Seven and Seven

By: Wake Cruise

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

John is a good-looking white guy in his late twenties who thoroughly enjoys his independence as a single man in Chicago, where he lives and works. He spends most of his nights doing small package deliveries in the city, which is a perfect job for someone who has an eye for attractive men. After all, in a big city, there are men to be found. John, a very outgoing person, has had great success in getting to know more than one man's share of attractive men. Cruising through a Little Village neighborhood one night, he sees a handsome, well-dressed Latino who is apparently panhandling in front of a Mexican restaurant. John realizes that the man’s appearance and panhandling don’t add up. The panhandlers he finds on the city’s sidewalks have always looked needy. They have not looked like this man. Though curious and initially suspicious of the man, John can’t resist his strikingly good looks and smooth demeanor, and he eventually makes himself known to him. He is surprised to learn that the man, whose name is Manuel, is about ten years older than he is. Manuel doesn’t look nearly that old. He also discovers that Manuel is in a relationship, which has never stopped John from going after a man he wants. In fact, unable to resist a challenge, knowing that Manuel should be unattainable excites John even more. Though never having been infatuated with any man before, John’s desire to be with Manuel becomes an obsession. He realizes that having Manuel will take a great deal of time and effort, more time and effort than he has ever previously spent on being with a man. What John doesn’t know is that Manuel has him figured out. He doesn’t know that Manuel, who coyly and unspokenly suggests he can be had by John, is a criminal with an agenda of his own. Furthermore, in the beginning, he doesn’t know that Manuel’s partner in crime is his possessive partner. By the time John realizes that he has befriended and become obsessed with a criminal man who he should be avoiding, it’s too late. He has already become infatuated with Manuel. What, if anything, does it take to break John’s overpowering desire for Manuel? With Chicago settings accurately detailed, realistic characters and occurrences comprise this fictional gay, adventure, mystery novel.