Arms of a Man Ch. 04

I nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Since we are being candid. I love him. I will do things that will upset him, that's life, but my priority is him, his girls, and making sure they remain happy. Whatever torture you can come up with will be nothing to what I will endure emotionally if I ever hurt him." I stared back just as strongly.

Her face softened and a few tears fell. "You understand. It is Zach's place to tell his father. If he ever does." She wouldn't tell.

Zach came back out looking sick. "Mom, I'm not feeling well. Could you tell Dad I was called away on some emergency?"

She got up and went over to look at him, her mother's instinct overcoming her feeling about his sexuality. "Of course, baby. You go home and rest." She glance around the corner. "It may be best if you not come home for a bit. Let us get use to all you have told us." Zach nodded, realizing it was the best he was going to get. "Carl, Zach and Leo must go. He got called in early," she called through the screen door.

His father came in looking a bit disappointed and not just because of the marriage problem. "Too bad. Remember that you're my boy and I love you. This divorce...it will be something to work through." He gave Zach a hug. "Leo, nice to see you again."

"Likewise, sir. I do apologize for not being able to stay." We all walked to the door.

"Work happens," he said as if he meant a different word.

We went outside and when his father shut the door he let out a trembling sigh and pulled me into a hug. "I'm glad you came."

"It was...interesting." I just rubbed his back and we snuck a quick kiss.

Not quick enough. I heard a growl from the door. His dad was there and glaring at us. "Get your hands off my boy." His voice was almost inhuman. Zach spun.

"Dad, let me..." he started.

"Get your filthy hands off my son!" He stormed over, but Zach met him on the lawn.

"Dad, calm down," he tried. He was larger than his dad, but right then I was looking at something truly disturbing. Utter blind hatred.

"You will never come to my house again, you unclean abomination!" Zach's eyes narrowed and I knew that stubborn look.

"Dad, will you listen..."

"If you do I will call the cops. Do you hear me?" I looked over their shoulders to see his mother was standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes.

"Dad, shut the fuck up and listen! I love him!" That shut his father up. "Leo is the best thing to ever happen in my life. Someone who loves me and all my insecurities. And you will never—Never!—speak to the man I..." Zach was cut off as Carl spun and backhanded him across the face.

"You will never speak to me like that again. You love him?" He hit him again. "I will beat that stupidity out of you if you won't listen to reason!"

He reached back to hit him again, but I was already there and I grabbed his hand. "Sir, with all due respect, if you hit Zach again, I will be forced to defend him." I spun him around and gave him a shove. "I will also call the cops if you even think to raise your hand in anger to him."

"You fa..." he stopped when I got in his face, choking back the words.

"If you bring that word up I will personally kick you bigot ass from here until Judgment Day and I will gladly burn in hell if you think I will let you hurt him. Se tanto come parla una parola di male a lui, io ti ucciderò. Capisci? Do you understand?" For an answer he spat in my face. "Very well, sir. I will never come back to this house." I looked back at his mother. "Ma'am, I am sorry you had to witness this. A good Christian woman should never have to see such violence." I spun on heel, Zach falling in beside me and we got into the car.

When we were out of sight Zach started to silently sob. I didn't offer words, just let him get it out. It was probably worse than he thought it could be. At home he stripped and pulled my clothes off like a crazy man. I was wondering if he was going to have crying sex, but no. He started the shower and pulled me in with him. He clung to me like I was the only thing keeping him upright. I probably was.