Barbarian - Jericho's Boys #3 - ch. 19 (Patreon)

Unbeta'd/Unedited. Very much fighting the urge to beg for validation.

Mal

“Explain,” Mal demanded. 

“Is it not self-explanatory?” Frankie asked. “I am my brother’s keeper. I’ve been tasked with babysitting him ever since my father went to prison.” 

“How so?” Nico asked, sitting forward, literally on the edge of his seat. “We need details. This is important.” 

Mal watched as Frankie seemed to war with himself. “You’ve already told us this much. You might as well just get it all out there.” 

It was clear Frankie wanted to talk. He could see the resentment, the anger. Mal didn’t blame him. 

“My brother was never really…normal. Or maybe he would have been if we’d been born to different parents. But my father was a bad man. He worked for the previous Dai Lo, who was far less civilized than his son.” 

“That’s…ominous,” Nico said, shifting uneasily in his seat. 

Frankie nodded. “My father thought nothing of breaking people’s arms or severing their fingers right in front of us. He called it learning the family business. I learned how to compartmentalize. But Jason…he ate it up. He loved it. The more depraved, the better. My father doted on him because of it.” 

“And your mother?” Nico asked. 

“She’s a very gentle person who was forced into a marriage with a bad man. What was she going to do? It’s not like she could leave. We were here in the states. She didn’t speak a word of English. She’s never held a job. She was trapped, exactly how my father liked her. She was essentially a house slave and he treated her like one. Jason thought nothing of doing the same.” 

“He abused your mother?” Nico asked. 

“He didn’t hit her or anything, but my brother is very good at terrorizing people without having to hurt them. He just enjoys hurting them. After my father went to prison, my mother was spared the physical abuse, but not the emotional torment.” 

Mal pondered this new information. “How did your brother react to your father’s crime? The one that got him thrown in prison.” 

Frankie’s expression grew dark. “You still don’t get it. My father didn’t kill that girl. Jason did.” 

“What?” Nico blurted. 

Frankie nodded. “When my brother was seventeen, he became obsessed with this freshman cheerleader, Lori. Probably because she wouldn’t give him the time of day. He asked her out and she rejected him…publicly. Loudly.” 

Something soured in Mal’s stomach. It was like watching a sad movie where you already knew the ending. 

“He was so humiliated, he lost it, started tearing the house apart. Swore he’d make her pay. My father told him to calm down and to use his head. That there were other ways to get a woman to fall in line.” 

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Nico muttered. 

“The next day, my brother started flirting with her little sister. Her thirteen-year-old sister. He showed Lori how easy it was for him to manipulate the girl, said he’d only stop if she agreed to date him and do everything he wanted. If she didn’t, he’d make sure he ruined her little sister in every conceivable way.” 

“And your parents did nothing?” 

“My father encouraged it. My mother wasn’t really in a position to do anything. Neither was I really. Lori agreed to date him. He used her like his own personal sex slave and punching bag and she was too afraid for her little sister to say no. When she turned up pregnant, she asked for money for an abortion. Instead, he strangled her and tossed her body on her parent’s front porch.” 

“Didn’t he care about getting caught?” Nico asked, shaking his head like he couldn’t fathom it. Mal couldn’t really either. Micah was a homicidal maniac, but he’d been meticulous about covering his tracks. 

“He didn’t care if he got caught. He was so furious with her for demanding anything from him, that he wanted her whole family to suffer.” 

“Jesus,” Nico muttered. 

“He came home and confessed everything. Bragged about it even. Couldn’t stop talking about how her face looked as she died,” 

Frankie’s eyes had a sort of far-away look like he was right back in that moment. 

“My mother begged my father to turn him in, and for a second, I thought he might actually do it,” He huffed out a bitter laugh. “But as soon as it hit the news, my father changed his mind. He said Jason had his whole life ahead of him. That one girl shouldn’t ruin everything. He went to the police and confessed to everything an hour later.” 

“And they just accepted it?” Nico asked.  “There was no investigation?”

Frankie scoffed. “My father was a career criminal who’d made evading the police into a game. They all but rolled out the red carpet for him. You’d think that him showing up at a police station and confessing would raise red flags, but no. They made no attempt to corroborate his story. There wasn’t even a trial. He didn’t even ask for a lesser sentence for confessing.” 

“That’s weirdly selfless,” Nico muttered. 

Frankie shrugged. “He died a few years later of terminal lung cancer. I think he knew he didn’t have much time left. Or maybe not. Maybe he really thought Jason’s life was worth trading for his own,” Frankie said. 

“How many murders have you helped cover up for him?” Nico asked. “Do you think he killed Amy? Maybe she rejected him?” 

Frankie shook his head, looking flummoxed. “Look, after we returned to Hong Kong, Jason got…better.”

“Better?” Nico barked. “Like he was just magically cured?” 

Frankie made a frustrated sound. “It wasn’t like that. After we came back, the previous Dai Lo stepped down, and his son took his place. That man took an interest in us not only because of my father, but because we were close to Leo. Well, Jason was close to Leo.” 

“What does that have to do with anything?” Mal asked. 

“Jason is cruel. I’m not saying he isn’t. But the new Dai Lo took care of us and our mom financially and basically turned Jason into an enforcer. That gave him plenty of outlets for his ugly temper, all under the guise of just doing his job. He knew that if he brought any unwanted attention to the Red Lotus, the Dai Lo would have him put down like a stray dog. So he just became two people.” 

“Two people?” Mal prompted. 

“Whenever others were around, he’d be an angel. Calm. Collected. Charming, even. Anytime anything bad happened, my brother would subtly hint that it was my doing, not his.” 

“And you…let him?” Nico asked. 

Frankie’s jaw clenched, hands fisting beside him. “Lori wasn’t the only one my brother blackmailed. Jason knows I’m gay. If that was to get out, my lifespan would be shortened considerably. I have to be discreet.” 

“He’d even sell you out?” Nico asked. 

Frankie snorted. “My brother doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He’s a narcissist and a sociopath. He will do whatever he has to do to get what he wants, when he wants, and woe betide the creature who gets in his way. I have no intention of getting in his way.” 

“So you let him slap around his girlfriends and then blame it all on you?” Nico said, like it was unfathomable. 

“As I said before, up until you people showed up, I didn’t know anything about any girls. At least, not specifically. We don’t talk about personal shit. Just work stuff. If anyone knows the real him, it’s Leo. Maybe he can help you. But I have nothing else to say.” 

Mal nodded. “Let’s go.” 

Nico stood, putting his gun away. Mal did the same, watching his boyfriend move on auto-pilot. He was deep in thought but Mal wasn’t sure just what was on his mind. 

He found out a moment later when they were standing at the door. “Hey, one more question before we leave.” 

Frankie eyed them warily. “What?” 

Nico’s cheeks turned pink. “We kind of had a look around your house before you came home.” 

Frankie stiffened. “Yeah?” 

This time it was Mal who stiffened. Where the hell was Nico going with this? 

“We found your…c-collection in the closet,” Nico stammered. 

Frankie’s expression darkened. “Are you trying to blackmail me now, too?” 

Nico’s eyes went wide. “What? No. I just…I just wanted to know where you got that case? It seems really handy.” 

Frankie stared at him in disbelief, then huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “The Pink Pussycat on 3rd avenue. They were designed for people who host home sex toy parties.” 

Nico balked. “That’s a thing?” 

“Yes. Is that all?” Frankie asked. “I’d like to get my dog out of the bathtub.” 

“I do have one more question,” Nico said. “What do you do with all that lu-” 

Mal slapped his hand over Nico’s mouth. “We’re leaving. Do us a favor and don’t mention this to Jason or anyone else.” 

Frankie looked at him like he was insane. “Yeah, that’s not a problem.” 

###

They decided to regroup at a little cafe down the street. Nico had taken one look at their window display and dragged Mal inside with pleading eyes. It wasn’t like Mal would say no. Besides, the place was quaint, cozy, and—best of all—quiet. There were a few people sitting at the small tables, but their conversations were barely more than a low murmur. Lo-fi music played, but it was turned low, pouring out from well hidden speakers. 

It smelled like frosting and freshly brewed coffee. 

It was plain to see that Nico was instantly in love with the place. It was also plain to see that the older woman behind the counter—the owner, it turns out—was instantly in love with him. 

They started chatting almost immediately. Nico gushed about the atmosphere and the decor. Within minutes, she knew that Nico was in college but had no idea what to major in and Nico knew that she was a retired surgeon who was finally living out her dream of owning a bakery. 

Mal ordered a hot tea and just stood back, watching as Nico peppered the woman with questions about every single dessert under the glass display. Was the frosting buttercream or whipped cream? Did that cake have strawberries or strawberry filling? How did they get that chocolate chip cookie to sit so perfectly inside the brownies? Did they bake the bread fresh every day? 

Mal had no doubt Nico would have stood there for the next three hours had more customers not arrived. His boy had never met a stranger. Nico had hurriedly placed his order and apologized for holding up the line. The owner had handed him her card and told him to call her if he ever wanted a job. 

Nico was practically floating by the time they reached the small little back patio with its tin roof and hundreds of hanging plants. The rain pelting softly above them made the whole patio smell like the gardenias blooming behind him. It wasn’t a bad way to waste an afternoon. At least if they weren’t trying to find a missing person. 

Mal sat sipping his Earl Grey while his boyfriend attempted to eat the largest slice of chocolate cake Mal had ever seen. 

When he felt Mal’s eyes on him, he stopped chewing, giving him a suspicious look. “Wha’?” he asked. 

Mal shrugged. “Nothing. I just like watching you eat,” he said, fondly. 

Nico chewed slowly, glowering at him. When he swallowed the bite in his mouth he muttered, “Weirdo.” 

“That’s not new information, Fidget.” 

Nico stuck his tongue out at him, then dove back in for another bite. Mal just smiled, staring at the chocolate frosting smeared on his chin. He could tell him, but it wasn’t like there was anyone else out there to see it. 

When Nico finished his next bite, he huffed, face forming a pout as he said, “You couldn’t have gotten something to eat just so I didn’t look stupid with this big ass piece of cake?” he whined. 

Mal rolled his eyes. “Look stupid to who? The ficus in the corner? We’re all alone out here. Besides, we both know you’ve got three to four more bites left in you and then you’re gonna push it over to me and insist I eat it while you study me like you have a feeder kink.” 

“You’re mean,” Nico muttered. 

“You have no idea,” he taunted, raising his brows in a way that had Nico turning red. 

“Don’t you dare get me all worked up in public,” Nico warned. 

Mal just smiled. Three bites later, Nico relinquished his treat, sliding it across the table without making eye contact, then slumping in his chair as he sipped his caramel latte.

Mal picked at the cake, only taking a bite when Nico started to sulk. When the plate was empty, Nico asked, “Now what?” 

“There’s a lot of information, but nothing to link it to Amy,” Mal said, standing just enough to reach across the table and clean Nico’s face, showing him the chocolate on his napkin. 

“Well it's safe to rule Frankie out as a suspect, I think,” Nico said. 

“Yeah,” Mal agreed. “But something’s bugging me.” 

Nico frowned. “What is it?” 

Mal began to tear the napkin into pieces. “The Dai Lo said that Leo’s counterfeit operation was less than one percent of his overall income.” 

“Okay?” Nico prodded. 

“But Frankie just said that the casinos were making thousands of dollars a day. Leo didn’t mention any casinos and neither did the Dai Lo.” 

Nico’s eyes went wide. “You think he doesn’t know about the gambling?” 

Mal shrugged. “What if Leo is double dipping? What if he’s running the casino and the counterfeiting business but only reporting the income from one, not the other?” 

“That seems awfully dangerous,” Nico agreed. “The Dai Lo didn’t seem like someone who would suffer fools, even ones related to him, you know?” 

“Leo seemed to think nothing of throwing Frankie under the bus with his dad,” Mal added. 

“Maybe he bought Jason’s bullshit, too?” Nico said. 

“But Frankie just said nobody knows Jason better than Leo? Those two things can’t be true at the same time. Either Leo knows Jason is a piece of shit and is covering for him or he doesn’t know Jason at all. I’m guessing it’s the former,” Mal said. 

“What does any of this have to do with Amy?” Nico asked. 

Mal shrugged. “I don’t know.” 

Nico gave him a doubtful look. “But Leo didn’t look like he was lying.” 

“You’re right, he didn’t. Ugh.” Mal scrubbed his hands over his face. “Fuck.”

“I don’t know if you’re taking requests but can you wake up tomorrow as a private investigator or…I don’t know. A psychic?” Nico teased, standing to walk around to Mal’s side of the table. 

Before Mal could say anything, Nico perched on his knee, looping an arm around his neck, just resting his temple against Mal’s. Nico knew Mal had no control over who he’d be when he woke in the morning? Plain ol’ Mal or some different version of himself. He knew Nico knew that, too. 

Still, he said, “I’ll see what I can do.” Nico gave a small nod, but made no move to leave. “Whatcha doin?” 

“Two brains are better than one. I thought maybe if they were closer together it might give us some kind of idea.” 

Mal laughed. “I’m not quite sure it works that way.” 

“Why did we think we could solve this? We don’t look for people? We don’t solve crimes. We just kill bad guys. I just want to go back to killing bad guys. What if the cops would have already solved this by now?” 

“The cops don’t care about the people in our neighborhood. They would have said she abandoned Casey and they would have shoved her in foster care.” 

“I know you’re right. But this is frustrating and I’m so tired of finding bread crumbs that lead nowhere.” 

“I know, Fidget. I know.” Mal totally understood his frustration. “All we can do is keep moving forward.” 

Nico was silent for a minute, then sat up with a sharp breath. “Unless we don’t.” 

“Don’t move forward?” Mal asked. 

“Yeah. Fuck moving forward. Let's go back.” 

Mal stared into Nico’s expectant face hoping he’d elaborate. When he didn’t, Mal asked, “Back where?” 

“Let's go back to Amy’s apartment.” 

“The crime scene?” Mal asked.

“Thomas’s men cleaned up the mess but they didn’t take anything but the body, right? Lets go snoop through Amy’s things.” 

“It’s a good idea, Fidget,” Mal agreed. “We should have done it sooner.” 

“Nah,” Nico said. “If we had looked through her apartment in the beginning, even if we found something, we probably wouldn’t have known it was important. I doubt there’s a note that just says ‘in the event of my disappearance, X did it.’”

“That would have made this a lot easier,” Mal said begrudgingly. 

Nico kissed Mal’s cheek, then his eyelid. “Alright, let's go to Amy’s.” 

Mal bit back a smile. Nico was always clingy after Mal fed him. He wondered if he even noticed. 

They were back on the street under the awning, when Mal asked, “How are we going to get in? I’m sure they repaired the door.” 

Nico scoffed, finger hovering over the button to order their Uber. “We’ll break in, duh.” 

Mal gave a breathy laugh. “Oh? Do you have some super secret lock picking skills I don’t know about?” 

Nico’s grin was like fireworks. “Actually, yeah. We just have to swing by the apartment first.” 

He loved him so much. 

“Okay, Fidget. I’m following you.”