Livingston Read online

  Livingston

  Trenton Security Book 1

  J.M. Dabney

  © 2018 Jami Dabney (J.M. Dabney)

  Hostile Whispers Press, LLC

  ISBN-13: 978-1-947184-17-6

  Edits by: AlternativEdits (Laura McNellis)

  Cover Art by: Reese Dante (reesedante.com)

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  Cover content is for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted on the cover is a model.

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  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: PLEASE READ

  Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

  REMEMBER:

  This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places, is purely coincidental.

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  PLEASE BE ADVISED:

  This book contains material that is only suitable for mature readers. It may contain scenes of a sexual nature and violence.

  Contents

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  1. Linus had To Be Fucking Kidding Him

  2. Where Was He Being Taken

  3. The Boy was Driving Him Insane

  4. Junk Food Everywhere!

  5. Juvie and Princess Would Pay for This Shit

  6. Fielding Didn’t Like Being Alone

  7. Shouldn’t He Be Used to the Stares?

  8. He’d Never Ridden a Motorcycle Before

  9. Close Enough to Touch

  10. Rage in the Aftermath

  11. Nowhere is Safe

  12. Obsession is the Name of the Game

  13. Death is the Best Bait

  14. On the Run

  15. They’d Pay for This

  16. Bodyguard Down

  17. This Wasn’t His Forte

  18. Where was His Pretty At?

  19. Who Were These People?

  20. The Crew was Going to Hand Him His Ass

  21. Fielding Would be His Finally

  22. Where was He?

  23. He was Bringing His Boy Home

  24. His Knight’s Armor was Pretty Dented

  25. Letting Him Go

  26. Of Course He Was Going to Say Yes

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Author’s Note

  This story contains scenes of extreme depictions of childhood trauma/violence. While it’s not written in great detail some readers may find the content objectionable.

  To my readers who embrace my characters who come in all shapes, sizes, and shades. Who also believe that even the broken can be beautiful. A very heartfelt thank you to The Asylum Residents, you all know who you are.

  Special thanks to all the ones who kick my ass or remind me why I write. Tracey, Meredith, Michelle, Qhuinn, Claudia and Dan, I appreciate you all more than any of you will ever know.

  Prologue

  Granger, Wyoming 1994

  “Livingston, we’ve done all that we can. More surgery would just—”

  Francis Livingston tuned out the doctor’s voice. The same conversation on fucking repeat and it always ended the same way. He was stuck with the scars that covered seventy-five percent of his body. He fisted his hands on his thighs and tried not to take a swing at the older man. It wasn’t the guy’s fault. His mind wandered as it always did when he didn’t want to hear the bullshit and it never went anywhere good.

  “Go to bed, Francis, I’ll be up to tuck you in,” his mother ordered, her hands in the soapy water.

  He’d thought it strange at the time. His mother never tucked him in—she barely acknowledged he existed. He remembered he’d walked through the living room. His siblings and the sister-wives were there, and they didn’t pay attention to him either. Mr. Teller was indisposed with one of the other sister-wives. This one was due to be cursed with another child, but she was the oldest, and she hadn’t given Mr. Teller a child in almost two years. He was born before the man his mother married had that fucked up ceremony. That bastard and his harem of plain, broken women, even at eight, he’d recognized it. Mr. Teller was quick to use his fists and belt to keep order in his house. He swung that leather punctuated with The Word and cowed the brainwashed occupants of the man’s home.

  He’d earned his mother’s revenge. For every beating she received, he’d gotten the same, but only more severe. He could still clearly see the crazed look in her eyes and the way her hair came undone from her bun in her fury. Wasn’t that what mothers did? He was evil, and he deserved his punishment. Love came in shades of blue and black, fading to a deceptively pretty purple and a sick greenish-yellow like the infection from his wounds in the early days of his treatment. All she required was him to repent, but for what? What had he done but be born?

  When he’d reached his room, he’d changed into his pajamas, simple plaid and crawled into bed. He’d studied the cracks in the ceiling, discerned shapes from the flowing lines then again where they broke at another small fissure. He shared his room with his mother. Two iron beds, nightstands with their ever-present bibles. The unfinished floors with their cracked planks cut into his knees where they bowed as he read to his mother from that book. He never recalled a time he believed in those words—God so loving and kind, but that book told of horrors and people dying for so-called sins. Pretending became second nature, but he no longer feigned faith and never would.

  His mother walked into his room that night with a smile, and that should’ve warned him of the hell to come.

  “Francis, have you repented for your sins today?”

  “Yes, mother.”

  “I believe you are lying to me and you know what happens to sinners.”

  Her voice so calm and serene, almost happy and apprehension had pooled in the pit of his empty stomach. They had deemed him ungrateful for the scraps they provided him and ordered him to sit at the table to watch the worthy eat. He remained silent. He didn’t beg or move as she secured each ankle and wrist to the bed with the softness of scarves. He could take the pain—he’d survived it his entire life. His mother’s first kind act could’ve been not letting him being born at all, but her selfishness won out. He knew she’d hoped to trap a man she thought was wealthy—who’d take care of her. When she’d left that city, she hadn’t anticipated the other wives and children waiting or the house which practically crumbled around them.

  She ranted as she beat him. Placed blame and he could repeat every word from memory—even eight years later.

  He’d braced for the first strike, fist or leather—it hadn’t mattered—it was just his life. It was his fault Mr. Teller wouldn’t sleep with her anymore. No matter how many times Mr. Teller tried, Livingston’s mother couldn’t carry another baby.

  He hadn’t started begging not even when she turned off the light and disappeared. Minutes or hours could’ve passed, but by the time she returned the house had grown quiet. The click of the light beside her bed drew his attention, and he’d watched her, the laziness of her movements and still with that happy expression on her face. The scent of gasoline thick in the room,
the odor burning his nose.

  “Do you know why I’m doing this, Francis?”

  She’d never called him anything other than his name, no son or cute nickname.

  “I was bad.”

  It was the last words he spoke before a rag was shoved deep into his mouth, choking him as he tried to breathe. His clothes became soaked as his mother poured the contents of the small red container over him and the bed. After the sulfur and gas stench, everything went fuzzy, and he was all screaming agony as his sheets and clothes ignited. Before he’d passed out, all that was left was that peaceful smile.

  He didn’t know how he escaped with only one side completely burned, but it was enough. He had Mr. Teller to thank for his life and his misery. He touched the thick, straight scars hidden within the grotesque landscape of his wrist. The one he’d slit a year ago hoping it would end and it hadn’t, and here he was being told that there was no more to be done.

  “The scars will fade over the years, but trying another procedure will only intensify them. I’m truly sorry, Livingston, you’re alive, you can live—”

  “I can what, live a normal life, no one fucking looks at me, doc, and when they do they know, know what happened. Will I find someone someday who wants to suck the freak’s cock, all the scarred inches of it? Will they whisper they love me? Will I ever walk down the fucking street and not—”

  “Livingston, you survived a horrific act that would’ve killed most, why don’t you accept God’s—”

  “Fuck God, was this part of your God’s plan?”

  “This was the act of a sick woman, not—”

  “Save it, doc.”

  He didn’t wait for more pretty, consolatory words that were nothing more than empty promises of a future he didn’t have. He rushed outside and pulled out the crushed pack of smokes, and then he lit one as he let his gaze shift left and right along the nearly empty Main Street. This town loved their secrets and their God, two more years and he could leave this place.

  He turned his back to the street as the big, battered Sheriff’s vehicle cruised down the road. That fucker knew what was going on out at that farmhouse and always looked the other way.

  “Shouldn’t you be in school, Livingston?”

  He spun on his toes, the brim of his cap low over his eyes and studied the brown chaw-stained lips.

  “Doc appointment, I got a note and everything.”

  “Don’t be a smartass, Livingston, you’re going to end your ugly ass up in my jail one of these days, and I’m going throw away the fucking key.”

  “Try your best, old man.”

  He turned to head back toward his foster home and the razor that was waiting for him—for the time he wouldn’t fail. By his own hands or the day he turned eighteen, he’d leave this fucking town, but his past was mapped in ridges of hollows of twisted skin. That was one thing he could never leave behind.

  One

  Linus had To Be Fucking Kidding Him

  Being the beast without the escape clause worked in his favor—most of the time. Other times it added to the ugliness on his body. Twisted the grotesque landscape of his flesh even more. Liv removed his tactical vest, thigh holster, and shoved them into his locker. Trenton Security became his second home the minute his boss, Linus Trenton, had hired him on about seven years ago, but they’d known each other over a decade. He loved his job, more dangerous the better. Linus only gave him solo missions others would consider suicidal.

  It was the only thing he lived for, and his boss knew it.

  A loud rapping of knuckles on the door caused him to glance over his shoulder. His teammate Harmon Little filled the doorway with his customary mischievous grin on his face. The man was an overgrown kid.

  “Liv, boss wants you in his office. He's got another death wish mission for you.” Little hollered but didn't come into the room.

  He smirked and slammed his locker door. He raised his hands and scrubbed them over his face, his fingertips and palm caught on the irregular planes of the scars. He'd memorized the dips and bumps on his ruined skin over the years.

  He still remembered the fire licking at his body. The stench of burning hair and flesh, still as strong in his memory as when he was eight. Twenty years and sometimes the dreams were so vivid as if it’d just happened. He shook it off and went to find out his next assignment.

  He strode quickly through the building, down hallways, then up to the third floor where their offices and conference rooms were. He entered through the open door without knocking. Linus was behind his desk with his phone pressed to his ear.

  “Yeah, Yeah, I love y'all too. Yes, I wore my vest, Hunter, and no, Wren, everything went fine. Unless we're in bed stay off my balls, baby.”

  He snorted and took a seat to wait for Linus to finish with the call to his husbands. He had no idea how Linus handled two men; he could barely get one to look at him. But his boss seemed happy. Even took fewer risks than Linus normally did. They used to be the first to jump at the insane missions. He tuned out the conversation because he didn’t want to listen to the lovey bullshit.

  Finally, the call ended, and Linus turned toward him.

  “Still digging the married life?”

  “It has its moments.”

  “Little said you had an assignment for me.”

  He didn't want to rush the boss, but he was ready to go home and take a shower. Three-day stakeouts didn't exactly make for pleasant smells. And he wasn't one to get naked in the locker room. He was plenty used to what he looked like, but he wasn't up for looks of pity or no looks at all.

  “Suspected stalker case. Simple bodyguard duty.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? No fucking way.”

  “You saying no to an assignment?” Linus' voice was lethally quiet.

  He knew that tone. Heard it plenty over their friendship but he hadn't heard it aimed his way before.

  “You know I don't handle babysitting cases. You always send Pure.” Pure Warner was ruthless as all of them combined; they assumed it was to make up for the pretty face. The man was huge, but he had these boyishly innocent features. Pure was perfect for babysitting jobs. He had an innate ability for putting even the most traumatized at ease.

  Now, him, not so much. His right side from his face to his toes was a patchwork quilt of burn and graft scars. The scars on his face were not as bad, but most of them were hidden by his beard. He’d found himself thankful for his ability to grow a beard when he couldn’t really grow hair on the right side of his body. The damage had destroyed most of his hair follicles. He silently cursed himself for dwelling on the shit he couldn’t change. His ugliest wounds were luckily under his clothes.

  They'd put expanders under the skin on his back to cover the worst of his injuries.

  “Pure has another assignment to handle. Little is a loose cannon. Gage has a full-time job keeping our asses out of trouble and or jail.”

  “Who's the client?”

  “Fielding Haskell. He's an up and coming actor. About to make it big or at least that's what his agent says. Filming starts in four months, and they want him hidden away until it does.”

  “Four fucking months?”

  Liv wasn't hearing this shit. He was not babysitting some fucking diva for months.

  “Once we get him stashed out at your place, your security system rivals the fucking Pentagon…you can come to the office. Bring him with you. He lands in four hours out at Cam’s place, since he's got the private airstrip for his men, we can sneak Haskell in.”

  Their friends Sin and Saint were married to the local Sheriff. They flew the rescue choppers for the Sheriff's department. Sometimes they even flew the Trenton team. They didn’t do it often since Sheriff Camden Pelter was obsessively protective of his boys.

  “I gotta go home and shower off three days’ worth of stench. How Little crashes in his van fucking astonishes me.”

  “You ain't fighting me on this, Liv?”

  “Would it do any good?”

&nbs
p; “Not at all. Meet out at Cam’s place at 0100 hours.”

  “Got it.”

  He didn't wait around, just grabbed the file Linus handed him and hurried to his SUV. Bulletproof from top to bottom, even with the tires taking a hit, they'd get him several more miles. Some called him paranoid, but he was simply cautious.

  He pulled out his fob, hit the remote starter and hopped into the driver's seat. It was forty-five minutes out to his cabin and then almost an hour to Cam's place. So he didn't have much time to get home, get showered and prepare his place for a guest. Hope the guy didn't require a lot of privacy. One room, one bed, he'd set up a bedroll, and be nice and give the kid the bed. He had slept in worse places.

  For ten years, he'd lived in war zones before coming back stateside and hiring on with Linus. He cleared his mind and made the drive, planning the whole way.

  Shit, he was running fifteen minutes behind. He slammed his brakes and skidded to a stop beside Linus' truck and the hangar. The small six-seat plane was just taxiing to a stop. He jumped from the vehicle and jogged toward Linus. The man looked cranky, but that wasn't anything new.

  “You're late.”

  He didn't bother answering. Linus didn't accept excuses and Liv didn't give them. He'd changed his sheets. Straightened up his place and stopped at the store on the way there to pick up more supplies. He lived a simple life. No frills. He had enough for him and not much more.