Brothers in Arms (The Broken Road Cafe #2)

By T.A. Webb

Betrayed on every front, Dan O’Leary cashed in all his chips and moved from the big city life of Atlanta to small town Blue Ridge, Georgia. While licking his wounds, he never meant to start a new relationship, especially with closeted Chief of Police Nick Oliver.
But now all Dan’s hot buttons are being pushed. One of his employees is being terrorized by seemingly upstanding townspeople. Then worst of all, he’d promised himself he’d never be anyone’s dirty little secret, and when Nick’s fear of being outed causes him to hurt Dan, Dan knows there’re problems in paradise.
With trouble on all sides—a homophobic football coach, an ex lover, and his former best friend—it takes a shot in the dark before he realizes the real danger. It’s time for Dan to figure out who he can trust and close ranks with his brothers in arms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.A. Webb
• Release date: Jul 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311991799

T.A. Webb

T.A. Webb is the writing name for the Mean Old Bear That Could. By day, he's the director of finance for a non-profit agency. He's worked with people living with HIV/AIDS and with children in the foster care system for over twenty years, and takes the smaller pay for the chance to make a difference for those who can't help themselves. After hours, he's the proud single papa of four rescue dogs, was born and raised in Atlanta, where he still lives, and is a pretty darned good country cook. His sister taught him to read when he was four, and he tore his way through the local library over the next few years. Always wanting more, he snuck a copy of The Exorcist under his parents' house to read when he was eleven and scared the bejesus out of himself. Thus began a love affair with books that skirt the edge, and when he discovered gay literature, he was hooked for life. T.A. can be found at Facebook under AuthorTAWebb, tweeted at #TomBearAtl, or if you really want to, you can email him at [e-mail].

Book preview

Betrayed on every front, Dan O’Leary cashed in all his chips and moved from the big city life of Atlanta to small town Blue Ridge, Georgia. While licking his wounds, he never meant to start a new relationship, especially with closeted Chief of Police Nick Oliver.

 But now all Dan’s hot buttons are being pushed. One of his employees is being terrorized by seemingly upstanding townspeople. Then worst of all, he’d promised himself he’d never be anyone’s dirty little secret, and when Nick’s fear of being outed causes him to hurt Dan, Dan knows there’re problems in paradise.

 With trouble on all sides—a homophobic football coach, an ex lover, and his former best friend—it takes a shot in the dark before he realizes the real danger. It’s time for Dan to figure out who he can trust and close ranks with his brothers in arms.

Brothers in Arms

The Broken Road Café #2

by T.A. Webb

Copyright

Brothers in Arms (The Broken Road Café #2) is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by T.A. Webb

Cover photograph from iStock.com and D.W. Skinner

Cover Art by Laura E. Harner

Edited by Jae Ashley

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-311991-799

Warning: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any many without written permission, except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this book.

Contact the publisher for further information: [e-mail].

Smashwords License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

To Will, Laura, Havan and Lee. Support like I’ve never know, friends for life.

Trademark Acknowledgements:

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following trademarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

90210: Torand Production Inc.

ACC: Atlantic Coast Conference

Auburn: Auburn University

Clemson: Clemson University, a State agency of South Carolina

Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

Dead Man Walking: Polygram Film Productions, BV

Dr. Pepper: Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

Dumpster: Toccoa Metal Technologies, Inc.

Emory: Emory University Corporation

Georgia State (Bulldogs): Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

G.I. Joe: Hasbro, Inc.

Glock: Glock, Inc.

Harley: H-D USA, LLC

Home Depot: Homer TLC, Inc.

Honda: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Co., LTD)

Hugo Boss: Hugo Boss Trade Mark Management GMBH & CO.

Jackets: Georgia Institute of Technology

Jeep Grand Cherokee: Chrysler Group, LLC

Jimmy Choo: J. Choo Limited Liability Company

Ken: Mattel, Inc.

Miss Congeniality: WV Films II, LLC

Mustang: Ford Motor Company

PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc.

Publix: Publix Asset Management Company

Sears: Sears Brands, LLC

Speedy Gonzales: Time Warner Entertainment Company

Starbucks: Starbucks Corporation

Star Trek: Paramount Pictures Corporation

Stretch Armstrong: Hasbro, Inc.

Superman: DC Comics General Partnership

Underoos: Fruit of the Loom, Inc.

Wesson: Conagra Foods RDM, Inc.

YouTube: Google, Inc.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Trademark Acknowledgement

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

About the Author

Also by the Author

"And though we were hurt so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms"

Brothers in Arms

Dire Straits

Songwriter: Mark Knopfler

Prologue

The chill of the early winter day had Dan O’Leary wondering if raking leaves and putting in a tree the man at the Home Depot swore was perfect for his front yard was the best way to spend his afternoon. It was an early fall Saturday, and the Georgia Bulldogs were probably playing some second tier no-name conference team for an easy win. Or maybe the Jackets were playing some ACC team and getting their asses handed to them. At least the offense would be fun to watch in either game. But he’d gotten the damn hole dug, and his neighbor, Chief of Police Nick Oliver, would give him six kinds of shit if he just left the crater there until the next day. Or maybe the next weekend.

At least being active and keeping his hands busy prevented him from checking his phone obsessively every five minutes for a message from Abe Goldenburg. Ever since his cryptic message—We need to talk—the week before, both he and Dan’s old nemesis, Greg Simkins, the managing partner at Hanks and Associates, appeared to have fallen off the face of the earth. Not that Dan really cared, after all the pain Abe had caused him the past months. Fucking Dan’s best friend Gary and his lover Kerry—what a class act. And he’d thought he loved the man.

Now, Dan had quit his job and forced the partners to buy him out, bought a café and moved to Blue Ridge, Georgia, been shot at by one of the firm’s old clients who was now dead after threatening Dan and Nick, and was the kinda-sorta lover/boyfriend/neighbor-with-benefits with said chief of police. And the firm was now under investigation by the DEA for trafficking in both drugs and humans.

When did my life become a fucking soap opera?

Leaning on the shovel, Dan stood there and looked at the house he’d bought next door to Nick, or, as his former secretary Charity Love had dubbed him, Chief Yummypants. They’d taken to sneaking in the back doors of each other’s houses each night and, more often than not, sleeping together. He’d promised himself when he came out in high school that he’d never go back in the closet, and up until now, he’d managed to keep that vow. Well, the one time he’d slept with a professor didn’t really count, since the man was a one-night stand and the moron was the only person on campus who thought he wasn’t out.

But Dan had promised Nick he’d give him time. Time to adjust to having a man as more than a one-off in the back room of a bar, or a quickie visit to his hotel room in Atlanta. Time to get used to being in a relationship.

So he’d give Nick time. See where this thing between them went. And in the meanwhile, he’d settle into Blue Ridge and decompress. His life there was good, and he loved the café. Loved the people he’d met.

Hell, maybe I’ll get a dog.

Snickering, Dan turned and started back to the garage to grab a rake and hoe to go with his shovel so he could plant the pear tree when he heard tires squealing and the sound of a motor racing. He turned and saw a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee weaving into the cul-de-sac, then up onto his front yard. Jumping back, Dan thought for a scary moment that the vehicle would crash into the house or, worse, into him, but the engine sputtered, then died.

Dan stood there for a long minute, wondering if he should go see who the hell was behind the wheel, call 9-1-1, or run next door and get Nick to check it out. He knew the man had a gun in a safe, then sacked up and remembered he had a few hairs left on his balls. Walking closer, he heard the unmistakable sound of children crying, and that, more than anything, made him hurry over and fling the driver’s door open.

Abe sat in the driver’s seat, but something was wrong. He looked…oh shit, there was blood. Two kids looked around him, crying, their faces drawn and scared. Abe reached out to Dan, his hand weak and smeared with blood…so much blood.

Dan, help them.

Dan froze then, seeing Abe’s hand drop and his head roll to the side. He knelt, looking for somewhere to pull Abe out of the car without hurting him. He could see at least three separate places—gunshots?—leaking blood, and he didn’t want to hurt Abe any more than he had to. But he needed to get Abe out of the car, and deal with the two kids, make sure they weren’t hurt anywhere. Bullets could…

Dan? What’s going on? Nick’s voice sounded behind him.

He turned, blood on his hands, and tried to speak but couldn’t.

Nick glanced around him, then back at Dan. That’s Abe. Your ex. And—holy shit, those are…oh my fucking God.

That unfroze Dan. Nick, it’s…go around and help the kids out of the car. He said to help them.

Dan nodded, and when Nick rounded the front of the car to see to the kids, he turned his attention back to Abe. He’d managed to open his eyes again, and a weak smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.

Danny. I’m so sorry to bring this to you. I need your help. Call— Abe’s eyes closed for a moment, and he took a deep, shuddering breath. Call Roger Fredericks and tell him Special Agent Abe Goldenburg found Jasper Ford’s children.

Dan’s mouth fell open. Special…Special Agent?

Abe’s head rolled around, bloodshot eyes looking at him. DEA, Danny. Just…please call him and then we can talk. I’m really…tired now. His eyes closed and his head drooped forward.

Dan looked across the seat at Nick, who was lifting the kids out of the car, his expression stunned. Nick shook his head. Make the call, Dan. I’ll take the kids into the house. He looked at Abe. And make it quick. I’m not sure how long he’s going to hang on without medical help.

Holy. Fuck.

Chapter One

Walking into the hospital, Dan stopped at the gift shop and studied the display in the window. What was the etiquette for taking something to your cheating, lying, undercover secret agent ex-lover? A teddy bear holding a Glock? A bunch of roses with the heads clipped off? A card with a broken, bloody heart on it?

The man had rescued two kids—the children of Dan’s cook at his restaurant, the Broken Road Café—from a human trafficking ring, taking three bullets in the process. Abe Goldenberg, hero.

Fuck that noise.

He turned and started toward the elevators, sighed, then made his way back to the gift shop and bought Abe a Coke and some chocolate chip cookies. Old habits died hard, and his mother had always taught him never to arrive at the hospital or at a visitation empty-handed. Walking out, he almost ran into Patsy Verline, the mayor of Blue Ridge, his real estate agent, and possibly his new BFF. Or Dutch Aunt.

She grabbed his arm and hooked it through hers. Hey there, sweetheart. You goin’ to see the kids, or that handsome hero that saved them?

They slowly strolled to the elevators and hit the button to take them up to the third floor. I’m going to see Abe for a few minutes, then visit with Jasper and the kids. Laura and Will are doing well, and the doctor said they can probably go home tomorrow.

A genuine smile lit Patsy’s face, and he could see how much she loved the children. Her son and his partner and their two kids lived in Miami and she didn’t get to see them often, and a woman like Patsy…well, she had a lot of love to give. Dan was glad he’d met her. She was like his fairy godmother, knew all the best lines from his favorite movies, and damned if she didn’t remind him a lot of his own mother.

That’s great news, darlin’, I’ll check with Jasper and see if they need anything. I know, I know—she lifted a hand to pooh-pooh whatever it was she thought he was going to say—there’s his mother, and his late wife’s mother—bless her heart—but I feel like I need to do something. And at a time like this, you just can’t have enough hands around to help.

I’m sure they appreciate it. Dan smiled as the elevator door opened. I’ve tried to get him to take some time off at the café, but he refuses to. Says his customers will miss him, and he needs to stay busy until he can get the kids home. But between you and me—he guided her out of the elevator and down the hallway—I think he’s nervous about doing something wrong. You know, us men are like the proverbial bull in a china shop.

Nodding absently, Patsy stopped short of the room the kids were in, which was just down the hall from where Abe was recovering. Dan stood beside her, waiting to see what was on her mind. Finally, she made some sort of decision and turned to him. Honey, what are your plans with Abe?

Even though Dan expected the question—or some form of it—it still took him a little aback. Raising a hand and rubbing the bridge of his nose, he closed his eyes for a moment and thought about how to respond.

On the one hand, Dan was dating the chief of police, Nick Oliver. But that relationship was closeted. Dan wasn’t in the closet, of course, and hadn’t been since high school. But Nick had this perception of himself as some kind of seventies Burt Reynolds/eighties Tom Selleck macho lawman, and men like that just didn’t like dick. What the idiot didn’t realize was, half the damned town already knew he was gay, and let him go on with his self-delusion out of respect. Dan was sure there were the hardcore cases who would give him shit about it, and the good old boys would try to get him un-appointed, but Patsy adored him, and he