by Ezra Dawn
“Okay.”
Tilting my head to the side, I’m sure my expression is confused when I say, “Okay?”
Mickey nods. “I believe you and while I’m angry right now, the fact is I brought this on myself and you’ve put a lot of trust in me by coming clean. I’m not going to take that for granted, which is why, instead of calling Callahan in here to drag you out of here and feed you to the fish, I’m going to keep this quiet and give myself time to process.”
“So, what happens now?”
“Now, you go home. While I’m sure I’ll forgive you at some point, I need some time. You may not have meant to, but you’ve betrayed my trust and I need to be alone if I’m going to process what’s happened without my anger at you clouding my judgement.”
I open my mouth to say something, but he holds up a hand and says, “I promise I won’t do anything that’ll put my life in danger. Just give me a few days okay? We’ll talk then.”
“Okay.”
Grabbing my clothes, I walk over to him and press a kiss to his cheek and whisper, “I’m sorry.” Without waiting to hear his reply, I exit the room and head for the guest room I’ve been keeping my clothes in. Once I’ve dressed, I make sure I have my wallet and keys before exiting the apartment. If Callahan was curious as to my reason for leaving, he didn’t say anything. On the way down to the garage, I send a text to my contact letting him know that my cover has been blown and I managed to escape being killed so I’m going dark for a while.
When his reply comes through, I delete it. As soon as I’m inside my SUV, I pray that I haven’t ruined the relationship Mickey and I were building. Refusing to dwell on it right now, I pull out of the parking spot and head towards the safehouse I’m staying in.
When I arrive at the house a half hour later and walk inside, I know immediately that something is wrong. My point is proven when the lights suddenly turn on and I find myself staring down the barrel of a gun.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
I quickly reach for my gun, but he fires a shot that whizzes past my ear. “Don’t do anything stupid because next time I won’t miss.”
I hold my hands up in a placating gesture and wait. “I want you to take out your gun, slowly, put it on the floor and kick it over to me.”
Nodding, I do as he says. Once he has my gun tucked into the waistband of his pants he waves me over with his gun. Walking into the living room, I spot a similar set up to the one Callahan used for the kid.
“Have a seat.”
I sit in the chair and wait for the right moment to make my move. When he puts his gun down so he can tie me up, I strike. Headbutting him in the face when he gets close enough. He yowls and pulls out a second gun. Shit… forgot about that one. With a glare, he points it at my knee and fires. “I told you not to do anything stupid. Now, I’m going to tie you up and then we’re going to call my cousin. I know he has something going on with you. It’s written in every look he gives you. So, I’m going to use you to get to him. I probably could’ve gotten immediate results by going after my aunt, but I’d never do that to her. She’s like a second mother to me. Which is why, I have to settle for you.”
“He won’t come.”
“Oh, he will. You see, Mickey has a character flaw. He always follows his heart and it’s that logic that will bring him right to me. There’s no way Mickey will let you die because of him so, he’ll come to your rescue like a knight in shining armor and when he does, I’ll be here ready to end his life and take his place.”
“Why would you go so far? He’s your family.”
When he levels me with a glare and shouts, “He took everything from me,” I know I’ve hit a nerve.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m the oldest! The organization should’ve gone to me but noo… .Mickey gets everything because he’s so special. Being the son of the boss has its perks. No one challenged him when he took over because he was the boss’s son. When he came out of the closet, no one looked sideways at him because he was the boss’s son and was just as ruthless as his father. But, they all forgot the one rule we’d lived by for years.”
“What’s that?”
‘There’s no such thing as gay in the mob. It’s the way it’s always been, from way back when our families lived in Ireland. If our grandfather were still around Mickey would’ve been cast out or killed for being gay. Instead, he’s the boss. It shouldn’t have happened!! I could’ve been happy as his right-hand man if he’d chosen me like his father chose mine but no… he chose Callahan and what do I get? Nothing!! Years of being loyal, following my father’s footsteps, always doing what was asked of me and this is what I get in return? Well, no more. It’s my turn now and I’m taking it.”
Pulling out a cell phone, he grins maniacally and dials a number. With an evil grin, he says, “Hello cousin, I have someone here who’d like to speak to you.”
He holds out the phone and says, “Speak.”
Shaking my head, I press my lips together in a thin line.
He kicks my leg and shouts. “I said speak!!”
Groaning as pain shoots through my leg, I say, “Don’t come for me mouse. You promised me. I mean it, stay away.”
Without giving my captor a chance to hear Mickey’s response, I fight against the pain in my leg and stand, taking the chair with me. Throwing myself backwards, I feel the chair smash under me and free myself from the bindings. Quickly, I grab the gun he left laying on the table and whip around to fire. Two gunshots go off and I feel a searing pain in my chest. Seconds before my world goes dark, I spot my captor lying on the floor nearby with a bullet hole in his forehead. I hear Mickey’s voice screaming my name from the phone still in my captor’s hand and smile. Knowing he’ll be safe now, I let the darkness take me.
Three months later…
Looking at Justice’s sleeping face, with all the tubes sticking out of him surrounded by machines, I feel rage swell within me once more. “I swear to god, if he wasn’t already dead, I’d show him what hell feels like.”
“I think burning his body and dancing in the ashes in front of the entire organization made your point.”
“It might’ve made a point, but it doesn’t satisfy my anger. I wish I could rip him apart with my bare hands for what he’s done.”
“I know. Let’s not dwell on it okay, boss? You made a huge announcement today let’s focus on that.”
“How did everyone take it?”
“Pretty well, all things considered. The thought of going legit has garnered a lot of responses but now that it’s official, the consensus is a positive one. Even though it means taking a bit of a pay cut everyone is happy that they’ll no longer have to worry about jail time or death. I’m sure threats will pop up occasionally because we have made some enemies over the years, but they should be few and far between.”
“You’ll take care of everything from here?”
“Of course. I’ll only call when I need you. It’s time you live your life.”
“I plan to. I just need him to wake up first.”
“He will and when he does you can tell him how you feel.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I say, “What do you know?”
Callahan laughs and says, “I know love when I see it and I also know that you blame yourself.”
“I shouldn’t have sent him away when I knew it wasn’t safe.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I can understand you needed time processing everything he told you.”
“I still can’t believe you already knew and didn’t tell me.”
“I knew when you met that first day that he could be someone special to you, so when I discovered his connection to the FBI after he sent them the information out of your office, I kept quiet in order to see where it would go. If he kept investigating, I would’ve taken him out.”
“But he didn’t continue investigating.”
“No, he didn’t. That’s why I let things play out. So, don’t blame yourself for needing time.
If I were in your position I would’ve done the same thing.”
“Thank you, Callahan.”
“Just doing my job. Now, let me go fetch the doc and see what the status is on busting your man out of here.”
“You do that.”
Callahan exits the room and I’m left alone. My thoughts immediately go back to that day, to the sound of Justice’s voice as he told me to stay away, hearing the gunshots and then nothing. But, what truly haunts me the most is arriving at his house as the paramedics wheeled him out on a stretcher. His skin was deathly pale, and blood soaked the front of his shirt and the bandages the paramedics put there.
The seventeen hours he spent in surgery were the longest hours of my life and I knew in that instant, that if he made it through okay, I’d make it my mission in life to keep him safe and happy, so I’d never have to experience something like that again. Now here we are three months later, and he still hasn’t woken from the coma he’s in. The docs don’t understand why he hasn’t woken when there’s nothing wrong with him physically. Which is why, I’m taking him out of here. I plan to take him to the house I have in the country. All the things I wanted to take with me are already there and I even had Callahan pull Justice’s things out of storage and put them in one of the empty rooms. I’ve also paid to have round the clock medical staff, so he has everything he needs to be well taken care of.
I just hope, when he wakes up, he won’t be pissed at me for my high handedness. We never had time to date like a regular couple and yet I’ve already moved him in with me. One thing I’m thankful for is that by admitting him into this hospital under the name JJ Tyler, I’ve avoided having the FBI and his parents raining down on me. Sure, his mom will probably be pissed at him for not contacting her in a while, but it is what it is. I guess you could say I’m selfish. Instead of letting everyone know where he is by using his real name, I’ve used an alias, so I can keep him to myself. The last thing I want is someone taking him away from me. Selfish, I know but it’s the truth. I almost lost him once, I won’t do it again.
Callahan comes back with a doctor, a team of nurses and a pair of paramedics. Standing from my chair, I move out of the way and let them work. When they’ve finished preparing Justice for transfer and begin to wheel him out of the room, I stop them, so I can press a kiss to his forehead and whisper in his ear, “Let’s go home, blondie.”
One week later…
Feeling warm sunlight on my face, I fight to remember where I am and what happened. Suddenly, it all comes rushing back and I think to myself, is this heaven? Am I dead? I don’t feel any pain, so I must be. Opening my eyes, my gaze lands on an unfamiliar ceiling. Looking around, I see all the machines you’d find in a hospital room as well as the bars of the hospital bed I’m lying on. Okay, not dead. The room has a sort of rustic feel to it with all the wooden beams overhead and I can’t help wondering, if I’m not dead then where the hell am I?
Hearing footsteps coming towards the door, I quickly shut my eyes and feign sleep. The door opens and whoever has entered, crosses the room and leans over me. I feel their breath tickle my ear seconds before they speak. “Are you going to wake up for me today, blondie? It’s been three months already, if you sleep any longer you’ll put all the bears who hibernate to shame.”
With a sigh, he presses a kiss right below my ear and whispers, “I miss you. Please come back to me, we can build a life together.”
When he goes to pull away, I lift my hand and run my fingers through his hair keeping him close. “Blondie? Are you with me?”
Grinning at the nickname I haven’t heard since before I left that night, I peek at him and say, “Hey mouse, damn you’ve gotten old, look at those gray hairs. Has it been three months or three years?”
He laughs and says, “Shut up asshole I do not have gray hair. But, if I did, it’d be your fault.”
I see his eyes turn misty and he pulls me into a tight hug. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.”
Rubbing circles on his back, I bury my face into his neck and say, “I won’t. I promise. Now, where are we?”
He grins and says, “Our house.”
Raising an eyebrow at him, I grin and say, “Something I should know about?”
“I bought this place for when I decided to settle down. When I nearly lost you, I told myself if you made it, I’d make it my mission to keep you safe and happy. So, after three months of you being in a coma, I brought you here. I’ve also made my business completely legit, so I don’t have to worry about seeing people I love getting hurt again.”
Staring at him in confusion, I tilt my head and ask, “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, I love you and I want to build a life with you. Marriage, kids, the whole nine yards. But, I’ll settle for dating first on the condition that you continue to live here with me. All you have to do now, is say yes. Please say yes, blondie. I’ve spent the last three months without you and I don’t want to do that again. We can have forever together, if you want it.”
Grinning I lean forward and press a kiss to his lips. It’s brief but perfect.
When we pull apart, he grins and says, “So, what do you say blondie? Want to spend forever with me?”
“You don’t even have to ask, mouse. I’d spend an eternity with you if I could, but I’ll settle for forever.”
“That’s all I needed to hear. Now, let’s get the doc in here so we can get you unhooked from all these machines and I’ll show you around our new home.”
“I look forward to it.”
Mickey kisses my forehead and stands from his chair. I watch him walk across the room to the door, but before he can open it, I say, “Oh and mouse?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you too.”
He winks and exits the room. Laying back against the pillows I smile and think to myself, looks like I’ve found myself in heaven after all. Being alive, in love, and here with Mickey is more than I could’ve wished for. It’s heaven pure and simple and I can’t wait to experience the rest of our lives together starting with a tour of our house.
The End
I hope you enjoyed Mickey and Justice’s story. I know it’s a bit different than usual, focusing more on the budding of a relationship than the entire journey. It’s what this story needed and while I have no plans to write a second book, there could be a short story revisiting these two further down the line. Thank you for reading!
Continue reading for an excerpt of one of my WIP’s.
Book six of the Asphalt Bay Series, titled
The Leopard’s Twin Troubles
The Leopard’s Twin Troubles
Prologue
Years ago, I lost the only family I’d ever known. We lived in the mountains, away from civilization and for the most part, lived in our animal forms because winters were harsh. When our village was attacked the first time, we relocated to a small town in Russia, away from the mountains. However, our peaceful life didn’t last very long. Rogue wolves entered our area and tore my pride apart. I only survived because I’d gone hunting in my animal form. Finding them all dead when I returned was a shock. To this day, it still gives me nightmares.
Suddenly an orphan at thirteen, I survived on the streets of the city by picking pockets and stealing food when I could. One day after being on the streets for years, I picked the wrong man’s pocket and ended up being recruited as a runner for the Bratva. For years, I delivered packages and the like, just to prove myself. Eventually, I moved up in the ranks and by the time I turned forty, I’d made as many friends as I had enemies. Only a few members knew about my animal half because they were also paranormals and we looked out for each other. When my lack of aging became a problem, they helped me fake my death and got me out of Russia.
I still count them as friends and know that if I ever needed their help with anything, they’d come to my aid. For years after leaving Russia, I drifted aimlessly until one day, I met a man named Kira and found myself thrust into a group of loners who qu
ickly became a second family to me. Among them, I’ve always been the stupid one. The one who must have something wrong with him because he acts like a child and does stupid things. What they don’t know, is I didn’t get to be a child. From the time I could walk, I had to do my part for the sake of the village. That meant hunting, collecting firewood and anything else the older members of our pride deemed necessary. I didn’t get to play. Our survival was more important than the need for children to play silly games.
After losing everything and being forced to grow up too soon, I live my life carefree. Life’s too short not to enjoy it. So, if that makes me stupid, or childish, then so be it. I’d rather be those things than be miserable. I just hope that my mate won’t think the same of me. It’s one thing to have friends tease you but it’s another thing entirely to have a mate reject you because of how you are. Still, I’d love to find my fated mate, even if it means facing rejection.
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer—George Thoroughgood
Keep on Lovin’ You—REO Speedwagon
The Bitter Pill—Warrant
A Lil’ Ain’t Enough—David Lee Roth
Save Your Love—Great White
Have You Ever Seen the Rain—Creedence Clearwater Revival
Never Enough—L.A. Guns
Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad—Def Leppard
I want to thank my parents for supporting me no matter what I do and tolerating me when I get in the zone of writing and ignore them completely. By tolerating, I’m really saying thanks for putting up with my shit. You have no idea how much that means to me. I love you guys. I want to thank Lisa Oliver, one of my favorite authors for encouraging me to write the story speaking in my head instead of forcing myself to stick to a different stereotype and for being an amazing friend I can bounce crazy ideas off of. I want to thank Jemma Brown for designing such amazing covers for me.