“Come with us. He won’t be able to get to you – we’re going to be living on Oliver’s estate. It’s heavily guarded, and you’ll be out of Clark County. Please, Tara, don’t make me leave without you.”
His giant inked hand reached for me, but I pulled back. If I let our skin touch, I wouldn’t be strong enough to resist my love for him.
“I can’t, Shawn. We can’t. As long as Hank is alive, he’ll keep coming for you if we’re together. Eventually, we both know he’ll find a way to put you behind bars.”
He leaned in close, his lips inches from my ear. “He doesn’t have to be alive, Tara. Let me take care of him.”
I shook my head. “I can’t risk that. I’d never forgive myself.”
“So we just end this? No contact? I’m just supposed to forget you? Because that’s never going to happen.”
“Maybe someday, but we can’t live on the hope of someday.”
“Promise me this. You’ll never let him hurt you again no matter what.”
“I can’t promise that.” I knew damn well that Hank would have me trussed up in his ropes by nightfall, the heavy whip punishing me for my sins with the enemy. But Grace would be safe, and the love of my life would be free.
His hand reached for my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Tara, promise me or I’m not leaving.”
When I said the words to him that afternoon outside of the courthouse, I thought they were a lie. “I promise. And I love you Shawn, goodbye.”
Twenty-One
Shocked Me With Literally Zero Gag Reflex
The very next day, we left Las Vegas, just like the song.
Oliver was more than thrilled to have me on his staff, where I mostly did training but occasional security stuff. But it was legit stuff, not breaking fingers and threatening worse.
We lived in a small house on his sprawling estate. His kids loved Grace, and their full-time nanny watched her when I worked. Her grandparents weren’t far, and we’d made plans to meet up on the first weekend I was free.
Life was good, except my heart was broken. I’d never stop loving Tara. And I hadn’t given up – it took a lot of promises, cash, and even threats, but I managed to get her brother released. There might be repercussions from Larsen, but they wouldn’t be against Tommy Drake. As far as Tara, as soon as her brother crossed the border to Arizona, I was going to get her.
But that afternoon, as I ran on one of the top of the line treadmills in Oliver’s gym, my phone rang.
“Yeah, hey, Fritz,” I answered, panting as I ran. “How’s the Tommy situation going?”
“Uh, oh yeah, they moved him yesterday. I forgot to tell you because there’s other news.”
I pounded the stop button and reached for my towel. “What now?”
“It’s not bad news, Mack. Hank Larsen is missing.”
“Wait, missing?” I looked out the massive window of the luxury gym Oliver had built. Security was tight on premises, but if Larsen was on his way, I needed to rally the troops.
“Uh, thanks Fritz. I owe you a bunch for doing that for the Drake kid.”
“No worries, he seemed like a good kid who ended up in the wrong place. John will keep him in line.”
“I have no doubt.”
I hung up the phone, and called Mo Jones.
“Hey, uh, that Larsen dickhead is on the loose. I suspect he’s coming here, for me. Can you watch Tara again, and also should I talk to Saints and Sinners here?”
“No need, Macintosh. No need.”
“Huh?”
“I’m saying, my man, you have nada, nothing, zip to worry your big-haired head over.”
“My hair is fine.” I glanced at my reflection in the window. “Well, it’s crazy right now, but whatever. Is anyone talking about Larsen in Vegas?”
“This convo is finito. Over, done. Now go get that mane tamed. You’ve got to be all San Fran fancy and shizz now, my man.”
He knew something, but wasn’t going to say it over the phone.
And then it all clicked. “Okay, yeah, thanks. I will, Mo, promise. Enjoy that Vegas heat for me.”
As I walked toward the locker room, I sent her a simple text.
Hope you’re well.
And she answered immediately.
As well as I can be. You?
And then I knew.
Tara
It had been days, and I was going through the motions. I had to.
If only I had stuck to the plan, but I didn’t.
I closed the door behind me, and smiled. For the first time in years, I walked into my own home without fear.
“Get packed.” He was on my couch. Just sitting there, waiting for me.
“I-I can’t. Wh-what are you doing here?”
“Well, I came back for the woman I love.”
I felt my knees buckle as he leapt toward me.
“Whoa, are you okay?” he asked as his powerful arms held me up.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine,” he repeated with a smirk.
“What did you say just now?”
“I said I came back for you.”
“No, you said…”
His steely blue eyes met mine, and after a long pause, he said it.
“I love you, Tara.”
“I know you do,” I said as I laughed in relief.
“Then if you love me, we’ll get the fuck outta here. Now.”
“How did you know?” I asked.
“Because you didn’t warn me he was missing. And because you didn’t think I did it. Because, Tara, I was going to.”
I nodded. “So was Daddy. We just needed to get Tommy safe.”
“He is.”
“Thank you for that.”
He took my hand in his. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“I didn’t kill him for you. But I did remember the promise I made outside the courthouse – to never let him hurt me again.”
We were on a private jet headed to San Francisco. I’d packed everything I could in an hour, and asked Maddie to help me close out my condo. Nevada was far too dangerous for us.
I looked out the window at the city I loved. “I guess I won’t be back for a long time.”
“Want to hear a crazy fact? This is my first time ever on an airplane.”
“No way!”
He nodded. “Yeah, the farthest from Vegas I’ve ever been is Salt Lake.”
“Well, I suspect you’re about to travel the world. Oscar is on fire.”
“Yeah, he’s on his game for sure. This is his jet, of course. It would have been great there, but…”
“But you missed me?”
My leg draped over his. “I missed you like crazy bad. I had a plan to come get you, but you sorta took matters into your own hands.”
“Sisters are doing it for themselves.”
“Well, I’m tired of doing myself.”
I smacked him playfully. “We’ll take care of that as soon as you get behind a closed door.”
He pointed toward the cockpit. “That door is closed, and we appear to be alone back here.”
“And?” Everything tingled inside of me.
“And I remember this innocent, sweet little social worker who shocked me with literally zero gag reflex.”
My fingertips slid across the growing bulge in his jeans. “Oh, I’ll gag on it, but I’ll love every second.”
Twenty-Two
He’s No Pimp, Just Stuck In 90s Hip Hop
Tara
Safe in San Francisco, I pulled Grace into my arms.
“I missed you, my sweet girl.” She laughed and wiggled as I rocked her.
I knew I would never love another child more than I did her, even if a miracle happened and I could conceive my own.
“Daddy will be done boxing soon, and we’ll all have dinner.”
More giggles, as I held her tight, hoping to drive away the demons. I tried to brush the thoughts from my mind, but the memory of that night flooded me.
&nbs
p; “This is bullshit,” he’d said, swishing the ice in his drink.
“Hank, I told you, this time it’ll be real. Would you rather have me want it, or just going through the motions?”
“I’m not sure I care.”
I had to buy more time; the idea of him touching me made my skin crawl. “Let me get you another drink. I’m sure it’s been a long day.”
“Yeah, I had this massive fight with Dan.”
“Wait, with Dan?” I filled his glass with Jack Daniels and only a splash of Coke. I was hoping to make him tired, but instead I made him nasty.
“He’s a fucking pussy. I got a little physical with someone and that dickwad decides today is the day to get in my face or whatever.”
I could read between the lines. Hank had hit, or worse, one of his many mistresses around town, and Dan did the decent thing. Finally.
“Give him a break. He’s been your best friend for a decade.”
“I don’t have friends. And he’s definitely going to get a break.”
The hair on my arms stood up. I knew this monster needed to be stopped before he hurt anyone else.
I set his drink down, and that’s when he grabbed my wrist.
“Time for bed, darling bride.”
“Let me clean up the…” And then he hit me in the gut. Hank always hit places where it wouldn’t show.
I crumpled over as he lifted me up and threw me in the bedroom. I landed on the floor beside the bed. As he pulled his belt off, I climbed to the bed.
“First time back can’t be on the floor,” I said, trying to keep it together.
A sinister grin wiped over his lips. “Sassy again, are we?”
I shook my head as I edged closer to headboard.
“What did he like, Tara? The giant gangster? Did he know what a kinky little thing you can be?”
“Stop it.”
“Tell me, in detail, exactly what you two did together? Since you were never stupid enough to fuck under my cameras.”
He looked up to the corner of the room. As he did, I moved over a little more.
Falling on me, his stinking breath was in my ear. “Never mind, bitch, he’ll tell me himself.”
“You said you’d let him go.”
“I did. And now, I’ll head to fucking Cali to bring his criminal ass here. He’ll tell me everything under my drill.”
The word “drill” sent a shiver through me. Hank loved torture with power tools.
“He’ll kill you,” I hissed, spitting in his face.
“No, because we’re grabbing that mongrel kid first. Let him watch while we…”
And then he screamed. And he screamed again as I pulled the knife out, and plunged it back in again. “See Hank? You’ve taught me well. This bitch knew exactly where to stick this blade in.”
Warm blood flooded over me as his body twitched. “Die, mother fucker, die already.” And he did. But he was heavy, and I couldn’t get out from underneath him.
I dropped the knife to the floor. I’d had it under my mattress for years. I knew there would come a time when Hank decided to take his torture to a new level and kill me.
“Do be calm under there, my lady. Gimme a second.”
“What?” I asked the voice. Someone was there!
“It’s all-right, yo. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this, but I got ya.”
My eyes focused on the garishly dressed man. I remember having the irrational thought, Why is Lil Jon here?
“Did my dad send you?”
“I is sent by yo boy, Macintosh.”
“Huh? Mack? Shawn?”
“Whatevs. Just supposed to be watchin’ but I knew somethin’ wasn’t right up in here. We’ll get this all cleaned up, no worries what-so-eva.”
My lungs gasped for air when the limp weight of Hank was pulled off me.
“I wasn’t supposed to…my role was to keep him here, but…I was supposed to wait for my father to do this.”
“Well, little lady, looks to me like you took care of this piece of rubbish just fine.”
He pointed toward my master bathroom. “I’d suggest you take a nice long shower. The boys are on their way to get all cleaned up.”
Tara was asleep with Grace in her arms when I finally made it back the small guesthouse.
I lifted the baby, who was quickly becoming a toddler, and laid her sleeping body in her crib.
“Oh hey,” she said from behind me.
“Fritz called earlier. They found Hank Larsen.”
She sat up straight – I could tell she didn’t know.
“After it happened, some pimp looking guy came in. A bunch of them had my bedroom looking like normal in an hour. They took the knife.”
“He’s no pimp, just stuck in 90s hip hop. But, yeah, he sent in the Saints and Sinners clean up crew. No trace, I assure you.”
“So then are they looking for his…killer.”
“You defended yourself, Tara. I don’t know what happened, but I do know you did exactly what you had to do. And now, thanks to you, we’re free.”
“They won’t stop coming for me, though. The others will know—”
“They’ll know that the meth cookers Hank was about to bust boiled his pathetic corpse in a fifty gallon drum after they stuck a knife through him.”
She thought for a minute, absorbing the weight of it all. “Why would they do that to Hank?”
“It seems he took liberties with the boss’ daughter. Those guys were happy to give your ex a happy funeral.”
“Will someone else do time for this?”
I shook my head. “Nope. No way to tell which one. And to be honest, no one cares. Drug violence out on the border, nothing else.”
She smiled and I knew that was the smile I wanted to look at for the rest of my life.
“I love you,” I said, the words easy now.
As Tara wrapped around me, I knew that I’d finally found what I was seeking my entire life.
I’d sacrifice everything to keep them safe. Those two women were my family; my chance at REDEMPTION.
THE END
Epilogue
I walked along the pier that Saturday afternoon and watched them. Tara had Grace in her arms and was swinging her that way that made them both bust out in laughter.
We were meeting Grace’s grandparents for lunch to celebrate her first birthday. I’d never been happier in my entire life. And yet, there was so much more to do. I was determined to work hard enough to put my past behind me and make something of the second chance I’d been given.
“Beautiful family,” a man said to me as we walked by.
“Thank you, I don’t deserve them,” I casually answered.
But there was no such thing as deserving. That year, we’d given it our everything. Family, work, building a home, dealing with the dark places in our souls – we’d gone all in to build what we had.
My fingers drifted to my right jeans pocket, making sure the small blue velvet box was still there. It wasn’t the giant rock she had from her ex, but I knew she’d treasure it far more.
“We’ll be late,” I said.
“Always the time-watcher,” Tara said. “But we love daddy, don’t we Grace?”
My daughter laughed in the arms of my soon-to-be-wife. If I got the courage to propose, I thought. Doing it with family seemed like a good idea, but nerves were setting in.
“That guy over by the flower stand has been watching us this whole time.” Tara said it casually, but I knew if she noticed, it meant something.
Pushing back my sunglasses, I made eye contact with him.
“You think it’s anything?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but let’s hope I don’t have to get dangerous as fuck again.”
“There they are.” Tara pointed to Edward and Maude, who were struggling under a ridiculous pile of wrapped gifts.
“Go on in. I’ll help them with that stuff. Oh, and order some champagne – the best they have.”
“Are you goi
ng to actually have a drink to celebrate your daughters first birthday?”
“Maybe.” I leaned in to kiss them both. “But hopefully we’ll have two things to celebrate today.”
Trouble would always find me, but anyone who threatened my family would find me the most dangerous man they’d ever have the misfortune to meet.
Stay tuned for SACRIFICE coming soon
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Acknowledgments
A huge shout-out to the MacKinnons for letting me wrap them up in this crazy project and use their family photos. Debuting Miss Opal Grace was an enormous honor, so hopefully she doesn’t hunt me down one day for it. Both of you ladies are class-acts, and I’m honored that you trusted me.
Shane, thanks for letting me pick at your colorful past and one-of-a-kind personality and make it into fiction. You inspire me every freaking day, and we’re not done yet, by the way.
Thanks to my family for indulging my obsession and not voting me off the island (yet). My patient AF hubby should have long since strangled me, but somehow we just keep on through our mutual madness. Thanks for the tolerance, always.
REDEMPTION ARC group – you all ROCK, and I’m overwhelmed with your support for this story. Cara Gadero, you’re the best in the business and thanks for working your backside off to get this book out there. Stephanie Seay - #teamblue forever.
And if you find errors, yell at the editor, Missy Borucki, and the proofreaders, Carol Hall and Daphne Caldwell. (That last part was a joke. They are AMAZING and any failings are my own.) Hunt’s Hideaway – best reader group on Facebook EVER. And last but never least, to the readers who amaze me every day by taking a chance on me. Thank you.
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