by Sam Crescent
Evernight Publishing ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-1-77130-976-9
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
FEAR THE BOSS
Deadly Duet, 1
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Caleb Cassell wiped his bloody hands on the cloth one of his men handed to him. The sound of screams filled the abandoned warehouse he owned. Once his hands were free of blood he grabbed his cell phone to see if there were any calls waiting for him. Seeing three from the women he kept on a regular basis for sex, he deleted them all, turning back to see if his right hand man and partner, Henry, had gotten the information he needed.
“Please, make it stop,” John, the man bound to the chair, said, whimpering.
Folding his arms, Caleb was bored. Why did little shits really think they could mess with him? At thirty-five years old he’d proven to all of the rival gangs that he wasn’t to be messed with. He owned girls, drugs, and money. Over the years he’d proven more than once that he wasn’t afraid of killing his enemies, or at the least torturing them first. Caleb kept a firm hold on everything, making sure no one fucked with him. He wasn’t a cruel man to people who followed the rules, and he was fair to everyone who was honest with him. Those people who broke the rules and tested him, were then hurt. Caleb did warn all of them before he hired anyone.
The front of all of his businesses was his nightclubs. No one looked too closely unless someone died on his property from the drugs taken. Most of the time, Caleb got men to dump the body elsewhere. He’d grown up on the streets and knew how the people worked. When there was an economic downturn people sought him out for money, work, or drugs to forget all about the world.
“Where is the money from the drugs, John? I’m not in the mood for your shit,” Caleb said, still feeling bored.
John whimpered, crying out as Henry grabbed his hair, yanking his head back.
Blood dripped from John’s lip, head, and nose. His face was black and blue from his and Henry’s punishments. Caleb was bored. He hated dealing with addicts, and from the track marks on John’s arms, the man was a fucking user.
Not only had he used product that Caleb intended to sell, he’d taken money by also dealing the shit within his club.
“Please, I’m sorry. I’ll make it back, boss,” John said, wheezing.
It would be more work to take John to the hospital, and then if he squealed to the cops, the work and payoff would be too much money.
“No, you won’t make it back. There’s nothing you can do.” Caleb turned to look at Henry. “Kill him and dispose of the body. I’m done with this piece of shit.”
John started to scream and whimper before Caleb had even left the building.
Spinning on his heel, he walked outside as the bullet rang out. Pulling out the packet of cigarettes, he took out a smoke and lit it. Inhaling the nicotine he stared up at the night sky contemplating which bitch he was going to take for the night. Providing he had a lot of money, any woman came to his need. He was never short of a whore to put his dick inside. All women were whores; it’s what he was taught on the streets. He had yet to meet a woman who was worth more than a passing glance. Sure, the women he dated were beautiful, but they’d been with a lot of men, making them a little too bitter to the world.
Henry walked out, talking on the phone as he went.
“The disposal team?” Caleb asked once Henry hung up.
“Yeah, we’ve got to wait for them to arrive. You got a couple of grand on you to pay them?”
Nodding, Caleb went to the trunk of the car. Flicking the lock, he opened it up and peeled away the carpet to reveal the small safe he kept hidden. “I’ve got plenty of cash.”
Henry lit up a smoke and leaned against the car. “He pissed himself again.”
“Fucker knew he’d done wrong. I’d be more surprised if he didn’t.” Blowing out a ring, Caleb listened to the passing city life. He loved living in the city. There were so many people waiting to plunge down that slippery spiral of life.
“What are you doing for the rest of the night? Henry asked.
Caleb had met Henry over ten years ago. They’d been fighting for the same side in the underground fighting ring. Both of them were vicious and had been trained by the same man. After a year of playing the circuit they had both gone out to make a living for themselves. Now, they were a team, but most of the business was down to Caleb. Henry had a large scar down the side of his face from a fight gone wrong. His face put off prospective business partners. They learned long ago that Caleb handled the business while Henry was the muscle. When it was between them, they were friends. Caleb would die to save Henry, and he knew the other man was the same.
Their friendship was the only thing Caleb actually cared about. The money just made life easier, and fucking was fun while it lasted. His friendship with Henry was cemented. They were a team.
“I was going to meet Tiffany, but the bitch is too busy pissing me off. She wants something more, so I got to stop by the jewelry store and pick her something up. I may fuck her before I give her the present.”
“Cold, boss. Women like being wined and dined.”
“Don’t have the time. I don’t give a fuck about a good meal. If I wanted that, I’d get takeout at a restaurant. The only thing I need is a good woman to make me happy for a couple of hours.” He threw his smoke on the ground and stubbed it out with his foot. “Stop calling me boss.”
“It’s easier to call you that. I’m used to it now. We both know we’ve only gotten this far because of you. I don’t know shit about numbers or business. I can fight. That’s all I’m good for.”
Caleb didn’t argue with him. Within the hour the cleaning crew arrived. He dealt with the money and stayed until the body was safely out of his warehouse.
Climbing into the car, he waited for Henry to drive away.
“Where we going?”
“Take me to the jewelry store you use.” Caleb rubbed at his temples feeling the need for some sleep. First, he needed to fuck someone. Tiffany he’d fuck and then dump. It would be far easier that way to get what he wanted.
“You go through a lot of women,” Henry said.
“Last I checked you were fucking all the whores that work at the club.” Within his many nightclubs Caleb also supplied a lot of women for the men looking for some action. He didn’t force them, and he made sure they got a good cut of their income. In the beginning he was running the club, doing drugs on the side, and then some women approached him. He couldn’t believe a group of women actually came to him for protection so they could conduct their business.
“Hey, they give me what I need, and I give them what they need.”
Shaking his head, Caleb chuckled. “Can you believe we were just fighters over a decade ago?”
“No, I can’t, but I sure as fuck feel it sometimes. My body knows it has been a punching bag to one too many fuckers,” Henry complained, opening and closing his hand into a fist.
“I know what you mean.”
Caleb had many scars over his body from fighters who’d pulled a knife on him. Even though underground fighting had rules it didn’t stop men fro
m pulling out a knife.
“Still, I’d rather be living this life than working the circuit like a lot of young men. At least we’ve got a choice who we pummel,” Henry said.
“Sure.”
Henry pulled up outside of the jewelry store. Climbing out of the car, Caleb headed inside. Glancing behind him, he saw Henry resting on the hood of the car, lighting up another smoke. “Are you coming in?”
“I don’t need pretty shit to get what I want. I’ll wait here.”
Not bothering to argue with the man, Caleb entered the small store. He used the same place all the time to buy his gifts. Most of the time he sent one of the waitresses at the club to get him what he needed and rarely came out to buy shit. Tonight was important. After a quick roll in the sack, he didn’t want to have to be dealing with the bitch again.
Once inside, he saw there were only two women on staff. The brunette was talking to a young couple. From the look of them they were getting engaged.
The blonde he spotted long before the brunette. She was polishing the glass on the display case. Her long blonde hair caressed the top of her ass as it cascaded down her back. She wore the same blue uniform as the other woman, and the skirt ended at her knees. The view of her back showed her to be on the plump side, but Caleb always did have a thing for blondes. Both women were not overly slender, but the blonde was rounder than the brunette. He’d not seen her face yet, but if she repulsed him, he could always put a bag over her head.
Maybe the night wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
****
Donna Smith tried not to chuckle as the man buying an engagement ring was trying to go for the cheapest option while also appearing to be more loving than anyone else. She’d been working in the jewelry store, Dreams, for the last year. Over that year she’d seen so many couples coming in and arguing over the kind of ring they deserved. The cost of the rings in Dreams was too expensive. She’d never be able to afford an item even though she worked here. The pay was okay, better than a lot of places, but not perfect.
She bent down and rubbed at the glass. The only problem with customers was they touched the glass. They didn’t need to touch the glass to see items, yet they all did.
Someone cleared his throat right behind her. Standing up, she turned to see a male customer staring at her. His eyes were dark brown, almost black. Frowning, she glanced over his shoulder to see Lydia was busy.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
He kept staring at her. Keeping her gaze on his, she waited for him to start speaking. Holding the can of polish in one hand and a cloth in the other, she didn’t have any other option other than to stare back at him. Still, he didn’t say anything.
Frowning, she wondered what the hell to do.
“Can I help you?” She repeated the question in case he didn’t hear her the first time.
“Yes, you can. I’m looking for a piece of jewelry for a woman.”
“Okay.” She stepped around him, placing the cleaning products on the nearest counter. Rubbing her hands down her uniform she turned back toward him, plastering a smile on her face. “The lady you’re buying for, is she a fiancée, sister, daughter?”
“None of the above.”
“Erm, what are you hoping to get from the piece?” she asked. It was easier to know the intention of the gift so she could help him pick.
“I want a parting gift that’s expensive enough that she won’t cause me problems.”
Wow, okay, she’d never heard anything like this.
“We’ve got necklaces, earrings, bracelets.” She stepped forward toward the window. Putting on her professional face, she pointed out different designs. He kept nodded at her talk and stood far too close to her.
More often than not she bumped into him and had to apologize. The couple who were inside had long gone. Lydia kept glancing her way. They were getting close to packing away for the night. The night shift was always the hardest. There was a higher chance of being robbed at night than during the day. Donna always carried her pepper spray just in case someone decided to attack her.
“Can I see that one in the back?” he asked.
“Sure.” Moving away from him, she went to Lydia for an excuse to be away from his closeness.
“What are you doing?” Lydia asked.
“Can I have your keys? I don’t want to be too close to him.” He unnerved her with his lack of talking and closeness.
“You’ve got a set attached to your hip.”
“I know, but I needed to come away.”
“Do you want me to finish serving him?” Lydia asked.
Donna nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind?”
“I don’t mind.”
Lydia went to the man while Donna finished signing up the till. She went through the charts, and seconds later Lydia walked back. “You’ve got to go and serve him. He doesn’t want any other woman but you to serve him. Unless you don’t want the sale then you’re out of luck.”
Gritting her teeth, she walked back toward him. She grabbed the keys from her hip and opened up the door. Retrieving the case with the gold bracelet on, she showed it to him.
“Do you have a problem with me?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then why did you send her over?”
“Lydia is better when it comes to the discussion of the pieces. I’m not particularly good.” She didn’t look into his eyes. “This is a really good piece. Delicate but intricate.” She placed the case on the far counter and offered him up the jewelry.
He glanced over it. His large hands turned the item this way and that. She noticed his knuckles looked a little bruised.
With the business suit she didn’t imagine him having anything wrong or out of place. The bruised knuckles were out of place.
“Yes, I like this one. I’ll take it.”
Taking the piece from his hands she touched his skin and glanced up. His gaze was on hers. He seemed to see more than what was there.
“Do you have a boyfriend or husband?” he asked.
“That’s none of your business.” Putting the case away, she stepped away from him, shocked by his penetrating gaze. She wasn’t a beauty, not by a long stretch. When men came into the shop they were all over Lydia, not her.
Moving behind the desk, she glanced back at him. “Do you want it gift wrapped?” she asked.
“Yes.” He placed his hand on the counter, and she couldn’t help but look at his hands. The bruises looked painful.
“Do you want to go out with me?” he asked.
Jerking her gaze back up to his, she saw he hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
“What?”
“No, I don’t want to go out with you.”
She finished packing up his bracelet and ran the amount into the till. He shocked her by paying with cash. The man counted every single note onto the counter.
Watching the money pile up, she took it from the shelf and placed it in the till, handing him a receipt.
“Do you work here often?” he asked.
“Yes. Do you want to know when my manager gets in?”
Was he going to complain about her? He was acting way too creepy to be nice to.
“No. I was wondering when you were here. I’ll be seeing you, Donna.”
His gaze caressed over her name tag over her breast. There was something strange about him. The bell went letting her know he was gone.
“Was it me, or was he a little strange?” Lydia asked, coming up behind her.
“Yeah, he was creepy. Scary, creepy guy. We should nickname him that from now on.” Donna’s hands were shaking from the interaction. What was his problem?
She worked with Lydia, and they both locked up the store, securing the safety guards in place on their way out.
“Do you want a lift to your apartment?” Lydia asked.
“Nah, I’ll walk. It’s out of your way anyway.”
“I’d hate to be walking the ci
ty streets this late at night.”
“It’s no problem for me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You certainly will. The bills are not going to pay themselves.” Lydia waved to her, and she watched the other woman leave before going into her bag to grab her pepper spray. Wrapping her jacket around her body she started the short walk to her apartment block. The walk wasn’t the problem. What she hated the most was the dark alleys she had to pass that hid men from her sight.
Her thoughts returned to the strange customer. What had he been hoping to achieve? She never got personal with a customer. Lydia a few months back had gotten a lot of stick from a customer, a married man who thought there was more between them than a simple customer relationship.
Donna had no intention of being hurt by a guy she didn’t know.
The moment she was outside of her apartment block, she ran up the stairs. The block wasn’t too bad, but she didn’t trust the shadows. Women could be attacked anywhere from not being cautious. Taking her keys out of her bag, she slid the key into the lock and entered her apartment. Flicking the light on, she was greeted by Pearl, her cat. She’d found Pearl as a kitten wandering around outside. She couldn’t allow anything bad to happen to the poor kitten, and she’d taken her inside. It was a female kitten.
“Hey, Pearl, did you miss me?” She bent down to stroke her back. “Yeah, I missed you, too.”
Picking up her cat, she dropped her bag to the floor then walked into the kitchen. Her cat purred as she started to buzz around the kitchen.
“I met a strange man today. Yes, I did.”
She always talked to her cat even when she had nothing to talk about. Making herself a cup of tea, she put more milk into the cat bowl then took a seat.
Putting her head in her hands, she watched her pet and thought about the mystery man. He freaked her out, and yet she couldn’t deny the sudden jolt through her body their touches had created.
