Cautious: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Candice Wright

  A knock on the door breaks our moment as Arlo, Felix, and Noah poke their heads around the doorway. “Is it safe to come in?”

  Blake shouts no, and I shout yes. Naturally, they ignore him and make their way inside and over to me, each offering me a hug.

  “You manage to find out any news on Marcus?” Blake asks Arlo.

  “He’s out of surgery and in the ICU. He was shot, as you know, a through and through, but it clipped his liver and spleen on the way out. They stopped the bleeding and removed his spleen and said he should make a full recovery. He lost a lot of blood though so they will be keeping him in for a while to monitor him and to watch for infection.”

  “Jesus, that man has nine lives, thank fuck,” Blake tells the room at large, the relief evident in his voice.

  “He’s been hurt before?” I ask, wondering if these guys would consider letting me cover them with bubble wrap.

  “It's not my story to tell, sweets, but in another life, Marcus was a cop, and he experienced the shitty side of it,” Arlo answers, surprising me.

  I don’t push for any more information, knowing Marcus will tell me himself if he wants me to know.

  “What about June?” I ask Felix and Noah.

  “She’s napping. Apparently, there are not enough—and I quote—‘hot doctors’ for her to look at so sleeping is the best option,” Noah says sardonically, making me laugh.

  I could just picture June saying that.

  “What about you, Missy, you finished napping?” Felix teases.

  “I was shot, I'll have you know,” I tell him indignantly.

  “’Tis but a scratch.”

  I scowl at his Monty Python reference. “I’m baking a human here!” I yell before freezing then turning slowly to look at Blake.

  “Oops, I didn’t mean to blurt that out.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Felix asks.

  I turn back to him just in time to see him jumping back from the bed. I snort. “Don’t worry, it's not contagious.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you. Wait, are you okay? Is the baby okay? Can I get you anything? Towels, water?”

  We all stare at him before cracking up into fits of laughter.

  “Why would I need towels and water?” I ask through a bout of giggles.

  “I don’t know, it's what they do in the movies,” he replies, looking adorably confused.

  I shake my head, my face sore from smiling so much. “You really need to get out more. I’m fine, the baby's fine. To be honest, I’m not really sure why I’m here.”

  “You went into shock and lost consciousness,” Blake answers, looking pale as he remembers. “If you could never do that again, I’d appreciate it. I’ve never felt more helpless in my fucking life.”

  “I’m sorry. Marcus got shot and then my… my mom.” I swallow the bile rushing up my throat.

  Visions of red, blood-soaked clothes, bloody hands, manic smiles and the life draining from my mother's eyes flash through my mind. I can’t escape. It plays over and over making me want to scream, only I can’t because there isn’t enough air.

  “Deep breath, Callie. That's it, breathe with me, baby. Good girl,” Blake’s voice coos in my ear, pulling me from visions of death.

  I follow his advice and mimic my breathing to match his, the images disappearing as reality seeps back in. I feel Blake on the bed behind me, his legs either side of mine and his arms wrapped around me. His chest is flush against my back as he takes slow, deep methodical breaths for me to copy.

  The guys all watch me, looking worried.

  “Jesus, I’m sorry,” I tell them when I get my breath back, feeling freaked out and embarrassed. “She wasn’t a good person, but she was still my mom.”

  “Stop apologizing. You have nothing to be sorry for,” Arlo says softly.

  “He’s right, Callie. You've been through hell and back. I hate to say it, but you won’t be okay for a while, but that's okay too. We will be here with you and Blake every step of the way,” Noah promises, making me cry.

  “Freak out, yell, scream, throw shit if you need to. None of us will judge you for it or think of you as weak. You’re the strongest chick I know, and none of us is going anywhere,” Felix adds.

  “I love you; they love you. Let your family take care of you, sweetheart,” Blake whispers into my ear.

  I nod with a sob and offer them all a watery smile.

  I can do that. For family.

  It was a testament to Blake's love and worry for his friend that he didn’t grunt or moan when I climbed up on the bed beside Marcus and promptly fell asleep with my arm wrapped around him.

  I don’t know how long I was out, but their voices talking quietly wake me.

  “If I’d have known getting shot would lead to waking up with a hot woman in my arms, I would have done it years ago,” Marcus teases.

  “Marcus Popeye Bennet, that is not funny. You scared the shit out of me!” I yell, and to prove my point, I burst into tears and bury my face against his chest.

  He holds me tight even though it must hurt, murmuring words of comfort and stroking my hair before I calm down enough to breathe without my chest hitching painfully.

  “I promise to not get shot again, at least not for a while,” he vows with a strained smile.

  “You better stick to that or you’ll miss out on the top uncle spot,” I tell him.

  He looks at me with a frown before facing Blake. “What’s she talking about?”

  “Callie’s pregnant,” Blake answers, letting the weight of his words settle over the room. “I’ll never be able to thank you, man.” Blake’s voice croaks so he stops and clears his throat.

  “No, thanks necessary, Blake. You know I’d do anything for you, for both of you. I’m hoping whatever kind of magic you guys have rubs off on the rest of us.”

  “You want a wife and kids, Popeye?” I ask softly, looking up into his eyes.

  “I never thought I would, but after seeing you two together, yeah, I do. Besides, if Blake here can land a girl like you, I shouldn’t have anything to worry about. I’m ten times more manly than he is,” Marcus jokes, making me laugh as Blake calls him a dick.

  Blake has lost his home and his business, but none of that matters to him. I can see it in his eyes. Everything he cares about is right here in this hospital.

  Buildings are just bricks and mortar that can easily be rebuilt.

  Family is what makes a place a home.

  Epilogue

  Callie

  I gaze out the window of our new home and into the backyard and smile, watching Felix and Kellen arguing over the construction of the playhouse they insisted on building.

  At my twenty-week scan, we discovered we were indeed expecting a little girl, and all the overprotective men in my life went bat shit crazy.

  I laugh as Kellen shoves Felix, who falls on his ass, cursing.

  So much has happened in the time Blake and I have been together that the quiet moments like these are sometimes as much of a blessing as a curse. Like stepping off a rollercoaster where you're thankful for the reprieve, but your stomach still revolts, and your legs feel like Jello.

  Christian’s death was a blessing, bringing me nothing but relief and a sense of safety. My mother's death, however, brought me nothing but nightmares.

  The aftermath of the fire didn’t kick in until a week or so after I left the hospital. I don’t know if it was because I had been so busy focusing on Marcus and June that it just took my brain a while to process everything, but the nightmares started coming thick and fast after that.

  I know I did the right thing that day. Opening the door to the panic room would have, at the very least, resulted in Marcus’s death and, given Christian’s frame of mind at the end there, it would likely have been the end of mine and Peanut’s life too.

  As if she knows I’m thinking about her, she gives me two hard kicks to the bladder, making me grimace.

  “And now I need to pee,” I mutter to myself, heading aw
ay from the window and moving toward the bathroom, almost colliding with Aiden in the hallway.

  I don’t know Aiden as well as I do the others, but only because he had been away on a job for most of Blake’s and my courtship. And what a job it turned out to be. Gunfire, bad guys, movie stars, and an epic romance all spilled over into real life, but that's a story for another day.

  He came back for our wedding, a simple affair at the courthouse, causing a stir when he brought Hollywood's sweetheart Jenna Carson as his date.

  “Sorry, Callie.” His deep voice rumbles, his hands wrapping around my arms to steady me. “I’m just finishing up the furniture in the nursery, want to take a look?”

  “Oh, hell yeah, but let me pee first. This kid seems to think my bladder is a football.”

  He chuckles and lets go once he’s sure I’ve got my balance. “You do that. What time is Blake supposed to be getting here?”

  I look at my watch as I start jigging on the spot. “In about an hour if the traffic gods smile upon him. June wanted him to meet her latest suitor first, so who knows.” I shrug, smiling, and for the first time in a long while it doesn’t feel forced when talking about her.

  June is another person I feel tremendous guilt toward. Much like with my mother, I’ve been working through it, but I often wonder if I will ever be able to look at her and not feel responsible for what happened.

  Initially, despite her attack, June had been doing well but on day three of her hospital stay, she had a massive stroke and almost died. Thankfully, she pulled through, but her road to recovery will be a long one with zero guarantees at the end.

  She was moved to a speech and physical therapy rehabilitation center when she was strong enough, which is where Blake is picking her up from now.

  She doesn’t want to miss our moving in day, even though she has flat out refused to move in here with us. Blake assumed when she was finally strong enough to come home, it would be here with us. A fresh start for us all, but he seemed to have forgotten about how fiercely independent June is, and how stubborn she can be when she sets her mind to something.

  Blake has not been happy with her decision to sell her house and reserve space at an assisted living facility for when she leaves the center. They argue about it a lot. Blake, being his usual stubborn self—which he ironically gets from June—insists she move in with us and that be the end of that.

  June, of course, is having none of it. She kindly informed Blake that she would not be giving up naked Tuesdays or wall-banging sex for anyone, least of all him. Eventually, he relented. Honestly, she seems genuinely excited to be moving into the fancy facility, but she knows the offer to live with us is always open.

  “I thought you had to pee.”

  I come out of my daze and find myself still standing in the hallway, staring at Aiden’s chest.

  “Urgh, sorry. This baby brain is no joke. I drift off into a world of my own all the time.”

  “Oh, I’ve noticed. I was with you at the grocery store when you zoned out in the cat food section. You were there for fifteen minutes staring at the boxes of kibble and you don’t even have a cat.” He laughs, making me scowl.

  “Don’t you judge me. This thing,” I point to my huge belly, “is clearly draining my powers. I can't be super smart, sexy, and awesome while baking the next generation of badass,” I tell him before turning and flouncing away to the sound of his laughter.

  I take care of business and decide some lunch is in order and make my way down to my awesome new kitchen.

  After a lot of talks between Blake and the guys, they decided a new location and a fresh start for their offices were needed. Something bigger to accommodate their ever-growing clientele, which thanks to Jenna’s recommendations, now included a reality TV star, an author, and an up-and-coming rapper. We decided to stay in Cali, but moved from north to south, setting up home in LA. And with June being only an hour and a half away, it makes perfect sense.

  “Hey, space cadet, what are you making?” Kellen asks, swinging the fridge door open and snagging a beer.

  “Sandwiches. I have a craving,” I admit.

  He stands there sipping his beer, watching me with amusement as I grill some bacon, trying not to gag at the smell, and then slice up some cooked chicken breasts. I layer round after round of bread with lettuce mayo, cheese, chicken, and bacon. Stacking them on a huge platter, I slide them into the middle of the counter. I’ve made far too many, but I know these guys can put away a lot of food between them. Plus, I want to wrap some and put them in the fridge for when June and Blake get here.

  Next, I set about making something tasty for myself to eat since Peanut can’t stomach bacon, much to my horror and the guys’ amusement.

  “That is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Kellen says, looking queasy as he stares at my peanut butter, tuna, and pickle sandwich.

  Marcus walks into the kitchen before I can answer, snagging half my sandwich from my plate and biting into it before either of us can warn him. Well, serves the fucker right for stealing my food.

  Kellen and I stare at his back as he grabs his own beer from the fridge, waiting for him to turn.

  When he does, he takes another bite and grins. “This is good, what is it?”

  I smile at him as Kellen goes a little green in the corner.

  “Trust me, man, you don't want to know,” Kellen answers as I take a bite myself and groan in appreciation.

  The sound of the doorbell has us all turning.

  “I’ll go,” Kellen offers, happy to leave and let Marcus and me finish eating.

  “Oh, food, thank god.” I look up at the sound of Arlo’s voice as he and Noah descend on the plate of sandwiches.

  “Save some for Felix and Aiden,” I remind him.

  “They snooze, they lose,” Arlo teases until Aiden walks up behind him and snatches the sandwich out of his hand. “Hey, motherfucker, get your own.”

  “You snooze, you lose, asshole,” Aiden mimics before eating the whole sandwich in two bites.

  Arlo picks up another sandwich just as Felix walks past, snatching it out of his hand and making him curse.

  I burst into fits of giggles at the look of indignation on his face. Noah wisely stays out of the way, guarding his food from grabby hands.

  Kellen strolls back in and over to me with a large parcel in his hands.

  “Ooh, presents, gimmie.” I make space on the counter, pushing the plates aside.

  Kellen places the box down gently on the counter and steps back so I can rip it open.

  Reaching inside, I pull out a letter and open it with one hand as I lift out a bottle of tequila and then a bottle of vodka from the box and place it on the counter.

  I scan the words on the note and smile before reading them out loud.

  Here is a little housewarming gift. We miss you guys around here. Don’t be strangers.

  Emmy and Grant

  P.S. The answer is always both.

  I pull a little pink and white onesie from the box with a netted tutu around the middle and a fluffy pink stuffed bunny. Digging a little farther, I find a basket filled with pamper products for me and a pile of black t-shirts.

  Lifting out one of the t-shirts, I see it's a large men’s and it has writing across the chest.

  I can’t help the laugh that escapes as I toss a t-shirt to each of the guys in the room.

  Marcus is the first to read it and his laughter soon joins mine. “These are awesome,” he comments as the others read theirs, their laughter ringing out around the room.

  “I have a feeling this was all Grant’s doing.” Aiden laughs, slipping his t-shirt off over his head and replacing it with the new one.

  Of course, now he’s done it, they all decide to follow suit, making me swallow my tongue and my panties dampen.

  I’m a bad, bad wife perving on the calendar boys, but in my defense, these pregnancy hormones have turned me into a sex fiend. Blake needs to hurry the hell up and get home so I
can get my afternoon fix.

  I frown when I realize my panties are really, really wet before it dawns on me I’m not turned on, I’m in labor.

  Ah, goddamn motherfucking dickballs.

  “Um guys,” I call out as they joke among themselves.

  They carry on talking and making their way through the stack of sandwiches.

  “Guys,” I call louder when nobody answers.

  Kellen steps forward to move the box off the counter onto the floor when he sees the puddle by my feet. “Something is leaking,” he mumbles, dumping the box and grabbing up the paper towels.

  “For fuck’s sake. It's me, I’m leaking!” I shout, and everyone freezes, taking a collective step back just as a contraction tightens across my stomach, making me hiss.

  “Move out of the way.” Aiden shoves past Kellen and tucks me under his arm, moving me away from the frozen men in the kitchen up the stairs to the bedroom. “Take a quick shower and get changed while I grab the go bags from the nursery and call Blake. I’ll leave the door ajar, so yell if you need me, okay?”

  I nod, thankful that one of them managed to stay level-headed. “Thanks for not losing your shit,” I tell him, wincing when another contraction hits.

  “It's not my first rodeo,” he informs me with a wink. “Make that shower super quick.” He presses a kiss to my forehead before leaving me to clean up.

  When he returns ten minutes later, I’ve already had another contraction and I’m a hot sweaty mess again despite the shower.

  “How you doing?” he asks gently, placing his fingers on my wrist.

  It takes me a minute to realize he’s taking my pulse. “I’m okay, but I think we should leave for the hospital now. You know those women that want to give birth all-natural like without any drugs? I’m not one of them. I want drugs, Aiden, all the drugs. You make sure to tell them that when we get there okay?” I urge him, starting to feel anxious.

  “I got you, short stuff, don’t worry. Let’s go. I have your stuff in the car already, and Blake is going to meet us at the hospital.”

  I nod, feeling better, knowing he has everything under control. I take the hand he offers me, letting him help me to the bottom of the stairs where the other guys are.