“Hi, boys,” she coos as she stands up and walks toward the group that has unsmashed and spread into a semi-circle. “I’m Shannon.”
“Hey,” Cole squeaks out in a very unmasculine voice.
“Hi, Cole,” she says shocking the shit out of him. I sent Shanny pictures of the boys and she’s obviously committed them to memory. She wraps her arms around him and he turns scarlet red looking at me with huge blue eyes. I snicker along with Kellerman.
“Hi, Dane,” she continues and grabs him in a tight hold. He closes his eyes and soaks it in. He’ll be my trouble maker for sure.
“Sawyer, I’m gonna hug you gently so I don’t hurt your ribs, but it doesn’t mean I don’t wanna squish the hell outta you,” she informs him. I love that she didn’t want him to feel left out.
“Hey, Jake,” she purrs as she pulls him tightly to her. He holds her snugly with a small smile on his lips. Shanny’s the closest thing to Kat he’s had in more than a day.
“I hear you’ve got some game on the court,” Shanny inquires as she makes her way back to her chair.
“I do all right,” Jake lies.
“Liar,” she retorts.
“This is my fiancé Dylan Kellerman,” she introduces.
Kellerman climbs to his feet and the boys’ eyes widen at the sight of the massive man. He’s about six foot five and near two hundred and fifty pounds, it’s a lot to take in. He shakes all their hands without saying much. Kellerman’s a man of few words, super laid back.
“That’s your cousin Johnny,” Shanny says nodding toward the stroller.
I smile at that introduction. Shanny’s family to me, but I haven’t been confident where I fit in her life since everything that’s happened. I shouldn’t have questioned it. She doesn’t do half-assed. It’s all or nothing with Shannon Kelly.
The boys eye the baby with curiosity. Thinking what it will be like to have one of those soon.
“We didn’t know what you wanted so we got you a bottle of water,” Sawyer finishes his original sentence.
“Thanks, bud.”
The boys take the couch at the end of the room staring at Kat with gloomy eyes.
“She’s gonna be fine,” Shanny states assertively. “You boys just keep tellin’ her how much you love and miss her. She’ll come back.”
They nod in agreement.
“Now, where’s the cunt nugget that did this?” she growls at me. I look at Sawyer to see if my best friend’s colorful language bothers him, but his face is blank.
“At the end of the hall,” Jake responds for me.
“Armed guards?”
Shit. Shannon Kelly is planning an assassination.
“There’s local PD outside the room,” I inform her with a knowing gaze.
“Huh.”
“Shanny,” I warn.
“What?” she feigns innocence.
“Kellerman, help me out.”
“Kiddo, you know you’ve gotta keep your shit together. You’re pregnant,” he grumbles for me.
“I didn’t do anything. I’m just talkin’,” she lies.
“Liar,” Jakes retorts.
She turns her gaze to him and offers a smile promising mischief at a level none of us are prepared for.
“What’s she gonna do?” Cole asks wanting in on the secret.
“Nothing,” I groan.
“What’s she wanna do?” Dane pipes in.
“Inflict misery and torture at a level that I shouldn’t discuss in front of you,” Shanny answers honestly.
“What?” Sawyer asks shocked.
“I’m sorry, Sawyer. I shouldn’t have said that about your mother in front of you,” she says with regret.
“You’re holding my mother’s hand,” he growls.
Shanny’s face gets soft while something resembling relief washes across her features.
“Well, for your mother, your father and you boys I’d like to put a few bullets in that bitch and watch her bleed out for hours.”
“You’d do that?” Dane asks with some excitement in his features.
“Yes.”
Shanny holds the boys’ gaze intensely as she lets her words sink in. She’ll protect them no matter what. It doesn’t matter that she just met them for the first time. They’re her family now and she’ll do anything for them. I feel immense relief at this realization. Because these boys have lost everything other than us and some old ass crotchety grandparents that none of them have any type of relationships with. Shanny just gave them herself and all the family that comes with her.
“Dad says you’re crazy and you’ll boss us around and you’ll spoil the shit out of us,” Dane spouts causing a deep laugh to rattle in Kellerman’s chest.
“Nice,” she says to me, rolling her eyes before pushing Kellerman in the shoulder for laughing.
“I figured honesty was the best way to go.”
“I bet you did,” she snarks at me. “When you boys come to Kansas City you’ll see how I am. I’m not that crazy and I’m only bossy when necessary. I do spoil the shit out of my family so that you can believe.”
“When are we goin’ to Kansas City?” Jake asks with furrowed brow.
“Probably this summer when you’re outta school,” I answer in a shrug.
“You lookin’ at basketball camps for the summer?” Kellerman asks Jake.
“Yeah.”
“Coach said some college scouts are comin’ to the next game,” Cole builds on Jake’s one word answer.
“You thinkin’ about playin’ ball in college?”
I know Kellerman knows the details of this op, but he’s playing the dumb role well. I appreciate it in this moment. The boys could use the distraction.
“Haven’t thought about it. I’m only a sophomore. Feels kinda early,” Jake lies.
“Dude, you’re better than most high school point guards in the country already. Just wait until you’re a senior. Schools will be all over you,” Sawyer encourages his friend.
“What about you? You still thinkin’ about playin’ baseball in college?” Jake turns the tables.
“It depends on them,” Sawyer nods at me and Kat.
“What about us?” I ask completely confused.
“It depends on what you guys want me to do.”
“We want whatever you want. Whatever makes you happy.”
“What if I wanna be a crackhead?”
“Then I’ll kick your fuckin’ ass,” Shanny spouts without looking at him.
The boys snicker along with me.
“What she said,” Kat’s voice filters into the room.
Nick
“Mom!” the boys holler in unison.
She winces at the sound and Johnny wakes up with a start. Kellerman hurries to pick him up out of the stroller as I squeeze the shit out of my wife’s hand.
“Kat,” I murmur into her cheek as I hover over her body. “How do you feel?”
“Like I got my fuckin’ head smashed in,” she says through a grimace.
“You did, Sunshine.”
“The boys okay?”
“Yes.”
“The baby?” she asks holding a protective hand over her flat belly.
“Fine.”
She slowly peels her eyes open and locks her blue-green-greys on mine searching for a lie. She doesn’t find it and relaxes. I rub my thumb across her cheek before smashing my lips to the soft skin.
“I love you,” I whisper in her ear.
“I love you too,” she whispers back.
My breath hitches, but I steady it quickly for the boys benefit. Kat’s never told me she loves me. Those words have just set an unbalanced thrum within my chest. She squeezes my hand and I retake my seat at her side as the boys come over and hug and kiss her. A few tears are shed quietly, but mostly the room is filled with relief.
“Hey, Kat.” Shanny leans into her face.
“Thanks for comin’,” Kat replies with genuine appreciation.
“Always.”
S
hanny leans her belly over the side of the bed and wraps her arms around Kat in a tight hug before releasing her.
Kellerman is last to approach my wife as he hands off Johnny to Shanny.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he purrs placing a kiss on her cheek.
I growl earning me a chuckle from Kellerman’s throat.
“Sucks doesn’t it?” he asks shooting me a knowing glance.
“Dick,” I mutter through a grin.
“You need anything from us, say the word,” Kellerman says as he returns his gaze to Kat.
“I need you guys to take the boys back to Kansas City,” Kat replies earnestly.
“Okay,” Shanny and Kellerman answer immediately.
“What?” the boys ask in shock.
Kellerman retakes his seat his face a mask of seriousness.
“Jake, shut the door,” I order gruffly.
I guess it’s time to be honest with the boys. Shit!
Shanny takes her seat at Kat’s side and scoops her hand into hers, offering her strength and warmth. I wish Jess and Shane were here right now. Jess has a horrible stomach flu and didn’t want to risk getting Kat sick. Shane flew in and back out quickly once we knew Kat was stable.
“I want you boys to listen to me without interrupting,” Kat orders.
They nod in unison.
“Nick and I work for a government agency called the Domestic Crime Agency. We’re undercover in Maybelle to find a human trafficking ring. After everything that’s happened I need you boys safe while we finish our job in Maybelle. You’ll be safe with Shannon and Dylan.”
“We fuckin’ knew it!” Dane spouts.
“Huh?” I ask shocked.
“We knew it. After what happened at the Lancasters’ we were sure,” Cole responds.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Kat asks.
“We figured it wasn’t safe or something,” Sawyer answers in a shrug. “I saw you that day in my house. I knew you weren’t a housewife the way you attacked him. Then you killed him and never said a word about it. A normal housewife would’ve been fucked up about that shit.”
“You’re not mad?” Kat’s gaze is tentative.
“No,” all three answer in harmony with conviction.
“What about you?” Cole asks Jake.
“What about me?”
“Are you one of them?” Dane asks offering him a pointed look.
“Not yet.”
“You’re not their nephew are you?” Sawyer chimes in.
“No.”
“You’re not fifteen are you?” Dane continues with twenty questions.
“No.”
“Fuckin’ crazy,” Sawyer breathes out before falling back on the couch.
“Are we really your kids?” Cole whispers.
“Yes,” all four adults spout loudly making Johnny jump in Shanny’s lap.
“Everything we have on you guys is legal. It wasn’t obtained that way, but it doesn’t matter. You’re ours and no one can take you from us. Our legal names and signatures are on the guardianship court orders. You’re our kids,” I state emphatically.
“What are your real names?” Sawyer inquires.
“I’m Nick Cooper and Kat’s name is Katherine Russell.”
“You’re not really married?” Dane asks with huge eyes. SHIT!
“No, we’re not. We just met in September,” Kat answers sheepishly.
“Wow…do we know anything about you guys?” Sawyer asks, becoming offended.
“A lot of the facts are lies boys. It’s to keep us safe while we’re undercover. But everything we’ve experienced together is real. We haven’t been anything but ourselves when we’re with you. And as far as Nick and I go…we may not have been together for ten years, but we’re together now and we’re not faking that. I love him and I’m having our baby. We’ll get married as soon as the op is wrapped. Anything else that you wanna know about us feel free to ask. No more lies,” Kat says genuinely.
“What’s your name?” Cole asks Jake.
“Jake Cooper.”
“How’s that?”
“Nick and Kat adopted me before Christmas. That wasn’t a lie that day.”
“Can we change our last names?” Sawyer asks me.
“If you want to.”
“Really?” Cole asks shocked.
“You’re my kids. I’d love nothing more than for you to have my last name,” I answer honestly.
“I’ll get to work on it when we’re back in Kansas City,” Shanny pipes in, attorney mode in full effect.
“Are you two agents too?” Dane asks disbelievingly.
“No, I’m an attorney and Dylan’s in marketing.”
“How can they keep us safe then?” Sawyer asks me confused.
“Shanny isn’t an agent, but she’s got skills like one. She’s probably better than me. I trust her with my life. She’ll keep you safe.”
Kat squeezes my hand and I squeeze back. I don’t want to send the boys away, but Kat’s right. Shit is getting too dangerous. We were reckless getting involved with them. I don’t regret it for a second, but we need them safe to finish the op. After this latest clusterfuck it’ll be easy to sell to Maybelle.
“Is Jake comin’ with us?” Dane asks sheepishly.
“Yes,” Kat answers before Jake can say no. “You’re goin’ Jake and don’t argue with me.”
“You need me here,” Jake huffs.
“I need you safe.”
“And I need you safe.”
“I don’t wanna go either,” Dane chimes in.
“Me neither,” Cole and Dane finish.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m your mother now and you don’t get a say,” she says pointedly. “Jake that goes for you too. I’m your mother and I know you’re an adult and I don’t give a shit. I can’t let you stay here.”
“Then I’ll go back to headquarters so I’m close if you need me,” Jake barters.
“No. You’ll go with Shannon and Dylan and finish your senior year of high school as Jake Cooper and then you’ll go to college and play basketball like you deserve to.”
“You can’t make me leave the DCA,” Jake growls.
“Jake,” I warn him of his tone. Kat ignores it and pushes forward.
“No, I can’t. But I want you happy and life in the DCA isn’t a happy one. You on the court is where you’re happy. Take the opportunity. Allow yourself the happiness you deserve. I resigned from the DCA. This is my last op. I’m done. This is Nick’s last op too. We have the chance to build whatever life we want and I want us to have a normal one.”
“I don’t belong in a normal life,” he grumbles.
The room gets silent as Kat and I struggle with what to do with that. We both feel that way too, but our reasons are different than Jake’s. We feel that way because of the DCA. Jake feels that way because of life.
“Jake can I tell you a story?” Shanny asks quietly.
“Sure.”
“Once there was a little girl that had everything in the world. She had a rich and powerful father that could’ve given her anything. She was full of love and opportunity. Then one day someone murdered her father and tried to kill her. Her uncle rescued her and spent the next ten years training her to be a machine so she’d never be in danger again. A machine that could kill anyone that got in her way. A machine that could stay calm in any situation that she might face. A machine that didn’t belong in the normal world. That girl went off to college trying to find a place where she fit in the normal world. She didn’t have a friend or family left other than her uncle that was dying of cancer.
“So on her first day of class at college when three annoying cocky boys invited her to a party she decided to take a chance at normal. It was the best and scariest choice she ever made in her life. That night at the party she was attacked and almost raped. It didn’t matter that she was a machine because she was alone in the world and needed someone to have her back. Those three boys found her and saved her from the monster tha
t was attacking her.
“That night she got the family she didn’t have. She found her family in an unconventional place, but it gave her normal. It gave her the chance to build her own normal world where a machine could learn to live and breathe. She didn’t belong in the normal world either…until she found the place where she could be the normal she needed to be,” Shanny finishes her green eyes never leaving Jake’s big browns.
Kellerman picks up his fiancée’s hand and kisses the palm. He knows that story better than most I’m sure and it still causes him pain. It causes me pain.
“Are you happy?” Jake asks Shanny softly.
“Yes.”
“Do you think you could teach me how to live and breathe?”
“Yes.”
A small sob breaks from Kat’s chest. I squeeze her hand, but I keep my eyes trained on Shanny and my son.
“I have to be able to shoot to breathe,” Jake admits sheepishly.
“Me too, sweetheart,” Shanny coos.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll go to Kansas City,” Jake says leaving Shanny’s gaze and looking over to Kat.
Kat doesn’t say anything, she just nods with tears streaming down her cheeks. We still don’t know the details of Jake’s life, but knowing that he feels a connection to Shanny’s story paints a bad enough picture that it’s gut-wrenching to imagine.
Kat and I have been a lot of things in life, but Jake needs someone like Shanny. I’m even more thankful for my friend in this moment. She can help Jake heal in a way that I’m not sure we could. And looking into Kat’s eyes right now she knew that. As his mother she knew we didn’t have enough in common with him to help him. My wife continues to stun me at every corner.
“Do you have enough room for all of us?” Sawyer breaks the tension in the room.
“Man, we’ve got plenty,” Kellerman answers in a chuckle.
They live in a monster of a house that Kellerman just finished adding an even bigger addition to. I think last Shanny told me it had something insane like fifteen bedrooms and twenty bathrooms. They’ve got room for my four boys.
Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) Page 25