She laughs. “You don’t half ass anything, do you, Dar?”
“I guess not. If you’re going to go, go big, right?” “Have you thought about school?” “Some. I mean, Cade really wants to go into sports medicine. I have a direction, but no real goals. I’m thinking I may take some more time off. Figure out all the mess with the money, the houses, and so on. I figure between that and being pregnant, it’ll probably be enough stress.”
“Yes, it will. I know you don’t want to look at it this way, but maybe this was the order things were supposed to happen in. Look at Linc and me. I never imagined I’d be finishing up my BS online and Linc would still be playing college ball while we had a baby. It happens. I mean, yes, it’s a lot easier financially since we got the inheritance we did, but I’d like to think we would’ve survived either way. I think your plan makes sense. You are going to have so much on your plate. Take some time.”
I hug her. “Thank you. I needed a friend. Also, I’m going to call Linc later about his investment guy. I want to do some good for others with some of the money. I feel like I should.”
Gabby smiles. “I think that would be a great idea. I’m so happy. I’m going to be an aunt. Then if our parents ever decide to get married I’ll be an aunt for real.”
“Lucy, I’m home!”
Chapter 24
Cade
“Lucy, I’m home!”
Daria comes around the corner. “You are such a dork.”
I kiss her full on the lips. “I know, but I’m your dork, and I’m your baby daddy.”
“How was practice?” “It was good. Linc looks like he’s getting more rest. Marshall must be giving them a break.”
“I ordered some Chinese food. It should be here soon. Sit down. I want to talk about some stuff.”
Oh, crap. I hope she’s not panicking. “Sure, baby, are you okay?” “I’m fine. I called today and made an appointment with Gabby’s doctor for a first checkup. I looked at your schedule to make sure you could be there.”
“Good. I want to be there for everything.” She smiles. “You will. I also made the decision that I’m going to take some time off from school. With the baby and all of the legal stuff I need to handle with everything I’ve inherited, I feel like I need to take the time.”
“That makes sense. Whatever you want to do.” “I want you to finish your sports medicine degree. You’ve always had your goals. I wasn’t ever set on one thing. I also called Linc this afternoon and got his investment guy’s number. I called and made an appointment with him for later this week. I’m going to sell the house back home. I’m keeping the beach property. It only makes sense for you and I to have a place that close to your mom.”
I nod. “Okay, you really have done some thinking today, huh?” “Yes. I was really overwhelmed. I got really scared and almost panicked. Then I called Gabby and she came over. She calmed me down; we went through all of this. Then I spent some time with her and Marshall. I figured out you can have it all; you just have to want it bad enough. Maybe my father’s money came as some kind of blessing. I don’t know. I also decided part of the money I want to set up in a trust for the baby and any future kids we have. I want to set up a scholarship through my old high school. Also, I want to do some research into rape victim programs and donate some of the money to them.”
“That all sounds great, baby. I just want you to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and our little bean. Don’t try to take on too much at one time.”
“Little bean, huh?”
“Well, that’s what he looks like right now.”
“How do you know it’s a he?” “I just do.”
She shakes her head. “So whose parents are we calling first?”
“We can call your mom. Watching her hold Marshall the other night, she was so happy.”
She hugs me. “Thanks. I’m sure she feels like getting some good news from me.”
~*~*~ Needless to say, our parents are excited. Donna must’ve cried for thirty minutes on the phone with Daria. My mom literally screamed in the phone. She was already excited over Marshall; she’s over the moon about this.
I realize I should be more worried about being in my early twenties and having a baby, but I just know we’ll make it work. I’ll admit I would be more nervous if Daria hadn’t just become a very wealthy woman. One thing I’m certain of is that I’m happier than I thought would ever be possible. Watching Linc and Gabby with Marsh, I have to admit I was a little jealous. Knowing that, in less than a year, I’ll get to feel that same joy that they know makes me the luckiest man on Earth.
I roll over to find Daria lying next to me, her hair spread over the pillow, and her mouth slightly open. I can hear the soft sighs of her sleeping. She’s so beautiful. Knowing that she’s naked under the comforter does nothing but turn me on.
I get a mischievous idea. I know exactly how I’m going to wake her up. I slip down the bed, pulling the comforter back to settle in between her legs. Looking down at her beautiful clean-shaven sex, I smile. I start by licking and kissing my way up her thighs until I hear her moaning. Then, I start to work on licking, sucking, and kissing her slick folds. She makes the sexiest sounds. She shudders and I know she’s come for the first time.
I look up to meet her eyes.
She smiles. “Well, good morning to you, too.”
I lick my lips. “Mmm, good morning.” I work my way up her body, eventually settling myself in between her legs. Slipping into her folds, I kiss her gently.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” We make love. We aren’t in a hurry; it’s just the two of us, feeling each other completely. We are sharing the most private parts of our soul together. He pumps slowly in and out of me, kissing and sucking across my body. Eventually, our sweat-covered bodies climax.
I roll over and pull her on top of me, brushing her hair back off of her face.
“You’re so beautiful. How did I get so lucky?”
She smiles. “I wouldn’t call it luck exactly.”
“I would. So, what are your plans for today?” She rolls off of me onto her side of the bed. “I was going to do some research into some of the rape crisis and counseling centers around here. That way, when I go to meet with the advisor next week, I’ll have some idea as to which ones I’d like to donate money to.”
I nod . “That sounds like a great plan. At least this way you’re anonymous. They won’t know you’re thinking of giving them money. That way, you see how they really work with people, not just a front.”
“Yeah, that’s a great idea. I can say I’m new to the area, but I’ve been a victim because I have been. You’re right. I don’t won’t to draw attention to myself. I want the bare facts of how they can or will help a victim. What the counseling is like after the immediate crisis is over. Anyway, what are you going to do today?”
“We have practice a nd then I have to stop by the bookstore to pick up the last of the books I need to start classes on Monday.”
“Okay. Well, I’m gonna get a shower and get ready to go.” She leans over and kisses me. I watch her go into the bathroom and hear her turn on the shower. I jump up and throw on some boxers. I’m going to surprise her with breakfast.
Chapter 25
Daria
As soon as I step out of the shower, I smell the food. Damn, I’m hungry. I throw my hair up in a towel and slide my robe on.
As I walk to the kitchen, the smell gets stronger. “Yummy. What smells so good?” “Bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast. Sorry I’m not a master of pancakes like you, my pancakes always burn or stick. Plus I never mix the batter right”
“It’s okay. This smells great.” I sit down and take the glass of milk he poured for me. “You are too sweet.” “Here are those vitamins Gabby brought over to you. I remember she said something about taking them with food.”
“Oh yeah. They’re prenatal vitamins. She told me to take them with food, so I won’t get sick when I take them.”
&nbs
p; He sits down to his plate across from me. “Have you been sick?” “You’ve been with me. I haven’t been sick. Some people don’t have morning sickness. Some people have sickness all the time, not just in the morning. I think it’s all a mind over matter thing.” I bite a piece of my bacon. “Shit, this is so good. I love bacon.”
He shovels the last of his eggs in his mouth and then shoves a piece of toast in. “Sowy, bab, I gowda go.”
“Chew, then repeat, please.” I chuckle. He swallows some orange juice. “Sorry, babe, I gotta go.” He kisses me on the head. “You have a good day. I love you.”
I reach up and catch his neck, kissing his lips. “Thank you for breakfast. I love you, too. Have a great practice.”
“Yep. You have a good day, too. Good luck looking at those places.”
“Thanks.”
With that, he’s out the door. An hour later, I’m out, too, and driving around to some of the crisis centers. Just as I’m walking into the first center, my phone alerts me that I have a text message. I decide I’ll check it when I’m done. By the time I come out from my meeting with one of the clinic coordinators, I have five missed texts. I pull them up.
Cade: I <3 U hope your meeting is going good.
Gabby: I have some books and stuff for you prego ;)
Anna: I want you and Cade to come over for dinner one night. Get up with me.
Mom: Just found the cutest maternity outfits. They never had stuff like this when I was pregnant with you.
Unknown:
Who the hell is that?
My phone alerts again. Crap, now my mom is sending me pictures of stuff.
Mom, I won’t need any of those things for a while.
I know, I’m just excited. So is Jim.
I know. I love you. I answer everyone else. I tell Cade I love him, too. I tell Gabby I’ll swing by in a little bit and pick up the pregnancy books. I agree to have dinner at Anna’s Wednesday night this week. I’m walking down the street to my car from the center when I break a cardinal rule. I’m paying more attention to my phone than what is going on around me. I’m still stumped by the unknown text message.
I grab my door handle of my car when I feel a hand come around my waist and one around my mouth before I can scream. My phone drops to the ground. I’m tossed into a panel van by masked men. The hold a hand over my mouth I feel a small pinch in my ass and then everything goes black.
~*~*~ Shit, I’ve got a headache. I try to run my fingers through my hair and realize that my hands are tied.
“What the fuck?”
I see a fuzzy image walking toward me. I can’t focus on anything.
“Sorry to scare you, ma’am. The person you are meeting with will be here soon.”
“Where in the hell am I? Who in the fuck are you?”
“All of those questions will be answered soon.” What the hell? I thought the part of my life where I was randomly snatched up was over. Great, this is probably some of my father’s business associates wanting some of the money he left me. I’m sure he owed someone. It’s not like a credit card; they still come after your family.
“Look, just tell me who you are. I mean, what the fuck.” “Sorry, can’t.” “Well, can you at least take me to a bathroom? I’m about to piss all over myself.” Being pregnant and tied up with a full bladder only goes so far.
“Sorry, can’t.”
“Do you know any other fucking words? When I piss all over the place, you can damn sure clean it up.”
Finally, the guy pulls me up by the arm. “Come on. Don’t try anything funny.” He leads me to a nasty bathroom. “Can you untie my hands so I can pull down my pants and, I don’t know? Wipe after peeing?”
“Fine, but I’m standing in this doorway, so I hope you’re comfortable pissing in front of an audience.”
“Dude, as full as my bladder is right now, I’d piss in the middle of the White House.” He chuckles and stands in the door, but with his back to me. Once I finish and pull up my pants, I shove him from the back to get past him. I attempt to take off running, but someone tackles me. I kick and punch my way, trying to get up.
“Get off of me!” My foot finally connects with a crotch. “Omph. Shit. Someone grab her.”
“Daria, stop!” That voice brings me to a halt. I turn around, realizing that my world has just turned on its axis. All of a sudden, everything is cloudy… and then black.
“Hey, Gabby, have you talked to Daria?”
Chapter 26
Cade
“Hey, Gabby, have you talked to Daria?”
I shift my phone on my shoulder while I load the dishwasher. “She texted me that she was coming by here to pick up some books, but she never did, I just figured she got tied up.”
“She should be home by now. She’s not answering her cell. I’m starting to get a little worried.” “When I talked to her this morning before she left to go to the centers, she was going to the one on Decatur first and then the one on Sampson.”
“I think I’m going to go down to those and see if she’s broke down or something.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to send Linc down there to meet you.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine. I’m probably overreacting.”
“No. This isn’t like her. Just swing by here and pick Linc up. I don’t want you to go by yourself.”
“Okay. I’ll be by in a few minutes.”
Where in the hell could she be? On the way to pick up Linc, I have some of the worst scenarios playing in my head. What if someone came after her because of her dad?
I pick Linc up as soon as he gets in. “Man, what in the hell do you think is going on?”
“I don’t know. I just have this bad feeling. She never does anything like this.” “Let’s go see if we can find her. Maybe she got tied up talking to one of the center managers. She probably didn’t take her phone in with her.”
I nod. “Yeah, maybe.” Pulling into the first center, I see her car parked down the street. I pull in next to it. I notice the door is a little ajar and then I see her phone on the ground. “Shit, Linc. Go inside and find out when she saw them.”
I walk around her car, knowing better than to touch anything. Linc comes running back out. “They said she walked out like four hours ago. They asked about calling the cops but I said you were going to try calling her again. I didn’t know if you wanted to call yet or not.”
“Shit!” I pull at my hair. I grab my phone and call 9-1-1. Linc paces in the parking lot. I know explaining this to the cops when they get here is going to be fun. Once they run her name and see that she was involved with Sam, it will open up an entire new box of crazy.
W hen the officer pulls up, I’m actually relieved to see that he’s one of the guys who questioned us after the car explosion. He takes down all of the information and then glances back at me. “Didn’t I take a report from you a few weeks ago?”
“Yes, sir. Daria’s dad was killed in a car explosion a few weeks ago.” I’m sure he remembers; it’s not like car explosions happen every day around here.
He nods. “Yeah. Well, you are right to be worried. This could have something to do with that. I’ll get this information out and we’ll be in touch.”
“What do I need to do until then? What about her car?” “Leave it in case she does happen to come back. Keep a positive outlook. I’m sure it will all work out. Also, stay by your phone in case she calls or we call you.”
As the cop pulls away, Linc looks at me. “Come on, man. I’ll drive. You can stay with me and Gabby. Did that cop seem way too casual about all of this to you?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know man. I’ve had more contact with the cops in the past eight months that ever in my entire life. I’m still kinda lost.”
By the time I arrive at Gabby’s, Russ and Anna are there, too. I have to call her mom. I pull out my phone; this is going to be an interesting phone call. Then I get a text from an unknown number.
Daria is fine and wil
l be returned to her car soon.
Who the fuck is this and where is Daria? Do not worry. She is safe. I understand you have already contacted the authorities. Do not contact anyone else. She will be fine. Do not contact her family about this.
What do you want from her?
That isn’t your concern. You can meet her at her car in two hours.
Show me she’s alive. She’s alive I assure you. I walk into Gabby’s and explain the text messages I just received. “What do you guys think I should do?”
Anna looks at me. “Well, in a normal person’s life,
I would say freak the fuck out. But this is Daria’s life and, since they already knew you’d contacted the cops, I’m going to say you give them the two hours.”
Gabby nods. “Yeah, I mean there is somet hing funny going on here, but I don’t think Daria’s really in danger, per se. You just hang out here with us for the next couple of hours and then the guys will go down there with you.”
“I guess I really don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
Gabby grabs my arm. “Come in here; let me get you something to eat.”
I know that the next two hours are going to be an eternity.
“Daria, can you hear me?”
Chapter 27
Daria
“Daria, can you hear me?”
I know I must be dreaming. That can’t be who I think it is. I open my eyes.
“Fuck, is this nightmare ever going to end?”
“Baby, it’s not a nightmare.” My eyes jolt open and I’m face to face with my father. “What the fuck?”
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” I stand up, shoving away from him. “You’re fucking sorry? That’s all I ever get from you. Not to mention I thought I watched you die. So, come on, Sam, explain this one away.” My head is pounding.
“Sweetheart, having you watch the explosion was part of it being convincing. I was telling the truth that day. They were closing in on me.”
“So, onc e again, it was all about self- preservation. I almost lost my mind. Had Cade not been there, I would have. He took care of me. He called Mom and helped me make all of your arrangements.”
Fighting Temptation Page 12