The Love of Wicked Men (Season Two): Episode One

By Brandon Shire

THIS IS A WORK OF SERIALIZED FICTION
Sid Rivers and Jack Brandt are back, but they’re still two sides of the same coin. One is a lawyer with his own firm intent on growing his power and prestige; the other is a criminal with a lengthy record and a need to set his world in order.
When they met the first time, sparks flew. But circumstances pushed them apart. Now, circumstances are forcing them together again. But will it help them to find each other and meet their goals, or will it destroy them and everyone they care about?
Season Two of The Love of Wicked Men is a continuation of their story. It is also an erotic journey into the underbelly of the legal profession, the corporate culture of profit-at-any-cost, and the secret world of industrial espionage.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Sid Rivers has reached the end of his rope. He’s waited sixteen long months for Jack to return, but he hasn’t heard a peep from the man. Not one. During that time, he’s reorganized the firm he took from his father and started looking for a way to make his name. But one morning the private line in his office rings and everything changes. He has a new case, new clients and a means to make himself utterly unforgettable in the legal world.

Jack Brandt spots a man tailing him around the country. Just as he’s about to capture him and force details from his mouth, Shane shows up with a dire warning. Sid Rivers is in immediate danger and needs Jack’s help to survive. The Feds are sniffing around, but so is Jack’s old nemesis. And Mark Wessman will do anything to get Jack, including using Rivers’ dead body as bait

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brandon Shire
• Release date: May 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310981180

Brandon Shire

Great stories should not depend on gender or sexual preference of a character, but instead upon the strength of the characters and the honesty and urgency of the story.Brandon Shire proves he understands the complexity of writing LGBT fiction from two very different viewpoints – serious and smexy. His serious fiction is written for those who enjoy a book which explores life’s darker elements in a more literary form, while the smexy fiction is for those who enjoy a graphically erotic romance.Regardless of the differentiation above, Brandon writes for people who enjoy being challenged, and for those who strive to understand situations they don’t typically encounter. He pens raw, emotional stories about characters which readers will either love or love to hate.Life and love are pretty damned special, but neither is always perfect. Life can be painful, and real love hard to find. Brandon’s fiction is an exploration of the (sometimes) arduous search for the happiness we all desire.BRANDON SHIRE was chosen as a Top Read in 2011, Best in LGBTQ Fiction for 2011 & 2012, and won a Rainbow Award for Best Gay Contemporary Fiction.

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The Love of Wicked Men

Season Two – Episode One

Brandon Shire

The Love of Wicked Men

Season Two – Episode One

Brandon Shire

Copyright © 2016 Brandon Shire

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the below publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, people, places, schools, media, incidents and events are either a product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.

About Wicked Men

THIS IS A WORK OF SERIALIZED FICTION

Sid Rivers and Jack Brandt are back, but they’re still two sides of the same coin. One is a lawyer with his own firm intent on growing his power and prestige; the other is a criminal with a lengthy record and a need to set his world in order.

When they met the first time, sparks flew. But circumstances pushed them apart. Now, circumstances are forcing them together again. But will it help them to find each other and meet their goals, or will it destroy them and everyone they care about?

Season Two of The Love of Wicked Men is a continuation of their story. It is also an erotic journey into the underbelly of the legal profession, the corporate culture of profit-at-any-cost, and the secret world of industrial espionage.

Get Season One from BrandonShire.com

Get involved in the story!

As with Season One, I’m giving you an opportunity to help me write the story.

From the beginning, I never know how a story will turn out. I have an idea how it might end, but nothing is ever set in permanent ink. The development of characters, beta input, the muse, my mood, the amount of time I have for writing and research, they all affect the final outcome of a story.

But again, I want to invite you into my writing process and into the world of Wicked Men. Be aware that the characters are not particularly nice people. They are vain, corrupt, contemptuous, and look down on almost everyone around them because of their wealth and power. I invite you to help me teach them a lesson in humility and love.

You can offer your input on the story at my fan-created Goodreads Group. We have a special section set up just for Season Two of Wicked Men. Your input is definitely welcome.

~ Brandon

Episode 1

IN THIS EPISODE:

Sid Rivers has reached the end of his tolerance. He’s waited sixteen long months for Jack to return, but he hasn’t heard a peep from the man. During that time, he’s reorganized the firm he took from his father and started looking for a way to make his name. But one morning the private line in his office rings and everything changes. He has a new case, new clients and a means to make himself utterly unforgettable in the legal world.

Jack Brandt spots a man tailing him around the country. Just as he’s about to capture him and force details from his mouth, Shane shows up with a dire warning. Sid Rivers is in immediate danger and needs Jack’s help to survive. The Feds are sniffing around, but so is Jack’s old nemesis. And Mark Wessman will do anything to get Jack, including using Rivers’ dead body as bait.

Chapter 1

Jack was in Philadelphia when he first caught sight of the tail. He noticed the same man three months later when he was in the Keys, and then a third time in LA. At first, he thought the guy might have been working for Wessman or the Feds, but they would’ve moved in on him long before he took notice.

This tail was too casual. He didn’t seem to mind showing himself now and again, but he never got close enough for Jack to clock him and demand information. His presence was meant to be an irritating reminder that someone was keeping tabs.

So Jack wasn’t surprised when he saw the same man standing outside the DC restaurant he was about to have lunch in. This close, Jack could get his hands on the guy, and they both knew it. But there were too many witnesses and the idiot was counting on Jack not wanting to draw attention. His mistake. Drake and Sweeny were already in place outside to help snatch him up.

He’s here, Jack whispered. He grinned and immersed himself in the menu.

Jack’s hidden earpiece crackled.

He brought company, Sweeny advised a moment later.

Jack looked up just in time to see Shane step off the sidewalk and make his way across the street toward the restaurant. Jack’s jaw clenched. Stand down.

Are you sure? Drake asked. You need me inside?

No.

When Shane opened the restaurant door, Jack met his eyes with a stern but blank face. What do you want? he growled as Shane sat down across from him.

Shane leaned back in his chair, his expression smug. The waiter came over and put another place setting down.

He’s not staying, Jack said, shooing the kid away.

The waiter paused, scooped everything up and disappeared.

Shane chuckled. You don’t seem happy to see me.

When people show up unexpectedly, it usually means trouble.

You’re still mad because I played you? Shane asked.

Jack shook his head. No, but if I were, it would be because I didn’t get to exact the retribution your former boss required. He should have died slowly and painfully.

Shane shrugged. Wasn’t my call.

Which means we have nothing more to talk about, Jack replied, going back to the menu.

Marion wants to speak with you.

Tough shit, Jack answered without looking up.

She asked if you’d come see her willingly.

Jack met Shane’s eyes. No. And it would take a lot more than you to make me go unwillingly. He took a moment to notice a gay couple holding hands at another table before he went back to the menu.

She’s not going away.

Jack took a breath. He was quickly losing his appetite, and his patience. What does she want? he finally asked, exasperated. I’ve got nothing and I’m not interested in working for you.

She wants you.

Why doesn’t she just set me up again? Jack asked. We both know how adept she is at manipulating people.

There was more to Ruoho and Croft than you realized. It wasn’t just about retribution. She could’ve had anyone bump those assholes off.

Well, why didn’t she? Jack spat, drawing the attention of the other diners as his voice rose. He picked up his water glass and took a drink, his eyes hard on Shane. What are you doing here? And why is your idiot following me all over the country?

Shane’s mouth fell into a straight line. He saw a waiter going by with a coffee pot in hand and motioned at his cup. The man filled it and walked away. Your boy is about to step into a world of shit. It’s deeper than he realizes.

My boy? Jack repeated, cocking an eyebrow.

Sid Rivers.

Jack brushed the comment away with a flick of his hand. "Rivers is pretty good at taking care of himself. And he’s not my boy."

Wessman is involved again, Shane said, leaning forward. He wants you, and he knows the best way to get to you is through Rivers.

Jack scoffed. He’d had passive electronic surveillance running on Rivers since he’d left Atlanta. Jack knew Sid had moved into his father’s old penthouse, taken over and renamed the law firm and drowned himself in work. Other than frequent calls for take-out, Sid had a pretty monotonous and uneventful life.

Jack hadn’t seen anything that would indicate a threat, but then again, that didn’t mean Wessman wasn’t lurking in the background. Explain.

"Since you came running to Rivers’ rescue once before, Wessman assumes it will work a second time. He’s going to use Rivers as bait. And if