The Guy With the Suitcase (Once Upon a Guy #1) by Chris Ethan Read Free Book Online Page A

happened to him? He used to be such a positive person. A healthy man with a passion for his body and an empathy for the planet he lived on. He was a recycler, an energy and water saver, and a vegan bodybuilder in the making. To an outsider’s eye, he would be the epitome of a hipster, coming from a middle-class Christian family from Upstate New York. But he was nothing like his parents. They were the reason he’d become so pessimistic. Before they kicked him out, he was his own man. Now, he was a nobody at the mercy of the kindness of strangers.
    No. Pierce dismissed the negativity for now. He was going look at everything good about his life at that particular moment. He had a job. In a few months, he’d have a room, hopefully sooner if it paid well. His own room. Maybe next year he could resume college too. If to have all that he had to sleep wherever he could for another month or so, he would brave the winter. He would sleep in the subway. He would sleep at Central Park. He wouldn’t even care if he’d get pissed on or mugged again. If that’s what it took to kick start his life, he would do it.
    A shout permeated his ears and he turned to find the source. He couldn’t see anything, but a second scream guided him down the road he was walking and in to an alley between two apartment buildings. Two men were knelt on the ground pinning someone from the hands and legs while a third guy was unbuttoning the victim’s trousers, shutting his mouth with his hand.  
    The victim was also a guy. Pierce knew because he tried to ungag his mouth and grunted.
    “Shut the fuck up, boy. When you give up your ass, you ain’t screaming.”
    “Hey!” Pierce shouted at the guys before he could control himself.
    The guy who was doing the unbuttoning turned and, seeing Pierce, stood up. Pierce etched closer. The only streetlight in the alley hit the victim’s face and Pierce recognized it. It was Rafe.

“What do you want?” the cabrón asked. The one who had started all this.
    “I think it’s pretty clear the guy doesn’t want your dick in his mouth,” his potential savior said, “Frankly, I understand his sentiment. So, why don’t you let him go?” Rafe couldn’t see his face. The streetlight behind him was only gave him a silhouette but no features.
    “Run along, boy. You don’t wanna get involved in this,” the cabrón said. He was a 5-foot-something man with a cap on and a young face. He had big muscles and a generally big physique. The guy across him didn’t stand a chance. He was tall and much thinner.
    “Oh, something tells me I really wanna get involved in this. I also have the feeling this gonna end badly for some of you,” the guy paused, then continued with a chuckle. “Don’t—don’t you get the same feeling? Is it just me?”
    Rafe’s brusque attacker wasn’t having any of the attitude. “ Papi ,” he said, “you better run away now or you’ll regret this,” hitting his fist on his palm.
    “Ooh, I’m scared,” the guy derided. “But, honestly, that feeling is telling me that you will be the one to regret this. Isn’t that weird? I don’t know about you, but I want to put the feeling to the test,” he said and let down his briefcase.
    Rafe looked closer. As the guy bent down, the light touched briefly on the side of his head and he saw blue piercing eyes. And then the light hit the briefcase, which turned out to be a small suitcase. Could it—could it really be Pierce? Was he so fortunate? When the burro started running towards him, though, Rafe wished it wasn’t Pierce. He didn’t want him involved in his life. He didn’t want him hurt in his expense. He didn’t want that beautiful face ruined by the stitches he’d have to get after that asshole was done with him.
    The cholo charged at Pierce with a fist raised in the air. Pierce took a few steps forward, hunched, and forced his arm in the guy’s stomach, avoiding his punch in the process. He put his leg behind his feet and