Safe Place, page 8
"I think we always try to see the best in people and believe they're good. It's especially hard when we love someone. We don't like to think that we could care about someone who could hurt us." Kent shrugged. "You were focused on a family and having kids. He knew exactly how to use your dreams against you to get what he wanted."
Aydin sighed. "Lesson learned. I doubt I'll be able to trust anyone again."
"I understand you saying that now, but in time, hopefully, you'll let someone close. Trust isn't easy, but it's worth it with the right person."
"Have you found that right person yet?" Aydin asked.
"Not yet, but I haven't given up looking. My problem is I don't go out much and meeting someone at work, well, with my job, I don't get a lot of worthy options."
"I bet." Aydin laughed.
As he watched Aydin smile, he thought about how wrong that comment was. He'd met Aydin, and in time, he'd make someone a great boyfriend. He was attractive, ambitious, and motivated. Kent didn't know much about him, but he could see going out with him and having a good time. He quickly forced those thoughts from his mind. Aydin had enough to deal with and had just gotten out of a very bad relationship. The last thing he needed was someone else taking an interest right away. "My work hours also make it hard to date. Everyone else is off work by four or five and I'm just getting into my shift at that point. When I do get a day off, I'm lazy and spend it here alone. I'd love to meet someone, but I don't see it happening anytime soon."
"Did you always want to be a cop?"
"From the time I was in sixth grade. They had an officer come in to show us how he worked with his dog. I fell in love with the idea of being a K9 officer."
"But you don't have a dog, do you?"
"No. While I was in the academy, I watched an officer lose his dog after it was shot trying to take down a suspect. It changed my thinking. I didn't want to risk losing my partner that way. Not a dog who I spent all my hours with. It would break me. I decided then to just live my dream of being a police officer and someday get a dog as a pet so I wouldn't have to worry about it being killed on duty."
"That makes sense. So, you still haven't gotten a dog?"
"Not for lack of wanting to. It's just that with my long hours, I hate the idea of leaving him home alone every night. I know people leave their dogs to go to work all the time, but I'd feel guilty. Someday I'll find a dog I can't refuse, but until then, I just spoil my neighbor's dogs. You and Jason didn't have a pet, did you? I didn't see any signs of one."
"No way." Aydin laughed. "Jason would have had a meltdown with dog or cat hair on his clothes or around the house. He was very insistent on everything being really clean, which I found funny since when we went in today, there were dishes everywhere and laundry piled up. Seems he only cares about it when there is someone there to clean up after him."
"Another reason to be glad you're gone."
"Exactly. I lay in bed at night counting the positive things so I can try and forget all the negative."
"Things might seem bad now but look how far you've come in just a few weeks. You'll be okay. Hopefully, that apartment comes through. Once you're out of the shelter, everything should really start falling into place. I look forward to buying you your first housewarming gift."
Aydin grinned. "It seems so far off. I feel so hopeless every time I have to walk back into the shelter, and come Monday, I have to move to the main area which will be worse."
Kent hated that for him as well. "How are you healing?"
"Okay. The sutures in my tongue are finally dissolving. The little knots of string are really annoying. As for my ribs, they're sore, but nothing like at first."
"And the burn?"
"Just the itching, but Prince gave me some cream to use that helps a lot." He looked down at the healing skin on his arm. "Sometimes I hate that I'll have a scar to remind me of all this, then other times, I think that the scar will be a vivid reminder not to fall for anyone's tricks again."
"I'd look at it like a battle scar. You walked through hell and came out on the other side." Kent reached for a handful of chips.
"A hell of my own making."
"None of it was your fault. Jason has a record a mile long. Proof his temper is out of control. The only reason he hasn't been charged formally is because of who his father is. Daddy can only protect him for so long before everything catches up with him. I was hoping they'd filed charges for your attack by now, but I saw they haven't."
Aydin sighed. "I figured he'd get away with it. I haven't heard anything, not that anyone knows where to find me to keep me updated."
"I'll keep watch on the case, but sadly, this is probably another time Daddy will save his ass. "I wish it wasn't a common story, but it is. There's a coverup down in Utah Country right now with sexual rituals but because of the big names involved, it's being covered up."
"How is that legal?"
"It's not, but evidence disappears, or people are paid off." Kurt hated the dark side of the law that he glimpsed way too often. "The good news is Jason's luck will run out. Sooner or later there will be someone who won't be bribed by his father's money or position."
"I hope so." Aydin took a long drink of soda. "Thank you for the meal. I didn't realize how hungry I was. It was delicious."
"Want more? I have plenty."
"No, this is perfect. I think my stomach's shrinking. I get full faster."
"That's not good. You need to eat more."
"I'm okay, especially when I'm working. Both Trevor and Prince make sure I eat. Trevor's told me I can come in for a meal on weekends if I need to, but he's already doing so much to help me."
"Don't be too proud to take advantage of that. You need to eat. I know the soup kitchen offers dinner, but that's hardly enough food for a grown man. I also know how hard it can be to get in there. Some nights the line goes nearly around the block." Kent couldn't imagine not being able to eat when you were hungry. He wondered if Aydin would take some money so he could at least get something from the convenience store. He didn't want to offend him, but he did want to help.
"If I get really hungry, I will drop by work, but I mostly sleep. At least while I've got my own bed at the shelter. Monday, I'll have to fight for a cot in the main area. I'm not sure how well I'll sleep with so many others around. I left everything valuable to me here with you because I hear theft is big in the main area. You have to sleep with your backpack on or use it as a pillow to keep people from walking off with stuff." Aydin sighed. "I'll have to claim a bed right after work to make sure I get one. I have a better chance at one of the shelters outside the city, but then I'm too far away to get to work."
"Hopefully, Trevor's apartment has openings soon." Kent resisted the urge to invite Aydin to stay with him. For one, he hardly knew the guy. He liked him, but they were barely what you would call an acquaintance. He couldn't just invite a stranger into his home. Storing things was one thing, living with him was another. Yet the urge was so strong to invite him to stay.
"I hope so. Prince said people drop out of the programs all the time and have to leave, but I'll make do until one opens or I can get my own place. I should have enough money for a small place in a month or so since I don't have anything else to spend my paychecks on. I've been looking, and there are some studio apartments on North Temple that aren't horribly expensive."
"When that happens, you just let me know and I'll help you haul your stuff from here over there." Kent tore a piece of paper off the small notebook he kept on the table and wrote his phone number down on it. "This is my number. I don't always answer when I'm at work but leave a message and I'll find you. I know where you work and can always drop into the bakery to talk."
"Thanks." Aydin stuffed the paper into his backpack that sat on the floor by his feet. "Again, I can't thank you enough for helping me get my stuff back. I can't tell you how much that helps ease my state of mind. I don't feel as destitute, even if my stuff is stored here and not with me. I know it's safe. I had nightmares about Jason burning everything in the backyard."
"I think he hoped you'd come back. Sadly, it happens more often than I care to think about. It's one of the reasons I'm just fine with him thinking we're dating. Hopefully, that will help him see you're not going to come crawling back, begging for help."
"I didn't think about that. But he's wrong to even think I'd go back. Not after the last beating. I'd rather die on the streets than at his hand."
Kent smiled. "You're not going to die either way. A bit longer and you'll have your own place and can start piecing your life back together."
"Well, the way I see it, you've saved my ass twice. Once when I was attacked, and today getting my stuff back. When I'm able, I'll pay you back somehow. Take you out to dinner as a thank you or something."
"I'd enjoy dinner with you, but you don't have to do it as a thank you. We'll go out and celebrate you being back on your feet."
"Sounds good." Aydin stood and took his plate to the sink and rinsed it. "I guess I should be getting back. I don't want to take up your whole day. I'm sure you have better things to do on your day off."
Kent thought about the laundry he had to do and other weekend chores he'd rather put off, but Aydin was right, they'd done what they came to do. "Okay. Do you need anything before you go? Take a soda and some food with you if you want for this afternoon."
"I'm okay. You've done more than enough. Lunch was fantastic. I'll get into the soup kitchen tonight."
That didn't do anything to help him all day tomorrow, but Kent resisted pointing that out. He understood how hard it was for Aydin to take help. "Well then, let me lock the house and I'll meet you at the truck."
Aydin nodded and walked out.
As Kent locked the house, he tried to ignore the guilt that swamped him at the idea of taking Aydin back to the shelter. He'd done all he could to help. Too much more and Aydin would fight him. He had to let the man keep his pride. Still, he pushed away the feeling he could do so much more.
CHAPTER TWELVE
"You want to join us for a beer at Center Street Bar tonight?" Chris asked Aydin as they sat in the breakroom. "I'll buy you a few."
Aydin shook his head. "I need to get to the shelter and grab a bed. Thanks for the offer though." He liked Chris and had been shocked to find out that the sous chef had once been homeless like he was. Trevor had helped him go to school and learn to be a chef. He'd also married some attorney he'd met while on the streets. It gave Aydin hope that if Chris and some of the others who worked here could get their lives back together, so could he.
"I hated the shelter. I'd sleep outside. Then again, I had my dog, and the shelter wouldn't let him inside. Jake and I would sneak into old barns and stuff for the night. There's been a ton of changes to the area since I was on the streets, but I don't think it's much better. You'll let me know if you need anything, right?"
Aydin nodded. "I'm doing okay. I've managed to get a bed the last few nights. It's harder to sleep with so many around me, but I manage." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Break’s over." He tossed his trash in the bin and checked his reflection in the mirror. "See you out there." He walked out of the breakroom and down the hall toward the front. He had a few more hours left before he'd have to head back to the shelter. He dreaded it every night, knowing he'd have to stay alert most of the night to make sure no one stole his backpack or worse. One of the younger guys was raped during the night. It had happened at the other side of the shelter from where Aydin was, but he was stunned that no one had helped the guy. Hell, he was a kid really. Barely nineteen. He'd been held down on his cot and raped and not a single person in the shelter claimed to have heard anything. It made Aydin sick.
He glanced around the seats, seeing what areas had filled since he'd gone on break, glad to see things were getting busier. He hated standing around doing side jobs. He pasted a smile on his face as the door opened and two women walked in. He greeted them and got them seated before turning back to the entrance and freezing in his spot.
Jason stood there watching him, a smirk on his face as he adjusted his tie.
Aydin didn't know what to do. He wanted to run, but he was at work and couldn't do that. Was he supposed to act like nothing was the matter and just treat Jason like another customer? He wasn't sure he could do that. Wasn't sure he could even speak to him without falling apart.
Making a quick decision to ask for help, he headed in the back and found Chris. "Can you seat the guy up front? He's my ex and I can't bring myself to approach him."
Chris's eyes widened. "The one who beat you?"
Aydin nodded, hating how weak he felt not being able to handle this on his own.
"Fuck that." Chris turned and yelled, "hey, Trev, we've got an issue."
Trevor came out of his office, alert and looking for a problem.
"Aydin's ex is out front. You want to deal with him or should I?" Chris smiled.
"I don't want to cause you problems here. Just seat him and let him eat. I'll ignore him. I just wanted someone else to seat him." The last thing Aydin wanted was a scene.
"He's not welcome here," Trevor told Aydin. "I'll handle it. Just stay back here with Chris. Did he say anything to you?"
"No, just walked in and smirked at me. I turned and came back here to get someone else to seat him."
"You said there's a restraining order, correct?" Trevor was already headed to the front.
"Yeah." Aydin resisted the urge to follow him but was glad when Chris did. He stayed in the back where he could peek around the corner and hear what was said.
"You're not welcome in my establishment." Trevor walked directly up to Jason.
"I just want a meal." Jason's tone was calm and professional. The one he used when meeting with business partners. He didn't look intimidated at all.
"Find one somewhere else. You're not welcome here. Besides, I think one of my employees has a restraining order on you. You can't be in here anyway."
"I can eat anywhere I want. You kick me out of here and I'll have you shut down." Jason's tone darkened and his eyes narrowed at Trevor.
"Go ahead and try." Trevor smiled. "Chris, call the police and let them know what's going on. I'm sure they'll be interested the congressman's son is breaking a restraining order." Trevor spoke loud enough so customers could hear what he was saying and would have no doubt who Jason was.
Chris walked over to the front desk and picked up the phone and made the call.
"You don't know who you're fucking with." Jason glared.
"Oh, I think I just said who you were. Let me say it again so everyone knows." Trevor looked at the patrons who were eating. "In case you didn't hear me, this is Congressman William's son. He beat the shit out of one of my employees and now thinks he can come in here and break the restraining order."
Aydin smiled at Trevor's boldness. Several customers had their cellphones out and were recording.
"See, I know who you are. You have no business in here. I have the right to refuse service to anyone. You can leave or we can wait for the police to escort you out." Trevor stood tall, not appearing to be intimidated by Jason at all.
Aydin wished he could be so strong and confident. All he felt when he looked at Jason was fear. He worried if he got too close, he'd feel that fist against his face again.
Chris was talking to someone on the phone. Probably the police dispatcher. Aydin hated he'd brought this problem here, but he was thankful he wasn't having to deal with it all on his own. Sweat trickled down his spine as he watched, praying Jason didn't put up a fight.
"My father will have your business license," Jason spat.
"See, the difference between you and me is I don't need to use my father to fight my battles. I'm the senator's son in case you didn't know, but I won't be calling my father to help me. I fight my own battles. You have your daddy try and take me on. I promise you, I'll make sure every reporter in the nation knows what you've been up to. How willing will Daddy be to save your ass when your picture is streaming across every news agency I can find?" Trevor waved a hand to his customers. "It might happen anyway. Who knows where these fine people might post the videos they're taking right now?"
Jason cursed. "You can't stop me from seeing him."
"No, the restraining order should do that, but I can stop you from eating in any of my establishments." Trevor looked out the front window. "Looks like you're too late. Police are here."
Aydin saw the flashing blue and red lights reflecting off the glass. He wondered if Kent was working the area tonight. He hoped so. Kent knew the whole history of what had happened with Jason. He wouldn't have to explain it to someone else.
He wasn't lucky. Two officers he didn't recognize walked into the restaurant and approached Trevor. "You have a problem?"
Trevor gave them a quick rundown of what was happening. "Besides the fact he's breaking the restraining order by coming in here, I refused him service and asked him to leave, and he refused."
"Is your employee on the premises right now?" One of the officers glanced around.
"Yes, I've told him to remain in the back until it's safe. As long as he's here, it's not safe." Trevor glared at Jason.
"My father—"
"Stop playing the daddy card and be a man." Trevor shook his head. "He's Congressman William's son and thinks his father is going to get him out of anything."
The door opened and two more officers walked in.
Aydin smiled seeing one of them was Kent. He wanted to run out and hug him, feeling safe as long as Kent was there to protect him. Still, he remained hiding in the back, afraid seeing him would set Jason off. The last thing he wanted was for Trevor or Chris to get hurt.
"You again?" Kent stared at Jason.
"Fuck you." Jason glared at Kent, then his eyes went wide. "Shit, you're the one who was with him when he got his stuff."
