Monroe, Marla - The Edge of Night [The Protectors 3](Siren Publishing Classic)

by Marla Monroe

  “So, have a seat and tell me from the beginning what is going on.”

  Amanda took a deep breath and recounted her history with Guy from the beginning all the way to then. Then Morgan took over and went over everything he knew and that Dodge had found out about the man.

  “Okay, what exactly do you want from me?”

  Morgan looked at Amanda, and she nodded.

  “We want to retain you as her lawyer and leave a copy of the disc with you so that if anything happens to her or the baby, it will be delivered to as many different media outlets as you want to fool with.” Morgan let that sink in, then continued.

  “And, we want you to draw up whatever legal paperwork is needed for Guy to sign all his rights to the baby over to Amanda so he can’t try and take her child from her later.”

  Morgan hoped that Dodge was right about this guy being good with child welfare cases. They needed the best they could get. He ground his teeth. Amanda needed the best she could get. He had to quit thinking of them as a couple. They weren’t.

  “Are you going to be able to take care of your child without his support?” Martin asked.

  “Yes. I can take care of him. I’m a hard worker. I’ll take care of my baby.” She looked as if she were about to panic.

  “She’s living rent-free in my house for as long as she wants to. I’m not going to be there, so there won’t be any question of propriety. She has a means of transportation, and she has her own savings to help her get going. The rest is being provided until she is on her feet.” Morgan wasn’t about to let this man scare Amanda into thinking she wasn’t good for the baby. She was the baby’s mother, for crying out loud.

  “That sounds good. I’ll take your case. I’ll lock up your disc with the instructions in our business vault. I’ll make sure it’s listed in my files in case anything happens to me. It will take me a couple of days to draw up the paperwork you want in order to retain complete rights to your child. Why don’t we meet again, say next Tuesday? That will give me three workdays to get the papers ready. To make it legally binding, though, you’re going to need to get him to sign the papers in front of a notary.”

  “Where do we find one of those in a public place that will be safe for Amanda to be with Guy?” Morgan asked.

  “Banks all have them. If you make an appointment ahead of time, I’m sure they will accommodate you. Also, my secretary is a notary if you want to do it here,” Martin offered.

  “Thanks, but I don’t want him to know who we are using if it’s at all possible. I don’t trust him,” Morgan said. “I think the bank is our best bet for the situation.”

  “I understand. Choose one that will offer you a private room to handle the business. As long as the notary is there, he won’t be able to say or do anything that will get spread around. Make sure he knows the details about the paper he is signing before he gets there so he won’t be surprised,” Martin told them.

  “Okay, so as long as he signs the paper with a notary present, it is legal and binding?” Morgan wanted to be sure.

  “Yes. It doesn’t mean that someday down the road he won’t try and have it overturned, but it would be very hard to do, if it is even possible. Unless Amanda is living in filth and her child is in a dangerous situation, I can’t see any judge overturning it.”

  “I’ll never give him the opportunity. I’ll make sure my child has everything he needs and is always loved,” Amanda said fervently.

  “That sounds like everything. If you’ll give me the disc, I’ll put it away.”

  Morgan pulled out the envelope with the disc and the instructions in it and handed it over to Martin. He escorted them out to the receptionist’s desk, and they shook hands again. Morgan paid the bill and shushed Amanda when she would have said something.

  As soon as they were outside the building, she started fussing at him. “I can pay my own way. I don’t want you paying for everything. While we’re here, I want to get my money out of the bank.”

  “I figured you would want to do that,” Morgan said. “I think you need to choose a bank that has a branch where you will be living and set up the account here so it will be listed as your main bank, though.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. Let’s mail the disc, then go to the bank. We can use the same bank for the notary. It will be a good time to find out how to arrange the meeting.” Amanda seemed to be calming down again.

  Morgan nodded, and they joined the twins outside on the steps to the building. Neither of them had seen anything suspicious. Justin and Jethro climbed up into their truck while Morgan and Amanda got back onto the bike. They headed for the nearest post office. Amanda had the disc sent special delivery, where Guy would have to sign for it. The return address was a post-office box there that she rented for six months.

  Morgan felt like they’d covered all the bases, but still felt uneasy about something. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.

  “I vote for lunch next. Then we can do the banking last and head home.” Morgan bit his tongue. He hadn’t meant to say “home.”

  “Great, I’m starved,” Justin said.

  “You’re always starved,” Jethro fussed.

  Amanda rolled her eyes and climbed on back of the motorcycle with Morgan. He liked it when she acted so relaxed around them all. He especially liked it when she was relaxed around him.

  They grabbed burgers and fries, then located the main branch of a national chain of banks that had a branch where she would be living. She withdrew all her money from her bank with a bank draft and transferred it to the new bank. She ordered new checks and a check card, then kept out several hundred dollars. He wanted to tell her she didn’t need to delve into her savings yet, but knew it would only end up in a royal fight.

  “Okay, ready to head back to Cold Creek?” he asked.

  “More than ready. Dallas traffic is making me a nervous wreck.”

  He signaled the twins they were heading out and pulled out into traffic, noticing she held tighter to him once he did. He took a perverse pleasure in riding a little fast just to keep her arms planted firmly around his middle. He didn’t want the ride to end, but soon, they’d been on the road for nearly three hours, and Cold Creek was fast approaching.

  “You doing okay back there, baby?” he called back.

  “Yeah, how much longer?”

  “Another fifteen or twenty minutes,” he answered.

  “How long before you think you’ll hear from Guy?” she asked.

  “Probably day after tomorrow. Maybe even two days after. It will depend on if he tries to investigate first or call first.” Morgan slowed the bike and signaled the turn off the interstate into Cold Creek.

  They pulled into the drive of his house, and he cut the motor. Tyler was immediately outside helping Amanda off the bike. Dodge stood at the back door waiting on them to come in. The twins climbed down from the truck and stretched.

  “I could use a cold one. What about you, Justin?” Jethro said.

  “Sounds like a plan,” the other man agreed.

  “So how did it all go?” Dodge asked as everyone piled into the house.

  “Just like you said it would,” Morgan said. “Buchannan is going to take the case and is fixing up the paperwork on Guy’s rights now. Said to come back Tuesday to pick them up.”

  They reviewed what all they’d accomplished and their plans to use the bank as a place for Guy to meet them and sign over his rights. Morgan prayed it all went smoothly and the other man wouldn’t balk at signing the paperwork. They were all walking a very thin line using blackmail to control him.

  “Morgan?” Amanda asked, standing a little away from the group consuming the beer and chips Dodge had put out.

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “I need a job. Can we go get a paper so I can start looking? I need to start really soon.” Her voice sounded so small and quiet compared to how she normally sounded.

  Morgan realized she was overwhelmed by all the men. They’d all been in close prox
imity for the last few weeks. She had another few to go as well. Until the paperwork was signed and in the lawyer’s hands, they would remain around her to protect her. She’d get used to it.

  “Hold on. I think Tyler picked up a paper while they were out.” He grabbed Tyler by the shoulder and leaned in and asked him about the paper.

  Tyler nodded and pointed at the table in the living room. Morgan found the paper and brought it back to Amanda. She looked relieved and spread it out on the coffee table, sinking to her knees on the floor, using a throw pillow from the couch to cushion them.

  “See anything interesting yet?” Morgan asked a few seconds later.

  “There are several positions open for waitresses, and a couple for office help. I’ll try for all of them. Something is bound to be right for me.” She continued looking through the want ads, circling a couple more before folding the paper into quarters.

  “There is also word of mouth. I’m going to call a few people I know and put out the word that you are looking for a job. Do you have any special skills?” he asked.

  “Not really. I can cook, iron, clean house, waitress, file, type, things like that.”

  “We’ll find you a job before long, so don’t worry about that. All you need to worry about right now is relaxing and taking care of yourself while we wait for the paperwork to be ready.” Morgan sat behind her with his knees on either side of her body as she remained kneeling on the throw pillow in front of him.

  He massaged her shoulders in a soothing rhythm and hoped to relax her enough she would rest all night. After a few minutes, she yawned and stretched. Using his knees to push off with, Amanda stood up and smothered another yawn behind her hand.

  “Sorry, I guess I’m going to call it a night. I’m really bushed,” she said.

  “Want me to run you some bathwater for a nice long soak?”

  “No, I really just want to go to bed. I’m going to take a shower tonight.” She started to walk away, then stopped and turned back around. “Morgan?”

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “Thanks for helping me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Amanda had applied for several jobs over the last two days and finally accepted a position in an accountant’s office. There had been no word from Guy, and it was beginning to eat at her nerves. She was afraid that he wasn’t going to follow their plans and she’d end up having to go on the run again.

  “What are you so tense about today?” Morgan asked as she stirred the spaghetti sauce.

  “We haven’t heard from Guy. I’m worried he isn’t going to go for it.”

  “It’s only been two full days as of today. I won’t be worried until we have the paperwork in our hands. Then we might want to up the stakes for him.” Morgan leaned in and kissed her behind the ear.

  “How?” she asked, laying the spoon on the spoon rest.

  “Leak a rumor to the press that he has some skeletons in his closet that someone might want to dig for.”

  “Oh God, no! Someone will find the same thing Dodge found, and then we won’t have anything to bargain with.” She bit her lower lip.

  “Don’t worry, Amanda. He’s going to call soon. He’s panicking now trying to decide what to do.”

  “I hope you’re right,” she said.

  “When do you start work at the accountant’s office?” Morgan asked her.

  Amanda was excited to have found a job as a receptionist at a CPA’s office in town. The work was easy, and they understood she would be going on maternity leave in four and a half or five months. They were happy to save her job until she was allowed to come back to work. She’d just gotten back from the interview and started dinner.

  “I start next Monday. They are fine with my being gone Tuesday and again another day for when we meet with Guy. They didn’t even ask why, so I didn’t have to make anything up.”

  “I know you’re relieved to have a job that you can handle while being pregnant.” Morgan seemed preoccupied by something.

  “Is everything okay, Morgan?” she asked.

  “Yeah, baby. Why?” He squeezed her waist and turned her around to face him.

  “You seem worried about something.”

  “I’m not, just not used to sitting around.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought about that you’ve been cooped up here like you have. I guess everyone is feeling that way,” Amanda said.

  “Not your fault. We can go for a ride anytime we want. Maybe we will tomorrow for a couple of hours. Want to go with us?” Morgan asked.

  “No, thanks. I’m going to use your computer to read up on accounting so I’ll know the language at least.”

  “Good idea.”

  Morgan’s cell phone rang. He answered it without checking the number and immediately motioned for her to be quiet. She knew it was Guy. He had finally called.

  “I wouldn’t be making demands if I were you. We do have the advantage of knowing you like to be butt-fucked and spanked by women.” Morgan laughed into the phone.

  Amanda bit into her fist to keep from saying anything. Morgan knew what he was doing, but she was so afraid for her baby. When he put a calming hand on her cheek and pulled her into his arms, she relaxed.

  “Our demands are simple, really. Amanda wants nothing to do with you. She doesn’t want it ever to be known that you were the sperm donor for her baby. All you have to do to keep your little secret is to sign a form giving up all rights to the child and leave her and the child alone for the rest of their lives.”

  Morgan listened for a few seconds, then deepened his voice. “Either you follow our directions to the letter or not only will we put your video all over the Internet and TV, but I will personally show you what fucked up really means.”

  She swallowed hard around the lump in her throat and prayed Guy would capitulate without a problem. She knew Morgan was dead serious, and she didn’t want him to get in any trouble because of her. She’d been the one to make the stupid mistake of trusting Guy, not him.

  “Okay, this is what you are going to do,” Morgan began.

  Amanda listened to him explain about meeting them at the bank and give him a time that was two hours after they picked up the paperwork from the lawyer’s office. She figured he wanted time to look over it and maybe get there early to be ready for him. She only half listened to him give Guy the directions as her heart began to beat hard in her chest. It was going to be over with soon. She would have that paperwork in her hands, and he couldn’t hurt her or the baby.

  And that meant that her days with Morgan were numbered as well. It was a bittersweet victory. She would cherish her time with Morgan, but had known from the beginning it would only be temporary at best. The fact that he had stuck around as long as he had and helped her was proof of his being a true hero.

  “Don’t be late, Guy. I love playing on the Internet.” Morgan hit “end” on the phone and snapped it back on his belt buckle.

  He pulled her into his arms and then kissed her soft and easy. His lips sipped from hers before licking along the seam to request entrance into her mouth. His tongue slid along hers, teasing it into his mouth, where he gently sucked on it before releasing her from the kiss.

  “Did he sound like he will follow the directions?” she asked.

  “He’ll follow them. He’s scared to death that disc will get out.”

  “Only two more days then,” she said.

  “Only two more days.”

  “Two more days till what?” Tyler asked.

  Morgan didn’t let go of Amanda when the others walked into the kitchen. She noticed they sniffed the air appreciatively. It would be the first time she’d actually cooked for them. They seemed to be looking forward to it.

  “What’s going on?” Dodge asked as he eased into the room between Tyler and Justin.

  “Guy just called. The meet up is on for Tuesday after we pick up the paperwork from Buchannan.” Morgan rested his chin on top of Amanda’s head.

  “Sounds like
we need to make our plans to be in place when this all goes down. I don’t want him leaving without one of us watching him to see if he meets with anyone before he leaves town,” Jethro told them.

  “That’s a good idea,” Tyler agreed.

  “Well, I’m going to take a nice long bath. Someone needs to stir the sauce every few minutes to be sure it doesn’t stick until I get back.” Amanda eased from Morgan’s hold and walked toward the master bedroom.

  She could hear the men in the other room already making plans. She didn’t want to know about them. Right now, all she wanted to do was relax and enjoy the moment believing everything would be okay in the long run. Guy would follow their instructions and sign the papers, and she would be able to live without looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life.

  The only thing missing would be Morgan. Falling in love with him had been the second most stupid thing she had ever done. Still, she wouldn’t give anything for the weeks she’d had with him. He had taught her what love really was and how she should be treated. More than likely she would never find another man to even come close to the man Morgan was.

  She must have drifted asleep because the next thing she knew, Morgan was sliding into the tub with her. She scooted forward enough to let him sit behind her and leaned back against his chest.

  “You feel good,” she said.

  “Hmmm. You smell heavenly.”

  “Who’s watching the sauce?” she asked in a drowsy voice.

  “Dodge and Tyler. I told them we’d be along in an hour or so.”

  “Really? That long?”

  “I have plans for you, baby.”

  “Like what?”

  He kissed her cheek and began playing with her breasts. His fingers teased and squeezed each lobe. She moaned as he went from drawing lazy circles around her nipples to pinching and pulling on them. She heated up even as his dick grew hard behind her, nestled between the cheeks of her ass.

  “God, that feels so good.”

  “How about this, baby?” He ran a finger down her abdomen, over the little baby bump, and down to her mound, where he drew lazy circles with his finger.