by Blue Saffire
Nathan’s face softened. “She loves you, you know,” Nate said almost to himself. “With all that is going on she is tuned into you like a homing device. She just saved your ass.”
Marcus sat up straight from the floor and glared at Nate. “What are you talking about?”
Nate moved to sit on the floor beside Marcus and ran a hand over his head, Marcus just noticing his bruised knuckles. “Dad got a panicked call from Rita. You know her and that uncanny sixth sense. Dad called me and I rushed over just to check on you. Some fool was trying to get in here,” Nate’s said through tight lips. “My men have him in questioning now. I tell you there is never a dull moment working for you Mairetties.”
“From what I hear your home life is keeping you on your toes as well,” Marcus snorted.
Nate chuckled. “You can say that again.” Nate turned to look at him. “But let’s not talk about that right now unless you have another one of those bottles.”
Marcus and Nate both laughed. Then Marcus’s face compressed. She called because she felt something was wrong. He played Nathan’s words back in his head. ‘With all that is going on she is tuned into you like a homing device.’
He couldn’t avoid asking any longer. He would get this case closed soon enough so he needed to know. “How is she, what is going on? Why did Jasper rush off? He went to her didn’t he?” Marcus rattled off.
Nate sighed and drew a hand down his face. “There have been some threats against both girls, Marie and Rita. Dad and Uncle Earl thought it best to send Jasper. We’ve all been trying to get Rita to just come home but she has been hiding out with Anton which isn’t terrible since he has his own security and they are staying on private property, but she just needs to just come home already.”
Marcus just realized how tired Nate looked. His expression was tense as he talked about his sister. Marcus had a feeling there was more he wasn’t telling him.
Marcus felt the rage building in him as Nate’s words sank in. “Who the hell is behind the threats?” Marcus bit out.
Nate huffed. “Let me take care of this Marc, it’s my job. You and I know Jas would never let anything happen to either of them and while I didn’t care for Anton trying to marry my sister, I know he would do anything to keep her safe as well.”
Just then Nate’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He gave Marcus a sly smile and answered it. “Hello Rita,” Nate said into the phone and Marcus felt the air leave his lungs.
“Is Marcus okay,” Rita rushed down the line.
“Yes, he is fine I got here just in time. He was passed out on the floor when I came in…”
“I thought you got there in time,” Rita croaked.
“Calm down Rita. The perp never made it into the apartment. Marcus …he was sleeping off …,” Nate’s words were cutoff this time by Marcus’s elbow and a scowl.
Nate chuckled. “Would you like to talk to him yourself Rita,” Nate said giving Marcus a smug smirk.
“No,” Rita said shaking her head as if Nate could see her. “I have to go. Jasper and Anton are here glaring at me. I’m not supposed to be stressing, doctor’s orders.”
Nate’s smile fell. “Come home,” was all Nate said before ending the call.
Marcus looked crestfallen as he watched Nate tuck his phone in his pocket. She didn’t want to talk to me, floated through his mind. Nate noted the change in Marcus and placed a hand on his shoulder. He flexed his fingers as he thought of how to choose his next words.
“It’s not you,” Nate started and Marcus lifted a hand to cut him off. “No listen, Marcus. I’ve learned that things aren’t always what they seem. She thought she was doing the right thing. Now she is just confused and missing you.
“I once thought I knew everything and then, well we know what my love life looks like and then there is the fact that I totally missed what was going on with you and my sister,” Nate laughed.
“I just need her in my arms. I know something isn’t right and I want to be there for her,” Marcus said almost to himself.
“Hopefully you will get your wish sooner than you think. Let’s get out of here, there’s nothing left here for you,” Nate said knowingly to his friend.
Marcus nodded and stumbled to his feet. Nate was right there was nothing left here for him. Obviously, he couldn’t even stay here in peace.
~B~
“We need to go home,” Marie pleaded.
“She is right and you heard your doctor. If you don’t go soon he is not going to clear you to,” Jasper rumbled.
“Cara, love, they are right. It is better for the baby if you go home now. You are stressing yourself needlessly,” Anton tried.
“Sure, it is easy for all of you to say I need to go home. It is not your hearts that will be broken,” Rita grated.
Jasper threw his hands in the air. “He is not going to send you away Rita and there is no one’s engagement for you to break up. I’ve told you this, Marie has told you this, geeze Uncle Thomas has told you this,” Jasper growled in exasperation.
“Rita,” Marie huffs, “What are you really afraid of Baby love… lets figure this out because you can’t hide forever and that baby is suffering from all this stress you are putting yourself through.”
Rita sat staring at her hands in her lap. What was she afraid of? Almost everyone except Marcus knows she is pregnant. Her father and Nate have been trying to get her to come home since they found out. When the threats started that didn’t help one bit, they rushed Jasper to be at her side. Harris was still a shadow in the background but she was in no condition to do her job now. This pregnancy has been rough from the beginning and now the doctor has her on bed rest and is closing the window quickly on her ability to just get on a plane and go home.
Rita felt the tears prick her eyes but she was not going to let them spill. She couldn’t think of one reason not to go home. Jasper was right, everyone had told her that Marcus was no longer engaged, but it was everyone but Marcus. She was fighting going home because she was waiting for him to come after her again.
Rita’s shoulder sagged. She knew she was being selfish and childish again. Haven’t I learned my lesson, she thought to herself. Placing a hand on her little baby bump she knew she had to do what was best for her little baby. She couldn’t punish it for her selfishness. She couldn’t think of a reason not to go home but she had a very big reason why she should.
Jasper knew his cousin well, he saw the moment she started to see reason. He felt the relief in his entire body. He’d been scared this visit to the doctor’s. He and Marie agreed they needed to do whatever they could to get her home so that this foolishness could be put to rest.
The tears swimming in her eyes told him all he needed to know. It was time to go home, finally. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed.
“Hello,” Jasper said into the phone.
“Is everything okay,” Uncle Thomas said, sounding anxious for the first time Jasper could ever remember in his life.
“She is ready, we’ll be ready within the hour. I think it would be best to have a medic on the flight,” Jasper said into the phone.
“Is she okay, is the baby okay?” Uncle Thomas asked, his voice full of pain and worry.
“She is fine and the baby is hanging in there. Her doctor just advised that if we were going to fly it needed to be now or she could forget it,” Jasper explained. “I just want to have insurance.”
Jasper looked over at Anton’s concerned face and nodded at his cousin’s friend. “And there will be four of us,” Jasper informed his uncle. Anton gave him a silent nod of thanks.
“Come on honey,” Marie soothed. “I’ll help you pack your things.”
Rita shook with silent sobs. She knew they were right this was the right thing to do. It was time to go home.
Chapter 23
Marcus was wearing a hole in the floor outside the courtroom. He never showed his nerves like this but it had nothing to do with the verdict he was waiting for. James had called him last night with the ne
ws that had turned his world in the right direction for the first time in almost six years.
“Hello Son,” James jovial voice boomed through the phone. “She’s on her way home.”
Marcus thought he was dreaming at first. Nathan had taken him home to his new house and he tried to sleep off the night before as best he could, but that call had been more than welcomed. Marcus had hoped he would be able to get to court and wrap things up in time to meet the jet at the airport. No such luck, Ellen Stewart was the bane of his existence. She had tried one last trick but this time he was ready and the judge was more than happy to shut down her last attempt.
So now it was a waiting game before he could take off and get to his woman. He tugged at his tie that seemed like it wanted to choke him today. For the millionth time he took a glance at his watch and bit out a curse. He reached in his pocket and squeezed his fingers around the ring box inside.
“I heard I would find you pacing these halls,” Bobby said as he found his brother looking like he was going to come unglued at any moment.
Marcus rolled his shoulders and then his eyes. “This is the longest day of my life. Any word, has the plane landed?” Marcus asked anxiously.
“They are all at my house as we speak. Paige is getting everyone settled,” Bobby replied.
“You’re a lucky man, bro. Paige is the best,” Marcus said with a small smile.
“You are a lucky man as well. There is a girl at my house that is crazy about you,” Bobby said with a broad smile.
Marcus groaned and closed his eyes. “I just want to get out of here and go to her. This is driving me insane. I know I should be having lunch with my client or something but I’ve been hiding out on this side of the building to avoid having to deal with anyone. I can’t think of anything but the fact that she is finally home.”
Bobby moved closer to his brother and patted him on the back. “She is not going to run off again for now so relax. Let’s go get something to eat and a couple of beers,” Bobby offered.
Marcus clenched his teeth but nodded. “Sure.”
Walking in to a little bar next to the courthouse that they often frequented Bobby and Marcus found a booth and settled in. Bobby loosened his tie and sat back. He watched his brother’s face thinking of how his life would be changing forever once they make it to the place he and Paige now call home.
“I can’t believe I never saw how much you two cared about each other,” Bobby mused. “But now that I think about it, growing up you didn’t see one of you without the other. I never thought much of it because Marie was also there.”
“I really don’t know when things changed so much. It’s like I woke up one day and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. But I never took advantage. I always treated her with respect,” Marcus said rubbing his jaw. He’d wanted to talk to Bobby and Nate for some time now.
Bobby chuckled and smiled at his brother. “Relax, I think you have been through enough the last few months. I plan to spare you the ass kicking I owe you.”
Marcus chuckled. “Right, I’m sure you will find a way to deliver anyway.”
“Nope,” Bobby smiled mischievously. “Trust me the universe has taken care of all.”
“What?” Marcus furrowed his brows and narrowed his gaze at his brother but the waitress came to take their order distracting the conversation.
“So how did things go this morning? I see the jury is actually in deliberation so things must have gone well,” Bobby said after the waitress went to fill their orders.
“You know Ellen, she tried to get one last punch in but thanks to Paige I was ready for her,” Marcus replied.
“Great, I’m glad this one is in the bag. I have a few cases I’ve wanted to swing your way. Paige really needs to cut down on her work load. We both know she won’t but I figure if I can ease some cases your way she will eventually have to slow down,” Bobby said with concern for his pregnant wife in his eyes.
“We both know that is not going to work but whatever makes you feel better,” Marcus snorted.
“I swear she gets paid to drive me insane,” Bobby shook his head at his thoughts.
“You wouldn’t have it any other way,” Marcus teased.
The beers and steaks arrived and they dug in while a comfortable silence fell for a little while. Marcus had gotten in a few good bites before he put his fork and knife down and took a sip of his beer. He looked at Bobby and narrowed his eyes. He could no longer avoid the truth, he needed answers.
“What is really going on with Rita? This threat, her not wanting to come home, I know we had our misunderstanding during your wedding but there is something more. What are you all not telling me?”
Bobby nearly choked on his steak. He reached for his beer and took a sip then cleared his throat a few times. “I think you should talk to her for details but a lot has happened since the wedding. The threats are just more recent in the stream of things going on,” Bobby cleared his throat again. “Nate is on top of things. Let him do his job. The rest you can sort out as soon as we get your verdict and get out of here.”
Marcus snorted. “That is the same bull Nate was feeding me last night. I can feel something is not right Bobby. You would tell me if she was in trouble wouldn’t you?” he finished his last sentence in more of a plea.
“Yeah I would. We have been doing all we can to help her, but I think now that she is home everything will be much better,” Bobby said with a tight smile.
Marcus didn’t get a chance to dig more as his phone started to buzz. His questions would once again have to wait. It was time. The biggest case of his career to date was about to make or break him. It was time to close this chapter so he could be off to start a new one.
~B~
“I knew you could do it,” Bobby crooned as he took his brother in a bear hug. That had been right after the jury passed the sweetest verdict ever. “You’re a Mairettie to the bone.”
Those words were still playing in Marcus’s mind as they rode to the house. Bobby was right he was a Mairettie to the bone and that meant he always won. It would be the same with Rita. She would be in his arms and in his life forever before this day was over. His career was perfect; he now owned a house of his own only five to ten minutes from Bobby and Thomas, and now he would have his woman at his side as well.
This was one time that he wished he had driven himself. The driver seemed to be driving at a snail’s pace. He just wanted to get to Rita. He needed to see her in the flesh. It wasn’t enough to know she was close by he needed her in his arms, to hear her voice, to smell her sweet scent, to taste her luscious lips.
His heart started to pound in his chest as the family estate came into view. This was the place were Bobby and Paige were making a home and where they would start their family. Marcus couldn’t help but think of making a home of his own and starting his very own family. Images of Rita beneath him assaulted all his senses and had his body tightening.
Marcus was climbing out of the car before it had time to come to a full stop. Bobby had to move quickly to catch up to him. He could hear his brother laughing at him but he was focused on one thing and one thing only.
He followed the voices drifting through the house. This reunion was something he had wanted to do in private but from the sound of the blustering voices he would just have to settle for on lookers. Marcus was startled to find just how many onlookers were actually in the room.
He took in the room to find not only his other brother, Sam but his wife and small daughter. Even Camille was in the room sitting with Ellen. His parents were sitting together along with his grandparents and Thomas Briggs. Nate, the Kembles, Paige and her twin Pamela were all seated comfortably. Marie and Jasper were sitting together and that’s when his eyes landed on Rita wrapped in a blanket with her feet propped up on the race car driver’s lap while he rubbed her feet.
Marcus felt himself vibrating with rage. He clenched his jaw and balled his fists at his side. Everyone in the room became silent as they watched
Marcus’s face turn crimson.
Anton lifted his hands in the air. “I am nothing to worry about,” Anton said with his thick Italian accent. “Not now, not ever.”
Snickers filled the room. Marcus relaxed a little as his eyes locked with Rita’s and everything other than her disappeared. She was stunning, she looked truly tired but gorgeous just the same. Her hair had grown out some, still longer on one side than the other and was in wild curls framing her beautiful face and playing in her tired green eyes.
It didn’t even register with Marcus that he was moving. His legs carried him to the sofa she was propped on and he squatted down beside her cupping her face in his palm. He was in awe that she was finally in front of him. He placed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes drinking in the feel of her, the scent of her sweet breath and the sweet scent of her skin.
He opened his eyes again after a few moments, coming eye to eye with her bright green ones. He pressed his lips to hers, parting her lips with his tongue. He needed to taste her and make sure she was real. When her fingers threaded through his thick hair Marcus deepened the kiss and groaned into her mouth.
“Whoa,” Grandpa Mairettie chuckled. “Definitely one of my grands there.”
“Oh Marcello,” Grandma Mairettie chided. “Leave the boy alone.”
“What Marie Ann, my love, you can’t say you don’t remember when we had passion like that,” Marcello laughed.
“Remember, it hasn’t gone anywhere for me to forget,” Marie Ann said with a blushing smile for her husband.
“Damn right it hasn’t,” Marcello nodded and pulled his wife in for a kiss that left her breathless.
“See what you started,” Marie whined.
“You should hope to find a love that will last as long and be as special,” Minnie chided her daughter with a mischievous smile on her lips before her husband too pulled her in for a kiss.
Marcus pulled away from Rita and laughed at his family. His heart hadn’t felt this light in years. He focused his attention back on the love of his life.
“How are you,” he said to her.