Thrills of Danger Read online

  Wild Hearts

  Thrills of Danger

  Inge Mayhem

  Wild Hearts: Thrills of Danger

  By Inge Mayhem

  www.IngeMayhem.com

  Copyright © 2020 by Inge Mayhem

  First E-book publication: June 2020

  Cover Designer: Ella Strong

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novella is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  The author has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

  Disclaimer

  This book is intended for adults (ages 18+) as it may contain explicit erotica and sexual content.

  Contents may be offensive to some readers. Do not read it if you are under the age of 18 or offended by content as mentioned above.

  The following story is for entertainment purpose only. The author takes no legal responsibility for any results of sexual acts depicted in this story, if you choose to practice them.

  Please be a responsible adult and educate yourself about safe sex practices, you can start here:

  https://ingemayhem.com/safe-sex-resources

  Your Free Book Is Waiting!

  With his tousled ginger hair, sparkling eyes, adorable freckles and dimpled smile, one by one, Drew ensnares the attention of Tyson, Micheal and Brad; and weaves their lives together. Will these young romantics realize in time that Drew seems intent on causing chaos, and taking them down with him?

  Get your free copy of Lone Cowboy

  The 1st book in the Wild Hearts Series

  Contents

  Prologue

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Part II

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Thank You

  Also by Inge Mayhem

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Victor Lewis walked into a meeting with his boss and immediately laid his gun on the table.

  “What’s this about?” Victor asked. He was clearly upset.

  “Well, I have a job for you. Isn’t that how this works?” Samuel Sanford said with a snarl.

  Samuel looked tired. His long red hair was messy, and he looked and smelled like an alcoholic. Victor wondered how the man in front of him had amassed so much power.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. You say jump—and all the rest,” Victor replied. “But I was deep into another job.”

  “So what? You feel like you run the show now?”

  “No, nothing like that, Samuel.”

  Victor didn’t have much respect for his boss, and he knew that one day leadership would change. Victor considered himself to be a man of many talents, and the first lesson he had learned was patience.

  “So, what have you got for me?” Victor continued, taking a seat opposite Samuel in a small beer garden.

  “A young kid. He knows something or saw something; it’s hard to say at this point.”

  “Ok,” Victor replied, waiting for more information.

  “We have him stashed in one of our apartments. He’s been there for a few days. Seems happy to talk.”

  “What’s the problem then?”

  “Who said anything about a problem? Victor, I am very familiar with your reputation. That’s why I called you.”

  “Ok,” Victor replied suspiciously.

  “This kid could be an asset. He could help us with some of our enemies, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do,” Victor said, suddenly intrigued. This sounded like the sort of job that started as one thing but slowly turned into an opportunity for promotion.

  “So, flip him,” Samuel stated.

  “Flip him?” Victor replied, incredulous.

  “Yep, that’s the job.'' Samuel replied, taking a sip of beer and ashing his cigarette into a dirty tray.

  “Ok, but just so we’re clear—I’m taking this kid, making him one of mine, and then we’re talking about infiltration as the next step.” Victor wanted to get his priorities straight.

  “You didn’t hear me say those words, Victor . . . but now that you’ve suggested it . . . doesn’t that sound like a good idea?” Samuel grinned. His teeth were stained yellow.

  “Ok, got it,” Victor said, standing and picking up his weapon. “What’s this kid’s name?”

  “Tyson Hutchinson,” Samuel replied. “My good friend Smithy can give you the details. So, ah . . . good luck, I suppose.”

  “Thanks, boss,” Victor said, turning on his heel and striding out. The less time he spent with Samuel Sanford, the better.

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  A New Friend

  “Hi, Tyson. How are you feeling?”

  The overfamiliarity with which the man addressed him was a little disconcerting. However, Tyson desperately wanted the stranger to help him. The day may have finally arrived when he had an opportunity to escape.

  “I’m ok. How are you?” Tyson asked politely. In fact, he was embarrassed. His clothes felt grimy, his teeth felt dirty, and his hair felt oily. It was uncomfortable to meet someone in his condition.

  “I’m great, actually. My name is Victor, and I’m glad that we’re finally getting a chance to meet. I’ve heard all about you.”

  “Oh,” was the only response Tyson could muster. He felt self-conscious as he adjusted himself and his restraints rattled. A set of silver handcuffs tethered Tyson to the metal frame of the headboard.

  “You’re probably wondering who I am and how much longer we plan to keep you here.”

  “Yes,” Tyson replied, wanting to appear obedient.

  “Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I’m here to help you. Think of me as sort of like your caseworker. I need to get to know you and make sure you’ll behave once we send you back into the real world.” The man stood over him like a prison guard.

  “I’ll behave, I promise,” Tyson let out. His tone was completely subservient.

  “I believe you, don’t worry. But in any case, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you.”

  “Ok.” Tyson felt dehydrated and a little confused.

  “So, that’s the good news. I’m here, and I’m on your side. But here’s the bad news, Tyson. That name you gave us—Drew Eastwood—it’s not turning up any leads.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, it’s funny. We’ve been keep
ing tabs on that apartment you mentioned. It’s a nice place. But no redheaded men have been seen coming or going.”

  “He was only staying there with a friend.”

  “Yeah, yeah, we know. You told us. But unfortunately for you, Tyson, we don’t have much else to go on.”

  “That’s all I know, I swear.”

  “Relax,” the man replied, finally taking a seat in a chair. “I believe you, truly. We just need to think of a new plan. In that regard, I do have more good news.”

  “Oh yeah?” Tyson asked hopefully. He was trying not to say too much, as it seemed that Victor was willing to share information.

  “Hmm,” Victor said. “Good news for you Tyson. I’m going to be briefing you with a little mission.”

  “Whatever you want,” Tyson said. “Please, I’m begging you. Please just let me go.”

  “Tyson, buddy, I’m working on it. Trust me. Like I said, I’m your caseworker. But I work for a complicated organization. It’s a bit like the government got mixed up with the mafia. There are procedures to follow. There’s lots of red tape.”

  “Ok.

  “I’m glad you understand, because together we’re going to shake up this town,” Victor said, “and that’s my final promise to you.”

  “Ok.”

  The man narrowed his eyes. “Are you ready? I have heard all about you, Tyson, and I have a few ways that I plan to test you.” Victor’s voice was low.

  “I’m ready. Please believe me. I know you’re only doing your job,” Tyson said. He wanted to beg and fought back tears.

  Victor gave a small smile. “You’re right. This is a job for me, and my colleagues are like my family. My number one priority and the only thing I care about is loyalty.”

  “Ok,” Tyson said, as he tried to think of ways to get this man to trust him.

  “Yes. Loyalty. Something tells me, Tyson, that you and I are going to become very close.” Victor leaned in, and his breath smelled like mint. “Close like family. Close like lovers.”

  “Ok,” was the only response that Tyson could think to utter.

  Chapter 2

  A Dark Room

  Tyson had no real idea of the date or the time of day. He spent a lot of time reflecting on how his life had been relatively straightforward up until this juncture.

  Unsurprisingly, being abducted had not been a part of Tyson’s life plan. But an attractive, redheaded stranger had derailed his entire existence in a very short timeframe.

  Tyson Hutchinson had grown up with brothers and sisters in a big family. He moved to Long Harbor City, on the other side of the country, when he got a job for a marketing company. Now, Tyson felt incredibly guilty when he thought about his family and his colleagues. He assumed that they were all worried about him to the point of grief. While he had no way of knowing how long he had been gone, he knew it had been long enough for him to be missed.

  The ginger fellow who steered him to ruin had called himself Drew Eastwood, and he claimed to be some sort of cowboy or farmhand from a ranch down south. Tyson had swooned over Drew’s dimples, freckles, and broad shoulders. It had felt like love at first sight.

  Tyson would have followed Drew to the ends of the earth, so he quickly agreed when Drew asked him for a lift to Harbor South one evening. Drew explained that he was looking for his estranged father. Like a lovesick fool, Tyson had believed everything that Drew said, and it was how he wound up on a stakeout.

  Driving slowly, Tyson had followed Drew’s father home from his local pub. That was when Drew had snuck onto his father’s property, peering in windows as he went. Tyson felt uncomfortable, but he had sat silently in the car and waited.

  Unexpectedly, a gunshot had rung out and had echoed through the still night air. Tyson panicked. Within seconds, Drew was back in the car, asking him to speed away. It had felt wrong. Tyson wanted to call the police. But Drew insisted that it had only been a warning shot, and that the best thing they could do was to make a fast getaway.

  Tyson had been skeptical, but he was scared. He chose to believe Drew’s version of events. Things got considerably worse after he dropped Drew home.

  He didn’t know it at the time, but the fact that he was the driver on that fateful night was enough to implicate Tyson in a murder.

  Tyson didn’t remember being attacked, but he deduced that he had been dragged from his doorstep for questioning. He had been imprisoned by a group of men and held in confinement ever since.

  When questioned by his captors, Tyson had immediately told them everything—Drew’s name, his description and his address. Tyson suspected that Drew would wind up dead or shackled next to him before too long.

  As his world unraveled, Tyson almost expected to be released immediately. It was a case of mistaken identity, and he had cooperated. But, the interrogations had continued. Tyson was terrified at first. As he grew more delirious, he began to talk freely. By this time, days had dragged on; Tyson found himself describing every detail of his life. He even admitted that the only reason he had trusted Drew was because he had a crush on him.

  Life as a prisoner slowly became Tyson’s new existence.

  So, Tyson was surprised when his routine suddenly changed one day, and Victor appeared on the scene. Victor was a little on the short side of average, but he was thickset and muscular, with dark hair, a stubble beard that looked neatly trimmed instead of unshaven, and dark brown eyes.

  Tyson had immediately scanned his physique, his clothing, and his demeanor. Victor was dressed in a classic black leather jacket with navy jeans, and he wore a disarming smile. His one gold earring and grey suede Chelsea boots effortlessly dialed up the classy factor in the otherwise rugged biker style. Tyson felt a mixture of fear and hope. Maybe Victor—a young, attractive, well-dressed man—would be the one to finally rescue him.

  Chapter 3

  Despair

  “So, the police have no new information. Or, if they do know something, they aren’t sharing it with me. I’m so angry and sad, and with every day I’m losing hope. But more than anything, I’m scared.”

  Florence Levy sat in her local coffee shop and blurted out her feelings.

  “I’m scared that Tyson is dead.”

  Her companion for coffee would ordinarily be Tyson Hutchinson—her colleague and friend. But Tyson had been missing for days, and instead Florence sat with the man who had last seen Tyson alive—Drew Eastwood.

  Eastwood was a nickname that Florence had given Drew and he quite liked it. His real name was Drew Sanford, but Drew liked how Eastwood referenced his mysterious cowboy alter ego.

  Before moving to the city, Drew had worked on a ranch. Sometimes he wondered if the lifestyle of a farm really did suit him better. Things had become a lot more complicated since Drew had moved to Long Harbor City.

  “Florence, I’m sure Tyson is ok. We have to keep believing in him. If something awful had happened, we would know by now. Maybe he took off, or maybe he had an accident. But Tyson will turn up. I’m sure of it.” Drew felt the words tumble from his lips and, as he said them, they felt false.

  When he was alone, Drew reached the same conclusion as Florence. He had to admit that there was a very real possibility that Tyson had been murdered.

  Drew bit his lip. He had witnessed a murder on the night that Tyson went missing. It was a secret that he hadn’t told anyone. The police had interrogated him for hours, but Drew kept what he knew to himself, mostly out of fear of what could happen next.

  Picking up a newspaper from a stack of paperback novels and magazines, Florence pointed to the front page.

  “This is what I’m worried about. Another murder. Another daylight robbery. This city is in the midst of a crime spree, and my friend is missing. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

  Drew’s heart leapt in his chest. “Yeah, it’s awful. The police must really have their hands full. We just have to stay positive.” Drew decided to change the topic. “Florence, can I ask you something?”

  “Of cou
rse,” Florence replied, as she scanned the headlines and shook her head.

  “I think I need a new place to crash,” Drew began.

  Florence looked up and inquired, “What’s wrong with Brad’s place?”

  “Nothing,” Drew replied. “Brad is great, and his boyfriend Michael is too. But I feel like I should probably find my own space, given everything that’s going on with Tyson.” Drew cleared his throat. “Brad and Michael are probably sick of the police showing up on their doorstep.”

  “Are the cops still asking you questions?” Florence exclaimed.

  “Yeah, almost every other day. But I get it. The case is such a mystery.”

  “Right? Who would want to hurt Tyson? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Are you sure he wasn’t seeing anyone?” Drew asked, as their attention turned back to their friend.

  “Trust me,” Florence replied, “if Tyson was dating, I would have known about it. Plus,” she added wistfully, “the last time I saw him, he only had eyes for you.”

  Drew’s face fell. He knew that Tyson had a crush on him, and he had used it to his advantage. He felt guilty about it every day.

  “But anyway,” Florence went on, “you need a new place. Is that what you’re telling me?”

  “Yeah, umm, do you know anyone who needs a housemate?” Drew asked, bashfully.

  Florence let out a deep sigh. “I might. I’m about to go and meet Tyson’s older brother, Frankie. Let me think about it.” Florence finished her coffee. “I’m glad a cowboy like you is sticking around in this city though. We need all the good guys we can get.”