by Alex Gabriel
“I’m going to sponsor Serpentissima into the Hero Corps,” Nick blurted. It was clear he’d been dying to say the words — he fairly lit up with gleeful anticipation as he spoke. As it happened, that particular kind of enthusiasm was very familiar to Pat. Every single ‘twisted scheming mastermind’-type challenger he’d minioned for got that exact same glowy look when contemplating their twisted mastermindy scheme. “I’m going to redeem the most notorious supervillain of them all.”
Holy mother of fuck.
Nick was only getting started. He sat up straighter as he went on, fairly crackling with intensity. The man probably had this scheme totally planned out already, neatly laid out in his head complete with footnotes, bar graphs, pie charts and shit. “She gave up her plans to conquer the world because of you and me. She’s invited me to family dinner! It’s the best opening anyone could ask for. Serpentissima has already taken the first step, whether she realizes it or not. We will slowly and gradually draw her further and further to our side, and in the end —”
“Holy mother of fuck!” Also: Our side? Holy mother of fuck on a cracker.
“Crude, but to the point.” Nick smiled a smile Pat had never seen on him before. This smile had teeth, and a knife, and some wicked martial arts skills, and was very satisfied with the amount of damage it could inflict. Pat wouldn’t have thought that kind of expression would work on Nick’s features, but it really, really did. (Turned out the heroic mastermind look was kinda hot on Nick. No surprise.) “Imagine the signal her change of allegiance will send out into the world. Serpentissima, the Dread Serpent herself. If Serpentissima gives up her wicked ways —”
“Dude! This is so messed up.” Pat frantically signed a ‘time out’ T at Nick. Sadly, it didn’t help with the way his own thoughts were tumbling over each other. “Mom’s doing the exact same thing! She’s trying to turn you. She hasn’t given up her plans at all, she’s just biding her time until you become her right hand. I’m supposed to be using my wiles on you right this second. You know, my wiles that are going to seduce you into changing sides. I don’t even have any wiles, what the fuck.”
The unfamiliar predatory smile conquered some more territory on Nick’s face. “Of course she’s trying to turn me, Patrick. That’s obvious. It gives us the perfect opening.”
Great, it was one of those things where both challenger and hero knew what the other was planning, and that their opponent knew they knew what the other one was planning, and that they knew the other one knew they knew, and so forth and so on. Pat hated those things. They made him feel like he needed to find a way to stretch out his brain to prevent cramps.
“There’s one thing I need to stress,” Nick said. And suddenly he was right there, all up in Pat’s face, all fierce dark gaze and mad intensity. Pat almost forgot to breathe for a moment, and then gulped in an audible lungful of air in a way that might have been embarrassing, if not for the fact that it was pretty much impossible to feel embarrassed when Nick was staring at you like you were the only thing in the universe worth looking at. “It will be an incredible victory when Serpentissima turns from ev— from… her ways. But don’t make the mistake of believing yourself to be a pawn or a prize, Patrick. You’re not the means. You’re not the end, either. You are the reason.”
How had he known that was exactly what Pat had needed to hear? Pat himself hadn’t even known — not really. But… yeah.
“Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” Pat said, wondering. “Yeah, I think I do.”
Looked like Pat had severely underestimated his wiles all these years. They seemed to work fine on Nick, anyway, and really, who cared if they worked on anyone else? Wasn’t exactly relevant, was it.
“Lock-dissolving stun smoke?” Nick asked somewhat muzzily, quite a while later.
Basically, no matter what happened from here on out, it was pretty much guaranteed to be epic. Pat could hardly wait.
About the Author
It all began when Alex learned to decipher the alphabet and found that the world was full of wonderful stories — but not all of them were being told. In self-defence, Alex began to write, and hasn’t stopped since.
In between a busy schedule of reading and writing, Alex has worked as a copywriter, a translator, an English teacher, a linguistics tutor, an alibi S.O., a soap maker, a cloakroom attendant, a bartender, and other such things. Only the jobs that involve writing have stuck.
Would you like to talk to the author?
Please write to: [email protected]
You can find information about the author’s other books as well as free chapters and Alex’s musings on writing, reading, and other matters at: alexgabriel.net
Alex is also on Facebook (as ScribblingAlex) and on Twitter (@scribblingalex).
Other Works by Alex Gabriel
Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps
It’s not that Ryuu’s a bad loser — he just wants things to be in order. And in the natural order of the universe, he should not be losing to dorks.
Losing is a thing Japanese pop star Ryuu Shiwasuda does not do — certainly not gracefully. Image is everything to hot-headed Ryuu. Sure, his macho bluster is only a cover for shyness and social awkwardness, but he takes it (and himself) very seriously.
So when gratingly cheerful punster Hiro Takahashi delivers the ultimate insult of letting Ryuu win at a video game, Ryuu is cut to the quick, and vows swift vengeance. Can’t be too hard to beat a dork like Hiro, right?
Wrong. As Ryuu chases after his elusive victory, he’s forced to add more and more items to the list of “things to beat Hiro at” — and is shocked to find that Hiro’s quirky charm is sparking never-before felt desires in him.
Ryuu’s life and career have no place for a male lover. But he’s already in too deep. Can he risk going all in? And what does he stand to lose if he doesn’t?
A slow-burning, red-hot gay romance in three volumes, set in the world of Japanese pop idols. Read a sample chapter on alexgabriel.net.
First Contact
Going undercover in a gay BDSM club run by the mob isn’t Rick Delaney’s idea of a good time — but for all the wrong reasons.
Going undercover in a gay BDSM club run by the mob isn’t exactly an everyday assignment. Still, as a cop specializing in undercover work, Rick Delaney is used to tough gigs. The real issue is that Rick’s expected to go under with someone he barely knows. But Rick’s partner is suspended, and he doesn’t have a choice.
Newly transferred detective Jon Messina’s short a partner, too, except that his was murdered by the mafia. Jon may seem breezy and lighthearted, but he has a score to settle. And to do so, he’s willing to do whatever it takes.
Except that it may take more than either of them can afford. Because their cover as a dom and sub couple spins out of control the minute they set foot into mafia-controlled sex club Gomorrah. What should be mere pretense threatens to become desperately real. And if Rick can’t control his desires, he’s going to get them both killed.
A steamy gay romance featuring bondage, dominance and submission, public sex, and gay mafiosi in leather and chains. Read a sample chapter on alexgabriel.net.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Be confident as you stride towards your ultimate destiny.
Chapter 2: Pretend it’s all part of your plan.
Chapter 3: Stay in touch with family and friends.
Chapter 4: Remember: Anyone worth doing is worth doing right.
Chapter 5: Ill-gotten gains are a joy forever.
Chapter 6: Follow your heart (unless your heart is stupid).
Chapter 7: Try to remember you’re in the process of taking over the world.
Chapter 8: Lying is not for amateurs. Get plenty of practice.
Chapter 9: Walk softly and carry a mind control ray, or something equally cool.
Chapter 10: Choose your battles wisely. Cheat whenever necessary.
Chapter 11: When all else fails, try honesty.
Chapter 12: Better to rule the world than to serve coffee.
Chapter 13: Once your reputation is ruined, enjoy yourself.
Chapter 14: Home is where the serpents are.
Chapter 15: Expect the expected. (Expecting the unexpected is a given.
Chapter 16: Don’t count your chicks before they’re devoured.
Chapter 17: All things come to those who lurk. Skulking is also an option.
About the Author
Other Works by Alex Gabriel
Table of Contents
Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Love for the Cold-Blooded. Or: The Part-Time Evil Minion’s Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero.
Copyright © 2014 by Alex Gabriel (www.alexgabriel.net)
Cover Art by Book Cover Master Class (www.bookcovermasterclass.com)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com, Amazon.com or your online bookseller of choice to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
Published by Alex Schmidt, Hausdorffstr. 82, 53129 Bonn, Germany
Contact information:
[email protected]
www.alexgabriel.net
