Bull

by B. B. Hamel

  But it was an amazing feeling. I still thought my whole body was vibrating, and I felt so refreshed. That was probably from sleeping for so many hours, but still. For all his big talk and his cocky attitude, Bull was exactly what he said he was.

  It surprised me every time. So far in my life, most people who said they were something special tended to be bragging or lying.

  Bull was the exception. Bull made me realize that his reputation was both well deserved and still not enough.

  There was the matter of that fight, though. Bull made my body feel good, but he was still doing things like going to illegal fights. I hadn’t been able stay in that place for a single second longer, and yet he hadn’t seemed like he had minded it one bit.

  That was exactly the sort of thing I needed for my article. If I could just get more pictures of him in places like that, I could really blow this whole thing wide open.

  I bit my lip, looking over at my window.

  Was I really still writing this article? After everything that had happened, after the way he made me feel, I didn’t know if I could still do it.

  This was so stupid. Of course I couldn’t do it anymore.

  I sat up as the realization jolted me physically.

  I’d gotten too close to Bull. I’d seen both his bad side and his good side. He ran an important charity and had had a difficult childhood, and yet he also went to horrible fights and threw parties with hookers. He was involved with the mob, but he made me feel something I’d never gotten close to feeling before.

  I wasn’t going to do the article. Maybe I’d never see Bull again, but I wasn’t going to go through with it. I couldn’t keep trying to use this man when so many people had tried to do it before me. He didn’t deserve that, and I couldn’t do it to him.

  I stood up, smiling to myself, when there was a knock at my door.

  I stood still, surprised. Nobody knocked at my door. They rang the buzzer from downstairs.

  I walked over to it tentatively.

  “Hello?” I called out.

  “Miss Williams?”

  “Yes?”

  “This is your super. Can we speak?”

  I paused and then slowly pulled open the door. I’d never met the super before.

  He was tall and muscular with a cocky grin. His eyes stared directly into mine, and I had to admit that he was a little handsome if you liked that dangerous sort of man.

  And he definitely wasn’t the super.

  “My name is Rafa,” he said.

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m a friend of Bull’s.”

  “So you’re not the super.”

  “Afraid not. Can I come in?”

  I went to close the door, but he stepped inside anyway, practically pushing his way inside. I stepped back, surprised, as he looked around my apartment.

  “Nice,” he said.

  “Please leave.” I was getting nervous.

  “This won’t take long. I just want to have one simple conversation with you.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Like I said, I’m a friend of Bull’s, and I know who you are, Charley.”

  I cocked my head at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re a journalist,” he said simply. “And you’ve been spending a lot of time with Bull lately.”

  I stared at him, not saying a word.

  I didn’t know this man. Bull had never mentioned him, and I’d never seen him at any of the parties I’d been to. As far as I could tell, he was a total stranger.

  But he seemed to know me. He knew my last name, my nickname, and the fact that I was a sports journalist. Despite the fact that I was the lowest level journalist possible, he still somehow found that out.

  And he showed up at my apartment like this, unannounced, and seemed fine with coming right in without being invited. He was looking at me with a normal expression, almost patient, but there was menace in his eyes.

  I didn’t know what Bull knew. I had to assume Bull didn’t know I was a journalist, or else he wouldn’t have been taking me out still.

  “What do you want?” I asked him finally.

  “Good. We can skip all the bullshit then.” He smiled and walked into my kitchen. He grabbed a mug from my cabinet and poured himself some coffee.

  “Help yourself,” I said.

  “Do you want Bull to know you’re a journalist?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Are you writing about him?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Well, no. Not anymore.”

  “Good. Bull is a friend, and I want to protect him.”

  “I’m not writing about him. You can leave.”

  “Charley, Charley, Charley. Do you not know who I am?”

  “No.”

  “I’m a fucking mobster, girl. This is a shakedown.”

  “What?”

  “It’s simple. You either pay me off, or I tell Bull the truth about you.”

  I stared at him. I didn’t know if he was bluffing or what.

  “Go ahead,” I said, deciding to call him on it. “Tell him.”

  “Fine. But I’ll also make sure you lose your job and never work again.”

  “You can’t do that.”

  “Did you miss the part where I said I’m a gangster? Of course I can fucking do that.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Five thousand dollars.”

  I shook my head, laughing. “I can’t do that. I don’t have that kind of money. I don’t get paid shit.”

  “Too bad. You have three weeks.” He grinned at me. “Better write that article.”

  “I thought you wanted to protect your friend?”

  He shrugged. “I want money more. Three weeks.” He sipped his coffee and then put it down. I watched as he walked out of my apartment and shut the door behind him.

  A chill ran down my spine. He came into my apartment and left with a terrifying ease, like he had no problem breaking into someone’s apartment. I wanted to burn the mug he drank from.

  Instead, I sat down on the couch, my mind moving in circles.

  I didn’t want to write that article anymore. I wanted to leave Bull alone, or maybe even come clean to him.

  But I could lose my whole career, or maybe even worse. Bull would never help me, of course, since I was betraying him. I couldn’t mess with the mob, not if I was smart.

  I didn’t want to write the article. I had to write the article.

  I felt trapped, and I couldn’t see any way out.

  14

  Bull

  I could still feel her tight hips as I thrust myself against her. I loved the way she had pretended to push back against me, but she’d let me pin her arms back while she took my fucking cock.

  She knew the game, and she loved it. I hadn’t been able to help myself as I took her body, and a day later I still wanted more.

  She was a journalist. She was the damn enemy. And yet fucking the enemy felt so good.

  I’d been with plenty of women in my life. Groupies always wanted a taste of the Bull, and I was willing to give them a ride. I fucked them and I forgot about them as soon as I left the room.

  But not Charley. She was the first woman as far as I could remember who made me want another taste.

  And that was fucking bad. I should keep myself far, far away from her, but I couldn’t.

  That morning, I woke up early, before sunrise. She was snoring in my arms, sleeping so peacefully. I couldn’t fucking believe I had fallen asleep with her, and I slowly got up, careful not to wake her.

  I should have just gotten out of there and forgotten about the whole thing, but instead, I snuck into her bedroom and found that dildo right next to her bed. Smiling to myself, I found a pen and some paper and then wrote her a note.

  I left with the dildo tucked under my arm.

  I knew what I was doing when I took that thing back and wrote that note. I was basically daring her to get in contact with me again. I knew I wasn’t going
to call her, although I wanted to, but I also knew that by taking the dildo I basically guaranteed she’d call me.

  I wanted her to. I knew that I did. It was fucking stupid and insane, but I wanted another taste.

  “You okay, bro?”

  I nodded, finishing my set. “Yeah. Why?”

  “You look distracted.”

  “I’m lifting some heavy fucking weights, so yeah, I’m trying to distract myself.”

  “Where were you last night?”

  “Went to that fight.”

  Calvin laughed. “You serious?”

  “Yeah, I’m serious.”

  “I didn’t know you were into that.”

  “I am.”

  “Okay, man. It’s just that, the last time I mentioned going, you told me that those fights were for scumbags and losers.”

  “I changed my mind.”

  “Sure you did.” Calvin laughed. “Anyway, I’m done for the day.”

  I nodded, feeling a nice, comfortably burn in my muscles. “Same.”

  We headed down the hallway back toward the locker room. We stripped down and got into separate showers. Calvin liked to hum while he washed, which made it easy for me to tune out and picture Charley’s body against mine.

  When I was finished, I got out and toweled off. Calvin was still humming away like a weird motherfucker when I got back to my bag and got changed.

  As I sat there waiting for Calvin to hurry his ass up, my phone started ringing.

  I knew instantly who it was. I just knew it. I had a feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that she’d call soon. Sure enough, it was her number.

  “I knew you’d call,” I said.

  “Hi, Bull.”

  “What can I help you with?”

  She sighed. “You stole something of mine.”

  “What’s that? Your virginity?”

  She laughed. “Not quite. You stole my toy.”

  I paused. “You mean my cock?”

  “No. I mean that big silicon, uh, penis.”

  “You mean my cock. I took it back just like you wanted.”

  “I want it back.”

  I paused, surprised. “That’s not what I expected.”

  “You took it from me. I want it back.”

  I laughed, grinning to myself. This girl was so much better than I could have pictured. I knew she’d call, but I never imagined she’d call to ask for a dildo of my own cock back.

  “You can just have the real thing,” I said. “No need for a fake.”

  “I’d rather have the fake,” she said. “So, are you going to give it back?”

  “Maybe,” I answered. “I do like the idea of you fucking yourself with a mold of my cock. But I’d rather do the fucking myself.”

  “I’m sure you would,” she said, “but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

  “We both know it’s why you called.”

  She paused. “No,” she said finally. “I called because you disappeared and stole something from me.”

  “It’s almost cute that you’re dancing around it.”

  “I’ll come steal it back if I have to. I know where you live, remember?”

  I laughed, grinning to myself. “I remember.”

  “Good. So when can I expect it?”

  I could practically feel the bad idea form in my brain before I was really conscious of it. I knew I should probably hang up and be done with this whole thing, but I couldn’t help myself.

  She was trying to play me, and nobody played Bull. Besides, it was an excuse to have a good time.

  “Come to my place on Wednesday,” I said. “I’m throwing another party.”

  “Like the last one?”

  “Something like that.”

  “How many hookers will be there?”

  “As many as you want,” I said. “Which do you prefer, men or women?”

  “I’ll see you on Wednesday,” she said.

  “See you then, Charley.”

  She hung up the phone, and I chuckled to myself.

  I looked up and Calvin was watching me, a little smile on his face. “Who was that?”

  “Nobody,” I said.

  “Sounded like someone.”

  “Just a girl.”

  “Yeah, man. No shit. So we’re having a party on Wednesday?”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “Good. I’ll make the calls.”

  “No hookers this time.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. Whatever else, but no hookers.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  I nodded and got up. “I’ll see you later, man.”

  “Where are you running off to?”

  “I have a meeting with my PR girl.”

  “Have fun.”

  I nodded and headed out. I didn’t really have a meeting, but I didn’t want Calvin to start asking more questions about Charley.

  It was like an unspoken rule among players that you didn’t sleep with the enemy. Ryan broke that rule because he was a fucking scumbag, and so far I had been pretty damn good about it. But now that I had slept with Charley, I realized that I was a fucking traitor.

  And I was planning on doing it again, and again, and again, as many times as I could before she couldn’t walk anymore.

  15

  Charlotte

  That mafia man’s face was in my mind as I tentatively knocked on Cooper’s door.

  “Come in,” he called out.

  My boss wasn’t normally in so early, but I was glad he’d come in on time for once. I opened the door and stepped inside.

  Cooper was something of a legend in the office. He’d been around since the beginning and was one of the most grizzled and jaded reporters on staff. He didn’t write much anymore, but he was very good at finding new talent and promoting them ruthlessly. It was everyone’s dream to be discovered by Cooper.

  But that wasn’t my goal, not anymore.

  “Can I have a second?”

  “Charley. Sit. You have two seconds.”

  I sat down. “I have a story pitch.”

  “Save it for the weekly meeting.”

  “This is important, something I’ve been doing on the side.”

  He sat back in his chair. Cooper was in his fifties, balding, with thick round glasses and a big round stomach. He looked exhausted, but he always looked exhausted.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s about Bull Dixon.”

  “That football ass? He’s old news.”

  “No, he’s not. I have an in with him.”

  Cooper raised an eyebrow. “He’s notoriously closed off when it comes to the press. How do you have a source?”

  “Not a source. I have him.”

  He blinked. “Okay. I’m listening.”

  “I want to write a feature. I know some things about Bull. Hell, I have some pictures of him that would blow him wide open. I want to write the story.”

  He crossed his arms, looking at me seriously. “And how did you get all this information, assuming it’s all real?”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  “But you already said it’s directly from him.”

  I nodded. “It is.”

  “Why would he talk to you?”

  “Does it matter? I mean seriously, Cooper, does it? I have the biggest scoop on this guy ever.”

  “Good point.” He sighed. “You’re a nobody, you know? You got some talent, but so far I haven’t been blown away.”

  “This will blow you away.”

  “I believe you, but I don’t trust you.”

  “One shot. I’m not asking for anything up front.”

  He laughed. “Good, because I wouldn’t give it to you.” He sighed, glancing down at his desk. “You have three weeks. Get me something by then and we’ll talk.”

  “I need to get paid something extra.”

  “There it is,” he said, shaking his head. “No way.”

  “If it’s as good as I s
ay it is, it’ll be worth it.”

  “One thousand.”

  “Eight.”

  “Three.”

  “I’ll take five, but I can’t go lower.”

  “Fine.” He looked annoyed. “Now get the fuck out of here and bring me something worth five grand.”

  “I will.” I stood up and left his office.

  I wasn’t doing this for myself anymore. I hated that I was going through with this, frankly, and I hated that I had actually brought it to Cooper’s attention. Cooper was a good man, but he was a reporter first and foremost. Now that he knew about this, he was going to follow through.

  I had no other choice. I couldn’t pay Rafa off on my own. This article was the only thing I really had, and it was the only way I could get enough money to satisfy this guy.

  I’d brought this on myself. I went looking for danger, and danger found me. Now I was having second thoughts, but it was way too late.

  I was going to have to take Bull down with me. I didn’t want that, not anymore, but I couldn’t see any other alternative.

  Maybe Bull would survive it. Hell, he’d survived so far without any real problems. There were plenty of rumors and stories written about him, even if they weren’t exactly accurate.

  But I knew this was different. I was close to Bull, closer than anyone else. I knew I could get things that other journalists would beg for.

  I wasn’t cut out for this, though. I thought I could handle it at first. I thought I could be ruthless and uncaring, all for the pursuit of my job, but that was stupid. I wasn’t that kind of person.

  I found myself caring about Bull, but it was too late. I’d already made one dumb mistake and gotten myself into a bad situation, and there was no turning back.

  I got back to my desk and sighed, staring blankly at the computer screen. I wanted to get the heck out of there, maybe run away from the city entirely. Who knew how far the mob could reach, though? There was no real escape. I felt trapped and claustrophobic.

  “You look busy.”

  I turned and looked over my shoulder. Dee was standing there, smiling at me with that awful, smug look.

  “I am busy,” I said back.

  “Good. Coop wanted me to give you this.” She handed me a folder.