Bittersweet

[pba_chapter_break]Chapter 1[/pba_chapter_break]



Thomas Sweet walked into the FBI briefing room with a manila folder under his arm. Having transferred from the Savannah office, this was his first day. He had been with the Criminal Investigative division for four years, and this, his latest promotion, had taken him from being a Supervisory Special Agent to being a SAC, Special Agent in Charge.

Remaining in the field, however, he still had a partner. Bill was already in the briefing room when Tom got there. And since this was Tom’s first day, Bill told Tom that he would handle the day’s briefings.

Tom entered and headed to the front of the room. Instead of taking any of the seats behind the three long tables, he sat on the edge of the closest one to the front. With him in place and everyone else settled, Bill began the briefing.

“I would like everyone to meet Tom Sweet. He was brought in from the Savannah office to be our new S.A.C. I know many of you didn’t see the need to bring in someone from the outside, but I can tell you that Tom’s arrest record is the best in the country. And having gotten a chance to get to know him a little as my new partner, he’s a good guy.”

Tom turned to the group giving them a nod and a tightlipped smile. Bill went on with other internal business then turned the conversation to their biggest pending case.

“Our source in Columbia has confirmed it. The Santanos family’s distributor in Miami is a man by the name of Teo Domiguez. As you know, we’ve been getting a lot of pressure from the Mayor and upper management to make progress on this case and it remains our focus.”

“Actually, it isn’t,” Tom interjected.

“Isn’t what?” Bill asked caught off guard.

“Isn’t our focus. At least not anymore. From this point forward we will be directing this department’s resources to this case.”

Tom tossed the manila folder towards the center of the long desk. Bill stepped towards it and read the folder’s tab.

“This is bank robbery case,” Bill said confused.

“Correct. Three months ago, four men entered a Tampa, Florida bank and walked out with all of the day’s receipts, shooting two people in the process. The case falls under this department’s jurisdiction and as far as I can tell, it has barely been followed up on.”

Bill looked at Tom defensively. “That’s because orders came down that the Santanos case is our priority.”

“Fair enough. But it isn’t our priority anymore. Now, it’s this case.”

Bill looked around the room. “I’m sure I speak for everyone here when I ask, why?”

Tom took a deep breath and stood up facing the room. “Gentleman, when was the last arrest any of you’ve made?”

The men looked at each other before Bill answered. “Woods made an arrest on an identification theft case two months ago.”

“And how many do you think this division has made so far this year?” Tom continued.

“Four or five,” Bill said.

Tom stepped to the front of the room drawing everyone’s focus. “During that same period, my previous division made twenty-two arrests.”

Bill looked as his new partner incredulously. “With all due respect, Tom, Savannah isn’t Miami. We get the big cases here.”

“And yet management chose to bring me in instead of promoting from within.”

Bill bristled at that comment. Tom noticed Bill’s reaction but expected it knowing that this division would need a firm shake to get them on board with his new directives.

“Listen, I know that no division likes it when they bring in an outsider. I’m sure I would be feeling the way you’re feeling right now if it happened to me. But I wouldn’t be here if the guys upstairs were liking what they were seeing.

“Sure, they say they want one thing, but what they really want is an arrest record that will get them promoted. That’s what we’re gonna give them. We’re gonna give them four arrests in the next month. And those four arrests are going to be on this case right here.”

Tom walked to the folder and pinned it with his finger.

“Gentleman, we are going to turn people’s head so fast, it is going to make their heads spin.”





[pba_chapter_break]Chapter 2[/pba_chapter_break]



Sam Bitter sat at a table in a dive bar in Gainesville , Florida. He was a little nervous. Ever since his last bank heist he had felt unsure of himself. He had made a big mistake choosing his team the last time and it resulted in two bank employees getting shot.

After the money was split and everyone went their separate ways, Sam couldn’t help but second-guess himself. How had his plan gone so wrong? He decided that the problem began when he brought Louie onto the team. But what had he missed about Louie that should have told Sam that Louie could shot someone unnecessarily? Not being able to figure it out, Sam decided to proceed carefully on his next job.

The one person Sam knew he could trust was Handsome Jack. That wasn’t his real name, but he did live up to his billing. Having Jack around had stirred up feelings in Sam that he thought he had a grip on. Jack’s looks weren’t the only reason Sam decided to call Jack first, but it didn’t hurt.

Sam liked being around Jack. And if Sam wasn’t mistaken, Jack liked being around him too. Sam decided that if he and Jack could get together, they were either going to coming up with a plan for their next heist or they were going to end up naked. Sam would be happy either way.

Sam looked up at the front door when the dive bar was suddenly flooded with light. It was him. In spite of the heat, he was wearing a well-worn leather jacket and his hair looked like it was either lightly tussled or precisely quaffed. In short, Jack looked good.

Sam smiled and waved Jack over. Jack gave him a nod, detoured to the bar to get a drink and then approached Sam’s table with a pint of beer in hand.

“If it isn’t our illustrious leader,” Jack joked.

“If it isn’t Handsome Jack,” Sam replied.

“Still making big plans?” Jack asked.

“Always. Still being handsome?” Sam countered.

“Yes. And I’ll be honest with you, I can’t help it,” Jack said with a smile.

Sam stared at Jack’s smile wondering if Jack had any idea what he did to him. He couldn’t, could he? No one in Sam crew knew about what he did when he was out of town.

Sam hadn’t been with many men, but it had been enough to know that he had a type. Handsome Jack was definitely that type.

“Did you give any more thought to what we talked about?” Sam asked.

Jack looked around to ensure no one was listening. “Another bank job? You know, the last one didn’t go so well.”

“I told you, this time we don’t use Louie.”

“Then who’s gonna be the heavy?” Jack asked.

“We can find someone. We could see if Lamar wants an upgrade.”

“From driver to heavy? I’m not sure if he’s gonna want that. Besides, I haven’t been able to get a hold of him for a few days.”

“Is he traveling?” Sam suggested.

“Where’s he goin’? Everyone he knows is within ten miles of his house.”

“So do we wait for him to come back or find someone else?”

“You know, I actually have someone in mind for the driver,” Jack said with building excitement.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been seeing this girl for a while now and she’s exactly what we’re looking for.”

“No. No, Jack. No girlfriends. Are you looking to get us caught?”

“I think you’re gonna like this one. She’s as tough as nails, Sam. And she can drive.”

“You know that you’re suggesting that we work with a woman you’re fucking, right?”

“Don’t say it like that. Look, I don’t wanna end up in jail any more than you do. I wouldn’t suggest her if I didn’t think she could do the job. Just meet her. If you don’t like her, we won’t use her. But what I’m saying is that after what happened the last time, our options are limited.

“At least meet her,” Jack urged. “Give her a chance.”

Sam couldn’t tell if he was about to agree because Jack had made a persuasive argument or because he really wanted to fuck Jack. Sam was beginning to second-guess his judgment. That wasn’t good.

“I’ll meet her,” Sam agreed.

Jack beamed. “I thought you would, so I brought her along with me. She’s in the car.”

Jack pulled out his phone and dialed. “Come on in, Sweetheart.”

Sam watched Jack already regretting his decision. This wasn’t the way to stay out of jail. Realizing that, Sam decided to give her the most cursory of glances and then to let Jack down gently.

Sam looked up towards the door as it opened. Light flooded in. From it emerged a woman. She was brown-skinned, sturdy and she walked with attitude. She was also beautiful but that wasn’t the most interesting thing about her. The most interesting thing was that Sam had fucked her before. More than that, he had dated her and it hadn’t ended well.

The woman approached the table and looked at Sam as if she had never seen him before.

“Maria, this Sam, the guy I told you about,” Jack said standing and introducing the two.”

Sam gave a moment for her to recognize him. When she didn’t, he decided that he wasn’t going to dredge up the past.

“Nice to meet you,” Sam said looking her in the eyes.

Jack pointed at the chair next to him and both he and Maria sat.

Sam stared at Maria wondering how long it would take her to recognize him. He wasn’t sure how he should proceed considering she was going to get a memory flash at any moment.

“So, you drive?” Sam asked keeping things simple.

“I drive,” Maria said curtly.

“Whatcha got?”

“Crash and grabs and getaways,” she offered.

“Two, three?”

“Six.”

“Six?”

Sam stared at Maria. Either she had been busy during the five years since he had seen her or she was exaggerating.

“You know the driver gets a five-one share, right?” Sam asked her.

“I get a full quarter,” Maria corrected calmly.

“Well, you could get whatever you want. But I’m telling you that the drivers on my jobs get a five-one share.”

“Then maybe I’m not a driver on one of your jobs.”

“Maybe not,” Sam agreed.

Jack jumped in. “Come on now. No need for that. I think we all know who’s dick is bigger. No need to whip it out on the table.”

Sam looked at Jack wondering what he was talking about.

Jack turned to Sam. “Sam, for our next job we need to work with people we can trust. I can tell you for certain that we can trust her. I can also tell you that she can drive. Five-one share, quarter share, what’s the real difference here?”

Sam stared at Jack before turning to Maria. She really didn’t seem to recognize him. Maybe he didn’t leave as much of an impression as he thought. But the question still remained, what would happen once she remembered him? Would it blow up in his face?

“I might be able to do a quarter share, but I’m not agreeing to anything just yet. Let’s see how this goes first. If you prove that you can go along with the plan, then you’re in. If not, we find another driver. Agreed?”

“I could agree to that,” Maria said.

Jack smiled. “Was that so hard? If it wasn’t for me I’m not sure what either of you would do. Babe, do you want a drink?”

“Yeah, give me a beer,” Maria said turning to Jack.

“Coming up.”

Jack got up and headed to the bar. Maria watched him leave and then when he was out of earshot turned to Sam.

“Don’t think I don’t remember you, ‘cause I do,” she said fighting her snare.

“Do you? I was wondering.” Sam lifted his glass and casually took a swig of beer.

“I do. And I also know that you fucked Anthony.”

Sam spit up. “You know I did what?”

“You fucked my cousin Anthony.”

“Maria, I don’t know who the fuck you think I am, but I can tell you that I didn’t fuck your cousin. I never even met your family. I couldn’t even tell you who the fuck Anthony is.”

Maria quickly pulled out her phone and swiped through a few pictures. Finding one and showing it to Sam, he froze.

He remembered the guy in the photo. It was only the second guy Sam had ever been with. It had happened days before Maria had called him up and broke it off without explanation. Suddenly everything was starting to make sense.

When Jack returned to the table with drinks, Maria put away her phone. Noticing the shocked look on Sam’s face, Jack stared at the two.

“What’s going on? What did I miss?”

“Sam and I just figured out that we knew someone in common,” Maria said never taking her eyes off of Sam.

“Really? Who’s that?” Jack asked feeling the tension.

“My cousin Tony.”

“You know her cousin?” Jack asked Sam. “From where?”

Sam looked at Jack. Turning towards Maria, Sam understood what she was offering. She wouldn’t say anything to Jack as long as he didn’t force her hand.

“From Miami,” Sam said.

“What, did you do a job with him?”

“Sort of.”

“Did it work out?” Jack asked.

“Mixed bag,” Sam said looking at Maria.

“Well, there you go. You trusted Tony, you can trust Maria,” Jack offered conciliatorily.

“Maybe. We’ll see. Listen I gotta go. Why don’t you try to get a hold of Lamar again. See if he wants in as the heavy.”

“If he doesn’t, do I call Louie?”

“Don’t bring Louie into this.”

“But if Lamar isn’t into it and I can’t find anyone else…?”

Sam paused considering it. “Do what you need to do,” Sam said.

Sam then gave Maria a final look and then headed out. It was great seeing Jack, but he didn’t like the direction things were turning.





[pba_chapter_break]Chapter 3[/pba_chapter_break]



Tom sat in the back of van dressed in full gear. Standing in front of six of his men, he held up a photo.

“The suspect’s name is Louie Zamora. He’s suspected of two counts of attempted murder and is to be considered armed and dangerous. Do not hesitate to defend yourself but we want him taken alive. Any questions?”

Tom looked around. No one responded.

“Good. We’re gonna do this just like the last time.”

Tom picked up his walkie talkie and held down the button. “The mission is a go. Move out.”

After he said it, the van rocked. They were moving and the thrill of it made Tom shake. It was either adrenaline or nerves, Tom could never tell which.

“Seven seconds,” a voice said over the walkie.

Tom looked at Bill who held up his hand counting down. Five, four, three, two, one.

Although Tom was the closest to the door, his men poured out first. Entering the darkness in a tight formation, the men moved quickly towards the front door. It was a modest one-story house in a working-class neighborhood. Approaching the front door, the men with rifles made way for the man with the battering ram.

Everyone looked back at Bill. Holding up his hand, he again counted down. Two, one.

Swinging it back, the man with the ram stepped forward throwing the blunt force instrument into the door. The wood exploded into splinters and ripped off of its hinges.

“FBI! On the ground,” Bill shouted.

The men rushed in rifles drawn. Moving as fast as they could each man secured an area. Pointing his handgun, Tom scanned the living room then the kitchen. There was no one there.

Spreading down the hallway, the men opened doors. The rooms were all empty. Tom thought the operation was going to be a bust until he spotted a closet door. Opening it, all he heard was a ‘bang’. What he felt, though, was the equivalent of being punched in the chest by a heavyweight boxer. Tom stumbled back knowing he had been shot.

“FBI! Put down the gun!” Bill shouted.

As Tom fell onto the wall, the rest of his men grabbed the man. In seconds they had him disarmed and laying on the ground.

Tom winced trying to catch his breath. At that moment he couldn’t think of anything, but when his mind cleared, he considered what might have happened if he wasn’t wearing his bulletproof vest.

“Tom, you alright?” Bill asked kneeling in front of his partner.

He couldn’t speak, but he nodded confirming that he was.

“Cuff him and take him out,” Bill ordered the men.

“No,” Tom countered. “Put him in a room. Cuff him down.”

The men lifted their suspect up and dragged him into the master bedroom. Although still in immense pain, Tom knew he needed to get up on his own. Rolling onto his knees he held onto the wall for support. One of Tom’s men came over to help him.

“I got it,” Tom said waving him off.

Instinctually, Tom knew that this was how he was going to gain the loyalty of his new agents. He had to get up, point himself in the right direction and then do the things that he needed to do.

“Where is he?” Tom asked dazed from the agony.

“He’s in the bedroom,” an agent said pointing.

Locking his eyes on the target, Tom turned around and headed towards it. Turning the corner into the room he saw the man from the photo with his hands cuffed behind his back and his ankle cuffed to the leg of the dresser. Knowing he wasn’t going anywhere, Louie sat slumped.

Tom looked at him deciding what to do with him.

“Tom?”

An agent behind Tom handed him his gun. He had dropped it after he was shot. Tom took it and considered using it. The thought passed.

“Everyone out,” Tom said still struggling to remain on his feet.

Four of the men filed out. Bill remained.

“In case you need backup,” Bill told him.

Tom was in too much pain to argue. Instead, he approached the handcuffed man. Louie looked at him with fear in his eyes.

“Tell me where I can find Sam Bitter,” Tom ordered.

“I don’t know any Sam Bitter,” Louie declared.

Tom looked down at his gun exhausted. Tucking it into its holster, he dragged himself directly in front of his suspect and took aim. Louie’s head whipped back as Tom’s fist connected with his jaw.

“Tell me where I can find Sam Bitter.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know any Sam Bitter.”

Tom took a deep breath knowing that this was going to hurt him as much as it would Louie. Straighten out his aching chest, he then struck his suspect again and again. Each blow rippled shots of pain through Tom. By the end, both men were ready to collapse.

“Okay. Okay. He hangs out in a bar in Gainesville. It’s where we met to plan jobs. But I swear that all I know. That and his name was the only thing he ever told us.”

“What’s the bar’s name?” Tom pushed.

Louie gave it to him. Tom was about to leave the room and collapse when Louie muttered under his breath.

“Fag!”

Tom stopped. “What did you say?”

Louie didn’t reply.

“What did you say?”

With a sudden burst of energy, Tom flew across the room fist first. Pounding their suspect mercilessly, Bill ran over and dragged Tom off of him.

“Get the suspect into the van,” Bill ordered as he pushed Tom passed the men in the hall. “And someone, call a medic for Tom.”

Bill walked Tom to the couch and then helped him down.

“I can’t sit here. It could have evidence,” Tom told Bill.

“It’s a couch. The only evidence it’ll have is evidence that you don’t want to be sitting on it,” Bill joked. “But you’ve been shot. A medic needs to come look at you.”

Bill took off Tom’s helmet and unsnapped his thick jacket. Underneath was a Kevlar vest with a bullet lodged in front of his heart. Bill smiled.

“You know, I didn’t know what to make of you when we first met. But man, you’re an animal.”

Both men chuckled. Laughing hurt almost as much as throwing the punch, but Tom couldn’t help it. He had gotten what he had come for, a lead on Sam Bitter.

The moment Tom had seen Sam’s name on the bank robbery report, he knew he was going to move heaven and earth to put Sam where he belonged. It was going to be long now. Despite being shot in the chest, Tom couldn’t be happier.





[pba_chapter_break]Chapter 4[/pba_chapter_break]



Sam walked into the Gainesville bar and looked around. Jack and Maria weren’t there yet. Sam looked up at the clock. He wasn’t early. It was like Jack to be late.

Instead of finding a table Sam decided to sit at the bar.

“Nick, right?” Sam said to the tattooed bartender.

The bartender looked at him suspiciously and nodded.

“Give me a beer.”

Sam looked around scanning the place. There was never anyone attractive there but that wasn’t why he always came back. He was based outside of Orlando. Gainsville was a city that was less than two hours from where he lived. That meant that it wouldn’t take him too long to get there to meet with his crew, and that no one could easily trace him back home.

The only downside was that he had to get a motel room while he was there. That expense could really eat into his profits if the scores weren’t large enough. And lately, the scores weren’t.

The bartender put a beer in front of Sam. Feeling like talking, he took the beer and engaged Nick in conversation.

“Anyone come here looking for me?”

Sam knew that Jack and Maria would have just taken a seat and waited if they had arrived before him, but the question was an ice breaker. The bartender stared at him, looked down and then seemed to be searching his mind. Sam didn’t think that it was a very difficult question.

“There was somebody,” the bartender said moving directly in front of Sam and lowering his voice.

“Who was it?” Sam asked confused by the bartender’s response.

“Someone who said that they were from the FBI.”

A cold chill rippled down Sam’s spine. ‘Was he joking?’ Sam wondered. If he wasn’t, why would the FBI be asking about him here?

“What did you tell them?” Sam asked starting to panic.

“I said you weren’t here.”

“What did they say?”

“It was one guy and he said that I was to call him if you showed up.”

Sam’s heart pounded. “Did you?”

“Call him? No. I figured I’d stay out of it.”

Sam looked around the bar again. This time he was scanning for anyone who seemed out of place. No one did.

“When was this?” Sam asked suddenly feeling very hot.

“Yesterday.”

Sam’s chest felt heavy. His mind spiraled trying to figure out what to do. He needed to get out of there.

“How were you supposed to get a hold of him if you saw me?”

The bartender walked to the cash register, picked up a card then placed it in front of Sam. Sam read it. It said ‘FBI, Special Agent in Charge, Agent Thomas Sweet.’

The blood drained from Sam’s face. He knew that name. He had grown up with a Tom Sweet. Meeting Tom Sweet as a kid had changed the direction of his life.

“You know him?” the bartender asked. “He talked like you two were friends.”

Sam’s chest heaved. He felt light-headed. Sam was sure that he was going to pass out. Tom was a ghost from his past and for him to show up here, rattled Sam to his core.

“Hey, I think that’s him there.”

Sam could barely breathe as he turned around. A man had just walked in. As the closing door blocked the sun, he came out of silhouette.

Getting only a glimpse, Sam whipped back around. He hadn’t seen Tom in fifteen years, but he would have recognized him anywhere. Was this a friendly visit or an arrest? Sam didn’t know, but everything in him told him to get out of there immediately.

Grabbing the card, Sam lowered his head and got up. There was an open doorway at the far end of the bar. It led to the bathrooms but Sam prayed that it also a way out. As he moved towards it, he heard, “Hey you.”

Sam kept walking trying to do everything he could to not draw attention to himself.

“Sam Bitter?” Tom bellowed across the bar.

That was it. Sam couldn’t pretend any longer. Breaking into a sprint, Sam ran through the doorway. Passing the bathrooms, he turned the corner. Passing another door he spotted the exit at the end of the hall.

Slamming into the metal bar, the door opened. Running outside, Sam looked both ways looking for an escape.

“Freeze, FBI,” Tom shouted as he came up behind him.

Without thinking, Sam headed left. Although the alleyway was a maze, to the right was a long corridor which left a lot of opportunity for Tom to aim and fire. A short distance to the left was a ‘T’ junction. If he could get there fast enough, Tom wouldn’t know which way he went.

“Stop or I’ll shoot.”

It didn’t work. Tom saw him. Quickly dodging right, Sam hoped to lose him in the turns. Taking another quick left, Sam considered his luck when he saw a tall chain-link fence ahead. He had chosen a dead end.

Not giving up, Sam sped up instead of slowing down. He knew he could climb it. Could Tom? He just needed to make it there before Tom had the chance to shoot him.

“Sam, stop!” Sam heard just as he was about to launch himself upwards.

With every move he made, Sam expected to hear a shot. There was now nothing to stop Tom. Wasn’t revenge what Tom was after? Wouldn’t shooting him dead give him that?

As Sam approached the top of the fence, he noticed that he was still alive. How? Didn’t Tom have a clear shot?

Over the top, Sam took a quick look back. Tom stood motionless at the end of the alleyway with his gun pointed at him. Why wasn’t he shooting? Why wasn’t he chasing him or yelling? Was he just waiting for Sam to make it to the other side before he fired?

Knowing he needed to get out of there as soon as possible, Sam threw himself from the top of the eight-foot fence. Hitting the ground, he rolled.

“Freeze!” Sam heard as he again scrambled to his feet.

Now separated by fifty feet and a fence, Sam looked back at Tom. Tom’s gun was pointed directly at him. Sam took a final look at the man he had once known and then turned and ran. If he hadn’t shot him by now, Sam was willing to bet that he wasn’t going to.

Sam was right. No longer hearing footsteps behind him, Sam approached the far corner of the alleyway. Turning right, he exited the maze on the far side of the block.

Slowing to a walk as not to draw attention to himself, he knew he needed to get out of there. He thought about his car parked in front of the bar. If it wasn’t already being watched, it would be soon. His car was lost to him. He was going to have to figure out somewhere close he could go.

‘Where was he?’ he wondered. Gainesville wasn’t his town. The only people he knew there were Jack and Maria.

That was it, he had to get to Jack’s place. Jack had mentioned that he was staying at a dump at the edge of town called the Florida Motel. That’s where he had to go.

Sam reached for his phone to tell Jack not to go to the bar. The phone wasn’t in his pocket. What had happened? Did he leave it in his car? Did he lose it when he jumped over the fence?

Looking down touching his pockets, it dawned on him that he was still clutching Tom’s business card. How could he still have that but not have his phone?

It didn’t matter. Sam didn’t have to call them. Unless Nick, the bartender ratted them out, they would just get a drink and wait for him. When he didn’t arrive they would leave a return home.

Sam could also imagine Jack trying to call him and getting Tom who had found his phone. That would be a problem, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Yes, it was possible that Sam had seen the very last of Jack and Maria, but Sam wasn’t going to accept that as a given. He had to go to Jack’s motel and find out.

It was as Sam walked the two miles to the Florida Motel that he passed a liquor store. Going in he bought a fifth of vodka, put it in a paper bag and continued his walk.

Cracking it open he thought about how Tom could have found him. It didn’t make sense. There were only a few people who knew he might be there. He only went to the bar when he was in Gainesville. And he was only in Gainesville when he was organizing a job.

‘Lamar,’ Sam realized. Jack had said that Lamar was missing. The FBI must have gotten him. Tom’s visit was definitely not about catching up on old times. He was there to arrest him for the bank robberies.

In spite of why he was there, Sam couldn’t help but think back to the times he had with his childhood friend. Sam wondered if he would have been attracted to guys if he hadn’t met Tom. His friend had awakened something in young Sam, and once it got a hold of Sam it hadn’t let him go.

Though he was continuously vowing that he would stop, Sam still thought about Tom every day. Tom haunted him. And when the thought of Tom’s naked body would flood his mind, the only thing that could put an end to it was a lot of alcohol. With that, Sam took a large swig of vodka.

It took Sam an hour to walk the back streets to Jack’s motel. Hiding in the woods across the street from it, Sam stared at its driveway and drank. He still couldn’t believe he had seen Tom after all of this time. His chest hurt thinking about him.

Sam looked at Tom’s crumpled card again. On the back was a handwritten number with the word ‘cell’. Was that Tom’s cell number? His heart ached thinking about it. He wanted so badly to talk to Tom. But what would he say to him if he could?

Just as Sam began to lose hope that Jack and Maria would ever come back, Sam saw a car park in front of the motel. He perked up watching who got out. It was a man and a woman. That had to be Jack and Maria.

Getting up, Sam realized how very drunk he was. Leaving the nearly empty bottle behind, he crossed the busy highway. It was rush hour. With the cars moving quickly Sam shot forward unsure if he would make it. When the last of the cars whipped behind him and he was marching towards Jack’s door, he suddenly realized that he was going to have to tell them about Tom. What was he going to say?

Sam banged on the door. “Open up. It’s Sam.”

There was a slight pause before the door opened. Handsome Jack stood blocking the doorway.

“Why weren’t you at the bar?”

“Let me in. There’s someone after us.”

Jack’s mouth dropped open. Ushering Sam in, Jack looked around outside before closing and locking the door.

Sam stumbled into the small room spotting a chair against the far wall. He headed to it and sat down.

“Who’s after us?” Jack asked.

Hearing the question, Sam looked around for his vodka bottle. Remembering where he left it, he turned to Jack. “I need a drink.”

Jack turned towards the bottles standing on the mini fridge. He had poured himself two fingers of whiskey. Jack handed Sam his whiskey and then poured another one for himself. Sam sipped it and then put the glass on the ground.

“Now, who’s after us, Sam?”

“The FBI. They were waiting for me at the bar.” Sam knew that that wasn’t exactly how it went but it was close enough.

“How did they know to find you there?” Maria asked from the bed.

“I think Lamar told them. You said that you couldn’t get a hold of him. Did you?”

“No. Neither of them. Lamar and Louie. Neither of them is answering. You said they were waiting for you? Did you see them?”

“Yeah. There was one. He chased me through the alley. He could have shot me if he wanted. He didn’t.”

“Could he have followed you here?” Jack asked getting nervous.

“There’s no way. If he would have had the chance to take me, I think he would have.”

“We were in there,” Maria said drawing Sam’s attention. “We waited for you in there for an hour. Why didn’t you call us and let us know they were there?”

“I didn’t have my phone,” Sam explained.

“Jesus,” Jack exclaimed knocking back his drink. Jack sat on the edge of the bed facing Sam. “What do we do?”

“I don’t know,” Sam admitted staring at the two others.

“Fucking great, Sam,” Maria said grabbing herself a drink.

“It’s not my fault,” Sam said unconvincingly.

“It’s never your fault, is it? Everything is always someone else’s fault. I need to get out of here.”

Maria took her glass and left. Sam got up to go after her, but Jack waved him off.

“Let her go. She just needs to blow off steam. I’m gonna be honest, she really doesn’t like you.”

Sam fell back into the chair. “That’s because I fucked her cousin.”

Jack thought for a second. “I thought you said her cousin’s name was Tony?”

Sam froze realizing what he said. His drunk mind scrambled. “It is. You know, she’s one of these chicks with guy names.”

“But didn’t you say you worked with him?”

Sam shook his head and laughed. He couldn’t think fast enough to explain that one.

Jack stared at him unresponsive. After a long pause, Jack spoke again.

“Wait, why would she be mad that you slept with her cousin?”

Sam gave up. “I don’t know what to tell ya, man.”

“So, you and Maria fucked?” Jack said putting it together.

“Yeah. But it was like five years ago.”

“No wonder she hates you so much,” Jack joked.

“Yeah,” Sam replied with a laugh.

“And when you two were together, you fucked her cousin named Tony.”

Sam looked at Jack and then threw back the rest of his drink. He didn’t need the extra alcohol. The room was already dancing around him. He was already drunker than he needed to be.

“I gotta pee,” Sam said getting up and heading to the bathroom.

Sam did his best to walk straight. He failed. Sam could get there, but his route reflected the near fifth of vodka he had drunk.

Standing in front of the moving toilet he took out his dick and peed. As he did, he became aware of someone watching him. Looking towards the door, he saw Jack. What was he doing? Sam wasn’t sure but he could feel is cock grow hard in his hand as Handsome Jack stared.

Tapping off, he slung his cock back in his pants, flushed and then washed his hands. The entire time, Jack watched. As Sam tried to walk past Jack in the doorway, Jack stepped in front of him and the men stood inches apart.

Inhaling Jack’s manly scent, Sam wondered if Jack was threatening to hit or kiss him. Sam knew which he preferred. The sensation of having Handsome Jack so close to him was making him hard. Sam’s heart thumped. Sam moved in closer threatening to touch Jack’s lips with his own. And instead of moving away or slugging him, Jack leaned towards him and they kissed.

Jack’s firm strong lips sent a warm wave down Sam’s body ebbing at his growing cock. Sam had thought about this for so long and when Jack grabbed his neck kissing him harder, Sam held his cheeks walking him backward.

Approaching the bed, Sam forced him down. Climbing on top of him, the men ripped at their clothes. Stripping the man underneath him, he pushed his hands across Jack’s rippling chest. The feeling made his cock flinch. And when he pulled at Jack’s pants unzipping him, he felt the bulge of Jack’s hard cock and lost his breath.

Pulling Jack’s pants off, he clutched Jack’s clothed cock and reconnected their lips. As they kissed, Jack stripped him. When Sam’s cock was free and Jack pulled away, Sam released Jack from his embrace allowing him to leave a trail of kisses down his body. Jack stopped at Sam’s groin. Moments later, Jack slipped Sam’s cock into his warm mouth.

Sam whipped his head back feeling Jack’s tongue trace the rim of his head. Sam found it hard to breathe. Massaging Sam’s balls, Jack proved that he knew what he was doing. When Jack pushed Sam’s cock onto the back of his throat and then swallowed it, Sam felt like he could have exploded.

Pushing Jack away and withdrawing his cock, Sam knew what he wanted to do next. Manhandling Jack, he flipped him onto his knees. Yanking his underwear down he pushed Jack’s chest to the bed. Forcing Jack down opened up his ass cheeks. His hole looked tight. And lubed from Jack’s spit, he gripped his thick cock and took aim.

It was then that the motel room’s door opened. Sam looked up seeing Maria take a step and then freeze. Perhaps this should have mattered to Sam but he was too drunk to care. There was something about his ex-girlfriend watching him fuck her new boyfriend that turned Sam on. So as she watched, he turned back to Jack’s virginal asshole and pushed.

“Ahh,” Jack moaned.

Hearing that, Maria entered and closed the door. She gave Sam a look telling him that she couldn’t believe what Sam was doing. That didn’t stop him. He just pushed harder.

As Jack’s soft spot gave way, Jack took a deep breath. Relaxing, Jack’s asshole opened up and swallowed Sam’s cock. Jack’s tight hole was choking him. Unwilling to give up this manly fight, Sam forced his way in. Jack groaned.

Finally, when Sam’s balls touched Jack’s bare ass, Sam relented. Leaning forward and wrapping his arms around Jack’s chest, he drank in the sensation of having a strong back against his taut body. It made his breath hitch.

Kneeling back up, Sam gripped Jack’s waist. Holding him tightly, he withdrew his long, thick cock and then sunk it back in. It felt fantastic. Closing his eyes he allowed the pleasure to wash through him. Allowing his neck to roll he took in every movement and the feeling that came with it. Sam was almost lost in the sensation when he heard a high-pitched moan.

Opening his eyes, Sam looked over at Maria. She had one hand caressing her tit while the other rubbed the denim covering her clit. Watching him and her boyfriend was turning her on. Sam couldn’t believe it. And the harder he fucked Jack, the softer her face became and the more her breasts heaved.

“Come here,” Sam ordered.

Maria approached the naked men reaching for the side of Sam’s face. Touching it, she guided Sam’s lips to hers. Allowing the tips of their tongues to gently swirl together, she felt Sam’s hand slip under her shirt. In a moment her shirt was off.

Still vigorously fucking Jack, Sam continued to undress Maria. Desperately wanting to join the pile of hot naked flesh, she helped. When nothing but Maria’s mocha skin stood before him, Sam held one of her full breasts in one hand and put the other on the inner bend of Jack’s hip. Knowing that he was holding a naked man and woman at the same time drove Sam wild.

“Let him fuck you,” Sam whispered in Maria’s ear.

Maria’s eyes brightened as she smiled for the first time.

Sam stopped fucking and allowed Jack to push up onto his hands. Seeing an opening Maria slid underneath Jack. Lying on her back, Jack kissed her. And steering Jack hard cock from deep inside his ass, he pushed Jack’s dick into Maria.

As the three of them fucked each other, Maria and Jack moaned. Sam controlled it all. When he fucked Jack harder, Jack fucked Maria harder. When he rotated his hips circling Jack’s hole, Jack did the same to Maria. It was phenomenal.

Leaning forward, Sam reached around Jack and pinched Maria’s nipples. She squealed. Messaging them between his fingertips, Sam suddenly started thinking of Tom.

Why had Tom come to find him by himself? Why hadn’t he shot? Perhaps Tom still thought about the things that the two boys had done all those years ago. Perhaps he wanted more.

Sam thought about the gorgeous man he looked back at as he stared through the chain-link. He was lean, and fit and every bit of the guy he once knew. Sam thought of him naked. Sam thought about him writhing under him just as Jack was now. And when he pictured Tom grabbing his neck and kissing him, he felt the tingle shoot up his inner thigh and rocket towards his balls.

Fucking Jack harder and pinching Maria’s nipples the two bodies beneath him squealed. Forcing them to erupt in orgasm, Sam turned his thoughts to the boy he had never stopped thinking about. Throwing his hips as hard as he could against Jack’s warm ass, Sam freed his mind and exploded into the man beneath him.

“Ahhhh!” Sam bellowed before collapsing onto Jack.

Jack couldn’t hold Sam up for long. With his arms shaking, he fell onto Maria. Crushed under the weight of the two men, she pulled herself from underneath them pulling Jack’s shrinking cock out of her.

With the full effects of the alcohol kicking in, Sam held onto Jack to steady the room. He liked having a solid body in his arms. It felt so secure and powerful. Sam could lay like that all night if only he could get himself to stop thinking about Tom.

Why had he been at the bar? If it was related to the bank jobs, then why had he entered the bar alone? Sam needed to know.

What if he had been there for another reason? What if it was because Tom had thought about him like he had thought about Tom? Sam had to find out.

When Sam remembered that he had Tom’s phone number, he knew what he was going to do next. Letting go of Jack, Sam sat up. The man he left didn’t move. He had to have passed out. He hadn’t drunk much with Sam, but Sam didn’t know how much he had drunk before he left for the bar or while he was there. The same was true for Maria.

Dragging his exhausted body down the bed, Sam rifled through his pants pocket for Tom’s business card and his phone. Only finding one, he remembered that he had lost his phone. Not giving up, he next searched Jack’s pants.

Withdrawing Jack’s phone, he turned over Sam’s business card and dialed Tom’s number. It rang. Sam didn’t know what he wanted to say to him. He was more interested in proving that he really had seen his long lost friend.

“Hello?” the voice said on the other end of the phone.

Sam fought himself to speak. “Tom?”

“Who’s this?”

“Why were you chasing me, Tom?”

“Sam?”

“Why were you chasing me?”

“Because you broke the law and people got hurt.”

“You want to put me in jail? Is that what you want?”

“I want justice, Sam.”

“For what? For the robbery or for what I did to you?”

“Turn yourself in, Sam. Tell me where you are and I’ll come and get you.”

“Is that all you want from me?” Sam asked heartbroken.

“Just turn yourself in. We can talk all you want if you turn yourself in.”

Sam hung up the phone and lowered it. It had been what Sam had feared. Tom wanted revenge.

As he sat there thinking about it, the phone rang. Startled, Sam looked at the number. It was the one he had just dialed. Tom was calling him back. Sam decided not to answer it. Turning off the ringer, he lowered his head in his hands trying to figure out what had just happened.

“Who was that?”

Sam looked back at the two naked bodies. Maria’s eyes were open staring at him.

“I… I don’t know,” Sam replied confused by who Tom had become.

“Was that the FBI agent who was chasing you?”

Sam didn’t know what else to say but the truth. “Yeah.”

“You know him?”

“I did once,” Sam admitted with a heavy heart.

“Oh,” Maria chirped allowing the thought to filter through her. “So is the job dead?”

“Is that all you’re worried about, the job?”

“I needed the work,” Maria admitted.

“We all did.”

“So, it’s not going to happen?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Shit.”

Sam looked back at Maria. She looked distressed. It had been a long time since he had felt anything for her but in that moment, he felt her pain.

“What’s the matter?”

“I really needed the money.”

“Sorry,” Sam said looking away.

“Can you take me somewhere?” Maria asked drawing his attention.

“I had to abandon my car.”

“Jack has a car.”

Sam looked back at Maria then over at Jack. The more Sam stared at the naked man, the less Sam wanted to be there.

“Where do you have to go?” Sam asked.

“I have to go check on something.”

Sam lowered his head unsure of what else to do. “Okay,” Sam agreed reaching for his pants.





[pba_chapter_break]Chapter 5[/pba_chapter_break]



Tom entered the van and immediately reached for his raid gear.

“The attendant said that there is only one person checked in. Room number seven. That has to be him,” Tom said.

“Are you sure he’s here?” Bill asked already geared up.

“This is where the call came from and it was him who called. If anywhere, this is where he’ll be.”

“That’s good enough for me. Everyone on five. Counting down.” Bill held up his hand. “Five, four, three, two, one.”

As before, six men poured out of the Van. Heading to the motel room fully armed, they approached room seven and then made space for the man with the battering ram. Bill held up his hand extending three fingers, then two, then one.

The door broke open with an explosion. The six men poured into the small space looking to aim their rifles at anything that moved. There was a man naked on the bed. Tom recognized him from his picture. It was Jack Roland, aka Handsome Jack. It was one of the two remaining bank robbers. Sam had been there, but he wasn’t now.

Grabbing the dazed naked man by the leg, Tom pulled him out of bed. Handcuffing him, he threw him into a chair. Looking Jack square in the eyes, Tom walked towards him and then went to work.





[pba_chapter_break]Chapter 6[/pba_chapter_break]



When Sam saw the sign that read Orlando next exit, he maneuvered the car towards it.

“Where are you going?” Maria asked him.

“I’m gonna stop by my place. I want to change out of these clothes and grab another phone. It’ll only take a minute.”

Maria looked at him like she was going to protest but didn’t.

Sam left the highway, zigzagged the city streets to his apartment and then parked.

“You want to come up or stay here?”

“I’ll stay here,” Maria replied.

“You sure. I got plenty of snacks up there.”

“I’m good. You go,” she insisted.

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Before Sam could leave Maria spoke up.

“Hey Sam, can I ask you a question.”

Sam, who had his hand on the door handle, looked back. “What is it?”

“You ever think about doing something else?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, like, goin’ legitimate.”

Sam let go of the door and sunk back into his seat. He paused becoming lost in thought. “I think about it.”

“Why don’t you do it?”

“Because I don’t have a good reason to.”

“What would be a good reason?”

“I don’t know,” Sam admitted. “But it would have to be something pretty big.”

“You mean, like, if you had a kid or something?”

Sam looked at Maria never having considered that before. “I guess.” Sam thought about it more and shook his head with a growing smile. “Yeah, I think so.” He then laughed. “But you were there a few hours ago, right? What’s the odds of someone wanting to have my kid?”

Sam again grabbed the door handle. “You sure you don’t want to come up?”

“No. Go ahead,” Maria said slowly becoming lost in thought.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

Sam left the keys in the car and headed towards the stairs. Stepping onto the second-floor walkway, he pulled out his keys and headed to his door. As he unlocked it, he heard the car rev up and drive away.

Turning to look, Sam didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t his car and Maria wasn’t his girl. If she wanted to take off, so be it. The only thing that confused him was why she would have wanted him to come with her if she was just going drop him off and leave. He could have stayed back in Gainesville with Jack. Maybe they couldn’t have come up with a new plan, but Sam was sure that the two could have come up with other ways to fill the time.

No longer having to head back out, Sam walked to the couch and collapsed. It took no time to fall asleep. Uninterrupted Sam could have slept ten hours. But what felt like minutes later, Sam was woken up by banging on the front door. If he didn’t answer it, he was sure that whoever it was was going to break it down.

“I’m coming,” Sam mumbled feeling like he was still drunk.

Pausing in the middle of the living room he looked around like he had forgotten something. The person banged on the door again.

“I said I’m coming,” Sam barked before heading towards it and reaching for the knob.

When Sam opened the door, it took him a moment to figure what he was looking at.

“Oh shit!” he spat as it hit him. And with that, he realized that his life would never be the same again.



*****