This is a work of fiction. All characters and events reside solely in the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental. All characters are eighteen years of age or older.
©2017, Annette Fields. No portion of this work can be reproduced in any way without prior written consent from the author with the exception for a fair use excerpt for review and editorial purposes.
This title is for adults only. It contains explicit sex acts, adult themes, and material that some folks may find offensive. Please keep out of reach of children.
A note from the author.
Thank you so much for choosing to read Down and Dirty! I hope you enjoy it! If you want more of Cloverville's bad boys, check out the others in the series.
Ball and Chain (Asher and Dahlia)
Love and War (Liam and Hazel)
Sign up to the mailing list for a free military romance, Her Soldier!
Other books by Annette Fields
Heavy Metal Heart
Beauty and the Bastard
Big Bad Boss
Table of Contents
Down and Dirty
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
EPILOGUE
Thank you!
Down and Dirty
A Single Dad Romance
By Annette Fields
PROLOGUE
NATALIE
I wiped the knife on my shirt and ran as fast as my bare feet could carry me. It left a dark red stain but was the only way to not leave a trail of blood behind me.
Not that it mattered.
Unfortunately, I didn't kill the man I stabbed and he already alerted the others. The shouting voices and dogs barking floating up from the distance told me they were hot on my trail. And my chances of escaping were slim.
Tightening my grip on the knife handle, I willed my feet to run faster. But the cold, hard pavement was already biting into my tender flesh. My heart pounded so hard against my ribs and my lungs gasped like a fish out of water.
The barks and shouts getting louder behind me willed me on. If I was going to live I had to escape. If I couldn't escape, I'd stab myself in the heart before they took me back to that place.
My mind flashed to Leah's crying face and it made me press on despite the screaming pains in my body. She was still so young, only sixteen and a virgin when they took her. All of us girls looked out for each other but I took her under my wing like a protective mother hen despite being only six years older than her.
When the foot soldier guarding us decided to have her for himself, I stabbed him in the neck with the knife I stole from the kitchen earlier. The next thing I knew, all the girls were yelling at me to run.
For the first time in six months I was free, if only for a few moments while they chased me. If I had to kill myself to stay free, so fucking be it.
My eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the world around me as it rushed by. I was running through some kind of complex of warehouses.
I ran through wide open rooms stacked with shipping pallets, all kinds of containers, and huge 50-gallon drums. Pushing one door open led to more of the same.
My hope sank like a stone as I listened to the shouts and barking over the blood pounding in my ears. Would I ever escape? I couldn't afford to hide because the dogs could smell me, but for all I knew I could be running right to them.
Desperately, I darted behind a stack of pallets and pushed the top one with all my strength. The cardboard boxes that were stacked on it crashed to the ground, spilling their white, powdery contents.
I ran a bit farther and did it again. I began knocking over pallets, buckets, and bins behind me to create a sort of obstacle course.
I needed time. I needed to find a way outside.
My feet were absolutely killing me and I wouldn't be able to run for much longer.
I'm so sorry, Leah. I hope you can succeed where I failed.
Crashing against a door to push it open, I found myself looking up at a sky full of stars. The sidewalk was cool beneath my aching feet.
I made it outside!
My joy was painfully short-lived as I continued to run, knowing they'd be right out here behind me in mere seconds. But renewed hope gave me a proverbial spring in my step.
I went around the side of the building, still having no idea where to go or what to look for. Hell, I didn't even know what country I was in anymore.
The warehouses seemed surrounded by dry, flat land. I couldn't see any other buildings in the distance or even a road.
My hopes dashed, I still kept running as I squeezed the knife handle. It was the only source of strength and courage I had left. I couldn't afford to stop. Stopping meant death.
As I crept silently along the wall, a sound grew increasingly louder. First a whisper and then a roar as I grew closer. I couldn’t say why but I continued moving toward that sound. It couldn’t possibly be any worse than what chased after me.
Perhaps it was stupid of me but I had nothing else to go on. Turning back around would send me straight into the hands of so-called men who put me in true, literal Hell for countless months. If they caught me, they would delight in making me wish for death.
I peeked around a corner to see the source of the sound and tears of joy nearly spilled from my eyes.
The sound was a truck's engine. Not twenty feet away from me, a U-Haul styled truck sat with the engine turned on and the back opened. A driver was doing a final count of inventory of the contents in the back.
All I could see inside were various boxes and shipping crates piled up. I didn't care what was in them or where they were going.
I needed to get on that truck.
I glanced over my shoulder and listened hard. No barking or shouting and no one behind me. Maybe my obstacles and directionless running actually bought me just enough time.
Looking around the corner again I watched the driver mull over the shipping crates like a hawk.
Please don't close the door yet, I silently pleaded. I'd hang on the back if I had to but who knew how long I'd be able to hang on?
The driver walked around to the front of the truck and my heart dared to soar for a moment. He leaned back against the hood and proceeded to make a phone call.
Now!
I darted out from behind the corner and with surprising agility, leaped into the back of the truck and sought out a hiding place as fast as I could.
Just as I wedged myself behind a tall box that he couldn't see me over, the door pulled down and I sat in pure darkness.
When I felt the truck begin to move, I wanted to cry out in victory. It didn’
t feel real after the endless nightmare I just lived.
Somehow, I survived Hell on Earth and lived to escape.
But I stayed silent and told myself to curb my excitement for when I reached my destination.
I had to be ready for whatever waited on the other side of that door when it opened again.
CHAPTER ONE
SOLOMON
It was a perfect day to sit out in the sun with a cold beer. The warmth of those rays rested on my skin like a woman's body, delicious and with the perfect amount of heat.
I took another pull from my beer, relishing in that cool liquid flowing down my throat with just a hint of tang from the lime I pulled off of a nearby tree.
Settling back in my deck chair, I began unbuttoning my shirt to let more of that sun kiss my hard body. Fuck sunscreen, I wanted to feel that warmth on my inked up chest and abs and get even darker. Everyone already thought I was Hispanic so why not continue with the illusion?
"Didn't realize we were on the set of Baywatch," Ivan said snarkily.
"Sun feels great, man," I replied to my underboss. "Strip down and feel that sweetness."
"Yeah, right. Not all of us are built like MMA fighters."
I heard a touch of jealousy in Ivan's voice. He wasn't in terrible shape, probably your average, everyday guy in his thirties. He rocked the Dad-bod with a slight gut and little muscle definition.
As a crime boss I never always knew when I needed to run, fight, or even fuck for that matter. So I kept my body in top shape to cover all necessary scenarios. Apparently, I was in the minority in that mindset.
"I keep telling you to hit the gym with me, man," I said.
"Yeah, right," he scoffed again. "With three kids at home I don't got time for that shit."
"Hey now." I pointed my index finger at him as I raised the beer to my lips and took another swig. "I don't wanna hear that shit."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Single parents got it the hardest."
"Exactly."
My heart swelled a little at the thought of my baby girl, Araceli. The light of my life and the only girl who would ever have complete and total ownership of my heart until I drew my last breath.
I mean, I flirted and I fucked. Sometimes I was even downright romantic if the pussy was worth it. But love? That was something I never went anywhere near.
I loved Araceli's mother and that got me absolutely nowhere. The only good thing that woman ever created was our beautiful daughter and she didn't even want her. I got kicked out of school long before getting Analise pregnant but I still manned up and supported her throughout her pregnancy. During my brief stint in prison, I made even more money and sent every dime of it to her.
When I got out, ecstatic to meet my daughter and finally ready to become a family, a squalling, infant Araceli was dropped in my arms as I was informed that her mother had given up all custody and parental rights.
I might have been a low-life college dropout and dirty criminal but when I looked down at my tiny, helpless baby in my arms, I was determined to provide her the best life I possibly could.
Six years later, I'd say we're doing alright. Despite my line of work, my daughter was growing into a brilliant and beautiful young woman. She was my world and nothing else mattered. Every day that I risked my life in this job was for her.
"This truck is fucking late."
Ivan's anxious muttering and angry pacing pulled me out of my sunny thoughts of seeing Araceli's toothy grin when I got home.
"Dude, fucking relax. He'll be here."
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back as I polished off my bottle of Corona.
"How the fuck can you relax, boss? We're on a schedule. What if he got caught?"
"Haven't any of your kids told you to take a chill pill?" I muttered, feeling a bead of sweat roll down the valley between my ab muscles and wishing it was a hot woman's tongue. It had been a whole three days since I kicked the last one out of my bed and I was already growing antsy for a fresh pussy riding my cock.
"Eddie's my best driver. He'll be here. Freaking the fuck out won't make him get here any faster."
In spite of my reassurance, Ivan continued his anxious muttering and pacing while I sat up in my chair and considered walking up to the minimart for another beer.
The heat rising off the ground gave the illusion of cars wobbling like jello as I squinted at the freeway in the distance.
Our checkpoint was set up in an abandoned auto shop building behind a rest stop just off the main freeway. The rest stop had a gas station, bathrooms, vending machines and a convenience store. No one pulling up for snacks, gas and potty breaks noticed the dilapidated building a hundred feet behind the mini mart unless they were specifically looking for it.
A red convertible pulling into the gas station parking lot caught my eye. The top was down and at least five girls were piled into the car. Their excited chatter and bubbly laughter reached my ears and made my dick stir as if those sweet sounds were coming from right underneath me.
The girls hopped out of the car and dispersed, some to get food, others to use the restrooms. Some stepped out on long, graceful legs, others were more compact and curvaceous. All of them wore bathing suits under shorts and cover-ups of some kind. With no doubt in my mind, I knew they were heading to Cloverville Lake up the road for some sun and swimming.
I smiled to myself as I picked up my empty beer bottle. Walking up to the minimart for another seemed a lot more appealing now. It had been three days since I've gotten laid and much longer since my last threesome. I'd bet my left nut that with a little bit of sweet talking, some of these girls would be down for some real fun.
"Finally! There he is!" Ivan cried jubilantly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I registered a large, unmarked U-haul truck pulling up straight toward us.
Ah, fuck. I had to stay back here to keep an extra eye out for the inspection but that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy the view.
"You wanna go over this with me, boss?" Ivan asked.
"Nah, you can handle it," I replied distractedly, keeping my eyes on a curvy blonde in a dark blue bikini top that barely contained her luscious tits. "Let me know when you're done and I'll sign off on it."
The blonde dropped her wallet on her way back to the car and bent over at the waist to pick it up.
"Lord have mercy," I muttered as my cock twitched approvingly.
Her shorts clung to her hips and thighs like a second skin a and I knew I wasn't the only one staring. Her ass peeked out of the bottom of her shorts like two cheeky smiles. If only she knew how much she'd be smiling if those cheeks were bouncing on my cock.
"Uh, hey boss? You should come look at this." Ivan came up behind me and sounded nervous.
"What?" I said with annoyance. "You can count product, can't you?"
"Still, there's something you should see."
Tearing my gaze away from the hot blonde, I reluctantly stood and dragged my feet to the truck where the rear door was lifted all the way open.
Only when I saw that Ivan drew his gun did my body tense up and I reached for my own weapon.
He stood just outside of the truck with a tight-lipped expression and jerked his head toward the inside.
I poked my head in and saw nothing but shipping crates. Still, I didn't let my guard down.
With one hand on my holster, I slowly walked up the short ramp to the inside. Sweeping my eyes back and forth, I at first saw nothing out of the ordinary.
I was just about to relax when I saw a flash of movement near my feet and drew my weapon in a flash.
My barrel pointed right between the large blue eyes of a girl covered in dirt, wearing nothing but a large, blood-stained T-shirt, and wielding a knife.
CHAPTER TWO
NATALIE
I tried as hard as I could to stay awake, to remain alert and vigilant as I bounced along with the cargo in the back of the truck.
But I couldn't. I was so tired.
The night was cool so I
tucked my bruised knees to my chest and hugged my arms around my scraped, battered shins. I leaned against the tall, wooden box that hid me from the driver as my eyelids fought gravity.
After a few hours on the road, gravity finally won.
I woke up sweating, my mouth as dry as a bone and feeling dizzy enough to nearly pass out again.
Daylight crept through the cracks in the corners, but no ventilation made me feel like I was in some kind of sauna. There was nowhere for hot air to escape so it hovered thickly all around me like a suffocating cloud, clinging to my skin and hair.
A glass of cold or even lukewarm water sounded amazing. In spite of the hell I just escaped from, I would sell my body for a bottle of water and a shower. At least this time it would be my own choice. Oh, and food. How long had it been since I had anything decent to eat? I'd even give an enthusiastic blowjob for a burger.
I lurched backward, nearly hitting my head on another shipping crate and wincing as my tailbone bounced painfully on the floor. The realization came that the truck was getting off the smooth road and slowing down, now driving on a dirt or gravel road.
Fully alert with this knowledge, I brandished my knife. If I had to slash my way out to stay alive and free, I'd do just that. If putting the knife through my own heart was the only way, well I probably wasn't so far from death as it was.
The truck slowed to a complete stop and I heard voices outside. The driver and another man. I tightened my hold on the knife as I tried to keep my breathing quiet, but it escaped my lungs in furious bursts.
Without warning, the door rolled up and let in the painful, blinding sunlight.
Fuck! no!
I raised my arms to shield my eyes, curling into a tiny ball and holding the knife in front of my face. If they were going to drag me out of here, I wouldn't make it easy for them.
"What the fuck..." I heard a male voice say but no hands grabbed me. His footsteps made two loud thuds on the truck floor before they crunched on the ground outside, away from me.
Down and Dirty: A Single Dad Bad Boy Romance (Small Town Bad Boys Book 3) Page 1
