Cal (The Ride Series Book 5)

by O'Brien,Megan

  His hand gripped my jaw roughly, forcing me to look at him.

  One minute he was grabbing me, and the next he was thrown back several feet, landing on his ass.

  Cal stood beside me, his chest heaving and eyes blazing with fury. He stalked to the man, who remained on the ground staring up at Cal with wide-eyed shock. Cal stooped to grab the man’s shirt collar. “Do you know who I am?” he demanded.

  The man nodded rapidly.

  “Then you know that putting your hands on my woman is a fucking death sentence,” he seethed.

  “I’m s-sorry,” the man stammered. “I didn’t know she was yours. Her sister ripped me off. This is the last place I saw her. I just wanted my money.”

  “Have you heard from Janelle?” I interjected, looking over Cal’s broad shoulder.

  He shook his head. “Not since about a week ago. She came to town to drop the kids at her sister’s, who I’m guessing is you.” He nodded jerkily in my direction. “I gave her some of my stash to sell. Now I’m out my stash and the money she was supposed to make with it.” He scowled.

  Recognition lit Cal’s gaze. “You’re one of the Pergotti brothers.” Cal sneered. “You and your brothers aren’t strangers to my men’s fists.”

  The man eyed Cal warily.

  “Which one are you?” Cal demanded.

  “Robbie.” He replied.

  “Well, Robbie, let me tell you something. You’re going to forgive that debt,” Cal growled meaningfully.

  Robbie groaned but after only a moment’s hesitation, nodded. “Yeah, man. I don’t need your kind of trouble.”

  Cal hoisted the guy up and shoved him back a few paces. “Get the fuck out of here. I don’t hear your name or see your face. Get me?”

  Robbie threw up his hands. “I get you.” He stood up and jogged down the hall and down the steps until he was out of sight.

  Cal turned to me, his gaze still bright with anger. “We’ll get to why the fuck you left your car later. For now, let’s get in there.” He nodded toward the door.

  I bit my lip and nodded. I tapped on the door lightly. “Max? Honey, it’s Aunt Jill.”

  “Aunt Jilly?” his tentative voice behind the door had me releasing a relieved breath.

  “Yeah, honey,” I assured him. “Cal’s here too,” I told him, my gaze sliding to Cal. “Can you open the door?”

  There was the sound of locks snicking on the other side of the door and the knob turned.

  Max’s large dark eyes and mussed dark head of hair peered around the door.

  Cal immediately crouched down in the doorway. “Hey, bud. You guys okay?”

  Max studied him, his young intelligent gaze serious. After a moment, he nodded, opening the door wider so we could step inside.

  Emmie lay curled up on the bed, asleep. Her dark curls spanned around her small body. She looked like a little angel.

  I crouched down and scooped Max up in my arms. He buried his face in my neck and started to cry. I looked up at Cal, feeling helpless.

  Cal placed a large hand on Max’s back as his gaze swept the room.

  It was a disaster, with candy wrappers and clothes strewn about. It smelled dank and dirty, not having seen daylight or had fresh air in days.

  Cal stood next to me and held Max’s eyes. “You hungry, bud?”

  Max nodded enthusiastically against my neck.

  “If you could eat anything, what would it be?” His gaze was warm on my nephew as he spoke in that same soft tone.

  “Cheeseburger,” Max replied without delay.

  Cal smiled. “I thought you’d say pizza, but a burger is a good choice. How about this? Let’s get your sister. We’ll stop on the way, all right? We’ll get you the biggest cheeseburger you’ve ever seen. Then we’ll take you to our house.” He nodded toward me. “You can see your cousin. We have a pool.” He winked.

  “I can’t swim,” Max replied, sounding dejected.

  “Then we’ll teach you,” Cal replied easily. “Let’s go.”

  “What about my mom?” he asked worriedly.

  “I’ll worry about your mom,” I assured him. “Can you help me get your things?” I knew I needed to distract him.

  He nodded as I set him down.

  “You okay with me carrying your sister?” Cal asked Max. He recognized that even at his young age, Max was Emmie’s protector.

  He was respecting that.

  I fell even more in love with him.

  Max nodded, watching intently as Cal bent to scoop Emmie up in his strong arms.

  I held Max’s hand in my left, their duffle in the other as the four of us left the room and headed for my car.

  “I’ll leave the bike,” Cal told me gruffly.

  I nodded distractedly. “We don’t have car seats,” I fretted.

  “It’s all right for tonight. We’ll get anything we need tomorrow,” he assured me as we put both kids in the backseat. Emmie remained asleep and her lethargy concerned me.

  I turned to look at Max as Cal slid into the driver seat and backed us out of the parking lot. “Do you remember when you last ate?” I asked.

  He shook his head.

  Cal’s hand flexed across the steering wheel as I fought to keep the concern from my face. “Okay, honey. Has your sister been sleeping a lot?”

  “Just today,” he replied, before his eyes widened in panic. “Is she okay? Did I do something wrong?”

  I reached back to grasp his hand. “No, honey. You did everything right. She’s lucky to have you. I’m sure she’s okay and I’ll give her a checkup when we get back to the house, okay?” I told him with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

  When we pulled up to the house, both kids were asleep in the backseat. As promised, we’d stopped at the nearest drive-through and ordered Max a cheeseburger. I didn’t want him eating much else for fear he’d upset his stomach.

  I planned to make something a bit easier on the stomach for Emmie once we got inside.

  “We’ll put them in the guest room,” I murmured. “I want to give Emmie a once-over. Her blood sugar is probably just low,” I continued, aiming to reassure myself more than anything.

  Cal reached over and gave my thigh a squeeze. “Been a rough few days for them. She’s young. It might just be her body’s way of protecting itself.”

  I bit my lip against the emotion threatening to consume me.

  “Baby.” His tone was full of tenderness. “Let’s get them inside, all right?”

  “Yeah,” I croaked.

  This time Cal scooped Max up. He carried him into the house as I followed with Emmie.

  Mack was at the kitchen table when we walked in and stood up when he saw us. His eyes scanned from me and Cal to the kids and his gaze softened a degree.

  “I’m sorry,” I mouthed. It was the best I could do at the moment.

  He offered a chin lift in response, his eyes on the kids. Hopefully, he wouldn’t hate me for taking off on him.

  “Thanks for staying,” Cal murmured to him. “I’ll check in with you guys in the morning. Head on home.”

  Mack nodded, grabbed his cut, and headed for the door.

  Cal carried Max off to the guest room while I carried Emmie into the kitchen.

  “Emmie,” I called softly. “It’s Auntie Jill. Time to wake up.”

  Nothing.

  I used the opportunity to take her pulse and check her temperature with the back of my hand. Normal on both counts.

  When Cal walked back in I was holding her still, trying to rouse her while I whipped up some oatmeal. It was after midnight, but I wanted to get something in her stomach as soon as possible.

  Finally, when the smell of maple brown sugar filled the room, she started to stir.

  “Hi, baby,” I murmured, hoping she wouldn’t be too scared to find herself in an unfamiliar place.

  She raised her head, her shimmering brown eyes immediately landing on Cal, who stood by my side.

  My breath held as I braced for her to start cryi
ng or to show fear at the unfamiliar environment she suddenly found herself in.

  Instead she shocked us both.

  Her little arms reached toward Cal.

  He immediately took her into his arms, cradling her small body against his chest. She curled into him as though she trusted him to provide her comfort. As though she’d known him all her life.

  My heart was close to bursting as I watched the two of them. His gaze lit with surprise and a depth of emotion I’d only ever seen when he looked at Mason. And at me.

  Realization hit me like a bolt of lightning as warmth raced down my spine.

  I knew what I was seeing when he looked down at Emmie. I was being given the most beautiful gift—a front-row seat to watch the moment my man fell in love.

  Chapter 24

  We tucked an exhausted Emmie next to her sleeping brother. She’d eaten a little—enough to satisfy me for the moment.

  “They’re wrung out,” Cal murmured, his hand on my shoulder as we watched both kids sleep peacefully.

  “Hopefully, they’ll be okay in here.” I fretted, looking around the guest room that would feel unfamiliar to them in the morning. “Maybe I should sleep in here just so when they wake up, they know they’re safe,” I added.

  He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You need sleep too, baby. Come to bed. We’re only a room away. They’ll be fine.”

  I nodded reluctantly and followed him to our room.

  He pulled me close when we climbed into bed. Despite the late hour, I had too much on my mind to sleep. I suspected he felt the same way.

  His lips met the shell of my ear as he held my back to his front, spooning me. “You’re not getting out of talking about that stunt you pulled. I already told you, I understand why you did it. But don’t pull that shit again. I couldn’t get to you easily, couldn’t keep you safe. Anything like this happens again—you wait.”

  “I’m sorry you were worried,” I replied. “And you did keep me safe,” I reminded him.

  His hand gripped my hip. “Out the window, seriously, babe? Mack was losing his shit.”

  I shrugged. “I figured making a run for it out the front door wouldn’t get me very far.”

  He nipped my ear with his teeth. “Little troublemaker on my hands. Seriously, Jill. Not again,” he growled.

  “Okay,” I agreed. “Unless it’s the exact same circumstance, in which case, no promises.”

  “At least you’re honest,” he grumbled.

  I turned in his arms, needing his eyes as I shared the worry that had been nagging at me. “You’re seriously okay with having three kids take over your house?”

  His expression lightened. “What do we have all the space for if we can’t fill it? Always wondered why I bought such a big-ass house.” He placed his callused hand on my thigh, squeezing gently. “Plus, how could I say no to my woman wanting to do right by two innocent kids who’ve had it rough?”

  “Most men would. Say no, I mean.”

  He stared intently back at me before answering, “Good thing I’m not most men.”

  I couldn’t have agreed more.

  “You said what do we have all this space for,” I murmured.

  He chuckled, shaking his head at me. “What do you think is happening here, Jill? The minute you stepped foot through my doorway, my home became ours. Not because I planned it that way. Not because I wanted it—even though I did. It just… is.” He shrugged. “Feels as natural as breathing to me.”

  I felt that way too.

  I bit my lip. “How are we going to do this?” I fretted. “Do we call the police? Child services? Are we going to try to get custody of them? I’m not even divorced yet. Max should be in school….”

  He surprised me by smiling. “Baby, do you even hear yourself? You said we. One minute you’re wondering if this is your house, but the next you’re asking what ‘we’ should do about Emmie and Max.”

  My eyes widened in shock. He was right.

  He pulled me closer. “You already know what’s happening, baby. Your heart just has to catch up to your head.”

  I looked up him. “I think it already did,” I admitted with a small smile. “I realized something earlier.”

  My palms grew clammy as the words moved to the tip of my tongue.

  He raised a curious brow. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

  “I’m in love with you,” I blurted.

  His eyes grew dark with a thirst I wanted to quench. “That’s a good thing, baby. Because I’ve been in love with you for a long time.” He kissed me softly, his fingers tangling in my hair. “As for the other stuff? We’ll figure it out. Together.”

  I knew then what Sophie had meant, weeks ago. I had heard her but I hadn’t really gotten it.

  I could do this on my own if need be. I could carve out my own slice of home and make that journey alone.

  Instead I was choosing him. I was choosing us.

  By letting him in, the journey would be that much sweeter, and I’d have his hand to hold along the way.

  I’d never felt so lucky.

  Chapter 25

  The sound of quiet movement woke me with a start early the next morning. I looked toward the doorway, finding Max and Emmie standing there hand in hand. The sweet sight of them made me smile despite the circumstances that had brought them there.

  “Hi guys, come on in,” I invited as Cal started to stir.

  They both walked a few steps into the room, looking hesitant. I quirked my finger at them with a playful smile, trying to make them more comfortable. After a moment they headed toward my side of the bed as Cal sat up, propping his shirtless torso against the headboard. “Are you guys hungry?” I stage-whispered, as though we were sharing a special secret.

  Emmie nodded enthusiastically.

  I tried to look like I was thinking really hard before I continued, “I was thinking of making mud pies for breakfast—you guys like mud pies, right?”

  Emmie pealed into a fit of laughter. “No, Aunt Jilly. We don’t like mud!” She giggled. I pulled her up into the bed and sat her between Cal and me. She burrowed close into my side, hungry for affection. I sensed Max wouldn’t be comfortable on the bed and instead reached over to run my hands through his thick head of hair as he stood there.

  “What about caterpillar cakes?” I tried again.

  Emmie burst into another fit of laughter as Mason’s babble sounded over the monitor. “I’ll get him,” Cal offered, rising and leaving the room. He was back a moment later with a rosy-cheeked, grinning Mason. He plopped him on the bed and I couldn’t help but feel a moment of wonder at our circumstances. Mere months ago I was a single mother of one. Now I had three kids to care for and no fear of it since I had a man by my side ready to take on the challenge.

  Max hesitantly sat on the edge of the bed, grinning at his cousin.

  “Okay, so back to breakfast,” I continued. “Pancakes?”

  “Yeah, pancakes!” Max exclaimed—the first bit of enthusiasm we’d seen in him. Cal gripped my hand, the progress in a short amount of time not lost on either of us.

  “Pancakes it is.” I smiled.

  ****

  “They’re beautiful.” Scarlet smiled, her eyes on Emmie and Max as we sat in the backyard later that afternoon.

  “How are they doing?” Sophie asked, concern lighting her brown eyes.

  Scarlet, Sophie, and Kat had come by to meet the kids. The whole club had been incredibly supportive, but we didn’t want to overwhelm them. Cal and I wanted to stay close to home, wanting them to feel safe and get comfortable.

  “All in all I think they’re doing great. Emmie is opening up a bit. It’s like she needs to soak up any affection she can. I know she hasn’t had enough of it in her life,” I replied sadly. “Max is more reserved, watchful. I don’t think he trusts that this will last. I wish like hell I could promise him it would.”

  “What did social services say?” Kat asked, bouncing Wren in her lap.

  I grimaced, betraying my
anxiety. “We have a home visit scheduled for tomorrow. I’m the next of kin, so that goes a long way, but I wish like hell my divorce was settled. It doesn’t look great the way things are.”

  “It’ll work out,” Sophie assured me. “What do you want to happen in the long term?”

  I looked over, watching my niece and nephew run with Gracie as Mason and Maddox tried to keep up. “I want them. Of course I do. But not knowing what happened to Janelle is eating at me. Until I really know what happened, taking them from her doesn’t feel right,” I admitted quietly.

  Sophie reached over and squeezed my hand briefly. “I get that.”

  I sighed. “But they deserve stability. Max should be in school. They should have a bedroom filled with their things and a family they can rely on. I’m just so afraid to give them those things and then have them taken away. This could just be temporary.” I bit my lip.

  “Worst case, it’s temporary,” Scarlet interjected. “You still have the opportunity to give them that stability for as long as you can.” She watched the kids play, her gaze far away. “Kids have long memories. You still have the opportunity to shape their lives, even if it’s for just a short time.”

  I knew she was thinking of her mother and father, who’d both passed away.

  “You’re right.” I nodded as a new determination lit within me. “Thank you,” I added meaningfully.

  “You and Cal both seem so happy.” Sophie smiled.

  I beamed. “We are. I can’t believe what a natural he is with the kids. Back before we got together, when I just had a monumental crush on him, I was sure he wouldn’t want to start all over again. He has a grown son. He already did the baby thing. He’s forty-seven, far from old, but I wasn’t sure if he’d want to do it again. Turns out I can’t stop him!” I shook my head with a grin. “I can barely keep up with him.”

  “You love him,” Sophie stated. It wasn’t a question.

  “I do,” I agreed.

  They all squealed in response. Gracie, Mad, and Mason didn’t even look over, accustomed to our antics. Max and Emmie, however, looked over in comical surprise at the noise. The fact that laughter and joy wasn’t a sound they were used to made me want to fill their lives with it.