Imprisoned: An Everyday Heroes World Novel Read online

  IMPRISONED

  An Everyday Heroes World Novel

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  Bella Emy

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Everyday Heroes

  Thank You

  Also Written by Bella Emy

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also Written By K. Bromberg

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  ©2021 KB WORLDS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

  Published by KB Worlds LLC.

  Cover Design by: Bella Emy

  Editing by: Red Marks Editing

  Formatting by: Bella Emy

  Published in the United States of America

  Created with Vellum

  Introduction

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to the Everyday Heroes World!

  I’m so excited you’ve picked up this book! Imprisoned is a book based on the world I created in my USA Today bestselling Everyday Heroes Series. While I may be finished writing this series (for now), various authors have signed on to keep them going. They will be bringing you all-new stories in the world you know while allowing you to revisit the characters you love.

  This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I allowed them to use the world I created and may have assisted in some of the plotting, I took no part in the writing or editing of the story. All praise can be directed their way.

  I truly hope you enjoy Imprisoned. If you’re interested in finding more authors who have written in the KB Worlds, you can visit www.kbworlds.com.

  Thank you for supporting the writers in this project and me.

  Happy Reading,

  K. Bromberg

  Dedication

  This story is dedicated to anyone out there searching for their happily ever after.

  To my husband, Bryan:

  I love you to the stars and beyond.

  You’re my love.

  ❤︎Bella

  Chapter One

  “The Mad Dog is still up to his old tricks, huh?”

  I roll my eyes. No one has called me Mad Dog in years, and I’d rather it stay locked up where it came from.

  Lifting the bottle of beer back to my lips, I take a swig and then say to David, “Hey, asshole. It’s Maddox. The Mad Dog is gone.” I’m not too particularly fond of the guy, but he’s here at Rick’s with me and Grant, drinking on this chilly Friday night.

  Rick and Grant happen to be my best friends from when I first lived out here. These guys have been with me through the thick of it. Grant works for the Sunnyville Police Department, while Rick and I work for the neighboring one over here in Chester. Thank God David is not on the force because I don’t think I could take him on a daily basis.

  The guys crack up as David puts his hands up in defense. “Whoa, man. I’m sorry. I just thought we were cool, that’s all. And I thought that was the name you went by. Sorry, man.”

  Yeah, long ago.

  “It’s cool, no worries.” I tilt my bottle in his direction and chug down another mouthful.

  He nods at me and then rises from his seat in the corner. “Alright, Rick. I’m gonna get going. My girl is going to flip if I don’t get home soon.”

  About fucking time.

  Grant chuckles. “What’s she got your balls on a curfew or something?”

  I smile to myself. Man, I love these guys.

  David grimaces. Guess he doesn’t like Grant’s comment. But I do. “The baby kept her up all night last night, and now she’s tired. Gotta help out where I can.”

  Yeah, don’t be too much of a loser.

  “No worries, man,” Rick states.

  “I’d better get going, too,” Grant adds.

  Rick frowns. “You, too? What’s your excuse?”

  Grant shrugs with a smirk. “No excuse. Just want to get home so I can whoop my brothers’ asses, who I know are sitting on my couch right now, watching my TV, while chugging down my beers.”

  I laugh to myself. Grant’s two brothers, Grayson and Grady, loved doing that. So many times in the past he’d get home and find them taking over his place.

  Rick turns to face me. “You gonna bitch out now, too?”

  I hold out my hands in defense. “Not at all. I have nowhere else to be.”

  He nods. “Good.”

  “Later, man,” Grant waves to me.

  “See ya, Grant.”

  David says goodbye next, and I just nod his way. He was long overdue to leave.

  Rick walks them out as I stay right where I am, seated comfortably on his back patio, still nursing my drink. It’s the perfect summer night with the warm breeze grazing my cheeks.

  I don’t miss the hot, humid evenings back out in Jersey. Not one bit. California has always been home.

  “Don’t let that asshole get to you,” Rick says as he walks back out onto his patio. He leans against the banister overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He has an awesome view from here.

  “Who? David?”

  He nods. “Yeah. He’s a prick, I know. But I promise he’s harmless. He’s been through a rough time this year. That’s why we always invite him to come out whenever we hang out.”

  I furrow my brows. “Why? What happened to him?”

  Rick lets out a deep breath. “It could’ve been so much worse, but it was enough to give him a nice scare. A few months before you moved back, he was staying at his dad’s house. He and his girl were separated at the time, and maybe that’s for the best.” He shakes his head, looking down, and then continues. “Anyway, some guy followed him home one night from the bar. He broke in, bum rushing his way in with a gun. David’s father heard the commotion coming from down the hall. As he left his bedroom to go see what the ruckus was all about, the guy shot him, stole David’s wallet, and ran.”

  “What?!”

  Rick nods. “Yeah, crazy. Imagine if he and his girl weren’t separated, and he’d gone home to her… the story could’ve gone differently. Of course it’s sad his father went through that, but at least he survived. If he’d shot David’s little girl, things might not have turned out so well in the end.”

>   “Damn, did they catch the guy?” I take another swig of my beer.

  “Of course they did. Sunnyville PD doesn’t play.”

  “But neither do we.”

  He smiles widely. “That’s right. I’m glad you’re back on the force with us, brother.”

  I nod. “Me too. But why the hell does he call me Mad Dog? Who even told him about that? You know no one’s called me that in years. That name represents a lot of anger; I don’t like it anymore.”

  A lot of anger and the reason I had gotten transferred out to a different department in the first place…

  Different department? Yeah, try a different department, in a totally different state, on the opposite side of the country. That’s what happens when you’re warned so many times about your anger issues.

  He shrugs. “I think he was just trying to fit in with you. He knows how close Grant and I are with you, me more so though. He’s just trying to get in your good graces.”

  I nod. “I see.”

  Rick walks over and takes a seat next to me. The way he’s looking at me suggests he’s got something else on his mind. I know this guy. I’ve known him for as long as I can remember.

  I take the last swig of my beer and then place the empty bottle down on the ground to my right.

  “Can I get you another?” Rick asks, still eyeing me a certain way.

  I shrug. “Eh, what the hell? Sure.”

  Rick reaches into the cooler to his left and picks out another bottle. “Here.” He leans over and I reach out to grab it from him. I pop the cap off and take a sip, letting the cold liquid coat my throat.

  What’s better than a nice refreshing beer on a warm summer evening?

  “So, there’s something I want to talk to you about,” Rick states after settling back into his seat.

  And there it is, ladies and gentlemen. I knew it was coming. Do I or do I not know my best friend?

  I lift my gaze to meet his. “What’s up?”

  He clears his throat. “You’ve only been back about a week so far, and I’ve been trying to find the right moment to tell you because I don’t know how you’d feel about something like this…”

  I furrow my brows. “What is it, man? You know you can tell me anything.”

  There’s not a lot that angers me, but when something does, my temper is not one I can easily control. However, this is Rick we’re talking about here. What could he possibly tell me that would set me off? There’s nothing he could do to get me angry.

  He breathes out heavily, shaking his head. “I don’t know, man. I mean, I know I’m probably overthinking things and it’s no big deal, but I just wanted to make sure this wouldn’t cause any tension between us.”

  I let out a chuckle after taking another sip. “Dude, there’s nothing you could tell me that would cause tension between us. You haven’t stolen money from me or done something awful like if you were dating my sister and then you cheated on her… because I don’t have one.” I laugh at my joke, but he doesn’t seem to find it as funny.

  He nods instead. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But still. We haven’t seen each other in five years because you’ve been away, and I just want to make sure we stay tight.”

  I wave a dismissive hand in his direction. “Like I said, bro. There’s nothing you could tell me that would cause an issue between us. Even when I was away on the other side of the country, we remained close. Now what’s going on?”

  Rick lets his eyes linger on me for a while before he says, “When you left five years ago for N-J, it was hard on me… it was hard on everyone… Adelyn included.”

  The mention of her name causes everything inside me to stop. No more beating of my heart. No more breaths entering and exiting my lungs. Everything just stops.

  The brown-eyed beauty with the pretty dark eyes had been my best friend and first real crush. I say crush loosely because I know deep down inside she was more to me than that. I loved her, but I never told her so. And maybe that’s for the best, considering I wasn’t able to stick around. But we were best friends. Rick and Adelyn had both been my best friends growing up here in Chester. When I moved away, our trio was divided. Adelyn and I shared a kiss once years before that, but never pursued anything further. Maybe it wasn’t the right time, but once I had to leave, that was the end of everything, but also the beginning of everything I felt for her. I haven’t talked or seen her since. Rick and I have kept in touch though, and maybe that’s why I’m here with him now and she’s nowhere to be found. I haven’t seen her since moving back out here.

  “Mad?” Rick asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

  “Hey, bro. I’m sorry. I was spacing…”

  He furrows his brows. “Yeah, I noticed. But I was saying, things changed when you went away. Adelyn and I became close… closer than we were.”

  I chuckle. “Okay, that’s cool.” I’m glad they could be there for one another when I had to leave. Leaving home and leaving my friends was hard on me, so I know it had to be difficult for them, too. At least they had one another to hang out with. I take a final swig of my beer.

  He shakes his head. “You’re not hearing me, dude. We started hanging out… a lot more than we used to… we’re dating now.”

  I almost spit out my drink. Dating?

  “Dude, you okay?” Rick asks, rising from his seat and then walking over to me. He places a hang on my back to make sure I’m not choking.

  Shit, I might as well be. I can’t believe what he’s telling me.

  Rick and Adelyn? Dating? Surely it’s not that serious. It can’t be. Part of the reason I never pursued the issue with her was because she wasn’t looking for anything serious. Neither was I. Sure, I loved her, but I was never a relationship type of guy. I’ve dated tons of girls in the past, before and after Adelyn, and all that was just a waste of my time. Dead-end relationships that went nowhere.

  I lift my hand. “Yeah, yeah. Thanks, I’m fine.”

  He steps back and eyes me narrowly. “Hmm, okay. I thought maybe it was what I said.”

  I get up from my seat. “Nah, man. It’s cool. You and Adelyn getting together?” I give him two thumbs up, letting him know I approve. “That’s great, man. I’m happy for you both.”

  His face lights up. “Yeah? Phew! You had me worried for a second. I knew you liked her way back then, and I was hoping I didn’t cross any boundaries, but I thought it might be okay since you guys never really dated, you know?”

  Liked her? I used to be in love with the girl.

  I nod. “Yeah, yeah. No problem. That’s awesome. How long has it been? You two dating, I mean?” The sound of the words leaving my mouth sounds awkward, but maybe it’s just me. He doesn’t seem to notice a difference.

  “Two years,” he states, matter-of-factly.

  My eyes practically bulge out of my head. Two years? They’ve been together for two years and he never told me?

  A pang of betrayal crashes through me. How could my best friend not tell me about something like this? I could understand if they had just gotten together recently, but two years? Sure, I’ve seen pictures of them together on social media, but nothing that said they were taken. I thought it was all friendly. And we’ve talked plenty of times during my time away in Jersey, but he never mentioned dating Adelyn at all. Why?

  As if reading my mind, he says, “I’m sorry, man. I wanted to tell you, but each time we talked, there was always something else going on, and I didn’t know how to squeeze it in there.”

  I wave a hand at him. “It’s cool, no worries. Congrats.” I turn around and head toward the door to head back inside.

  “Where’re you going, man?”

  I flip around, facing him. “Yeah, I totally forgot. I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you on Monday, bro.”

  Spinning around without waiting for him to say another word, I walk through his house and see my way out.

  Chapter Two

  Somewhere between eleven and midnight, I make it home.

  Home? Yeah, maybe
at some point this was home when things were back to normal. Like the three of us being friends.

  Rick and Adelyn? A couple? Wow, that feels all types of wrong to me. I never thought she’d end up with a guy like Rick.

  Don’t get me wrong. Rick’s a great guy, the best in fact, but something about the thought of him being with Adelyn just doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t know what it is.

  Well, whatever. As long as he’s happy. And her. That’s great for her, too. I just haven’t seen her in years, so I don’t know who she really is anymore. A lot can happen to people in five years. I mean, who would’ve thought that Rick and Adelyn would become a thing? So what is that now, Riclyn? Adeick? It doesn’t have a good ring to it. But if you were to say, Maddlyn, perhaps, that’s different and it just sounds right.

  But it’s not like I’m trying to get with her. If that were the case, I would have tried before being sent away. But I hadn’t, so that’s that. Whatever I felt for her in the past is just that: the past. It’s been done and over with for a long time.

  I kick my shoes off after entering my apartment. It’s a cozy one bedroom, perfect for the bachelor that I am. The last time I had a girlfriend was about four years ago. We dated for two weeks before she remembered she was in love with her ex-boyfriend, the one who cheated on her with her best friend. Talk about love triangles. That’s another reason why I don’t do the whole relationship thing. No one is serious anymore these days, and people just throw out the words “I love you” like it’s no big deal.