Untamed Bad Boys: Gay Series Box Set

by Aaron Riley

  Chapter Ten

  Christopher brought the files from his car and into the bar. Joshua sat at one of the tables with a half bottle of whiskey and shot glass. Christopher was turned off by the drinking but was fascinated by his physical build. He'd never really cared about that aspect before but now with this perfect specimen in front of him, Christopher couldn't help but admire it.

  “Let me see what you got.” Joshua poured himself another shot and spilled whiskey all over the table.

  Christopher had to lift the files until Joshua wiped up his mess. “These are all the files I was able to obtain from the local police.”

  Joshua quickly thumbed through them until he found the one marked with his own name. He flipped through it and let out a chuckle. “Pretty much what I thought. The dumb cops over there have nothing on me.”

  Christopher snatched the file from his hands. “That's not what we're here for. I need you to go through these and help me fill in the blanks.” Christopher found the one marked Devil Hearts MC and handed it to Joshua. “What can you tell me about them?”

  “They've been our rivals for years. If I had the chance, I'd kill everyone of them.”

  Christopher couldn't believe how frank he was being in the presence of an FBI agent. He didn't give two shits.

  “What else can you tell me? Specifically about each member. Is there anyone you think that would be capable of...”

  “Being a serial killer?” Joshua interrupted.

  “I was more going to say capable of killing young women.”

  Joshua returned his attention to the file and closed it. “Aiden is their president and he's one ugly son of a bitch. But he's no serial killer. Fallon is the vice president. Hair red as fire. Constantly cracking jokes.”

  Christopher leaned in. “And do you think he would make a good suspect?”

  Joshua folded his hands. “What am I going to get out of helping you?”

  “You mean other than saving the lives of women?”

  Joshua nodded. “Yes, other than that.”

  Christopher couldn't believe how much of an asshole this guy was. A serial killer was on the loose and he only cared about himself.

  “I don't know what to offer you. What do you want?”

  His eyes narrowed and focused on Christopher. “A date with you,” he replied.

  Christopher laughed then felt a little nauseous. “You can't be serious.” The thought of this poor excuse for a human being touching him again made him want to vomit.

  Joshua downed another shot of whiskey and wiped his mouth. “I'm dead serious, baby.”

  Christopher sighed. There was no way he was going to solve this case without Joshua's help. “Fine. A date after we solve this case.”

  Joshua shook his head. “No way. I'll help you for now but I want a date tonight.”

  Christopher stared into his eyes, searching for any signs of weakness. But there was none. This guy wasn't going to back down. “A date tonight then.”

  Joshua leaned back in his chair and rested his hands behind his head. “Perfect.”

  “Now can we get back to the members of the Devil Hearts. What about this Fallon guy you were talking about?”

  “He's the guy you're looking for.” Joshua said it so plainly that Christopher didn't think he was serious.

  “You know that Fallon is the killer?”

  Joshua poured another shot of whiskey and knocked it back. He cleared his throat. “I don't have any hard evidence but out of all these bikers, he's the one that's not like the others.”

  “What makes him different?”

  Joshua thought about it for a moment. “It's his eyes. Even when he makes a joke, there's nothing behind those eyes.”

  Christopher was shocked by his comment. Not because he described a quality of a serial killer, but how deep it was. He never expected an ex-con like him to be so perceptive.

  “We should put him at the top of our list then,” Christopher said.

  “Good now that we have that out of the way, how about that date?”

  “I think we should go question this Fallon first.”

  “That can wait. You promised me a date. And how will you even get a meeting with him without my help?”

  Joshua had him over a barrel. Christopher hated the idea of going out with him but it was the only way. “Where are we going tonight?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “Heard of a place called Thomson's?”

  Christopher shrugged. It sounded like another biker bar. How many of those had sprung up since he left Jimstown? “Never heard of it.”

  Joshua smiled. “Perfect. I'll pick you up at 7:00.”

  Christopher wanted this biker nowhere near his mother. Joshua sitting down on his mom's nice couch and the two of them chatting was not going to happen.

  “I'll meet you there at 7:00.”

  Joshua cracked his knuckles and stood up. “I'll see you then.”

  Christopher collected his files and left the bar. The sun beamed down on him and he couldn't believe what had just happened. He seemed closer than ever to catching this killer but he also had a date tonight.

  Things were looking up for Christopher Taylor.

  Chapter Eleven

  “What are you doing up there?” Christopher's mom called from downstairs.

  Christopher didn't want his mother prying into his personal life and asking a million question. Telling her about the date was off the table.

  “Just working, Mom,” he answered back.

  “Well I'm making your favorite dinner: macaroni and cheese!”

  Christopher shook his head. His mother still couldn't believe that his son was all grown up now. He hadn't liked macaroni and cheese since he was thirteen.

  “I actually have to go out for work. Sorry, Mom.” Christopher could hear the disappointment in the returning silence. “I promise I'll be able to eat dinner with you tomorrow.”

  –

  Christopher noticed the watch on his hand while he brushed his hair. It was thirty minutes to 7:00. “Shit.”

  He was used to getting ready in the morning in record time.

  “I'll be back later tonight, Mom.”

  “Be safe, Christopher,” she yelled.

  Christopher ran out barefoot to the rental car and jumped in the front seat.

  As the sun set, Christopher was surprised at the amount of cars on the road. Businesses he passed by were still open. When he was younger, it was common for every place to close by five so people could get home to their families.

  That meant there was no nightlife save for the one bar that stayed open until 10:00 pm. But now with the college, Jimstown was growing. There was a need for a business to stay open after dark.

  Christopher followed the Google map directions until he found Thomson's in a brand new shopping center. Thomson's looked like an old style pub straight from Europe. A two-story brick building stood alone with two chimney stacks and golden lanterns hanging above its many windows. It was a stark contrast to the dilapidated shithole the Eight of Spades was.

  From the outside, Thomson's looked like a nice place. Christopher almost believed he was in the wrong place.

  Until Joshua Scott pulled up on his motorcycle.

  Chapter Twelve

  Christopher had never been into motorcycles before. Too loud and unsafe. He always saw overweight men who could barely drive them speeding past him into an early grave.

  But seeing Joshua drive up on one, made him rethink everything.

  Joshua Scott unsnapped his bucket helmet and set it down on the seat. He flipped the kickstand as he got off, the bike tilting to the side. He tore off his sunglasses and his eyes met Christopher's. His heart stopped in his chest. He tried to gulp down a breath of air.

  “You look stunning,” Joshua said, his view wandering up and down Christopher's body.

  Christopher blushed. Joshua wore the same white t-shirt and jeans he wore earlier. Christopher didn't care because he looked damn good it in it.r />
  “You look good too,” he replied.

  Joshua scratched his closely shaved head. “Shall we go in?”

  Christopher nodded. He took a step forward and his weak ankles betrayed him. Christopher lost his balance and began to fall over.

  Joshua was there in a flash, his hand grabbing Christopher's arm and preventing from face-planting into the concrete. “You okay?” he asked, grasping his hand and stabilizing him.

  Christopher didn't even realize he had put his other hand on Joshua's chest to break his fall. His pecs were rock hard and he didn't want to take his hand away. “I'm fine. Thank you,” he replied, taking his hand off Joshua's chest and brushing his jeans off like he had gotten them dirty for some reason.

  Christopher felt like dumb. A nice attractive man came along and he melted into a puddle of adolescence.

  Joshua led Christopher into the bustling pub. A long wooden bar dominated the right side crowded with customers. Round tables filled the rest of the floor and there wasn't one open seat.

  “Did you get a reservation?”

  Joshua let out a chuckle. “They don't take reservations here.”

  “If the waits too long, we can go somewhere else.”

  Joshua folded his arms. “Don't worry, we'll be fine.”

  A tiny blonde girl that looked barely nineteen approached them. “Joshua Scott! It's so good to see you.”

  They hugged and Joshua kissed him on the cheek. “Good to see you too, Lily.”

  A sudden jolt of jealousy filled Christopher. What kind of name was Lily anyways? He didn't know why he felt this way. Christopher didn't care about this biker. It didn't matter if he had a history with this girl or not. He probably had a history with every man and woman in this room.

  Joshua and Christopher followed the girl to a set of stairs blocked off with a velvet rope. She unhooked the chain and cleared the way. “Take any table you like,” she said with a smile that tried too hard.

  The upstairs was filled with tables but they were all empty. Large exposed wooden beams ran overhead.

  “Where would you like to sit?” Joshua asked.

  Christopher didn't understand what was happening but he went with the flow. “This table should be nice. The window will give a view of the nice parking lot and mountains in the distance.”

  A waiter with large red muttonchops on each side of his face came upstairs and handed the both of them a menu. “Would you like to hear the specials?” he asked in a thick Scottish accent.

  Joshua glanced at the menu and closed it. “I think we're ready to order.”

  Christopher cocked an eyebrow. “We are?”

  “We'll take two pints and haggis for both of us.”

  Christopher's jaw dropped to the table. He couldn't believe Joshua ordered for him. It was like some cliché movie where the man assumed what his date wanted.

  “Haggis?” he asked. Christopher had heard the word before but didn't know what type of food it was.

  “Type of Scottish food. If I explain what's in it, you might not want to try it.”

  Christopher's mouth turned upside down. “Sounds like I'm already going to love it. Are you Scottish or something?”

  “If I took you to an Asian place, would you think that I was Chinese?”

  Christopher scoffed. “Of course not. It's just I figured...”

  Joshua interrupted. “I'm actually Scottish on my mom's side.”

  Christopher slapped the table and the silverware shook. “I knew it!”

  The waiter returned with two tall glasses of beer. Christopher wasn't much of a drinker. Especially beer. But he wasn't about to let this biker think that he couldn't hold his own. He declined a drink when they met earlier that day but now he was on date.

  Christopher lifted up the glass to Joshua and tipped it back into his mouth. The liquid was cold and not as bad as the beer he had had before. But it was still beer.

  Joshua understood what he was trying to do and joined him in downing the beer.

  Christopher swallowed mouthful after mouthful but the glass seemed to be never-ending. His stomach expanded, his lungs burned for air, but he was determined to go on.

  Joshua looked like he did this every day after waking up in the morning. His dark eyes beamed into Christopher as he drank.

  Christopher had trouble taking in anymore. Beer was escaping out of the corner of his mouth and dripping from his chin. The level of liquid had risen in his stomach and reached his throat. But the glass was still half full.

  If Christopher drank anymore, he'd be puking all over the place for sure. It wasn't worth it. He slammed the glass down and gasped for air. But a loud burp escaped his lips instead. He immediately covered his mouth but it was too late.

  Joshua finished his drink with ease and gently placed it on the table. “You almost made it.”

  Christopher wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I don't usually shotgun beers.”

  “You could get better with a little practice.”

  The waiter arrived with two plates and set them down on the table. “Enjoy,” he announced before returning downstairs. Christopher couldn't discern what was on his late. It looked like a mashed pound of meat. Something a butcher would hand you across the counter.

  “So what's in this?” he asked, poking at the blob of food with his fork.

  “Just try it first,” Joshua replied, taking the first bite.

  Christopher waited for his reaction before trying it. Joshua smiled and took another bite. Since he didn't choke to death from poison, Christopher thought it was safe to try.

  The first bite was tough to get through. The meat was soft but chewy. The flavor was something foreign to him. It wasn't like any type of animal he'd had before. He took a swig of his beer to wash it down.

  “What do you think?” Joshua asked.

  Christopher didn't know what to say. He couldn't imagine eating a whole plate of this stuff. And yet, that's what was before him. He didn't want to be rude.

  “It's not bad,” he replied. Christopher took another bite and feigned joy. “Are you going to tell me what's in this now?

  “A bunch of sheep stuff. I don't know exactly but it tastes fucking good.”

  Christopher imagined all the weird organs of a sheep put in a food processor and served before him. He felt a little queasy. Then faint. He had barely eaten any of it but just the sight of it was enough.

  “Are you all right?” Joshua asked.

  Christopher turned a shade of green. “I think I'm going to be sick.”

  Joshua jumped to action, knocking chairs over, grabbing a bucket from the corner of the room.

  But he was too late.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I'm so sorry,” Christopher repeated over and over again through the bathroom door.

  “It's not a problem,” Joshua replied, grinning from ear to ear.

  Christopher opened the door and wiped his mouth with a paper towel. “I've ruined our date.”

  “Are you okay now?” Joshua couldn't stop smiling.

  Christopher nodded. “You think this is funny, don't you?”

  Joshua bit his lip to keep from laughing. But he couldn't hold it in. Joshua fell to his knees crying from laughter.

  Christopher was offended at first. He was completely embarrassed by what happened and all Joshua could do was laugh at him.

  “You have to admit, it's pretty funny,” he said in between breaths.

  “No it's not!”

  But Joshua was right. Never had a date gone so badly before. A chuckle emerged from Christopher's mouth that started the train. Full-on laughter escaped and they couldn't stop. They both collapsed next to the bathroom, holding their mouths to keep the noise down.

  Joshua and Christopher left the restaurant a lot earlier than intended. The night had barely begun but Christopher didn't know how it could continue after what just happened.

  “I guess this is goodnight then,” Christopher said.

  “What are you talking
about? You think that just because you threw up all over the restaurant that means we have to end the night?”

  “Well of course.”

  “You might be used to guys that run away at the first sign of crazy but I embrace it.”

  Christopher shoved Joshua playfully. “I'm not crazy.”

  Joshua ignored him and began walking to his motorcycle. “You ever ridden one before?”

  Christopher knew what he wanted to do next before he even asked it. “No way in hell. I was just sick.”

  “But you feel fine now.” Joshua handed him an extra bike helmet.

  “You planned this from the beginning, didn't you? There's no way you drive around with a spare helmet all the time.”

  Joshua didn't let his expression change. He didn't give anything away. “You never know when you might pass a guy in distress on the road.”

  Christopher knew there was a half-truth in there. “I know I'm going to regret this later,” he said, taking the bike helmet.

  Joshua mounted his bike and started the engine. The Harley roared to life. Christopher took a step back, the loud noise scaring Christopher more than he thought it would.

  Joshua slipped on a pair of black Ray-Bans and motioned for Christopher to join him.

  Christopher knew this was a fight-or-flight moment. The thought of running away sounded like a good idea. No a great idea. Especially after how embarrassing dinner was. Christopher couldn't understand why Joshua still wanted to hang around.

  Maybe he really was different than most men?

  Christopher took the seat behind Joshua. The machine beneath vibrated. His hands slipped under Joshua's arms and hugged him tight. His abs were flat and tough. Christopher could get used to such a thing.

  “Ready?” Joshua asked, revving the engine.

  “Hell no,” Christopher yelled.

  Joshua rolled out of the parking lot and could feel Christopher's fear in the way his fingernails dug into his stomach.

  The wind whipped through Christopher's hair. He held on as tight as he could to Joshua. The bike picked up speed on the main street before he turned right on to a side road. “Where are we going?” he screamed.