Chapter Seventy Six

Chapter Seventy Six
Elliot

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, shocked to see that he had followed me.
Wait, when did he get back? Was Lincoln home as well?
“I saw you heading this way when I arrived and I was curious.” He comes fully through the hole, looking around in awe. “In all these years I couldn’t find what was so fascinating about this maze. I tried to figure out how the two of you always seemed to disappear when we were younger but to think there was actually a hidden place…”
“You followed us?” I ask, in surprise.
“Only twice. But I soon gave up when I lost Lincoln the second time. But it did always made me curious why he kept coming here. It wasn’t until one evening I saw you enter the maze that I figured it out.”
My face flushes remembering all the things we did at the very spot I was standing in.
“I now understand why he was sneaking around here.” His voice became reserved.
“Well I guess it’s no longer secret since you found it. To be honest, I’m surprised it’s still here. The year I left Han was threatening to tear down the entire maze. Lincoln told me he’s been fighting to keep it as long as he could making up one excuse after another on why it should be left alone. Guess that was the start of Han’s suspicions.”
Axel doesn’t say anything, his expression becoming one of guilt. Why he should feel guilty was beyond me until he says,
“I need to apologize Elliot. I’m the reason you were thrown out that day. Because of my big mouth I said something I shouldn’t have to Lincoln in front of Han and because of my carelessness it not only hurt the person I wanted to hurt then, but it hurt you and your father as well. I’m sorry. Because of me, the two of you lost a decade together.”
“Axel, I never blamed you for that day. I completely understand. You were hurt and felt betrayed. Not knowing at the time that what Lincoln did was only protecting you. Simon wasn’t a good person, and Lincoln saw that right away. He knew he had to get him away from you. Maybe the way he did it wasn’t the right way, but it only showed Simon’s true colors. Han was in a rut; Andi was in danger of that and the only way Lincoln could figure out to satisfy Han was finding someone else. But he didn’t think Simon would willingly take the bait himself. It just proved that his assumptions about the guy was right.”
“What are you talking about?” He demands, looking at me completely confused.
I falter, blinking my own confusion away. “About what went down between Han and Simon.”
“You mean Lincoln and Simon. What does Han have to do with what happened?” He was starting to get a little agitated.
As I watch him looking so confused it hits me. Unbelievable. With a pounding heart I carefully ask, “Lincoln never told you, did he?”
“Told me what, Elliot?” I can see he was starting to feel uneasy now, the beginnings of the truth starting to fill his mind that his pheromones were starting to leak.
“The truth, Axel. I told him he needed to tell you all those years ago. But he really meant what he said because it’s apparent you still don’t know it.” I sigh deeply wanting to strangle the man I love so deeply.
Sitting down on the fountain, placing my hands on the cold concrete I stare at the ground my mind reeling that all this time Axel has been holding a grudge against his brother, still believing on a betrayal that never happened in the first place.
“Start talking.” He demands, crossing his arms as he stares down at me, but not in an overbearing way.
Bracing myself I tell him the truth because it was apparent Lincoln wasn’t going too. “Lincoln never raped Simon, Axel. In fact, he never even touched the man. What you saw, what you walked in on was the aftermath of Han’s rut. Simon came back that day on his own, willingly going to Han’s bedroom and consented to everything that disgusting man did to him. He did it because he was hoping to get impregnated by him so he could have his fame and money. Simon…was only using you.”
The look of shock was almost comical. I was sure he was going to immediately deny it. But he doesn’t. In fact, he plops down on the fountain right next to me, looking beyond shocked. Leaning forward, placing his elbows on his knees he rubs his face with his hands.
“How could I have been so stupid and blind?” He mumbles. “Lincoln admitted to doing it, why would he do that if it wasn’t him?”
Rubbing the back of my neck, where I could slightly feel the mark on my skin, it caused me to picture a young fifteen year old Lincoln, looking so broken and hurt from the things he endured from a family who didn’t love him at the time.
“Because he felt like it wouldn’t have made a difference.” I whisper.
Axel turns his head towards me. “W-What? Of course it would have made a difference!”
“No Axel, it wouldn’t have. Think about the timeframe. You and Andi treated Lincoln like he was some abomination, a reminder of what was done to Andi when your father was murdered. This was before the truth of everything came about. You hated Lincoln at that time, admit it. You wanted to believe that he did what he did and when he confirmed it you didn’t hesitate to show that hatred. Lincoln knew that and he used it because deep down you know you would have never believed a word he said to you.”
He stares at me, eyes slightly round as they filled with unshed tears. He chuckles that was humorless. “I’m such a shitty ass older brother aren’t I?”
“That’s not what I mea-” I quickly try to backtrack, but he interrupts me.
“No Elliot. You’re right. Everything you just said is absolutely right. Growing up, I hated to admit it even now that I did hate him. I hated Lincoln for what he represented in the house. I hated that he was the reason my father was dead and my birth father was forced to lay in bed with a monster. And all this time it shouldn’t have never been him because he didn’t make any of that happen. Han did. He was the only one I should have been like that with. But I turned my hatred on a boy who only wanted to be loved and wanted by two people who denied him that. And then I go and take the only person who mattered away from him because of a piece of shit who turned out to be a gold digging bastard anyways.”
He wipes his face and quickly stands back up. “I have to go find him.” He suddenly states. “I have to…” He stops and turns to me. “Thank you for telling me the truth. He hasn’t said anything to me about it and if he hasn’t now, I know he never will.”
“Yeah, he’s probably going to be upset with me that I did.”
“You didn’t know. You thought he told me. I’ll make sure the blame doesn’t go to you.”
I give him a small smile. “I’m not worried. If anyone can handle Lincoln, it’s me.”
“I honestly believe that. None of us has ever seen him be soft if it isn’t with the children. They’re the only ones who can bring him out of his hard shell. It’s good to see that he has someone else who can do that. You and Cyan.”
Happiness beams in my chest at his words. “Truthfully, that’s all he’s ever been with me. The side you guys see every day…I never see it.”
He chuckles with a smile this time. “Funny how you say that when the side you see every day isn’t one we have ever seen. So, don’t ever doubt for a second thinking that he doesn’t love you.”
“I’ll make sure that I don’t.”