by Jean Kelso
He grins at me. “Not a problem. I’m on it.”
I get up and head to the kitchen. I’m in need of caffeine and the one cup I had before coming here this morning just isn’t cutting it. I see that Gabe has a pot ready, so I get a mug from the cupboard and pour a cup. I scoop a teaspoon of sugar in it, stir, and take a sip. Perfect. Leaning against the counter I think back to a few months ago, when we were in almost a similar situation. Well, not similar, but dangerous. Mike, Belle’s past came knocking. Shit hit the fan then and Belle got hurt. I pray to God that we don’t have the same outcome in this scenario. Sipping my coffee, I hear footsteps. In walks Mel. Her slender body’s covered in tight fitting blue jeans and a purple slim fitting tee shirt today. I can make out every curve of her beautiful body from her rounded hips, to her perky tits. I mentally groan and smile to her. Every day I crave her more. A look, a touch, everything about her is my undoing and I love it. She’s my mate for life and I’m never letting her go.
“Hey. Is there more of that?”
I set my mug down and reach for another. I fill it up and hand it to her. She opens the fridge to grab some cream and pours some in. “Sugar?” Raising her eyebrows, she sticks her cup out. I scoop a spoon full into her cup and stir. “Thank you.” She takes a sip and purrs. “Perfect.” Moving towards me, she sets her mug on the counter and presses her body against mine. Reaching her arms up, she wraps her arms around my neck. She rests her chin on my chest, looking up at me. “I love you, you know.” She whispers.
I wrap my arms around her and look into her glistening eyes. “I love you, too.” Leaning down I press my lips to her warm, pink ones. Leaning my forehead against hers, we just stare at each other. We take this moment to be together, to be just us—a couple without all the drama and danger. I can see the love in her eyes, the depth of her feelings go far, as do mine. I can’t believe it took me all these years to find this feeling. It’s the best feeling in the world. I’m happy—even if she was teasing me this morning. I raise my lips into a smirk, “So, my little tease.”
She fakes being shocked. “Me? A tease?” She laughs. “Okay, maybe a little.”
“You owe me for this morning. My shower was awfully cold because of that little show you gave me.”
She blinks a few times, smiling, licking her lips, acting innocent. “Show? I was just showing you what was yours.” She bites her bottom lip.
I move a hand down to her bottom and smack her ass just hard enough to leave a little sting. She flinches. “Yes, it’s mine. It’s gorgeous and will never be shared with anyone.” I rub the spot I just smacked.
“Agreed.”
“Good girl.”
She pulls away and picks up her coffee. “Do you think later we can go pick up some iced coffee? This will do for now, but I’d love an iced coffee.” She takes a sip and leans against the counter, mimicking me.
“I’m sure that can be arranged. For now, we need to get things set up for your meeting. Today’s Tuesday, the meeting is Friday. We have lots to do still.”
She blows out a breath. “I know. I just wish it was over already. Any word about Matt and Riley?”
Well, shit. We have been so focused on her father, we haven’t checked in on our leads dealing with those bastards. “I will ask around today.” We both head back out to the living room.
“I need to head down to the bar.” Gabe looks to the clock. “I told my manager that I’d open today. Are you guys okay here?” Gabe asks as he shoves his wallet in his pocket and picks up his cell from the table.
“Yeah, no problem, man. Go ahead. We’ll text if we need you.” I tell him as he heads for the door.
“Thanks. I’m just down stairs if anything happens.” He nods and heads out.
It’s just the five of us and Lilly left. We haven’t had lunch and no one has mentioned food. I’m starving. With my cell, I dial and order a couple pizzas for delivery. Half hour. I’ll fill my gut with greasy pizza in half an hour. Good. I look over at Lilly and wonder about the things she may have witnessed with having the senator in her life. I don’t want to pull her into this, but I don’t want her traumatized either. “Hey, Sebastian, can we talk?” I ask, insinuating that this talk will be private.
He switches seats to be closer and leans on his elbow on the table. “Sure, what’s up?”
I glance quickly over at the beautiful little blonde girl to make sure she isn’t listening before I start. “Has the senator ever had contact with your little girl?” I speak low, hoping my voice doesn’t travel.
Sebastian looks to his little girl and smiles. “Yeah, she has, but nothing but positive dealings, and in short periods.” He turns his attention back to me. “I have a neighbor back home that I basically adopted as a nanny. I told her I had a boss that I didn’t trust around my daughter and she understood. She protects Lilly like her own. If I ever had to leave in the middle of the night, Silva was there. No questions. Silva’s like a sister to be honest. The senator doesn’t know about her. He thinks I just brought Lilly to day care. I’m very careful when it comes to her.”
I blow out a breath, thankful that the little girl has nothing to fear at this point. I hope once we take the senator down, all our fears of harm to Mel and Lilly go away and never return.
“That’s good. You’re a great father, man.” I pat him on the back and sit back.
“Thanks. I do try.”
Matt
I listen as Mick drones on and on about needing another girl for the next shipment. Since Riley and I fucked up with our last girl a few weeks ago, Mel, our revenge chick, Mick has been crueler than usual to us. Mick gave us specs on the type of woman he wanted and Mel fit perfectly. It wasn’t the plan Riley and I had for her, but hell if we have a little fun and make some money off of her, why not? But like I said, we fucked up.
Now we are out searching for another girl that looks like her to sell so Mick doesn’t cut our balls off. We are sitting in the van in the Tim’s parking lot where I see a girl who looks perfect. “What about her?” I ask Riley.
He looks, narrowing his eyes. “Nope, too short. Let’s find another parking spot.” Riley tells me, so I pull out of the spot and start driving.
We are driving by the bar that Mike told us about when I see a woman that looks just like Mel. I grind my teeth. It’s not possible. She’s dead. “Is that Mel?” I ask Riley as I point toward the dark-haired beauty heading in a door by the bar.
He looks over and curses. “Shit. Yes. She survived.” He grinds out. “Pull over somewhere close. I want to finish what we started with her.”
I pull the van up ahead and wait. “We’ll wait and follow her for when she is alone. Strick when the time is right.”
“Fucking right we will.”
It’s Wednesday. Belle works today. Dex stays with Sebastian and Lilly at my place as extra protection. Jack left his truck here for me today so I’m able to get around if I want. He asks Gabe to go investigate the area I’m to meet with my father on Friday.
Since Jack left this morning, I’ve had this eerie feeling. Someone’s watching me. Goosebumps cover my flesh and the little hairs on my neck stand up. I move the window by the couch and look out. I see nothing. The sun is shining, birds are singing. I see no shadows of people and no movement of anything other than the branches from the trees blowing in the slight breeze. I know the windows and doors are locked. Jack double checked them before he left. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.
I head to the bedroom to put some clothes on. I can’t wear just Jack’s tee shirt alone. I open my bag of clothing and pull out some clean ones.
After I dress I put my sneakers on, grab my purse, toss my phone in it, pick up the keys to the truck, and unlock the front door. Blowing out a breath, I open the door slowly. No one’s there. Phew. I step out, turning to lock the door. Once locked, I take in the scenery. Still there’s nothing out of the ordinary. I walk to the truck, unlock it, and hop in—immediately locking it with me inside. “Calm down, Mel. You’re starting to lose it.”
I say out loud to myself.
I start the truck, look around, and put it in reverse. Backing up I notice a van sitting at the end of the driveway. A chill runs down my spine again. What the fuck? Pulling out on the road, I’m side by side with the van so I look in. FUCK! It’s them. Matt and Riley. I throw the truck in drive and push the pedal to the floor. How’d they find me? They left me for dead! How do they even know I’m alive? I need to get to Jack.
I don’t know the area very well where Jack moved. I only know how to get to Gabe’s. With my panic on a rise, I reach for my purse, digging in it, I pull out my phone. I know using your phone and driving is wrong, but fuck it. This is an emergency.
I glance in my mirror. The van is tailing my every move. My heart starts to race. I push my foot harder on the pedal. Quickly I dial Jack. It rings. And rings.
“Pick up, Jack. Come on. Pick up.” My voice starts to rise. Adrenaline increases with the rush of my heart.
Fourth ring and Jack answers. “Hey, baby. What’s up?” He answers as if there’s nothing wrong. Well fuck that, everything’s wrong!
“Matt! Riley! Van! Chasing me.” All of the words I give are short. I blurt them out because it gets hard to breathe. My panic begins to overpower me.
I hear rustling over the phone. “Slow down, Mel. What’s going on? I heard something about Matt and Riley.”
“They fucking found me and are chasing me in your truck!” I yell as clear as I can. I weave around another car, braking before I slam into a car that decides that it’s going to turn. I ignore my blinker and whip the truck around the corner. “Help, Jack. Where do I go?” Tears start to fall down my face.
“Meet us at the police station.”
I don’t let him finish. There are several stations in the city. “Which fucking one?” I look in the mirror. The van is still on my ass, so close it could hit me.
“Fuck, baby. Try and calm down. The one closest to your work. Try not getting into an accident on the way. Love you.”
I throw the phone aside and put both hands back on the wheel. I’m pretty sure I know how to get to that station. I haven’t really been paying attention to street signs since I left Jack’s in a hurry, but I’ll do my best.
I look up and read the sign. Okay, I know this street, I got this. I brake, slowing down for the traffic. Looking both ways and seeing no cars, I stomp on the pedal and squeal the tires, speeding through the light and driving toward my destination. I think maybe if I lose them it’d be a good idea, but then I think not. If I’m going to the police, I can trap them. I look in the mirror to see they’re still there and they are.
I take a breath and try to calm myself. I know what my plan is. I need to slow my panic attack down. I take a right just before the light changes. The van runs the light, just as I thought it would. Weaving in and out of cars, I know I’m not far now. I take a left knowing that the station is just up on the left and slow my speed. I watch in my mirror that the van is still there, which it is. I stop in front of the station and just sit in the truck. The van pulls up behind me and no one gets out.
Jack said to meet him here. Where the fuck are they? I look around and I see movement. Matt and Riley must see them too because the van starts to move. It pulls around, the passenger window is down and a gun is pointed my way. I duck just as a shot is fired. My window blasts apart just as three more shots are fired. Glass sprays across my torso, I cover my face as it flies around me. I hear a crash and look up in time to see the van crash into a vehicle at the stop light. Jack and two police officers stand at the side of the road with guns raised, pointing at the van.
Jack lowers his gun, puts it back in the back of his jeans and rushes over to me. Cracking the door open, he reaches in and pulls me out, setting me on my feet beside the truck. He starts wiping the shards of glass off my body and looking me over for injury. “Are you hurt?”
I look myself over, breathing erratically, trying to calm down. “I don’t think so.” I look back at his truck and wince. “Your truck.”
He touches my forehead in a wiping motion and it stings a little. “Fuck my truck, you’re hurt. You’re bleeding.” He wipes the blood on his jeans and swipes his thumb over the cut on my forehead again. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.”
I nod and look over at the van. “What about Matt and Riley?”
Jack shakes his head. “Not your problem anymore. Let the police handle them.”
I watch as more police officers come rushing out of the building (armed) and surround the van. Jack escorts me into the station where Gabe waits with a phone to his ear. “She’s safe. I’ll call you later, babe.” He hangs up the phone. “That was Belle, she was worried.”
“Thanks.” I tell him as I sit down in the chair Jack offers me. A lady, the secretary I assume, comes to the door and hands him a first aid kit. Jack takes it and kneels in front of me.
“Let’s get you fixed up.”
When I see that van pull out, I yell for the officers to get outside as quickly as they can and I run. I pull my gun from the waist of my jeans, remove the safety, and aim right for the bastard driving. Mel looks my way, a distraction. I don’t see the window go down on the passenger side and then a gun stick out. When I do, I take my shot, but not before the passenger takes his. I pray to God that Mel ducks in time. I hear two other shots fire from behind me, then I watch the suspects van crash into a vehicle at the stop light right ahead. I’m not thinking about those men anymore. My thoughts are on my woman. Mel. I put the safety back on and shove my gun back into my pants. Running to her, making sure she’s safe, is my priority.
I get Mel all fixed up. A few scratches and a large cut on her arm from the shattered glass is all she suffered from on the surface. I know her anxiety’s probably through the roof. Gabe calls for a guy to come get my truck, to put a new driver’s side window in. We’re told it’ll only be a few hours.
A Detective Johnson joins us in the room. He wants to talk to Mel about Matt and Riley. Apparently the case has been handed over to him since he works closely with the government agency. I try to direct him to Dex—which he’s okay with doing—but he still needs to talk to Mel. He says he just has a few questions, that he’ll be quick. So I let him ask them.
He sits at the table across from Mel with a note pad and pencil. “Mel…I know this is hard, but can you tell us who Matt Booker and Riley Daniels were working for or with?” He asks in a soothing, curious voice.
She licks her dry lips and swallows. “I don’t know who they worked for, but there was a third guy. I don’t know his last name, but he went by the name Mick. He has an accent. Spanish, I think. He’s older than the other two.” She starts to pick at her fingers.
Detective Johnson writes the information down and looks back at her. “Thank you, Mel. The man you know as Mick, is Mickell Sonar. He’s pretty popular in the sex trafficking ring. He’s known to us.”
Mel bites her lip. “So, you have Matt and Riley in custody?”
Detective Johnson looks to me, questioning with his eyes. I nod. “Mr. Booker and Mr. Daniels are deceased. You don’t have to worry about them anymore. We’ll deal with Mr. Sonar, you shouldn’t fear him. Once he realizes his scum of men are gone, he won’t try going for you. We know how he works.”
A tear runs down her cheek, I reach over to wipe it away. “Well, that’s something. Thank you, Detective Johnson.”
“No, thank you.” He stands, putting his note pad in his pocket, he nods to Gabe and I and leaves the room.
“Well, that’s one problem out of the way.” Gabe mutters as he leans against the window sill, typing on his phone, probably updating Sebastian.
“Sebastian?” I ask him, nodding toward his phone.
“Nah, man. I have Dex going to your place, setting up some camera’s just in case.” He looks at Mel and I. “Just because Matt and Riley are out of the way, doesn’t mean her father won’t do something.” He looks back down to his phone.
Smart man, my friend is. I chuck
le to myself. “Good idea, man.”
“I need a drink, Jack.” Mel says, softly. Looking up at me from her chair, steri-strips on her forehead from the cut she got from the glass, she’s still beautiful. I can’t deny her.
“What would you like, baby?”
She bites her cheek while she tries to decide. I smile at the cute gesture, “A pop of some kind, please. Whatever you can find is fine.” She blinks her bright eyes at me and like I said, I can’t deny her.
“Be right back.” I wink at her and leave in search of the pop machine.
I wander the hallway until I find the machine. Pulling change from my pocket, I slip some in the machine and choose Root beer. I grab the cold drink and head back to my woman. It’d figure, just when we think we’re getting our shit under control, those stupid asses had to show face. I’m just glad they were stupid enough to follow Mel to the police station. Now, they’re out of the way, it’s time to deal with senator Waters. How he managed to stay on the senate for so long doing all the shit he has, I’ll never know. But it’s time he comes crumbling down and pays for his sins.
Back in the room, I hand Mel her drink. I look to Gabe and ask. “How much longer ‘til my truck is back?”
“I will text now and see.” He responds.
“Thanks.”
I kneel in front of Mel and set my hands on her knees. “How are you doing? Has my firecracker settled down?” I grin as I run my thumb back and forth over her knee.
She sets her drink on the table and places her hands on top of mine. “Yes, Jack. Your firecracker has simmered down. My nerves have settled and I’m actually pretty tired. Car chases take a lot out of you, eh?”
I laugh a little and shake my head. I pull my hands out from under hers and pat them. “Only you, baby, only you.” Standing up I look to Gabe with raised eyebrows. “Well?”
He shoves his phone in his pocket and walks toward me. “They’ll be here in ten minutes, man. I’m going to head home. If you need me, you know how to contact me.” He pats my back and heads out.