From Love and Pain

By H.A Caine

29 year old Adrian ran away from an imprisoning and abusive household at the age of 19. For years he ran, living on the streets and in shelters, taking crappy jobs to save a little money. Ten years of struggling and now he is a successful partner of a security company. Under the guise of running the security company, Adrian and his best friend and the people who work for them help others who live unfortunately. Like Adrian, not one of his employees have a nice past. They're all running from something, never letting their guards down and they don't want others to suffer as they have. But Adrian makes the mistake of falling in love with a young man when he's 27. For a while, he gets to experience what it's like to be a normal man. He never thought he could be happy, but Jaxon makes him the happiest man in the world. Only it can't last and Adrian is forced to leave or risk Jaxon's life. But his demons caught up with him long before he realized and now no ones safe. Can Adrian save Jaxon before it's too late? And can Jaxon forgive him for walking away?

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.A Caine
• Release date: Jul 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466041424

H.A Caine

I am a writer, reader, blogger, baker, cooker, and Internet user. I love my family and friends. I am a empathetic and friendly person. I have three older brothers. I love white chocolate. I own hundreds of e-/books by many of my favorite authors.

Book preview

From Love and Pain

By H.A Caine

Copyright 2012 H.A Caine

Smashwords Edition

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Chapter One

Adrian's eyes flashed open as he sat bolt upright on the makeshift bed of clothes he had piled into the corner of the abandoned factory he had found late last night and decided to slip into when he thought that someone was following him. He blinked his eyes, trying to force the images from his head, but no matter what he did, he couldn't banish the nightmare from his mind. Groaning, he closed his eyes and relived the nightmare that was once his life…

Come here you little piece of shit! Daniel yelled from the other end of the hall.

Adrian risked a look over his shoulder, stumbling as he did so.

Daniel's face was flushed red and his ears appeared to be on fire as his chest heaved and his long legs ate up the distance between him and the fleeing terrified four year old boy.

Adrian's left foot slipped and he went sliding into the wall next to him. He scrambled to get his feet back underneath him but it was already too late.

He heard Daniel skid to a halt beside his crumbled form a second before an over large sweaty palm grasped the nape of his neck, lifting him easily to his feet.

Daniel spun him around and then slammed his head into the wall at his back, wrapping his hand around his throat.

Knowing that it wouldn't save him, it still wasn't in Adrian to just give up. He kicked out his short legs never making contact as Daniel deftly deflected his pitiful attempts to hurt him. He knew what was coming and he honestly didn't think his body could take anymore of the abuse.

Daniel leaned down until they were face-to-face and smirked. There was an evil gleam shining in his pitch black eyes.

Adrian fell silent and ceased all movement.

I suggest you stop it or it will be way worse for you than you have ever imagined, little boy. releasing his grip on Adrian's neck, he grabbed his hand in a death grip, causing the boy's small bones to rub against each other painfully. But he refused to cry out. He dragged Adrian down the hall, back to what Adrian only knew as hell.

What had come next was so horrible, that just the thought of it made Adrian physically sick.

He snapped his eyes back open and peered into the dark shadows surrounding him, swearing that he could still hear the echo of Daniel’s mocking laughter, but not seeing anything in the weak predawn light breaking through the rotten boards on the windows.

Rubbing his large hands over his face, Adrian pretended he didn't feel the tightening of muscles behind his eyes as he fought the tears that threatened to spill. Tears never got you anywhere.

He always felt like crying for the little boy he had once been whenever he slowed down long enough for the demons that gave chase to catch up with him. It was why he was constantly doing something or on the move.

Standing, he gathered his things together and stuffed it all into his pack. He hated that he had to sleep in this dump; he much preferred his own bed back at his place, but yesterday was an emergency.

Shaking his head, he holstered his gun and placed his knife back into his boot. Slipping his arms into his authentic leather jacket, he felt his phone vibrate in the front pocket.

Throwing his bag over his shoulder, he pulled it out and checked the caller-id.

It was Crow.

What the hell happened now? he answered as he moved the entrance of the building and out into the brisk dawn. Anytime Crow called it spelled Trouble for Adrian with a capital T.

He headed in the direction of his house.

Crow’s chuckle traveled over the line and Adrian felt himself relax infinitesimally. Relax man. Nothing's wrong this time. But you didn't check in last night and when I dropped by your place before you weren't there. A few of us were starting to get worried. What happened to you?

Despite Crow's reassurance, or maybe because of it, Adrian tensed up all over again. He knew the man well enough to know when he was stalling for time.

Making a left turn at the corner, he massaged his nape.

A distraction. he murmured.

Huh?

I said I got distracted last night.

Oh.

For several minutes neither one of them spoke.

Just as Adrian was getting tired of the listening to Crow's heavy breathing and was going to ask what the damn point of the call was, he spoke up.

Well, okay. Look, Ashe we got an offer yesterday.

Adrian sighed and Crow continued. I think it's a good deal but it's your call. Do you want me to give you the rundown on it or wait until you get here?

Adrian thought about it. Usually Crow didn't call him to inform him that they had gotten a job request. He knew something had to be up.

Telling Crow that he would be there in half an hour he picked up his pace. His house was right around the corner.

Jamming the key in the door, he pushed it open and stepped inside.

Kicking it close behind him, he tossed his pack to the left, not bothering to see if it landed on the couch.

He turned into the kitchen, which was right off of the entry way on the right side and flipped on the coffee maker. Turning the faucet, he quickly washed his hands, drying them and grabbing an apple out of the bowl on the black marble top island in the center of the room.

Exiting the kitchen through the Dining Room entrance, he walked out the door on the other side of the room, taking a huge bite off the apple.

Turning, he continued up the stairs to his bedroom and stripped out of his clothes while he finished the apple in a few bites, eating every last piece of it.

He learned a long time ago not to waste food because you never knew how long it would be until your next meal.

If you were lucky enough to even have a next one.

Shaking off the morbid thoughts, he went into the bathroom and started the shower.

The water quickly warmed up and he stepped inside, pulling the