Stinger Read online

  Well, not likely, but still… Thumper gets all weird around girls, for some reason.

  Of course, he’s not like that with our stepsister…

  I give Thumper a long, long look.

  Is he?

  Could he feel about Bee, the way I do?

  “She was awake for a minute or so, while you were out of the room,” I say.

  “Did she say anything?” he asks.

  “About the accident, or Mom and Dad? Anything at all?” he asks again.

  He’s rubbing his neck, like it hurts or something.

  “You okay?” I ask him.

  “Fine. Did she say anything?” he repeats.

  I turn and look at her.

  “It was just some mumbled words, but one of them was pretty clear,” I tell my twin.

  “It was ‘Mandarin’,” I say.

  Thumper looks at me, his eyes growing wide, and then stands up and walks out of Bee’s room.

  I sit there, thinking Thumper is the biggest asshole in the world.

  I watch Bee sleep, and wonder what tomorrow is going to bring.

  —————

  EPILOGUE

  James Norton stood to one side, to let the others pass.

  He picked up his cell phone, and dialed a number from the rapid dial.

  When it was answered, he fired off a series of questions.

  “What’s the prognosis on the QB, Niles? Twinky?” he asked.

  “Not good. Looks like the Frenchman did his job. Kids out for at least the rest of the season, maybe out for good,” came the reply.

  Jim Norton smiled a rueful smile.

  He wasn’t averse to this kind of thing, seeing it as a necessity of doing business in the cut-throat professional game.

  But, he occasionally got a pang of guilt at having some kid’s future include physical therapy, or maybe not even walking ever again.

  To be honest, he also knew he was complicit in one or two deaths, caused by too many head injuries.

  It was an occupational hazard, just like cops who get shot in the line of duty, to his way of looking at things.

  That was how he justified it to himself.

  It allowed him to look in the mirror, and sleep at night.

  Of course, the money helped.

  “Are you going to move forward on the twins?” came the voice on the phone.

  “Well, it kind of depends, doesn’t it?” said Norton.

  “Do you mean, it depends on whether or not they are going to promote Stinger to QB, after this? It’s a done deal, Jim,” came the reply.

  “If that happens, what about Thumper?” asked Norton.

  “I guess he’s going to Paris. In a box,” said the voice.

  Jim Norton spoke for a few more moments, then called another number.

  “Lund says it’s a go on the twins. He says go with Stinger for QB. Let the Frenchman know what has to happen to Thumper. Best to let it sit for the next few games. But, it’s a certainty they’ll both be in the Bowl. Have it happen then,” he instructed.

  “How much should I set aside for this from the general funds?” replied the voice.

  “Two mil. With a point two setback, if we don’t get proper results,” Norton said.

  “And, what are ‘proper’ results?” asked the voice.

  “Thumper won’t be thumpin’ anything other than the inside of a coffin lid,” said Norton.

  “We’ll be in touch,” replied the voice.

  Norton called one final number.

  When the voice came on, he realized he was sweating a bit.

  “Hold please,” came a female voice.

  Norton didn’t like talking to this man.

  He never did.

  There was something very wrong with him.

  He reeked of evil.

  Norton could excuse all of his own sins, but any time he spoke to this one, he felt he could never achieve redemption.

  “Line is secure. Go ahead, please, Mr. Norton,” came the female voice.

  “Sir? This is Jim Norton. We are go for the next phase, Sir,” he said.

  “See to it that Mr. Sullivan comes to some harm,” says the cold voice from the receiver.

  “Yes, Sir,” says Norton.

  Harlon Calloway, sitting in his office, nods silently, and hung up the phone.

  —————

  THE END OF

  ‘STINGER’

  LOOK FOR THE NEXT EXCITING INSTALLMENT IN

  ‘THUMPER’

  THE MANDARIN CONNECTION SERIES

  By Stephanie Brother

  Just for YOU, dear readers, I am including SPECIAL BONUS EXCERPTS from all of the previous Mandarin Connection books!

  Enjoy!

  Steph

  SPECIAL BONUS EXCERPT ONE:

  Billionaire Stepbrother - Addiction - The Complete Series

  Kady and Brett Were in Love – Unfortunately, So Were Their Parents!

  Kady watched as her mother married the father of her soul mate, all the while wishing it were she and the muscled and athletic man standing with her at the altar taking their own vows.

  She knew that Brett secretly felt the same for her – she was sure of it!

  On the rare times they had seen each other before this fateful day, Kady couldn’t help her taboo lust for Brett's hard, lean body.

  She ached to drown in his beautiful blue eyes, and feel his passion as he possessed her voluptuous curves.

  But now, he was going to be forever unavailable to her!

  Her need fought against her strong will...and her emotions were winning over against sound judgment!

  She looked over at Brett, who stood staring at her, and the tears began streaming down her face!

  She suddenly bolted from the altar, and ran out of the church!

  Their dreams of happiness were being crushed forever!

  OR WERE THEY?

  When Brett's sudden business success propels him to the upper echelons of the rich and famous, things take a decidedly unusual turn.

  When she and Brett are thrust into a web of lies and deceit, Kady finds her heart won't let her abandon her forbidden desires.

  Will their love be dashed upon the rocks of unforgiving tradition?

  Can she and her man emerge victorious?

  Follow the passionate, romantic and VERY HOT adventures of these two different couples, as their worlds are suddenly turned upside down, and as they struggle to come to terms with what is right, wrong, forbidden or even possible!

  Billionaire Stepbrother - Addiction - The Complete Series is a stepbrother romance novella with no cliffhangers, and a very satisfying happy ending.

  Book 1 of the Mandarin Connection series by Stephanie Brother

  ----------------------------------------------------

  Kady was on the rebound, having weathered a disastrous relationship with a fellow classmate named Jeff, who was one of the Varsity golf team players.

  She had caught him cheating on her with another member of the Varsity golf team, whose name was Juan Rodriguez.

  She was more amused than disgusted or surprised.

  She always had a pretty good gaydar, and it surprised her that Jeff had been so attentive to her needs.

  She chalked it up to experience, and decided she just wanted a night to decompress.

  On a whim, she called Brett, since he was in the same vicinity.

  His new offices were located in a trendy area of the city, near the riverfront.

  There were many fine eating and drinking establishments along the river walk.

  Perhaps she’d get lucky, and find a nice young man to tickle her fancy…or fuck her righteously.

  She chuckled a bit at that thought.

  She’d been pretty plain vanilla in her last couple of relationships, always holding herself back a tiny bit.

  She wasn’t really sure why, and it never occurred to her that she was aching for Brett to be her lover.

  Kady walked around the shops, killing time while wait
ing for Brett to arrive.

  They had agreed to an Italian joint that had great pizza and cold beer.

  She couldn’t drink, of course, but there would be plenty of college aged guys who might find a bit of Dutch courage, and ask her to go home with them.

  Kady found she was unusually aroused by the thought, but did not even connect her state with Brett’s arrival.

  He saw her and waved, and they walked to the restaurant.

  Brett’s sudden fame had not translated to recognition and being known by the frat crowd, but the owners of the various establishments knew full well who was loaded and who deserved special attention.

  Neither Brett nor Kady found it unusual to be seated at the finest seats in the house within seconds of having entered.

  They were so caught up in each other’s attentions, they were oblivious to the ballet and choreographed situation in which they were the center attraction.

  As they ordered a white pizza, with basil and sun-dried tomatoes, water glasses magically appeared, filled with San Pellegrino.

  A slice of lemon was in each marvelous goblet, and then fresh baked bread with bruschetta graced their table.

  They talked and ate, giggling at their shared stories about their parents.

  The waiters moved precisely into position at the most beneficial time, removing or adding an item as was needed.

  It was perfectly orchestrated to provide the ultimate dining experience.

  Kady said, through a mouthful of pizza, that she was only slightly pissed about Jeff and Juan.

  “What’s that?” asked Brett.

  “Oh, you know,” she said archly. “All the good ones are either taken or gay!”

  They both laughed at that.

  “Or your step-relation,” she added, whimsically.

  Brett almost choked on his food.

  He coughed and manfully washed it down with some water, trying mightily to not seem so taken aback.

  Kady laughed, and pointed at him, at first.

  Suddenly, she looked at him, realizing that he was truly in some manner of distress.

  “Garçon!” she yelled.

  Almost instantly, four waiters appeared, ready to assist.

  Brett assured them he was fine, but he had spilled some water on his shirt.

  He excused himself, to go to the men’s room to clean up.

  He walked into the bathroom to clean up, and noticed over his shoulder as a large, somewhat inebriated man heading towards Kady.

  He shrugged and went in to find a towel.

  Kady was mortified when she considered what she had said to Brett.

  His reaction was predictable, now that she thought about it.

  How could she have been so stupid, to think he had the same feelings for her as she had for him?

  She felt more alone and down than she had for a very long time.

  She remembered how things had gone south at her mother’s wedding, and that she had thought long and hard on that situation, for months.

  She had thought she was finally past the issue of her true emotions about Brett, and had put it behind her.

  Yet, here she was, facing it once again.

  Maybe it was the San Pellegrino, or the fact that this had been one of the easiest dates she had ever been on…

  Wait a minute.

  Did she really think Brett and she were on an actual date?

  Was that what was going on here?

  Had she gotten so caught up in the romantic notions in her silly head that she was actually entertaining the idea of them being on a date?

  Her thoughts were occupying her so deeply that she did not really see the large, rugged man sit down next to her.

  “Hey, gorgeous!” he said to her.

  “My name’s Scott!” he said, smiling cheerfully.

  He stuck out a hand, and she considered not shaking, but then decided to be polite after all.

  He gently gripped her hand, and gently brought it to his lips.

  She supposed he thought he was being gallant, but his sloppy kiss left a fair amount of his saliva on her skin.

  She found herself repulsed, and shocked.

  He grinned, and took Brett’s napkin and rubbed his spit from her hand.

  “Sorry, darlin’,” he drawled. “Didn’t mean to do that…”

  “It’s okay,” she said, feeling everything was totally NOT okay.

  Her realization that this drunken guy was hitting on her brought her back to reality, like an ice-cold slap to her face.

  She got very wary and also decided to end this encounter as quickly as possible.

  “What’s your name, beautiful?” asked Scott.

  “I’m sorry, umm, Scott?” she said.

  “Sorry for what, sweetheart?” he said.

  “Well, Scott, quite frankly I am here with a friend. I am truly sorry, but we already have plans,” she said.

  Scott’s eyes darkened, but his smile remained.

  “Well, the more the merrier, I always say!” he feigned a good-natured response, but she picked up on his innate jealousy instantly.

  “Let me buy you a real drink, honey,” he said.

  He motioned to one of the worried-looking waiters, who started over.

  “I’m only nineteen, Scott,” she said.

  She waved the waiter away.

  “Ah, hell, baby! I won’t tell, you won’t,” he said, slurring his words a bit.

  “I don’t roll that way, Scott,” she continued, “and my friend is coming back in a minute, and we will be leaving. We have plans, as I mentioned.”

  She raised her eyebrows and moved in her chair to present a blocking body language, looking over in the direction of the rest rooms.

  She wished Brett would hurry back.

  Scott grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

  “Look here, bitch” he said.

  “I was only trying to be friendly. Why did you have to go and make it something serious?” he said.

  He had his nose pressed up close to her face, and his breath reeked of cheap booze.

  Apparently, he had been drinking for quite some time before he had gotten to the pizza place.

  He seemed as though he was about to actually kiss her, when a hand grasped his shoulder.

  “Hey buddy, why don’t you leave?” asked Brett.

  He had appeared from nowhere, like a ghost.

  Brett dropped his hands into a relaxed posture that looked harmless, to the uninitiated.

  A seasoned fighter would have known at that point to back down.

  Brett was as taught as a wound spring, but also as flexible as a whip.

  Scott eyed Brett, looking him up and down.

  He’d been in a few brawls, and even in his drunken stupor, some part of his brain must have recognized the danger.

  Then, his mouth wrote a check he would never be able to cash.

  Scott said “Why don’t you make me, faggot?”

  He swung on Brett, which was a very drastic mistake.

  Brett had been a Tang Soo Do champion in high school and on the martial arts team during his first year of college.

  His other courses soon took more precedence in his life, but he always found time once a week to spar and just let off steam at the dojo.

  Sometimes, he would ask to instruct a class, and was always welcomed.

  Scott, a pretty burly man, had swung high, so Brett ducked under him, and grabbed his shoulder.

  He kept the man spinning around, until his back was to Brett.

  Then, Brett kicked him in the backside, and shoved him over the table.