* * * *
In the dim light, Flynn watched Boone quietly put his clothes on. He would have been pissed that the man was sneaking out on him, except after the second time they had screwed each other’s brains out Boone’s dark gaze had searched his face for a few moments.
“I need to get some shit together,” he said.
“Okay,” Flynn agreed, not sure where this was going.
“Maybe once things are settled, and if we are in the same area, we could see each other again,” Boone said.
Flynn knew Boone had no idea he was running his hand through the hair on Flynn’s chest. Since they’d climbed into bed, Boone’s hands had never stopped moving over his skin.
“Sound’s good to me,” Flynn answered, and Boone’s smile lit up his whole face. Flynn knew right then that he and the pretty baby weren’t finished by a long run.
Now Flynn’s conclusions were verified when Boone picked up Flynn’s wallet and looked at his driver’s license. Next he found his phone in his pants pocket and activated it. After finding what he was looking for, he returned it to Flynn’s pants. As Boone slipped out the door, Flynn smiled.
Chapter Two
“She has to die. Kill her. She has to die. Kill her,” kept running through Eddie Barrett’s head.
Eddie had spent long hours starching his long-sleeved camouflage shirt and matching pants to perfection. A nick or scratch didn’t exist on his calf-length army boots after he meticulously cleaned and buffed them.
With clear-edged precision, he shaved his hair as close to his head as possible without rendering himself totally bald. Eddie took great care in cleaning every inch of his body, including under his nails.
A set of handguns lay in the middle compartment of his army-green backpack. A breakdown semiautomatic rifle shared the space with the guns. The extra ammunition stored in the side pockets would give Eddie a chance to show the world that he would not be thrown away by some weak, sniffling bitch.
Strapped to his chest under a multi-pocket vest, Eddie had a special gift for her and anyone else who stood in his way. He would show them all, especially the bitch, that he held all control over everything in his world.
A half hour later as he walked into the mall, Eddie couldn’t believe how many people kept stopping him to shake hands and thank him for serving their country. He’d never served in the armed forces. How stupid they were. They had no clue his intentions were to kill the fools who messed up order. Maybe even them if they got in his way.
The bitch worked in a jewelry store right off the food court in the mall. Eddie never understood the concept of paying lots of money for rocks. But for many years his wife Judy’s income selling rocks paid the bills while Eddie had a few troubles getting his head together. They kept telling him he needed to keep taking medication for a bipolar disorder. Eddie didn’t agree and didn’t take them when he felt good. Why should he waste good money if he didn’t need it? The disability checks that came every month were never large enough to buy the stuff he wanted, much less pills that made his mind cloudy.
Eddie stood in the opening of the jewelry store. His gaze slowly surveyed the glass cases of sparkling rings and necklaces, set on each side of an aisle shaped in a half circle. He concluded there was only one way in and one way out unless you did something messy like walk in the out. Eddie hated people who interrupted the logical flow of things by being messy.
Judy looked up from wiping one of the cases with a white cloth. Smiling, she put down the cloth and bottle of cleaning solution before walking around the case to the aisle. Eddie frowned when he observed that she walked down the logical up side of the aisle.
“Eddie, did something happen? Do you need anything?” Judy asked.
He had to admit she was still a pretty woman at thirty-two. The jewelry store dress code insisted she wear high-end stylish clothes, and she kept herself in halfway decent shape. Every month she wasted good money having her hair colored, and someone painting her fingernails and toenails.
“I need to talk to you.” Eddie kept his face blank. She didn’t need to know how hot his anger simmered just under the surface.
Judy hesitated and searched his face for a few moments before she nodded. “Let’s go to the back of the store where we can have more privacy.”
Eddie walked to the correct side of the aisle before heading to the back of the store. He went behind the counter and followed Judy through a door to a room that contained several sets of tables and chairs, a refrigerator, and a microwave oven.
Judy turned to him. “Why are you here, Eddie? Is something wrong?”
“Yeah, I’d say there’s something wrong. I wanted to get some stuff from the hardware store, so I went to get the credit card out of the desk where you keep it.” Eddie leaned over his much shorter wife. “I found divorce papers in one of the drawers.”
Judy’s eyes widened before she managed to compose herself. Stupidly, she put a hand on Eddie’s arm. “Those were from last year, Eddie. You knew about them. That’s why you agreed to go to the hospital and get your medication schedule adjusted.”
Eddie looked down at the hand on his arm. If she didn’t move it quickly, he had no problem blowing her head off.
Judy must have seen something on his face. Smartly, she snatched her hand away and stepped back. Eddie liked the fear on her face. Now she respected him.
“Eddie, I need to get back to work. Why don’t you go home? I’ll be off in another hour, and then we can talk.” Judy’s weak smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“So those papers are from last year?” Eddie asked. He studied her face, looking for any telltale sign that she was lying.
“Honest, they’re from last year,” she responded.
Silence ensued between them as Eddie continued to watch his wife turn pale and the corner of her eye twitch.
Finally he said, “All right, I’ll see you later.”
Turning abruptly away, Eddie walked out of the backroom and left the jewelry store by way of the correct aisle. Outside the store, he turned left and went into the huge open food court.
Various food vendors lined the walls, offering everything from fast food to Chinese. An open balcony lined the second floor, where a nightclub took up half the floor, and a fine-dining restaurant covered the other half.
Eddie turned his back to the crowd of busy ants that raced to complete their missions of shopping, eating, or wasting time. He set the backpack on the floor before crouching down and taking the clips of extra ammunition out of the pack and slipping them into his pockets. Next, he removed the two handguns. Slipping the backpack over his shoulder, Eddie headed back toward the jewelry store and his lying wife. Did she think he hadn’t read the date at the top of those divorce papers?
* * * *
“Kelly, this is Judy Barrett. Eddie just left the store, and I can tell he’s off his meds again.” Judy tried to calm her breathing, but all of her fears and nightmares were coming true.
“Oh, honey, not again. What are you going to do?”
“It’s time to get out. I still have another hour of work. So, in an hour and a half, I’ll meet you at the rest stop like we planned.” In her mind, Judy ran through the list of arrangements she and Kelly had devised for her and the children to disappear if Eddie went nuts again.
“I wish there was more I could do.”
“Kelly, you have been the best friend, neighbor, and babysitter that I could have asked for, but you need to get out of there. The way Eddie was acting, I wouldn’t put it past him to head over to your house and take the children home with him.” Judy took a deep breath, trying to lower her voice. “Kelly, I’m scared.”
“It’s going to be okay, Judy. You’ve planned for this.” Kelly reassured her. “I’ll load the suitcases and box of toys into the car. There’s plenty of baby formula for Toby and snacks for Abbie until you get wherever you’re going. Maybe the kids and I will go to the playground over in the next town until we need to meet you at the rest stop.”
“Thank you,” Judy said.
The thought of leaving Kelly devastated Judy. Her parents’ deaths a few years ago had left her with no living relatives. And Eddie was an orphan who’d grown up in the foster care system. It wasn’t until after they married that she found out the extent of his bipolar disorder. By then she was pregnant with Abbie, and even with all of his problems, she still loved Eddie. Over time, her love for her husband became overshadowed by her love and need to protect her children.
Kelly’s support and friendship kept her strong enough to do what was necessary to keep her children safe. Now was the time to leave.
“I love you, Judy. I know we decided I wouldn’t know where you are going so there wouldn’t be any way he could find out. But after you settle down, maybe you could give me a call?”
“Once the divorce is final, and I’m sure we’re safe, I’ll call you,” Judy promised. “And I love you, too.”
At that moment, a click of metal on metal sounded next to Judy’s ear.
* * * *
Eddie walked back toward the jewelry store. Around him, he heard a few intakes of breath, but it wasn’t until he reached the doorway of the store that someone yelled, “He’s got a gun!”
He ignored them and made his way toward the rear of the store. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Judy’s coworkers ducking behind the jewelry cases. Stepping through the door of the break room, Eddie found Judy standing with her back to him talking on the phone.
“Once the divorce is final, and I’m sure we’re safe, I’ll call you,” Judy said. “And I love you, too.”
Eddie didn’t hesitate. Lifting the gun, he put it to the lying, cheating bitch’s ear and pulled the trigger until it cocked. Satisfaction filled him when her whole body stiffened and froze in place. Eddie smiled and pulled the trigger completely.
Eddie dropped his backpack onto the floor next to his wife’s crumpled, blood-spattered body. Shoving the handgun into the waistband of his pants, Eddie opened the backpack. A few quick, precise movements had the rifle extended and locked into place. After pulling out extra ammunition and shoving it into the deep pocket of his camouflage pants, Eddie headed out to do some damage.
Chapter Three
Shane Miller flopped back on the bed, trying to catch his breath. Tony lay collapsed on top of him with a sheen of sweat coating his gorgeous tan skin. The sex between them just kept getting better and better. They had been together for years now, and Shane’s obsession with the handsome Italian was still going strong.
Shoving his hand into Tony’s black hair, Shane tilted the man’s head and captured his lips in a kiss that reignited his excitement. Shane’s cock hardened, stretching Tony’s snug hole. The kiss turned wet as their dueling tongues meshed together. Last year Tony had his tongue pierced as a birthday present for Shane. The barbell scraped over his flesh, and Shane’s gut tightened.
In one smooth maneuver, Shane flipped them over and brought one of Tony’s legs up against his chest. Shane pressed his cock deeply into Tony, loving how the keeper of Shane’s heart and soul closed his eyes in ecstasy and arched his back.
Their first round had been a hard, fast fuck. Now Shane slowed things down, each stroke slow and steady. The little muscles of Tony’s hole quivered around Shane’s cock, trying to hold it in.
Tony’s brown eyes opened. Shane looked down at the love of his life and continued giving him pleasure.
“Pull your ring, honey,” he ordered.
Tony twisted the silver nipple ring with a ruby red stone hanging from it. Between their bodies, Shane watched a drop of pre-cum spill onto Tony’s tan belly.
Changing the angle, Shane made sure his cock rubbed against Tony’s sweet spot with each thrust. Delighted, Shane watched his lover’s body begin a sensual dance beneath him.
Gritting his teeth, Shane quickened his pace, knowing he wasn’t going to last much longer. Tony continued to twist his nipple ring with one hand. His other hand encircled his dick and started jerking it with sharp movements.
“Shane,” Tony cried out, and cum splattered across his tan stomach.
That was all it took. Shane braced his legs and powered his pulsating cock into Tony’s body. Hot cum surrounded his dick and added to the already overload of sensations. Shane kept his frantic pace until his balls were empty. Still not wanting it to end he continued to slide back and forth.
The palm of Tony’s hand slapped against Shane’s chest. “Shane, I need to unbend.”
Reluctantly, Shane let go of Tony’s leg and pulled his cock out of Tony’s tight warmth. Rolling to the side, Shane lay on his back, keeping Tony snug against his body.
Shane stared up at the ceiling, listening for Tony’s breathing to slow down. Once they were both calmer, he spoke, “Do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“No,” Tony answered.
“Too bad. Tell me anyway.”
Tension built between them the longer Tony was silent. Shane’s temper spiked. Turning his head, he looked at Tony. “Tell me.”
Tony’s velvety brown eyes widened before his gaze skittered to the left. It took a moment before Shane’s love looked back at him. Trembling lips parted. “I found a…”
On the nightstand, Shane’s phone rang, interrupting Tony. Shane wanted to punch something in frustration. Tony hadn’t been himself for the last couple of weeks, and Shane had waited long enough. Tony should have talked to him about it by now.
“This conversation isn’t over,” he warned, reaching for the phone.
“I know,” Tony answered, his whole body relaxing.
He used his thumb to swipe the screen. “This is Shane.”
His brother, Cade's, voice came through. “Is Tony with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Gear up. We have a mall shooting with hostages. I have Damian getting the plane ready. Be at the hanger in fifteen.”
Shane ended the call as his mind clicked into professional mode. He led a team of specialists that rescued people from natural disasters and catastrophic events, including mass shootings. He was the commander, and his brother, Cade, was the owner of Rescue for Hire. From the sound of things, they had a job to do.
* * * *
Eddie glanced at the huge round clock mounted above the row of exit doors. Almost two hours ago his wife had gotten what she’d deserved. The moment Eddie’s bullet killed her, he’d become a god. So far his judgement over those around him had been swift and final.
He had taken his time stopping at few stores on this way back to the food court. Eddie enjoyed the hunt of finding people hiding from him.
As Eddie had made his way through the aisles of tables and chairs of the food court, he’d felt invincible. But he was a smart man. Using his brain, he found the perfect spot to take cover and continue his judgements on anyone who was unworthy.
Three more shots and three messy people went down. Eddie crouched behind the counter of The Hamburgers are Great restaurant. Its location in the corner of the food court made picking off fools who kept trying to run down the incorrect exit aisle easy. Those who went down the correct one left unharmed. See, he wasn’t unreasonable or nuts, as some over the years had whispered behind his back.
Three employees of the restaurant currently sat on the floor next to Eddie. When he had first overtaken the fast food place he’d shot a fat man wearing a dirty white apron who tried to attack him with a knife. The rest of the workers immediately cooperated and obeyed Eddie’s orders.
Eddie loved it when people feared him. Their trembling bodies and pale faces turned him on. Except, if that long-haired kid in the middle didn’t stop sweating, Eddie was going to put a bullet in him. He purposely turned his attention away from the messy kid and concentrated on the main food court.
Four mall security guards lay in pools of blood. Those city boys had no idea what skills a true hunter learned though surviving off the land. If the swarm of cops gathered outside the mall doors thought to take him down, they better
find someone who knew what they were doing. Earlier a few of the stupider cops had tried to sneak into the food court. They received a bullet to the head for their trouble.
A group of boys crept down the correct aisle to the wide glass exit doors. How frightened they looked. One glanced over his shoulder toward Eddie. Like Lot’s wife in the Bible, he paid for his curiosity. Eddie’s judgment included a bullet. The rest screamed like little girls when the shot echoed off the tall glass walls, and their buddy went down.
Movement from above caught his eye. Men covered from head to toe in black glided low to the floor behind the second-floor balcony railing. A five-tiered, small, metal shelving unit, containing packets of macadamia nut cookies, sat on the counter next to the register. Eddie moved the metal shelving in front of him. Eddie knew experts when he saw them. Clearly, he needed the extra cover.
“Can you tell me your name?” a deep voice echoed off the walls of the food court.
“Why?” he yelled back.
“I need a name to put on your tombstone.”
That pissed Eddie off. He quickly fired a couple of shots up at the figures in black. Across the food court, a tall, muscled silhouette appeared in the window of a store that sold T-shirts.
“Come on, man,” the voice said. “You’re brave enough to shoot all these people. How can you be a chickenshit about telling me your name? I’ll even be generous and tell you my name is Shane.”
Eddie fired his rifle at the big-mouthed asshole standing in the window. The glass shattered and crashed to the ground. Eddie blinked. There was no one there. To his dismay, he realized he had fallen for the reflection trick. He’d shot a damn reflection, missing the man who stood off to the side, out of Eddie’s sight.
“Now are you going to tell me your name?” the voice asked.
“My name is Eddie,” he yelled.
“Do you have a last name, Eddie?
“Kiss my ass. I’m not telling you that.” Eddie fired a few more rounds at the dark figures that now were pointing rifles over the balcony at him.
Boone's Cowboy [Rescue for Hire 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 2
