Chapter 45: Pulled Back In
Chapter 45: Pulled Back In
Tim stood on Sarah’s porch, Jack’s hand tight on his arm, pulling him up from the steps. “We’re not done,” Jack said again, his voice rough, eyes burning into Tim’s. The night was cool, Sarah’s truck parked silent, her warnings still ringing, Jack was trouble, poison. Tim yanked free, stepping back, his sneakers scuffing the wood. “Done? You don’t decide that,” he said, his chest tight, anger flaring fast. Jack followed, closing the gap, his cut arm trembling under the rag. “I messed up, Tim, I know,” he said, his tone dropping, softer but raw. “Forgive me, please.”
Tim shook his head, backing toward the door. “Forgive? You hid Lisa, lied, chased me,” he said, his voice shaking. Jack grabbed his shoulders, stopping him. “I did it for us, for you,” he said, his grip firm, desperate. Tim’s stomach twisted, Jack’s “us,” that note, “You’re all I got,” pulling him in despite the lies. He remembered a night in the shop, rain loud outside, Jack leaning close over a busted radiator, their hands brushing, breath catching, love heating up, forbidden but real. “You don’t get to say that,” Tim snapped, shoving Jack’s chest, but his push was weak, torn.
Jack didn’t let go, his hands sliding to Tim’s neck, rough and warm. “I do, I need you,” he said, his voice breaking a little. Tim’s heart raced, Jack’s touch woke it all up, those late nights, Jack’s quiet “stay” after work, their secret growing. “Need me? You ruined us,” Tim said, but his voice cracked, caught in that pull. Jack moved fast, pulling Tim in, kissing him rough, lips hard, tasting of beer and regret. Tim froze, heat rushing through him, love flaring wild, then shoved Jack back, stumbling away, torn between wanting him and hating him.
“Stop,” Tim said, wiping his mouth, chest heaving. Jack stepped closer, hands out. “I can’t, I won’t,” he said, his eyes soft, pleading now. “I’m sorry, for Lisa, the ring, all of it. Just don’t leave.” Tim’s throat tightened, he saw Jack’s face that rainy night, after the kiss lingered too long, a grin saying “we’re in this,” love building, messy and strong. “Sorry’s not enough,” Tim said, but he didn’t move, rooted by Jack’s pull, feelings heating up despite the lies piling high.
Jack reached for him again, slower this time, fingers grazing Tim’s jaw. “Then let me show you,” he said, his voice low, real. Tim’s breath hitched, Jack’s roughness softened, that old spark from the shop flaring, tools clinking, Jack’s hand steadying his, a look that said more than words. “Show me how?” Tim asked, his guard slipping, love tugging hard. Jack leaned in, forehead touching Tim’s. “By staying, fixing this,” he said, his breath warm. Tim pulled back, just an inch, torn, Jack’s kiss burned, lies stung, love wouldn’t quit.
Sarah’s door creaked open, she stood there, watching, her face hard. “Tim, inside, now,” she said, her voice sharp, breaking the moment. Tim glanced at her, then Jack, chest aching, Jack’s “fix it,” Sarah’s “poison,” fighting inside him. “He’s not worth it,” Sarah said, stepping out, arms crossed. Jack’s jaw tightened. “I am, for him,” he said, staring at Tim, begging with his eyes. Tim’s mind spun, Jack’s rough kiss, that shop night, love heating up, lies tearing it down. “I don’t know,” he said, quiet, caught between them, feelings raw.
Meanwhile, Mia met Dan the reporter at his office, a small room with papers stacked high, coffee stale in the air. Pete waited outside, truck idling. She’d leaked the pics, Carl’s blood, Reggie’s gun, drugs on the table, and now Dan scrolled through them on his laptop, eyes wide. “This is huge,” he said, tapping keys fast. “Ring’s not just local, tied to a city supplier, big money.” Mia nodded, her braid brushing her shoulder. “And town hall’s in it, dirty,” she said, her voice steady. “Carl’s dead, Paul’s shop’s a front, drugs’ll hit kids, jobs, everything.”
Dan leaned back, scribbling notes. “Pics prove it, Carl shot, drugs real,” he said, glancing up. “Town hall’s got names, councilmen, cash drops.” Mia’s stomach sank, her shots of Reggie, Lisa’s empty chair, the powder bag weren’t just about Jack and Tim anymore; they cracked open a web stretching to the city, threatening the town’s heart. “It’s out now,” she said, firm. “Protests already, Paul’s raided.” Dan nodded, typing quick. “Yeah, streets are loud, folks mad, supplier’s name’s next.”
Mia paced the room, sneakers quiet on the floor, her phone heavy with proof, Carl’s blood, Reggie’s smirk, town hall’s dirt piling up. “They’re planning more, Reggie’s in charge,” she said, stopping by the desk. Dan looked up. “City supplier’s deep, hall’s covering,” he said. “Your pics sparked it, protests’ll push.” Mia remembered the warehouse, Lisa running, Carl down, drugs glaring, her fight growing, town buzzing outside, voices rising. “Good,” she said, her chest tight. “It’s gotta stop, before it spreads.”
The office window showed lights, cars honking, people gathering, signs up already, “Shut Paul’s Down,” “Clean Our Town.” Mia’s pics hit the paper’s site, spreading fast, town hall’s steps crowded, folks yelling, Paul’s shop taped off, cops swarming. “You’ve got ‘em scared,” Dan said, packing his bag. “Supplier’s next, hall too.” Mia nodded, her fight bigger now, kids at risk, jobs gone if the drugs flowed, her proof lighting the fire. “Tim and Jack, they’re in it,” she said, quiet. “Gotta find them.” Dan grabbed his keys. “They’re targets, hurry,” he said, heading out.
Back at Sarah’s, Tim sat inside now, Jack on the porch, Sarah between them, her eyes hard. Tim’s lips still burned from Jack’s kiss, rough, real, pulling him back in. He thought of that shop night, Jack’s hand on his, radiator fixed, a quiet “you’re good” that turned into more, love heating up slow. The door banged open, Lisa stumbled in, bloody, her pink hair matted, face pale. “Reggie’s coming, for you both!” she gasped, falling to her knees, her voice sharp, cutting through, Tim jumped up, Jack rushing in, tension spiking high.