“For a long time I remembered nothing of my time before. I didn’t remember my mother or my brother. I was so sick when I was pregnant, but it was so worth it when Almacita was born. She was always such a good baby. But then she got sick.” Maricel was tough to understand with her accent and her voice clogged with tears, but everyone leaned forward and managed to catch what she was saying.
“Dr. Simms worked hard to keep my baby warm and safe. In the beginning I could hold her and hum to her. Then they made me wear gowns and masks and gloves, but I still held her. But then…” She erupted into long sobs. Nate’s stomach clenched. It was heartbreaking. He was thankful Gabriella was there for her. He saw Max Lawrence watching the duo with compassion, but also as if he knew what was coming next. The man was scary.
Maricel told them of the first time an attendant dropped to their knees while holding tiny Alma. The baby was just five months old. Maricel was in the room and scooped Alma out of Kenneth’s arms and was assailed with weakness as well.
“I would have fallen to the floor if the crib wasn’t there to stop my descent. I hugged Almacita to my chest and the more I clutched her the weaker I got. I knew it was her, she was crying so hard, trying to get out of my arms, as if she knew she was hurting me. But she couldn’t know. I managed to get her into the crib before I passed out.”
Maricel explained about all the tests run on her daughter, and how it was finally determined touching Almacita would drain energy from the person holding her. Protocols were set up to only touch the baby with lead lined gloves.
“I could only cuddle her with lead coverings, I couldn’t kiss my baby, or touch my baby.” Again, Maricel started sobbing and speaking into Gabriella’s shoulder. Gabriella turned to all of them and explained.
“They stopped letting Maricel see Almacita. They wanted to create a super healer when they had bred Almacita,” Gabriella explained. “So when they realized they hadn’t, they focused their experiments on Maricel, forcing her to heal animals and humans, and promising her small amounts of time with her daughter.” Gabriella stroked Maricel’s dark sweaty hair. “She hasn’t seen her baby in months.”
Nate’s vision tunneled. His every thought was now focused on one thing, finding Lee Stovers and making him tell them where Alma was, and then making him pay for everything he had done.
“Nate?” He hadn’t noticed Max. He glanced around the private plane. Sierra and Cyrus were seated together talking. Sarah was seated by herself dozing. Kota was off in one corner, pretending to read a magazine while really listening into Gabriella’s and Maricel’s conversation.
“What is it Lawrence?”
“Gabriella will be a big help in finding Alma.”
“How do you figure, she couldn’t find Maricel and she was her guardian.” Nate was sick of this guardian shit. They should have been in the trenches from the get-go.
“Gabriella has fourteen people she looks after. When Rixitron captured Maricel they pumped her full of drugs that took away her memory, basically making her invisible to Gabriella. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Sarah Gabriella connected with her again.”
“How is she going to help us with Alma?” Nate didn’t understand enough of this found stuff, and it frustrated him.
“She’s felt Alma, but she didn’t know who she was. She just felt a new presence. Now that she knows it’s Maricel’s daughter, and she can help locate her for you,” Max explained.
“Can she give me an address?” Max gave him that same bullshit expression. The dude thought he was all-knowing, but Nate was done.
“Look asshole. You didn’t do shit for Sarah, and you were always connected with her. You didn’t do shit for Kali. Some guardian you are. I doubt Gabriella is any better. Just let us do our stuff and stay the fuck out of it.” Max’s expression changed to one of compassion.
“Nate I get it, you’re in love with Sarah. I haven’t found the woman who is meant for me, but if I had I’d feel the same way. You know damn well I have helped and I have made a difference for both you and Noah.” Max looked around the plane to make sure he wasn’t overheard. “But, I also knew Kali and Sarah were well cared for by both of you. I was taking care of other things. I don’t give a fuck what you think I have done or haven’t done. You better believe Gabriella can help you, and you better be open to using her. If you don’t use her, you’re putting the baby at risk. Are we clear?” Nate didn’t know who was more surprised by Max’s tone and voice and demeanor, him or Max.
Nate sat up. Now that’s what he was talking about. He smiled. He liked this Max a little bit better. He watched as the man raked his fingers through his hair.
“I don’t like swearing,” Max said ruefully.
“I figured.”
“So don’t make me do it again. Listen to Gabriella, and quit being so stubborn. I know you’re uncomfortable with all of this, but your woman is found. You’re going to be dealing with ‘whoo whoo’ crap for the rest of your life.” Max gave a wry chuckle.
“I’ll listen to her. Thanks for the pep talk, I’m going to go be with Sarah.” My woman, Nate thought to himself as he unbuckled his seatbelt and slipped into the seat next to Sarah. She was cold. He pulled her close.
“Mmmm, waiting for you.”
“Go back to sleep.”
“You need sleep too.”
He did, and now she was in his arms, he’d be able to get some.
Chapter Thirteen
Sarah hadn’t seen Nate for two days. He and the others were looking for Lee Stovers who seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet. Meanwhile, she, Maricel and Gabriella were staying with her parents.
The first day she’d been the center of her Mom’s attention, but after she assured her mother she was okay, Lila Johnson’s focus had been on Maricel. Despite how worried she was about Alma, Maricel soaked up the motherly concern and love. Therefore Sarah was surprised when her mother came and found her in the backyard.
“How are you, baby girl?” Lila sat down on the swing beside Sarah.
“Okay.”
“Not too convincing.” She looked sideways at her mom and gave her a wry smile.
“I guess not. I want all of this to be over with. I’m not just talking about this little bit either. I’m talking everything. I want to be able to come home and be with you guys. I want to practice medicine again.”
“Is that all?” Her mom reached out and stopped her rocking, so she could look her in the face.
“I want a normal life Mama, and I don’t think I can ever have one.” She stuck her toe in the dirt patch directly under the seat.
“Sure you can honey. You can have anything you want out of life.”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, I know I can’t have anything I want. Life doesn’t work like that.”
“You’re right, sometimes it takes elbow grease. What do you want, you don’t think you can get?”
“I want it so Nate and I can be together all the time. I’m sick of him being gone and I’m locked up. I want a life like you and daddy have.” She reached over and hugged her mom.
“So talk to your man and get it. Have you talked about the future?”
“Like there’s been time. We’ve only ever been on one date.” Sarah laughed.
“What?” Sarah laughed at her mother’s surprise.
“It was kind of an unconventional date,” Sarah admitted wryly.
“Just having sex doesn’t count as a date.”
“We had our date after sex.” She dug her toe deeper into the dirt. “It was nice, I found out a lot about him. His family sucks.”
“I’m surprised. I mean he’s intense like your brother Cyrus, but he gets along well with all of us. It doesn’t seem like he comes from a bad home.” Sarah explained about the Mahoneys and how Nate’s parents behaved.
“Do you think they’ll come to the wedding?”
“Mama!”
“What? You two just have to find your footing, but I expect I’ll be having gra
ndbabies named Goodman.”
“That’s what I want,” Sarah’s voice was soft.
“I know, baby.” Her mama’s eyes sparkled.
“Do you know what else I want?”
“What?”
Sarah slipped out of her seat and knelt down in the grass, resting her head in her mother’s lap. It felt so good to be back in her mother’s arms. The woman who knew her inside and out. She finally felt better, so she smiled and looked up.
“I want your pot roast for dinner for dinner.”
“Only if you help me cook it.”
“Deal.”
****
Nate looked at his cell phone. What was he doing feeling like a teenager? He was a grown man for God’s sake. Make the call. He couldn’t do it. He’d talk to her face to face.
“You’re a pussy,” Kota gave him a sly smile.
“Just shut up and drive the car.” Sierra started coughing in the backseat of the SUV. He didn’t doubt for a minute she was covering up laughter. He refused to look. Hell, everybody, including Cyrus, who was in the back of the vehicle knew he was planning on taking Sarah back to his hotel. They all seemed to know that he hadn’t called her yet to ask. How the hell were they able to read his mind? Dammit. Sometimes it sucked being on a team that knew you so well.
They pulled up to the Johnson house and by the time they were at the front door the smell of pot roast was perfuming the air.
Cyrus threw open the door. “Hey Mom.”
“It’s about time.” Cyrus hugged his mother, telling her how much he had missed her. Nate watched as she teared up.
“Mom, no tears, I might spring a leak and then I’ll never hear the end of it.” He kissed his mother on her forehead. She guided them into the living room filled with Johnsons, and Nate spotted Sarah. She flew into his arms and finally everything was once again right in his world. Before he could say anything, she was tugging him through the kitchen and out the back door into the empty yard.
He spotted the picnic table laden with food, as she stepped up onto the bench seat and grabbed him around the neck so that they were almost nose to nose. She slanted her lips against his, and he held her tight around the waist as he opened for her onslaught. His angel was hungry, and he was needy. She thrust her tongue inside his mouth, and he gloried in the feeling of being taken and wanted. She nipped and licked, demanding a response he couldn’t deny. Letting her take the lead made him feel vulnerable, something he could only allow with Sarah. He groaned, as she ravished, but he finally felt a tell-tale tremor and he took control.
Sarah sighed as he gripped her ass and pressed against her. Through two pairs of jeans, he could still feel the heat of her and it spiked his arousal. He ripped his head away from hers.
“You’re going to the hotel with me tonight.”
“Damn right. We’re not making love in my pink room in my parent’s house.” She nipped the bottom of his chin. He thought about the pink walls of her childhood bedroom, and couldn’t tell if he was relieved or disappointed.
“Sarah, I need your help in the kitchen,” her mom yelled through the window.
“Don’t lose our place.” Sarah gave him a flirty smile as she jumped off the bench and bounded into the back door. She almost ran into Cyrus, who was carrying two beers.
“Thought you could use one, it’s going to be a long dinner.” Nate quickly sat down at the table to mask his erection. Cyrus was right, it was going to be a long dinner. Nate watched as others started spilling out the door, and was happy to see Maricel seemed in a much better mood. He was also pleasantly surprised to see Ramone escorting Amy and Jeremy.
“Nate!” Jeremy cried when he saw him.
“Hey there partner.” Nate picked up the boy and swung him up on his shoulders, the boy squealed with laughter. He took Jeremy over to the swing set while Amy and Sarah hugged and talked. Ramone joined him and Jeremy.
“How’s Sarah doing?” Ramone asked quietly.
“So far, so good.”
“How about Amy?”
“She’s taking Chris’s disappearance hard. Not so much he could be dead,” Ramone whispered. “She just hates not having resolution.” Nate nodded.
“It’s the same for Sarah. There’s a lot going on that’s unresolved. Hopefully we’ll get all of it figured out soon. We’re working on it,” Nate assured the other man as he continued to push Jeremy on the swing.
“Let me know if I can do anything,” Ramone said.
“I will.”
After dinner, it looked like the Johnsons intended to celebrate having Cyrus and Sarah home after so long in California. Nate couldn’t blame them. But a long party held no appeal. He should have thought about that before taking just one vehicle to get here. After dessert Sarah came up to him holding car keys.
“We’re out of here.”
“I thought we were celebrating.”
“They’re celebrating their way, we’re celebrating our way. I told mom and dad we’re leaving, and Kyle gave me his truck.”
“When do we need to get it back to him?”
“Oh, you misunderstand. I now own his truck. We’re a long way from even, but it’s a start.” He looked at Sarah and saw she was deadly serious.
“Sarah, what could be so special about his truck that would make it worth his almost costing your life?”
“He never had a car all through high school, he saved until he could buy this rusted out 1955 Chevy truck his first year in college. He’s been restoring the thing for the last eight years. He finally finished it in June. There was a party and everything.” There was something so sexy about a strong woman, he just stared at her and grinned. Ah shit, he was aroused again.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” He grabbed the keys, and they walked around the side of the house so they didn’t have to see anyone. She had an overnight bag waiting on the porch.
They made it to the hotel in record time. Sarah didn’t look at him as they made their way through the lobby and up the elevator, but she gripped his hand for all she was worth.
When he got to the room, he asked her to stay out in the hall until he checked out the interior. When he was done, he brought her into the suite. She reached for him, but before she could get her bearings, he her lifted high and was striding through the doors to the bedroom.
“It’s been too long, Angel. I’ll make it up to you,” he said as he pulled the t-shirt over her head and unfastened the front clasp of her bra.
“I’ve got the rest.” She pushed his hands away from her breasts. He tried touching her again. “No, you strip. I can’t wait.” She shoved hard and rolled up from the bed and unbuttoned her jeans. Swallowing, he saw her shimmy just a little as she worked the denim over the cheeks of her ass.
“Dammit, strip Goodman.” She stopped and stared at him. “I’m not moving an inch until I see flesh.” He fumbled with his belt, and ripped off his clothes at a record rate. He was nude while she stood in thong panties.
“I get to touch now.” She shrieked with laughter as he tumbled her onto the bed. Maybe it wouldn’t be as fast as he thought. Now he had her where he wanted her he resolved to make this last. Then she pulled him on top of her, rubbed her breasts against his chest, and he was thinking fast and hard again.
“Stop that, Angel.” She gripped his head to bring him down for a kiss, but he aimed downwards to her breasts instead. He lapped at her nipples and found them so much more sensitive than before. He laved them gently, relishing her sighs and moans. Her fingers relaxed, and then finally dropped from his head to rest on the pillow.
“Oh. My. God.” She was beginning to pant. Her face was dewy with passion. He used his thumbs to gently trace circles around her tips.
Her areolas felt like velvet against his tongue and the more attention he paid, the more she trembled, her legs scissoring beneath him.
“Sarah?”
“Please harder, I need more,” she begged, sounding desperate.
“Anything, all you ever have
to do is ask.” He suckled hard, his cheeks hollowing out and she thrashed beneath him. Her nails bit into his scalp. She said something but he didn’t hear her. He lifted his head.
“What Angel? Tell me.” A tear dripped down into the hair at her temple. She whispered and he still couldn’t hear her. He put his ear to her lips.
“Bite me.” He stilled at the sexy command. He looked into her eyes so dazed with passion, and went back to her swollen breasts. He suckled, then nipped.
“More.” He took one tip between his teeth as he took the other between his fingers and then bit and pinched and she screamed as she ground her pelvis against him, her orgasm shooting through her. God, she was magnificent.
Slowly he helped her come back to herself, kiss after kiss on her swollen breasts, her swollen lips. As her eyes cleared he saw a hint of embarrassment.
“No Angel. That was the sexiest thing I ever. I love your passion.” She relaxed and smiled. Slowly he kissed his way down her sternum towards her abdomen. He blew warm air against the panel of her panties, they were soaked.
She grabbed his hands and pushed them down between her legs. He chuckled, loving her eagerness. He couldn’t wish for a lover who was more evenly matched to his needs. He yanked down her panties and had his mouth exactly where he wanted it, where she needed it.
“Perfect. So perfect.” She was close to being right. He used his hands and mouth to bring her to another quick climax. Nate got onto his knees and sheathed himself.
“No, I want to taste you,” she wailed. Her nails bit into his forearms and he laughed again. God, what had he done to deserve her?
“Later Angel, this was fast, remember?” He eased into her and now he found perfect.
Healed (The Found Book 3) Page 15