Cherry Grove (The Cove Series Book 1)

by Leaona Luxx

  “Mom, by telling me to ‘just be’ with Hadlea, did you mean I just need to be with her? Just be there when she’s ready to tell me everything about her life. Just be there when she runs and finds her way back. Just be there to love her when she doesn’t deserve it. Just be love for her.”

  “Are you ready to do all that? The last time she ran and you ran after her. I’m not sure you can with Lea.”

  My answer comes fast. “I can, Hadlea will not betray me the way Monty did. I can just be here as long as she will have me.”

  “Love her. Now, I love you. Call me later.” I truly love that woman. Disconnecting, I dial my next number.

  “Hardy. Hey man, I have an errand to run and then I’ll be by the site.”

  Hardy chuckles. “Where the hell have you been all morning? Better yet, where the hell have you been all weekend? Does it have anything to do with a certain strawberry blonde?”

  Oh, fuck him.

  “Yeah, it does. And yeah, we were together all weekend. You’re lucky I left her this morning.”

  He laughs louder. “No, dude. Tell me you haven’t fallen for Lea? Really?”

  I shake my head. “Yes, I have, hard. She’s amazing, so shut the fuck up.”

  Hardy chuckles again. “About damn time you two locked this down. All right, man, it’s all good. Take your time.”

  ***

  Stepping through the door, I push my sunglasses up my head, nodding as I see him in the back corner. I motion for a coffee and head his way; let’s get this done.

  “Hey, Aksel. Thanks for meeting me.” He shakes my hand as he motions for me to sit.

  “It’s all good, although when my mom finds out, we’re both up shit creek.” We nod in agreement.

  “Yeah, I know. More so me; she loves you more. I do apologize for asking you but as I said, I have a small problem, and Hadlea won’t talk to me about it. She has opened up about a lot over the last few days. I just need to get this handled before she finds out.”

  Aksel frowns as he leans in. “Go on.”

  I do, starting with Hadlea on Saturday night. “When I got to her place, she was a wreck and not wanting to share. I’m not altogether sure, but I thought she had a letter in her hand. But I never saw it after.”

  Then I get to the good stuff and Aksel listens intently. “I’m not sure how much you know about your mom, Aksel, and I don’t want to break her confidence. But, you’re my only hope; the others are too young.”

  He acknowledges that Hadlea didn’t ever share a lot of her past, shielding them from the worst but here’s the thing. Hadlea’s parents found out things and told Aksel, so one day if his mother needed help, someone would know.

  “Mom is one tough lady; she’s had to be to survive the things she has. Cole is one mean motherfucker. What’s happened?”

  Exactly as I hoped, he knew something.

  “After breakfast the next morning, I sent her to shower while I cleaned the kitchen. I know it was wrong, but I looked for the note. I found it. She may have forgotten about it but I’m thinking she was afraid I would catch her, so she opted not to move it. I read the note which apparently was left on her door. It’s pretty disturbing and didn’t have a name.” Aksel sits there as if he knows where I’m going with this.

  “Do you have it?”

  “No. I didn’t want her suspicious, so I took a picture with my phone.” I shift in my seat at my underhandedness.

  He nods. “Can I?”

  I bring my phone up to retrieve the picture and reach it to him.

  “Hey, Haddie –

  Long time no see. So you’ve gotcha a new Tom, have ya? You think that’s a good idea, Haddie? Does he know about you? About us, you fucking whore? You need to be careful or someone might get hurt or worse. You know what I want, get it. And be ready for me.”

  Aksel’s eyes are full of tears and anger. I’ve never understood someone more than I do right fucking now. He knows everything I’m thinking by his reaction. He’s so angry and yet, he sizes me up.

  “What are you thinking, One? Do you have any idea what this is about?”

  I do, but right now I need more from him.

  “Just tell me. She means more to me than posturing as if I’m the big bad guy.”

  He nods his head. “Good because this guy has tormented my mom for years. It has to fucking stop. I guess it’s his standard amount. Has he contacted you?” Aksel asks as if he knows the motherfucker will.

  “No. You?”

  He eyes me like I’ve gone crazy.

  “No. Mom would kill him, he knows that. He knows how far to push her.”

  Then it’s about money. “How much?”

  He makes a sour face, turning to look out the window.

  “A hundred thousand. It started once she sold her site. Never a word until then and now, no matter where she is, he comes to collect. I was hoping he wouldn’t find her this time; we took so many precautions. Someone will end up dead at some point.” His eyes well with unshed tears.

  “Not on my watch; at least not her. I’m not a hero, but I will do what I have to do to protect her.”

  Aksel sits there, eyes blinking back tears. “Cole means it. He extorted her for years. He’s beat her more than I care to remember. And more since she got away from him than when she was acquired for my uncle’s drug debt. My grandparents thought for years Mom kept getting involved with the wrong men; they didn’t have a clue until my uncle’s accident.

  “He admitted what he’d done. He also told them he had molested my mother when she was six years old. He raped my mom, One. She has never deserved the hand she was dealt, but she went on; gave us a good damn life with no complaining. Cole runs dry of drugs and cash, he shows up. Usually threatening to go to the papers, ruin her but she just pays him as if he’s on salary.

  “He beat her unconscious in front of us when we were small, I jumped on his back and Hawk bit his leg. He beat us up and took Lath away for two days. Mom was so scared but she fought to get Lath. She made a huge mess for Cole. He beat her again, told her she would go to prison for prostitution. Miserable fucking life for such an amazing person.” Then, Aksel gets straight to the point. “Do you want her, One? Really love her?”

  I look out the window so the kid doesn’t see how fucking mad I am. He doesn’t need to be afraid of me being with his mom.

  Gathering myself, I look him in the eyes. “I love her. I want her. I’m the one who doesn’t deserve her.”

  He nods. “Can you help save her?”

  “Yes.”

  His phone begins to ring; he hits silent. “Just Hawk, I’ll call him back. Don’t want Mom to find out we spoke.”

  And then again, his phone rings. “Lath. I guess I need to wrap this up and check in with these two.” When his phone goes off the third time, he gets it.

  CHAPTER TEN

  One

  “Hawk? What is it? Where’s Mom?” Aksel’s face goes white as a sheet. “I’m coming. I’m bringing One, but if she wakes up before we get there, don’t tell her.”

  His silence slices through me as I pay our ticket, and we’re out the door. “I’ll tell him. Hawk, tell her I love her.” Aksel’s voice breaking does me in, and rage fills me. As he hits off, I turn onto the road.

  “What’s happened?”

  He answers in clipped words. “She’s at the emergency room. Guessing Cole. Hawk’s friend saw something and called him. They came rushing over. She has a deep cut on the back of her head and cracked ribs.”

  Did I say rage? Hell no, rage doesn’t cover it.

  Lath meets us at the entrance of the hospital as we arrive; he’s been crying. His older brother brings him in for a tight hug.

  “Have you seen her?” Aksel asks as Lath reaches for my hand to shake.

  “No, not since getting here, bub. Go see what you can do. She lost a lot of blood; the cut was pretty deep,” he explains as we enter the emergency room. Hawk stands at the nurse’s station when we approach, asking for information. />
  “Is there any word on my mother yet, Hadlea Lloyd?” We stand beside him and Aksel speaks up.

  “Hi, I’m her oldest son, Aksel. Is there anything you can tell us? Can I go back with her?”

  The nurse explains that she’s getting tests, and as soon as there are any updates, she’ll let us know. We take a seat. Aksel asks the boys what happened. They tell us what they know; Hawk begins.

  “Lath got a call from Rick who told him that a strange man was at Mom’s and had her backed against the door. Not wanting to assume it was something it wasn’t, he called for us to check.”

  Lath continues, “I called Hawk to see if he knew whether One had stayed the night or if it was someone or something else. We met at the same time at her house and found her trying to stop the bleeding.”

  I try to control myself as I send a text to Thayer. I’m about to lose it, and I need a sound voice to calm me down.

  Me: Hey.

  Thayer: What’s up?

  Me: It’s Hadlea. She’s been hurt. At the ER with the boys.

  Thayer: OMW.

  I take a deep breath and raise my eyes to look at the boys. They are so distraught, so worried, so angry. I can understand that.

  “Hawk, did the police take a statement or come to the house?” I ask as I look at the doors leading to where Hadlea was taken.

  “They did both. She just kept asking for bub and you, One. She said she was scared for you. Why? Why would she be scared?”

  Aksel interrupts. “It’s Mom, she worries about everybody.”

  On cue, Thayer comes through the door with Hardy. What the hell is she doing with Hardy?

  “Did you two come together?”

  They look at each other and back at me as Thayer answers. “Yeah, I was worried. Hardy was there and now we’re here. What the fuck?”

  We all fill them in best we can when the ER doors swing open. “Lloyd?” The doctor asks.

  “Yes.” Aksel stands followed by his brothers. “We’re her sons,” motioning to me, I stand, a little surprised. “This is her boyfriend.”

  I step up beside the boys, pleased to be included.

  “Okay, gentlemen. She’s got a couple of bruised ribs and seven stitches in her head. She’ll be very bruised for a few days, and she’ll need help getting around.” We nod, and Aksel looks to me.

  “I’ll stay with her.”

  The doctor goes on. “Although seven stitches are not a lot, the cut was deep which explains her blood loss. In a few minutes, you can go back to see her. She asked about all of you but is especially asking about Malone.”

  That makes me want to smile but I frown instead; why was she so worried about me?

  “One, go on in. We’ll wait,” Aksel says as he shakes my head.

  “I’ll wait; get your brothers in there. I’m here. I told you and her, I’m not going anywhere.” I slap Aksel on the back as Hawk and Lath look at me in surprise. “I love her, hope you’re cool with it. If not, I’m sorry but you’re stuck with me.”

  They laugh when Lath jokes. “Oh, I bet Mom just loves this.” Bolstering their laugh, it helps relieve the tension.

  “She’s thrilled. That’s why I’ve chased her ass for weeks.” We all laugh now as the doors open to allow the boys to go back.

  My sense of pride for those three catches me off guard. It doesn’t worry me; it’s natural. Another thing Hadlea has already given me. While the boys are back with her, I give Thayer and Hardy some backstory, bringing them up to date.

  “So, you really love her, man?” Hardy questions me.

  “More than words. I can’t explain it; it’s just that simple.”

  He smiles, while Thayer hugs me. “After you speak to her, you think I can see her for a few minutes?”

  “Yeah, I’ll make sure of it. The boys seem to be okay with this, don’t you think?” They know what I’m asking.

  “They do. Happy even,” Hardy chimed.

  Walking back to Hadlea’s room, I have so many emotions running through me that I’m sure the tension is rippling off me. I see the room number on the door but before I can get there, someone steps in my path.

  Fucking. Montgomery Easley. What the hell is she doing here?

  “Well, well, well. Haven’t seen you in a long time, One. How has my husband been?”

  “What are you doing here?”

  She smiles a sickly sweet grin. “We were at the beach and Patrice was stung by a jellyfish. I hear your company is growing and you’re doing rather well for yourself. I’m assuming since there is no ring, you’re still pining away for me?”

  Fuck, hell no I’m not. “You would be thinking wrong. I’m here to see my girlfriend; she was in an accident. Thayer’s out front, why don’t you go find her? I’m sure you’ll get a welcome from her.”

  Monty scowls at me. “That bitch hates me.”

  “She does? Why is that?”

  She glares at me. “Fuck you, One. Still looking over your shoulder?”

  Fucking bitch. “No, are you? I’d like to say it’s been great but as always, it hasn’t. Excuse me.”

  She steps in my path as I try to make it around her. “Wait, baby, don’tcha want to catch up later? Try out the seats in the back of your ride, like old times.”

  That would be a hell no! “No. My back seats are kept hot and occupied by someone else.”

  Stepping away from her, I don’t look back. I push the door open slowly. Hadlea’s awake, staring out the window.

  “Hey you, trying to run me off already? Gonna take more than this, I hope you know.”

  She tries to smile but tears roll down her face, and she begins to shake. I’m by her side, holding her in my arms in a matter of seconds.

  “Shhh, baby. It’s okay, you’re okay. I gotcha, and no one else will bother you, ever again.”

  Cradling her in my arms, she whispers. “I didn’t cry in front of the boys. Why am I crying now?”

  I have no idea why that pleases me. Yes, I do; it’s because she does it with me.

  “I told you, I’m strong when you don’t want to be. So, don’t be right now. You can kick ass later.” I kiss her on her head being careful not to get too close to her stitches. “Hurt much?”

  She nods a little. “A lot. My freaking ribs feel horrid. I really like you being here Malone, but my life is too much for you; you deserve better.”

  I want to recoil from her because of the scene in the hallway and how much those facts of my life are going to affect us. I can’t believe that she thinks crazy and dangerous exes are an issue.

  With us, it’s going to be common place.

  “I’m fine and here for good, woman, so get used to it. Thayer wants to see you but I need a few minutes first.” She begins to retract. I hold on, moving so that I’m lying beside her, holding her with her head on my chest.

  “No questions.” It’s a demand, not a request.

  “Of course not. I just need to hold you. You need me to hold you. We’re going to just be here, no one or nothing else.”

  “Thank you, love.” Her body goes rigid. “I mean, thank you, Malone.”

  A chuckle rolls up through me. “It’s fine, baby. I’m hoping I’m your love.”

  That’s the end of the conversation. I’m not sure how much time passes before the boys come back in. As they leave, I ask them to send Thayer back. Hadlea fell asleep at some point so I wasn’t about to move. I hear Thayer before I see her, but just about the time I expect her through the door, she doesn’t come. That’s when I hear it, the tongue lashing of the hard ass my sister can be.

  “What’s that?” Hadlea responds to the noise outside her door, and before I can say anything, Thayer is pushed through the door by Hardy.

  “Fucking cunt.”

  “Thayer.” I wince, Hadlea is going to want to know this story. I growl as she spins on her heels after muttering something at Hardy.

  “Hey, Lea. How are you, sweetie?” Thayer has the capabilities of Sybil and as many personalities.
<
br />   Hadlea isn’t buying it. “What’s going on? Old flame? Or something to do with the woman Malone talked to earlier? By the conversation, I’m assuming his ex.”

  Fuck me. Hadlea is one quick woman.

  “It was Montgomery. I’m sorry, I had no idea she was here.”

  “I understand; I’m in no position to question. I’m sorry,” she apologizes as she looks up through her lashes.

  Why do that? I need her to know. “Don’t apologize. It’s all good.”

  Thayer retorts, “She needs to be put in her place, One.” I do not have the chance to respond before Hadlea does.

  “She will be but not right now. As soon as I can, I’ve got that bitch.”

  Leaning forward a little, I look at Hadlea’s face. “Baby, really. She’s of no consequence.”

  Hadlea pops a kiss to my lips. “Here’s the deal. This jealousy thing is new. Didn’t know I had it in me until the bitch stood outside this door and I couldn’t snatch her ass up. So, we’re going to work the woman with the hot ass man and the new feels.” She kisses me once more.

  Hardy chuckles. “This is getting good. I’m not really sure who has the biggest bad ass on their hands, One, me or you.”

  Hadlea looks at me wide eyed, she knows? I’m about to get really mad. “Hardy?” He looks between me and Thayer.

  “Yeah,” Hardy says timidly. I’m about to blow.

  “Who has Thayer’s ass?” He looks stunned, and Hadlea tries to smooth the road.

  “Uhh, you know. Thayer and Hardy are…” Hadlea trails off.

  I swear my hand to God if Hardy says a word. There’s a guttural sound coming from me, and Hadlea’s hand presses against my chest.

  “Malone. Baby, they’re together. And like us, not everyone is going to be happy. Thayer is a strong, gorgeous, independent, bad ass of a lady that her big brother taught her to be; she’s got this. Besides, didn’t you already know it was going to take someone like Thayer for his sorry ass?”

  Hadlea is right. I laugh and pull her close for a kiss.

  “You’re right. I won’t kick his ass; Thayer can do it. I’ll wait till he tries to get in her pants.”

  Looking back at my sister with my ex-best friend, they look as if someone kicked their dog; what the fuck?