THE INNOCENT: A Cowboy Gangster Novel

by CJ Bishop

  The detective got straight to the point, tentative hope on his face. “What about the children? Where are they?”

  “Safe,” was all Clint offered. “You’ll have them back by tomorrow.”

  “How did they come to be in your care?”

  “That isn’t important,” Clint murmured. “They’re alive and they’re safe.”

  Jordan nodded slowly. “Where are the traffickers now?”

  “The sex traffickers,” Clint said. “They’re at a warehouse a couple miles from the pier.”

  The detective frowned. “What?” he whispered. “You know where they’re at?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.” Clint looked at Axel and a faint smile quirked the younger man’s lips, unnoticed by the detective. “They were waiting on the buyers who are scheduled to arrive at five-thirty tomorrow morning. You need to be ready and waiting for them. There is a special task force to deal with sex traffickers?”

  “There’s a faction of the FBI that exclusively investigates the sex trafficking ring,” Jordan said. “I’ve been in contact with them about this case.”

  Clint nodded. “Good.”

  Wil Jordan stared at him, perplexed. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Because you’re not the only one with children in your life.”

  The detective looked shocked by that statement. Clint understood; who would imagine that a ruthless killer would have a child in his life?

  “Don’t let these bastards slip through your fingers,” Clint told him. “Be ready for them.”

  The little boy from the living room raced into the kitchen and halted abruptly as he stared at Clint and Axel curiously. The detective instinctively tensed, though Clint saw in his eyes that he no longer feared for his son’s life.

  The child cocked his head reminiscent of Jules’ much-adopted gesture and looked at Axel. “What’s your name?”

  Axel smiled and sank to his heels. “Axel. What’s yours?”

  “Tad.”

  His smile stretching, Axel held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Tad.”

  The boy shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” He was friendly little thing.

  The detective watched them and relaxed a little more as Tad went into a spiel about his Hot Wheels, then ran into the other room and returned with two of the classic toys, eager to show Axel.

  “These are very cool,” Axel smiled, inspecting the two cars. “I might have to get me some.”

  The boy giggled. “You play with toys?”

  Axel chuckled. “Hey, a boy never grows too old for Hot Wheels.”

  Clint watched him with the boy, his heartbeat picking up pace as he felt himself slip a little deeper in love with the young man.

  Chapter 12

  Before leaving the detective’s home, Clint turned over the cell phones taken from the sex traffickers and a ledger that he explained contained records of their sales. The detective’s gratitude was written all over his face and Axel suspected that all of this—especially word about the Morgan twins—was the greatest Christmas gift the detective could have received this holiday season. Axel liked the man and it was evident he was a good father to his son. Axel imagined that this case with the twins hit home with the detective, having a small child of his own. He’d noticed the redness in Wil Jordan’s eyes when he’d opened the door. That and the open file on the table when they entered the kitchen had suggested that the man was having a hard time facing the reality that the twins might be lost forever…surely putting himself in the place of the Morgan couple.

  Little Tad Jordan accompanied his father as the man walked Clint and Axel to the door. Jordan had provided his personal cell number for Clint to contact him about when and where he could pick up the twins the following day.

  “Thank you,” detective Jordan said with a strain of emotion in his voice. “Thank you for making it possible for me to give the Morgans the Christmas miracle they’ve been praying for.”

  Axel blinked and looked away. Clint nodded silently.

  When they started to walk away, Tad emerged onto the porch stoop. “Axel…”

  Both men paused, and Axel looked at the boy. “Yes?”

  The child came forward and held out his hand, offering Axel one of his Hot Wheels.

  Axel bent over and smiled at the boy. “Well…thank you, Tad,” he said. “But I can’t take your car.”

  Tad nodded. “For your collection.”

  Axel swallowed hard and blinked back a sudden sting of tears. He glanced at the detective. A small smile formed on the man’s face as his eyes glistened and he nodded. Axel accepted the toy. “Thank you so much, Tad,” he murmured. “I’ll take real good care of it, I promise.”

  “And you’ll get a lot more, like me?”

  “Oh, absolutely,” Axel assured and looked at the tiny car. “But this one will always be my favorite.” He winked at the boy. “Because my cool new friend Tad gave it to me.”

  The boy’s adorable face split into a big grin.

  Axel straightened up and glanced at Clint. The cowboy stared back at him with that look that never failed to wreak havoc on Axel’s heart.

  As they drove away from the Jordan residence, Axel stared at the small toy resting in his palm. “Cute kid,” he murmured with a smile. “Reminds me of Jules, and a little bit of Reuben, too.”

  Clint nodded, his eyes forward. “You’re good with kids.”

  “So, are you,” Axel smiled. “Jules, Reuben, the twins…they idolize you. All of them want to be cowboys.” He laughed softly. “Hell, you made me want to be a cowboy.”

  “You pull it off pretty good.” A smirk twitched his lips. “Especially in the bedroom.”

  Axel chuckled. “What can I say? You inspire me.”

  Dragging his hand over his mouth, Clint quietly laughed and reached over and rubbed Axel’s firm thigh. “You’re rather inspiring as well.”

  “Better be careful,” Axel warned with quickened breath. “Or I might make you pull this car over.”

  The corner of Clint’s mouth corked. “And do what?” His hand slid into Axel’s crotch and lightly squeezed his rapidly swelling package.

  “If you don’t know the answer to that by now,” Axel shuddered. “You’ll never know.”

  Leaving his hand tucked between Axel’s thighs, Clint guided the car over to the curb alongside a deserted park. Shadows darkened the shapes of the slide and swing set and merry-go-round as twilight descended upon them.

  “I was only half serious,” Axel informed without much conviction, incapable of clear thought while Clint massaged his growing bulge.

  Clint switched hands and leaned over, kissing Axel firm on the mouth. “Then I guess we’ll only half fuck.”

  Laughing low, Axel groaned. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

  “Not a chance.” Clint withdrew and shoved his seat back as far as it would go and partially reclined the back. “Get out of those jeans.”

  Axel didn’t hesitate. He fumbled with his boots and finally tugged them off then unfastened his pants and began working them over his hips. “You know,” he mumbled. “Girls kind of have an advantage when it comes to car sex. They can just slip off their panties and hike up their dress and they’re ready to go at it.”

  Clint watched him with burning eyes as he opened his own pants and slid down the zipper. “I don’t mind waiting for you to shimmy out of your jeans.”

  Axel chuckled and worked his pants and briefs down his legs and kicked them off his feet.

  A low groan rumbled in Clint’s chest, his hungry stare on Axel’s rigid erection. “Climb on, cowboy,” he smiled. His thick, hard member was in his fist as he pumped slowly. With his free hand, he unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall open, baring his muscular chest.

  “Fuck, you’re sexy,” Axel moaned and mounted his cowboy as he dragged his shirt up over his head and tossed it into the passenger seat. He shifted his hips and sank down on Clint’s h
ard shaft, gasping from the deep penetration. “Fuck.”

  Clint relaxed against the reclined seat and caressed Axel’s body, his jade green eyes radiating an intoxicating concoction of love and lust as he lifted his hips, again and again, plunging inside Axel over and over.

  “Oh God…” Axel shuddered and clutched Clint’s thick chest, his short nails gouging his hot flesh. “Uuhh…fuck…you feel so good.” He matched his rhythm, giving as good as he got.

  “Shit,” Clint gasped forcefully and grabbed Axel’s hips, rocking him harder on his cock. “Fuck me…”

  Axel gripped the cowboy’s shoulders and rode him faster. The car shuddered around them as their hunger and passion escalated out of control. Axel was suddenly engulfed in Clint’s powerful arms, crushed against his hard body and drowning in his lover’s strong, fierce kiss as they fucked each other to orgasm.

  With a hard, sharp grunt—Clint unloaded inside Axel, still captured in their kiss. His hot erratic breath surged into Axel’s mouth as he fucked him wildly, emptying himself. He hurriedly reached between them and grabbed Axel’s pulsing shaft, pumping him furiously as he continued to thrust his heavy member deep inside Axel.

  Axel let out a thick cry and came hard, coating Clint’s hot, sweaty skin. The cowboy squeezed his sensitive cock and milked out the final creamy remnants then licked a few droplets from his hand. “You taste good,” he rasped then pulled Axel into another kiss, letting him taste himself on Clint’s tongue.

  “Mmm…” Axel moaned into his mouth and wrapped his arms around Clint’s head, deepening their kiss. When they broke apart, he laid his head on Clint’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “I’m exhausted,” he mumbled. “I could sleep all night right here.”

  Clint turned his head and kissed his hair. He rubbed up and down Axel’s damp, fevered body then lightly cupped his ass cheeks, gently massaging. Axel loved Clint’s strong hands. He could work magic with those hands. “I think we’d be more comfortable at home in bed.”

  Sighing, Axel smiled. “I suppose.” He reluctantly dismounted his cowboy and worked his way back into his clothes and pulled on his boots. He glanced at Clint. “Didn’t Cochise ride in with you this morning? Wouldn’t that make you his ride home?”

  “Shit,” Clint muttered. “I forgot.”

  Axel laughed. “You better not leave him stranded or he might kick your ass. I’m sure he’s more than ready to get home and get himself some hot lovin’ as well.”

  Clint contacted Cochise and found out that Cory had lent him his car and he was already headed home.

  •♦•

  “There’s no activity, detective Jordan.”

  Wil drew his weapon and radioed back to the S.W.A.T. team leader. “Proceed with caution.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The radio went silent. Jordan and the other officers waited as the team entered the warehouse. There were no shouts. No gunfire. No commotion whatsoever. Wil frowned, suddenly uncertain, when just over an hour ago he’d been positive that the cowboy was supplying him with viable information. Why would he lie about this? Could it be a trap? Wil went rigid at the thought, but it made no sense; the Sanitini family had never hit the cops before. In fact, seemed to do a damn fine job avoiding the law.

  The radio crackled but no voice came through immediately. When the S.W.A.T. leader spoke, there was a notable tremor in his voice. “Detective Jordan…you’d better get in here.”

  “What is it?” Wil asked.

  “You need to see this for yourself, sir.”

  “Are they in there?”

  Another pause. “Yes.”

  “What’s the situation?”

  The officer hesitated, then replied, “They’re dead, sir…they’re all dead.”

  Shocked, Wil slowly lowered the radio and looked at the officers with him as stunned expressions masked their faces. He swallowed and nodded. “Let’s go.”

  Dead didn’t come close to preparing Wil and the others for the slaughter they discovered inside the warehouse walls. All the bodies had been piled in a single room where Wil suspected most of them had been killed, indicated by the amount of blood that covered the concrete floor and splattered the walls.

  Wil had witnessed grisly death scenes in his time; this one surpassed them all. His stomach pinched with nausea, but he controlled it.

  The S.W.A.T. leader approached Wil, his face stricken. “Who could’ve done this?”

  Wil rubbed his mouth slowly then shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  One of the officers radioed for a coroner and Frank Hayes arrived within twenty minutes, just ahead of the forensic team. Wil and Frank had been close friends since before Wil and his wife had divorced. Sandy, Wil’s ex-wife, had never really liked the man to begin with and had outright hated him by the end, as it was Frank who discovered Sandy was cheating and brought it to Wil’s attention. By that time, Wil had known his marriage was over. But for Tad’s sake, he had tried to forge through.

  Looking back, Wil didn’t know why he had bothered; Sandy wasn’t the mothering type and she’d only consented to have a child because it was what Wil had wanted more than anything in this life—to be a father. She had known he would never stop asking for a child and when Tad was born, the bulk of responsibility landed on Wil. He hadn’t minded. He loved spending time with his son. After Sandy left and took the stress and contention with her…Wil had enjoyed being with Tad even more.

  “Is Vanessa with Tad?” Frank asked.

  They were standing outside the warehouse and had yet to enter. “Yes,” Wil said. “She’s a godsend. Tad adores her.” Even before Sandy had left, Wil’s sister, Vanessa, had spent more time with Tad than his own mother, babysitting the boy while Wil worked. She was twenty-three and had a work-from-home job, so taking care of Tad hadn’t cut into her work. Frank used to tease Wil about him and Vanessa being perfect for each other. Wil had thought that underneath it all, Frank had been serious, until the night the two of them had gone out for drinks after a tragic end to a particularly troubling case. They’d gotten drunk and Frank had confessed feelings for Wil that were far more than the ramblings of an inebriated man. It was that night that Wil had found out his best friend was gay.

  The next day, Frank remembered nothing. Wil did. He had never enlightened Frank to his confessions, afraid that it would cause an uncomfortableness between them. Frank was his best friend and he didn’t want to lose what they had together. Apart from Tad, Frank and Vanessa were his only family now. If Frank wanted him to know he was gay, he would tell him…while he was sober and knew what he was saying.

  “What do we have inside?” Frank asked, nodding at the warehouse.

  “Not sure you want to know,” Wil murmured as he led the way inside.

  Frank stared at the carnage in thoughtful silence. He quietly cleared his throat. “I’ve seen this handiwork before.” Frank looked at Wil. “How did you learn about this warehouse?”

  Wil met his friend’s stare. “Anonymous tip.”

  Frank stared back; he didn’t believe him.

  Chapter 13

  “Hope you guys like stew,” Adrian said as he, Cory, and Callum served the kids as they gathered around the dining table once again, eager for their next meal. “Cory here even whipped up some sweet cornbread.”

  The tantalizing aroma drifted up from the bowl and teased Jacob’s nostrils, causing his stomach to rumble in anticipation. “It smells delicious,” he said.

  “Let’s hope it tastes as good,” Adrian chuckled.

  The two older men—Anthony and Angelo—entered the dining, catching Adrian’s reply. “Don’t let him scare you,” Anthony smiled. “He’s a fantastic cook.”

  Callum had informed Jacob that the two men and Adrian were in a relationship together. Jacob’s first thought was that a threesome relationship was strange, but he quickly changed his mind as he observed the three men. They were really in love with each other.

  When the kids began eating, their reaction was much the same as e
arlier.

  “Eat slow,” Adrian reminded the younger ones. “Don’t want to give yourselves a stomach ache.”

  Jules was seated by Susie and Samson and grinned when Samson bit into a piece of cornbread and gave a long mmmm. “Good, huh?” Jules took a bite of his own cornbread. “Uncle Adrian makes really good food.”

  “Why, thank you, kind sir.” Adrian gave a partial bow and the kids laughed.

  Jacob gazed at Jules and envied the little boy for his home here. He was living proof of how happy and adjusted a child could be when they were part of a loving family. Jacob’s short stay in this house was the closest he’d come to experiencing a real home. He’d spent most of his life in the orphanage and couldn’t remember much before that.

  “Jacob?” Adrian asked. “Is something wrong? You’re not eating.”

  Blinking away thoughts of his former troubled life, Jacob realized he hadn’t yet delved into his meal. “No. I’m okay,” he murmured. “I guess I was just spacing out.” He took a bite of the stew; it was even more delicious than it smelled. “This is really good.”

  “Can they sleep in my room?” Jules suddenly piped up, looking at Adrian. He didn’t specify who “they” were, but Jacob assumed he was talking about the ones who had played in his room earlier.

  “I guess that’s up to them,” Adrian said.

  Jules looked at the younger kids. “Do you want to?” he asked excitedly and immediately received a resounding Yeah!

  Robby was among the ones who had eagerly replied. Jacob exchanged an uncertain glance with Eric, David, and Nina. It could very frightening for Jules if Robby woke up screaming from one of his nightmares. This was the first time Robby had been so outspoken and open that Jacob hated to veto the idea, but he didn’t know if Robby should sleep in there with the rest of them.

  “If it’s okay with Adrian,” David spoke quietly to Jacob. “I’ll stay in there with Robby. He doesn’t have such bad nightmares when one of us sleeps next to him.”