Chapter 4: Truth Room.
“You are hurting me, Caesar”, his wrist was hurting from being held tightly by Caesar's strong hands. Caesar dragged him through the penthouse underground ring before descending down a long metal staircase. Caesar still has his hands on his wrist the whole time. His grib strong like he wanted break his fragile wrist. “I got something for you”, he said, smiling oddly. He opened a steel door. “This is what I call, Truth Room. You are gonna love it.” As Julian looked around. This room had blood on the walls, old, even the wall looked so old. He could tell terrible things have happened here. Inside contained a surveillance screen for cameras all over the house, a one way mirror. “I do watch you sometimes from here, sweetheart. I see you everything you do”. Julian swallowed. He wondered if he would ever see outside of the penthouse or be free anymore. “Have this, look into it.”, he shoved a black folder into Julian. The folder contained three profiles. “Each one of them was tied to your brother's death.” Julian looked confused and scared. F“These were the men in your brother's orbit. One of them must be his murderer. Choose the one we go first for and I would bring him here before tomorrow morning.” First profile: Luca Navarro - A slick club promoter, disappeared days after Patrick's death. “This is my ex boyfriend, there's no way he would harm my brother”, he pointed to Luca. “You are so naive. His last text to Patrick was: Don't drag me into this, you hear me?”, he read from a phone. Second profile: Detective Ryan Graves - Family friend, officer who helped push Patrick death as suicide. “You recognize him, don't you?. A close friend of Patrick, I hated him so much then. He's so corrupt and takes bribes to cover up cases. Third profile: Mikhail Reznik - An eastern European, human trafficker rumoured to be walking under the mafia underdogs of the city. “This one right here, worked for my father. I would get him for you if you want” Julian doesn't know who to trust. Looking at the file carefully. He picked his ex, Luca. Caesar smirked. “Good choice, he would be here by tomorrow. God knows, he might be innocent but I would punch his face in for being with you before me.” “Makes me feel like I have shared my pet.” “Goodnight, run to your room as fast as you before I lock you down here.” He grabbed Julian's butt. “Owhhh”, he ran holding his butt. He was now upstairs, locking himself in the room. “Imagine seeing Caesar torture my ex, I have to find a way to get out of here tonight”, he mumbled to himself. Julian took a nap, woke up to look at the clock which says 11:20 pm. Also midnight. He knew it was difficult to get out of here but he had to try. Sneaking quietly, he was already in the hallway. Trying to remember what way he and Caesar came through coming back from the banquet. He heard footsteps. It was just the guards. He hurriedly ran into a nearby room that was open. After waiting a few seconds. “That was close”, steading his breath. The light in the room came on. Caesar sat in an expensive leather chair. “I was waiting for you, thinking about sneaking out.” “I…wa….was..ju…st trying to get water”, he stood with his back against the door. “I would be going, guess I can't find the kitchen” “Don't you dare move, unless what I might do to you”, he said calmly in the way that made him shake. He stood up walking towards him casually. Julian was beginning to shake. Julian tries opening the door with his hands behind him. But he was too slow. Caesar already grabbed him tightly by his neck almost choking him “If you run away tonight. You would miss the show by morning.” Julian was running out of breath. He let go, while Julian dropped to the ground coughing, tears in his eyes. He walked out. Locking the door. Julian knew what that meant. His punishment was sleeping in this room. ____ The door of the room was opened. Julian couldn't see who walked in properly. His eyes ached badly. Not having enough sleep and being choked last night. He was dragged out by two bodyguards. The was taken back underground, to the Truth Room. Caesar was there, casually smoking a cigarette. “You look awful. Call my personal doctor to come check him”,he said to one of the guards. Julian looks towards the one way glass, see's Luca tied to a chair. Bruised, beaten, bleeding but still alive. He gasped, shocked that he was tracked down and brought here so fast. “Please just let me go”, he heard Luca from the other side. “Come with me, pet.”, he laughed. Luca looked up and saw Julian walk in. “Julian, what are you doing here?” “Tell them to let go of me, I didn't mean to leave you baby.” Caesar punched him in the face. “You don't get to speak to him” “Julian, ask you questions. Boys, put him on the lie detector.” “He lies, and a finger comes off. Every one of them”, grabbing a knife off the table. “Caesar, I can't do this. Please”, he felt sick to his stomach. He grabbed Julian by the chin, tightly making him look at him. “You don't do what I say and this boy leaves here in a body bag. Now, get to it”, he let go of Julian's chin forcefully.Chapter Thirty three: Silver Tongue Strings. Julian's hand was on the door knob, clutching to it. He feels conflicted on whether to go or not. “You might think you are leaving but you are not. You just have no choice because you have to run back to Caesar. God knows what his going to do to you for running away with another man”“He would understand why I did that”, Julian mumbled “Hmm, are you sure?”Leo raised his eyebrows. “Yes, I'm sure”“I assure you. He wouldn't take it easy on you.”“He ruined Patrick's life. Patrick was so good and happy till when he showed up”“I'm not going back to him. I'm just leaving here”, he whispered. “Nice try but he would find you easily and drag you back into your comfort cage and don't forget that they are people out there that want your head because you been snooping around”“Including Caesar's father. Caesar pretends to you like he doesn't know his father's sins. I'm the only one you have right now. I am the only one that can give you the
Chapter Thirty-two: Fractures In The Ordinary. Julian paces in Leo's cliff house. He opens his phone, considers calling Caesar already having his contact on display. He changes his mind. He calls Peter instead. “Hello, Julian. Where the f*ck are you?” “Peter ..relax. I'm fine and okay. You don't have to worry. Don't tell Enzo…or Caesar. I just need time to finish what Patrick started, I'm getting closer to the Truth” “What are you saying? We are all worried sick about you? You are with Leo, right?” Suddenly, the phone is yanked from his hand. Julian turns around to find Leo standing behind him. His eyes calm as ever. “I was just talking to Peter, it's….” Leo tosses his phone towards the wall, shattering it. “What are you thinking, Julian? DO YOU WANT CAESAR TO FIND US!” He slowly walks towards Julian who takes steps backwards. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.. You are scaring me” “You are mine as long as you are here. Why can't you forget him?”Leo raised
Chapter Thirty-one: Mask Crack. Julian shoves some clothes into a small bag. He changed his mind, he was going with Leo. They sneak past the guards with Leo taking down some guards on their way to his car. Leo drove away out of the city, to a quiet house near a cliff. “You are safe here. Nobody is gonna find you here.” “Why are you doing all of these, Leo?” Leo walks closer to him, hugging him tightly. “I have feelings for you, Julian. I care a lot about you” Julian breath seizes. “I…I don't know…” “You don't have to say anything…I wait. Just let me hug like this”, he pats Julian on his head. **** Caesar furiously arrives at the mansion. He was informed that Julian escaped with a stranger. “FIND HIM!”, he yelled at the guard before entering his study, shoving everything on the table to the ground” Enzo comes in, calming him down “We checked the surveillance cameras. Leo was actually the one that broke in and took Julian. He managed to convince Julian to co
Chapter Thirty: Fractures Caesar puts a picture of Leo and Patrick on the counter while gently sipping his morning coffee. Julian would be down any minute and he definitely wanted him to see it. Julian made his way downstairs. “Good morning”, he mumbled. Then he froze seeing the picture…“You were watching me all this time. You knew about Leo?”“Hiding him from me, secretly meeting him wasn't so smart, you know?”“He's just helping me find out the truth. He has really been good to me. I feel like I keep getting closer to the truth I want. You don't need to worry about anything”, Julian assured.Caesar slammed the coffee cup to the wall, shattering it. “That's my problem with you, Julian. You trust anybody else easily but never me. He's turning me against you”“You know that's not true, Caesar”“I saw the messages of him asking you not to trust me”“Why Julian? WHY? WHY?WHY?”he yelled, slamming his hand against the counter breathing heavily. Julian flinches, taking footsteps
Chapter Twenty Nine: Silent Rage. Caesar's eyes go cold staring at the screen of the phone. He forces himself to take a breath. He marked the text as unread and placed Julian's phone back on the bed. The bathroom door opens, Julian steps out with a towel round his waist, hair wet. Their eyes lock on each other, Julian breathes hitches as he senses tension. Suddenly, Caesar walks over to him, grabbing him by his neck, pinning him to the wall. Julian panics, eyes widened. “Caesar?” Caesar suddenly smiles, placing his forehead against Julian masking his anger. “Did I scare you?”, he asked softly. “Yes, for goodness sake, Caesar”, Julian whispered. “That's what you get for not sleeping in the same bed with me for a while now” Caesar leans in to kiss Julian hard, his hands moved from his neck to his waist. Julian felt a little uneasy how Caesar acted towards him some minutes ago. Caesar bites Julian's neck leaving marks like he was marking him. The one l
Chapter Twenty Eight: Seeds Of Division. Julian can help but meet Leo discreetly often, either at a park or cafe even if there was nothing to discuss about. Maybe because he does find comfort in Leo's presence. “I will help you to the end. You just have to trust me. Also you need to be careful, Caesar world is a contrast to the world you wish to live in or have”“Don't talk about him like that”, Julian mustered. “You and Patrick are so much alike. You would defend the devil himself if you were so much in love with him”Julian looks away. “You are good, Julian, same was with Patrick. Don't let him ruin you”“I got something else for you”, he placed a flash on the table. “I have to go, see you later, Julian”. He stands and pecks Julian on his head before walking away. Julian held the flash in his hand. “Let's see what we can find this time”__ Julian fetches a cab home. Recently, he had refused to have any driver or Caesar's guard follow him so he comes home alone these