Fearless Leader (Juxtapose City) Read Online Free PDF

outside."
    Black watched his captain walk down the dirty hallway to the stairwell. He needed aspirin badly. His head felt like it was going to explode. He turned and braced his hands against the peeling wallpaper of the hallway, shutting his eyes as the implications of what he'd just agreed to struck his brain like a mallet. What a mess.
    He didn't jump when large hands wrapped around the back of his neck and began to carefully knead the taut muscles. He'd heard Jake approach. He'd also heard the muffled thump of a silenced weapon being discharged from the bedroom-- the end of Eric Kelpy.
    "How's your head?" the larger man asked.
    "Do me a favor and cut it off," Black muttered. "It's more pain than it's worth right now."
    "You really need some rest, Black. I'll bet you haven't slept since-- for a while now." Strong fingers dug in, making Black bite back a moan of pain-pleasure. "So what's up with that little scene we just saw?"
    Jake's hands encouraged him to submit to the massage but Black knew he didn't have time for the indulgence. Ignoring the other man's snort of irritation he shrugged off the touch and turned around. "Volton and Lord are at each other again, nothing new. I doubt there's much more to this."
    Jake rolled his eyes. "Not that. I'm talking about the psychic freak in there. What's his name?"
    "Calyx Starr," Black murmured, feeling the weight of Dickerson's demands hanging like a stone around his neck. "He's joining us along with Sola."
    Silence from Jake. He was too stunned to speak. After a long moment, he sputtered, "Are you joking?"
    Black firmed his expression. "We'll speak to Sola now, and then you’ll wait for me while I deal with Starr."
    "Jesus Christ. This is nuts. The captain's fucktoy--"
    Black fisted a hand in the larger man's jacket, shoving him against the wall. Despite the differences in height and weight Jake looked suitably intimidated. "If I ever hear you say that again I'll write you up, Jake. He's going to be a member of the team from now on. So deal with it."
    Jake held up his hands. "Sorry, Black. It's just-- it's a surprise, you know?"
    Black felt suddenly very, very weary. The stress of his fallen teammates and now this was starting to get to him and shorten his admittedly volatile temper. He released other man. "I know," he muttered, backing away. "Just go with me on this, Jake. This is difficult enough as it is."
    The rare admittance of need got through to the other man as threats never would. "Sure, Black. You know I'll back you." Jake started to reach for other man's chin but when Black tensed he dropped his hand. "Let's go talk to Sola, huh? I wanna know if that guy's as big an asshole as he seems."
    Shaking his head, Black followed the other man back into the apartment. As they headed to the bedroom where the victim was being kept, Starr and Officer Aines passed them on the way out.
    "We'll be waiting outside," Aines told them, a hand on the empath's arm.
    Starr threw Black a quick smirk, all visible evidence of stress erased from his body. "Don't keep me waiting, sweetheart."
    "Shut up and keep going," Aines snarled, pushing him forward.
    "God help us," Jake mumbled, continuing on to the bedroom.
    Black followed but could not help a glance back. Green eyes caught him, amusement bright in their depths. Shit.
    "Naughty, naughty," the empath called out before being shoved outside into the hallway.
    This, Black decided, was going to be a nightmare.
     
~~~~~
     
    "Give me a cigarette."
    Officer Aines snorted where he leaned against the police craft. "It's my last one. No fucking way."
    Calyx smiled. "Give it to me or I'll find something else of yours to suck on." He let his voice drip with innuendo. "Or maybe that's why you're holding out, hmmm, officer? Just because you're married doesn't mean you can't experiment."
    The nearly empty packet skidded across the ground at Calyx's feet.
    He chuckled. "Thank you."
    "Why I'm a fucking baby-sitter to a freak..."
    Calyx closed his ears to