by K. C. Stone
“Yeah, they are on their way here. I figure we can use this as the main treatment center,” Dom says.
“Good idea, it will not draw any attention since Cara still owns this house,” I agree.
I nudge my head toward John. “That’s something that we need to deal with now before the others get here.” I place a gentle kiss on Cara’s forehead gently rocking her as she lays silently in my arms.
“On it now, the brothers are taking him away, you and I need to talk,” Ezra says, coming to stand next to Dom.
“Can it wait?” I say, looking up at Ezra.
“No, not really” and he tilts his head over to the side signaling for us to go with him.
“Baby, I gotta talk to the boys, okay? Will you be okay if I leave you?” I ask her.
“Yes, sorry, I’m okay. I promise it was just a lot at once,” she says, wrapping her arms around her knees.
“Okay, love, I will be right back,” I reassure her.
“I know what John wanted,” Ezra spits, just as we get far enough away so that nobody else can hear.
“What the fuck did he want?” Dom barked.
“He wanted the ledger,” I say because I knew that part, it was the only logical thing he could want.
“That’s not all, Sal was laundering money for the mob, I mean a lot of money,” he says emphatically.
“Yeah, I know,” I tell him because that information is not news.
“Yeah, but do you know how much and for whom?” he asks and that has me intrigued.
“No, but I’m guessing you do,” I say, looking down.
“According to John, Sal has one point five million dollars stashed away somewhere. He was in the process of cleaning it before he died, that money is what John wanted, I’m thinking he either wanted the money for himself or he planned to completely take over Sal’s operation,” Ezra explains it all and I’m blown away.
“Where do you think the money and ledger are?” I ask.
“No idea, he couldn’t find it, that’s why he was so convinced that she knew where it was,” he says.
“He was right, I do know,” Cara says, and we all turn to look at her.
She looks tired and worn out, but damn my Angel still looks beautiful. Knowing everything she has been through my heart constricts knowing she’s mine.
“Where baby?” I ask, walking to her and taking her into my arms.
“The ledger is hidden or was hidden in a hidden compartment under Sal’s desk, I dropped it under the desk when John found me, it should still be there,” she explains a twinkle in her eye.
I walk over and sitting under the desk is a photo album. “Cara, honey, the only thing under here is a photo album.” I reach down picking it up.
I turn it over and the front is an ultrasound photo, my curiosity piqued. “Is this a baby album for Jules?” I ask.
“Nope, open it. Sal was not around for the first ultrasound for Jules, I believe that’s Gia,” she explains.
I open the photo album and instantly I understand, the outside appears as a soft covered baby album but when you open it, the first photo is of both girls at a local park but the next is a series of pages of numbers and amounts.
“That fucker is a genius, he disguised his ledger to look like a baby album so in case anyone came to look for it, they wouldn’t find it,” I say impressed that he came up with an idea like that.
“He did that so he could leave it out in plain sight,” she says.
I flip through the pages, if this was ever to fall into the wrong hands this could have been bad. The ledger has all of his contact information and every amount he has ever touched, it goes back years.
“It still doesn’t tell us where the money is,” Dom says.
“What the fuck?” I hear.
I look up just a Cara lets out an ear-piercing scream.
Chapter Forty-Three
Cara
I look up to see the other boys coming into the room, just as I’m about to turn back toward Matthew, she enters the room and before my brain registers, I let out a scream.
Standing at the door is the woman from the photo that John showed me, my stomach turns, and bile rises up my throat. I forcibly swallow it down. I know it’s not Jules but the resemblance is unnatural.
“What the fuck?” Ezra says.
Doc steps forward and is now standing before me. “I can check her over, but she will most likely need to go to the hospital, just depends on what happened,” he says.
“Have you talked to her,” Matthew asks.
“No, I just finished with Poney Boy, fixing up his head wound,” Doc explains.
I dig my nails into Matthew’s arm, I want to reach out and hug her, but my body is frozen in place.
“Cara, let’s get you out of here,” Matthew pulls me toward the door, leading away from the woman now being attended to by Doc.
“Cara, how did you know about the ledger?” Matthew questions me.
“I was hunting around for ideas when I felt the button on the underside of the desk, I still didn’t realize what it was until I saw the album. I knew it couldn’t have been Jules, I was not with Sal around that time,” I answer him guilt creeping up.
“What about the money?” he asks.
“That’s something I have no idea about. I didn’t know about the money, but it makes a lot of sense. Do you think if we give it back, they will leave us alone?” I ask him.
“I’m sick of worrying, I just want my family safe and to get our life back, I want a normal life,” I rant.
A knock on the door has us both turning around.
“She’s gonna need to go to the hospital, I can treat her for the minor stuff, but I think it will be better if she goes,” Doc explains.
“Okay, Doc, can you take her?” Matthew asks.
He nods.
“Doc?” I say.
“Yeah, darlin’?” His drawl gets me when he talks like that.
“Thank you for everything you have done for us and the club.” I walk up to him and wrap my arms around him.
“Anything for you, sweetie, but your man looks like he wants to rip my arms off and beat me with them if I don’t let go of you,” he says just loud enough for Matthew to hear.
I laugh out loud. “I think he will be okay,” I reply.
The sound of his growl triggered another laugh. “Okay, okay, calm down, mister,” I say, turning and walking back toward Matthew.
“You know, Angel, I’m so proud of you, damn I might sound like a pussy but I am. Not many men can say their woman is a badass, but I can,” he confesses. “Let’s get you home, the girls are going out of their minds with worry, I bet,” he says.
“Oh, shit. I bet they are, I told Jules I would collect some stuff for her, and I wanted to get some of my things from my room,” I tell him.
“Okay, baby, I will give you an hour to gather whatever else you want from here,” he tells me, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead before leaving me standing here.
I walk through Jules’ room collecting everything she has asked for. I sit on her bed, the memories from this house were not always bad. But they are not ones I want to hold on to forever. I moved on to my room, the only things I need are more clothes. I stand around in the middle of the room thinking of all my lonely nights, knowing that chapter of my life is over and now I’m ready for a different book.
“You ready?” I look up to find Dom standing in the doorway.
“Yes, I just need some stuff from my closet,” I tell him, reaching for the boxes on the top of the closet.
“I want Jules’ baby boxes, the rest of this crap we can get rid of,” I tell him.
“Well, boss man has tasked me with getting you home, so I’m ready whenever you are,” he says, grabbing the baby boxes from me.
The minute we pull up to the house we are surrounded by the girls. I looked to Jules and embraced her. “It’s all over,” I whisper and I feel her body relax, and her arms tighten around me.
�
�Let’s get everyone inside,” Dom says.
Suddenly my body is very tired, the weight of all the events have hit me at once.
Chapter Forty-Four
Locke
It’s been two days since we found the ledger and John’s death. I can’t figure out what the hell all of these codes are, I have stared at this ledger for two days and I’ve got nothing.
“Oh shit, look who is up and walking around?” I say, looking up as Viper hobbles in using his crutches.
“Funny, you’re an asshole,” he smarts back.
The rest of the boys come filing in one by one, taking a seat around the table.
“Looking good, Poney boy,” I say to Capone.
He flips me off. “Fuck you, I swear I’m going to kill Doc.” He stomps around taking a seat.
“Okay, so this shit makes no sense to me and so I have decided to give it to Tech. I know damn well if the code needs to be broken, he can figure it out, what else do we know?” I ask, looking toward the rest of the table.
“The girl, her name is Ally, said she had been there for about six days. He handcuffed her to the bed when she was not waiting on him or servicing him,” Mac informs us.
“Fucking sicko,” Ranger says.
“I second that shit but she’s doing well in the hospital. We were able to locate her family, they live in Texas and they are on their way up,” he finishes.
“Good, I’m glad they are coming up.”
“I called Moretti, set up a sit down. I want to offer giving him the money when we find it in exchange for him backing off and leaving Cara alone. The last thing I want to do is fuck with the mafia. I’m ready for a break and I know you guys are as well,” I say.
“Fuck yes, I just want to get laid,” Tex barks.
“Hell yes,” Bear seconds.
“Sounds good, let’s go.” I slam the gavel down and we all head out.
“Hey, baby.” I feel her arms wrap around me, her body pressed to mine. Her lips graze my shoulder.
I turn facing her. “Hey, Angel,” I say, running my knuckles up and down her jawline, she has had nightmares the past two nights and she doesn’t want to talk about it.
I trail kisses up and down her jawline, my fingers flex into her hips, biting into her flesh. Her arms snake up and around my neck. I grab her, one hand on each of her round cheeks hoisting her up, inviting her to wrap her luscious legs around me.
She doesn’t disappoint, locking her ankles together as I carry her toward the back of the compound. The way her lips feel, soft and sweet, and her teeth grazing my neck and I can’t hold back anymore. My thin veil of control snapped like a rubber band that was wound too tight, I pin her between myself and the wall, pistoning my hips, my jeans adding another layer of friction, the way our bodies move together is amazing.
She starts to unbutton her blouse when I reach over and grab it and with both hands., I pull sending buttons cascading across the floor, revealing underneath her black lacy bra, her nipples taut and ready. I insert one finger in each cup and release them from their confines, brushing my thumb over her dusty pink stiff nipples as I do. She moans, arching her body into me, the way her teeth sink into her bottom lip makes me want to just rip off all her clothes but I know she needs this, she needs slow and sensual right now.
“Fuck, Angel, you look so beautiful right now, arousal evident on your flushed cheeks. I can see just how turned on you are,” I whisper across her lips.
“Then do something about it, stop teasing me,” she whimpers.
I move her over to the pool table, unclasping her bra as I lay her back, freeing her supple breasts, watching her chest heaving for air and her breath quicken. She’s panting for more, I deftly unbutton her pants yanking them down her legs, trailing kisses back up her legs landing at the apex of her thighs. I place my lips there just hoovering above her curls interested in her response, she didn’t disappoint, she places both hands on the back of my head pressing my face further into her sweetness.
I growl when my mouth makes contact with her flesh, the way she tastes, lapping at her skin, gently biting, grazing my teeth against her stiff bud, her cry of release is accompanied by her nails digging into my scalp, that small amount of pain mixed with a sea of pleasure has my body wound so tight. I will not hold off any longer. I stand unsheathing myself, she licks her lips watching me as I free myself.
She stands in front of me long enough to run her fingers over my chest, down my stomach, and gripping me firmly in her hands.
“Ah, yes,” I hiss her warm hands feel like heaven against me.
She suddenly drops down and takes me down the back of her throat. “Fuck, baby, slow down,” I tell her. “I want this to last.” I caress her head, running my fingers through her hair, easing myself in and out of her mouth, her warmth is heaven, each time I bump the back of her throat.
Shit I will not last much longer. “Baby, I don’t want to come yet,” I tell her which only causes her to unsheathe her teeth.
“Fuck!” I roar, lifting her up, laying her across the table and slamming in to her repeatedly, in and out, feeling her tightness tells me she’s very close to exploding. I pull all the way out and slam back into her, causing her to scream, her body tightens around me like a vise pulling my orgasm from me. We both lay there, me on top of her, you would think I was crushing her, but she has not said anything against it. The sound she makes, the way she makes me feel, and how her body touches mine hasn’t changed in almost twenty years. It was electric then and it’s electric now.
I lean up and she’s half asleep. I lift her up into my arms and carry her to our room, she’s asleep in my arms, watching her the devil inside me is content, at peace knowing she’s safe.
Killian cries pulling me from watching her, he’s wide awake in his crib standing against the rails.
“Come on. buddy, let’s go and let Mommy sleep.” His garbled noise I take as agreement.
Dom is standing next to the bar, looking over some papers laid out in front of him. He looks distraught, something must me wrong, I wonder if they found out anything.
“What are you looking at?” I ask curiosity getting the best of me.
“Wedding shit,” he says exasperated. “You think I could pull this shit off, she wants pink and blue?” he asks with a serious face.
“Hahaha.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
I walk around the bar, look down, and punch his crotch.
“Fucker, what did you do that for?” he yells.
“Just making sure you still have your dick and didn’t grow a pussy overnight,” I say, laughing my ass off.
“Fuck, who cares about this shit, she can just pick the shit out and I will pay for it. I don’t give a damn what color she wants.” He moves the papers out of the way, sick of looking at them.
“Haha, your ass is gonna pick wedding shit out, I know it,” I taunt him.
“I don’t give a damn,” he says and puffs out his chest.
“Listen, fucker, that’s my daughter you’re talking about, so watch it,” I say, giving him a half-veiled threat because I don’t give a damn about weddings either.
“Kili, never fall for a woman or if you do, whatever you do, don’t get married, they might make you wear a fucking tux,” Dom says with a look of disgust on his face.
Killian’s baby laugh causes us both to laugh. “Well that sucks for you, doesn’t it?” I joke.
“Come on, little dude, let’s leave Dom to his chick shit,” I say, turning to head back the way we came.
Chapter Forty-Five
Cara
I scream as he drags me down the hallway, my hair hurts, my fingers burn from me slapping at his hands trying to get him to let me go. He yanks harder dragging me, I can’t seem to get my feet to catch up with me. We are at the door, he reaches for the knob, slowly turning it, I try and break free, but it hurts, he yanks harder and harder.
“Get the fuck in there.” He whips his hand that’s tightly wound around my hair flinging me
.
Damn it, I shoot up in bed, alone panting, my body trembling, every time I close my eyes it’s the same thing.
“Mom?” I hear accompanied by a soft knock.
I look up to see my girls standing at the door.
“Can we come in?” Grace asks gingerly. The look on their faces tell me that they must have heard me.
“Sure,” I say, patting the bed next to me.
Jules sits on one side and Grace on the other, with Leah, Enya, Emerson, and Imogen splayed across the rest of the bed.
“You know, I still dream sometimes we are back there,” Gracie confesses. “Sometimes, I dream that we are still down in that cellar, cold, dirty, and Dom never finds us,” she goes on.
“You never said anything, sweetie,” I say, grabbing her hand.
“I think we all have dreams like that, it’s not like we could just forget it ever happened,” Jules says.
“You still have nightmares?” I ask her. Scooting myself to sit completely upright in the bed.
“Yes, sometimes we are back in the cellar, sometimes I’m upstairs strapped to the chair again. I can smell the liquor on their breath. I can feel their hands touch my skin.” She visibly shudders.
“I have one where I’m cuffed to the floor again but this time it’s both arms and legs and I watch as they come down one by one and they drag each one of the other girls upstairs until it’s just me.” Leah closes her eyes reliving her haunted images.
“I had no idea you guys still had nightmares,” I tell them, looking to each of my girls.
“Yeah, but we will not let that keep us from living, if we did then they would win, we would be trapped back there in the dark and cold, I will not let them win,” Jules says, looking as defiant and strong as ever.
“I think it helps that we have each other, we know if one of us is having a rough time we can go to the other and talk about it,” Leah offers.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Imogen asks.
“I think what gets me the most is that I didn’t go through anything like my girls did but I killed him, I stabbed a man,” I say and my voice trembles.