Summary:
Detective Cashel 'Cash' Godfrey is big, tattooed and angry so people typically keep their distance. He's fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six foot four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn't expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis 'Leo' Day.
Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He’s proud, out and one bad-ass detective.
Together Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta’s ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.
When Cash saves Leo's life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does…something special. But Leo fears he'll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash's heart.
Nothing Special takes the reader through various emotions throughout the richly fulfilling plot that’s full of erotic gay romance, heartache, passion, trials and tribulations, police action scenes, and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming.
God and Leo are, simply put, irritatingly sexy. They are perfect partners, both on and off the clock. Leo is annoyingly optimistic and God is incredibly powerful and together they understand each other on an emotional, almost psychic, level even before they open their hearts to the other. Throw in a little crime, some co-worker flirting and fighting and you have a great summer read that will heat and cool your soul all year long.
RATING:
Summary:
Sergeant Corbin 'Syn' Sydney had dedicated his life to becoming the best detective. So when he heard there was an opening on the notorious Atlanta Narcotics Task Force, he jumped at the chance. But, what he wasn't ready for was realizing just how lonely he’d made himself, when he observed the loving and dedicated relationship between the two men he served under: Lieutenant Cashel ‘God’ Godfrey and Lieutenant Leonidis Day.
Syn prepared himself to accept his lonely fate until he walked into a small pub and met the long-haired, tattooed bartender, Furious Barkley. Before Syn can even understand why, he’s overcome with feelings he barely recognizes: passion, yearning, craving. And if the dark, lustful gazes are anything to go by, Furious might be feeling the same things for him.
Just two thing needs to happen before Syn and Furi can give each other what’s been missing from their lives for so long... Syn needs to find the evidence that proves Furi’s innocence of murder, as well as protect him from a past that refuses to let go.
God, Day, Ronowski, and Johnson are still as entertaining as ever...
You'll swoon over God's massive take-charge attitude...
You'll laugh hysterically at Day's never-ending wit...
You'll fall in love with Furious' mysterious, sexy demeanor...
and...
You'll embrace Syn...
Disclaimer: The main characters of this book DO NOT participate in polygamous sexual pairings.
New to the narcotics squad, Syn may not think so but he fits in perfectly. When he meets the bartender, Furi things really get kicked up a notch. A great follow-up to Nothing Special and the boys we fell in love with are back and offer great support and leadership when needed. Syn and Furi eventually learn that being part of or involved with the Atlanta Narcotics Task Force isn't just a job, it's a family.
RATING:
Summary:
Detectives Mark Ruxsberg and Chris Green are very good at their jobs. Being the enforcers for God and Day's notorious Atlanta PD Narcotics Task Force causes the crazy duo to get into more trouble than they can often get out of. The pair never misses out on an opportunity to drive their Lieutenants crazy with their dangerous, reckless, and costly stunts, landing them in the hot seat in front God... often.
Ruxs and Green love their jobs and they don't mind the very demanding schedule that leaves them little time for socializing or dating. It was fine with them, they enjoyed hanging out with each other anyway.
However, most of the men in their close circle of friends and colleagues are pairing off and settling down. God has Day, Ro has Johnson, and their Sergeant Syn has Furious.
For the past several years, Ruxs has only sought out the advice and company of one person, his partner and best friend Green, and vice versa. Both of these alpha males are presumed straight, but neither can deny the heat that's building in their once 'just friends' relationship.
Ruxs and Green may be known for their shoot now ask questions later attitude but we quickly learn that there is so much more to them then just stubborn muscle. The family, also known as the Atlanta Narcotics Task Force, is back with everything they are good at, being there for each other.
RATING:
Summary:
AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS STORY
Detective Austin Michaels didn’t think life could get any better after he was accepted into the most notorious narcotics task force on the East Coast, headed up by two of the baddest’ Lieutenants with the Atlanta Police Department - Cashel Godfrey and Leonidis Day.
Michaels knew he would fit right in as the team’s sniper, having received his fair share of commendations for marksmanship. He was just as badass as the rest of the twenty brothers that made up their team. But when Michaels lets their prime suspect get away from a huge bust with over a quarter of a million dollars in drugs, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it right.
Left with no other options, God chooses to bring in outside help, calling on his long-time friend and bounty hunter, Judge Josephson.
Judge was considered one of the best trackers during his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. After retiring, he used those skills to become one of the most sought out fugitive trackers in the country. When Judge gets a call from his old friend needing his help, he quickly tells God, yes.
Still embarrassed, and intent to prove himself, Michaels immediately volunteers to partner up with Judge to get their suspect back quickly and quietly. Neither man wanted or needed a partner. But, after Judge and Michaels get on the road, the hate/lust relationship they quickly develop between them will either make them heroes… Or get them killed.
Austin Michaels has grown into a very productive and strong member of the Atlanta Narcotics Task Force, not quite the image Ruxs and Green had of him in Here Comes Trouble. Unfortunately a mistake has consequences and after God calls in a favor, Michaels finds himself on a journey with Judge, God's bounty hunter friend who is none to pleased to have a tag-a-long while tracking his quarry. Their differences compliment each other even though they don't see it. Once again, when one of their own is in trouble the task force family rally together and do what they do best: kick butt and bust the bad guys.
RATING:
Great stories with very interesting characters, both good guys and bad. Sometimes the plots seem a little on the rushed side but still flowed smoothly so it didn't effect my enjoyment of the tale. The mysteries/crime/conflict could have had a little more punch for my taste and for that reason I have to file this series under guilty pleasures, although I never once actually felt guilty for enjoying the pleasures of the Atlanta Narcotics Task Force men and off the record they are definitely men from head to toe.
Nothing Special #1
“Hey, hold on Leo.” Johnson grabbed the evidence bag and jogged over to the door pausing in front of Day. He leaned against the door jamb and propped his arm up on the wall beside Day’s head.
Day hated when men used their height to stand over him…it irked his nerves...all men except for God. Day refused to look up at him.
“You busy this Friday? My dad got me box tickets to the Braves game.” Johnson boasted.
“Good for daddy, Johnson, but I’m not a baseball fan.” Day lied and sidestepped to head out the door but was again blocked by the tall man.
Day heard God let out a small growl from farther in the room but chose to ignore it.
“That’s cool Leo.” Johnson was damn near standing on top of him as he spoke, but he’d be damn if he was going to back up. “So just talking would be nice…would you like to come over to my place tonight for a glass of wine?”
“Not even if Jesus was pouring it.” Day responded quickly. He heard God let out a loud laugh and it made him turn up the corner of his mouth at the sound of it. God rarely laughed- hell the man rarely smiled - but somehow, Day could make him do both.
“What the fuck are you laughing at God?” Johnson moved away from Day.
“You. Daddy’s boy.” God’s smile left as fast as it came and he was back to typical intimidating God.
“Fuck you. I know Day is just showing off for you.” Johnson turned back to look at Day. “I’ll be sure to catch you when you’re alone.”
“I’ll be sure to have my rape whistle.” Day retorted.
Johnson turned a frustrated look at God. “I’m not finished with you yet, either,” with that hanging in the air, Johnson walked out the room.
“Duly noted.” God said with an uninterested shrug.
Day slammed the door behind Johnson, closing just him and his partner in the room alone. Day hit the lights.
“Setting the mood, Leo?” God grinned at him.
“I want to talk to you now.”
“You can’t always get what you want, Leonidis.” God rebutted.
“I want you.” Day said with no hesitation.
The room was deathly silent. After a few long seconds God responded simply, “No you don’t.”
“I do. Isn’t it obvious?” Day moved a little closer.
“You don’t know what the fuck you want. I’ve watched you for four years, jump from bed-to-bed and fuck your way through half of Atlanta. I have one emotional night and all of a sudden you want me…fuck you.” God said in his gruffest voice.
Day’s body heated instantly at the sound. He moved even closer to where God was standing on the opposite side of the table. “Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was supposed to be saving myself for marriage, and even more so, I didn’t realize you were a goddamn virgin. How many women have I seen you fuck in that pussy-getting truck of yours, huh?” Day lowered his voice as he stood directly in front of God. “Just tell me you didn’t feel what I did last night,” he closed the small gap, not minding God’s height at all, and looked up into electric green eyes. “Tell me you don’t want me too, and I’ll back the fuck off.”
God looked down on him and Day could see the uncertainty all over that ruggedly handsome face. “Shits complicated, Leo.” God’s breath ghosted across his forehead.
“Make me understand, Cashel.” Day whispered and slowly brought his hands up to rest on God’s waist.
“What makes you think I’m gay or bi?” God asked avoiding Day’s request.
“Really? Maybe it’s this that makes me think that.” Day boldly palmed and squeezed God’s rock hard erection.
“Fuck.” God hissed. God grabbed Day’s shoulders and quickly moved him backwards until his back slammed hard into the wall.
“Fuck yeah. That’s it.” Day groaned. He held on tight while God hoisted him up against the wall and attacked his mouth. It wasn’t pretty or gentle. God kissed him with a fury that he hadn’t felt in years. It was erotically carnal, wicked, and Day loved every second. His feet dangled as God’s bulk pushed hard against him keeping him immobile and under his control.
“This what you want, you sexy fucker?” God snarled in his ear, then leaned in and bit the juncture of his neck that met with his shoulder.
“Augh, yes! I want you goddammit.” Day hissed into the darkness.
“Prove it.” God released him and Day dropped back to the ground.
He immediately felt the loss of God’s heat and had to resist the urge to claw at the man. Day palmed his hard erection. “Seriously. This isn’t fucking proof enough?” He said while seductively squeezing his cock and licking his red lips now full and pump from their kiss.
“I don’t give a damn about your wood. You get a hard-on when you drink coffee Leo.” God grabbed his coat and headed to the door. “If you want it, you’ll have to earn it.”
Day stalked over to him. “Did you make all those other bitches you fucked earn it first?” Day fumed. Not liking that God was thinking of playing a come-and-get-it game with him. God spun around fast and gripped Day around his throat, pulling him into his rock hard chest. Day hit that solid wall of muscles with a thud and the air rushed out of his lungs. Day put both his hands on God’s huge forearms that flexed against his touch. God bent his head and a few strands of his hair came a loose from the elastic band and brushed against the side of Day’s face. God looked and smelled so fucking delicious, like masculinity and aftershave. Day knew the grip on his neck was not to hurt him, it was to show him who was in charge. God’s sheer strength and power had Day feeling like he could come right there in the small conference room.
“Oh, so you want to be my bitch?” God’s mouth was at the base of his ear. He roughly ground his pelvis into Day’s stomach while the other hand got a firm grip in his hair at the back of his head. “Why didn’t you just say so? You want me to have you face down and ass up in my truck? Then we can go do that right fucking now.”
God loosened his grip on Day’s hair and let the large hand around his throat turn into gentle caress. He smoothed down Day’s hair and leaned in and took a large sniff before nuzzling the side of his face. Day couldn’t have stopped the unmanly whimper if he’d tried. God dragged two fingers down his throat and gently stroked his collar bone. His breathing was now even and calm, surprisingly relaxing Day as well. God kissed Day’s temple before speaking in a seductive whisper against the side of his face. “Or do you want me to put on one of your jazz records and lay your beautiful body down on your bed and slowly lick you from head to toe?” God ran a thumb over Day’s parted lips. “I would kiss these soft lips for hours before I let you wrap them around my cock.” God let loose the sexiest fucking growl he’d ever heard while he oh so slowly massaged Day’s leaking cock that was confined uncomfortably in his jeans. “Then, I’d lie on top of you and bury my dick so deep inside you that you’d feel me for days.” God taunted sexily. Day felt God’s breath shutter and he knew the man was enjoying the visual just as much as he was. “I’d fuck you slow and deep Leo until you cum screaming my name.” God released his dick. “So tell me…which one do you want?”
Day had to figure out how to speak again before he was finally able to reply. “Yes, Cashel. I want you in my bed.”
“Then prove it.” God laid a lingering, gentle kiss on his forehead before stepping back from him and leaving the conference room.
Emracing Syn #2
“I was exactly the man for this job Captain Myers, but I refuse to work for these two thieves.”
God moved into Syn’s personal space quickly, damn near putting his nose on Syn’s forehead. He snarled, "Shut up," but Syn didn’t budge. He kept talking, refusing to be intimidated.
“The bust went exactly according to their plan. You might want to check some of your detectives' bank accounts, Captain. It seems they aren’t satisfied with their pay grade and have resorted to robbing dealers.”
“Are you referring to yourself, Sydney?” God pfftd.
Syn saw red. His hand moved quickly, too fast for God to stop it as he bunched God’s jacket up in his fists. Syn didn’t anticipate God’s anger escalating as quickly as it did. A huge hand locked on to his throat, the other massive hand gripping his bulletproof vest. God propelled him backwards until Syn slammed against the wall.
“Calm down, Sydney!” God roared.
Syn tried to unsuccessfully take a breath.
“God, back off, now!” Syn could hear the Captain yelling, but his head was pounding from the impact with the wall.
Syn knew he only had a few more seconds before he would pass out. He brought his right arm all the way up and slammed it back down onto God’s forearm, dislodging the punishing grip. Syn gulped a quick breath, crouched low and slammed his right fist into God’s ribs. He saw God’s right fist coming and he had to use both arms to block the hit. Fuck, God was strong and fucking huge. God grabbed both of Syn’s shoulders and no matter how Syn twisted, he couldn’t pry himself free. He stopped trying to remove God’s fingers and instead braced both hands on God’s thick shoulders, reared his head back and slammed his forehead into the bridge of God’s nose, finally making him release his grip. God staggered back and although Syn was dazed, he moved in, determined to keep the upper hand. In a split second he registered his legs being taken out from under him. Day had moved like a panther, dropped and spin-kicked his legs, sending Syn to the floor back first, hard.
Damn that fucker is fast. Syn didn’t let the pain radiating down his back stall him. He kicked back up onto his feet and prepared to take them both on. How? He had no idea, but he damn sure was going to give it his best try.
“Enough,” Day said easily, not even out of breath.
Syn saw God over against the Captain’s desk moving his nose back and forth checking to see if it was broken. Syn didn’t dare let his guard down. “I’ll say when it’s enough and I won’t stop until I’ve gone to IA and your whole goddamn task force is under investigation. It won’t be enough until they’re probing up your asses with microscopes for dirty money,” Syn gasped the words between breaths.
“A microscope is not what I prefer up my ass Detective Sydney … or haven’t you heard?” Day retorted.
Syn couldn’t stop his startled reaction, Day’s crass remark catching him off guard. “You sonofabitch.” Syn moved toward Day again, his resolve long gone.
Captain Myers moved in and put a thick hand against the front of Syn’s chest. “Actually, I say when it’s enough. Detective Sydney, unless you want to wait down in lockup until you calm down, I suggest you get a hold of yourself. You are all highly trained professionals and you’re acting like goddamn animals.”
Syn’s chest heaved up and down with adrenaline. He’d just taken on God and Day. What the hell am I doing?
Captain Myers turned and pointed a long finger at Day. “Day, if you ever refer to anything you want in your ass around me again, I’ll have your inappropriate, cocky ass back in a uniform policing school zone traffic.”
Syn heard Day snort at the Captain and walk over to God, squinting to look at his nose. “Is it broken?” Day asked.
God shook his head no, while glaring at Syn.
Day smiled at Syn with what looked like pride. He clapped his hands together once and whooped before speaking. “Damn, the man can rumble. Never seen anyone not back down from you, God. I like him already. I say we make him third in command. I told you he’d fit right in. Man, when I’m right, I’m right. Sometimes I stun my damn self with how great a judge of character I am!” Day did some weird happy dance.
“Yeah, I’m a great judge of character too, that’s why I don’t like anyone,” God snapped.
Here Comes Trouble #3
Oh No… Not Again
“Ruxs watch out for the — Oh shit!” Damn. Not another cyclist. Green floored his huge RAM2500, barreling around the corner of Marrietta Street, keeping a close eye on his partner as he chased down one of their informants. He couldn’t jump the curb onto the sidewalk to cut off the chase because there were too many pedestrians. Ruxs needed to get the bastard to turn off of the street into one of the many deserted alleys. Green divided his attention between maneuvering through the thick mid-afternoon traffic and not losing his partner. The engine roared as he went around a slow-ass Buick and flew through another red light, just lightly clipping the back end of a MARTA bus. Oops. Thought I cleared that. Fuck.
He saw Ruxs double his efforts, landing a hard slap to the informant’s shoulder that sent him flying into an old lady, knocking her bags out of her hand. Green thought Ruxs had him but the fucker shimmied out of his coat, taking off again, cutting in between an office building and a parking garage. Green couldn’t get over to turn and follow him down the small street. He gunned it, turning onto Cone Street instead. He’d cut him off at the other end. He blared his horn. Traffic was at a complete stop waiting on the light to turn. Fuck it. He cut the corner of the sidewalk, sending a metal trashcan flying up into the air. At least there were no people on the sidewalk this time. He was almost to the exit of the alley when he saw bright blue and red lights come up fast behind him blasting its siren. He ignored it, swerved over two lanes, and put the front end of his truck into the narrow opening of the alley. If their informant hadn’t had his head turned to check how close Ruxs was getting, he would’ve seen Green’s truck coming and avoided slamming into the front of it. That had to hurt.
Green was out of the truck, coming around the front end just as Ruxs was picking up their man and throwing him back against the hood.
“Do you have to do that? I mean there’s a Dumpster right there.” Green frowned at his partner. “Look at that dent, man.”
“Shut up, Green.” Ruxs huffed.
Green smiled teasingly, he knew how much Ruxs hated doing the chasing. He stood there with his arms crossed over his broad chest watching their informant, doubled over from the pain of hitting his truck and out of breath from running the last ten minutes.
The police car’s tires squealed to a stop right next to the back end of Green’s truck. They both turned when the young cop jumped out, yelling at them to raise their hands above their heads. The cop finally got a good look at them and rolled his eyes, lowering his weapon. “Ruxs, Green, should’ve fuckin’ known.”
“What’s up Michaels?” Green shook the officer’s hand. He was one of the few uniforms that actually liked the guys on their task force. One of the few who went out of his way to speak to them or offer up any help.
“What’cha guys got there?” Michaels’ eyebrows rose up in question when he looked at the disheveled junkie that was trying to ease around Green’s truck until Ruxs pushed him back against the side of the building.
“You better go, Michaels.” Green looked at him seriously. There was no way he was going to talk to their informant using their not so professional tactics in front of another officer.
Michaels’ blue eyes cast down as he fidgeted with his fingers. “Uhh. Yeah okay. Hey Green, did you get to talk to God about any openings he may have coming up on the task force soon?”
Green suppressed his sigh. There was no way Michaels would make it on their task force. The guy was too nice and too easy going. He didn’t have a harsh or cruel bone in him. You had to have pretty tough skin to take what their lieutenants dished out… daily.
Green could see his partner gearing up to say exactly what he’d been thinking but spoke up before Ruxs could crush the handsome guy. “Not yet. I’ll talk to him real soon, okay.”
Michaels beamed a megawatt smile and walked quickly back to his squad car. Green noticed how tight Michaels’ uniform was over his thighs and ass. He chuckled to himself and shook his head sadly as Michaels gave him a friendly wave, his uniform sleeves practically cutting off circulation to his large biceps. He was just like so many others officers on the Atlanta police force. Wanted to work for God and Day.
“Why are you stringing him along? You know damn well he ain’t getting in.” Ruxs took off his black leather coat and tossed it inside the open passenger side window after he’d handcuffed their informant to the Dumpster.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll tell him. But he’s like a loyal dog. I mean, who would kick a golden retriever?” Green smiled at his partner who in turn gave him a look that said…
“What the fuck? Stop being an idiot. Tell the guy he ain’t got it and move on. Besides he’s always running errands for you and getting you coffee and shit. That’s fucked up to do that, man.”
Green opened his mouth in mock confusion. “I don’t ask him to do those things.”
“Can we talk about this later?”
Green shrugged. “Sure whatever.” And turned his attention back to their informant. As soon as Green leveled his hard, dark brown eyes on him, he immediately got defensive.
“I swear I don’t know nothing, Detective Green,” the man whined sadly.
“Whoa, whoa. I didn’t ask you no motherfuckin’ questions,” Green said back calmly. “You lying to me already, Tommy?”
The man was shaking his head no before Green could even finish. Ruxs stood by with a slight smile playing on his mouth as he watched him. Sometimes he felt like Ruxs loved this part a little too much, just sitting back and watching Green work. Their only job was to secure intel and suspects for their lieutenants. Squeeze information out of people. Bring in whoever needed to be questioned. Arrest suspects. Basically they were God and Day’s muscle, and they were damn good at it.
Green squatted in front of their informant, eyeing him carefully. His dingy clothes were hanging off his straggly frame and his hair looked like it hadn’t been washed for days. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. The fucker was high. He wouldn’t be good for shit right now.
“Tommy. Tommy listen to me. Why’d you feed us that bullshit about the meth lab in East Point?”
“I didn’t —”
“Shut the fuck up.” Green cut him off, his voice at that low frightening timbre he used on suspects. A voice that sounded like he was so pissed off, he was too angry to yell. “Yes, you did. You gave us some straight bullshit. There were no real players in there. We got two lousy fuckin’ bags. What the hell are we supposed to do with that?”
“I been in there myself. There be some high rollers in there, Detective Green. I swear it.”
Green stood slowly. “You’re still lying. Someone got to you. Who?”
“Nope. No one. I said I’d help you guys.”
Green was done. This guy had been flipped. He was no use to them now. “Well it was nice doing business with you Tommy. But your services are no longer needed.” Green stepped closer and draped his arm around Tommy’s neck. He pulled out his wallet and held his badge up with one hand and gave a thumbs up with the one around Tommy. “Smile.”
“What?”
As soon as Tommy turned his head back to Ruxs he snapped a picture of their pose with his cell phone. Green pushed Tommy away from him. “Now. We’ll print out a few of these and post them around East Point, all the way up Church Street. Let a few of the fellas see who Tommy’s been hanging with.”
“You guys trying to get me fuckin’ killed man?” Tommy yelled, pulling at the cuffs like they’d actually budge.
“I don’t give a damn,” Ruxs chimed in.
“Come on man. Don’t do this. I gave y’all good info. It ain’t my fault you guys fucked it up,” Tommy argued.
“Oh. So now we’re the fuck-ups. I see.” Green rubbed at his neatly trimmed goatee. “Let’s go tell God how he fucked up that bust.”
Ruxs quickly undid the cuffs and grabbed Tommy around his frail forearm. The man shook his head so hard, spittle landed on each of his cheeks. “No. No. No. Fuck no. I don’t. I don’t want to talk to God.” Tommy looked like he was about to shit himself.
“I’m sure as fuck not gonna give him your message. You said he fucked up, so let’s go tell him,” Green said casually. This was usually their trump card. No one wanted to talk to God or Day.
Ruxs was effortlessly pulling Tommy to the truck.
“I didn’t say God fucked up. You know I didn’t. Okay, okay. Stop one second Detective Ruxsberg. I g-got a little s-something to tell you. I don’t know a whole l-lot, but I know a little something about a l-little bit.” He stuttered nervously, making very little sense.
Ruxs let go of Tommy’s arm, sending him falling back to the ground.
“Ouch. Damnit.” Tommy rubbed at his wrist, glaring back up at Ruxs. He folded his legs Indian-style like he was on a damn Persian rug and not some filthy concrete. “There may be a pretty big shipment coming to the house on Cleveland Ave.”
“How big?” Green asked, now slightly intrigued.
“Big, man. I don’t know. Just f-fuckin’ huge, okay. Got everyone uneasy, ya know?”
“When?” Ruxs asked.
“Few weeks. Gonna be some foreigners coming with it. Chainz is up to some serious shit.”
“You sure?” Green asked.
“My girl works in one of the houses Chainz keeps in the back. She heard one of his big boys talking about it. They setting stuff up for it already.”
“In that shitty neighborhood. He’s going to bring some foreign contacts and that much weight to a rundown piece of shit house on Cleveland Ave,” Green said skeptically.
Ruxs shook his head. “That makes no damn sense.”
“Exactly.” The serious look Tommy gave them said it all. He was telling the truth.
Another Storm
Ruxs walked with confidence alongside his partner. He was used to people looking at them with disdain, some with admiration, but mostly with attitude. Green flipped off one of the vice detectives when he let the door hit his arm instead letting them walk through before he came out, like a courteous person would have.
The smug detective looked back at them. “I wouldn’t be so self-assured today if I were you two —”
“You’re not. So shut the fuck up.” Ruxs cut him off.
“I’m glad too. Because your lieutenants have been in the captain’s office for the past hour. You guys made the news again.” The bastard shook his head as if he pitied them. “Think they said that the cyclist was in critical condition and something about injuries on the MARTA too. Pfft. You guys really are fuck-ups.”
Ruxs frowned as the detective sauntered off, leaving them standing there, a little less than eager to go to their office. “That’s bullshit.”
“Tell me about it. I barely tapped that fuckin’ bus. They probably didn’t yell injury until they found out I was a cop. Damnit.” Green ran his hand through his short dark hair. He knew it was probably sticking up all over the place now.
They made their way past the bullpen and through the glass doors marked “Narcotics Task Force: Lieutenant Cashel Godfrey, Lieutenant Leonidis Day, Sergeant Corbin Sydney.” There were only a few of the guys in the office and Ruxs took an uneasy breath. The two IT detectives looked up at them and smiled.
“What’s up fellas? Where is everyone?” Ruxs plopped down in his chair, kicking his boots up onto his desk. Green sat down at his desk that was pushed up to face Ruxs’ and mimicked his movement.
The detectives pointed outside their unit towards the captain’s office. “The bosses are in there. Syn and Ro are downstairs questioning the two hustlers you guys brought in last night. Everyone else is on assignment.”
Green looked over at Ruxs, probably thinking the same thing he was. At least they had some damn good information for God and Day when they come out of the captain’s office. It just might save them from another intense lecture. There was nothing God loved more than good intel that could lead to a big arrest.
Detective Vicki Seasel came in with her arms full of files and began to sort them on God and Day’s large desks. Ruxs cocked his head to the side as she leaned over in her tight black slacks. She wore her long brown hair pulled up on top of her head and secured by some interesting looking chopsticks. She was beautiful and brilliant. But since she was shot in a raid last year, she was no longer eligible to be in the field, so she was God and Day’s personal assistant. She was still an exceptionally smart detective and had a keen eye. She’d earned the guys’ respect a long time ago. She could hold her own up against them and she wasn’t afraid to get up in anyone’s face. Needless to say, Day adored her, so no one better disrespect her.
“Green, Ruxs. Don’t stray too far. God and Day want to have a meeting at four today. Be here and don’t be late.” She took Day’s coffee mug off his desk and turned to leave.
“Hey Vick. Can you order those cold cut platters for the meeting, like you did last week?” Ruxs gave her his charming smile. Vicki looked at him with disgust and his smile fell completely flat.
“I don’t need your goddamn dinner order. You think I’m here to serve you Ruxs? Huh?” Vicki’s voice elevated and Ruxs looked officially chastised, especially when Day walked back in just as she was spinning to leave.
Day kissed her on the cheek. “How’s your day going, baby?”
She turned and sneered at Ruxs. “Fine. Until ten seconds ago. I’ll be back with your coffee, Leo.”
Day opened the door, smiling at her as she went by. “I’ll take care of him.” He winked, and of course that was all it took for Vicki to start smiling again.
Ruxs and Green watched Day move about in the office, not bothering to even look in their direction. It was unnerving to say the least. It was like the calm before the storm. The door to the office flew open, hitting the desk behind it so hard, Ruxs was amazed the damn glass didn’t shatter. God. The storm was here. The IT guys turned away from their many monitors and waited for the show to begin. Even a few of the officers in the bullpen rose up from their desk to look through the glass that separated their offices. Ruxs had an urge to close all the blinds. Nosey fuckers.
God leveled a hard look at them that had him and Green both yanking their boots off their desk and sitting up straight. God’s long hair was pulled back in its usual tight ponytail. His gold badge hung from his neck sitting right between his two holstered chrome and gold Desert Eagles. His green eyes gleamed with fury. Fuck, he was really mad. He pointed at them while closing the large distance between them in five long strides.
“You two. What’s your fuckin’ job titles?” God’s voice was deep and when he yelled, it sounded like thunder. “Speak the fuck up! What’s your job title?”
Ruxs mumbled, “Tactical extract —”
God slammed his huge hands on their desk before Ruxs could finish, sending a few papers flying onto the floor. “That’s right! Tactical Extraction Specialist!” God’s voice boomed in his deep Southern accent as he towered over them and Ruxs felt extremely uncomfortable sitting there. He wasn’t in danger per se. God would never put his hands on anyone, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t invoke fear. He continued. “What’s your fuckin’ job description?”
Ruxs and Green looked back and forth between each other. It was a bullshit title along with a bullshit job description. Everyone knew it. God and Day made it up so that Ruxs and Green could get on the task force. The only skill they’d mastered was hand-to-hand combat. They weren’t IT, special weapons, demolitions, or psych, like Ro and Day. Their specialty was beating the shit out of people. That kept God from having to be on the streets all the time. He’d send them to do the extractions. Drug dealers and addicts didn’t always come willingly. They were good at it. But their positions still had to be justified – taxpayers’ dollars well spent and all that crap.
“Tactical! Tactical!” God shouted. “Means carefully planned, so that it’s done with subtlety and finesse.” God yanked the file that was in Day’s hand and opened it. “Not running through the streets like a crazy person! Barreling over a man on a bike and almost killing him. Slamming into a city bus full of people. Damn near killing an old lady! And for what? For some strung-out, unreliable crack head informant! Goddamnit!”
Day stepped closer and put a calming hand on God’s back. The man looked like he was going to burst a blood vessel. Ruxs and Green had been in the hot seat so many times that they no longer bothered to argue. They just let their LTs have their rant, then they went back out on the streets. Because honestly, out of the twenty men on their task force they were the ones that secured the information, so without them there wouldn’t be shit to bust.
“Come on guys. You know it ain’t easy chasing a damn crack head. I don’t know where the fuck they get that damn speed from. Shit.” Green shrugged.
Ruxs heard a deep chuckle come from the door. Syn walked in looking amused at their conversation. Their sergeant was one of the most laid back but somehow ridiculously stern guys he’d ever met. He had no problem handling the task force with a demanding ease. He was their lieutenants’ right hand man and a badass himself. Everyone’s attention turned back to God when he yelled out again.
“Thirty-thousand goddamn dollars. That’s how much you dumb fucks just cost my department.” God slammed the file on their desk and looked at them with an angry, glowing green stare. “It better be fuckin’ worth it. Speak!”
Ruxs didn’t hesitate. He knew what they had was going to really pique God and Day’s interest. “Chainz is getting ready to bring in some serious weight in the next few weeks. He’s dealing with some foreign contacts that will be accompanying the shipment.”
Green sat up closer, finishing Ruxs thought.
“Get this shit. He’s bringing it to Clev Ave., thinking there won’t be any heat watching those houses.”
Ruxs was shaking his head, knowing that God’s ire was settling fast at the thought of making that kind of a huge bust. Finally taking down one of the major drug kings in Atlanta and a few potential foreign drug smugglers. Fuck yeah. This would make National news.
“How sure do you think this informant was?” Syn asked.
Ruxs spoke confidently. “He looked shook. Said that the neighborhood wasn’t feeling this type of activity. It’s like they want Chainz to get stopped on this one. Tommy Tee looked dead serious when he told us. Said that a few of Chainz’s main carriers been trying to pull back on this deal… like they didn’t want to be a part of it.”
God was stroking his goatee and looking at Day – doing that silent talking shit that they always did. Day shook his head yes as if God had actually spoken and turned to Syn. “Syn get on that. Let’s see what pans out.” God and Day walked out of the office, more than likely going to run this by the captain.
Syn walked over to the IT detectives and put his hand on each one’s shoulder. “Fellas. Need you to pull up all the houses Chainz has on Cleveland Ave. Try to see if he’s had any renovations done on them, he’s gonna need to bury the weight. Store it in a way that it can’t be damaged. You can’t leave coke and heroin just sitting in a living room for days. Got to have a regulated climate. Check for repairs or new ventilation installations done on any of the houses.”
“Think we can get eyes in there now?” Green asked.
“No. We still don’t have enough for a warrant. Not even a sneak and peek. Not just with the word of a junkie.” Syn propped himself up on Green’s desk. His dark eyes focused on him. “You said Tommy looked afraid.”
Both he and Green nodded their heads.
“Said that maybe his own crew wanted Chainz stopped.” Syn smirked at them. “Poke around and see just who might actually want Chainz stopped. Maybe one of his key players is willing to roll on him.”
Ruxs and Green both stood up. Time to go back to work.
“Do what you guys do.” Syn leveled his own strict glare on them. Everyone knew the sergeant didn’t take no shorts either. He could come down on them just as hard as the LTs. “Just do it with a lot more tact fellas. Got me? You’re the guys that don’t exist, doing the things that didn’t happen, on the orders that nobody gave.”
“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.
Don't Judge #4
Chapter Three
“Good work today, Michaels.” Syn clapped him on his back as he made his way out of the locker room. He yelled over his shoulder. “You coming out tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll be there for a little bit,” he yelled back.
“Cool.”
Michaels loved his team, they were the most loyal and dedicated men he’d ever worked with. After being with them for three years, he knew they’d have his back no matter what the situation and vice versa. But lately he’d been a little anti-social, and of course the all-knowing Day had picked right up on it. So unless he wanted the guy prodding him, he figured he’d go out with his teammates for a while.
Michaels threw his duffle bag in the bag of his Jeep. He’d left the top off, loving the coolness of Atlanta in the late fall. He turned the ignition but paused before putting his car in gear. He really wasn’t in the mood to go out, he wasn’t in the mood to stay home and be bored, and he wasn’t in the mood to pick up some random fuck. Goddamnit. He hated feeling that way. The sensation of wanting to do something… anything… other than what’s available.
The rumble of a loud motorcycle had him turning his head in the direction of the parking lot entrance. He heard the tricked-out hog before it came into view. When the bike finally turned into the lot, Michaels knew immediately who the sexy rider was. He made a circle in the parking lot, his long, tattooed arms stretched out, his leather-gloved hands griping the handles. Michaels squirmed uncomfortably.
His Sergeant, Syn, came out right on cue. Michaels knew it was Syn’s lover before the man removed his sleek, black helmet because of the long gold ponytail braided down his back. Syn rarely smiled or laughed during the course of the day, but when he was looking at Furi, he became a completely different man.
Michaels watched Furi slowly remove his helmet as Syn made his way to him. He didn’t see Syn’s mouth move to speak, only a slight quirk of his lips before he gripped the back of Furious’ neck and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Furi’s head was titled back while he let his Sergeant ravage him right there in front of the precinct, not giving a damn if anyone saw them. Letting their foreheads rest together, Michaels noticed they were saying something into each other’s mouths when Syn reared back and laughed hard. Wow.
Michaels cursed and threw his Jeep into drive. This was why he didn’t want to go out. He felt like a voyeur. The guys would be all over their significant others, finally able to touch, and rub, and feel like they’d been dying to do all day, and he’d be sitting there nursing drinks while trying not to get caught staring longingly. Yes, there were single guys on their team, some bi or gay, a few of them not, but they were happy playing the field and using their career status to give their many lovers the fantasy of fucking some bad boys. Been there, done that.
Michaels navigated through Atlanta’s rush hour traffic, almost glad there was a slight delay to his inevitable forced socialization. He figured while he had the time he’d think of what excuse he’d use to leave early. He stopped by his apartment in Edgewood to wash up and change into something that hadn’t been in contact with the grime of a dirty alley. He splashed on some cologne and couldn’t help laughing to himself. What’s the point? A person had to get close enough to him to smell it. In a comfortable pair of jeans and a blue and white striped Polo shirt, he threw on his brown leather jacket and left. An hour, then I’m out.
It was a quarter to nine and Michaels was sitting at the bar alone with a watered down vodka and cranberry when a heavy arm draped over his shoulders, almost knocking him off his stool. “Damnit God. Your fuckin’ arm weighs thirty pounds.”
“Lightweight.” Day laughed, coming up on his other side.
Michaels shrugged God’s arm off him.
“Why are you being so anti-social tonight?” God’s voice was rough and slightly slurred.
“I’m sorry if I don’t feel like sitting over there and watching you guys molest each other in between pool shots.” Michaels regretted the statement before he finished the last word.
Day rubbed annoying circles on his back while he laid his cheek on Michaels’ shoulder. “Awww. Are you feeling alone? Are you feeling left out?” he crooned, in a mockingly sad voice.
“You’re gonna be feeling a punch to your face if you don’t shut up.” Michaels sneered.
“Whoa. Okay, ease up, man.” Day sat up, looking at him more seriously. “Austin, you been a part of this family for three years, why won’t you date anyone?”
“I’m not having this conversation with you Day.”
“Oh, yes you are.”
“No I’m not.”
“I’ve lost interest,” God said, taking his beer and walking away.
One down. One to go.
“Follow suit, Day.”
“Come on, man. We’re brothers. You can tell me. Are you insecure? Are you lacking in the lovemaking department? Do you need some pointers? First, what are you packing down there, huh? People say size doesn’t matter but that’s bullshit. So, what are you six… seven inches? Don’t be shy.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Michaels groaned, throwing back the last of his drink and looking for the bartender. “Check, please.”
“Oh, don’t be like that, Michaels. Come on,” Day whined. He was clearly drunk and Michaels wasn’t in the mood to entertain him.
The bartender came back with his check. “You sure you’re ready to go, handsome? How about the next one’s on me.”
“Yes. I’m sure, but thank you.” Michaels refrained from rolling his eyes, hating that Day was there to hear that. The bartender had been throwing hints at him for the past three hours, but he’d pretended not to notice. Instead keeping his eyes on the football game playing on the flat screen behind the bar. The cute thing pouring the drinks was too fucking small and too fucking pretty. Michaels would’ve bent his petite ass in two. Besides the tiny stature, he also didn’t do lip-gloss and guy liner.
“Oh, aren’t you a sexy little thing,” Day said, seductively. He kept looking back and forth between Michaels and the bartender, as if seeing if they made a good fit. He titled his head at Michaels as if telling him to go for it.
“I’m outta here.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
“I’m fine.”
“I know. Just thought you’d like some company.”
“I’m good. Really.”
Michaels didn’t bother going back to the tables and saying bye to the guys who were still throwing back drinks and talking shit. They’d only try to convince him to stay. Michaels was moving quickly up the busy sidewalk to the parking lot, not bothering to look at Day. As soon as he got to his Jeep he hopped inside and started the engine. Day propped himself against his driver’s side mirror, preventing him from driving off. Michaels dropped his head with a sigh.
“Look bro. I know what’s it like to be lonely and—”
“I’m not fuckin’ lonely. How can I be when I’m surrounded by you motherfuckers all day and night? I’m cool, alright?”
“I don’t believe you. I’ve noticed some changes in your demeanor when you’re around us now. Like something’s different. It’s almost like you don’t want to be near us unless it’s for work.”
“I’ve just been tired. That’s all.”
“Do you need some time off?”
“No!” Michaels yelled, before calming himself again. “No. Of course not. I can handle this. I just don’t need my nosy Lieutenants thinking they need to step in and manage my personal life.”
“Ouch. That stung.”
Michaels shook his head as if trying to organize his thoughts. He didn’t want to be an ass. But he honestly just wanted to go home. “Sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick.”
“Well you failed.”
Michaels huffed a weary laugh.
“You know we’re all here for you, man. If you need to talk some of this out then my door is—”
“Oh, my god. Day come on, dude. Let’s not do this weird Oprah shit, okay.”
“Hey!” Day snapped. “Now I draw the fuckin’ line when you start talking about Oprah!”
Michaels paused for a minute before he busted out laughing right along with Day. Damn the guy. “I hear you, Leo. Okay. If I need to talk, I know where to find you.”
“Good man.” Day stepped back and let Michaels drive off.
Surprisingly, he felt a little lighter on his way home. Day just had a way about him. If he couldn’t get a guy to open up right away, he could definitely make him laugh.
“Hey, hold on Leo.” Johnson grabbed the evidence bag and jogged over to the door pausing in front of Day. He leaned against the door jamb and propped his arm up on the wall beside Day’s head.
Day hated when men used their height to stand over him…it irked his nerves...all men except for God. Day refused to look up at him.
“You busy this Friday? My dad got me box tickets to the Braves game.” Johnson boasted.
“Good for daddy, Johnson, but I’m not a baseball fan.” Day lied and sidestepped to head out the door but was again blocked by the tall man.
Day heard God let out a small growl from farther in the room but chose to ignore it.
“That’s cool Leo.” Johnson was damn near standing on top of him as he spoke, but he’d be damn if he was going to back up. “So just talking would be nice…would you like to come over to my place tonight for a glass of wine?”
“Not even if Jesus was pouring it.” Day responded quickly. He heard God let out a loud laugh and it made him turn up the corner of his mouth at the sound of it. God rarely laughed- hell the man rarely smiled - but somehow, Day could make him do both.
“What the fuck are you laughing at God?” Johnson moved away from Day.
“You. Daddy’s boy.” God’s smile left as fast as it came and he was back to typical intimidating God.
“Fuck you. I know Day is just showing off for you.” Johnson turned back to look at Day. “I’ll be sure to catch you when you’re alone.”
“I’ll be sure to have my rape whistle.” Day retorted.
Johnson turned a frustrated look at God. “I’m not finished with you yet, either,” with that hanging in the air, Johnson walked out the room.
“Duly noted.” God said with an uninterested shrug.
Day slammed the door behind Johnson, closing just him and his partner in the room alone. Day hit the lights.
“Setting the mood, Leo?” God grinned at him.
“I want to talk to you now.”
“You can’t always get what you want, Leonidis.” God rebutted.
“I want you.” Day said with no hesitation.
The room was deathly silent. After a few long seconds God responded simply, “No you don’t.”
“I do. Isn’t it obvious?” Day moved a little closer.
“You don’t know what the fuck you want. I’ve watched you for four years, jump from bed-to-bed and fuck your way through half of Atlanta. I have one emotional night and all of a sudden you want me…fuck you.” God said in his gruffest voice.
Day’s body heated instantly at the sound. He moved even closer to where God was standing on the opposite side of the table. “Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was supposed to be saving myself for marriage, and even more so, I didn’t realize you were a goddamn virgin. How many women have I seen you fuck in that pussy-getting truck of yours, huh?” Day lowered his voice as he stood directly in front of God. “Just tell me you didn’t feel what I did last night,” he closed the small gap, not minding God’s height at all, and looked up into electric green eyes. “Tell me you don’t want me too, and I’ll back the fuck off.”
God looked down on him and Day could see the uncertainty all over that ruggedly handsome face. “Shits complicated, Leo.” God’s breath ghosted across his forehead.
“Make me understand, Cashel.” Day whispered and slowly brought his hands up to rest on God’s waist.
“What makes you think I’m gay or bi?” God asked avoiding Day’s request.
“Really? Maybe it’s this that makes me think that.” Day boldly palmed and squeezed God’s rock hard erection.
“Fuck.” God hissed. God grabbed Day’s shoulders and quickly moved him backwards until his back slammed hard into the wall.
“Fuck yeah. That’s it.” Day groaned. He held on tight while God hoisted him up against the wall and attacked his mouth. It wasn’t pretty or gentle. God kissed him with a fury that he hadn’t felt in years. It was erotically carnal, wicked, and Day loved every second. His feet dangled as God’s bulk pushed hard against him keeping him immobile and under his control.
“This what you want, you sexy fucker?” God snarled in his ear, then leaned in and bit the juncture of his neck that met with his shoulder.
“Augh, yes! I want you goddammit.” Day hissed into the darkness.
“Prove it.” God released him and Day dropped back to the ground.
He immediately felt the loss of God’s heat and had to resist the urge to claw at the man. Day palmed his hard erection. “Seriously. This isn’t fucking proof enough?” He said while seductively squeezing his cock and licking his red lips now full and pump from their kiss.
“I don’t give a damn about your wood. You get a hard-on when you drink coffee Leo.” God grabbed his coat and headed to the door. “If you want it, you’ll have to earn it.”
Day stalked over to him. “Did you make all those other bitches you fucked earn it first?” Day fumed. Not liking that God was thinking of playing a come-and-get-it game with him. God spun around fast and gripped Day around his throat, pulling him into his rock hard chest. Day hit that solid wall of muscles with a thud and the air rushed out of his lungs. Day put both his hands on God’s huge forearms that flexed against his touch. God bent his head and a few strands of his hair came a loose from the elastic band and brushed against the side of Day’s face. God looked and smelled so fucking delicious, like masculinity and aftershave. Day knew the grip on his neck was not to hurt him, it was to show him who was in charge. God’s sheer strength and power had Day feeling like he could come right there in the small conference room.
“Oh, so you want to be my bitch?” God’s mouth was at the base of his ear. He roughly ground his pelvis into Day’s stomach while the other hand got a firm grip in his hair at the back of his head. “Why didn’t you just say so? You want me to have you face down and ass up in my truck? Then we can go do that right fucking now.”
God loosened his grip on Day’s hair and let the large hand around his throat turn into gentle caress. He smoothed down Day’s hair and leaned in and took a large sniff before nuzzling the side of his face. Day couldn’t have stopped the unmanly whimper if he’d tried. God dragged two fingers down his throat and gently stroked his collar bone. His breathing was now even and calm, surprisingly relaxing Day as well. God kissed Day’s temple before speaking in a seductive whisper against the side of his face. “Or do you want me to put on one of your jazz records and lay your beautiful body down on your bed and slowly lick you from head to toe?” God ran a thumb over Day’s parted lips. “I would kiss these soft lips for hours before I let you wrap them around my cock.” God let loose the sexiest fucking growl he’d ever heard while he oh so slowly massaged Day’s leaking cock that was confined uncomfortably in his jeans. “Then, I’d lie on top of you and bury my dick so deep inside you that you’d feel me for days.” God taunted sexily. Day felt God’s breath shutter and he knew the man was enjoying the visual just as much as he was. “I’d fuck you slow and deep Leo until you cum screaming my name.” God released his dick. “So tell me…which one do you want?”
Day had to figure out how to speak again before he was finally able to reply. “Yes, Cashel. I want you in my bed.”
“Then prove it.” God laid a lingering, gentle kiss on his forehead before stepping back from him and leaving the conference room.
Emracing Syn #2
“I was exactly the man for this job Captain Myers, but I refuse to work for these two thieves.”
God moved into Syn’s personal space quickly, damn near putting his nose on Syn’s forehead. He snarled, "Shut up," but Syn didn’t budge. He kept talking, refusing to be intimidated.
“The bust went exactly according to their plan. You might want to check some of your detectives' bank accounts, Captain. It seems they aren’t satisfied with their pay grade and have resorted to robbing dealers.”
“Are you referring to yourself, Sydney?” God pfftd.
Syn saw red. His hand moved quickly, too fast for God to stop it as he bunched God’s jacket up in his fists. Syn didn’t anticipate God’s anger escalating as quickly as it did. A huge hand locked on to his throat, the other massive hand gripping his bulletproof vest. God propelled him backwards until Syn slammed against the wall.
“Calm down, Sydney!” God roared.
Syn tried to unsuccessfully take a breath.
“God, back off, now!” Syn could hear the Captain yelling, but his head was pounding from the impact with the wall.
Syn knew he only had a few more seconds before he would pass out. He brought his right arm all the way up and slammed it back down onto God’s forearm, dislodging the punishing grip. Syn gulped a quick breath, crouched low and slammed his right fist into God’s ribs. He saw God’s right fist coming and he had to use both arms to block the hit. Fuck, God was strong and fucking huge. God grabbed both of Syn’s shoulders and no matter how Syn twisted, he couldn’t pry himself free. He stopped trying to remove God’s fingers and instead braced both hands on God’s thick shoulders, reared his head back and slammed his forehead into the bridge of God’s nose, finally making him release his grip. God staggered back and although Syn was dazed, he moved in, determined to keep the upper hand. In a split second he registered his legs being taken out from under him. Day had moved like a panther, dropped and spin-kicked his legs, sending Syn to the floor back first, hard.
Damn that fucker is fast. Syn didn’t let the pain radiating down his back stall him. He kicked back up onto his feet and prepared to take them both on. How? He had no idea, but he damn sure was going to give it his best try.
“Enough,” Day said easily, not even out of breath.
Syn saw God over against the Captain’s desk moving his nose back and forth checking to see if it was broken. Syn didn’t dare let his guard down. “I’ll say when it’s enough and I won’t stop until I’ve gone to IA and your whole goddamn task force is under investigation. It won’t be enough until they’re probing up your asses with microscopes for dirty money,” Syn gasped the words between breaths.
“A microscope is not what I prefer up my ass Detective Sydney … or haven’t you heard?” Day retorted.
Syn couldn’t stop his startled reaction, Day’s crass remark catching him off guard. “You sonofabitch.” Syn moved toward Day again, his resolve long gone.
Captain Myers moved in and put a thick hand against the front of Syn’s chest. “Actually, I say when it’s enough. Detective Sydney, unless you want to wait down in lockup until you calm down, I suggest you get a hold of yourself. You are all highly trained professionals and you’re acting like goddamn animals.”
Syn’s chest heaved up and down with adrenaline. He’d just taken on God and Day. What the hell am I doing?
Captain Myers turned and pointed a long finger at Day. “Day, if you ever refer to anything you want in your ass around me again, I’ll have your inappropriate, cocky ass back in a uniform policing school zone traffic.”
Syn heard Day snort at the Captain and walk over to God, squinting to look at his nose. “Is it broken?” Day asked.
God shook his head no, while glaring at Syn.
Day smiled at Syn with what looked like pride. He clapped his hands together once and whooped before speaking. “Damn, the man can rumble. Never seen anyone not back down from you, God. I like him already. I say we make him third in command. I told you he’d fit right in. Man, when I’m right, I’m right. Sometimes I stun my damn self with how great a judge of character I am!” Day did some weird happy dance.
“Yeah, I’m a great judge of character too, that’s why I don’t like anyone,” God snapped.
Here Comes Trouble #3
Oh No… Not Again
“Ruxs watch out for the — Oh shit!” Damn. Not another cyclist. Green floored his huge RAM2500, barreling around the corner of Marrietta Street, keeping a close eye on his partner as he chased down one of their informants. He couldn’t jump the curb onto the sidewalk to cut off the chase because there were too many pedestrians. Ruxs needed to get the bastard to turn off of the street into one of the many deserted alleys. Green divided his attention between maneuvering through the thick mid-afternoon traffic and not losing his partner. The engine roared as he went around a slow-ass Buick and flew through another red light, just lightly clipping the back end of a MARTA bus. Oops. Thought I cleared that. Fuck.
He saw Ruxs double his efforts, landing a hard slap to the informant’s shoulder that sent him flying into an old lady, knocking her bags out of her hand. Green thought Ruxs had him but the fucker shimmied out of his coat, taking off again, cutting in between an office building and a parking garage. Green couldn’t get over to turn and follow him down the small street. He gunned it, turning onto Cone Street instead. He’d cut him off at the other end. He blared his horn. Traffic was at a complete stop waiting on the light to turn. Fuck it. He cut the corner of the sidewalk, sending a metal trashcan flying up into the air. At least there were no people on the sidewalk this time. He was almost to the exit of the alley when he saw bright blue and red lights come up fast behind him blasting its siren. He ignored it, swerved over two lanes, and put the front end of his truck into the narrow opening of the alley. If their informant hadn’t had his head turned to check how close Ruxs was getting, he would’ve seen Green’s truck coming and avoided slamming into the front of it. That had to hurt.
Green was out of the truck, coming around the front end just as Ruxs was picking up their man and throwing him back against the hood.
“Do you have to do that? I mean there’s a Dumpster right there.” Green frowned at his partner. “Look at that dent, man.”
“Shut up, Green.” Ruxs huffed.
Green smiled teasingly, he knew how much Ruxs hated doing the chasing. He stood there with his arms crossed over his broad chest watching their informant, doubled over from the pain of hitting his truck and out of breath from running the last ten minutes.
The police car’s tires squealed to a stop right next to the back end of Green’s truck. They both turned when the young cop jumped out, yelling at them to raise their hands above their heads. The cop finally got a good look at them and rolled his eyes, lowering his weapon. “Ruxs, Green, should’ve fuckin’ known.”
“What’s up Michaels?” Green shook the officer’s hand. He was one of the few uniforms that actually liked the guys on their task force. One of the few who went out of his way to speak to them or offer up any help.
“What’cha guys got there?” Michaels’ eyebrows rose up in question when he looked at the disheveled junkie that was trying to ease around Green’s truck until Ruxs pushed him back against the side of the building.
“You better go, Michaels.” Green looked at him seriously. There was no way he was going to talk to their informant using their not so professional tactics in front of another officer.
Michaels’ blue eyes cast down as he fidgeted with his fingers. “Uhh. Yeah okay. Hey Green, did you get to talk to God about any openings he may have coming up on the task force soon?”
Green suppressed his sigh. There was no way Michaels would make it on their task force. The guy was too nice and too easy going. He didn’t have a harsh or cruel bone in him. You had to have pretty tough skin to take what their lieutenants dished out… daily.
Green could see his partner gearing up to say exactly what he’d been thinking but spoke up before Ruxs could crush the handsome guy. “Not yet. I’ll talk to him real soon, okay.”
Michaels beamed a megawatt smile and walked quickly back to his squad car. Green noticed how tight Michaels’ uniform was over his thighs and ass. He chuckled to himself and shook his head sadly as Michaels gave him a friendly wave, his uniform sleeves practically cutting off circulation to his large biceps. He was just like so many others officers on the Atlanta police force. Wanted to work for God and Day.
“Why are you stringing him along? You know damn well he ain’t getting in.” Ruxs took off his black leather coat and tossed it inside the open passenger side window after he’d handcuffed their informant to the Dumpster.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll tell him. But he’s like a loyal dog. I mean, who would kick a golden retriever?” Green smiled at his partner who in turn gave him a look that said…
“What the fuck? Stop being an idiot. Tell the guy he ain’t got it and move on. Besides he’s always running errands for you and getting you coffee and shit. That’s fucked up to do that, man.”
Green opened his mouth in mock confusion. “I don’t ask him to do those things.”
“Can we talk about this later?”
Green shrugged. “Sure whatever.” And turned his attention back to their informant. As soon as Green leveled his hard, dark brown eyes on him, he immediately got defensive.
“I swear I don’t know nothing, Detective Green,” the man whined sadly.
“Whoa, whoa. I didn’t ask you no motherfuckin’ questions,” Green said back calmly. “You lying to me already, Tommy?”
The man was shaking his head no before Green could even finish. Ruxs stood by with a slight smile playing on his mouth as he watched him. Sometimes he felt like Ruxs loved this part a little too much, just sitting back and watching Green work. Their only job was to secure intel and suspects for their lieutenants. Squeeze information out of people. Bring in whoever needed to be questioned. Arrest suspects. Basically they were God and Day’s muscle, and they were damn good at it.
Green squatted in front of their informant, eyeing him carefully. His dingy clothes were hanging off his straggly frame and his hair looked like it hadn’t been washed for days. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. The fucker was high. He wouldn’t be good for shit right now.
“Tommy. Tommy listen to me. Why’d you feed us that bullshit about the meth lab in East Point?”
“I didn’t —”
“Shut the fuck up.” Green cut him off, his voice at that low frightening timbre he used on suspects. A voice that sounded like he was so pissed off, he was too angry to yell. “Yes, you did. You gave us some straight bullshit. There were no real players in there. We got two lousy fuckin’ bags. What the hell are we supposed to do with that?”
“I been in there myself. There be some high rollers in there, Detective Green. I swear it.”
Green stood slowly. “You’re still lying. Someone got to you. Who?”
“Nope. No one. I said I’d help you guys.”
Green was done. This guy had been flipped. He was no use to them now. “Well it was nice doing business with you Tommy. But your services are no longer needed.” Green stepped closer and draped his arm around Tommy’s neck. He pulled out his wallet and held his badge up with one hand and gave a thumbs up with the one around Tommy. “Smile.”
“What?”
As soon as Tommy turned his head back to Ruxs he snapped a picture of their pose with his cell phone. Green pushed Tommy away from him. “Now. We’ll print out a few of these and post them around East Point, all the way up Church Street. Let a few of the fellas see who Tommy’s been hanging with.”
“You guys trying to get me fuckin’ killed man?” Tommy yelled, pulling at the cuffs like they’d actually budge.
“I don’t give a damn,” Ruxs chimed in.
“Come on man. Don’t do this. I gave y’all good info. It ain’t my fault you guys fucked it up,” Tommy argued.
“Oh. So now we’re the fuck-ups. I see.” Green rubbed at his neatly trimmed goatee. “Let’s go tell God how he fucked up that bust.”
Ruxs quickly undid the cuffs and grabbed Tommy around his frail forearm. The man shook his head so hard, spittle landed on each of his cheeks. “No. No. No. Fuck no. I don’t. I don’t want to talk to God.” Tommy looked like he was about to shit himself.
“I’m sure as fuck not gonna give him your message. You said he fucked up, so let’s go tell him,” Green said casually. This was usually their trump card. No one wanted to talk to God or Day.
Ruxs was effortlessly pulling Tommy to the truck.
“I didn’t say God fucked up. You know I didn’t. Okay, okay. Stop one second Detective Ruxsberg. I g-got a little s-something to tell you. I don’t know a whole l-lot, but I know a little something about a l-little bit.” He stuttered nervously, making very little sense.
Ruxs let go of Tommy’s arm, sending him falling back to the ground.
“Ouch. Damnit.” Tommy rubbed at his wrist, glaring back up at Ruxs. He folded his legs Indian-style like he was on a damn Persian rug and not some filthy concrete. “There may be a pretty big shipment coming to the house on Cleveland Ave.”
“How big?” Green asked, now slightly intrigued.
“Big, man. I don’t know. Just f-fuckin’ huge, okay. Got everyone uneasy, ya know?”
“When?” Ruxs asked.
“Few weeks. Gonna be some foreigners coming with it. Chainz is up to some serious shit.”
“You sure?” Green asked.
“My girl works in one of the houses Chainz keeps in the back. She heard one of his big boys talking about it. They setting stuff up for it already.”
“In that shitty neighborhood. He’s going to bring some foreign contacts and that much weight to a rundown piece of shit house on Cleveland Ave,” Green said skeptically.
Ruxs shook his head. “That makes no damn sense.”
“Exactly.” The serious look Tommy gave them said it all. He was telling the truth.
Another Storm
Ruxs walked with confidence alongside his partner. He was used to people looking at them with disdain, some with admiration, but mostly with attitude. Green flipped off one of the vice detectives when he let the door hit his arm instead letting them walk through before he came out, like a courteous person would have.
The smug detective looked back at them. “I wouldn’t be so self-assured today if I were you two —”
“You’re not. So shut the fuck up.” Ruxs cut him off.
“I’m glad too. Because your lieutenants have been in the captain’s office for the past hour. You guys made the news again.” The bastard shook his head as if he pitied them. “Think they said that the cyclist was in critical condition and something about injuries on the MARTA too. Pfft. You guys really are fuck-ups.”
Ruxs frowned as the detective sauntered off, leaving them standing there, a little less than eager to go to their office. “That’s bullshit.”
“Tell me about it. I barely tapped that fuckin’ bus. They probably didn’t yell injury until they found out I was a cop. Damnit.” Green ran his hand through his short dark hair. He knew it was probably sticking up all over the place now.
They made their way past the bullpen and through the glass doors marked “Narcotics Task Force: Lieutenant Cashel Godfrey, Lieutenant Leonidis Day, Sergeant Corbin Sydney.” There were only a few of the guys in the office and Ruxs took an uneasy breath. The two IT detectives looked up at them and smiled.
“What’s up fellas? Where is everyone?” Ruxs plopped down in his chair, kicking his boots up onto his desk. Green sat down at his desk that was pushed up to face Ruxs’ and mimicked his movement.
The detectives pointed outside their unit towards the captain’s office. “The bosses are in there. Syn and Ro are downstairs questioning the two hustlers you guys brought in last night. Everyone else is on assignment.”
Green looked over at Ruxs, probably thinking the same thing he was. At least they had some damn good information for God and Day when they come out of the captain’s office. It just might save them from another intense lecture. There was nothing God loved more than good intel that could lead to a big arrest.
Detective Vicki Seasel came in with her arms full of files and began to sort them on God and Day’s large desks. Ruxs cocked his head to the side as she leaned over in her tight black slacks. She wore her long brown hair pulled up on top of her head and secured by some interesting looking chopsticks. She was beautiful and brilliant. But since she was shot in a raid last year, she was no longer eligible to be in the field, so she was God and Day’s personal assistant. She was still an exceptionally smart detective and had a keen eye. She’d earned the guys’ respect a long time ago. She could hold her own up against them and she wasn’t afraid to get up in anyone’s face. Needless to say, Day adored her, so no one better disrespect her.
“Green, Ruxs. Don’t stray too far. God and Day want to have a meeting at four today. Be here and don’t be late.” She took Day’s coffee mug off his desk and turned to leave.
“Hey Vick. Can you order those cold cut platters for the meeting, like you did last week?” Ruxs gave her his charming smile. Vicki looked at him with disgust and his smile fell completely flat.
“I don’t need your goddamn dinner order. You think I’m here to serve you Ruxs? Huh?” Vicki’s voice elevated and Ruxs looked officially chastised, especially when Day walked back in just as she was spinning to leave.
Day kissed her on the cheek. “How’s your day going, baby?”
She turned and sneered at Ruxs. “Fine. Until ten seconds ago. I’ll be back with your coffee, Leo.”
Day opened the door, smiling at her as she went by. “I’ll take care of him.” He winked, and of course that was all it took for Vicki to start smiling again.
Ruxs and Green watched Day move about in the office, not bothering to even look in their direction. It was unnerving to say the least. It was like the calm before the storm. The door to the office flew open, hitting the desk behind it so hard, Ruxs was amazed the damn glass didn’t shatter. God. The storm was here. The IT guys turned away from their many monitors and waited for the show to begin. Even a few of the officers in the bullpen rose up from their desk to look through the glass that separated their offices. Ruxs had an urge to close all the blinds. Nosey fuckers.
God leveled a hard look at them that had him and Green both yanking their boots off their desk and sitting up straight. God’s long hair was pulled back in its usual tight ponytail. His gold badge hung from his neck sitting right between his two holstered chrome and gold Desert Eagles. His green eyes gleamed with fury. Fuck, he was really mad. He pointed at them while closing the large distance between them in five long strides.
“You two. What’s your fuckin’ job titles?” God’s voice was deep and when he yelled, it sounded like thunder. “Speak the fuck up! What’s your job title?”
Ruxs mumbled, “Tactical extract —”
God slammed his huge hands on their desk before Ruxs could finish, sending a few papers flying onto the floor. “That’s right! Tactical Extraction Specialist!” God’s voice boomed in his deep Southern accent as he towered over them and Ruxs felt extremely uncomfortable sitting there. He wasn’t in danger per se. God would never put his hands on anyone, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t invoke fear. He continued. “What’s your fuckin’ job description?”
Ruxs and Green looked back and forth between each other. It was a bullshit title along with a bullshit job description. Everyone knew it. God and Day made it up so that Ruxs and Green could get on the task force. The only skill they’d mastered was hand-to-hand combat. They weren’t IT, special weapons, demolitions, or psych, like Ro and Day. Their specialty was beating the shit out of people. That kept God from having to be on the streets all the time. He’d send them to do the extractions. Drug dealers and addicts didn’t always come willingly. They were good at it. But their positions still had to be justified – taxpayers’ dollars well spent and all that crap.
“Tactical! Tactical!” God shouted. “Means carefully planned, so that it’s done with subtlety and finesse.” God yanked the file that was in Day’s hand and opened it. “Not running through the streets like a crazy person! Barreling over a man on a bike and almost killing him. Slamming into a city bus full of people. Damn near killing an old lady! And for what? For some strung-out, unreliable crack head informant! Goddamnit!”
Day stepped closer and put a calming hand on God’s back. The man looked like he was going to burst a blood vessel. Ruxs and Green had been in the hot seat so many times that they no longer bothered to argue. They just let their LTs have their rant, then they went back out on the streets. Because honestly, out of the twenty men on their task force they were the ones that secured the information, so without them there wouldn’t be shit to bust.
“Come on guys. You know it ain’t easy chasing a damn crack head. I don’t know where the fuck they get that damn speed from. Shit.” Green shrugged.
Ruxs heard a deep chuckle come from the door. Syn walked in looking amused at their conversation. Their sergeant was one of the most laid back but somehow ridiculously stern guys he’d ever met. He had no problem handling the task force with a demanding ease. He was their lieutenants’ right hand man and a badass himself. Everyone’s attention turned back to God when he yelled out again.
“Thirty-thousand goddamn dollars. That’s how much you dumb fucks just cost my department.” God slammed the file on their desk and looked at them with an angry, glowing green stare. “It better be fuckin’ worth it. Speak!”
Ruxs didn’t hesitate. He knew what they had was going to really pique God and Day’s interest. “Chainz is getting ready to bring in some serious weight in the next few weeks. He’s dealing with some foreign contacts that will be accompanying the shipment.”
Green sat up closer, finishing Ruxs thought.
“Get this shit. He’s bringing it to Clev Ave., thinking there won’t be any heat watching those houses.”
Ruxs was shaking his head, knowing that God’s ire was settling fast at the thought of making that kind of a huge bust. Finally taking down one of the major drug kings in Atlanta and a few potential foreign drug smugglers. Fuck yeah. This would make National news.
“How sure do you think this informant was?” Syn asked.
Ruxs spoke confidently. “He looked shook. Said that the neighborhood wasn’t feeling this type of activity. It’s like they want Chainz to get stopped on this one. Tommy Tee looked dead serious when he told us. Said that a few of Chainz’s main carriers been trying to pull back on this deal… like they didn’t want to be a part of it.”
God was stroking his goatee and looking at Day – doing that silent talking shit that they always did. Day shook his head yes as if God had actually spoken and turned to Syn. “Syn get on that. Let’s see what pans out.” God and Day walked out of the office, more than likely going to run this by the captain.
Syn walked over to the IT detectives and put his hand on each one’s shoulder. “Fellas. Need you to pull up all the houses Chainz has on Cleveland Ave. Try to see if he’s had any renovations done on them, he’s gonna need to bury the weight. Store it in a way that it can’t be damaged. You can’t leave coke and heroin just sitting in a living room for days. Got to have a regulated climate. Check for repairs or new ventilation installations done on any of the houses.”
“Think we can get eyes in there now?” Green asked.
“No. We still don’t have enough for a warrant. Not even a sneak and peek. Not just with the word of a junkie.” Syn propped himself up on Green’s desk. His dark eyes focused on him. “You said Tommy looked afraid.”
Both he and Green nodded their heads.
“Said that maybe his own crew wanted Chainz stopped.” Syn smirked at them. “Poke around and see just who might actually want Chainz stopped. Maybe one of his key players is willing to roll on him.”
Ruxs and Green both stood up. Time to go back to work.
“Do what you guys do.” Syn leveled his own strict glare on them. Everyone knew the sergeant didn’t take no shorts either. He could come down on them just as hard as the LTs. “Just do it with a lot more tact fellas. Got me? You’re the guys that don’t exist, doing the things that didn’t happen, on the orders that nobody gave.”
“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.
Don't Judge #4
Chapter Three
“Good work today, Michaels.” Syn clapped him on his back as he made his way out of the locker room. He yelled over his shoulder. “You coming out tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll be there for a little bit,” he yelled back.
“Cool.”
Michaels loved his team, they were the most loyal and dedicated men he’d ever worked with. After being with them for three years, he knew they’d have his back no matter what the situation and vice versa. But lately he’d been a little anti-social, and of course the all-knowing Day had picked right up on it. So unless he wanted the guy prodding him, he figured he’d go out with his teammates for a while.
Michaels threw his duffle bag in the bag of his Jeep. He’d left the top off, loving the coolness of Atlanta in the late fall. He turned the ignition but paused before putting his car in gear. He really wasn’t in the mood to go out, he wasn’t in the mood to stay home and be bored, and he wasn’t in the mood to pick up some random fuck. Goddamnit. He hated feeling that way. The sensation of wanting to do something… anything… other than what’s available.
The rumble of a loud motorcycle had him turning his head in the direction of the parking lot entrance. He heard the tricked-out hog before it came into view. When the bike finally turned into the lot, Michaels knew immediately who the sexy rider was. He made a circle in the parking lot, his long, tattooed arms stretched out, his leather-gloved hands griping the handles. Michaels squirmed uncomfortably.
His Sergeant, Syn, came out right on cue. Michaels knew it was Syn’s lover before the man removed his sleek, black helmet because of the long gold ponytail braided down his back. Syn rarely smiled or laughed during the course of the day, but when he was looking at Furi, he became a completely different man.
Michaels watched Furi slowly remove his helmet as Syn made his way to him. He didn’t see Syn’s mouth move to speak, only a slight quirk of his lips before he gripped the back of Furious’ neck and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Furi’s head was titled back while he let his Sergeant ravage him right there in front of the precinct, not giving a damn if anyone saw them. Letting their foreheads rest together, Michaels noticed they were saying something into each other’s mouths when Syn reared back and laughed hard. Wow.
Michaels cursed and threw his Jeep into drive. This was why he didn’t want to go out. He felt like a voyeur. The guys would be all over their significant others, finally able to touch, and rub, and feel like they’d been dying to do all day, and he’d be sitting there nursing drinks while trying not to get caught staring longingly. Yes, there were single guys on their team, some bi or gay, a few of them not, but they were happy playing the field and using their career status to give their many lovers the fantasy of fucking some bad boys. Been there, done that.
Michaels navigated through Atlanta’s rush hour traffic, almost glad there was a slight delay to his inevitable forced socialization. He figured while he had the time he’d think of what excuse he’d use to leave early. He stopped by his apartment in Edgewood to wash up and change into something that hadn’t been in contact with the grime of a dirty alley. He splashed on some cologne and couldn’t help laughing to himself. What’s the point? A person had to get close enough to him to smell it. In a comfortable pair of jeans and a blue and white striped Polo shirt, he threw on his brown leather jacket and left. An hour, then I’m out.
It was a quarter to nine and Michaels was sitting at the bar alone with a watered down vodka and cranberry when a heavy arm draped over his shoulders, almost knocking him off his stool. “Damnit God. Your fuckin’ arm weighs thirty pounds.”
“Lightweight.” Day laughed, coming up on his other side.
Michaels shrugged God’s arm off him.
“Why are you being so anti-social tonight?” God’s voice was rough and slightly slurred.
“I’m sorry if I don’t feel like sitting over there and watching you guys molest each other in between pool shots.” Michaels regretted the statement before he finished the last word.
Day rubbed annoying circles on his back while he laid his cheek on Michaels’ shoulder. “Awww. Are you feeling alone? Are you feeling left out?” he crooned, in a mockingly sad voice.
“You’re gonna be feeling a punch to your face if you don’t shut up.” Michaels sneered.
“Whoa. Okay, ease up, man.” Day sat up, looking at him more seriously. “Austin, you been a part of this family for three years, why won’t you date anyone?”
“I’m not having this conversation with you Day.”
“Oh, yes you are.”
“No I’m not.”
“I’ve lost interest,” God said, taking his beer and walking away.
One down. One to go.
“Follow suit, Day.”
“Come on, man. We’re brothers. You can tell me. Are you insecure? Are you lacking in the lovemaking department? Do you need some pointers? First, what are you packing down there, huh? People say size doesn’t matter but that’s bullshit. So, what are you six… seven inches? Don’t be shy.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Michaels groaned, throwing back the last of his drink and looking for the bartender. “Check, please.”
“Oh, don’t be like that, Michaels. Come on,” Day whined. He was clearly drunk and Michaels wasn’t in the mood to entertain him.
The bartender came back with his check. “You sure you’re ready to go, handsome? How about the next one’s on me.”
“Yes. I’m sure, but thank you.” Michaels refrained from rolling his eyes, hating that Day was there to hear that. The bartender had been throwing hints at him for the past three hours, but he’d pretended not to notice. Instead keeping his eyes on the football game playing on the flat screen behind the bar. The cute thing pouring the drinks was too fucking small and too fucking pretty. Michaels would’ve bent his petite ass in two. Besides the tiny stature, he also didn’t do lip-gloss and guy liner.
“Oh, aren’t you a sexy little thing,” Day said, seductively. He kept looking back and forth between Michaels and the bartender, as if seeing if they made a good fit. He titled his head at Michaels as if telling him to go for it.
“I’m outta here.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
“I’m fine.”
“I know. Just thought you’d like some company.”
“I’m good. Really.”
Michaels didn’t bother going back to the tables and saying bye to the guys who were still throwing back drinks and talking shit. They’d only try to convince him to stay. Michaels was moving quickly up the busy sidewalk to the parking lot, not bothering to look at Day. As soon as he got to his Jeep he hopped inside and started the engine. Day propped himself against his driver’s side mirror, preventing him from driving off. Michaels dropped his head with a sigh.
“Look bro. I know what’s it like to be lonely and—”
“I’m not fuckin’ lonely. How can I be when I’m surrounded by you motherfuckers all day and night? I’m cool, alright?”
“I don’t believe you. I’ve noticed some changes in your demeanor when you’re around us now. Like something’s different. It’s almost like you don’t want to be near us unless it’s for work.”
“I’ve just been tired. That’s all.”
“Do you need some time off?”
“No!” Michaels yelled, before calming himself again. “No. Of course not. I can handle this. I just don’t need my nosy Lieutenants thinking they need to step in and manage my personal life.”
“Ouch. That stung.”
Michaels shook his head as if trying to organize his thoughts. He didn’t want to be an ass. But he honestly just wanted to go home. “Sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick.”
“Well you failed.”
Michaels huffed a weary laugh.
“You know we’re all here for you, man. If you need to talk some of this out then my door is—”
“Oh, my god. Day come on, dude. Let’s not do this weird Oprah shit, okay.”
“Hey!” Day snapped. “Now I draw the fuckin’ line when you start talking about Oprah!”
Michaels paused for a minute before he busted out laughing right along with Day. Damn the guy. “I hear you, Leo. Okay. If I need to talk, I know where to find you.”
“Good man.” Day stepped back and let Michaels drive off.
Surprisingly, he felt a little lighter on his way home. Day just had a way about him. If he couldn’t get a guy to open up right away, he could definitely make him laugh.
A.E. Via is still a fairly new author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she's not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family--a husband and four children, her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late, great gay romance author E. Lynn Harris.
While she has just released her fifth novel, she has plenty more to come. So stalk her - she loves that - because the male on male action is just heating up!
Go to A.E. Via's official website for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, and where she'll appear next.
EMAIL: authoraevia@live.com
Nothing Special #1
Embracing His Syn #2
Here Comes Trouble #3
Don't Judge #4
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