Shadows Part IX

Title: Shadows Part IX
Author: hannah_chapter
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: R
Summary: AU. Sequel to Temptation. Dom's POV. Ten years have passed and Dom and Matt have made a life together. But when his past comes back to haunt him, how far will Dom go to keep Matt safe?
Feedback: Always welcome.
Disclaimer: Oh so very, very fake.


No! That wasn't five minutes! More time, I need more time.

"You'd better do what he says."

"I don't want to leave you like this."

"You don't have a choice. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Don't worry? Yeah, right. May as well tell me not to breathe. I put my hand on the door. I'd like to think Matt's doing the same on the other side, but I can't tell for sure.

"I'll get you out of here, Matt, I promise."

"I know you will. Go on, get out of here."

I walk away. When I turn the corner I see Stevie. He's leaning against the wall by the stairs, cleaning his nails with a flick-knife. He looks at me and sneers.

"So this is the famous Dominic. We've heard so much about you. The best thief there ever was, better than your father, even. Then we finally see what all the fuss is about and Jesus, talk about a let down. Nothing but a lousy queer."

He makes a sad face. "What's wrong? Missing your woman? Or have I got it wrong? Maybe you're the woman." He giggles. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him."

I look at him; the pose, the knife, the whole image his way of telling the world just how dangerous he is. But I've known dangerous men, really dangerous men, and this act doesn't impress me, not one little bit. I see a snot-nosed brat and a coward, the kind of guy who only attacks when the odds are stacked heavily in his favour. The kind of guy who could really hurt Matt if I don't cut him down - right fucking now.

Matt couldn't teach me to shoot but he made up for it by teaching me other things, a few dirty tricks he picked up in his other life. I bring my fists up and make like I'm about to take a swing at him. Stevie's hands move up to cover his face and my right hand goes to his armpit, my fingers seeking that special nerve hidden there. I find it, press and he squeals and drops the blade. I follow up with a short, sharp punch to the gut. He doubles over, gasping for air as I pick up the knife. I shove him against the wall and he's still trying to be a tough guy.

"....queer...."

I put the knife to his throat, pushing until the point is almost, but not quite, breaking the skin, making sure I've got his full attention.

"That's right, I'm a queer. You just got your ass kicked by a queer, so what does that say about you, I wonder? You think you're dangerous? Kill a few people and think that makes you a tough guy? It doesn't. I should know, I've killed a couple of guys myself."

I shake my head. "What can I say, someone hurts the man I love, I just go crazy. Ask Eddie. Oh wait, you can't. I shoved a glass through his eye and then I cut him up and fed him to some pigs. And all he did was make a few threats. Then there was this other guy, years ago, guy called Paulsen. Now, he really hurt my man. He fucked up his leg, he even cut off his finger. I found that bastard and I cut his face in half. You should keep all these things in mind. Remember them whenever you get any bright ideas about the man in the room back there. Ideas like pissing in his food, maybe, or bringing your friends down here to beat him up some night."

His eyes flicker.

"You were actually thinking about it, weren't you? Well, let me tell you something: you try anything like that, I promise you'll live to regret it. I'll take this pretty knife of yours and I'll cut you so many times and so many ways, your own mother won't know you. Little children will scream and run when they see you. And, if you're very lucky, I'll stop at your face. Do we have an understanding?"

He nods, slowly and carefully.

"Good."

I let him go, fold the knife and put it in my pocket.

"This is just between us. You don't tell my father about this little talk of ours, I don't tell anyone about how you pissed your pants like a little kid."

He looks down at the stain on the front of his pants and flushes. Something catches my eye, a familiar chain dangling from his pocket. I reach in and pull out a watch. But not just any old watch: this is Matt's watch, the silver one I bought him for his birthday a few years ago. I take it and put it in my own pocket, saying nothing. Stealing, that's the one thing I can't give anyone a hard time about, especially when it's how I'll be making money while I'm stuck here.

Halfway up the stairs, I suddenly feel sick. That, what I just did, how is that any different from what my father's doing to me? I even dragged up my two worst memories and used them against Stevie - just like Daddy's using my love for Matt against me. No! It's not the same. I'm not like him. I'm not. Not.

Daddy's still in the kitchen. He's switched from coffee to beer and looks a lot happier.

"Here he is. Did you have a nice visit?"

"I want some things. I want to make Matt more comfortable."

"Comfortable? The fuck you think this is, a hotel? We gave him a bucket and a mattress, he'll be fine. He's lucky he's not chained to the wall."

"He's not an animal!"

"No? He fucks like one. You're not really in a position to demand anything, Dominic. You can't bet if you don't have any cards."

"Maybe not. But you want me on this big job of yours, how do you expect me to concentrate on that if I'm worried about Matt all the time?"

"What do you want?"

"I want you to let him out once a day, so he can use the bathroom and wash himself. I want to get him some books, blankets and clean clothes."

"What are we meant to do with the ones he's got on? I'm not doing his laundry."

"Did anyone ask you to? I'll do it myself. Oh, and I want to see him, really see him, for an hour every day."

He's on his feet in a second. "No. All that other shit, you can have that, but you can't see him. You can talk to him through the door  for ten minutes each day and that's it. I shouldn't even be giving you that, but I guess you'll sulk if I don't."

"Half an hour."

"Fifteen minutes. Final offer, Dominic, take it or leave it."

"I'll take it."

It's more than I expected. I'll get Matt out of here, just like I promised him. But, for now, this is all I can do for him.