by Tenaya Jayne
“It’s not happening, Kendrick. We just need to do what we can for Maddox right now. Are you his friend, or not?”
Kendrick sneered at Mel, then his face smoothed. “I know you resist me so hard because you’re scared of how much you really want it.”
“That must be it. You caught me.”
Mel looked ready to burst. Erin came up to Kendrick and stood a little too close to him. His eyebrows lifted as she put her hand on his arm.
“Can I speak to you alone?” she asked quietly.
He smiled wickedly at her. “Sure, sweetheart.”
He followed her back to Maddox’s room. Mel looked at her confusedly. Erin winked at her and shut the door.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I’ll help you with Melina.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. She’s around too much. She ruins the time I get alone with Maddox. I’ll pour honey in her ear about you. She’ll listen to me.”
“What do you want in return?”
“Could you leave us alone for the rest of the night?”
“That’s all?”
“That’s it.”
He shrugged. “I had somewhere to be anyway.”
She gave him a sweet smile and put her hand on his shoulder. His eyes betrayed how much he liked her touching him.
“Thanks, Kendrick.”
“You and I need to spend more time together. Alone.”
“I guess we’ll have to see about that,” she said suggestively.
He glanced over at the open portal on the wall. His smile flashed. “Okay, sugar. I’m leaving. I’ll see you soon.”
He opened the door. Mel stood there frowning, her arms crossed over her chest. He walked over to her, circled her closely, and then moved toward the front door. “Goodnight, ladies.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, Erin locked it and shivered. “Beast.”
“What did you do to make him leave so easily?”
“I told him I’d talk him up to you if he left. And I am a woman of my word. You should let him in your pants, Mel, cause he’s wonderful. There. Has that convinced you?”
Melina laughed. “It has! I’ve been a fool, not seeing the treasure right in front of me. Thank you for opening my eyes!”
They both slumped on the couch and took their heels off.
“Thanks for everything tonight,” Erin said.
“Has it hit you yet?”
“No. I feel the weight of what happened at the club and whatever he’s having to go through right now, but I’m coasting. It will hit me soon, I’m sure. Then I’ll probably cry a bit. Just warning you. I’m a big cry baby.”
Mel snickered and patted her knee. “I won’t tease you if you cry. So are you with M? You rejected that other guy.”
“My head’s not clear. All I can be right now is here for him. I can’t decide something so big in the middle of all this drama.”
“Okay,” Melina smiled broadly.
“What?”
“It looked like you two really clicked on the dance floor.”
Erin smiled too and blushed. “Yeah. That was…good.”
Mel laughed. “M likes to dance.”
“I do, too.”
“Wanna watch a movie or something while we wait? Take our minds somewhere else?”
“Sounds good.”
Mel chose the movie. Erin tried to get lost in it, but she couldn’t help but check her watch every few minutes. An hour later, both of their watches began buzzing like they were about to blow up.
“He’s on.”
Erin enlarged and projected the feed up into the air. She held her breath, her heart racing as Maddox began to speak.
“The tragedy of Trish’s death, along with the recent death of Selena has both disheartened and enraged me. I had nothing to do with either crime, and I fully believe someone is attempting to frame me. I have given Fortress my full cooperation, and I will do whatever is required of me to assist in the investigation. This is one of those times that words utterly fail, but I wish all possible solace to the hearts of the families of these young women.”
The next moment, Redge filled the feed. “Maddox is not a suspect. An investigation is underway. Fortress will find and bring the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes to justice. I’ll take three questions only.”
Erin blew out a breath and turned it off. She didn’t care what questions were asked.
Melina scooted close and rubbed Erin’s shoulder. “It’s okay.”
“It was fast…He did good, right?”
Mel nodded. “Yeah. He did good. He was open, you know. His face, his eyes. I could see him.”
Erin exhaled and leaned against her. “Thanks for everything tonight. Thanks for staying with me.”
Kendrick slid another drink toward Jaris. He took a sip and set it down, his head beginning to slump. He was wasted.
“I just didn’t think this would happen.”
“Hey, man, lots of us have lost our girlfriends to Maddox. It sucks. If you want her back, he never keeps anyone long.”
“Yeah, if only she wasn’t his destined life mate. He’s never letting her go.”
Kendrick pushed the drink back into Jaris’ hand. “Say that again.”
“What?”
“Erin is Maddox’s destined life mate?”
“Yeah,” he mumbled miserably.
“Are you sure of that?”
“Of course I am. She was mine first. Then she made eye contact with him, and that was it…”
“I’m sorry. I’m just a little confused. If she’s his destined life mate, why is this not common knowledge and why did she continue to spend time with you?”
“Because she hates him, or she did. She swore to me she was going to reject him after she punished him for everything he’s done. For Selena…Erin’s too soft for that, and he must have exploited her sweetness. And now he really does have her.”
Kendrick smiled to himself and took a drink. “Well, I’m very happy I tracked you down, Jaris. You’ve given me a great gift.”
“Huh?” he asked drunkenly.
“Never mind, buddy. You just drink your troubles away. I’ll take care of everything.”
Eighteen
The house was dark and quiet when Maddox finally got home. The whole ordeal made him feel wrung out, but he wasn’t scared. He exhaled, trying to let go of it all. There was nothing else for him to do right now.
He gazed at Erin, asleep on the couch. She was here. Safe. She’d waited. She hadn’t acted the way he expected the entire night. Especially when she told Jaris it was over and came back to him, where people could see, too.
He stared at her for a moment. He should leave her alone, but she’d asked him to wake her. He crouched down next to the couch and rubbed her shoulder. She sighed and opened her eyes.
“Why are you on the couch? You’ll get a kink in your neck.”
“Mel took your folk’s room. I stayed up, scanning the news for a while. I don’t think I’ve been asleep very long.”
“You should be in my bed.”
She smiled and stretched a little. “Innuendo?”
“Fact.”
He scooped her up and carried her to his room. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He could feel how tired she was. He laid her down. Her gaze stayed on him as he took off his coat and shirt. She hadn’t said it, he reminded himself, and Mel was in the other room. He took off his shoes and threw on a T-shirt before lying down next to her.
She snuggled next to him, her head pillowed on his arm and her hand rested over his heart. It was so easy. So natural, as if there was nothing between them and never had been.
“Was it terrible at Fortress? Were you scared?” she asked.
“It was fine. What I expected. I wasn’t scared. I was a bit nervous. I would have said more, but Redge told me to keep it quick.”
“You did great. I watched it. I think people will believe you.”
“Pe
ople always believe the worst,” he sighed.
“I know that. It will work itself out.”
“I only care what you feel. What you believe.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
He looked at her. He wanted to push her to say it. He felt he could, and it would work. Because of that, he didn’t.
She yawned and closed her eyes. He had her with him, and Jaris was out of the picture. That was enough. For now.
He woke early to clattering noise in the kitchen. He kissed Erin on the forehead and pulled his arm out from under her. She rolled over but didn’t wake. He closed the door quietly as he left the bedroom.
Mel was pouring herself a huge mug of coffee. Her hair was all over, and she was rumpled from sleeping in the dress she wore to the club.
“Morning, sunshine," he smiled.
She gave him a dirty look over the rim of her mug. “Don’t talk to me until I have at least three more gulps of this,” she ordered.
He sat at the counter and continued to grin at her. She drank half of her coffee, then her eyes started to grow alert. She poured another mug and set it in front of him.
“Thanks.”
“Helluva night, M. You okay?”
“I’m fine. Actually, I’m better than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Because of Erin?”
He nodded and took a drink.
“Quite the girl you’ve got there. You should have seen the way she maneuvered Kendrick out of here. I didn’t even have to resort to violence.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he chuckled.
“Are you done with him finally?”
“Yes. And now that things have changed, we don’t have to pose as a couple anymore.”
“Good! It’s exhausting hanging off your arm. You’re really quite disgusting.”
“I feel the same way about you, hag.”
She laughed and winked at him. “You know I love you, M.”
“I love you, too. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me the last few days.”
“You have to lend Erin to me sometimes for girl stuff. We’ve made friends.”
“I’m glad. Your approval of her makes my life easier.”
She finished her coffee and put the mug in the sink. “I’m going home. Call me if you need anything. I’m still on standby till things are all good again.”
“Stay alert. The killer is still out there. You’re probably on their list.”
“I’ll just hide behind my mommy’s big, scary arm.”
He laughed. “That works.”
“Open a portal for me. I don’t want to walk.”
Mel hugged him before going through the portal he opened for her. So much was all wrong. But he was alone with Erin now. He should make her breakfast, he decided. He wasn’t as awesome as his father in the kitchen, but he could manage.
As he started cooking, his mind moved to the future. What should he do with his life, besides share it with Erin? He needed to work. And if she decided to stay with him, they needed their own place. He needed to get to know her better. What did she like? Where would she want to live?
She came out, rubbing her eyes and yawning, right as he was setting the table. She blinked at him, then she focused on the table. “I love waffles. Did you make that?”
He nodded and pulled the chair out for her. She sat and pushed her tousled hair back from her face.
“I’m starving. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He sat across from her, immediately plunged into a fantasy of doing this every morning together.
He smiled as her eyes popped and she wiped a trace of whip cream from her lip with her finger. “Wow. This is awesome. You really made this?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“I love it. It’s so good,” she continued to eat.
“Will you spend the day with me again?” he asked.
“Umm…okay. What did you have in mind?”
“Will you show me where you work? You haven’t even told me what you do.”
Her smile filled her eyes and struck at his heart. He’d never seen her smile like that.
“We can totally do that.” She finished eating and headed back to his room. He followed her. “I’m going to run home and change. I’ll be right back. Don’t over dress, okay? Be as casual as your flashy wardrobe will allow, please.”
“Okay. And stop hating on my clothes.”
She kissed him quickly. “Not a chance.” Then she went through the portal on the wall.
He looked in his closet and pursed his lips. He had casual clothes. He threw on some jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers, and left it at that. He messed with his hair for a minute and waited for her to get back.
She was faster than he anticipated, coming back through the portal, a happy energy coming from her. His heart swelled. She was happy, that’s how he wanted her, always.
“Am I casual enough?” he asked.
“Yes. Thank you. Are you ready to go?”
“Where are we going?”
“Halussis. I work in the Onyx castle.”
“You’re kidding.”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“How did I never see you there?”
“I don’t know. Fate?”
He shook his head, amazed, and opened another portal directly into the castle. They landed in the entry hall. She led the way to the west wing and up to Journey’s area. His mind clicked into place as he followed her. Did she work with Journey?
She opened a door and jumped into the room. “HA!” she said loudly.
“Erin! Erin! Erin’s back! Get her!” Little voices yelled, and she was swarmed by kids.
He followed her in and closed the door behind him. He stood against the wall and watched her get on the floor with the kids, who obviously adored her. A little hand tugged at his leg. He looked down into the darling face of a little girl gazing up at him with wide brown eyes.
“Maddox, Maddox…”
She knew who he was regardless that she was probably only five. He squatted down next to her.
“Hi, beautiful. What’s your name?”
“Alora. Will you marry me?”
He chuckled. “Oh, I would, but I’ve already found my girl.”
Her little mouth formed an O. “Who?”
“Erin.”
Alora looked over at Erin, her eyes getting wider. “You love Erin?”
“I do.” It was out of his mouth before he could think.
“That’s a good choice,” the tike said wisely.
“I think so, now I just have to convince her to love me back.”
“You think she doesn’t?”
“I think she might like me a little, but I want more.”
Alora leaned in conspiratorially. “I’ll help you,” she whispered loudly. “I’ll talk to her. She listens to me.”
“Thanks.”
Erin crawled over to him on her hands and knees, two kids on her back, giggling. He’d never wanted to kiss her so badly.
“All right, get off. You’re killing me,” she told the kids.
They tumbled off.
“So this is where I work.”
“It fits. So you wrestle with them all day?”
She got to her feet and pushed her hair out of her face. “No. I wish. I do that during my breaks. I review case files and try to pair them with adoptive parents.”
He looked over the room, his face falling. “They’re all orphans?”
“Yes.”
The little girl Alora grabbed onto Erin’s leg then. “I need to talk to you! It’s urgent!” she said.
“Urgent, huh?” Erin smiled down at her.
“Oh man,” he chuckled. “I think that’s my cue to go see my grandfather for a while or something.”
“Good idea,” Alora told him. “Girl talk.”