Unstable (Hooked Book 4) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Author Note

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Author Bio

  Unstable

  Hooked #4

  Charity Parkerson

  Without limiting the rights under copyright(s) reserved above and below, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

  Please Note

  The scanning, uploading, and distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Brief passages may be quoted for review purposes if credit is given to the copyright holder. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any resemblances to person(s) living or dead, is completely coincidental. All items contained within this novel are products of the author’s imagination.

  --Warning: This book is intended for readers over the age of 18.

  Copyright © 2016 Charity Parkerson

  Editor: Hercules Editing and consultants

  Photographer: Jeff Horner

  Cover Model: Eric TenBrink

  All rights reserved.

  Author Note

  I’ve never shied away from writing about controversial topics and non-traditional relationships because everyone is different and deserving of a happy-ever-after.

  With that said, in this case, I’ve decided to add this note as a trigger warning. This book involves some tragic topics, such as past child abuse. It may not be an easy read. It wasn’t easy to write, but this is Jimmy and Eli’s story. They deserve happiness too.

  Introduction

  “A bottle of liquor a day keeps the demons at bay.”

  After a childhood so horrific a book was published about it, Jimmy understandably didn’t become the most well-adjusted adult. He’s made it his business to blend into the background while drinking himself into an early grave. That is, until he pulls a homeless teen from the dumpster.

  Living on the streets hasn’t been easy for Eli. Anything is better than the life he left behind. Strangers haven’t always had the best of intentions when they claim they want to help. Jimmy is different. That doesn’t mean Eli won’t rob him blind and disappear into the night.

  When Eli returns, older and prepared to repay his debt, he never expects to give up more than his savings to the sexy bar owner. Sometimes, it takes two people who’ve seen hell to create heaven. Unfortunately, they’ll have to face their demons if they hope to make it work between them.

  Chapter 1

  Unstable. That was what Eli’s dad had called him before he’d kicked him out. In all his teenage rage, he’d puffed out his chest, flipped the old man a bird, and owned that shit. Yeah. He was a little off. Maybe he did shit even he couldn’t explain, but didn’t most teenagers? That was two years ago. Now, at seventeen, Eli didn’t feel the same rage. Oh, he was still pissed as hell, but for different reasons. Back then, he’d been all teenage angst and thinking the world owed him more. Now, he recognized how hard shit really was. He realized what the world really owed him was better parents.

  Fuck it. He didn’t need anyone. Living in the streets fucking sucked. He couldn’t lie. It’d be nice to sleep in a real bed and get a hot shower on the regular. But not if it meant getting punched around. This was better. His stomach growled, making a liar out of him. Tonight would be a cold one. Eli hated the thought of going hungry and freezing. One was bad enough on its own without adding the other.

  The dumpster behind Jimmy’s Bar usually got picked up by the city on Tuesdays. For some reason, they were a day behind. Maybe it was a holiday? Eli hadn’t been sure of the date in a long time. He wasn’t one to look too closely at a blessing. After dragging a crate closer, Eli climbed on and dug in. All he needed was a little bit of liquor to get him through the cold night—make him not care about his aching and empty stomach. He’d yet to find an alcohol that tasted good, but Eli wasn’t worried about that. It was the oblivion he sought. He hated himself a little for seeking its warmth. When it was well below freezing, Eli had to let some morals go.

  A squeal—like metal scraping metal—was the only warning Eli got before the back door to Jimmy’s swung open, spilling light onto the darkened pavement. A large figure blocked out the light. Without thought, Eli dove head first into the smelly pile of garbage. It wasn’t a soft or quiet landing. Something sharp scraped his arm and stabbed him in the back. Right away, he knew he hadn’t been quick enough. A loud yell rent the air. The clanging of bottles banging against each other beneath him drowned out the man’s words. Eli tried shifting his weight, hoping to spring from the dumpster. Before he got his bearings, a face appeared above him.

  Blond hair surrounded the man’s face—like a halo, hiding his features from sight. His shoulders were massive, blocking out the sky. Eli’s breaths came out in bursts, sounding loud even to his ears. His heart beat too fast to deliver oxygen to Eli’s starved brain. He couldn’t think of a way to escape.

  “Damn, kid. What are you doing? Don’t you know homeless guys puke in that fucking dumpster? Get the fuck out of there.” Without waiting for Eli to do as told, the dude plucked him out of the dumpster using one arm. Eli’s eyes widened. One second, he’d been on his back in the trash. The next, the world whirled past him until he was upright and on his feet.

  “Holy shit.” That was all he had. The guy’s arms were huge. Deep ridges and hard mounds made up some impressive muscles. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask if he worked out, but even Eli recognized how stupid that would be. “That was incredible. I bet you can lift five hundred pounds.”

  The stranger snorted. “You can’t weigh more than eighty-five soaking wet. That’s hardly five hundred.”

  “Well, I am one of those homeless freaks who pukes in trashcans, so what did you expect?”

  While still holding Eli by the collar, the dude leaned closer and sniffed. “Yeah, I figured that by the smell of you.”

  Eli’s throat swelled unexpectedly. He couldn’t explain why he cared what this stranger thought. “Nobody’s forcing you to endure my company. I’m out of here.” He tried taking a step away. The dude held tight to his shirt, ensuring Eli went nowhere.

  “Look, kid, I’m the worst sort of asshole, but I’m not about to let some thirteen-year-old go wandering off in the middle of the night. It’s supposed to drop to below twenty degrees. Where are your parents?”

  Eli’s mouth fell open. He tried to decide which part he was most offended by. For real, he didn’t know where to start first. “I’m not thirteen. For your information, I’m seventeen, and I don’t have any fucking parents. If I want to freeze my balls off, that’s my business. Shove off.” He tried prying loose. The ease with which the man held on to Eli was not only ridiculous but maddening. Eli may as well have been a fly for all the notice the guy paid his efforts.

  With a deep sigh, the stranger headed for the back door of the bar, dragging Eli along. “Come on, kid. I can’t leave you out here.”

  Panic rose in Eli’s chest.
He didn’t know this guy. He could be a serial killer or worse, he could call someone who’d take him back to his parents. Eli dragged his feet, trying to slow him down. “No way, dude. Let go. I’ve heard about people like you. I ain’t sucking no dick to get warm.”

  A low rumble of laughter drifted through the air. Chill bumps rose on Eli’s skin that had nothing to do with the cold. Words failed him. His gaze locked on the man’s wide shoulders. He wasn’t wearing a jacket. Funny, Eli hadn’t noticed before now. He wasn’t even shivering. Eli’s mouth went dry. He licked his lips. They stung, reminding him how chapped they were. After throwing open the back door, the man waved Eli inside. Eli refused to budge.

  “I’m not allowed inside a bar.”

  The man rolled his eyes. Eli couldn’t look away. They were blue. He’d known they were light in coloration, but it had been hard to tell an exact color in the dark. With the light spilling from inside the bar and casting a glow around him, Eli could see them now. They were the same color as the sky in the summertime.

  “No doubt you do a lot of things you’re not allowed to do. I won’t tell if you don’t.”

  Eli licked his lips again and winced. Why couldn’t he remember to stop doing that? The man’s gaze dropped to Eli’s mouth. He knew the dude didn’t mean anything by it. Eli was certain they looked as bad as they felt. But with the man’s gaze lingering on his mouth, Eli’s already too small jeans tightened. His gaze snapped back to the stranger’s when he realized what he’d been doing.

  “Look, I’m Jimmy,” the stranger said, holding his hand out for Eli to shake, as if he was the dude’s equal and not covered in God knows what.

  Eli accepted, but he tried making it quick. For some reason he couldn’t explain, he didn’t want to dirty Jimmy with his touch. “Eli.”

  Jimmy nodded. “This is my place. No one will bother you here, especially me. I can’t leave you out in the cold.” Eli didn’t react. He didn’t know what to say. The man definitely could leave him out in the cold. His parents had. What did it matter if Jimmy did? Thankfully, Jimmy didn’t seem to need any words from Eli to continue. “Just come in and warm up. Get some food in your stomach and whatnot. If you don’t want to stay the night, I can’t keep you here, but give it an hour. Okay?”

  His feet moved before Eli realized he’d decided to accept. “Just an hour,” Eli agreed. His gaze refused to budge from Jimmy’s face as he passed. He wasn’t scared. Not really. There was an uneasy stirring in Eli’s gut, but it wasn’t fear. He wasn’t sure what it was. Warmth engulfed him as he stepped over the threshold. Eli cast a look around. There was a couch and a desk to his left. To his right, he spotted the darkened bar through an open doorway. They’d closed hours earlier. Eli would know. He’d been waiting for his chance to raid the dumpster.

  “There’s nothing hot in the kitchen, but I can make you a sandwich.”

  Eli jumped as Jimmy spoke at his back. Okay, so there was a sliver of fear hiding away in his heart. No one was ever nice to him without wanting something in return. None of those men looked like Jimmy. At his reaction, Jimmy backed up a step. Eli’s hackles went up. He wasn’t a pussy.

  “You don’t have to do that. I’m used to going without.”

  Jimmy ignored him. He motioned toward a closed door behind the desk. “There’s a bathroom through that door. If you want, you can take a shower. There’s also some clean uniforms in the closet,” he added, pointing toward a door near the couch. “You should be able to find something in your size. Get cleaned up. I’ll see what food I can scrounge together.” Without waiting for him to argue, Jimmy left Eli alone with his mouth hanging open. No one had ever offered him so much.

  The thought of a hot shower got him moving faster than anything had in a long time. He needed to be quick. After digging through the closet and finding some clothes he thought might fit and grabbing a towel, he rushed inside the bathroom. It was tiny and perfect as far as Eli was concerned. There was nothing more than a sink, toilet, and shower. More importantly, there was a lock. Eli made sure it was set before turning on the water as hot as it would go. Steam filled the small space as Eli stepped beneath the deluge. It scalded his skin. Eli didn’t flinch. Hot meant clean. He wanted to be red and squeaky. He grabbed the shampoo and popped the lid. Some tropical fruity smell assailed his nostrils. He scrubbed his hair three times before he felt satisfied with the results.

  After washing every inch of his skin until it felt raw, Eli stood beneath the stream of water until it ran cold. He couldn’t convince himself to put the nasty underwear back on. Commando it was. Clean clothes felt amazing against his skin. They smelled good too. He couldn’t stop sniffing himself. He toweled off the mirror and stared at his reflection. Sometimes, Eli barely recognized himself any longer. Most people got bigger as they got older. Malnutrition had killed all hope for Eli. He’d grown taller, but every bone stood out. His face reminded him of a skeleton’s. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, making the green stand out that much brighter. He felt a thousand years old.

  His stomach growled, reminding him of Jimmy’s promise of food. He spent a moment scratching at the doorknob, trying to figure out the lock in his rush. After throwing open the door wide, he slowed his pace, refusing to show how starved he was. A plate full of sandwiches, a bag of chips, and a two-liter of soda sat on the desk waiting. Eli had to force himself not to run. Jimmy was nowhere to be seen. The freedom of no witnesses had Eli rushing across the room.

  He shoved half a sandwich in his mouth, nearly choking himself in the process. Oxygen became secondary to the emptiness gnawing at his gut. He’d gotten good at ignoring the hunger pains. With real food within his grasp, the cramps hit like never before. Jimmy didn’t reappear until Eli had demolished half the food and most of the drink. Heat flooded Eli’s cheeks when Jimmy cast a glance at the plate. The man’s expression gave nothing away, freeing Eli from his embarrassment. Jimmy nodded toward the bundle of linens in his arms.

  “I brought you a pillow and blanket. You can crash on the couch tonight. Tomorrow, I don’t know.”

  Eli’s hunger fled. The food sitting on his stomach felt like a lead weight. “Where will you be sleeping?”

  Jimmy snorted. “I don’t go for kids, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  Something akin to disappointment washed over Eli. He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” He swiped his sweating palms on his borrowed pants. “I guess you’ve got a home or something.”

  “Something,” Jimmy agreed. “You’ll be safe here. There’s an alarm system. I’ll set it when I leave.” He held Eli’s stare. “Don’t get into my liquor or I will beat your ass.”

  The thought hadn’t crossed his mind. “Okay.”

  Jimmy nodded, as if willing to accept Eli at his word. Eli’s eyes burned. No one had ever taken him on his word alone before.

  “You good for the night?”

  Eli nodded, incapable of speech. Jimmy crossed the room. His arms encircled Eli. Eli sat—frozen. It wasn’t a hug. Honestly, Eli didn’t know what the fuck was happening. Jimmy tugged at the collar of Eli’s shirt. The man’s scent engulfed him along with his heat. Eli’s eyes fell closed. He smelled like wintergreen gum. No one ever touched him. He didn’t know how to react. His fingers curled into a ball as he fought against the urge to reach for Jimmy. There was an odd heat in his gut.

  Jimmy pulled away and flashed a small white tag at him. “You forgot to take the tag off.” He tossed it in the trash while Eli sat incapable of taking a full breath. This man did something to Eli’s mind. He wasn’t sure he liked it.

  “Why are you being nice to me?” Eli couldn’t stop the question. People weren’t nice for no reason, especially to him.

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” Jimmy said, ignoring his question. “Don’t open this door for anyone after I lock up. There’s a lot of weirdos out there,” Jimmy said, heading for the back door.

  “Jimmy,” Eli called before he could get away.

  After setting
the alarm and opening the door, Jimmy finally turned his way with his eyebrows raised in question. “Yeah?”

  “Thank you.” Eli had nothing else to offer the man who’d done so much for him.

  Jimmy’s mouth lifted in one corner in a half smirk before he winked. The odd sensation in Eli’s stomach increased. Maybe he was getting sick?

  “See you in the morning, Eli.”

  Eli swallowed past the lump in his throat. “See ya.”

  When the door closed, shutting him away alone, the night slammed down on Eli’s shoulders. He wasn’t used to sleeping indoors. He felt like he was suffocating. For a moment, he eyed the pillow and blanket. The old couch they sat upon was brown and looked as if it had seen a night or two of someone crashing on it. No doubt, it was broken in and comfortable as hell. It would definitely be the most satisfying night of sleep he’d had in ages. Instead of testing the theory, Eli walked the perimeter of the bar, checking out the rest of the building. He made sure to steer clear of the window, in case the cops drove by and thought he was robbing the place.

  Bottles of liquor in every size and color lined the walls behind the bar. A small glass cooler containing non-alcoholic beverages cast a soft glow on the room, lighting the path. The wooden bar gleamed and a single cash register sat quietly at the end. Against his will, Eli moved closer. He was more curious than anything. Surely Jimmy hadn’t locked him inside with a stocked and unlocked register. Trusting him with the liquor was one thing. How much could he drink or take off with on foot? Money was something different. It was light, portable, and could change his life.

  He eyed the buttons of the unfamiliar device. It had obviously been designed for any idiot’s use. A huge green “open” button screamed Eli’s name. He chewed his bottom lip. A peek wouldn’t hurt. He could check inside, and then he’d know exactly how insane Jimmy was. Eli punched the button, half-expecting alarms to sound and Jimmy to jump out from his hiding spot. The drawer slid open almost silently. Silver and copper coins stared up at him from the coin tray. Eli considered slamming it closed. No one ever needed to know about his moment of weakness. His fingertips skimmed the edge. Instead of sliding it closed, Eli tugged, pulling it the rest of the way open.