Melting Ice 6 Read online

  Published by Mojocastle Press, LLC Haymarket, Virginia

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  Melting Ice 6

  ISBN: 978-1-60180-208-8

  Copyright @ 2013 D.J. Manly Cover Art Copyright @ 2013 April Martinez All rights reserved.

  Excluding legitimate review sites and review publications, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Copying, scanning, uploading, selling and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without permission from the publisher is illegal, punishable by law and will be prosecuted.

  Available online at: http://www.mojocastle.com/

  Also By D.J. Manly:

  Melting Ice Melting Ice 2 Melting Ice 3

  Melting Ice 4 Melting Ice 5 The Russos: Digital Soap

  Dedication:

  To the faithful fans of the Melting Ice Series.

  Chapter One

  Quincy had done a lot of walking lately. It helped him to clear his mind. When he was inside, his counsellor had told him to dwell on the positive, the future.Don’t waste time on the past. You can’t change it. You can only move on.It was great advice. In fact, he paid lip service to it often with the ex-cons at the halfway house. If only there wasn’t something…or someone…he couldn’t let go of.

  Today, his pep talk wasn’t doing him any good. Ever since he’d spotted Tyler Richmond’s name in the paper this morning, Quincy couldn’t think of much else.

  Tyler had made detective, and more recently, he’d received a commendation for exhibiting exceptional bravery in the line of duty.

  That didn’t surprise Quincy at all. Tyler had always been a risk taker, never one to shy away from a challenge. What did surprise him, however, was how deeply seeing that picture affected him. He hadn’t seen Tyler for almost eight years, two of which Quincy had spent behind bars. Although they lived in the same city, Quincy had never even run into Tyler by accident. Not to say, he hadn’t imagined what they’d say if he had. Would Tyler say he missed him? Can we get together for coffee, or…?

  No. Tyler was probably in a relationship with some fabulous guy. And he was sure many men had had the pleasure…the joy of sharing Tyler’s bed since their relationship ended.

  Quincy closed his eyes for a moment. He still remembered their first time. They’d met in their final year in high school. He was strong, athletic and daring, and everyone loved him.

  The first day in a new school in his senior year had been a real downer for Quincy. His parents had moved to a new house in a different neighbourhood, and there was no way Quincy could attend his old school. All his friends were there, and he’d wanted to graduate with them. But the first time he saw Tyler walking down the hallway, the sadness lifted. He was beautiful, and he actually smiled at him as he walked by. When Quincy noticed Tyler was in all his classes, he suddenly felt shy. Tyler was always surrounded by friends. He was articulate, smart, and all the girls adored him. And one boy. Quincy.

  Tyler didn’t say anything to him until the second day. In the locker room, while Quincy held his breath watching Tyler strip off his shirt, Tyler glanced at him and asked, “You play football?”

  Quincy just shook his head.

  “Too bad. Team needs some new blood.” “Ah…when is it…the practices?”

  “After school today.”

  It was a chance to get close to him, be friends. So

  Quincy went out to play football. He was horrible, but Tyler didn’t say anything. He was mainly there to warm the bench. The main thing was Quincy found out that Tyler lived next door to him. They walked home together. Sometimes Tyler drove his car. They became friends. Quincy wanted so much more. He was falling in love with a guy he thought for sure was straight.

  Then one night in Tyler’s room, Quincy kissed him. He waited, expecting Tyler to punch him. But instead, Tyler pressed Quincy down to the bed and kissed him back.

  You don’t want to kill me?

  No. I don’t want to kill you. I want to fuck you. Tears filled Quincy’s eyes now. They undressed

  each other, touching and kissing and…God, when Tyler took Quincy’s cock into his mouth, Quincy was sure he’d lose his mind. It was magic, incredible magic. He knew he wanted to be with Tyler forever, and when Tyler began to talk about their future, Quincy knew he felt the same.

  I don’t care who knows it, Quince, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you. I’ll never love any other.

  I love you too, Tyler. I can’t believe it. All my dreams are coming true.

  Quincy pushed those memories aside and came back to the present, looking out at the river. None of it mattered now. Tyler hated him.

  The wind coming off the Hudson was unusually cold today for late September. Quincy turned up his collar. In the distance, he could see the Statue of Liberty. It had never meant much to him before he was sent away but now, liberty was everything. It wasn’t a word to be taken lightly. He’d said that to Brian, the newest resident at the halfway house, the other day.

  “I wish I was back inside,” Brian had said to Quincy. “This liberty shit, who needs it, man! No one will give me a job.”

  Quincy had tried to tell him how important it was to be out, free.

  Tears streaming down his face, Brian said, “You don’t know how it feels. I had everything at one time. Now I’ve lost it.”

  But he knew how it felt to lose everything. He knew too well, and it wasn’t his liberty, his promising career in computer programming or even the loss of his older brother that caused him to cry his heart out on those long lonely prison nights. Tyler Richmond had been his everything, the only thing that had ever given his life true meaning and in one moment of stupidity, he’d lost him forever.

  His cell phone rang. Quincy brushed the tears away, tears he was convinced were brought on by the cold wind. He took out his phone, swung it open and cleared his throat. “Hello.”

  “Boss, it’s Alan, we just got a call from Sand and Fortuna, their system is down again. I sent Paul over. He says he could use a hand. You want me to close up, or…?”

  “No, I’ll swing by and join Paul. I told the C.E.O. his system was outdated. It needs an upgrade. I’ll see if I can talk him into it this time. Can you do an installation tomorrow morning if Allan is booked?”

  “Sure.”

  “Okay, see you back at the office later.” Quincy hung up and hurried to the car.

  When he was released from prison, he’d tried to get a job in computer programming at several companies, but no one would hire him. So, he’d started his own company in the basement of his sister-in-law’s house, doing everything from repairing computers to setting up websites.

  He got some contracts at bigger companies. He hired two people and bought a small building which he’d converted into a storefront, with a bachelor for himself upstairs. He was in debt up to his neck, but it beat living in his sister-in-law’s basement.

  He did miss spending so much time with his nineyear-old niece, though. What with the business and his volunteer work at the halfway house, he’d had little time to see Allison lately, although they stayed in touch by texting. Like her uncle, that girl was a big techie.

  Quincy pulled out his phone once he was at the office building and texted his niece as he waited for the elevator to the tenth floor. He told her he loved her and that he’d see her soon. He was surprised when her pretty little face popped up right away.

  “Hey, Uncle. Where are you?”

  “Downtown, going to work. You’re supposed to be in school. Wha
t gives, princess?”

  “School! It’s almost five, Uncle Quince, what planet you on?”

  Quincy checked his watch. “Shit. Oh, the time has gone. I’m on Pluto, you?”

  “Uranus,” she giggled.

  “Ha, ha.”

  “This is my friend, Janie.” Allison moved out of the way to let her friend wave at him.

  “Hello, Janie,” he smiled, eyeing the elevator. “Listen, I gotta…” They weren’t listening.

  “What’s happening? Sounds like a lot of giggling going on.”

  “She thinks you’re to die for.” Allison announced, her girlfriend protesting in the background. “I told her you were a big goof.”

  “Better than a big poof,” I joked.

  “Oh, Uncle Quince! I left that part out. Let her dream.”

  “How very gracious of you. Anyway, tell her thank you,” he grinned. “Now, you girls behave yourself. Where’s Mom?”

  “She’s drinking coffee with Janie’s mom in the kitchen. They’re talking about our trip to Disneyland.”

  “Oh, right, you’re off to Disney in a few days.” His sister in law had finished her degree in accounting after Bruce died. She had a good job with a huge accounting firm. “Listen, I’ll try to see you before you go.”

  “When? I miss you,” Allison groaned.

  She sounded like a little girl. Quincy smiled. “I’ll drop by this weekend before you take off, sweetie. We’ll do something.”

  “Okay, love you, Uncle Quincy.” She blew a kiss at him.

  “Love you, kid,” he said and closed the phone. He was thinking about Bruce as he headed to the elevator. He couldn’t help it. Allison looked just like his brother. No one should have had to die the way he did.

  He swallowed hard, told himself to concentrate on the task ahead, dwell on all the good things about his life.

  “You’ve turned your life around,” Marty told him the other night as they sat at the halfway house drinking coffee. One of the cons had gone out and committed robbery again. The cops had just been there to arrest him. Marty took that stuff personally. “There,” he said, “I’ve lost another one.”

  “Marty,” Quincy told him, “like you told me, you can guide them, you can’t hold yourself responsible when they go out and do the same thing again and again.”

  Marty shrugged, touched his shoulder.

  What would he have done without Marty, the fiftyyear-old ex-con who ran the halfway house he was sent to when he got out? Gruff, tough, no-nonsense Marty, with a heart of gold. He kept them in line, and always told them the truth even if they didn’t want to hear it. “I’m so proud of you, Quince…and the way you give your time here. You don’t have any time to relax. You need someone in your life, kid. It’s the same for you fellows as anyone else, I suppose.”

  Marty always referred to the gay cons as ‘you fellows’. He didn’t mean any offense, and no one took any. He treated everyone the same.

  Quince didn’t comment on the last suggestion. Yes, he had needs like any other man. He got his lovin’ on the run, so to speak, a series of one-night stands, none of which he wanted repeat performances with.

  When he walked into the main office of Sand and Fortuna, his employee Paul, was picking up his stuff and putting it into his black bag. He lifted a hand.

  The C.E.O. came over as soon as he saw Quincy, a short, bald little man, who seemed to be always on edge. “There you are, Mr. Ulverton. I told your man here to let you know we are going to go with the upgrade. Your estimate hasn’t changed?”

  “Hello, Mr. Phillips.” They shook hands. “The price is the same, as well as the maintenance agreement.”

  “Sounds good. When can we do it?”

  “Tomorrow morning?”

  “Perfect. Have the man leave me the invoice when he’s completed the job.”

  “No problem.”

  Paul came to join them. “The system should be all right for now, but you won’t be able to run any logistics,” he told Mr. Phillips.

  “Fine,” the man nodded, “just as long as we can finish payroll.”

  “You didn’t need me after all, I guess,” Quincy commented to Paul.

  “Nope.” He grinned. “After Mr. Phillips said he’d go for the system upgrade, I put in a temporary fix so these fine people could get paid.”

  As if on cue, some of the employees nearby applauded. Quincy and Paul walked to the elevator together.

  “You’re a hero, Paul.” Quincy slapped him on the back.

  He chuckled. “Want me to do it tomorrow, or…?”

  “Alan will go. You’re booked at Macy’s.”

  “Oh crap, yeah, forgot.” They stepped on the elevator and Quincy pressed ground. Quincy saw Paul check his watch. “Why don’t you go home to your wife and kids?”

  “That’s where I’m heading. Sloppy Joes tonight.”

  “Enjoy,” Quincy told him.

  On the street, they went their separate ways. Quincy watched Paul until he disappeared, then observed all the other people hurrying home to their families. He had no one to go home to, but he remembered a time when he did.

  Hey, babe. When you coming home? I miss you. Soon, Ty, baby, I promise.

  Bring chicken. We’ll eat it in bed. I can’t wait to touch

  you. I’m horny as hell thinking about you. Quincy, I love you so much. Quincy leaned against the wall of the building. He smiled in his memory, the sound of Tyler’s voice in his head.I can’t wait to touch you either.

  Quincy swallowed hard, turned up the collar of his jacket and walked quickly back to his vehicle. He didn’t like this time of year, when autumn was only hanging on by a hair. It was damp, rainy and at any moment, the wind would pick up and they’d wake to a frosted ground.

  He slept badly that night, tossing and turning, dreams of Tyler, vivid and so sexy. A clear image of Tyler waiting for him in bed, lying there naked, his skin still damp from the shower. He smiled at Quincy seductively while slowly fondling his hard and ready cock.

  Quincy woke himself up moaning, his hands reaching. He could taste him as if it had been real. But his bed was empty. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep

  He was exhausted and unhappy when he finally opened his eyes. He checked his cell phone in bed. Allison’s text messages cheered him up. Don’t forget me. I miss you.Allison missed her father, and Quincy was the closest thing she had to one.

  Early that Saturday morning, Quincy dropped by Marty’s place to see the guys for a few minutes, and to let Marty know he’d be absent from his regular Sunday visit. “I’m sorry, Marty. Allison keeps asking me to spend some time with her, and my sister-in-law is taking her to Disney…”

  “Say no more,” Marty waved his hand as he poured Quincy some coffee at the kitchen counter. “You don’t have to apologise, kid. Go and have some fun already.”

  Quincy stirred his coffee. “It’s quiet this morning. What’s up?”

  “We had a new guy come in last night by the name of Sidney Bengal. Got a bit heated.”

  “Heated? What do you mean? I don’t like the sound of that.”

  Marty sighed. “Not sure that guy should be on probation. Got a bad temper.”

  “What was in for?”

  “Aggravated assault, but I’m sure he’s done worse. Last night, Brian said something he didn’t like, and Sidney picked up a chair and threw it at his head. I warned him, but he’s a cocky one.”

  “Talk to his parole officer if it keeps up. Maybe he wasn’t ready for the outside.”

  Marty sighed. “This one’s got some connections, or so he thinks. He won’t be here long. He’ll be back inside.”

  I studied my coffee. “Want me to talk to him?”

  “Won’t do any good. He told me he’s lined up a job, but I don’t know about that. It sounds...not exactly on the up and up. I’ve heard it all before. I know these wise guys.”

  “Maybe I should drop by tomorrow, and--”

  “No, don’t you worry yourself none, go on a
nd have a great day with that little niece of yours. She needs her uncle.”

  Marty was looking a little older today, the lines in his face a more pronounced. He was a former boxer who’d killed someone in the boxing ring. It might have been ruled accidental, except they discovered that Marty was in love with the guy’s wife. Quincy never did ask him if he’d meant it. Marty had done hard time, and it showed.

  “Get some rest,” Quincy said. “I’m going back to the office for a bit, then on to Allison’s. If you need me,” he swallowed the rest of the coffee, “you know where to find me.”

  “Love you, Quince,” he said.

  Quincy met his eyes. A moment passed between them. “I love you back, old man.”

  “Now get outta here…stop getting all mushy on me.” He waved his hands in the air.

  Quincy laughed and left the house. He stopped to speak with Brian, who was outside smoking on the stoop. “Should give those things up,” Quince told him. “They’ll kill you.”

  Brian laughed. “Yeah, so will five to ten in the joint, but people do it anyway. Got a part-time job down at Arnolds’ Bar and Tavern.”

  “Hey, shit, congratulations.” Quincy slapped him on the shoulder.

  “Yeah, well it’s not much, washing glasses, cleaning shit up, but…hey…” He stubbed out the cigarette.

  “So, don’t get into it with the new guy. Not worth it.”

  “Oh, man,” Brian stood. “I’m steering clear. The guy’s a psycho. Told me he killed some guy in prison and got away with it.”

  “Well, he’ll probably be back in the joint, so… see you later,” Quincy said. “Got some work to do.”

  Brian raised a hand.

  As Quincy walked around the corner, he came face to face with a big, muscular guy wearing only jeans and a tank top. In spite of the nip in the air, he seemed perfectly comfortable. He was covered with tattoos. Even his face sported a colourful serpent down one side. The man fixed Quincy with cold, dark eyes.

  Quincy nodded at him and intended to walk on. He didn’t want any trouble with this guy. When a hand shot out and grabbed Quincy’s arm, he was prepared to fight. He’d had to learn fast when he was sent up.