by Koko Brown
“I can’t be mad at you. I probably would have made that same decision back when I worked for Crush.” Russell relaxed his shoulders. “I definitely want to end everything with Victoria and this family.”
Victoria hated the words Russell had said. Then she saw a subtle twitch in his left eye, and the side of his mouth pulled up.
“Cool. Let’s just go down the line.” Quinton aimed his gun back on Victoria again.
“Great. Me first.” Victoria reached behind herself, pulled out her gun and shot Quinton before he could even get one shot off.
Quinton fell back to the floor the same time a pounding sounded on the front door.
“Police! Open the door!” They beat on the door again.
Victoria stood and grabbed the gun in Russell’s hand. At first he didn’t let it go.
“They don’t need to see you with this in your hand.” Victoria kept her gun aimed at Quinton as she spoke to Russell. “You’re a parolee. Let the ones who really love you help you.”
Just as Russell loosened his grip, another shot rang out. Blood splattered on Victoria’s face before she realized Russell had been hit.
“You okay?” Russell’s words came out slurred as he melted down to the floor.
“Russell!”
TWELVE
Russell blinked his dry eyes. It felt better to him to keep his eyes closed. He remembered Victoria’s eyes before everything went black. He also recalled feeling the ultimate betrayal by the last person he would have ever suspected. Quinton now saw himself as some sort of kingpin. His baby brother would need to be taken down a peg or two.
Russell reached his hand up to wipe his aching eyes and felt a jerking on his hand that prevented him from lifting it higher than a foot. He gazed down and saw the glittering stainless steel cuff around his wrist.
Fuck. He never expected to be wearing these ever again. He lifted his other hand to rub his eyes. When he slid his hand down his face to his chest, he winced as soon as he touched his chest.
“Try not to move so much.”
He heard the voice of an angel. Russell turned his head to see Victoria by his side. She rubbed her hand over his head.
“What happened?” The two words came out of Russell’s mouth spaced so far apart.
“This may piss you off again, but as soon as my dad and Jaleel said trouble was coming, I had called the police. I really wanted to protect you.” She shook her head.
Russell nodded. “I know. It’s okay. You did the right thing.”
She ran her fingers through her hair. “Everything went a little crazy. I’m not really a killer. I tried to be. I should have kept my eye on Quinton.” She held his uncuffed hand. “I think he was trying to shoot me, but he got you instead. Through the chest. Almost got your heart.” Victoria turned her head.
“Hey, tough girl. You had better not be crying.” He tugged her hand. A thought crossed his mind that, like the roach he had stared at the day he left prison, he hadn’t escaped his fate without a scratch. “As you can see, I’m still alive.”
Victoria wiped her face. “And it’s going to stay that way if I have anything to say about it.”
“I hear voices.” Dana walked into the room. As she stood at the foot of Russell’s bed, she coughed.
“How much trouble am I in?” Russell jiggled the handcuff on his wrist.
Dana blinked. “You’re not in trouble. Although you didn’t make great decisions by hanging out with the people who got you put in jail in the first place, forensics showed that you weren’t involved in any shootings.”
Now Russell furrowed his eyebrows. “What’s with the bracelet then?”
Dana pointed to Victoria with her thumb. “That was her idea.”
“I wanted to make sure you would stay here in my house. You keep trying to run from me.”
At that point, Russell scanned the room. He assumed since his bed operated like a standard hospital bed that he must be there. He now noticed burgundy curtains on the windows and family pictures on the walls. He also recognized that Victoria had put him in a spare bedroom, not hers.
He couldn’t blame her for wanting some distance. Russell had been antagonistic during their last interaction. He had to clear the air.
“You’ve been pretty drugged up, so you probably don’t even remember being discharged from the hospital and coming here.” Victoria sat on the bed next to Russell. “A nurse comes here twice a day to make sure you’re okay. I had this room set up with everything you need to be comfortable.”
“Including the handcuff?” Russell smiled to let her know he understood her drastic action.
The last time he talked to her, he had been so angry with her that he didn’t want to see her again. Now he couldn’t imagine life without her.
“I was a little concerned after our last conversation.” Dana crossed her arms over her chest. “I couldn’t believe you were working for, um…”
“I know.” Victoria nodded. “I’m a Crandall. I get it.”
“As soon as you hung up on me, I called the police and got Miss Crandall’s address. I headed your way to talk you out of this mistake. That’s when I got the call that there were shots fired at the address.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to see two people shot, especially with you being one of them, but I’m glad you pulled through.”
“Three people.” Russell tried sitting up more. “Three people were shot.”
Victoria patted Russell’s hand. “Quinton ran out the back door before my dad could let the cops in. I held you until the paramedics came and took you away. I wasn’t going to leave you.”
Russell pulled Victoria down to his face and kissed her. He didn’t want to ever let her go. When she pulled back, probably to get air, he didn’t waste time letting her know his feelings.
“Did they catch Quinton?” A small part of Russell still thought of Quinton as his baby brother, not the psychopath bent on making a name for himself in the crime world.
“The detectives haven’t called me yet to let me know that he’s been captured. Hopefully, it won’t take them long.” She huffed. “I can’t believe all the problems he’s caused. He killed my mother.”
“And he threatened you.” Russell brought that whole scene into focus. “I’m an asshole.” He shook his head. “I said things to you that I should have never said ever if I had just listened to you.”
“It’s okay. I did lie to you, and I withheld information from you.” She squeezed his hand. “I deserve for you to be angry at me.”
He shook his head. “I love you so much. I’ve loved you longer than you know. I would be lucky to have you love me back.” He moved his hand down to her ass and gave it a squeeze.
“Looks like you two want some alone time.” Dana patted Russell’s foot. “Doc said you’re out of commission for a few weeks. Now that I know where you are, and I have your number, I’ll check on you more regularly. Call me anytime.”
“Got it. Thanks.” Russell kept his stared on the most beautiful woman on the planet.
“I’ll walk you out.” Victoria started to get up.
Russell clutched Victoria’s hand just as Dana said, “I’m fine. I’ll make sure to lock the door behind myself.” She smiled at the two of them.
Russell didn’t even wait to hear the door close before he slipped his hand under Victoria’s shorts.
“Let me take off that cuff.” She started to leave again.
Russell held her in place. “Keep it on there.”
Victoria chuckled. “Can’t believe how dirty you are.”
“Yes, you can.” He laughed. “Tell me what I’ve missed.”
“You and Jaleel had surgery.”
“Oh, yeah. How is he doing?” Russell sincerely meant his concern.
Victoria nodded. “He’ll be fine. He’ll have to do some physical therapy. Luckily, he had his gun honestly. Permits, registration and everything. No problems for him, and they never saw your prints on his gun.”
Russell curved h
er hand to kiss the back of it. “Thank you. What about your Monday meeting? Did you make it?”
Victoria smiled. “No, but it’s okay.”
“Shit. No. I was supposed to make sure you—”
Victoria put her finger over his lips. “I called into the meeting and let them know I was tending to a sick friend. During that conference call, I let them know my expectations.” She took a deep breath and pushed her shoulders back. “I’m ready for this new role. I can do this.”
Russell smiled, and he liked how natural it now felt around her. “I told you that. You’re pretty bad ass.”
“Thank you.” Then she sighed. “Speaking of bad, the police are still looking for Quinton. They have people at all of his businesses, tracking his phones and accounts, and watching his homes. I have security around the house.” She rubbed his arm. “You’re safe.”
“You shouldn’t have to worry about that. I should be the one to keep you safe. I should have known something wasn’t right with Quinton. My intuition was off with him.” He shook his head.
How could he have been so blind? He had no one to blame but himself. He showed Quinton how to live that life. Russell would have never turned on family.
“My dad and I talked for a long time. I’m sorry I told you that he killed my mother. I really thought it was him. Turns out he was so supportive of her accomplishments. He also told me that it was my mom who paid for your mother’s funeral. She really loved her.” She smiled at him. “Crush has changed. And so have you.”
“Not soon enough. I wish I hadn’t questioned everything. I wished I had believed you.” He licked his lips. “I wished that as soon as you sent me that dirty picture, that I had left that job and got you.”
“And I wish I had emptied my gun into your asshole brother.” Victoria damn near growled. “I know he’s your family, but he didn’t care about you. He only cared about his goals. I hope I shot him somewhere that will let him bleed out slowly so that he dies.”
Had he heard talk like this about his brother days ago, Russell would have been quick to defend Quinton. Now he supported Victoria’s desire, and would have helped her aim the gun if needed.
“So now what? Am I going to remain on my back here at your place?” Russell scanned the room. It looked better than any place he had ever been.
“Yep. You have to relax.” She glanced at a clock on the wall. “The nurse should be here in a couple of hours.”
Russell squeezed Victoria’s ass cheek again. “That gives us some time.”
“Yeah?” She got out of his grasp and stood at the end of his bed. “The doctor said no sex for you for another few weeks. You have stitches.”
Russell pulled the sheets off his body. “Don’t lean on my chest.” He got hard simply looking at her.
“You lost a lot of blood.”
“I’m losing more now.” When Victoria looked worried, he followed up his statement. “There’s blood rushing down below.”
“We shouldn’t. How can you even think about sex right now?”
“I distinctly remember in my asshole phase that I got you very close to coming and left you high and dry. Well, not exactly dry. Let me make it up to you. Come on.”
Victoria looked pensive although Russell could hear her breathing increase. “Wait.” She went to a dresser and opened the top drawer. She pulled out a small key and attempted to unlock him, but her hands trembled.
“Look at me.” Russell spoke in soothing tones to keep her calm.
Victoria glanced at him and tried smiling. He wanted to make sure she didn’t feel awkward because of her tremors. He could wait for her.
“Touch my arm.” He nodded down. “Feel me.”
She took a deep breath and, as suggested, held his forearm, and attempted to undo the lock again. This time she managed to get the key in the lock, evident from the way she exhaled.
After finally undoing his cuff, she let it dangle from the side of the adjustable bed.
“Take off everything. I need to see you.” The great thing about being a patient had to be the lack of clothing.
He slipped out of the hospital gown and tossed it to the floor. Victoria removed her top and bra, toed out of her shoes, and pulled down her shorts and panties.
“This is so wrong. You need to be recovering.” She climbed on the bed.
“Trust me. This is the best therapy.”
She straddled him. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
Russell regarded her intently. “What is it? Tell me anything. Be honest.”
She put his hands on her hips, then she held his cock and aimed it at her core.
Before he could say something about protection, she said, “I want your baby.” Then she lowered herself on him. She smiled. “Eventually. I’m on birth control.”
“We can have fun practicing.” Russell raised his hand to touch her breast and immediately felt pain stab his chest.
To keep Victoria from worrying, he dropped his hand to her thigh even as she undulated slowly.
“I can’t be without you anymore.” She leaned over his face, planting her hands on either side of his head. “I love you.”
“Again.” He raised his hips to correspond with her movements. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Russell Griffing.” She moved faster. “Close already. So hard. How do you—”
She pressed her lips against his. He missed this. He missed this woman. Russell almost ruined having happiness being stupid. He knew this. He would do whatever he could to make her happy and keep her safe. He would also find his piece-of-shit brother and make him pay for all the pain he caused.
Connecting with her this way renewed Russell spirit. If he had to endure getting shot by a family member to feel this way, he would do it again. Victoria would be his family.
When Russell came with Victoria, he wrapped an arm around her to hold her while she tried keeping his one side protected.
“I love you so fucking much.” Russell kissed the side of her face.
“Good. Don’t make me handcuff you to the bed again.” She laughed as she sat up.
“You can do that again. I trust you.”
THE END
ABOUT BRIDGET MIDWAY
Best-selling author of interracial BDSM erotic romance, Bridget Midway has been published since 2005 with several different small press and electronic publishers including Phaze Books, Parker Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, and Xcite Books. The multi-award winning and award-nominated author has found her niche with readers with her scintillating interracial BDSM erotic romance including the EPPIE Award finalist, Love My Way, and Romance Slam Jam Steamy Novel of the Year finalist, Corporate Needs, Licorice Whips, and Is This Love? With more than 23 published short stories, novellas, and novels under her belt, she shows no signs of stopping. For more information on Bridget Midway, go to her website at
Author contact:
www.BridgetMidway.com
www.bridgetmidway.com/contact_me
OTHER TITLES BY BRIDGET MIDWAY
Find Bridget’s Titles on Amazon
“Adam and E-V-E”
“C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L”
“Sodom and Gomorrah”
Original Sin
“Walls”
“Suburbia”
That’s What Friends Are For
Fascination Street
Corporate Seduction
Corporate Desires
Corporate Needs
Love My Way
Slave to Love
Is This Love?
Licorice Whips
Last Call
Hot Game
Woman In Chains
HIDEOUT
BILLY LONDON
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Always thank you to the wonderful Queen Barb Wilson for pointing out my continuity errors, obviously, I like to change a shirt on a guy like I change my underwear! Thank you always to my readers for being patient with me. This writing lark isn’t easy, but having you all for su
pport? It’s a dream.
Hideout
Rae can hide from everyone baying for her blood, but she can’t hide from what she’s done…
Rae did something bad. Really bad. So bad she can’t stay where she is since everyone will be after her – the coppers, the gangsters and worst of all her former bosses. She has Xiu. The lone star in the darkness she freely walked into. He gives her what she needs most of all – a hideout in the midst of the serene English countryside. The peace and quiet to come to terms with her actions. Only there happens to be someone else hiding out too. Someone just as haunted and just as terrified as she…
PROLOGUE
Lonán heard the car grumbling along the road before it even approached the neighbouring driveway. It happened to be the one drawback of living in the English countryside: how far noise carried. The smallest snap, crackle, and pop could disturb even the deepest of sleeps.
Saoirse briefly knocked on his bedroom door before she ran inside and threw herself into the mattress.
“Dada, are you awake?” she asked, resting her head on his shoulder and gazing at him with huge blue eyes.
“I am now. What’s wrong?”
She placed her thumb in her mouth and used her index to point towards the neighbouring cottage. “Someone’s making loud noises.”
Taking a deep breath, Lonán set his daughter in the bed and got to his feet. “Stay here.”
She nodded and cuddled up to his pillow. He reached for a robe and padded into the living room. Amber embers from the dying fire gave the room a golden glow in the darkness. The red lights of plug sockets lasered through his sight to leave dots behind his eyelids.
Uneasy with the sense that he had turned into a nosy old woman, he flicked the lace nets to the side, exposing the narrow road that separated the four cottages in their little t-road. He saw a man stalk out of the home and chuck a bag into the back seat, his tall frame illuminated by the security light.