Heart on the Line (Black River Bend Book 2) Read online

  Kurt cupped James’ cheek and kissed him rough and deep. He pulled away only to see James panting. “I like it. I’ve never been anyone’s boyfriend before but I’ll try my best.”

  “Okay. Whew. I thought I scared you away,” James said. “You know, because we’re moving along pretty fast.”

  “I’m fine with how things are going and it’ll take more than a label to make me go away,” Kurt said.

  Kurt traced James’ bottom lip with his finger. James closed his mouth over his digit and sucked on it. Kurt groaned, imagined it was James’ lips wrapped around his cock.

  “You’re mine now, James. I’m never letting you go,” Kurt murmured.

  * * *

  ****

  James eyed the box of canned drinks he’d been unpacking in Happy Mart’s tiny storeroom. His shoulder started to ache but he didn’t want his other colleagues to think he was slacking off.

  There was a knock on the storeroom door and he jumped, jittery as a rabbit. Seeing it was only his co-worker Dave, he relaxed.

  “Dude, what are you doing? I told you I’d take care of the heavy stuff,” Dave said. Dave leaned against the doorway. Dave looked bored, chewing on his lip ring.

  James had the impression Dave never liked him. When they worked shifts together, Dave mostly ignored him. They usually got out of each other’s way so Dave’s concern surprised him.

  “I’m fine,” James said, grabbing a box and hauling it outside.

  Dave stepped out of his way. His shoulder protested again. James let out a little hiss.

  Dave took the box from him with a scowl.

  “No need to act all tough. Take it easy. It’s your first day back after you got shot. We’ll do it together. No one comes in during this time of the day anyway,” Dave said.

  James checked his watch. Only ten in the morning. Kurt texted him earlier, reminding him they had a lunch date. James certainly looked forward to that. They spent the entire weekend together and here James was, already missing him.

  He followed Dave to the chilled drinks section of the store. They started replenishing the missing stocks.

  “Why are you being nice to me?” He finally had the nerve to ask Dave after they finished.

  Oops. James didn’t mean to sound confrontational. People sometimes misinterpreted his tone or choice of words because James couldn’t express himself that well.

  He was anti-social by nature but being with Kurt made him realize that there was so much more to people than he initially thought.

  “I was manning the cashier when the store got robbed two months ago,” Dave said. “I was lucky and got away, unscathed. Some fucker lingering outside the store managed to shoot you. I know what it was like, feeling completely helpless. It’s awful.”

  He relaxed and said, “I honestly didn’t want to go back to work, but I can’t let that incident affect my entire life you know?”

  Before leaving for work, James sent Kurt his resume. He was seriously thinking about Kurt’s offer. James had been fired from his first company simply because they were downsizing.

  He didn’t think he was a bad employee. Kurt said he needed help and it would be nice, working side by side with his boyfriend. Working in a gym full of fighters might also be the safest place in the world.

  “I took a couple of days off after the robbery,” Dave said. “Honestly, I want to get out of this shithole so bad. You man the cash register. I’ll unpack the rest of the stuff.”

  Dave didn’t wait for an answer, he simply retreated to the storeroom. James went behind the cash register and refilled some of the sweets on the counter.

  The door to the store opened. The bell rang. A customer. He looked up, heart sinking as he saw who just sauntered in.

  It was Kurt’s ex, Seth. Today, Seth also stuck out like a sore thumb.

  Who wore a fancy suit and a gold Rolex to a neighborhood like this?

  Calm down, James told himself. Seth couldn’t possibly have come here to talk to him. Why would he? This guy walked into the store simply because he needed something.

  Seth walked right up to him, sneer on his face. Maybe James was wrong.

  “You’re James, right?” Seth said, leaning against the counter. “I heard you’re Kurt’s new boy toy of the week.”

  “How did you know that?” Wait. What was James doing? He changed his tone. “Are you going to buy anything?”

  “I’m friends with Guy,” Seth said with a shrug. Seth looked him up and down. James guessed Guy was another fighter from Kurt’s gym.

  “If you’re not going to purchase anything—” he began.

  Seth grabbed a couple of Kit Kats and shoved it right at him. A couple of chocolates toppled over the counter. James sighed and picked them up. Seth seemed like a petty, vindictive guy to him. Kurt called him toxic. Well, James wasn’t going to play his game.

  “Will that be all?” He asked.

  “Kurt’s going to get bored with you. You know that, right? He goes through guys so easily,” Seth was saying.

  The old James would’ve let someone else’s words get to him but he knew Seth just wanted to start something. The best way to get rid of someone like Seth was to stay quiet and appear indifferent. Seth would eventually get bored and leave.

  “Are you listening? What’s wrong with you?” Seth demanded.

  James wasn’t looking at Seth but the little TV screen next to him that showed the security footage of the store. While Seth confronted him, another customer entered the store.

  This guy wore a bulky overcoat, even if it wasn't winter. He looked pale and gaunt. His brownish-grey hair looked like it hadn’t seen a comb in months.

  The customer shoved his hands in his pockets and kept looking around the store. A bad feeling started in James’ gut.

  “Hey, what’s going on here?” Dave asked, appearing from the storeroom and joining him by the cash register.

  “None of your business,” Seth said in a snooty voice.

  Dave and he exchanged looks. James tapped the small TV screen showing the suspicious man in the overcoat. Dave narrowed his eyes.

  It might be nothing, just a homeless guy who wandered in but James had grown paranoid after his shooting. He wanted to stay alert on every shift.

  Seth sprouted more poison but James didn’t really listen to him. James bagged Seth’s purchases just as the guy sauntered towards the register. The stranger put his hand inside his coat. James tensed as the guy took out something shiny and metallic. A gun.

  The guy fired into the ceiling. Flecks of plaster came raining down. Seth screamed. Every muscle in James’ body froze into place. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Happy Mart was being robbed for the fourth time this year, in broad daylight no less.

  What was this place, a magnet for crimes, or something?

  “Everyone stop whatever you’re doing. If you all play nice, no one needs to get hurt,” the guy yelled, strolling up to them.

  The gunman looked right at James and pulled out a brown sack. He shoved it on the counter, still holding onto his gun.

  He spoke again, “Empty your register. Do it now.”

  9

  “Cash. Right now,” the robber repeated.

  “Slow and easy does it,” Dave murmured next to James.

  James followed Dave’s gaze to the red button right under the register. If they managed to press that, they’d alert the cops to the robbery.

  James took deep breaths. Dave had gone through this before. The store had insurance. James didn’t need to panic.

  “Do as your pal says,” the robber said.

  James opened the register and began moving bills to the bag.

  “Hey, where the fuck are you going. I said no one move,” the robber yelled.

  James’s heart thudded. Seth tried to make a break for it. Seth was only two steps away from the robber when the robber grasped the collar of his shirt and tugged him close.

  The robber shoved a gun right under Seth’s chin.

&nb
sp; “Shit,” Dave whispered next to him.

  Time slowed to a crawl. Sweat dripped down his back. Shit was the right word to use. If Seth stayed put, he wouldn’t have drawn the robber’s attention.

  “Please don’t hurt me. Oh God,” Seth whispered. “Let me go. I have money. You want money?”

  The robber’s eyes gleamed. “Yeah, I do. Give me your watch and you, don’t stop.” That last order was aimed at James.

  Dave shoved him aside. “I’ll do it. I’m faster.”

  James swallowed. He didn’t miss Dave’s hand touching the red button under the register. James had never been in a robbery before.

  He almost expected an alarm to go off but there was nothing. Dave finished emptying the register. James stood exactly behind Dave. The robber wouldn’t be able to see him.

  Seth was crying, pleading with the robber to let him go.

  “Take out your wallet, do it,” The robber demanded, hitting Seth across the face with the butt of his revolver.

  He reached for his cellphone. He didn’t know why he dialed Kurt’s number. James wasn’t exactly thinking.

  What was the average police response time?

  Ten, fifteen minutes in a neighborhood like this?

  James couldn’t just rely on them. He chucked his phone back into the front pocket of his jeans as the robber looked right at them. James thought he screwed up when the robber pointed the gun right at Dave.

  “Where’s the skinny one? Come stand next to your friend. I want to see you both,” The robber ordered.

  James did as the robber asked. The guy couldn’t seem to decide where to point his gun at, Dave or him. A tiny wave of relief filled him. The robber didn’t notice him calling someone.

  Seth handed his wallet to the robber. He looked like he was about to cry.

  “Skinny guy, come over here and help me. Empty his wallet.”

  Dave gave him a nod. James joined Seth and the robber. With shaking hands, he accepted Seth’s wallet. When he pulled out a couple of hundred dollar bills, the robber whistled.

  “What’s a rich little prick like you doing in a neighborhood like this, eh?” The robber asked Seth. “I bet you never worked a day in your life.”

  “W-what do you want me to do with this?” James asked the robber. He didn’t like the way the robber was looking at Seth, with unexplainable hatred. Seth was no friend of his, but he didn’t want to see the guy die either.

  “Put the cash in the sack and bring it to me,” the robber said. James snatched the sack from the register.

  “Cops are coming,” Dave mouthed to him.

  He returned to the robber with the sack.

  “Here you go,” he said. “You got what you came here for. There’s no need to mess with a customer.”

  Seth gaped at him. Hell, James shocked himself as well because he usually avoided confrontation. The robber narrowed his eyes at him.

  “What are you, his friend?” The robber demanded.

  James shook his head. “Please, Sir. Take this cash and leave. We’ll tell no one.”

  “Oh yeah? You three better keep your pie holes shut because I’ll hunt each of you down if you rat me out to the cops.” The robber snatched the bag.

  “My father will get you for this,” Seth said in a low voice.

  James flinched. Why couldn’t Seth keep his mouth shut, even for a few seconds?

  The robber was about to leave but now the robber paused and pointed the gun right at Seth’s face. Seth closed his opened mouth and began to beg.

  “Please, have mercy. Don’t kill me. I’m important. Shoot these two losers instead,” Seth was babbling.

  “Seth, shut up,” he muttered under his breath.

  “These losers?” The robber looked enraged. “These two guys are just like me. They probably grew up in this neighborhood, but you, rich boy? You have everything, don’t you? I hate assholes like you the most.”

  The robber wet his lips. James’ stomach dropped. He didn’t know what else to say. This robber didn’t seem like he was in the right frame of mind. It felt like hours since they were being held at gunpoint but James bet only minutes had passed.

  Where were the cops? Did his call go through? He hadn’t ended the call. If Kurt picked up, he would’ve heard everything.

  “I think I want to leave the cops a nice bloody souvenir,” the robber finally said with a sinister smile.

  “Hold on a second,” James whispered. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I’ll show you.” The robber pulled the trigger.

  James didn’t think. He threw his entire body right at the robber, just like Kurt taught him last Saturday. He and the robber fell to the ground with a loud thug. The gun rolled from the robber’s fingers.

  Dave yelled something at him, James didn’t hear him. Both the robber and he looked at the fallen gun. They both went for it.

  * * *

  ****

  “Shit,” Kurt whispered, pressing the cell phone to his ear.

  What the hell?

  This couldn’t be happening. Kurt recalled how James seemed reluctant to go back to work.

  A robbery in broad daylight?

  Which unintelligent criminal thought of that?

  When James called him, he thought James was going to ask about their lunch. Kurt tucked his phone away as he bolted out of his office. James needed him.

  He got pissed just thinking about James being put in a vulnerable position again. James was still recovering from the trauma of being shot. James didn’t deserve to go through another hellish situation.

  “Where you going, boss?” Grey asked him.

  Kurt would fill him in later. He left the gym. Happy Mart wasn’t far, less than a block away. Thinking back, James had been a superhero for being able to make it to this street even after being shot.

  Kurt caught sight of a police car zooming towards Happy Mart. Seeing Sheriff Starr in the driver’s seat, Kurt didn’t think.

  He ran in front of the car and waved at him. The sheriff hit the breaks in time, lowered his window and stuck his head out.

  “What the hell are you thinking, Kurt?” The sheriff yelled.

  Kurt ran towards the car and gave the door handle a pull. The sheriff finally unlocked the car and he slid in.

  “What’s wrong with you? Get out, Kurt. I’ve just received an emergency call.”

  “Gage, my boyfriend’s in that robbery,” he said.

  He called the sheriff by his first name, which he seldom did anymore.

  “You’re not a cop. Get out, Kurt. I’m not asking you again,” Gage said.

  Arguing with Gage was useless. Even when they were in school, Gage always had a strong sense of justice. He had to do everything by the rules.

  “Just let me ride with you,” Kurt said. “I’ll let you handle the robbery. Is it just you? Where’s your partner?”

  “Jerry just had a heart attack, so he’s in the hospital,” Gage grumbled. The sheriff seemed to understand that Kurt was riding with him no matter what because he started the engine again. “And you know we’re severely understaffed. No one wants to be an officer these days.”

  “Jerry’s old. He’ll only slow you down anyway,” he said.

  “I understand someone you care about is involved but you better let me handle this, Kurt. If you put a single toe out of line, I’m putting you behind bars,” Gage warned.

  “Yes, sir.” Kurt couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “Sorry. It’s just James got shot a week ago. You took his statement, remember?”

  “I do. That store’s been robbed so many times this year,” Gage said with disapproval. “I’ve told the manager plenty of times he should hire a security guard but everyone knows Lou Ferrel’s a cheapskate.”

  Gage parked his cruiser two apartment buildings away from Happy Mart.

  “What are you doing?” He demanded.

  “If the robber sees a cop car, he might end up doing something stupid, like take a hostage,” Gage grumbled. �
�Stay here. I’m going in.”

  Gage got out and started for Happy Mart.

  Did the sheriff think Kurt was going to wait here?

  Certain Gage was at least a hundred feet from him, Kurt got out of the car. He started at a jog, only to get elbowed in the ribs by Gage, who was hiding in an old, unused telephone booth.

  “I knew it. Get back in the car, Kurt,” Gage said, looking pissed.

  “Let me help. I’m not completely helpless and you don’t have any back-up.”

  “No matter what I say or do, you’re going in there, aren’t you?” Gage asked him, sounding more weary than angry.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Fine. Stay close.”

  They crept closer to Happy Mart. Hearing a shot being fired, Kurt broke his promise to Gage and sprinted right for the store.

  Gage cursed behind him but Kurt didn’t slow down. He ran right inside the store, only to behold an amazing sight.

  James was on the floor, fighting with a greasy-haired guy in a huge overcoat. Kurt saw what they were both reaching for. He was there in a second. He kicked the gun away from the robber, who was about to grasp the handle of the gun.

  Gage put his foot over the gun and pointed his revolver at both James and the robber. Both men were still tangled in one another.

  James pried himself away from the robber and slowly walked up to him. Kurt pulled him into a tight hug. Inhaling the familiar scent of James, the panic and rage that built up inside him subsided.

  James was safe and unhurt. That was the only thing that mattered. Hell, James was amazing, although Kurt had a thing or two to tell James. James shouldn’t be so reckless or stupidly brave.

  “Get up, slowly. Hands in the air. Mulligan,” Gage said. The robber did as Gage asked. “I should’ve known it was you. This is what, the second convenience store you knocked over?”

  Gage cuffed Mulligan and led him outside, back to his cruiser.

  “I knew you’d come,” James murmured against his chest.

  Kurt looked around the store, surprised to find Seth sitting on the floor. There was blood on his face.

  Another guy, one of James’ co-workers, approached Seth and handed him a wet cloth, which Seth accepted. Seth glanced at James and him, before staring at the floor again. Was that guilt on his face?