Ransom

by Laramie Briscoe

  With one last lick to my palm, he drops his head and falls back asleep, this time his breathing much calmer and much more how I know it to be. Taking a picture of him, I send it to Leigh, letting her know that Rambo is fine. She reciprocates with a picture of Ransom, who’s in recovery from his surgery. Telling me that if all is well, he’ll get to come home tomorrow.

  “Hey.” I hear Trevor’s voice as I look up at the doorway. “Leigh texted to tell me you never got the food you ordered and had Violet get a fresh plate made for you. You’ve got to be starving.”

  Weird, food hasn’t even crossed my mind, although I do remember having gone to lunch with Mom. My stomach growls loudly. “Stay with me?”

  “Whatever you need, Belle.”

  He hands me the Styrofoam box he’s holding in his hands, and as I open it, the smell of the burger hits me. My hands almost shake as I bring it to my mouth and take a huge bite.

  “He’s gonna be okay, ya know?” Trevor says. “They both are. There’s not much that’ll keep either of them down for long.”

  “That’s what Mom said everybody said about you, when you got hurt.”

  “Yeah.” He grins, running a hand through his hair. “Everybody had all this advice to give me, but it was a mental game, as I’m sure it’ll be with Ransom. He’s going to lean heavily on you, Belle.”

  “I know.” I swallow a French fry. “I’m going to be there in every capacity he needs me to be.”

  “If it wasn’t for Blaze-” Trevor shakes his head, his eyes clouding with memories I’m not a part of, “-I don’t know what I would have done. Her and then you showing up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your mom was pregnant with you, and there was some fear from everybody I wouldn’t be around to see you be born. But I was, on crutches not long after being discharged, I was back in the hospital to see you as soon as I was told you were coming. I was actually in the room when you were born. Right as Alabama scored a touchdown. There were cheers as you popped out,” he laughs.

  I laugh along with him. That totally feels like my life.

  “Once you were here I had something else to fight for. I wanted to watch you grow up, and I’ve been blessed to watch you grow into a stunning woman.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Trev.” I give him a huge smile, because I like when he sings my praises.

  “Only one thing.” He gives me a look.

  “What?” I ask a French fry halfway to my mouth.

  “Ransom??”

  I throw my head back, giggling loudly. “If you only knew.”

  “I don’t want to know, but you’ll tell me if he’s a dick?”

  “Of course, Trev! Anytime in my life I haven’t been able to go to my dad, I’ve always come to you. That’s never going to change.”

  He gets up, leaning down to put his arms around me. “Make sure it doesn’t. I gotta get out of here. We’re shorthanded with most everybody down in Birmingham. I’m gonna pull a night shift tonight. Be safe, Belle. You need anything, you know who to call.”

  “I’ll add you to my list.”

  “Better be at the fuckin’ top, little girl.”

  I give him a salute as he leaves. The room is quiet, and for hours I sit next to Rambo, offering him words of encouragement, even speaking to Ransom after he wakes up and has a meal. Around eleven, the doctor comes back. “He’s going to sleep all night. He’ll be fine here. If something happens, I’ll call. Why don’t you go home and get some rest?”

  Part of me wants to argue, but I’m dead on my feet. I gratefully thank her for all she’s done, and then make the short drive to Ransom’s house. Weird how I never even thought of going to my own apartment. When she told me to go home, I immediately came here.

  It doesn’t take long for me to shower, turn off the lights, and set the alarm system. As I tuck myself into the big bed, I listen for the sound of Rambo’s tags, his nails against the hardwood, the soft speaking voice of Ransom as he tells Rambo to be quiet. It’s then I’m hit with the reality of what could have happened today.

  Instead of being alone for one night, I could have lost it all today, and as that realization hits me hard, I cry. I break down and sob for all the people who never get the second chance I’ve been given. Those promises I made to God if he spared Ransom and Rambo? I vow to make all of them come true. I’ll never take anything for granted, ever again.

  Chapter 31

  Ransom

  Foul doesn’t even begin to describe the mood I’m in. I’ve been home for five days, and while I’m happy to be here, thankful to be living my life, I’m sick to death of my house being a fucking revolving door of people.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Stelle asks me as she sits on the opposite side of the couch from me.

  Rambo sits in between us, and I can tell just by looking at him, he feels the same way I do. Like, Dad what the fuck have you done to me?

  “Fine.” I bare my teeth in what I hope is a smile.

  She giggles loudly. “You’re not fine. Do you have cabin fever?”

  I sigh loudly. “I don’t know, I just can’t stand everybody being here all the time, looking at me with pity in their eyes, acting like I’ll break at some point. Honestly the experience hasn’t fucked me up. It pissed me off, but I knew what I was getting into when I made that dude run. I was prepared for it.”

  “You know that everyone has to go speak to the shrink. It’s procedure.” Stella reaches over, taking my hand in hers, rubbing he back of mine with her palm.

  “I know.” I glance over at her. “I just feel like everybody else is taking this harder than I am.”

  “Well put yourself in our shoes, handsome. We were told to come to the hospital because you’d been shot. We didn’t know if you were okay or not.” She lets her voice trail off. “It was one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me, I’m sure it’s the same with your parents and the guys you work with. Yes, you’ve got to get over it, but we do too.”

  “It feels like I’m a goddamn circus sideshow,” I grumble.

  “That’s it!”

  She gets up off the couch, reaching over to pull me up with my good arm. The other is still in a sling. “What?” My voice is harsh, but I can’t help it. Unfortunately, she’s going to have to deal with me at my worst.

  “I have errands to run, and you’re coming with me.”

  Beside us, Rambo lifts his head up too, almost as if he’s asking if he’s allowed to come along.

  “If you come, your dad’s gonna have to let me drive his truck.”

  Rambo’s brown eyes turn to me, and I can see them pleading. No one can tell me this dog doesn’t understand what we’re saying. Both of them are staring at me, waiting for me to answer.

  “Oh fuck it, fine. We’ll run errands with you, and you can drive my truck. I need to change, but I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

  Stelle’s bright smile is really all I need to know I’ve done and said the right thing. Five minutes later I’m dressed, digging through the catch-all for my truck keys. Like I said, people have been in and out, and that included Dad bringing my truck back for me when I’d been released. Reaching out, I go to hand them to Stelle, and as she grabs for them, I pull them back, forcing her to slightly stumble into me.

  “Sorry,” she apologizes quickly.

  I roll my eyes. “No need to apologize. I’ll catch you no matter how you fall. All I’m doing is angling for a kiss.”

  She grins up at me, her eyes moving down to my lips. “Why didn’t you just say so, handsome?”

  “I’m saying it now.”

  Her nose touches mine as she leans in closer. My eyes follow her lips as she pulls the bottom one between her teeth, then lets her tongue swipe across the pink stained flesh. We’re a breath away from one another, and she’s not closing the distance, actually, she slightly pulls back. I chase her, using my good arm to wrap around her neck, pushing our lips together. It’s one of the first kisses we’ve shared since I got injured,
and this is everything I’ve missed about her. The way she sighs into my touch, let’s my tongue play, and grips her fingers into my shirt. As we pull apart, my lips linger on hers.

  “Love you.” She grins as she rocks back on her heels. “Now let’s blow this joint.”

  Even though it pains me to admit it, Stelle was right, I did need to get out. It’s nice to breathe fresh air, to feel the heat of the sun on my skin, to roll the window down and let the wind rush through my hair. Even Rambo is having a great time. He’s in the back with his head hanging out the window.

  “I gotta park this damn thing.” Stelle grimaces as she pulls into the parking lot of the bank.

  “Just slide it on in, babe. Nice and easy.”

  She glances at me. “Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?”

  “Fuck, I’d love for you to say that to me,” I groan as I think about the last time we were able to actually be intimate.

  “Soon.” She gives me a wink. “Will he be okay out here, or are you going to stay with him?”

  “He’ll be fine,” I tell her. “Stay, bub, we’ll be right back.”

  Rambo does as asked while we make our way into the bank. I stick close to Stelle as I walk over to the counter with her, she’s got a stack of loose bills. “What’s that from?”

  “My night’s down at the strip club.” She giggles when I give her a look. “No, I helped out at The Café yesterday and got some tips. You know when you were meeting with the shrink and Leigh went with you. She didn’t have anybody to cover for her, and it’s not like I don’t know how to wait a few tables.” She shrugs. “I made more than I thought I would, so I’m gonna deposit it.”

  She finishes filling out her deposit slip but is reluctant to walk up to the next available teller. It’s a man who waves at Stelle. “Hey, Stella,” he greets her with a bright smile on his face. This guy looks familiar, but I’m not sure why.

  “Hey, Conner,” she speaks back to him. “How are things going?”

  “Not bad.” He takes her deposit slip and cash, counting it before speaking again. “Thinking of going back to school for my MBA, so I might have to dust off the old routine.”

  Routine? That’s where I know this fucker from. Stelle turns her gaze to me, silently asking me not to say anything. Immediately my uninjured arm goes around her neck, pulling her close.

  “Really? You were hoping to put that life behind you,” she is saying.

  “Yeah,” he sighs. “But you gotta pay the bills, ya know?”

  He glances at me. “What’s up, bro?”

  “Not much, just following this beautiful woman around on her errands today.” I lean in, kissing her temple.

  “This is my boyfriend, Ransom,” Stelle introduces us. “Ransom, this is Conner, a friend of mine.”

  I untangle my hand from her hair, reaching around to give him my hand to shake. It’s awkward, but I make it happen. He looks me up and down, obviously sizing me up. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too, CrossFit injury?” He points to my sling.

  CrossFit my fuckin’ ass.

  “Work injury. Shot in the line of duty.” I puff up my chest a bit. “I’m a cop.”

  “For real? Oh yeah, you’re that guy with the dog, I saw your body cam footage.”

  “That’s me.” I put my arm back around Stelle.

  He’s no longer checking her out, and he’s no longer sizing me up. In fact, he seems to be trying to get us out of there as he hurries through the rest of the transaction. “Have a good one, Ms. Kepler,” he tells her as he nods to us, not even waiting for us to step away as he greets the next customer.

  When we get outside, she glares at me. “He was just being polite.”

  “Fuck that, he was checking you out.”

  “Well he’s not anymore,” she argues as we get back into my truck.

  “Damn right he’s not, bum arm or not, I’ll fuck his world up, looking at you like that.”

  She laughs loudly as she backs out of her parking spot. “I get it. I don’t like badge chasers, you don’t like former strippers who now work at the bank.”

  “The only badge chaser I like is you, babe.” I wink at her as we hit the main road.

  “Oh screw you, I’m still waiting on your stripper routine.”

  “I don’t wanna blow your mind that hard.”

  She snorts loudly. “Oh yes, please keep my virtue intact.”

  “Just watching out for you, beautiful.”

  “Such a gentleman.”

  “Always.” I lean in as we come to a stop at a red light, dropping my voice lower. “Until I’m between your thighs, then we both know you don’t want me to be a gentleman.”

  She inhales swiftly, her chest expanding as she drags a stuttered breath into her lungs. “Soon Ransom, soon.”

  Beside her, I yank at the crotch of my jeans. “Not soon enough, babe, not soon enough.”

  Chapter 32

  Renegade

  “Thanks for coming over and helping, Dad.” Belle kisses me on the cheek a she grabs her purse. “He’s asleep right now because he just took some pain medication, but he should be waking up soon. I really appreciate this so I can go with Mom,” she tells me as she puts a jacket on, hooking the purse crossways over her body.

  Rambo comes to us, putting his paw up for her. She leans down, kissing him on the muzzle, before she stands up. “He might need to go out here in a few, but he’ll let you know.” She pulls her hair out from under the collar. “If you need anything, just give me a call.”

  “I got this,” I remind her that I’m the adult and she’s the child.

  “I know, I just feel bad leaving him here, but this is tradition and Mom’s birthday.”

  Don’t I know it? Since she’s been old enough to enjoy it, Whitney’s taken Stelle over me, and I can’t even be mad about it. These two love their football and their time together. “He’ll be fine, go or you’re gonna be late.”

  She hugs me one more time before she finally heads out the door. Looking between Rambo and the couch, I hitch my chin toward it. He hops up, sitting on end, so I choose the other. When he assumes I’m situated, he comes over, putting his chin on my leg. This dog is just about the sweetest thing ever. Just as I’m about to turn the TV on, a door opens down the hallway and out walks Ransom.

  He reminds me so much of a younger Havoc, it’s almost scary.

  “Hey.” He gives me a sleepy smile as he shuffles into the kitchen first and then back to the living room where I am. He carries a bottle of water, and as he sits down, he pulls a package of crackers out of his sling. “This damn painkiller they gave me makes me thirsty and makes me want to puke,” he sighs as he has a seat in the chair opposite me.

  “You doing okay?” I ask, scared that if I don’t, Belle will somehow find out and kick my ass.

  “I’m fine, I’m sure Stelle gave you the third degree before she left.”

  “She may have.” I nod, giving him a rueful grin.

  “She was scared, I know she was, but truly I’m fine. It’s just sore, and where they had to scrape some of the bone, I get these shooting pains, but the doctor says it’s the bone rejuvenating or some shit. Said it should be over within a few weeks.”

  The TV is on in the background, and he’s watching it as he eats his crackers and drinks his water. Eventually though, I have enough of it and have to ask him a question that’s been bothering me.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? About you and Stella? There were so many times you could have said something.”

  He stops chewing, looking at me like a kid who’s been caught with his hand in the candy jar. “I was scared.” He clears his throat. “Like no guy ever thinks another one is good enough for his daughter, and I mean you’ve known me forever. You know all the stupid shit I’ve done, and I just thought that maybe once you found out, you’d tell me to stay the fuck away from her. Which wasn’t gonna happen, and I didn’t want to disrespect you like that. Then she was afraid that if we didn’t work out, our
friends would start taking sides and it would make work awkward. We were both thinking about everyone else and not ourselves.” He shrugs. “Seems stupid now, after the way everything else went down.”

  “Why don’t you tell me now?” I lean in, pinning him with a stare. “Why don’t you be honest with me, and I’ll be honest with you?”

  There’s one thing I have to give Ransom: he’s never been scared of anything. When it comes to manning up, he’s one of the bravest I’ve ever seen.

  “Ryan, Sir, I’m totally in love with your daughter. I don’t see myself ever being without her. When I think of my life five years, ten years, fifty years from now, she’s there. I’m not saying it’s going to happen anytime soon, because she’s got dreams, and I would never crush them, but I’m going to marry her. I’d love your blessing, but I don’t need it. I know how I feel about her, and I know how she feels about me. This bullet could have done a lot more than it did, and I’m not interested in searching for anything else in my life. Stelle’s it, and I know she’s it.”

  The words he’s spoken warm a place that I’ve been waiting to be warmed. They give me the satisfaction of knowing my daughter will be taken care of, should something ever happen to me, and I know without a doubt no one will touch her, and live to tell about it with Ransom here.

  “You’re lucky to have her, but she’s lucky to have you too. I’ve watched you grow up, and become a great cop, a good man, and someone I’m proud to call my friend. When it’s time, I’ll be more than proud to call you family. Just give me a heads up so I can warn her mom?”