by Piper Page
“What?” Cole and Willie said in unison.
“Yeah, I know. I don’t think he will be walking again. I don’t know if I finished him or not, but if he shows his face around here even to help an old lady across the street, I will fucking end him, you have my word.”
Cole looked at me. “What about the cops?”
Sunny glared at Cole. “Can’t you all discuss this later?” Her voice was low, but stern. She angled her eyes toward Aly and tilted her head, trying to get the three of us to understand that now was not the time. I was going to have to get use to this discretion around women thing.
“Yeah, we can talk about it…”
All of our heads jerked to the foyer, all but Alyson’s. Cole and Willie took defensive stances in the doorway of the sitting room. I peered over their shoulders. Cole visibly relaxed when he saw it was the same officer that was sitting outside Alyson’s bungalow. “What the fuck? You can’t just burst into my home like that,” he growled.
I felt Sunny’s hand lace into my free one and she stood up, blocking the view of Alyson on the couch. “Cole?”
“It’s okay, Sunny, this is Officer Peters. He and I spoke earlier,” Cole assured her.
Spoke is putting it nicely.
I wondered if he was here to make arrests. The only possible one he had was assault and harassment against Cole. Peters cleared his throat. “I’m not here to arrest anyone, yet. I’ve got a full team just outside the door, and if I don’t give them word in the next minute, they are gonna swarm this place. Let me see Alyson.”
Sunny stepped aside. Peters looked over and between Cole and Willie. “Cochran, it’s Peters. Are you okay? Do you need assistance?” he called out to her.
I called back, “She is in shock. She isn’t going to answer…”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
I stared down at her, holding my breath. Aly had turned her head and was getting up from the couch, clutching the blanket to her chest with her good hand.
“Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. I’m calling an ambulance.” He swiped back his hair and reached for his handset on his hip.
“No!” we all yelled.
Peters froze. He put his palm up, trying to calm us, moving slowly. “Okay, take it easy. I’m just gonna tell the team everything is clear. She is safe and to stand down. Is that okay?”
We all looked to Cole. “Yeah, tell them to stand down.”
I took Aly’s hands in mine. “Baby, you know this man, right?”
She nodded. “He was my partner.”
I nodded, already knowing this. “He is the one that told me where your phone was. I found it in the back of the van. It must have fallen out of your pocket.”
She looked confused. My heart broke for her.
“Alyson?” Peters was walking calmly toward us. “You look like shit.” He had his hand extended out toward her.
My feathers got ruffled and I wanted to kick his teeth in. To my surprise, Aly laughed. “Better than you look on any given day.”
Peters smiled. “There’s that sharp-tongued girl I know.”
I don’t like you, Peters.
I felt Aly’s hand relax in mine. My fingers tingled as the circulation flowed in them again. Peters got close enough to talk in a soft tone. “I know you’ve been through an awful experience, Cochran, and I also know you’re tougher than nails, way tougher than any of the sorry Sallies on the team. You did good.”
It confused me to see her relax the more he talked to her. He was using his training and his personal knowledge of her. I may have rescued her, but this man knew her too and was on the same side as we were in trying to help her. I needed to put my jealousies aside for the time being and let Aly get the attention she needed. I couldn’t go to the hospital with her and Cole wasn’t going to let Sunny take her. Peters could take her and could provide a cover story that they would believe. I looked at him. “Can you take her to the hospital?”
Alyson’s hand clenched tight around mine again. Peters looked at me. “If you feel she should be looked at.”
I nodded.
“I’ll tell you what, Alyson,” he turned his attention back to Aly, “if I swear to bring you right back here to Jake after the doctors look you over,” he looked to me, “and I stay right by your side every minute,” his eyes went back to Aly, “do you think you could drive with me to the hospital?”
Alyson looked at me for reassurance. Cole, Willie, and Sunny stood watching the scene unfold. No one offered their opinion. They knew this was up to me and Aly. I nodded. “It will be okay, Aly. I will be right here waiting for you. I am not going anywhere until you are back in my arms.” I gently wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head, her cheek, her lips, and then her ear. I whispered, “I love you, Aly. Everything is going to be okay from now on. I love you.”
I felt her chest shudder as she drew in a raspy, ragged breath of air. My hand laid her fingers in Peters’ open waiting hand. “Bring her back.” Watching her be led away from me while I stood there helpless was the hardest moment in my life since my mother passed. “I love you, Alyson Cochran.”
Epilogue
The snow looked so beautiful through the car window. I could make out the mountains in the distance and could follow the ski trails up the sides and into the clouds. It was hard to believe people skied down those massive mountains. Jake promised me I would be skiing like a pro after the vacation was over. I highly doubted it. In all honesty, I was just happy to be in Aspen with the family for the holiday. I was looking forward to the sounds of their voices, their silly arguments and taunting, the sound of Sunny singing carols, and the baby trying to mimic her. I was looking forward to going to bed with and waking up next to Jake, with no real agenda but to relax and enjoy Christmas together.
It wasn’t that we didn’t already do that. Jake moved out of his loft and into my bungalow within a week’s time after the “incident.” He was with me every day now, and when he was away for work or a fight, Angelo was with me, or Sunny or Cole and Willie. We were all bound at the hip, it seemed, and if anyone was annoyed with that, no one ever said. I felt secure, happy, and like I was part of their family. I supposed that was why I was so excited about this trip. It would be the first holiday in a very long time that I was looking forward to. In fact, I had packed one full suitcase with gifts for everyone, even Angelo.
Living with Jake was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was content and safe. After I left the hospital with a dislocated shoulder, I had a lot of time on my hands. I took several days to formally leave the department, turning in my badge and filing the correct paper work. I gave a full report to the lieutenant on what had occurred from day one, but none of it revealed a thing that would incriminate any of the Von Larsens. I only wrote what I knew for certain. Of course, after I officially left the department, I learned the truth; well, as much as Cole would allow and as much as Sunny knew.
Sunny had become my best friend as far as females go. It wasn’t as awkward as I had envisioned all my life. Her disposition was true to her name. It was nice to have another female to confide in about men. I talked everyday with her in person or on the phone, and I knew that if by some stroke of bad luck, curse the thought, Jake and I split, Sunny and I would forever remain friends. We both felt it.
Jake doted on me. He bought me gifts: a whole new kitchen supply of bakeware and cookery. I put it to use every day, making wonderful meals for him. Both he and Angelo would complain about how fat I was making them, but neither one of them would ever put down their forks and push their plates away. I smiled as the car rounded the bend and started the ascension up to the lodge. I could see the massive Christmas tree in the wall of windows above us. Jake even offered to get me a maid and I refused out right. “I can’t trust anyone to wash my dresses correctly,” I told him.
Jake’s fingers intertwined with mine. “We’re just about there.” He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “Ready?”
I nodded. �
�Can’t wait.”
Sunny was in the kitchen rolling out cookie dough when we arrived. I wasted no time pulling off my coat and gloves and putting on an apron to join her. She squealed and wrapped me in a hug, and in the same moment swatted at Willie’s hand with a wooden spoon as he stole some raw dough from the bowl.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed. “Hey Cole, your woman is beating the crap out of me.”
Cole came into the kitchen carrying the baby on his hip. “Serves you right, little brother. If there’s anything I’ve learned about women, it’s best to stay out of their way when they’re cooking in the kitchen.”
Sunny kissed his cheek and the baby. “Good man. Take him away, Aly.” She pointed her dough-laden wooden spoon at Willie.
Willie raised his hands up and backed away from the counter. “Don’t shoot, officer.”
I tossed a chocolate chip at him and he caught it in his mouth and dashed away to go see Jake. I watched as the two of them carted our bags into our suite. Their talk was hushed and serious. I wondered if something was going down. My heart sank a little. I had hoped this vacation was strictly that—a vacation, no business. “Oh wait,” I called as Willie walked by with the biggest of my cases. “Not that one. Can you leave that one down here by the tree?”
He smiled and winked at me. “No problem, sis.”
I stumbled as I walked to the stove to put the tray of cut outs in the oven. He called me “sis.” My heart swelled. Willie had accepted me. I thought I would cry. My eyes looked around and I sighed. This was my family, unofficially, but as close as I would ever get to one again in my lifetime.
After dinner and a few glasses of wine, Sunny put the baby to bed and snuggled up on the sofa with Cole, Jake and I spread out on the floor by the fire, my head resting on his arm, and Willie played songs from a playlist of Christmases long ago. Each brother spoke from their resting positions as the memories of their childhoods were brought up with certain lyrics. Their childhoods sounded picture perfect to me. “Your family sounds like it was a happy one,” I whispered into Jake’s ear. “Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.”
I felt his body stiffen next to me and he moved to sit up. Had I said something wrong? He fumbled and fidgeted in a way I had never seen him do before. “Jake, is everything okay?”
He smoothed back his hair. “I hope so.”
I gave him a confused look. “What is it?”
“Well, you’re not a part of this family.”
My jaw dropped as did my heart. I felt tears gather at the corners of my eyes.
He took my hand. “Not yet.”
I looked at his face. “What are you getting at, Jake?”
“I think it’s about time we make you an official Von Larsen family member.”
I was drowning in confusion. I looked to Sunny, who was absolutely beaming; Cole was smiling too. Willie had a shit eating grin on his face, and when I looked back to Jake, he was on one knee in front of the fireplace, a velvet box opened in his hands. A large diamond ring sparkled, reflecting the warm firelight. “Alyson Cochran, will you marry me?”
Oh my dear God. Oh my God.
I was dumbstruck.
“I hope you enjoy being married to a mute, Jake.” A throw pillow struck Willie upside the head and Cole and Sunny glared at him.
“Well?” Jake stared at me. “What do you say, Aly, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
My body hit him with such force as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his mouth, we toppled over backward. “Yes, yes, and yes. I will marry you, Jake Von Larsen.”
Sunny yelped with glee and Cole congratulated Jake. We all looked at Willie, who appeared to be sulking. “What’s a matter, little man?” asked Cole. “Aren’t you happy for Alyson and Jake? You’re going to have a new sister to cook for you.”
“Well yeah, of course I am. Congratulations.”
“Then what is it?” asked Jake.
“So Cole has his Sunny, Jake found his Aly, what about me? When do I get the girl?”
Sunny pouted and went to give Willie a hug. Cole looked at his youngest brother. “It will happen, Little Willie; you’re too goddamn irresistible for it not to.”
“Damn straight I am.” Willie gave us his best flirtatious smile and batted his long lashes. “Hey Aly, maybe you can introduce me to one of your escort girlfriends.”
“Willie!” shouted Cole and Sunny.
“What? It’s not like we all don’t know the truth on how they met. What happens in Vegas.”
We all threw our pillows at Willie in one fell swoop. He ducked and dodged the onslaught of fluff and we laughed until our sides hurt.
Jake and I lay in bed holding one another, skin to skin beneath the warmth of the down comforter. “Jake?”
“Hmmm?” He sounded half awake and fully relaxed.
“Thanks for saving my life.”
“Aly, you don’t have to say that. I did what any man would have done.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
He turned his face and looked at me, questioning my words.
“Thank you for saving me from a life I was dying in and bringing me back to life here with you. I love you.”
Jake covered my mouth with his. I could feel every ounce of emotion between us. “Thank you for saving me too. I love you, Alyson.”
And now please enjoy a bonus novella—PROTECTOR— for your reading pleasure
Simply scroll right. :-)
Chapter 1
Allie
* * *
We gathered around the Allure’s outside bar, a group of girls ready for the club, with the center of attention the bride to be. She raised her chalice, adorned with gaudy gems that said “I’m Getting Married Bitches.” At that point, I started to feel a little out of place.
Everyone around us dressed in fine formal attire or expensive dresses. I’d grown up in a fairly wealthy family, but the Allure took my breath away. This was another level of wealthy, one that I’d never been invited to.
It was a private, beachside resort near San Juan. We were at the sand bar, with some beautiful couples glowing at candlelit tables behind us. It was decadent and romantic, not like the tiki bars I’d been to on cheaper trips. The palm trees that circled the bar to the island-shaped, lit pool in the back, it all had an artist’s touch.
The best part about it? We stood ten feet away from the beach.
Megan put her chalice to her lips. Most of it spilled onto her bright pink dress. She wiped it away, and it rolled off her like she’d pick a water-proof dress—smart girl.
It worried me how drunk the group had gotten. Her friend from college, Tanya, nursed her second Long Island Iced Tea. And we’d all done shots to start off.
The night was still early. There was no reason to rush it. Especially, since…
“You ready to go to the club, Allie? I want to dance.” Megan pumped her fists and twisted about.
Like always, Megan finished my sentence. She wanted to go to this club called the Wildfire around eleven. It was now nine, and my best friend, Megan, was on her path to puking. I’d been with her enough times to know. She still had a few more drinks left in her, but I doubted she’d get through the night.
“I want to dance,” she said again, drawing out the “e” for far too long, like a spoiled child who wanted their Christmas toys early.
“We don’t go until eleven,” Maria said. Out of everyone here, including me, she was the soberest.
“I don’t care. I want to dance. You ever get that feeling that comes over you, and you just can’t stop it. The need to dance?”
That feeling would be being drunk off your ass, but I wouldn’t spoil Megan’s fun. She’d been stressing like hell over her consulting job. It paid well…since she paid for most of our trips, but it also doled out a ton of stress.
And anyway, I might not like to get rowdy at a club, but I wasn’t the type to point fingers at others having fun.
It was just m
e. I shrugged and returned to sipping on my margarita. I turned and looked past the golden-bathed bar to the dark, rolling waves, barely visible from the moonlight. I let the scene sink in. When I returned to college, I’d remember how serene and beautiful life could be.
“Here, you want something,” Tasha, another one of Megan’s friends, said. “You can have this. It’s another gift from your naughty bag.”
That naughty bag, where Megan got her chalice, had been a source of amusement for the past hour. It was stuffed full of the most ridiculous bachelorette gifts I’d ever seen. Admittedly, I’d gotten her one, a blow-up doll called the “Ideal Husband.” I hoped she wouldn’t be blowing it up here.
Megan squealed in delight
She sat a brightly-lit headband upon her dolled up hair. It wasn’t the lights that were the most distracting—it was the two dildos on each side, like devil horns.
The girls cracked up. Megan twirled around while she said, “This’ll be great for the club.” And then she pointed up toward the night sky. “I bet they can see these dicks from space. They’re huge.”
“Don’t tip over.” I laughed.
“Or do,” Tasha said. “I want to put this on Youtube.”
“Hey.” Megan pointed at her phone on the bar. “Nothing gets filmed of this night. There is a no camera policy here. Whatever happens in Puerto Rico, stays in Puerto Rico. Cool?”
She smirked. “Damn girl, okay, don’t get all angry drunk at me.”
Megan strode toward her. She spoke slowly with the hint of a threat, “When I’m angry drunk, you’ll know.” The air was thick; no one knew if she was serious.
Then she leaned close, aiming the dildo helmet at her friend. “Now bend over.”
Tasha flicked the tip. “Back up, pecker head.”
It bobbed on her head and we all laughed.
With Megan back in her seat, we went through the rest of the gifts. It took us until eleven. Lots of laughing, and some dancing, had gone on before our time to leave. My stomach hurt from laughing so much.