Read Raw Vengeance (The Rich Fordham Series) for Free Online

with small talk. “I’ve seen you around a few times. How do you like Loring?” He leaned in and rested his weight on his elbows on the table.
    Tyler’s mind immediately switched to an image of Deon, and a rush of anger and resentment filled him. He almost blurted out his hatred of the guy, but thought better of it. His breathing doubled, and he clenched his jaw and fists. “Fine. I like it just fine. It’s not McGraw, but it’s okay,” he said in reference to the private school from which his mother had pulled him.
    “ Why did you come here then?”
    Tyler looked into his new friend’s eyes. “There’s not enough room for two Cogans in Shantell’s life,” he said and then regretted throwing her name out there. “My mother wants to run for President and figures it looks bad to her constituents if I go to a private school, so here I am.” Tyler put his hands up as if defeated. “Everything she does is geared toward getting her elected, including putting me…” he stopped himself before admitting he’d been to a treatment center for his homosexuality. “…putting me in this high school.”
    “ What about security? I thought children of politicians get their own entourage.”
    “ I do, but I told them to back off. I don’t need a couple of middle-aged men snooping on me while I try to have a normal life.”
    Dan nodded his approval.
    For the next hour they talked about everything but homework. For the first time since switching schools, Tyler felt a connection with someone. Dan listened well and seemed genuinely interested in Tyler’s life and drama at home.
    At the top of the hour, Dan turned in his seat and put his hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Let’s get out of here. There’s a juice joint down the road that makes these fabulous shakes and smoothies. My favorite is banana-strawberry with ginseng extracts.”
    “ Oo, that does sound good,” Tyler said as his mouth began to salivate. “You want to drive, or you want me to?”
    “ You’ve got the tricked-out Escalade; mine’s a piece-of-shit Honda.”
    A minute later, they ambled down the hallway toward their cars, talking like they’d known each other their whole lives. Tyler felt an immediate connection and wondered why it had taken so long for them to meet.
    They drove off with Tyler at the wheel of his Escalade, while Dan browsed his C.D. collection and put in Chris Brown. They moved their heads in unison to the beat as they made their way to the juice bar.
    Mid-song, Dan stopped dancing. “Can I ask you something?”
    “ Shoot,” Tyler replied, wondering why Dan was acting coy.
    “ Can I touch your hair? I know the girls probably ask you all the time, but I’ve always been curious what a black guy’s hair feels like.”
    Tyler shrugged as if he couldn’t care less. Dan reached behind his neck and slowly brought his hand up the base of Tyler’s head, then worked forward toward his forehead. The move caught Tyler off-guard, as he had expected a split-second rub, not a lingering massage, and he nearly lost control of the vehicle. It was the first time he’d ever been touched by someone in a sexual way; he’d had fantasies, but had never experienced the real thing. As hard as he tried to come up with a conversation piece, his mind became numb and the world around him began to spin. After the massage, Dan removed his hand, and they sat in silence, listening to the music until they reached their destination.
    The neon-green Zoomie Juice sign came into view as they turned the corner into the cookie-cutter strip mall. The business was filled with mostly students like themselves—looking for a sugar high and the opportunity to mingle with friends. Tyler found a spot near the rear and double-parked.
    It neared eight p.m. and the sun had already set, creating a rainbow of soft colors through the cloud layers. Cooler air replaced the hot summer air of the day as they made their way to the store.
    As they walked, Dan asked, “So, how’s