.
“Not really, sir. There’s not much to tell.” Randy sighed at Justin’s mumbled response, nodding, but then smiled at Justin again.
“What do you say to going to see a game of baseball with your old man tomorrow?” Justin’s eyes lit up and he glanced at Randy.
“You mean it? Just you and me?” Justin’s held his breath, hoping against hope Randy didn’t involve JC as well and only released it when Randy nodded.
“Father and son. Just us, Justin.”
“I’d love to.”
*****
JC spent the following week working out the details. He reported back to Randy regularly with lists of names, weapons that were available to them, and how he planned on it all going down. Randy shared more information presented to him from his informants. They knew where Vanvino was going to be and when and were counting on that information to get close to him. He and his wife were attending a charity auction in two weeks, and after the event she was heading to the train station, planning a trip to visit her sister while he headed back home. That was the night they were going to strike. He’d be guarded, but loosely, and with any luck (although Randy said not to count on it,) unarmed.
The route home from the charity event lead past an old, abandoned group of warehouses. Some of the Timberlake employees would create a diversion in the road, causing Vanvino’s car to stop. JC and his men would surround him. It was simple, and JC was confident that it would work.
Randy was proud of JC, convinced the plan would work. He clapped JC on the back.
“You did good, kid. Now, stop thinking so much about this. You have it all under control. Go out tonight, have a good time. Get a few drinks in you and loosen up.” Randy was back in father mode with JC, and JC smiled at the easy change between professional and personal.
“I think I just might,” JC said, leaving Randy to his work.
When his car arrived at the club, JC climbed out and stepped inside. There was music and laugher, men and women dancing, people drinking and smoking and having a good time. And JC smiled. This is just what he needed.
He spotted Joey across the club at a table surround by women, all intent on the story Joey was sharing. JC could see his animated face, his mouth moving quickly, and made his way across the club toward him. It wasn’t until he was already almost to the table that he spotted Justin sitting there as well. He contemplated backing away, leaving and finding somewhere quiet where he could just listen to music and enjoy a drink, but Joey took that moment to spot him.
“Chasez!” He stood from his seat and waved enthusiastically, calling JC over. JC could tell Joey was already feeling the buzz from the alcohol he’d consumed. JC sighed. No getting out of it now. Making his way over, he said hello to the people he knew sitting around the table, eyes simply skimming over Justin, locking with his own for a quick moment before JC turned away. He still wasn’t sure how to deal with Justin anymore. Things had changed. It was like he’d seen a new side to Justin when he’d forced the anger out of him. And it was like everything he’d known about Justin wasn’t true anymore. He didn’t think Justin had it in him and now that he knew differently, things were awkward.
And knowing how wrong he was about Justin, knowing what Justin had been capable of that day, made JC reevaluate himself as well. Justin had found a weakness in him, and although he knew Justin didn’t know the full strength of that weakness, didn’t know how afraid JC was of losing his place in Randy’s life, Justin still had the power over him to make that fear a reality. And that was something JC could never let Justin find out.
JC took a seat and a glass of whisky was immediately placed in front of him, thanks to Joey. Picking up the glass, he raised it in a toast toward Joey and downed the liquid. The cool burn made him wince, once again, but he shook he head and smiled at Joey.
“Good stuff, that is.” JC turned, catching Chris eyeing him. He seemed to pause for a moment, contemplating, and then leaned in toward JC. “I hear you have a plan of action. And that I get to tag along.” A raised eyebrow above hazy eyes made JC chuckle.
“Not here, Chris. It will all be explained soon.” He leaned back in his chair, drink in his hand and regarded Chris. “But yes, you get to tag along.”
“At that, my friend, is cause for celebration.” He knocked back the drink in his hand and stood, looking around the table before selecting one of Joey’s admirers and leading her out for a dance. JC watched Chris for a while, moving around on the dance floor, his partner laughing and trying to keep up with him. When he finally turned back to the table, grin on his face, eyes crinkled in amusement, his eyes locked with Justin over the table. The grin slid away slowly, but their eyes remained locked, neither willing to look away, neither able to look away. JC saw every emotion Justin was feeling, every thought he was thinking cross his eyes. He was just as confused as JC was about what was going on between them. This new game they were playing, the ignoring, the avoidance, Justin didn’t understand it any better than JC did. But the anger was still there, the deep resentment he held for JC, for JC taking up a place in Justin’s family’s life. But then, as JC watched, electric blue eyes burning back into his own, the anger faded away and was replaced by sadness. A sadness so deep that it reached JC’s soul.
Confusion cluttered JC’s mind. The sadness didn’t make sense. The confusion, the anger, and the resentment he understood. But the sadness was new, and not at all what he’d been expecting. For a moment, without realizing it was happening, JC’s own defenses dropped. Everything else gone, the music, the laughter, the conversation going on around him. Everything except the blue eyes swimming with sadness.
When Joey tripped, falling into Justin and breaking the eye contact between he and JC, it took JC a moment to gather himself. His defenses went back up immediately, but he was still curious about everything he’d just seen in Justin’s eyes. But Justin wouldn’t even look in his direction now, let alone make actual eye contact with him. And when one of the girls sitting around their table grabbed Justin’s hand to pull him to the dance floor, JC could only watch them go.
*****
JC stepped out of the club and into the cool night air, pulled his coat around his body, and cursed quietly into the night. After a few deep breaths, he moved halfway down the block and leaned against the building, pulling a cigarette out and lighting it, calming slightly after the first hit.
A month ago, he’d been confident in himself, in who he was. And how he felt about Justin Timberlake. He’d always know, on some level, that Justin could become a threat, could finally prove to be just what Randy wanted him to be, and end up replacing JC. But until a month ago, it had been a distant fear, one JC knew was there, but never had to dwell on. He knew he was good at what he did and never worried beyond the moment.
But now, Justin had dug a hole into JC’s psyche, almost without knowing it, and JC couldn’t get him out. Where he’d always been sure of himself with Justin, knowing what buttons to push to get the reaction he wanted, things were suddenly not so simple anymore. Justin had found strength, and in turn, found JC’s weakness, brought it out into light, even if it was only still visible to JC.
JC thought back to moments ago in the club. Justin, dancing with a young woman who was throwing herself at him. And the more he’d watched Justin turn and spin, move to the beat of the music, the angrier JC got. He wasn’t sure why or where the anger came from, but the angrier he got at Justin, the angrier he got at himself. He’d let Justin get to him once again. And that pissed him off more than anything ever had before. He’d finally had enough and needed to get out of there, opting for leaning on the building, cigarette dangling from his lips.
Just as he finished his cigarette, tossing it to the ground and stubbing it out with his shoe, the door opened once more, the light and noise from inside catching JC’s attention. When he saw Justin emerge with the young woman, her arms around his neck, leaning heavily into him, JC slipped back against the building, hiding in the shadows. He didn’t need another confrontation with Justin right now, not with everything going on inside his own mind.
The woman’s voice caught JC’s attention, the words floating to him as he pressed back against the building.
“Whadda ya say we head somewhere private, sugar?” Her voice was gentle, almost a purr. And JC couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. If that wasn’t a preposition he didn’t know what was. JC couldn’t hear Justin’s response but when he saw Justin lead her to his private car, the driver already sitting inside waiting, he smirked.
But then, Justin simply opened the door, leaned in to press a soft kiss to the woman’s cheek, and helped her inside, shutting the door after she was situated. Justin watched the car drive away then turned away from JC’s hiding spot and headed down the street, hands shoved in his pocket. Heading toward his home. Alone.
JC’s mind reeled with this new information. A young woman had thrown herself at Justin and he’d turned it down. JC knew Justin was an honorable man, but no one was that honorable. Unless he was hiding something. Or someone. Maybe Justin had a girl already, but wasn’t supposed to. Maybe she was an enemy to the Timberlake’s so Justin had to keep it hidden. JC’s mind spun with the possibilities, a slow grin spreading across his face. Justin Timberlake had a secret. And JC was willing to do whatever it took to find out what that secret was.