Kingdom Fall

When he handed it back and walked away, I looked, and it was mine. The flight attendant was back, grinning at Striker as though he was a rock star. She handed him a crystal tumbler with liquid the color of molten lava. I realized then I was thirsty, but I refused to ask her for anything.Connor –The flight attendant didn’t have to send me a “down to fuck” text for me to know she’d be up for anything I offered, including shoving my cock down her throat. Unfortunately for her, I preferred a certain natural blonde with real tits and an actual personality. I also didn’t think the flight attendant would care who was sitting in my seat as long as it meant they could afford to charter a flight.

“Let me know if you need anything else,” she purred with a wide smile and an unspoken open invitation.

“I will.” I could have told her not to hold her breath, but I was saving my bastard responses for the woman behind me.

I checked my phone for the hundredth time. Griffin hadn’t sent me any updates. I shot him a quick text before turning off my phone as required by the captain’s announcement. Strapped in, I allowed my muscles to finally relax. I’d been on high alert for hours. She was safe. I shouldn’t be so tense. But seeing her helpless and tied to a chair, after hearing passing comments made by the men with guns, I was taken back to a past I’d thought I’d walled up long ago.

A quick glance behind me and I found frustration marring her pretty face. She was frantically going through her bag, looking for something. I thought I knew what that was, but there was a reason she didn’t have it.

The scotch went down smooth, but my turbulent thoughts were a different story. I closed my eyes as if that would bury the memories I’d suppressed for so long. But as weariness took hold, I wouldn’t find peace even in dreams.Past-I held her legs, but she used her hands to take mine. It hurt when she squeezed.

“Connor.” She used her angry voice. “Don’t embarrass us.”

I looked at my father, hoping he’d understand my fear. He knelt, and I stumbled over and wrapped my arms around his neck, my tears making his shirt wet.

“Please,” I begged.

He looked me in the eye—man to man, he’d always say. “Make me proud, my boy. Remember, I went here as a boy. You’re going to love it.”

I shook my head and my lips shook too as I spoke. “No, I don’t want to.”

Dad scooped me in his arms as he stood. A man had come into the room.

“Mr. and Mrs. King, this is Dr. Payne. He’s a psychologist and our school counselor. I thought, given the situation, he could help your son make the transition easier.”

I buried my face in my dad’s neck. “I don’t want to stay here.”

He patted my back before setting me on my feet. “You’ll see. A few days and you won’t want to come home.”

The man they’d called Payne came over and took my hand in his firm grip. “Let me show you where you’ll be sleeping. You’re going to make lots of friends.”

The man might have smiled, but I saw the monster behind those eyes. But it was too late. He led me through a door. Though I called for Dad, he stood there as the door closed between us.

“You might want to be nicer to me,” Payne said when we were alone.

I pulled free and ran back toward the door. Just as I was about to reach it, the man caught me. I kicked and tried to scream, but he had a hand over my mouth. When I bit him, he dropped me. I got to my feet, and he pinched my cheeks hard.

“You shouldn’t have done that, boy.”

I kicked his shin. It didn’t hurt him. I only made him madder. He yanked my arm and marched me down a long hall until we reached double doors near the end. He shoved me in a room full of beds and boys.

“Meet James,” he said in a not-so-nice way.

Everyone looked at me before pointing and laughing. I looked down and saw that I’d had an accident. That wouldn’t be the worst thing that happened to me that day.FiveConnorA hand on my arm broke me out of the dream that had me in a choke hold. I jerked away from the hand, blinking several times to clear my vision. A blonde—not mine—dipped her head into view and I quickly let go.

“I wanted you to know we are due to land soon,” she said.

I nodded because I hadn’t fully come to myself. A few heartbeats later, I got to my feet and scooped up my bag.

Before I passed through to the next compartment, I said to Lizzy, “You need to change.”