by Jax Hart
“He does. He has Dare and … me.”
“Well, I guess he can’t be worse than where I’ve come from. He dates models, actresses and super stars. The house I was in, the woman there had all these gossip magazines. Roque was in about every one. The movie star, celebrity gangster that the Feds can’t catch getting dirty.”
I don’t know what to say, so I shrink further into his warm jacket. It wraps me like a hug. The kind I’ve always needed. But never had.
Light spills onto the dirty snow, showing its gray grit as the front door slams open and Roque jogs out. The driver waiting outside opens the door for him. He slides into the seat next to me.
“Did any of them touch you? You know how I mean?”
“They didn’t. Not to me…but Chloe…?”
“They wanted to but didn’t.”
He breathes in deeply. “He knocks on the window, indicating the driver to pull away.”
“Wait! Please. I need…my doll that Dare gave me. It’s the only thing of value I have and my…” I swallow hard trying not to cry. “My stuffed doggie, a nurse in the hospital gave him to me. He’s the only thing I’ve had my whole life.” Fat tears roll, my shoulders shake.
Roque tells the driver to stop. “I’ll get them myself. Just tell me where they are. Chloe? Do you need anything?”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No. Neither of you are ever stepping foot back inside. Ever. Again.”
“I thought you were the devil. But you’re not are you?”
“That Chloe depends on who you ask…but the two of you have nothing to fear from me. I’m going to kill Brooks and any child predator breathing in this city. You hear me?”
Chloe nods, letting her tears fall free. “Thank you.”
He nods once and opens the door to get our things.
“Maybe you were right, Freddie. Maybe Christmas miracles exist.”
I squeeze her hand. “If anyone can help us, it’s him and Dare.” Roque comes back minutes later carrying my doll and my well-worn stuffed dog. He also has Chloe’s backpack.
“There wasn’t much.”
“We know,” I reply.
The smooth SUV glides through the slush-covered streets. My eyes go wide as we leave the slums and head toward the Lake. I rarely go to this part of town. The car enters an underground garage, passes security and rolls to a stop.
We’re led into an elevator that keeps going up and up, until it dings, and the doors open inside the most luxurious place I’ve ever seen. It’s sleek and dark like the man who lives here. No color. No light. But everything is rich, nonetheless.
“Follow me.”
Chole and I cling to each other as he leads us down a large hall and into a room decorated in cream with a huge four-poster bed. He picks up a remote and a fire turns on in the fireplace. A real one. Another button—and a TV screen emerges from inside a wall. He turns it on to Christmas movies.
“Hungry?”
We both nod.
“Pizza, ice cream and popcorn?”
My eyes go wide.
“Is this real?” I squeak.
“I just asked myself that,” Mr. Roque attempts to smile. “I’m the one with two orphan, underage girls in my penthouse.”
“Mr. Roque? Please don’t tell Dare. I don’t want him to worry.”
“I need to.”
“No. You don’t understand. He’s in love. I told him to go on a date tonight. I can’t mess this up for him.”
A small smile curves his lips. If I was grown up and knew what all the fuss was about men and woman…I know I’d probably swoon or something like the woman do in the movies. Roque Salvatore is every girl’s fantasy. Even mine. But not in that way—more of like a father figure way.
“Dare? Is into a woman? This is too good.” He waves a finger in the air.
“He said he really wants to date her or something. And it gets better…” I quickly fill in Roque and Chloe on how Dare has been dressing up as Santa and how the woman he likes doesn’t know it’s really him.
Roque throws back his head and laughs until I think he actually cries. His bodyguards all rush in, confused at the sight. He waves them off and finally controls himself. “Shower or take baths. I’ve sent someone to get new clothes for you both. We’ll eat. Plot and plan.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he grins. “I have a feeling this is going to be a Christmas none of us will ever forget.”
Chloe goes in the bathroom first and I sit on the edge of the huge bed, afraid to even wrinkle the perfect sheets.
I turn my head at the soft knock. Roque enters and brings a stack of boxes over. He opens the top one. My fingers are hesitant as they reach out. But finally, they touch the plush fabric.
“Pajamas. Ballerina’s…. you want to dance?”
I nod. “Dare told you?”
“He did.”
Hot tears fall as I sob. My arms fly out to hug Roque tight. He’s surprised. I can tell by the way he stiffens but finally he awkwardly hugs me back. “It’s okay. You’re safe now, Freddie. Pizza will be here soon. Go get freshened up.”
I nod and he hesitates then leaves.
After Chloe and I shower and put on our new pajamas, we open the door to our room feeling awkward as we peek out.
We link arms and slowly walk forward. Roque’s sitting alone at a huge, sleek black table with the arms of his collared shirt rolled up to his elbows while he chews a piece of pizza.
“Sorry. I couldn’t wait.”
Chloe and I sit, helping ourselves. No one talks as we all pig out. Finally, when I’m stuffed, I glance around his penthouse suit.
“Please tell me you didn’t pay someone to do this?”
“It’s that bad?”
“Hideous.”
He shrugs, “I thought so too. But she was…a challenge.”
“Who?” Chloe pipes up.
“The interior designer who picked everything out. I just paid for it.”
“What do you suggest?”
My eyes light up. I feel it. “A Christmas tree. By the window. Red bows…maybe a few lighted reindeer by the elevator?”
He glances at his wristwatch, then picks up a napkin to wipe his mouth.
“Benny! Call Macy’s tell them to stay open late for me.”
“You can do that?”
“I can do anything. I thought you had that one figured out already. Get dressed girls, we’re going shopping.”
“Really?” I practically squeal. “I’ve never had a Christmas tree,”
“I haven’t had one in years…” Roque replies.
“Can we get one for our room. A small one?”
“Why not?”
“Thank you. I don’t know what else to say.”
“It’s my pleasure, Freddie.”
Hours later, I stand in my new jammies staring at the twinkling lights. “It’s perfect.”
“Not yet. Here, Chloe.” He hands her the star we picked out and helps her up the ladder. She places it at the top and plugs it in. Roque let us buy whatever we wanted but neither Chloe nor I asked for much, both of us not used to any of this. Roque had more fun then we did as he kept telling his goons to put more stuff in their carts. Ten. Ten shopping carts later and three car trips, and everything was back here.
“I’m not much of a parental figure but it’s late. Past midnight and time for bed.”
“Good night Roque.”
“Night girls.”
Chloe and I climb in our huge bed and get under the thick, soft comforter.
“See? I told you he was nice.”
“Nice? That man is dangerous. He’s nice but underneath all that is danger. I see it.”
“Do you have a crush on him?”
“Not like that. I just wish I could stay here. You have Dare…I don’t know what’s going to happen to me.”
“It’ll be okay, Chloe. You just have to believe.”
Together, we fall asleep in the warmest most comforta
ble bed in the world finally feeling safe.
But I can’t sleep. It was too close tonight. Everything I dreamed of was almost taken from me. Careful not to disturb Chloe, I climb down and enter the hall going toward the kitchen area.
The twinkling lights from the tree Roque had his bodyguards drag home is still lit. Smiling, I go to the tree, gingerly touching the branches. It smells of freshly cut pine and hope. But as I spin around the room, I notice more decorations since Chloe and I went to bed. Red poinsettias are on tabletops, more garland and lights line Roque’s huge windows and the three lighted reindeer I wanted are set up.
“Can’t sleep?”
I spin fast, finally noticing Roque’s silhouette against the corner window. Shrugging, I slowly walk over. He’s staring down at the city below. I press my nose to the cold glass.
“Why are you still up?” I ask him.
“I barely sleep.”
“Nightmares?”
He smiles that dark smile of his. “Men like me don’t get nightmares, Freddie. Although, I guess I play a staring role in many other’s.”
I think about his words while I look up at the night sky. “Is that the North Star?”
He gazes up, too. “I think it is.”
“Make a wish with me?”
I’m not a man who believes in wishes.
“Why not? Everyone needs to believe otherwise what’s the point?”
His dark eyes turn to me. “I understand now. Why Dare wants to save you. You’re a special little girl, Freddie. I’m glad you believe. I’m glad no one took that from you.”
“That’s my wish for you. I’m going to make a wish for you on Christmas that you believe again.”
“Oh, Freddie. Save your wishes. Don’t waste them on me. I saved you but that doesn’t make me redeemable.”
“Did you call Dare?”
“No. But because he wanted to do this by the book. He doesn’t want anything to ruin his chances of getting you out of the system. But I run this city, Freddie. No one will ever know what happened tonight. As far as the state’s concerned—you’re still back at that house under the watch of Mrs. Jenkins.”
“Am I staying here until Dare comes back?”
“How do you feel about spending Christmas in Oregon?”
My eyes go wide. “I’ve never been anywhere. Never been outside this city before.”
“There’s a whole world out there, Freddie. And something tells me someday, you just might conquer it.”
“Maybe. At least Ill have a chance now, thanks to you and Dare. Wh-what did you do to Cooper and those boys anyway?”
“I don’t even want you to think about them ever again. It’s been handled.”
“What about Chloe? What will happen to her? She’s the only friend I have… she protected me in there…”
He studies the night sky. “She’ll be safe. I’ll see to it personally.”
“Forever?”
“Until she graduates college.”
“Thank you.”
I turn back to the tree then slowly walk back to my room and crawl under the sheets with Chloe. “You’re going to be okay, too Chloe. I promise.” I whisper to my slumbering friend. Now all that’s left is Dare. As I fall asleep, I wish that he too gets the Christmas he deserves.
20
SHILOH
“I’M SUCH AN IDIOT. Falling for the same crap… the same type of guy over and over again.” I pace in my room. I ordered dinner in after my spa appointment. My suitcase sits on my bed half-packed. I want to leave get away from Dare and his sexy smirk and sinful body.
But I have nowhere to go.
Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve and a snowstorm is expected. With my luck, I’d end up stuck on the side of the road. Pacing in front of the warm fire, I wring my hands deliberating what to do. Devon was so nice when she offered to drive me back and listened to me, a complete stranger ramble on about what a jerk Dare is all the while knowing her husband, Rog is like an uncle to him.
My phone buzzes with a text.
Dev: Christmas party tonight. Pick you up in ten. No Dare I promise.
I debate whether or not to hide out in my room for the rest of the night. But that’s depressing. Devon seems fun and a night out celebrating at her husband’s bar sounds like just what I need to get back into the holiday mood. It doesn’t hurt since she also promised Dare wouldn’t be there. That he had “Club business” to attend to or something when she mentioned the party to me earlier.
I fluff my hair, apply another coat of gloss and pick up my favorite cashmere sweater in snow white.
“Going out?”
“You’re not going to the party at Sassy’s?”
“I’ll be busy cooking and setting up for Christmas Dinner.”
“Are you sure? I can help you with that tomorrow.”
“Go. Now. I actually can’t stand having anyone in my kitchen. Don’t forget, I have you booked for a mineral wrap followed by the mineral bath treatment early in the morning so my therapist can spend Christmas Eve at home.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
The headlights from Devon’s truck cut down the drive and I shrug into my faux-fur coat and step out.
“You ready?” She grins as I open up the passenger door.
“For what?”
“A night you’ll never forget.”
“It’s just a party.”
“I…I pulled some strings for you. I called that temp agency and requested your sexy Santa to make an appearance.”
“You didn’t. Ugh. I just want to forget about men.”
“Ok, that’s fine. Just ignore him then. Have you spoken to Dare at all?”
“No. He knocked on my door a few times, but I just can’t listen. It hurts too much. I know that sounds crazy since we just met but we connected. I know we did.”
“Sometimes it just happens like that. I’m glad you came out to Springdale though. We don’t really have a lot of cool women our age around here, just a bunch of stubborn alpha males.”
“I know. That’s kind of why I came. I guess I found what I was looking for.”
“In spades. Some guys form the Canada Chapter of Creed will be there. Most single, too.” She waggles her brows.
“The last thing I need for Christmas is a man. It just took me a while to realize that.”
“Well, won’t that be funny if that’s exactly what you get?”
“Har-har. Hardly.”
“How are you feeling anyway?”
She gets quiet. “Ok. As long as I take it easy, hopefully this one will stick.”
“I’m sure it will.”
Dev had confided in me earlier that she and Rog had been expecting before but that she had lost the baby before she could even celebrate.
“I feel good. It’s Christmas and anything can happen. I still believe.”
“Believe for me too then, cause I’m done.”
“Don’t say that. Just wait until this time next year, you’ll be back in Springdale. This place has a way of sucking people in.”
I turn with my face against the glass. Miles of evergreens grow far up past the low hanging clouds into the sky. Thick snow blankets the ground in every direction. Woodsmoke curls from log cabins nestled under pine trees. All of them decked out with garland and lights. She’s right. There is something about this place and the people in it. It feels like home. But it’s not and I can’t forget that.
The parking lot is full, but Devon pulls into a reserved spot right out front. The place is Christmas on steroids. It was decorated before, but now big multi-colored bulbs glow from the roofline. The live music coming from inside makes the ground shake and the windows rattle.
“This is insane.”
“Just wait,” she winks, “the night has just begun.”
I lose her in the packed crowd but I’m not lonely. Men are everywhere; each more jacked and handsome than the next, in that rugged bad boy way.
“Hey darlin’.” I’m handed a
frothy beer. “Don’t worry. We don’t need to drug our women,” he winks tipping his mug to mine.
“Why not?” I smile, letting the frothy, cold beer take away some of the heat in the room.
“Hey.”
I turn finding Federico’s warm chocolate eyes. He leans down to my ear so I can hear him over the music and noise. “It’s all good. Rog would kill anyone if they messed with drinks in his bar.”
“Got that memo,” I grin. “Wanna dance?”
“I’m not sure if I should. Dare’s gonna kick my ass.”
I squeeze his solid bicep. “As if.”
“You don’t know about him, do you. He’s one bad-ass mother fucker.”
“I’ve heard,” I shrug. “There’s nothing going on between us anyway.” The band starts playing their cover song of “Last Christmas.” Federico grabs me by the hips, and we start swaying to the beat. It’s nice having a big brute of a man hold me. Knowing it’s just fun, knowing I can let go. So, I do. Let go. I let go of all my past heartache, all the Christmas eve’s I spent alone locked up in my room or with men who just saw me as a status symbol. We dance and drink, doing it over and over. I have a good buzz going and decide to switch to water before we head back to the dance floor. But as the tune changes to a ballad of “All I want for Christmas is—you” melancholy fills me. Because I wish I was dancing in someone else’s arms, swaying to the beat as he holds me close.
“Excuse. May I cut in?”
I lift my head from Federico’s shoulder gasping as my mystery man dressed as Santa pulls me into his arms before I can get a better look at his face.
“I’ve got you, now.” He growls low against my hair. He feels good. Dancing with him feels almost right. But now my heart aches for Dare and dancing with this man feels wrong but yet right. I’m so confused. Torn. But then I remember Dare’s whispered promise he gave to someone else on the phone. Some woman named Freddie, not me.
I let him draw me in closer, my nipples peak as they press against his hard chest. He took off the Santa coat, leaving him in a tight, white undershirt that hugs every ripped muscle in his chest. The tips of my nails graze lightly up and down his back. His breath gets heavier, something hard and hot pokes into my tummy. “Damn, girl,” he groans as I press closer to it. My gaze drops to his forearms covered in ink. I trace the designs with the tip of my finger. “They’re beautiful,” I whisper as he shudders under my touch. The ink disappears under his shirt but spread across his chest, the deep blue and green patterns of it visible beneath his cotton T-shirt.