Out of the Storm

by Jillian Elizabeth

  “Asshole!” I scream with both middle fingers in the air as I make my way down the stairs in his building and out to my Mustang.

  Sitting down in the driver's seat, I just sit a moment and see if he will come after me. He doesn't. That's when the dam bursts and I cry. I slam the steering wheel with my fists hoping it will quell the anger and hurt from me. It doesn't do a goddamn thing. I can't drive in this condition so I call Dawn, my long time best friend, and ask her to come pick me up. When she pulls up, I get in her car and tell her to just take me to cool off for a bit so I can come back for my car.

  A few hours later I come back to grab my car from his building. I'm not sure what to think and I haven't heard from him since I left. Are we really over? It's then as I sit in my car with the key in the ignition that I hear giggles. Looking up, I see him with a blonde girl outside the door to his building. He's stumbling as he gets his keys in the lock. Her hands are all over his back just trying to dig her claws in. He leans down and yanks her head back with his hand in her hair and brings his mouth to hers. He kisses her hard, as I sit there stunned.

  I can feel my heart shatter as his keys clatter to the ground when he shoves her against the door to the building, thrusting his hips between her parted legs wrapped around his hip. I don't stick around to see any more. I crank the engine and speed out of there like a bat out of hell. I see him in my rearview mirror looking up to see me leave. I don't look back.

  “I'm not proud of that day,” he says quietly. “I never should have let you leave. I never should have said any of those things to you I didn't mean.” I grip his hips tighter as I close my eyes. “Look at me...please,” he begs.

  I open my eyes to look at him, giving him a small smile.

  “I was stupid. I didn't know how to handle my job then. The shit I was seeing, the shit I was drinking to try and drown the images from my head. I was a broken man and I took it out on the one person who has ever only been there for me.”

  “I should have fought harder for you to see what you were doing,” I say on a whisper, bringing my lips to his. “When I came back, I thought maybe you'd calmed down and we could talk. But you shattered my heart, Carter. I was starting my last year of college the next day.”

  He nods his head as he rubs his nose to mine. “And I lost you. I thought I lost you forever, and I was worse while you were gone,” he tells me.

  I’m confused, I don't know what he means. He clarifies. “I lost myself in any willing body I could,” he tells me as my eyes grow wide and I suddenly feel sick. I knew this about our time apart, but hearing it again is hard. “But they weren't you, no one was ever you. And you were with him…”

  “I was,” I whisper. “I waited for you for a month to come and talk to me and you never did.

  “I'll always regret our time apart, baby, always,” he says quietly.

  I turn around to pace the kitchen a little, holding my stomach. I don't want to hear anymore, but I need to talk this out with him. We can't ever move on completely with this hanging over us.

  “That day you texted me from the truck. I was waiting for you to finally leave him. I didn't even care that you were pregnant with his baby, I wanted you back,” he says still standing against the counter running his hand through his hair roughly.

  I stop and look at him from the other side of the table. “Your frantic text sent me into overdrive. I was pulling out every source I had to try and pinpoint your phone and where you were. I should have done it faster,” he says on a choke.

  I move quickly back around the table to him. He drops to his knees and puts his head to my stomach. He cries into my shirt as he grips my hips and just let's go.

  “I had lost someone not long before you started calling me again to talk to me about Trent. I never told you about her. She reminded me so much of you, she was strong. She was pregnant and the douche walked away without a second glance. I started seeing her and cared about her a lot. She was taken, and it was my fault,” he says on a loud sob, burying his face into my stomach. “Oh God, she died because of me. And then I almost lost you…. and I lost Jacob, because I didn't get there fast enough to react again.”

  I crouch down to the floor with him and he crumbles putting his head in my lap. I don't know what to do, but I hate seeing the man I love that's so, so strong all the time...broken. Smoothing his hair with my hand, I let him keep going as I feel the tears tingling in the back of my throat again. I try and work it away with a swallow.

  “You did save me,” I whisper through my sudden tears. “You were there with me, I thought I was done and that I would never get to see you again, tell you I loved you,” I say as I lay forward with my head to his back.

  We both lay like that for a time, I'm not even sure how much time passes, we just breathe each other in and let it all go. It needed to be out.

  After a quiet time, he sits up and pulls me into his arms. “Thank you for always loving me, even when I didn't deserve it,” he says, bringing his lips to mine for a long peck to my lips.

  “You brought me back, Carter, you made me live. All because you love me,” I say, grabbing his face and kissing him deeper. We volley back and forth, each taking the lead as we pour all our feelings into this moment in time. The moment we truly let our hearts out for each other. All our fears, all our love and all we lost and almost lost...laid at our feet. Put to rest.

  He picks me up and holds me in his arms with my legs draped over his forearms. He brings his face to mine again and our eyes connect and hold each other's as he kisses my mouth with such passion I could detonate right there. Neither of us close our eyes, we just stare into each other's hearts as we lay it to rest right there in the kitchen.

  He takes me upstairs, walking quickly with long strides to our bedroom. My robe is falling open and I don't care.

  “I'm going to make love to my girl like it's the first time she's ever been made love to. We start fresh, right here, right now,” he says as he puts me down in the center of our bed and kisses from my neck down to my chest that's bared through the gap in my robe.

  “Yes, please Carter,” I beg. “Make love to me and make me yours always. No one else can come between us ever again,” I tell him as I hold his head to me as he pulls my hard, aching nipple into his mouth on a growl.

  Chapter 12

  Carter

  To say this investigation of the females found at the scrap yard is frustrating as shit is an understatement.

  Two more cars over the last month, with two more bodies. Someone is snubbing these girls out and disposing them. It's now March and I'm digging in, no matter the warning. Someone is out to block my road, I'm making sure my girl is good and safe though...I’m taking no chances.

  Nick and I have discovered that the cars being disposed of as scrap are county vehicles. They were assigned to city officials, or most likely cops. Every new lead becomes a dead end and it's frustrating.

  “Something’s gotta give, man,” I say to Nick while I pace my office. “Shit can't be blocked at every goddamn turn unless it's made that way,” I whisper loudly.

  He nods. He's had this feeling for a bit and I guess I just didn't want to see it. Having anyone crooked in our midst, in our department, is a horrendous thought and accusation. But what the hell else could it be?

  “I'm gonna comb through employees from the last year and see who checked these cars in. Maybe that can get us somewhere. Not everyone can be bought and I'm gonna find a son of a bitch that hasn't.”

  “That's a steep hill, Carter, you sure you're ready to climb it? Someone doesn't want this to come to light,” Nick responds tightly while steepling his fingers to his mouth, elbows on my desk. “I can't risk this shit this time man, Chantal is ready to pop anytime. I hate to say it, but if you go vigilante on this county, you may have to saddle in with a new partner,” he says, sitting back and staring at me.

  I get what he's saying. I don't fucking like it, but I get it.

  “You might want to make another meeting wit
h Scott, see if there's any detectives he trusts for you to saddle up with on this one man. I wouldn't trust that weasely fuck Ed with anything like this, any of these guys for that matter. All we know of him outside the great job he does here with us is that he has a teenage son. Something is rotten as hell and I can't stand the smell anymore. We've all got families, people we love that we sing praises of, why doesn't he or any of them?”

  “I'll make a call to Scott,” I say nodding. “See what he can help with. The less involvement around the county I can get, the better,” I tell him, standing at my window overlooking the detective bureau.

  “Andrea sure as shit isn't gonna like me sticking my neck out any more than I already have. Especially after the warning she received last month. But I have to, someone has to bring down whoever is fucking up my case, and I'll see to it brother,” I say, trying to look more confident than I feel at the moment.

  “Just be careful Carter, you don't know how deep this goes.”

  “I will, and I'll for damn sure keep you in the loop.”

  I've earned my respect here and it isn't for being a crooked, slimy fuck.

  **********

  Making contact with Scott, he decides it's too risky to keep meeting to talk in the area when all eyes are on me and my investigation. With his recent move out to the boonies, it affords a little more privacy. We made a plan for the weekend. Andrea and I will go out and spend some time with him, Lindsay, and the kids for the day. A nice change from the city pace and just being able to breath in the clean country air may clear my head a little.

  Andrea has been kept busy during all of this, and for that I am so thankful. Holly has been spending time with her. They go shooting, see girly movies, and Andrea has joined her at the gym for some kickboxing classes. I can't help but think it does her some good to be out and having fun...and a little self-defense can’t hurt, that's for damn sure.

  Chantal is nesting, from what Andrea says, and getting ready for those two girls that will soon own their hearts. She's been having Nick rearrange the house over and over, but it never satisfies her. Poor man just wants to keep the demon at bay, he isn't about to go poking that bear. The yes dear, and right here, man is loving being able to dote on her. Hey, from what he says pregnancy is an aphrodisiac. He's exhausted….but damn if he's gonna complain.

  Shit, I can't wait until Andrea and I start a family. It's something I've only ever wanted with her. Watching Nick and Chantal has made me want to start now. But we talked that out….well kind of. Truth be told, I would never be disappointed if it accidentally happens. I think it won't be long after our wedding before we start trying.

  Andrea has been over there helping Chantal get organized and ordering her to sit down with her feet up. From what she says, her ankles look more like sausages than ankles from the swelling.

  Stubborn woman will never listen to anyone. Gotta love her, she's definitely worked her way into my family...and her husband.

  Their baby shower is in two weeks, and all the guys are throwing them a diaper party as well.

  They are gonna need all hands on deck and I'm thankful we are close enough if we are needed.

  When I call Andrea on my way to go grab her from Nick and Chantal’s, she seems distracted. “Hey babe, you almost ready?”

  “Ummm...yes I guess so.”

  “I know you wanted to make the drive to Frankenmuth to see the Chapel and grab some baby stuff from the outlet while we're out there, right?”

  “Oh my God, yes I do. Sorry, I've been helping her and just lost in feeling the babies move right now.”

  The smile that splits my face is instant, as I maneuver my way through traffic. The hands free in the Explorer is nice, and I can turn it up and just listen to the awe in my girl's voice. “Almost there sweetheart, I'll see you in a few. I love you.”

  “Okay, honey. I love you.”

  Letting the call end, I turn in the gas station to fill up first. The drive to Frankenmuth is a little over an hour from here, and that gives us an evening in the quaint little Bavarian town.

  **********

  Pulling up to Nick’s to pick up Andrea, I'm ambushed by Waddles McGee and my partner, Nick.

  “We have something important to ask you both while you're here together,” Nick says as Andrea comes to snuggle in to my side.

  “Yeah, man. What's up?”

  They look to each other and smile, then back to the two of us. I feel Andrea squeeze my side as Nick begins to speak again.

  “You know that you both have become the closest family we have, and we've been discussing a lot about our lives while waiting for our girls to arrive.”

  At my nod and Andrea’s much eager one, he continues as a grin splits his face wide open. He looks confident on the outside, but he's also dragging his hand along his pant leg. “Chantal and I, well, we wanted to ask if you two would do us the honor of being godparents to our children. It's something huge, and honestly, you two are the only people in the world that would fill this role perfectly.”

  I hear Andrea’s intake of breath as she looks up to me with tears sparkling in her ocean blue eyes.

  A smile of my own splits my face. I'm taken back, man this is something so….I don't even have words for this moment. Reaching forward with my hand out, I grasp Nick’s hand in mine and bring him in for a brotherly hug and nod.

  The look on his face as I pull away is one of relief. His eyes don't look as haunted as they did moments ago. I really hope he didn't think that Andrea and I would let them down on their request.

  Andrea runs to squeeze them both on a squeal, and rubs Chantal's protruding stomach. Bringing her face right to her belly, she starts talking. “Hear that, little sweet peas?” she says on a choked and shaky voice. “Auntie Andrea and Uncle Carter are going to be the most important people in your life next to your mommy and daddy.”

  A smile and a laugh come from Chantal as her belly shakes from her laughter. Apparently the babies start moving, because Andrea stands back in awe and kisses Chantal quickly on the cheek. “Thank you, it's such an honor and truly means the world to me for you to choose us,” she says quietly.

  She turns and squeezes my side, while I kiss the top of her head. She grabs my hand and stretches it over to touch Chantal on her stomach. I hesitate a moment because let's face it, it's awkward as shit.

  “Meet your new goddaughters, honey,” she whispers to me as Chantal grabs my hand and pulls it to the place on her stomach just on the left side, where they seem to be moving at the moment.

  As soon as my hand connects with her baby filled belly, I feel it. Looking up to Chantal, Nick, and then down to Andrea, I stand here just stunned. They are really moving all over the place. I can see her stomach moving under her tight shirt she's wearing, where my hand isn't touching.

  It's then that I vow a vow I never thought I would be graced with. I vow to myself that I will protect these girls with my life just as I will for the parents they belong to. I take a deep, shaky and emotional breath and reach down to kiss her cheek.

  “I will take this honor to the grave, you have my word,” I say looking them both directly in their eyes as they stand close. Nick has his arm around her waist protectively and leans down to place a kiss to his wife’s belly. She looks down with a small smile, as she runs her fingers through his hair.

  This feels like a private moment now and I think it's time we take our leave. Plus, we won't ever make it to our destination if we don't leave now.

  “Thank you both for the honor of asking us to stand with you through life always,” I tell them as I give them hugs good bye, Andrea doing the same. Giving Chantal a squeeze, I try to break some of the seriousness that's settled around us all. “Love the new minivan outside, sweets. You could keep that thing loaded down with kids in no time.”

  She crosses her arms as I step away. “Nice try, shithead. It's a new Chrysler Pacifica, and I freakin’ love it, thank you very much.”

  “So buying you a ‘Soccer Mom’ sticker
for the back,” I tell her since my little goad didn't quite make the spicy mama come out.

  “Just remember, hot shot, payback is a bitch,” she says on a wink.

  A laughing Andrea comes to my side and tugs my arm to the door. “Alright you two back to your neutral corners.”

  “Put him in his place, girl,” Chantal yells as we are walking out onto the porch.

  “Oh, I plan to,” Andrea yells back while waggling her eyebrows at me.

  I just shake my head. She knows any place she wants to put me is a place I would gladly be. I'm thinking of a sweet spot between those juicy little thighs that's in need of a bite.

  **********

  Our little trip to Frankenmuth was nice. We walked the little village together checking out the old shops that lined the street. We stopped over and had some dinner at Zhender’s with some of their ‘Famous Chicken’ and went to see the chapel Andrea wanted me to see. I do remember seeing this from when we were younger. The Silent Night Chapel is close to Bronner’s, the world's largest Christmas store. It's beautiful, I can see the appeal here to her.