Forced Out of the Darkness
G. Wayne Jackson, Jr.
Copyright © 2014 G. Wayne Jackson, Jr.
All rights reserved. No part(s) of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording taping, blogging or by any information storage retrieval system without the expressed written permission of the publisher and author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles, reviews or interviews.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental or used for story authenticity purposes.
Cover art used by permission. © Can Stock Photo Inc./slipper
Author photograph by Dale Guy Madison
Edited by Mr. Walter J. Houston and Drs. Anita M. Haynes & Darlene M. Harris.
DEDICATION
In life you are given angels to help you through tough situations. Mommie, you have always been the number one Angel in my life thank you for teaching me to love me first and taking care of your boys all by yourself. To my G-Mom, you have always been a listening ear and a support to me since I can remember. I will never forget. To my best friend of 35+ years and brother, Darris. I love you unconditionally thank you for holding every secret of my life and loving me anyway. To DamnGoodMan, you helped me embrace who I am. To my partner in life, Walter. Thank you for your love, encouragement and patience. I hope that this work helps someone deal with life. Lastly, I dedicate this project to my Aunt Carol and Cousin Eddie. You are both sorely missed.
Table of contents
A Dark house of cards
Testing the waters
What’s in a name?
flipping the script
holding on to the pain
if only for one night
breathless
the player gets played
one good ole’ laugh
acts of betrayal
a prophetic warning
a woman scorned
love me in a special way
jumping to conclusions
unexpected company
Shamefull darkness
an unfamiliar familiarity
feeling good
how’s that working for you
check your baggage
so pissed off
forced out of the darkness
an uncomfortable proposition
holding no punches
those funny people
tonight’s your night
what did he just say?
how can I help you?
the midnight call
everything happens for a reason
unintentional consequences
thought i lost you
merging two worlds
let the game begin
you want to blow me off?
just saw a ghost
completely free
responsibility: the bitter pill
are you happy with your partner
above your pay scale
a regrettable decision
the plan’s in place
paying the price
secrets exposed
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
No one walks alone on the journey of life. How do I begin to thank those who joined me, walked beside me, and helped me continuously along the way? Hopefully through the pages of this book and those to come, I will demonstrate the ‘thanks’ to all the tens of thousands of you who have helped make my life what it is today. Much of what I have learned over the years come as a result of being the product of the most exceptional woman I know, my Mother, Anita. Another phenomenal woman that I owe much thanks to is my Grandmother, Lula, the Matriarch of my great family and a Journalist. Being a big brother to Darris and Mankey. My sister Lana, all my nieces and nephews. Being a son to Darrell and a nephew to my Aunts and Uncles, I love you all. My cousins. My G-Mom Darlene. To my partner in life and love, Walter. Thank you for loving me through it all. To my best friends Shermaine & Crystal. To Tamika. To Shufreda, Nancy, Janet, Dawn and Erica. To MJ and Eddie, Daniel, Barry, Joey and Marcus, Kevin and Bill, Stormwatch (Daniel, Jerry, Adonis and Derek, K.G.). To Jerald always in my heart. To Damye, Will and Max for the encouragement. To my God Sister Jasmine for allowing me to vent and for making me look good. To my book evolution crew: Sandy, Nikki, Alison, Melissa, Marty, Tselane, Shelly, Keturah, Dale, Robyn and Natalie your input has helped me immensely on this project. To everyone that has contributed to my life, whether it was a simple smile, a hug, a friend request, and an encouraging or flirtatious word, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! To those that know me and love me anyway. Those who defend me. To anyone who I missed, charge it to my head and the limited space and not my heart.
Sometimes the darkness within a person is so strong that no matter how much light another has, it is not bright enough to lead the other out of their darkness. Other times they have to be forced out.
Chapter One
a Dark House of Cards
Monti stood in the darkness of Detroit’s Palmer Park. It was a feeling all too familiar to him, after he engaged in an anonymous sexual encounter. Monti felt his stress leave as his body tensed up announcing the arrival of his sexual climax. His latest conquest was a dark skinned brother who he had passed on his descent into the depths of the park. Monti would often find himself in the park or bookstore when he needed to get some relief from the pressures of life. Some people take up smoking to relieve stress, other people look to alcohol. Monti’s stress reliever was anonymous, seedy sex in public places. He was a down low man who never played at home. He did all he could to maintain distance between his sexual appetite and his normal life. He had a few instances where his sexual appetite and his normal life collided and it only served to cause him pain and heartache.
Monti met guys under the guise of a fictitious name through various Internet channels. Sometimes he met them with the name of one of his three brothers. It made it easier for him to use their names and maintain his anonymity. If he did not give his real name and didn’t meet them at his house, he felt that he was protected from people outing him to his family, friends, and co-workers. It kept people from knowing his business. However, his appetite for exhibitionism and public sex continued to grow. He loved the adrenaline rush that came with this type of sex. The cat and mouse game that guys played in these places helped Monti know that he still had it going on. He only had one requirement; it had to be played in darkness, the same darkness that he held within himself.
He had lived this life for so long that it became his reality. He lived his lie to the point that it was his truth. He thought that he had it all together until he had one hiccup, where someone found out who he really was by doing some detective work. There were always rumors about Monti’s sexuality but he was the poster of an alpha male. He spent a considerable amount of time in the gym. He was not able to maintain a relationship. Every relationship that he had ended bitterly; therefore he was on his journey of self-discovery. The issue with this is that one cannot truly discover themself if they live in a perpetual world of darkness, twisted with so many lies, tricks and tawdry fantasies. The darkness that Monti lived in was so deep that he continued to hurt those he needed to be close to. Sometimes a person can hurt the wrong one and their chickens come to roost quicker than they ever dreamed. When a person’s foundation is shaken to the point that their house of cards can no longer stand, they will have to make a decision that will affect the direction of their life.
Hey Eric, we have been talking on and off this site for a while. Did you want to mee
t in person or maybe go on a date or something soon? Sex_e_Cam
Monti read the email from Cameron. He had been talking to him for about a month. He was really feeling him and wanted to meet him. He felt that Cameron was going to be an easy notch he could add to his belt. Feeling confident in himself, Monti was able to catch whatever fish he had is eyes fixed upon.
Cameron. How about we meet up this Friday and have dinner, if you are not busy. Are you in town this weekend? Canuhandledis
Monti looked at the computer screen and waited for Cameron to bite. He liked Cameron’s conversation and his vibe. Cameron was different from the other guys Monti talked to on the site. Monti had created his A4A account with the handle ‘Canuhandledis’ and posted a picture of his gym-designed chest as his main photo. His two private photos were one picture of his stiff manhood and the other of his cum dripping manhood after he self-pleasured watching free Internet porn. In his profile, he said he was looking for freaks to do what freaks do with none of the drama. He stated, “no fats or fems” but only true freaks trying to get their hook up.
There was something different about Cameron though. When they exchanged messages on the site, Cameron never took the sexual bait that Monti put on his line. He always turned it around to something non-sexual. His seemingly disinterest in sex only made Monti desire to get with him more. Monti wanted to meet him face-to-face to lay on his charm. Cameron was going to be just another emotionless hook-up for Monti, and then, he would move on to the next one.
I am in town this weekend. Friday is cool. Call me and we can go over the details. Sex_e_Cam
It was Friday, April 14, 2006. Yes, Friday comes every week but this week was different, because the events of today would change the course both Monti’s and Cameron’s life. At thirty-one years old and fresh out of a relationship, Cameron McNeil was trying to get out of the rut caused by the demise of his previous relationship. Cameron was a looker with his thick, in all the right places, frame and his mesmerizing eyes. At work, whether he was walking down the aisle of the plane or through a concourse at the airport, heads turned as he passed. His bowed-legs were quite the sight. He walked poised and confident making sure to speak to everyone that passed by. One of his signature flirtatious gestures is the one-eyed wink and the half smile. It has been a tool that has helped him play coy, even before he knew what coy was.
At 6:30 pm, Monti Burroughs under the pseudonym Eric, pulled into the parking lot of one of the urban Detroit clothing stores made famous for their “Two for Fifty” slogan. He knew that he was ready to meet this red-boned boy. They had talked for a while on the phone and on the computer where they built a rapport. Sure, one doesn’t really know a person until they get a chance to meet and talk but he was excited about the challenge that Cameron would bring. Monti’s last relationship did not go well. It ended, like all the others, badly and he did not want to talk about it. He was focusing on the red-bone that was on his way to meet him for dinner. Their conversation was on the up and up, leading to this meeting. Cameron was intelligent and very knowledgeable about many different topics. Monti wanted to check him out more.
Cameron continued to ask him when they could meet, but Monti had to be sure that Cameron did not know or hang out with people he knew. He could not have his business out in the streets. Monti lived in the Clinton Township area of Southeast Michigan but he never met people that lived in that area. He knew that if he did, there was a possibility that they would know who he was and he could not chance that. Cameron lived in the downriver area, forty-one miles away from Monti. This made him more Monti’s type.
When Cameron kept calling Monti by his online name ‘Canuhandledis’, Monti knew he would have to give him a name. Somehow he felt at ease with Cameron when they spoke, but he needed to know for sure. This is why he stayed in the same fashion that he was comfortable with and told Cameron his name was Eric. At thirty-seven years old, Monti Burroughs should have had his life in order and be moving towards something substantial. This proved difficult for Monti because he lived in a superficial world. His dark eyes did little to hide the darkness of his past, present and potentially his future. When he smiled, even the orthodontic work in disarray, was a reflection of his life.
Monti had an air about himself, which he saw as confidence; however those around him saw it only as arrogance. He is a charmer who is able to conceal his true motives long enough to get what he wants. He is one of those guys that go to church and try to act like they have their life together, but the secrets that are locked up within his mind are becoming overwhelming for him. He has started seeing cracks in his world that most should have seen a long time ago. The fact that he had a wife and children should have been in the forefront of his mind but it wasn’t. Instead of acknowledging the real reason for his separation from his wife, he focuses on the fact that his wife cheated on him with his best friend.
Chapter Two
T esting the Waters
Cameron pulled out of the garage of his townhouse looking especially handsome on his way to meet Eric. He took some time getting to know Eric and today was the day they agreed to meet in person. He seemed to be a nice guy and was a hard-working man, which Cameron liked. Yes, Cameron loved being in a relationship and loved love but he wanted it to be reciprocal. Cameron wanted to be taken care of just as much as he wanted to take care of his partner. As he turned north on Telegraph road, he was listening to WJLB and Frankie Darcell went old school and played one of Cameron’s favorite artist of all time. The sultry vocals of Anita Baker came pouring through the speakers of his silver 2006 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan. Singing Angel Cameron looked at the sky and he noticed the silver lining that perfectly outlined the dark clouds that were rolling into the Detroit Metropolitan area.
“Hello.” Cameron said as he answered his phone. He looked at his watch and noticed that it was 6:33 pm.
“Cameron?” a familiar voice on the other end asks.
“Yes. Hey Eric.”
“You got it man. I am just calling to see if you were on your way. I just pulled up here at the parking lot.”
“Umm, yes. I am on my way now. We were meeting at the parking lot on the Telegraph side right?”
“Yes. What are you driving?”
“I am in a silver Honda Accord. What about you?”
“I am in a blue Jeep Cherokee. About how long before you get here?”
“I would say I’ll be there in fifteen minutes or so.”
“Ok, see your sexy ass soon.” Monti said seductively trying to let Cameron know that he was interested in knowing him, although he really wanted to get him to a room and get in Cameron’s pants.
A few minutes later he pulled up in the parking lot. He parked next to a dark 2003 Jeep Cherokee. Cameron stayed in his car looking around the parking lot to see where Eric was. “Why I didn’t insist on a photo before this meeting?” He thought. “Sure, Eric had private shots of his dick and chest on the site, but that was not going to help pick him out of any crowd, unless they were all naked and aroused.” Cameron looked at the Jeep next to him and saw a dark skinned guy with a baldhead sitting in the driver’s seat. He closed his eyes and said a silent pray to God, “Please don’t let this mean looking man be Eric. He looks like he will kill a brother, Amen.” He went for it. Cameron rolled down the window and waved to get the guys attention.
“I am sorry to bother you, man, but do you happen to be Eric?” Cameron asked sheepishly.
“Cameron?” the man asked.
“Yes, that’s me,” Cameron replied. Cameron was not sure how this meeting was going to go. Eric looked angry and the initial smirk on his face said that he was not one to be played with. As Monti got out of the Jeep, Cameron gave him the one over. He had on a pair of black gabardine slacks that hugged his ass so well that nothing was left to Cameron’s imagination. Cameron could tell that he either didn’t wear underwear or the ones that he had on did not give him much support because the bulge created by his semi-erect manhood made it apparent that Eric
was pleased with what he saw in the car next to him. His black shirt was heavily starched with an eagle embroidered on the chest. He wore his shirt collar popped up in the back, which seemed a little odd to Cameron. Cameron thought that he was a sexy tall dark skinned guy despite his choice of shirt and his mean disposition.
Cameron got out of the car to shake Eric’s hand.
“Hi Eric…Cameron here. It is my pleasure to meet you face to face.” Cameron said.
“No, Cameron. The pleasure is definitely mine.” Monti looked at Cameron like he was the last bowlegged man in the country and he knew that he wanted to see if the rumors about bowleggedness were true.
“Thank you.” Cameron blushed. “You must have been sent down here from Mount Olympus, or you just have a body on loan from the gods.” Cameron admired Eric’s well-defined chest and his arms that could be classified as weapons of mass destruction. He was still nervous about meeting this man. Cameron strained to look up to see Eric because the sun was shining right into his eyes. This made his eyes sparkle brighter, even though he was squinting. Cameron noticed the smile that revealed the remnants of the orthodontic work that Eric had done. It was apparent, to Cameron, that the work was not completed but there was just enough metal in his mouth that made him want to know more about Eric. Cameron had a weakness for guys with braces.
For a long time, Monti fantasized about how sexy Cameron was, but seeing him in the flesh surpassed even his imagination. Monti was taken by Cameron’s sexy eyes and the sun did not help Monti’s admiration. He wanted to know why this man was single. “There’s no way that someone this sexy was single.” Monti thought. “Fuck them, for letting this man out of their sight. It is my time to do what I do best…charm the pants off this dude.” Monti plotted. “I guess I hit the jackpot when I hit you up.” Monti said.
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