In the Arms of the Dragon Princes

by Jessica Miller

  “That is stupid. The cops have half of it figured out already. Even if you leave the country they will find you,” Janey told them. Joining Mel in keeping the men talking and distracted. Trying to prolong whatever they had planned.

  “They’ll get the owners, sure. Us though, we get to disappear and let them take the fall. Those guys are idiots but I figured what the hell. Pull off the job, let them get busted. The lower level guys are never searched for that hard anyway. Let those idiots get busted, we will be gone. Right after you are. So are you going to come quietly or are we going to have to just shoot you here. I have a silencer,” he told them helpfully. Mel did not know why but all she could think about was, stall, girl, stall! So she tried that.

  “Dead bodies in a room that you talked to the desk guy about. You are calling your bosses idiots, come on,” Mel said.

  “Yeah jeez, I am not a criminal, but I would now better than that. Come on, do you guys let him call the shots?” Janey said to the other two men who were just standing by silently. They looked at each other and then the leader who laughed.

  “Nice try ladies, but these two came up with half of the plans,” he said.

  “That explains it then,” Mel said looking at Janey with her hands raised as if giving up on the men’s intelligence. She could see the fear in her friend’s eyes, but Janey stayed strong with her.

  “Yeah it does. This is going to be embarrassing, being killed by such dumbasses,” she said sarcastically.

  “Silencers it is,” said the leader reaching into his pocket. Both ladies stiffened in fright. Mel was just deciding whether she should rush them when the door clicked and flew open behind the bad guys. Mel’s saviors stormed in with a fury, as well as a bunch of armed cops right behind them! Mel and Janey jumped backward, trying to stay out of the way. Two shots were fired and Mel felt her arm burst with white-hot pain. She cried out and fell; as she did she saw Janey falling to the floor too. Her shoulder felt like it was on fire. Lying next to her, Janey looked pale. There was shouting around her and she could hear her Max and Dave’s voices as she faded out in shock.

  *****

  All’s Well That Ends Interesting

  Mel was just glad it was over. It all seemed a little surreal while at the same time exhilarating. She had learned a lot from the ordeal and gained a few friends. She also felt she had gained some courage. She had always spent her life with her head down, doing her job. She did not want to live her life like that anymore. Janey was feeling the same way. What the crime had been about was still confusing.

  “So the whole thing was built on revenge against the government?” she asked Max. She was sitting with Max, Dave and Janey in Darrel’s Deli, finishing a wonderful lunch.

  “Yep, the government wanted the buildings for government offices and the owners felt they were not getting a good enough offer. Due to the laws around government usage they had to take what was offered. So when they were given a year to get ready for the buyout, the three companies got together and decided on a plan,” Max told them, popping the last bit of his corned beef sandwich into his mouth.

  “The plan was to strip their companies of all the assets and then burn the buildings down, so the government would not get to use them as planned. Amongst the many problems with the plan, they hired some low level thugs to do the dirty work. I have heard the mob wouldn’t even hire these guys. Which explains the stupidity of their actions,” Max told them.

  “The owners are on the defensive now and claim they had no idea that the thugs would kill anyone. The problem with that is the leader that shot you Mel, has a message from one of the owners to do just that. Like you said Janey, idiots,” Dave said.

  Mel looked over at her friend. Janey was sitting sideways to the table due to the brace around her injured leg. She had been shot in the leg while Mel had been hit in the shoulder.

  “Do you want to know the funny thing?” Max asked with a grin.

  “Sure go ahead,” Mel said.

  “They had cashed everything out, not trusting wire transfers due to traceability, and all that cash was in the getaway van, with the driver. Once everything went down at the motel the driver panicked and took off. He has over five hundred million in the back of the van and no one can find him,” he said. Everyone laughed.

  “I guess the smartest guy got the money. Part of me hopes he doesn’t get caught,” Janey said. They laughed again. They had been laughing a lot at this meal. Partially, she was sure, in relief. Mel had been trading little glances with her two boyfriends and knew that soon they would be getting together. Janey was a little jealous of her relationship and asked if Max or Dave could set her up. Her boyfriend Mike had decided Janey was dangerous to hang around with and left her. She wasn’t too upset by that.

  “So one more thing, just to be sure,” Janey asked suddenly.

  “Go ahead,” Dave said.

  “I was shot by the bad guy, but Mel was shot by one of the cops?” she asked.

  Mel sighed. Janey had been teasing her about that.

  “The big guy shot you and one of the cops returned fire and missed. Hitting Mel, yes,” Max answered. He wasn’t quite as amused by it as Janey was. The compassionate look he gave her warmed her. She couldn’t help smiling though.

  “Fortunately the three companies had enough left in their assets that reparations are going to be made,” Mel said. She was glad about that, for the sake of the janitor’s family at Super Shoes and the deaths at the other companies. They deserved something for their suffering. They all agreed on that and then they went up to her apartment. Janey was going to be staying with her for a few days. The previous day she had been informed her apartment needed fumigation. She had no place else to stay.

  Dave grinned at her. “We were wondering if you ladies would want to go out to dinner. You just got out of the hospital and deserve something. A bunch of our co-workers will be getting together for a weekly beer and burger fest and we would be glad if you joined us,” Dave said. Janey’s eyes lit up and Mel felt herself pep up even more. She had a feeling Janey surrounded by handsome firemen would be fun to watch. They both agreed with gusto. Mel had no idea what direction her life was going in, but she knew it would be interesting to find out. Fun too.

  THE END

  Bonus Story 13/40

  Envy

  Anna

  Urgh.

  Just looking at the building I grew up in always made me feel a little sick. It wasn’t because I had a bad childhood or anything, it just made me feel… childish to be there. And now, knowing that I was going to have to go inside with my tail between my legs, it was a million times worse.

  I could hear the chimes of everyone’s self-righteous remarks ringing in my ears already:

  ‘I told you so.’

  ‘You should never have gone.’

  ‘It was obvious this was going to happen.’

  And I really didn’t need to hear it. Yes, I had been warned about Mike’s bad temper and wandering eye. Yes, I’d stuck my head in the sand and moved away with him regardless. And yes, it had all blown up in my face in the worst way possible. But no, I really didn’t need to be told that everyone else had seen it before me.

  I already knew that I was an idiot and I did not need anyone reminding me.

  Mike had started off with emotional manipulation. By the time it had gotten to the odd slap and really vicious words, I was too far gone, too blindly in love and too far under his sway to see the truth about him. In fact, I would still be there, with him, had I not caught him in bed with the woman he’d told me once was his cousin. I’d spent time with her in social situations – we both had – and the whole time she was his lover.

  Mike cheating on me, with his cousin of all people, was utterly humiliating, not to mention disgusting. Things could not go back to normal after that. I just couldn’t stay there, so I left

  Unfortunately, with no cash flow, no real friends where I was, and no prospects, I’d been forced to move back home with my parents �
�� an idea I was not looking forward to at all. They were keen for me to return, but I could barely stand the idea. But I had no other choice.

  I pushed the door open and stepped tentatively inside.

  “Hi sweetie,” said my mom. She instantly rushed to my side and threw her arms around my neck. “How are you?”

  She was using an overly sympathetic voice – one that was particularly unwelcome. I didn’t want to have pity, or to even discuss it at all, I just wanted to focus on the future. I needed to work out how to go forward, and what I was going to do to pick up the pieces of my crappy life.

  Living in the past for even another second would get me nowhere.

  “I’m okay Mom, honest,” I said. I gently prized her off me. “Just tired, that’s all.”

  “Oh,” she said. She shot me a disappointed look, clearly wanting me to open up to her, even though we’d never been that close. “I’ve made you some food…”

  “Sure, sure. I could eat first.” I knew I wouldn’t hear the end of it if I didn’t. She would quickly become obsessed with my health, and I really didn’t need that. “I’m hungry too.”

  I stepped in the kitchen, grabbing the plate of lasagna that was sitting on the side, and turned to find my brother stuffing his face at the table.

  I smiled at him and said, “Hey Harry, it’s great to see you.” And it really was. Out of everyone, Harry was the one person I was most looking forward to spending some time with again. He’d always had my back, and I could guarantee that he wouldn’t bring up Mike despite the fact that he’d also been one of the people who had tried to warn me.

  “Good, how are you?” he answered. He looked me up and down with a quizzical look on his face. “You look… different.”

  I knew exactly what he meant, and a sadness burned through me. It wasn’t so much a physical thing, it was more that I’d recoiled in on myself. The once proud woman was gone, and what had been left was kind of pathetic. A mess – the sort of woman I used to look down on.

  “Yeah,” I murmured, sitting down to eat and refusing to meet his eye. I didn’t want him to understand the depth of his words. “I know.”

  After a few moments of stilted silence he continued, trying to draw me back in. “How’s the running going?”

  At one point, I used to love running so much that everyone thought I’d go pro. I completed marathons and other long-distance events. It had been my dream, but then Mike appeared, and he didn’t like me exercising. So like an idiot, I gradually ran less and less. It was shameful, looking back on it now.

  I took a deep sigh, hating having to admit this. “I don’t really do it anymore.”

  “Whoa,” Harry whispered to himself, the extent of things seeming to hit him at that moment. “I thought you were a coach or something?”

  Another lie I’d told to cover up my crappy life. I didn’t want people to know that Mike had destroyed every temp job I’d had with his incessant phone calls and jealousy, so I’d made something up. I’d acted like I’d gotten everything I’d ever wanted, just to shut down everyone who told me that Mike wasn’t right for me.

  “No,” I said sadly, and was forced to admit. “Not exactly.”

  “Well, I don’t know what your plans are,” Harry mused thoughtfully. “But my friend Brad works as a personal trainer at the local gym these days. I know he’s looking for new clients and if I tell him that you’re my sister, I’m sure he’ll give you a discounted rate and a payment plan – something like that. Might be a way to rebuild your confidence.” He sounded a little awkward saying this, and I knew why. He didn’t want to admit that I looked a mess, and that my life was in the toilet, so he was trying to find a kind way around that.

  Not only was that the sweetest thing ever, it was also the best offer I’d had in a long time, so I nodded enthusiastically, instantly agreeing to his plan. Maybe some fitness was exactly what I needed. Maybe it would help my kick start my life all over again.

  Now all I needed was a job, to not only pay for the training, but also to help get myself back on my feet.

  I hoped that would be the easy part.

  *****

  Brad

  “Whoa.” As soon as Anna walked into the gym, I knew that I was in serious trouble. I’d only agreed to take her on as a client for Harry’s sake – he’d practically begged me – I hadn’t realized just how much that was really going to cost me.

  This girl was literally the most attractive women I’d ever laid eyes on. She was svelte, curvy, and had a wicked smile. When she walked, she had this amazing sway. She had long, blonde hair, full lips, pale skin, and blue eyes.

  I wanted her immediately.

  But of course, she was out of bounds. The sister of a friend always is off-limits; that was common knowledge.

  Shit. Stop thinking anything! I scolded myself. Just focus on the work.

  “Hi,” she smiled sweetly at me as she stepped nearer. “I’m Anna. Thank you for agreeing to take me on Brad. I haven’t been to the gym for a while, so I’m not quite sure where I’m at unfortunately…”

  When she talked to me she, tilted her head in a cute, feminine way that I really liked. I started to get an erection. Good thing I was wearing my looser pants.

  Now, normally this would be the time for me to do my elevator sales pitch, to highlight exactly why I was the best personal trainer around, but instead my mind went frustratingly blank, and my penis was not getting any softer. “Erm… sure, we’ll… figure it out,” I said sounding like an idiot.

  Get it together!

  “Okay,” I forced myself to sound a little more confident. “So let’s get started with my usual tester routine…”

  As we went over this, I found it very difficult to concentrate on the task at hand. As she bent her body in the sexiest ways, and showed me just what she was capable of, I kept finding my mind wandering. I don’t know if she noticed my erection, I hope not. Anna was definitely underestimating her own ability, she was amazing and could do anything I asked of her, and that made her even more attractive.

  I just wanted to rip off her clothes and make love to her right there on the bench. I kept it together, though.

  Ah, what the hell was I going to do? How was I going to restrain myself? I’d never been particularly good at that.

  *****

  Logan

  I watched Brad giving that new girl the eye, and my heart screwed up in jealousy. I hated seeing him flirting with anyone else, it drove me absolutely crazy, and the fact that he just did it so casually in front of me, as if my feelings didn’t even matter (not that he knew about my feelings), it damn near killed me.

  I’d been in love with him from the very first second that he started work at the gym, and every day around him, being so close but unable to touch him, it was agonizing. Usually, I was great at determining the sexuality of others – as a bisexual, I found myself really in tune with other people – but with Brad I just couldn’t work it out at all, and that made my own emotions even more difficult to deal with. All the signs were pointing to him being straight, but I just wasn’t fully, one hundred percent convinced.

  I’d wondered if I was just kidding myself at there was any chance that he was bi. Looking at him at that moment, with that blonde girl smiling up at him and smiling, I was pretty sure of it. He had to be straight.

  But I couldn’t turn my feelings off, no matter how hard I tried. And I had tried continuously.

  I hated that girl he was with, coming in and taking so easily the affection that I wanted so much more.

  It seemed that my feelings for Brad would forever be unrequited. But what the hell could I do about that?

  *****

  Anna

  My heart literally skipped a beat the first time I laid eyes on Brad. He was a vision of the perfect man – strong, muscular, tall, dark-haired, and very handsome. He had these amazing piercing green eyes, and dimples to die for. He was the picture of a rebound dream – not that I was necessarily looking for a hook-up of any k
ind – but even if he was, he was completely and utterly out of reach. As Harry’s friend and my personal trainer, he was firmly in the no-go area.

  I had to just ignore that, and concentrate on getting fit once more.

  At first, I tried to ignore the fluttering he gave me in my stomach, and the intense desire I felt every time his body got close enough to mine, and just focus on the task at hand. I figured that the longer I spent with him, and the more I got to know him, the easier this would become.

  ***

  But the effect he had on me was the complete opposite.

  Around him I become a bumbling idiot, a horny fool, and I wasn’t sure how long I could keep away from him for. And this only got worse the longer we were together.

  By the time we reached our sixth session, my desire towards him was growing increasingly stronger without showing any signs of letting up, and it was driving me insane. I wanted him so damn badly, but I also didn’t want to lose him as a trainer. I didn’t want to risk losing him in the professional sense because he was excellent at his job. His lessons were the only thing giving me purpose. Sure, I’d managed to land a crappy part-time job as a receptionist, but I hated that, and all the other girls in the office were really bitchy. Working out at the gym was something I loved and needed that way more than I needed him.

  At least, that was what I told myself when I kept finding myself needing to touch him at every given opportunity!

  The worst part was that I could almost sense desire coursing off of him around me too. I may have been imagining it, but as time went on it seemed like he was struggling to keep away from me too. That made the taboo, illicit thing that much more exciting. I almost couldn’t bear it.

  “Okay, I think that’s it for today. Great work.” Brad shot me his award-winning grin, as I got back into a standing position. “You’re really improving.”