by Inge Mayhem
“Should we go straight to the police? Or straight to the hospital?” Florence asked.
“No, I think I’m ok,” Tyson replied.
“Let me look at you,” Florence said. “Are you sure you feel ok?”
“I feel fine. Really.” Tyson moved through to the living room. “Come in. Sit.”
“Tyson, what happened?” Frankie said.
Tyson looked at his older brother with sadness. Frankie looked nothing like Tyson—he had a much broader face and was considerably more heavyset. Their age difference meant that they were never really close, but as the oldest brother, Frankie had often taken a leadership role in the family.
“I don’t know. How are Mom and Dad?” Tyson asked, immediately changing the topic.
“Everyone is fine. They’re just worried about you.”
Tyson let out a sigh. “I’m so sorry that I scared you.”
“It’s not your fault,” Florence said, immediately jumping to his defense.
“Well, it’s kind of my fault—I wish I could give you all a better explanation. I wish I could tell you what happened. But I, well . . . I just can’t. I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s ok,” Florence said, taking his hand. “You’ve gone through something awful, but you’re home now, and it’s all going to be ok.”
Chapter 12
Dressing Room
“Drew, I want you to meet my club manager. Jay, meet Drew.”
Amelia had shown Drew to the performers’ dressing room at the back of the Monkey Bar. As he walked through the doorway, Drew noticed that someone had graffitied a sign so that it read “Un-Dressing Room.”
“Nice to meet you, Drew,” Jay said, shaking his hand firmly. Jay looked to be in his mid-forties, and he had long black hair tied into a small bun. Drew immediately felt like Jay was the sort of man with a lot of stories.
“And these are some of my boys. Drew, meet Angus, Ned, and Lucky,” Amelia said, gesturing to a trio of performers in the back. The guys all waved, and Drew waved back, but he could feel their eyes on him, like they were judging a newcomer.
“Well, he’s a ginger, so that’ll make him stand out from the other lads,” Jay said, addressing Amelia.
“Watch it, Jay!” Amelia warned playfully. “Drew here is practically family.”
“I thought I was like family to you,” Jay replied, pretending to be jealous.
Drew could read between the lines. All four men assumed that he was here to work, and that meant establishing the pecking order.
“Can you please do me a favor, Jay, and let Drew shadow you tonight?”
“Of course,” Jay replied, acquiescing. “We’re getting ready to have some fun. Am I right, boys?”
“Sure thing, Jay!” one of the performers called out. Drew found all three of the dancers very distracting. He watched out of the corner of his eye as they changed into skimpy spangled underwear.
“Is this your first all-male burlesque club, Drew?” Jay asked, bringing his attention back to the conversation.
“Umm, yeah. It is.”
“Well, our boys will blow your mind. After tonight, you’ll be obsessed. Mark my words.”
Drew laughed, and Amelia put her arm around his shoulder.
“After tonight, Drew, I promise, things will get better for you. Plus,” she added, “I have a feeling that they will get considerably worse for Samuel Sanford.”
“Whoa, boss, that isn’t a name we say around here,” Jay said, with mock alarm.
Amelia smiled. “Ordinarily, no. But Drew here is Samuel’s son.”
Jay raised his eyebrows in disbelief. The dancers had turned back to their mirrors and were admiring themselves.
“Should I be worried?” Jay asked, lowering his voice.
“No more than usual,” Amelia replied. “After tonight, we’ll sit down with Drew and figure out our next steps. But for now, can you please show him a good time?”
“That I can do!” Jay said, beaming. “First things first, I think we should head back to the bar. If you’re going to be part of the Monkey Bar team, the most important thing for me to test is your limits.”
Chapter 13
Night Falling
Michael curled up on Brad’s couch, as Brad scrolled through take out options on his phone. It had become their tradition on a Friday night to pick up a bottle of wine and order food to be delivered, so that they could relax together and watch a movie.
Michael tried to put any thoughts of medical school out of his mind. Things always felt simpler when he was with Brad. He knew they were falling in love, but Michael didn’t want to admit it to his partner. He just wanted to enjoy each moment.
Light danced on the water as the sun set over the harbor. The city looked beautiful.
“Do you think Drew will actually move out?” Michael asked.
Brad ignored him and kept reading menu items aloud.
They had not discussed the idea of Michael moving in yet—it was far too early for that. But as long as Drew was living in Brad’s spare room, there was no way that Brad would consider the next phase of their relationship.
Michael, however, had it all planned out. Once Drew left, the next logical step would be for Michael to give up his apartment. When Michael’s studies were completed in two years, Brad would propose. Michael would accept immediately, but he would need at least one more year to plan the wedding. Then they would decide if they wanted kids, or whether they should start their new life together by adopting a puppy.
As Michael daydreamed and flipped through television channels absentmindedly, Brad answered a phone call and walked into his bedroom.
“Who was that?” Michael asked, as soon as Brad returned.
“Umm . . . that was my brother, Hank.”
Michael sat up. “Oh yeah, is everything ok?”
“Yeah, I think so. It’s hard to tell. Hank always seems quite distant.”
“Hmm, well, I hope I get to meet him some day,” Michael replied.
“You will—very soon, in fact,” Brad replied. “It’s strange. He never comes to the city, but he’s planning a trip to visit next week.”
“That’s great!”
“Yeah. He’s not bringing Gracie or the kids, so he asked if he could stay in my spare room.”
“I’m sure Drew will love sharing,” Michael said sarcastically. “Don’t they know each other from the farm?”
“Yeah, they do. I mentioned it to Hank—said that Drew was staying here—I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Well, we can always stay at my place, if they need some privacy,” Michael joked. “Privacy is a hard thing to get around here. Plus, I’ve seen Brokeback Mountain, and I know what two cowboys sleeping in the same bed are bound to get up to.”
Brad laughed and rolled his eyes.
Chapter 14
Lies
“Victor, it’s me,” Tyson whispered into the phone. Frankie had returned to his hotel room, but Florence had insisted that she sleep on his sofa. So, Tyson stood in his bedroom and tried to speak quietly into his cell.
“How did it go, baby?” Victor replied.
“It all went according to plan. Just like you said.”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“Yeah, you did. But it was difficult. They were so upset: I got upset as well.”
“But you’re ok now,” Victor said, assuring him.
“Yeah, I think so. I think they believed me when I said I couldn’t remember anything.”
“That’s perfect. Good job, babe.”
“So, when can I see you?”
“Soon,” Victor replied. “Because, soon, we move on to the next phase.”
“I just want you here. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, baby, good night.”
Tyson hung up the phone and lay down on his bed. He couldn’t get comfortable until he eventually wound his fingers around the metal of his wrought iron headboard. Tyson got into the position he had grown so accustomed to while
he was imprisoned.
Drifting off to sleep, Tyson couldn’t stop thinking about Victor. He was excited to think that one day soon, he would be sleeping next to a man who cared about him so much.
It was only a matter of time before his old life was a distant memory, and his new life would begin.
Thank You
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Also by Inge Mayhem
Wild Hearts Series
Wild Hearts: Lone Cowboy
Wild Hearts: Thrills of Danger
Wild Hearts: To Have and To Hold
Wild Hearts: The Affair
www.IngeMayhem.com
Copyright © 2020 by Inge Mayhem
About the Author
Inge Mayhem loves binging on Netflix, reading voraciously and drifting off to a fantasy world.
Inge was born in Sweden but grew up in the U.S and currently living on a range with 2 dogs, 3 horses and a few chickens.
Inge enjoys cheese, whiskey and conjuring up male/male romance stories (in no particular order)...
Thrills of Danger is the 2nd book in the Wild Hearts series.
