Tricking the Souls Read online

  Tricking the Souls

  A Souls of Chicago Novella

  Annabella Michaels

  Tricking the Souls- A Souls of Chicago Novella

  Copyright © 2019 Annabella Michaels

  annabellamichaels.blogspot.com

  https://annabellamichaels.com/

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover art provided by Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

  Editing provided by Allison Holzapfel

  Interior Design and Formatting provided by Flawless Touch Formatting

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original publisher only.

  This book contains sexually explicit material and is only intended for adult readers.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Other books by Annabella Michaels

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Other books by Annabella Michaels

  Souls of Chicago Series:

  Feeding the Soul, Book 1

  Music of the Soul, Book 2

  Protecting the Soul, Book 3

  Renewing the Soul, Book 4

  Constructing the Soul, Book 5

  Uniting the Souls, Book 6

  Ever-Greene, Book 7 (A holiday novella)

  Hamilton’s Heroes Series:

  Found, Book 1

  Finally, Book 2

  My Heart Series:

  Written on My Heart, Book 1

  Stand Alone Books:

  The Swap

  Picking Up the Pieces

  Dedication

  To my incredible team who always stands beside me, encouraging me, and making sure I don’t fall. I absolutely could not do this without you. I love you all.

  Chapter One

  MATT

  Moving slowly, I climbed my way up the ladder, one rung at a time. I had never been a huge fan of heights, but one look at Hudson standing below, his hold on the ladder steady and sure, and I knew that nothing bad would happen to me. Leaning over carefully, I finished hanging the last of the lights along the top of the wall then chanced a glance over my shoulder at the rest of the room.

  I’d started Agape House, an LGBTQ youth center, years ago as a way of honoring my late husband, Sean. I’d wanted to offer a safe and loving place for LGBTQ kids to hang out before and after school, as well as housing for those who had been kicked out of their homes when they’d come out to their parents or those who faced abuse from parents unwilling to accept that their child was anything but straight.

  Unfortunately, lack of community support and low funding had made it a constant struggle to keep our doors open. That was until the Greene family had shown up to volunteer. They, along with several of their friends, had managed to turn things around, donating their time and money and using their own notoriety to draw much needed attention to the center. Thanks to the brand-new center they’d helped build, Agape House was one of the most prominent and respected LGBTQ outreach programs in Chicago, serving hundreds of kids each year.

  I smiled as I looked around. With purple and orange strands of lights hanging around the room, fake cobwebs stretched across doorways and hanging in corners, and a fog machine spreading a fine mist across the floor, the kids were sure to love their Halloween party. Gladys and the rest of the kitchen staff had been working tirelessly since breakfast to make fun Halloween-themed foods. Deviled eggs that looked like eyeballs, mummy hot dogs, spider web taco dip, and green mac and cheese in small containers labeled “Toxic Waste” were just a few of the delicious treats spread out for the kids to enjoy.

  Halloween happened to be on a Friday that year and the center had been buzzing with excitement as we all waited anxiously for the day to arrive. Finally, the kids had come bounding in after school and we’d sent them upstairs to get ready. The only rule we’d set for their costumes, other than keeping things tasteful, was that they couldn’t spend any money on them. They’d spent the better part of the month discussing ideas with each other and designing their costumes and I couldn’t wait to see what they’d come up with.

  Satisfied that everything was in order, I nodded to Isaac who shut off the overhead lights and switched on a spooky Halloween playlist. As the familiar sound of “Monster Mash” began to fill the air, I climbed back down, careful not to slip and fall. When I reached the bottom step however, I found myself caged in between the ladder and a warm, firm body that felt amazing, pressed against my own and smelling sinfully delicious. I breathed in deeply, filling my lungs with his familiar scent and I was thankful for the loud music which covered my groan as his hands landed on either side of my hips.

  “Your ass looks amazing in those tight brown pants,” Hudson whispered in my ear. His hot breath sent a chill down my spine and I grinned.

  Turning to face him, I smoothed my palms over his chest, thrilling at the feel of the hard muscles, bunching beneath my hands. “You fill yours out rather nicely too. Although, I have to admit, I’d much rather see you out of them.” The strobe light flashing in the room did nothing to hide the flames of desire dancing in his eyes and I felt my body begin to respond.

  “I think that can be arranged,” he replied. The seductive smile he wore, along with the rich timber of his voice never failed to do crazy things to my libido. I slid my hands up, linking my arms behind his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He came willingly, brushing his lips over mine as his arms wrapped around my waist. Before we could get carried away, a voice spoke up from behind him, reminding us that we weren’t alone.

  “Hey, guys, as much as I love the show, it’s going to have to wait because in about five minutes, this place is going to be crawling with teenagers.” With a sheepish grin, we turned to our husband who was walking toward us with a smile, the love he felt for both of us written clearly across his face.

  Stepping back, I raked my eyes over the two of them. When Isaac had first come up with the idea for our costumes, I hadn’t been sure, but I had to admit that it had turned out better than I’d expected. Dressed in a blue shirt and a fake pair of black-framed glasses, Isaac somehow managed to look both adorable and sexy as Simon. Hudson, on the other hand, should have looked completely ridiculous as Alvin in his bright red shirt and matching ball cap, both emblazoned with a big yellow A, but instead, he looked as sophisticated and handsome as ever.

  “I’ve never been attracted to chipmunks before. Should I be worried?” I asked.

  They both laughed. “As a therapist, I have definite concerns, but as your husband, it’s perfectly fine. Just don’t let us catch you eyeing any other critters out in the yard,” Hudson teased.

  “I’ll try and control myself,” I joked back.

  “Oh, my god! You guys look fantastic,” a familiar voice said. I turned my head, smiling when I saw Kathy Greene and her husband, Rick, walking in. “You are the best-looking chipmunks I’ve ever seen,” she gushed.

  “I’m telling you; I could retire off you people,” Hudson murmured. I chuckled, elbowing him lightly in the stomach.

  “You guys look terrific too. Who are you supposed to be?” I asked, taking in their black outfits and Kathy’s o
ff the shoulder top and bright red heels.

  “Here, maybe this will give you a hint,” Rick said as he pulled Kathy to him. My eyes went wide as they began dancing and singing a spectacular version of “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease. They finished to a round of applause and I had to admit, I was impressed. I never knew my friends’ parents could move so well.

  “Oh man! I love that movie,” Isaac exclaimed as he clapped. “Zane and I used to watch it all the time when we were kids. It kept us entertained while we hid out in our rooms and avoided our dad.” I reached over and took his hand at the mention of his father, a man who had made his and his brother’s lives a living hell and nearly killed both of them.

  He squeezed my hand and offered me a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. This is actually a good memory. We both loved the movie so much that one year for my birthday, Zane surprised me with the album. We spent hours listening to that thing until we knew the words by heart and then we’d act out the scenes. The only bad part was that we both wanted to be Sandy and since I was younger, I always got stuck being Danny,” he finished with a slight pout.

  I pulled him toward me and whispered in his ear. “You would’ve made an awesome Sandy and I bet you’d be fucking sexy in a pair of red high heels. In fact, maybe we should try that out sometime.” Isaac’s face turned red, but I could tell that the thought intrigued him. Interesting. Definitely something to keep in mind for later.

  “Alviiiiin!” someone shouted from across the room, drawing our attention to the doorway where Rylie stood, dressed in some weird rock style version of SpongeBob SquarePants, complete with long black hair and black biker boots. Beside him was his billionaire husband, Lachlan, and from the strange looking pink get-up he wore, I could only assume he was Patrick Star, a sight I found extremely amusing.

  Hudson’s smile spread across his face when he saw Rylie walking toward him, his arms outstretched. He grabbed my husband in a giant hug, which Hudson returned. He was known to the rest of the world as Rocko, the outspoken and often wild drummer of the band, Carter’s Creed, but when he was with us, he was simply Rylie, husband to Lachlan and father to two amazing boys, Dylan and Max.

  He and Hudson had grown close when Lachlan hired Hudson to be Rylie’s therapist, helping him through the difficult and often painful road to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The experience had created a bond between the two of them that had lasted well beyond their time as patient and therapist and seeing the two of them together, never failed to bring a smile to my face.

  “How are you guys?” Hudson asked, reaching out to shake Lachlan’s hand.

  “I look like a whoopie cushion if that tells you anything,” Lachlan answered dryly.

  “Dad, how many times do I have to tell you? Patrick is a starfish,” Max explained. Lachlan grinned at his son who was dressed like a miniature Mr. Krabs, complete with play money from a board game sticking out of his pockets.

  “Oh, that’s right. Good thing you’re here to remind me.” He bent down and tickled the little boy’s belly, making him shriek with laughter.

  “Wow! This place looks cool. You guys really went all out,” Dylan said, looking around the room. At nearly sixteen, he was tall and lanky which made him the perfect Squidward Tentacles to round out their group’s costumes.

  “I agree, this is awesome,” Carter said as he walked up, his son on his hip and his husband, Ryan, at his side. Carter’s twin, Caleb, and his husband, Giovanni, were with them, along with their daughter, Sarah.

  I smiled at all of them. “Thanks. We just wanted to do something fun for the kids. Most of them have had it pretty rough and they deserve a night to just be kids, you know?”

  “You boys do such an incredible job with them. They’re lucky to have the three of you in their corner,” Kathy praised.

  “We’re the lucky ones. They bring so much joy and laughter to our lives,” Hudson replied with a shrug.

  “Spoken like a proud father,” Rick said with a knowing grin. My eyes widened in surprise, but when I looked to my husbands, I found them both smiling back at me. Suddenly, the truth of his words began to sink in, and I realized he was right. The kids at the center really were our kids in every way that mattered, and we loved them all.

  “Hey, guys. Sorry we’re late. Micah and I were having a bit of trouble trying to wrangle these three into their costumes,” Landon explained as he rushed in with a baby in his arms, his husband next to him with their twins in a stroller. Landon’s cousin, Morgan and his husband, Akio followed closely behind, lugging the huge backpack that resembled more of a Navy knapsack than a diaper bag.

  “I don’t know what you’re complaining about. We all managed to get here on time with our kids,” Carter teased his older brother.

  Landon rolled his eyes. “You have one. That’s easy. At our house, the kids outnumber the adults. We’re just praying they don’t decide to take over.”

  “I think that ship has sailed, babe,” Micah told him. “It’s their world now and we just live in it.” Everyone laughed at his dramatic tone.

  “You think three is tough? Try having five. We barely survived you three boys and your sisters,” Rick interjected.

  “It was tough, but I wouldn’t trade one second of the memories we have,” Kathy said sweetly. “Now, give me my grandbabies. You all have work to do.” Her face lit up as Landon handed her baby Marcus.

  “Okay guys. The kids will be down any second, but before they do, I’d just like to take a second to thank all of you. We wouldn’t be able to do half the things we do around here if it wasn’t for all of you and your willingness to volunteer. Hudson, Isaac, and I appreciate each and every one of you and we just wanted you to know that,” I told them.

  “It’s our pleasure,” Caleb said, laying a hand on my arm. “Besides, you three do all the hard stuff. We just get to come in and have fun.”

  “And eat all the delicious food,” Morgan added, eyeing the tray of Halloween cookies on a nearby table. I laughed at the look of longing on his face and happiness settled over me as we heard the pounding of a bunch of feet racing down the stairs.

  “I guess it’s showtime,” Isaac announced. “Places everyone!”

  Everyone sprang into action, manning the various games and food tables around the room as the kids began to pour in through the doors. There costumes ranged from simple ghosts made out of sheets with the eyeholes cut out so they could see, to wizards that would rival the those seen in Harry Potter.

  My favorite, however, belonged to a young girl named Elise. She’d been staying with us for several months and had really been struggling with accepting who she was, after her parents beat her for saying she was a lesbian. She’d been quiet and withdrawn ever since she’d arrived, but after several sessions with Hudson, and a lot of encouragement from the staff and other kids, she’d shown up at the party, dressed as a unicorn with colorful streamers, flowing behind her like a mane. On her shirt, were the hand-painted words, “Proud to be me.”

  The next few hours flew by in a whirlwind of activity as I played games with the kids, replenished the food tables and cleaned up spills. Finally, they all settled in to watch Hocus Pocus and I took a much-needed break, settling down on a stool in the kitchen as I waited for the popcorn to finish popping.

  “Need a hand?” Caleb asked as he and Giovanni walked in.

  “I’d love one. Thank you.”

  “The party was a real hit,” Gio said as he grabbed a stack of large plastic serving bowls out of the cabinet. “It was great seeing all the kids so happy.”

  “I had fun too. I enjoy just hanging out with them and hearing about what’s going on in their lives. I don’t get to do that often enough with all the other responsibilities I have,” I admitted, giving them a tired smile.

  “Well, your only responsibility over the next few days is to have fun with your men,” Caleb said, patting my back.

  “I don’t know, guys. I feel bad leaving when there’s so much work to do.”r />
  “That’s nonsense and you know it,” Allison argued as she swept into the room. She stood next to me and placed her hands on her hips, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me. “I know you think this place can’t run without you, but are you forgetting who keeps everything organized around here?”

  “You do,” I admitted sheepishly. Not only was Allison a great friend, but as my office manager, she was an invaluable asset to the center. She kept everything running like a well-oiled machine and despite my objections, I knew everything would be fine in my absence.

  “Darn right, I do. I also love these kids like they were my own so, you can just forget about any of the excuses running through that head of yours. We’ve got everything covered and if there are any problems, we’ll call you. Now, you are going on your trip and that’s final.”

  “Okay, okay. You win. I’ll go,” I promised with a laugh, holding my hands up in front of me to ward off any more of her scolding.

  I rolled my eyes as she ruffled my hair with a satisfied grin. “Good, because I really didn’t want to see the disappointed look on your men’s faces if you told them you were cancelling.”

  “Trust me, disappointing them is the last thing I’d ever want to do.”

  It was after midnight by the time we’d finished cleaning everything up and gotten home. The three of us were exhausted, but we had the satisfaction of a job well done. The party had been a smash and everyone had really seemed to enjoy themselves. We talked about our favorite moments of the evening as we brushed our teeth and got ready for bed.