When Detective Brittany Mitchell arrived at Cravings Coffee, her heart sank as she approached the grim crime scene. The once cozy cafe was now a mess of broken glass and destruction, it had been riddled with automatic gunfire. She could see shattered glass and bullet holes in the walls.

As she drew closer to the front door, she carefully scanned the area, her sharp eyes taking in the scattered furniture and abandoned cups, the remnants of patrons who had been caught in the chaos. Her instincts told her that this was more than a random act of violence, it was a targeted attack. The shattered glass crunched beneath her boots, a reminder of the danger that still loomed out there somewhere in the big mean city.  She knew she had to piece together the puzzle of this devastating scene and bring those responsible to justice.

She slowly entered the bullet-riddled coffee shop, the bodies of the deceased, two middle-aged women, lay under white sheets, their peaceful repose in stark contrast to the violent chaos that had unfolded an hour ago.  Her trained eye scanned the room for evidence, taking in the shattered coffee mugs and overturned chairs.

She knelt beside the covered bodies, knowing that beneath the sheets lay the victims of a senseless act of violence. She gently pulled back the white cloth, revealing the lifeless faces of the two women. Their expressions told a story of unsuspecting innocence, as if they had been enjoying a quiet afternoon at the coffee shop, unaware of the impending danger. She couldn't help but wonder about their lives, their families, and the memories they had left behind.

“Targeted,” a voice behind her said.

Brittany turned to see Detective Miller, a fellow detective from the same precinct, he was scanning the scene; his face grim.   Brittany put her hands on her hips and exhaled, puffing out her cheeks.

“Thank God it wasn’t busy,” she said.

“This has to be a mistaken identity. Has to be,” Miller said.

“I agree.  These two women are more likely to belong to a knitting circle than a drug cartel.”

Brittany stood with her gaze fixed on the two bodies shrouded beneath the sterile white sheets.  Despite years of crime scene investigation, the sight of dead bodies still triggered a familiar unease in her gut.  Her seasoned eyes scanned the coffee shop, the metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the violence that had ruptured the tranquillity of the room just moments before.

“Whoever these bullets were intended for got extremely lucky this morning, Miller.”

“I would say so,” Miller responded.

Brittany could hear the sound of boots crunching on broken glass behind her as a young police officer entered the coffee shop.

“Officer Briggs, do me a favour, get these two bodies out of here,” Brittany instructed the young officer.

“You got it, detective,” he responded.

Brittany turned back to Detective Miller.

“Seems we have a turf war of some kind going on here.  Let’s hope the body count doesn’t get too high.”

*******************************

Brad pushed open the heavy glass doors of Gold's gym; he was greeted by an abundance of natural light streaming through the large windows that lined the walls. The gym seemed to bask in the radiant glow of the sun, casting a warm and inviting atmosphere. The brightness of the space made it feel more like a sanctuary for physical well-being rather than a typical workout facility. It was a stark contrast to the dimly lit, dungeon-like gyms he had experienced before, and he immediately felt energized and motivated by the flood of sunlight that bathed the interior.

As he approached the front counter, he couldn't help but notice the stunning staff that filled the reception area. The women working there were not only exceptionally friendly and helpful but also incredibly attractive. The combination of the bright airy ambiance and the charm of the gym's staff made it clear that this place was not just about physical transformation, but also about fostering a sense of well-being and positivity that extended beyond the workout equipment. It was a gym experience like no other, where the beauty inside and out was celebrated in equal measure.  He liked it.

“Hi, I’m Brad.  Brad Simmons,” he said to the attractive woman behind the counter of the front desk, “I’m here to meet with Jay.  We have a personal training session scheduled.”

“For sure.  I’ll let him know you’re here.”

“Sounds good.”

A few minutes later Jay appeared, he was wearing a tight spandex tank top exposing his massive muscular arms as the tight fabric clung to his washboard abs.

They shook hands.

“Hi Brad, nice to meet you.  I’m Jay.”

Brad nodded taking in Jay's impressive physique.

“Nice to meet you,” Brad responded.   

“Follow me, Brad.  Let’s head into my office and have a chat.  There’s some paperwork we have to fill out, you know, the usual bullshit.  Then we can get started.”

Brad and Jay made their way through the bustling gym, the clatter of weights echoed throughout the space. Amidst the metallic symphony, they couldn't help but notice the array of beautiful men and women diligently working on their fitness goals.

Jay led Brad into his small office next to the large weight room, and they sat down in front of a computer.  The walls of his office were adorned with pictures of famous bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dorian Yates.  Jay noticed that Brad was observing the physiques of these two great bodybuilders.   

“Two of the best right there, there,” Jay said as he started typing on his computer.

Brad agreed. “You know, if you twisted my arm, I’d have to say Schwarzenegger is the G.O.A.T.  But there’s something about Dorian Yates, his intensity, and the way he took the sport to a whole new level.  The guy was a beast; he dominated the nineties.”

“Truly, one of the greats,” Jay said.

Brad listened intently as Jay explained the basics of muscle development and nutrition. Their conversation drifted into the importance of macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, and Jay stressed the significance of a balanced diet for muscle growth. The conversation soon turned to workout techniques, with Jay sharing tips on effective exercises and the importance of proper form to avoid injuries.

“So, before we head out onto the weight room floor, I just need a few of your basic details here, Brad.  I’ve got your name and your phone number, I just need an emergency contact, you know in case you drop a dumbbell on your foot or something stupid. Most people put down their mom or whatever,” Jay said.

Brad stroked his chin as though in deep thought.

“You know what, my girlfriend would be a good emergency contact. Let’s put her down,” Brad said.

“Sure, sounds good. What’s her name?” Jay asked.

“Julie Koop,” Brad responded.

The clicking of the keyboard beneath Jay’s fingers immediately stopped.  A chilling revelation gripped his entire being. Across the table, Brad was casually sipping on his latte, unaware of the storm that had just erupted within Jay's heart. The realization that the person sitting in front of him was involved with his girlfriend sent shockwaves through his veins, rendering him utterly catatonic.  His mind raced, his emotions ranging from disbelief to betrayal that left him paralyzed in his seat. The gym's ambient noise became a distant hum.   He continued staring at his computer monitor, pretending to type on the keyboard, but he was entering no information. He was randomly tapping on the keys to create the illusion of normalcy as his chest started to tighten.

”Let’s uh, umm.  Let’s head out into the weight room and throw some weights around, shall we?” Jay stuttered.

A  wave of anger surged through Jay’s veins, but at that moment, he was also grappling with a surreal disbelief, desperately trying to convince himself that this couldn't be real. He wanted to confront Brad directly about the painful reality that they were both sleeping with the same woman, but he couldn’t find the words.  He could barely speak.

They headed out into the weight room and stopped in front of a chest press machine.

“Let’s hit chest,” Jay said blandly.  He barely heard his own words.  Brad was observing the change in Jay's tone and energy, the bouncy friendliness that had greeted him at the front counter had now turned colder.  Brad sat down in the chest press machine and performed a set of presses until his muscles burned.

“Perfect,” Jay said, “take a break and do another set.”

A couple of awkward minutes passed by as neither Jay nor Brad said anything. Once Brad‘s breath rate had returned to normal, he banged out another set of chest presses.

Jay's camaraderie with Brad was replaced by an icy tension. As they pumped iron together, Jay couldn't help but shoot disdainful glances at Brad. Just moments ago, he learned the unsettling truth—he and Brad were involved in a love triangle.

As Brad moved into a third set of chest presses, Jay studied his face.  He could see that Brad was attractive and that he too had an impressive, muscular physique, although not on his level.  He knew that Brad also knew what it felt like when Julie lowered her hungry pussy down onto his hard dick and leaned forward as her oversized tits came down into his face.  He also knew what it felt like when Julie orgasmed on his throbbing cock, the warm sensation feeling like a water balloon bursting all over his solid member as Julie moaned through a gut-wrenching orgasm.  It didn’t seem fair to Jay that this man standing in front of him also got to enjoy Julie’s sexuality.  He didn’t want to share it.  He shouldn’t have to.

When their training session came to an end, Jay sat down in his office and slumped in his chair, relieved that Brad had left the building. He stared at the wall for an hour until he started to come around, his denial now starting to morph into an acceptance of reality.  Julie Koop had two boyfriends, and he was just one of them.

He reached for his phone and sent Julie a text message: ‘Come around tonight; I’d love to see you!’