by Kassanna
Watching her walk up the aisle to slide onto a bench seat gave him a rock hard erection. Casually he slid down in his seat and watched the proceedings. He was never called as a witness, since he acted undercover for the Prosecutor’s office, but he really wasn’t needed. Sergeant Jeffries and the other officers that arrived on scene gave testimony.
“Rick…Hey, Rick?” Denise leaned around her computer monitor.
“Sorry, gorgeous. I was a million miles away.” He scratched his head. Indiana had him tripping over himself.
“I can see that.” She shook her head. “Judge Mathews has a few minutes. Go on in.”
“You are always so good to me.” He blew her a kiss as he strutted past Denise’s desk.
“All that flirting is going to get you in trouble one day.” She giggled.
He wrapped his hand around the doorknob and stopped. “It already has…” he murmured as he tugged the door open and entered the Judge’s chambers.
After this, he still needed to visit the county jail. He couldn’t put a name to what was happening to him and it wasn’t like he’d spent a lot of time with Indiana, but he could see she loved those kids. For once in her life she deserved a break and he wanted to be the man to give it to her.
Rick pulled the door shut behind him. “Afternoon Judge Mathews.”
Chapter Five
Kevin rubbed sticky palms up and down his thighs. Despite the cool air circulating through the room, his clothing clung to his damp skin. He glanced around the visiting area and quickly lowered his head when a corrections officer met his stare.
Slowly, he swiveled around in his seat and focused on the entrance. Every time the door opened, his heart sped up. Disappointment filled him when a blonde woman ambled in. He exhaled. His old lady promised she would visit him today.
Marva slipped in just as the door closed. He leaned back in his chair and watched the only woman he ever truly loved shuffle across the room.
Her skin was the color of brown sugar and she wore her natural hair brushed back into a messy bun at the top of her head. Black wisps of hair curled tightly around her nape. She darted her big eyes around the room, meeting his gaze. Her nostrils flared and she hurried toward him. The clothes she wore were clean but threadbare, and her jacket hung off her slim shoulders. Guilt filled him and the beginnings of a headache throbbed at his temple. It was his fault Marva was a junkie. He’d introduced her to drugs, eventually leading her to heroin.
In high school she was an honors student with a full ride scholarship to Arkansas State University. She was able to hold it together for the first semester but he convinced her to skip classes and get high with him. Telling her she would do it if she loved him. That was the beginning of the end. Instead of rising to her standard he made her fall to his.
Drugs became the focal point in their lives, and eventually cost them both friends and family. Her mom and dad arranged an intervention when they found out she was pregnant with Calista, and Marva left him to go into rehab. His girlfriend had been adamant that the baby would be healthy and drug-free. He’d even tried to get clean with her, avoiding the drug spots and throwing out the needles. Their resolve didn’t last long. To celebrate the birth of their daughter, they found a quiet spot in the hospitals garden sanctuary and got high before taking the baby girl home. They repeated the cycle with Caivin, except this time her parents would have nothing to do with them.
It was Indiana that had been there through all the highs and lows, never wavering in her support. His sister even threw Marva a baby shower. He hung his head. No longer in a drug-induced haze he saw things in painful clarity. They sold every one of the gifts for some quick cash.
But when his son was born and Indiana realized there was nothing to bring the boy home in or to, she went out and bought the necessary items all over again. He wanted so badly to get a hit and escape the ache that memories caused.
Kevin splayed his fingers across the documents on the table in front of him. They were shitty parents, and it was time to step up. There was no way Marva could provide a decent home for their children without him.
He snorted. Who was he kidding? Deep down, he wasn’t worth a damn to his girl or his children when he was around. Maybe one day, but not right now, and his kids deserved a chance. Indiana tried her best to give him one, and he fucked that up. He hoped he hadn’t screwed up his children too badly. Dirty could be the loving, supportive parent he and Marva weren’t prepared to be.
Kevin swallowed and smiled at Marva. “Hey, baby.”
“Kevin.” Tears brimmed Marva’s eyes. “I came as soon as I could. Are you all right?” Her tone was gentle. She fidgeted with her hair, twisting a strand between her fingers.
“Yeah, I’m good. Withdrawal was a bitch, but I’m okay for now. You look nice.” He reached out. An officer stepped forward, and he dropped his hand. The no-touching rule was a pain in the ass. All he wanted to do was feel the soft curve of her cheek, to brush the tears away.
“I’m staying with Claudette. She did my hair and gave me some clothes to wear.” Marva dropped her hand and crossed her arms, rubbing her biceps. She couldn’t be still. He knew the signs. She was jonesing.
“When was the last time you shot up?” Kevin narrowed his eyes.
“Two days ago…” she shook her head, “…or the day after yesterday.” She scratched her cheek, picking at a scratch. “Claudette said the police would know if I was high and they would arrest me.”
With him locked up, there was no one out there to protect Marva. Anybody could prey on her, including their friends. “Have you seen Dirty or the kids?” Marva was sensitive, so he needed to broach things carefully.
“No. Don’t want them to see me like this. Your sister has them. I called Mom to see if she could go get them for me. I wanted to show Indiana I could care for the kids, too, but she hung up when I said hi,” Marva whispered.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Marva’s family disowning her was his fault. He had so many wrongs to right. “Go see Dirty, I know she’ll help you.”
Marva shook her head.
“I had a visitor.” He grinned wide. It was easier to fake appearances. His old lady would follow his lead.
“Who? Your sister?” She smiled in return, and the expression made her look years younger, reminding him of happier times.
“Nope, a cop. Says he’s a friend of Indiana’s.” Kevin pushed the papers across the surface of the table. “He says Dirty is trying to get custody of the kids, but is having a hard time.”
“Have you talked to her?” She peered down at the sheets spread out.
“No, I haven’t seen her.” He exhaled. It had become his nightly prayer that his sister hadn’t given up on him, too. “The guy said Dirty was fighting to keep our babies out of the foster system. He left these.” Kevin tapped the sheets with his finger.
“What do they mean?” She glanced between him and the documents.
“It’s termination of parental rights, giving Dirty custody of Calista and Caivin.” Sadness piled on top of the guilt. He loved his kids, even if he didn’t show it the right way.
“I’m their mother. I don’t want to give our babies up.” Her thin lips formed a firm line.
“We can’t raise them.” The stark truth hurt to say out loud. He set a pen next to her hand. “Marva, we need to clean up before we can do anything. Dirty would never keep them from us.”
He told the policeman friend of his sister’s that he would call after he read and talked to his old lady about signing them. Watching her, though, another thought struck him. He would ask the cop to help get Marva into rehab. “Sweetheart, I want you to get some help.” There was no way the guy was trying to help Dirty out of the goodness of his heart. The officer wanted something from his sister and if that knowledge could help him, he would use it to get what he needed, too.
“Not without you.” She scooted back in her seat.
“It might be a year or more before I get out. You have to do this on your
own now, baby girl.” He picked up the pen and signed his name to the dark line at the bottom of the paper. “I’m going to ask Dirty’s friend to see if he can help you.” He handed over the pen.
She peered over at him through fathomless brown eyes. “If you say so.” Marva picked up the pen and scribbled her name. “I don’t want their names changed.”
“You know my sister better than that,” he chided softly. “Marva, I need you to get out of Claudette’s house. Go to Dirty’s, and stay there until I can get you into someplace safe.”
“Indiana won’t let me stay there. Remember what she said the last time we lived with her. Never again because she can’t trust us.” Marva started rocking in place.
A chime buzzed announcing the end of visiting hours. Around them felons rose from their seats and started to file out the exit. Kevin rose. “She will, promise me you’ll go there.”
Marva wouldn’t look at him. “Okay.”
The warning bell dinged. He gathered the documents and rose. She was lying.
More emotions overwhelmed him. He knew if he didn’t get her off the streets, he might never see her again. “Okay, baby. I’m waiting to find out when I will be transferred to the penitentiary. When I know, I’ll call.”
“All right.” Marva didn’t lift her head.
He moved with a group toward the heavy steel door that led to the housing units. When he glanced over his shoulder, Marva was still sitting at the table.
When he got to his pod, he would make a few calls. One way or another, he was going to get Marva to his sister’s place until she could be placed in a rehabilitation facility.
***
The consistent ring of the doorbell shredded her already tense nerves. Indiana crossed the family room, and glanced up the stairs to make sure the kids were still in their rooms and—hopefully—in their beds. She snatched the door open, prepared to cuss out the person on the other side of it. It had taken hours to get Caivin settled.
Dick stood on her townhouse stoop. His badge hung off a chain around his neck, glinting in the yellow beams of the overhead porch light. He wore a baseball cap low and she couldn’t read his expressions.
It had been a few days since she’d told him to fuck off. The man was relentless, and secretly—when he wasn’t pissing her off—she sort of enjoyed the chase.
Her shoulders dropped. There must be something truly wrong with her. Growing up, she couldn’t remember seeing any cops look this good except on TV. She remembered the way his body felt against hers when he’d fucked her against the wall. Her mouth went dry. That was all it was, she reminded herself, wonderful, pure unadulterated sex.
For some reason he kept coming around and she couldn’t understand why. “Seriously, Dick, it’s late. What the hell do you want?” Indiana tightened the ties to her robe and leaned on the door jamb.
He gazed at her and narrowed his eyes. “I followed up on some interviews and came across someone I thought you might want to see.”
“Who?” She stepped over the threshold and released the screen door to peer beyond Dick’s shoulder.
He gripped the thin metal frame before it slammed in place. She cocked a brow.
“Her name is Marva. She was at the scene of a drug bust. I happened to catch the tail-end of her interview, when she mentioned your name.”
“You brought her here?” She stressed the one word. “What am I supposed to do with her?”
She loved Marva, but after everything she’d done for her brother and his girlfriend, she had nothing left to give. They didn’t want her help, and she was tired of trying.
“I don’t think she has anywhere else to go.” He released the door and eased closer. Spicy cologne wafted under her nose. Damn, he smelled delicious. “There was a crackdown on the building she was at.”
She snorted. “Do I look like a fool? I have done everything I can do for her, and she doesn’t want my help. Take her to a shelter. Or maybe there’s a bed available in a rehab somewhere.” Her chest tightened as she uttered the words.
She knew she sounded cold, but she knew how many times she had been slapped down for trying to help. When reality seeped through their drug-induced veil, then they desperately needed her help. Until they took the next hit.
“Go home, Dick. I’m not sure what you’re up to, but you’re so far off the truth it isn’t even funny.” She lifted her chin and held his stare.
He pulled his cap off his head and combed his fingers through his hair. “You don’t sound like the Dirty I know.”
Indiana crossed her arms. “You don’t know me.”
“Indiana, please.” Marva appeared in the circle of light a few steps behind Dick.
Her brother’s girlfriend was gaunt, with hollowed cheeks and dull, sunken eyes. Scabby sores covered her skin and chapped white lips were stark on her face. With Kevin gone, Marva looked lost. “I’m sorry, Dirty, I’ll leave.” She faded back into the darkness surrounding them.
“Oh, Marva.” Indiana choked out the words.
Dick wrapped his hands around Indiana’s bicep. “I can find a bed in a day or two. But until then, it’s not safe for Marva on the streets.”
“Mama?” A soft voice called from the stairwell.
The small sound tore at Indiana’s heart. Hard as she tried to protect her niece and nephew, Marva was their mother. She twisted around. “Sweetpea, grab some sheets and bring them down so we can make up the couch. Your mom is going to stay with us for a few days.”
“Thank you.” Marva hobbled up the steps and stopped in front of her. “Me and Kevin are going to do right, we already decided. Calista and Caivin need better. They need you.” She nodded her head and pulled the screen door open. “They are the important ones,” she mumbled as she crossed the threshold.
Indiana stared at her and sighed. The drugs had Marva in a grip she wasn’t sure the woman could escape from.
Still, Indiana would do what she had always done; make the best of the situation. Her family court date was next week. Maybe she would be okay after all, since the judge had suspended sentencing for her felony assault.
“You have a beautiful smile.” Dick brushed his fingertips along her cheek.
She allowed his touch for the briefest of moments. It was nice to be noticed and desired. In the house, she could hear the patter of feet as Calista ran back and forth. Short spurts of conversation erupted between her niece and Marva, and then things would go quiet again.
“You’re still here.” She backed up to the doorway and watched his hand drop. “You should leave, don’t you think? I need to get back inside and make sure everything is okay.”
“I heard the judge suspended your sentence for thirty days.” His gaze was intense. “I hope that gives you the time you need to sort out your problems.”
“Yeah, my lawyer called and said something came up. He told me I wasn’t scheduled for my sentencing until next month.” She turned her head and strained to hear what was going on inside her home as she answered Dick. “It’s a lucky break, because I have family court next week.”
“Great. We should celebrate.” He leaned forward and his badge grazed her bicep.
Startled by his words, she snapped her head around and peered into his eyes. The deep green was mesmerizing. “I don’t think that’s wise.”
“Sure it is. I want to take you out to dinner, a movie, a walk in a garden. Whatever you’d like,” he murmured.
She was drawn to him. His mouth was so close. It wouldn’t take much to press her lips against his. What the hell? She had more than enough problems.
“That’s not how you ask my aunty out.” Calista appeared behind the screen.
Dick leaned over and stared at the child. “Really? And how should I ask her out?” he said with a chuckle.
“She likes flowers and blue gin. You’re supposed to bring her gifts.” Calista placed her hands on nonexistent hips.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He straightened and brushed a braid behind Indiana’s ear bef
ore stepping away. “I’ll see you around, Dirty. Seems I need to bring my A game.”
“Yep,” Calista piped up.
Indiana opened the screen and shooed her niece away. She turned around and Dick was halfway down the stone path.
“I’m not giving up on you, Dirty.” He winked before spinning around and trotting to his sedan. Suddenly he stopped. “I’ll call you when I have a place for Marva.” Dick disappeared around the car.
She listened as the automobile revved and watched the red taillights brighten. His words echoed in her head and she stifled the smile threatening to erupt on her lips.
Maybe one date wouldn’t be so bad.
Chapter Six
Rick parked in front of the courthouse and fed quarters into the meter.
He’d kept his word to Kevin, and found a bed for Marva in a rehab facility in Tennessee. It was a twelve-hour drive getting her there, and he fronted the funds for her to stay for thirty days. The intake specialist assured him she was eligible for financial help that would allow her to remain in treatment for the additional sixty days she would need to complete the program. When he contacted Dirty’s brother, he was assured that the papers were signed and he’d contacted the social worker to give them to her.
It took a little finagling, but he was able to work it out for Indiana so that she could assume custody of her niece and nephew.
Rick set the bouquet of yellow lilies on the hood of the car and leaned on the fender. He checked his watch. Two forty-five, and she was on the court docket for one p.m.
Concerned, he pursed his lips. He didn’t think he had missed her coming out. Granted, it took a little longer to find blue gin in the liquor store than he expected. The woman definitely had different tastes.
His cock grew rigid at just the thought of her. He adjusted his dick discreetly and crossed his ankles. There was something about Indiana Granger.
She appeared at the top of the stairs, clutching the kid’s hands and wearing a huge grin on her face. Two men accompanied her. One he knew was her partner, and the other guy he wasn’t sure about.