Legally Bound 4: Allegations of Love

by Blue Saffire

  Jasper’s green eyes and breathtaking smile brought Marie back to the present. He looked amazing in his black tux with a gold tie. His blonde hair was combed into a regal style, which made Marie smile. She had every intention of messing that hair up.

  “Finally,” Jas breathed after James kissed Marie’s cheek and handed her over to him.

  “Finally, they don’t have to speculate on whether we are in love. They can see it for themselves,” Marie whispered to him.

  “No more allegations, just pure truth,” Jas winked at her.

  ~B~

  That day had been unforgettable and their love shined through to everyone. Now all Marie had to do was get him to the location he picked out for his first gym. It is an amazing location and the space is to die for. She was so proud of him.

  “Jas,” Marie huffs again.

  “Woman, what is your rush,” Jas grumbles as he steps out of his office with his eyes glued to his phone. Marie knew he was checking on progress with the gym. It was all he talked about on the way back home.

  “Your parents are expecting us. We are going to be late if we don’t get moving. I know you want to swing by the gym first. Don’t you,” Marie asks innocently.

  Jas finally tears his eyes from his phone and Marie can see the sparkle in his eyes. “Yeah, about that, you don’t mind do you? Construction is going to start this week and I just want to go check on some of the materials that were supposed to come in. It shouldn’t be long,” Jas says excitedly.

  “It’s fine, but we need to go now so we aren’t late,” Marie says as she peeks at him through her lashes hoping she didn’t give it all away.

  Jas helps her into her jacket and places a hand on the back of her neck. He kisses her temple before leading her out to his car.

  The gym isn’t far from the house at all. It is in a central location from the house and their parents’ homes. In no time, they pull up to the gym and Marie can feel her heart pounding in her chest. She hopes like hell he won’t be mad at her for this.

  As Jas moves around the car to let her out, she tries to calm herself. Jas gives her a questioning look as he opens the door, but she just puts on a smile and gets out. Jas’s hand finds the nape of her neck once again as it always does.

  “Are you really that worried about being late,” Jas asks as he unlocks the gym door and looks at Marie with narrowed eyes. Obviously, she wasn’t doing well hiding her nerves.

  “We just haven’t seen everyone in a long time,” Marie beams at him as he pushes the door open.

  “Surprise!”

  Startled, Jas turns to look into what should be his empty gym. Standing together in front of the reception desk, that shouldn’t even be there yet is, is their entire family. Jas looks around the gym in awe as he steps further in. When his eyes land on a cutout of Marie in workout clothes, posed in a fighter’s stance he bursts into laughter and turns to her.

  “You did all this,” he asks with a lifted brow.

  “Yup, it is your wedding gift. Do you like it,” Marie asks biting her lip.

  Jas scoops her into his arms, burying his face in her neck and spinning her around. When he pulls away and places her on her feet a wide smile stretches across his face. The place is everything he had envisioned and more.

  “I love it, Baby, thank you,” Jas says as he places his forehead to hers.

  “I know you wanted to get started as soon as possible and the only reason you put it off was because of our honeymoon,” Marie says bouncing on her heels. “I thought if it were finished when you got back you could get to what you love.”

  “Is it too soon to marry you again,” Jas asks with a big smile.

  “Well, what are we chop liver? We all helped you know,” Pam grumbles playfully as she rubs her tiny baby bump.

  Jas throws his head back and laughs. He looks around at his family and his heart swells. Kevin was right, they were really supporting his dream. He still worked for Briggs, but he would be able to run his business as well. He couldn’t be more content at that moment.

  Everyone in this building had helped him get his girl, marry her, and now they were helping make his next dream come true. There wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for them. Once a Briggs, always a Briggs. He would make his two worlds work.

  Epilogue

  Thomas’s phone buzzes on the nightstand pulling him from his sleep. He frowns at the blocked number, but answers it anyway. Clearing his throat, he looks to his side as the body next to him stirs.

  “Hello,” he says groggily.

  “Your friends and family love taking what doesn’t belong to them. Let’s see if you can protect your stupid whores from me. So it begins,” a voice says before the line goes dead.

  Thomas sits up bolt straight in bed. He had been waiting for this. They may have gotten to those videos, but whoever was helping Christian covered their tracks. He never dismissed Christian’s rantings. He had just been waiting for the time to come and it looks like it was here.

  Too bad he didn’t see how far this web was spun. He would find out soon enough. Gripping his phone tight, he starts to call on the troops.

  ~B~

  “So, your Uncle and Liv, huh,” Marie wrinkles her nose. “That has to be a little weird, right?”

  “I don’t know. It was at first, but seeing them so happy, I got over it,” Jas shrugs. “They both deserve to be happy.”

  “Do you think things will be quiet now,” Marie murmurs into Jas’s chest.

  “One can only hope,” Jas sighs.

  “Yeah, well I’m hoping,” Marie purrs happily. “I wouldn’t want the newest Briggs missing their daddy too much. I hope I don’t show too much for those new ads you want me to model for –.”

  “What did you say?” Jas cuts her off as he sits up, cupping her face.

  “I hope things will stay quiet,” Marie smirks.

  “Stop playing with me, Rie,” Jas says with a stern voice, but with a smirk on his lips.

  “You’re going to be a daddy, Boss,” Marie laughs.

  “God, I love you,” Jas says against her lips before delivering a searing kiss.

  Their kiss is interrupted by Jasper’s phone ringing. Jas reluctantly pulls away and picks up the phone. At the same time, Marie’s phone rings and she answers.

  “Hello,” Jas says into the phone.

  “Jas, it’s Nate I need a favor,” Nate says gruffly.

  “What is it,” Jas asks just as Marie gasps beside him.

  “Oh my God,” she cries out and moves to rush and turn the TV on. “It’s Shannon.”

  Shannon had become a part of the family just as Valentina and Uri have. Marie and Rita have taken a liking to her, much like the other women. However, Rita and Marie being younger seemed to have made their bond stronger. Whenever Shannon is in New York, she is with one of the two, which has been a lot lately.

  Nate sighs. “I need you to get to the hospital. We are on the jet now getting ready for takeoff, heading back. Something doesn’t feel right,” Nate says after hearing Marie’s sob.

  “I’m there,” Jasper says already moving to get out of bed.

  His other line starts to beep in his ear. He pulls it from his ear and sees it is his uncle. “Nate, that’s Uncle Thomas on the other line. I’ll get to Shannon as fast as I can,” he rushes into the phone.

  “Thanks,” Nate responds and hangs up.

  “Uncle Thomas, what’s up? I’m on my way to the hospital,” Jas says.

  “Is Marie okay,” Uncle Thomas asks with alarm. Jas is surprised at the sound of his voice.

  “Yeah, she is fine,” Jas answers. “It’s Shannon; she has been in some type accident. Nate isn’t feeling too right about it and asked me to go over to the hospital.”

  “Shit,” Uncle Thomas growls. Jas’s hackles really go up. His Uncle never loses his cool, never. “Don’t leave your wife unguarded. I want all the women on lockdown,” Uncle Thomas demands.

  “What’s going on,” Jas asks as his jaw sta
rts to twitch. He snaps his fingers at Marie and signals for her to get dressed.

  “I got a call tonight. I don’t think Shannon’s accident is a coincidence. I’ll meet you there and explain.”

  Uncle Thomas doesn’t even say goodbye as he ends the call. Jas rolls his eyes and groans. He is going to have to teach Marie to never mention that things are quiet. Things almost always turn up as soon as someone says it out loud.

  His phone rings again and as he looks at the caller ID, he literally wants to throw a temper tantrum. This can’t be good. There was no way this call can be good.

  “Hello,” Jas sighs into the phone.

  “We have a problem,” Wyatt Black says into the phone.

  “Yeah, they are adding up right now. What’s going on?” Jas grumbles.

  “My wife is being framed for something I promise you, I know she didn’t do. Bobby and Paige are here smoothing this shit over, but I get a call telling me that if I want this to go away, I need to talk to Nate and Donati. I can’t get in touch with either so I am calling you,” Wyatt rumbles back.

  “What,” Jas says with furrowed brows. This was getting crazy.

  Who the hell knew them well enough to make such a connection between them all? As far as Jas knew no one in the Mairettie or Briggs family did anything with both the Blacks and Donatis at the same time. Not privately and definitely not openly.

  “They mentioned a Vanessa. Bobby turned pale at the mention of her name and Paige had a mixed look of being pissed and in horror,” Wyatt growls. “This doesn’t sit well with me. Bobby can’t get a hold of Nate either.”

  “Shit, dude, a lot is going on right now. Nate is on his way back to the States, that’s why you can’t reach him. Uri happens to be with him. That’s the most I know right now,” Jas offers.

  “I need to know everything you find out. Have Nate get in touch with me the moment his plane lands,” Wyatt says in frustration.

  “You got it man, call me if there is anything I need to know or if there is anything I can do,” Jas says.

  “Yeah, someone is barking up the wrong fucking tree,” Wyatt snarls.

  Jas snorts. “Yeah, some dumb bastard sure is,” he says as he thinks of the forces in play.

  Who would want to go up against the Blacks, Briggs, and Donati’s? They must be insane. Whoever they were, they just opened the gates of hell and would pay in pounds of flesh. Jas hoped they knew how to pray, only God could save them now.

  Blue Collection Character Tree

  Legally Bound 1

  Bobby Mairettie and Paige Kemble – Mairettie father and mother of:

  Peyton and James Mairettie (Twin Boys)

  Sydney Mairettie and Maria Lynn Mairettie (Twin Girls)

  Legally Bound 2

  Marcus Mairettie and Rita Briggs – Mairettie father and mother of:

  Daniel Mairettie

  Hannah Mairettie

  Legally Bound 3

  Nathaniel (Nate) Briggs and Pamela (Pam) Kemble – Briggs father and mother of:

  Tiffany and Tracey Briggs (Twin girls)

  Nathaniel Briggs Jr.

  Legally Bound 4

  Jasper Briggs and Marie Mairettie -Briggs father and mother of:

  Clay Briggs

  The Mairettie Family

  Grandpa Marcello Mairettie and Grandma Marie Ann father and mother of:

  Marcello Mairettie Jr.

  Andrew Mairettie

  James Mairettie

  Jessie Mairettie

  Lynn Mairettie

  Gianna Mairettie

  James Mairettie and Minnie Mairettie father and mother of:

  Bobby Mairettie

  Sam Mairettie – (Ellen Kensington – Mairettie, Wife)

  Marcus Mairettie

  Marie Mairettie

  The Briggs Family

  Roman Briggs and Belinda Perez (Divorced) father and mother of:

  Kevin Briggs (Mariah, wife)

  Thomas Briggs and Raquel Marinos -Briggs (Deceased) father and mother of:

  Nathaniel Briggs

  Rita Briggs

  Earl Briggs (Younger Brother of Thomas) and Caitronia Marinos – Briggs (Twin sister of Raquel) father and mother of:

  Kelly Briggs – Fecteau (Alexie Fecteau, Husband)

  Jasper Briggs

  The Kemble Family

  Peyton Kemble and Davina Kemble father and mother of:

  Paige Kemble

  Pamela Kemble

  Other Important Legally Bound Characters

  Camille (Cam) Mc Wien - Carter (Seth Carter, Soon to Ex-Husband) father and mother of:

  Seth Carter Jr.

  Eddie Carter

  Aiden Carter

  Austin Mc Wien (Camille’s father)

  Baroness Olivia Kontos (Baron Kontos’ widow. Ex – Lover of Jasper/ Thomas Briggs new love interest)

  Vanessa (Julissa) Smith - Mims (Patrick Mims, Husband, now deceased)

  Hush 1

  Uri Donati and Valentina Caprisi – Donati father and mother of:

  Vita Khayla Donati

  Nori Donati (Introduced in Ballers 1)

  Inzo Donati (Introduced in Ballers 1)

  Eva Donati (In the womb in Ballers 1)

  The Donati Family

  Angelo Uri Donati (Deceased) and Donatella Manzo – Donati – Zuko father and mother of:

  Uri Donati

  Nico Donati – Zuko (Reese, his girlfriend in Ballers 1)

  Annabella Donati – Zuko (Nico’s Twin sister)

  Michael Donati – Zuko

  Uncle Nicholas Donati (Brother of Angelo Donati) and Ava Donati father and mother of:

  Luca Donati

  The Caprisi Family

  Vincent Caprisi and Khayla Grant– Caprisi father and mother of:

  Valentina Caprisi

  Lissette Caprisi

  **Shannon Caprisi (Vincent’s daughter)

  Other Important Hush Characters

  Uncle Valentine Caprisi (Vincent’s Brother, head hitter)

  Iman Grant (Khayla Sister, **Shannon’s Mother, Deceased)

  Roberto Donati – Zuko (Donatella’s current husband)

  Ballers 1

  Bradley Monroe and Tamara Hathaway – Monroe father and mother of:

  Brielle Monroe

  Ashley Monroe and Ashton Monroe (Twins)

  Corey Monroe

  The Monroe Family

  Vernon Monroe and Gloria Monroe father and mother of:

  Trevor Monroe (Donna, soon to be ex-wife)

  Bradley Monroe

  Ann Monroe (Bradley’s twin sister) (Tom, Husband)

  Trevor Monroe and Donna Monroe father and mother of:

  Jessica Monroe

  Toby Monroe and Paige Monroe (Twins)

  Jonathan Monroe

  Tom Rivers and Ann Monroe – Rivers father and mother of:

  George Rivers and Melissa Rivers (Twins),

  Amy Rivers

  The Hathaway Family

  Byron Hathaway and Fiona Hathaway father and mother of:

  Ellerie Hathaway

  Tamara Hathaway

  Other Important Ballers Characters

  Stacey (Tam’s best friend)

  Reese (Tam’s best friend, Nico’s girlfriend in Ballers 1)

  Alee (Tam’s best friend)

  Cyrus Pierson (Tam’s Boss) father of:

  Tommy Pierson

  Carey Pierson

  Stephanie Pierson

  Brothers Black 1

  Wyatt Black and Lanelle (Nellie) Byrant – Black father and mother of:

  Baby Nora Black

  The Black Family

  Joseph Black and Cassidy Black father and mother of:

  Wyatt Black

  Noah Black

  Johnathan Black

  Flex Black

  Toby Black

  Braxton Black

  Ryan Black

  The Lockhart Family

  Lockhart Brothers

  Rob Lockhart

  Steve Lockhart

  Chas
e Lockhart

  Rob Lockhart and Faith Lockhart father and step – mother of:

  Heather Lockhart

  Steve Lockhart and Nora Bryant – Lockhart step – father and of:

  Lanelle (Nellie) Bryant – Black

  Chase Lockhart and Jennifer Lockhart father and mother of:

  Rebecca (Bean) Lockhart (Noah’s best friend and love interest.)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Yay!!! Another one has been released from my brain. Wooo Whooo. Thank you for your patience. I needed to give Jas a minute to give me his story the way he wanted to. I birth these books through dreams and musing. It seemed like this book had a timeline of its own. Each book is a learning experience for me, as well as a part of me.

  I want to share with you that I do my best to share the best book experience with you. From the time I take to lovingly design the covers, to the time I spend writing in bliss to the love and care I put into skimming the pages for errors. I do it thinking of giving my friends the best I can offer.

  These books are my heart. And like my heart, they have their own scars, nicks, bumps and bruises, but they are full of love, care, and patience. Know that with each book the heart heals a little more and gets stronger. I thank you all for accepting my heart (books) as they are, knowing that they will just get better with time and growth. Thank you for being patient with me.

  Thank you all for your support. I am so humbly grateful for the response to my books. Each one is a part of me so it means a lot when I am encouraged through emails, reviews, comments, and posts. I work hard to give you the best no matter what I am going through.

  Thank you to my personal hitters. You are always going to bat for me. I may keep few close, but you are an amazing few. We learn together, laugh together, pray together, and ride together. Keep kicking my butt when I forget who I am.

  As always, I thank God for my talent and the courage not to bury it. I can do nothing without the source of my being. All success is for his Glory. I love what I do, and I love that I can share it with you all. Let’s rock some bells in the heavens.

  On to the next! Hush 2 baby!!!!!