by Elisa Leigh
I’m about five minutes from the house when an ambulance comes screaming past me, making my stomach drop. There is only one place it could be headed, seeing as how my house is the only one back this way. My dad’s number flashes on the screen in my truck. I refuse to answer, needing to get home to find out what is happening.
When I pull into my drive and see the ambulance there, my heart stops. It takes a minute, but then I realize my father’s car is here too. That’s when I get out and walk into my house to find my mother sitting on the couch with paramedics surrounding her, my father standing over them as they work.
“What happened?” I ask. My father looks at me with a look of pity, and that’s when I notice who isn’t in the living room. I tear through the entire house, not finding the two people who mean the most to me in the world.
I’m holding Sadie’s bear when Griffin walks into her room in his uniform. “Ellen said there was a man, who came up behind Kinsley and then she was hit from behind. She doesn’t know anything else. Your father is with her, and they are going in the ambulance to the hospital to run further tests.”
I nod.
“Are you going to tell me what you know? Or do I need to do the work and waste time finding it?”
“Kinsley’s ex is Liam O’Sullivan. On paper, he seems like an upper-middle-class businessman. When you dig deeper, things don’t add up. He’s a major player for the North Eastern American-Irish Mob.”
“Fuck.”
“Fuck is right.” I echo, hearing what he isn’t saying. Lynchburg is not equipped to take on O’Sullivan. Getting my girls back won’t be easy or quick if we go the legal route.
“I have your back, however you want to play this. Whatever you need Mav, I got you. Those girls mean a lot to me and mine too.”
Guess we are doing this my way.
Twenty-Two
Maverick
It’s been a week of nothing on my girls. When I was getting my MBA at Harvard, I made a few friends. Turns out, one of those friends is my way in. Patrick Flannery is the son of the head of the Irish Mob.
I called him a while back and told him about the situation with Kinsley’s ex, in case he made trouble for us later. Without revealing much, he said I had nothing to worry about. He assured me it would be taken care of. Yet, here I sit with my future wife and daughter missing.
Patrick was my first call after talking to Griffin. He was out of the country, in Ireland no less. He said he would get one of his guys to check in on Liam and what was happening, then be on the first flight out. Patrick wasn’t too happy to learn Liam was causing problems in his organization and promised he would be dealt with accordingly. He calls me every day to tell me they are safe but won’t give me more than that. It’s killing me not having them home, but I’m thankful someone is there looking after her.
Grif sits down beside me and hands me a beer, which I take. “Hear from him today?”
I drink half the bottle before answering. “Not yet. He is flying home today, so I don’t expect to hear from him until later. Fuck Grif, if I didn’t believe this was the best way to get them back, I wouldn’t be sitting here with my proverbial dick in my hands.” I drain the rest of the beer and toss it into the trash across the room.
Griffin surprised me when he let the cop in him go for this. He gave the case to his best detectives, knowing they probably wouldn’t find anything. They haven’t. He knows this isn’t going to be solved through legal means, and he’s looking the other way.
My house has been grand fucking central station since last week. Everyone and I do mean everyone is here. When Becca found out from Grif what happened, her, Mom and Pops came and haven’t left except to sleep.
When mom was given the okay to come home, they came back here and have been sleeping in the guest bedroom I had set up for them. I told them to go home, but they wouldn’t hear it. Mom had a concussion but refused to leave until her babies were ‘back home where they belong.’
A few hours later, everyone has gone home or is asleep on a couch or a bed. I’m up since I haven’t been able to sleep but an hour or two here or there. Patrick’s name flashes on my phone, and I answer immediately. “Tell me you have her.”
“Meet me at mile marker 137 in an hour. There’s a look out there. They are safe Maverick, I’m bringing them home.”
“Thank Christ. See you in an hour.”
“No cops Maverick. Not even Stenwick.”
“He comes with. As a friend.”
“Fuck. Fine. An hour. But I swear to God, I see cops, I leave and
you won’t see them for months.”
“An hour,” I confirm and hang up.
I lace my boots, then grab my gun from the safe at the back of our closet and check to make sure it’s loaded and ready. Walking downstairs I find Griffin in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee, looking as exhausted as I feel.
“He just called. Meeting him now, are you coming?”
“Do Cheech and Chong smoke?”
Giving him my middle finger, we head to my truck and get in.
∞∞∞
Kinsley
“Boss needs you home tonight.” I hear the biggest man I have ever seen, tell Liam from the other room. The man looks like he works out all day, but the marks covering his body have me wondering what he does with all that muscle when he leaves the gym. If I had to guess, he’d be the guy I would send to take care of business, the scary kind. I’d hate to be that business. I have heard a few of the guys call him Shep.
“Kinsley, get the hell up,” Liam demands, flipping the light on in the dark room I was pretending to sleep in. “We’re leaving. Get our daughter ready.” Liam barks at me, making me jump.
Sadie wakes up crying from all the loud noise and I get up quickly to soothe her. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I’m already sick of his shit. Liam has been an asshole from the moment we were dropped off at this old dirty cabin. He has a few men here, and thankfully they don’t pay us much attention. Except for one.
Since being here, I have concocted several stories in my head about why he showed up the day after Sadie, and I got here. He hasn’t done or said anything to me, but he feels different. There’s something that sets him apart from the others, that makes me believe he won’t hurt my daughter and me. There is a gentleness he hides from everyone, but me. A gentleness that gives me hope my life isn’t over.
“She stays. Come back and get them when it’s finished. Take Phil, Jimmy and Micky with you.” Shep orders, leaving no room for argument.
I don’t miss the look of regret that flashes across Liam’s face when he looks between Shep and I. Dear god, please tell me I’m better off with the devil I don’t know. I am left alone with Shep, and I can’t help but wonder what that look means, does Liam fear for my safety. Fuck!
Liam doesn’t bother saying goodbye, he simply grabs his things and walks out the door a few minutes later. The cabin is quiet, and I don’t know whether to feel relief to be away from my ex or fear about the man my daughter and I have been left with. Thirty minutes after Liam leaves with his men, another vehicle arrives outside. I look to Shep, and he attempts a smile. “It is time to go little one.”
I pick Sadie up from where she is sleeping and carry her to the door, where I pause. I look over my shoulder at Shep, who is studying me. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
Smiling sadly, I trust my instincts. “I believe, whatever is about to happen is to save me from him. Thank you for keeping us safe since you got here.”
“Be well a chara.” Dear. Yes, Shep saved Sadie and me.
“You too Shep.”
I walk out to a town car, where a man wearing a suit opens the door for me. I get in, and I’m met with a devastatingly handsome man. He’s in a much nicer suit and looks like he makes shit happen.
He smirks at me. “I do.”
Embarrassed, I let my thoughts get away from me again, I turn in my seat and lean my head back, and rest against the seat
. We ride in silence for a long time, until the man sitting across from me clears his throat. I sit up and look at him.
“We are nearly there, but before we arrive, we have something to discuss.”
“Okay.”
“While you were married to Liam, and in the past week I am sure you saw and heard things you shouldn’t have. I need your word those things will not be brought to light.”
My eyes cut to his, but I say nothing.
“That’s what I thought. I need your word, Kinsley. I can only do so much to protect you. The men that work for me might not feel good about a woman knowing their secrets. You are off limits, but let’s not give them any ammunition.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Your word?”
“You have it. I won’t ever say anything, not that it was much. Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you home, to Maverick. Unless that’s not what you wish. I heard Shep took a liking to you. He doesn’t like most people.”
“He’s a good guy, but no, home is exactly where I want to be.” I only hope Maverick can forgive me.
The car stops. “Good. We are here.”
The door opens, and Maverick is there helping me out. Griffin is leaning against his truck, eyeing the man in the suit.
“God, Sweetheart. It’s been too fucking long.” He says, pulling me into his chest and placing a kiss on Sadie’s head then mine. “Let’s go home.”
Twenty-Three
Maverick
Now that she is back in my arms, I refuse to let her go. I buckle my angel into her car seat, then sit beside Kinsley in the back while Griffin drives us home. Kinsley is stiff in my arms and as quiet as can be. I know she’s been through hell, but there’s something else going on. If she doesn’t snap out of it, I will get to the bottom of it once we are alone.
I know I need to talk to Patrick about what is happening with Liam, but that will have to wait until later. Later, when my girls are safe in our home, protected from ever being taken from me again.
As soon as we walk into the house, Sadie asleep on my shoulder and Kinsley close to my side, I can breathe. Our entire family is here, waiting to see that Sadie and Kinsley are alive and well. I guess, they noticed we left in the middle of the night. When Kinsley sees mom, she stops and starts to cry.
“Mom?” Kinsley cries clearly surprised to see her here. “I thought… I thought you were dead.”
Mom wraps her up in a hug that only a mom can give. “It’s okay. I’m okay honey. Just a concussion.”
“I’m so sorry. I spent the last week thinking you were dead, and now you’re not. Oh my god, I’m a mess. Thank God you’re alive.” My woman cries into my mom’s shoulder.
When she calms down, she pulls away to see Becca and her parents waiting to the side. She goes to them and starts crying all over again. After hugs and promises to call when we wake up, everyone leaves, except my parents who go back to their room.
∞∞∞
“I’m scared to leave her.” She whispers as we both watch Sadie curl up in her bed with her bear.
“She can sleep in our room.”
“No, if we do this I won’t ever stop. It’s better this way.”
I grab her hand and lead her to our bedroom, straight to the bathroom where I turn the shower on. Stripping her out of her clothes, I still when she grabs my wrist and drags my hand to her stomach.
“I was going to tell you that night, but then I couldn’t. Maverick, I thought I’d never see you again.” She inhales a shaky breath and begins to sob uncontrollably, falling to the ground. Fuck me.
I pick her up and carry her into the shower, sitting down on the bench with her. I let her cry until there is nothing left, then I go about cleaning her up. Once she is rinsed off, I clean myself up and get out to dry off quickly and wrap the towel around my waist. Then, I dry off Kinsley and take her to bed, where I help her into a big t-shirt and some panties.
Curled around her, I snake my legs through hers and plaster myself against her back. Placing my hand on her stomach, I can’t believe she’s having my baby. “You’re pregnant?”
She nods, then turns to face me. “You okay with that?”
“More than okay. Fucking thrilled is more like it.”
She grins, but then it fades just as fast. “I’m sorry about your mom. I never meant for her to get hurt. That’s the last thing I wanted to happen.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t blame you. If anyone, I blame myself for not having you more protected. That is all fixed now. While you were gone, I had a security specialist come in, and the house is now equipped with the best security technology out there. I’ve also hired a couple guards to keep on you until things have been sorted with Liam.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Maverick. The security in the house should be enough.”
“Losing you and Sadie, knowing you were taken out of our home is the worst feeling I’ve ever had. I’m not going through that again, especially now that I know you’re pregnant. Just, no.”
“Whatever you think is best. I love you.”
“I love you too Sweetheart.”
Epilogue
Kinsley
I’d like to say after Samantha was born, I started teaching. I want to tell you I have accomplished all my goals. I can’t tell you those things. My life turned out completely different than I imagined it would.
Once Samantha was born, I fell in love with being a mom. When I had Sadie, there was so much going on that I didn’t get to enjoy much of it, always working and stressed.
A few weeks after being kidnapped, I saw a news story about Liam being found dead. I had no ounce of remorse for him and knew Sadie would be better off not knowing him. My parents attempted to get in contact with me a couple of months later, but I refused. They didn’t want me for the first part of my life, how dare they try and be a part of it now.
Five years later I am the wife to my best friend, my biggest supporter, and my faithful lover. He gave me a chance to be the mother I never thought I could be. Maverick gave me everything I didn’t dare long for.
Surrounded by our children Sadie, Samantha, Stuart and Sterling, our twin boys; I’m blessed beyond measure. I watch them splash around in the water with Mav as I rub my growing stomach. This will make number five for us, and I get sad wondering if it is our last.
We are out at the lake for a family camping trip with Mom and Dad. We have been here for two days, and Maverick is finally starting to relax. He even powered off his phone this morning. Samson knows where we are if he needs him.
It starts sprinkling and turns to a downpour within minutes. Everyone scrambles out of the lake, except my water baby Sadie. Maverick holds her over his shoulder and brings her up to the cabin where he sets her down.
“Momma, it’s not fair.” She pouts, placing her fists on her hips. “I wasn’t ready to get out yet.”
Wrapping a towel around her shoulders, I turn her to look at the summer storm that just started. “You see that? There is no way you are swimming out there, it isn’t safe.”
“Daddy, tell her I am a big girl and can swim by myself.”
“Sorry, Angel. You know when it comes to your safety, I’ll always side with your momma.”
She pouts and goes inside where mom is fixing lunch for the kids.
“She’s as stubborn as you are,” I tell Maverick when he wraps his arm around me from behind.
He laughs and kisses the top of my head. After a few minutes, he nuzzles my neck, placing soft kisses there and sings me our song, softly in my ear as we sway to his words and watch the storm.
“I love you so much, Kinsley. I’m holding on tight to every moment we have an never letting you go. Thank you for giving me this life.”
“Love you too Mav, more and more every day.”
The End
Meet the Author
ELISA LEIGH
Author of the Panthera Security series, the Steel Daggers MC series and the All For Lo
ve series, Elisa Leigh writes steamy love stories about men who know exactly what they want from their lady love, that being everything and forever.
Signup for her newsletter here http://eepurl.com/df1Zkr
[email protected]
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/elisaleighauthor
Forever Alpha Beauties (Reader Group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/foreveralphabeauties
Twitter & Instagram: @eleighauthor
You can follow her on Amazon and Goodreads and Bookbub to stay up to date on upcoming releases.
Other Books by Elisa Leigh
Panthera Security
Finally, Our Forever
Keeping Our Forever
Fighting Our Forever
(Book 4 Cash Owens)
(Book 5 Adam Kingston)
Steel Daggers MC
His Sweet Treat
Thanking Her Hero
Their Holly Bell
Saving His Princess
Hacking Into Love (Coming Summer 2018)
Book 6 (Coming Fall 2018)
All For Love with MK Moore
All For Erica at Christmas
All For Gemma (TBD 2018)
Holding On
Holding Onto Kinsley
Holding Onto Becca (Summer 2018)
Acknowledgments
Karlee, my unicorn, you are an amazing friend, beta reader, writer, cover designer, teaser maker, and unicorn. #69unicorns #unicornpack
Mary, thanks for being a friend and always checking in on me. I can’t wait to write another book with you. Thank you for beta reading Holding Onto Kinsley. I value your input and look forward to hearing what you think each and every time. #unicornpack