Defying Gravity: Shattered Cove Series Book 3

by A. M. Kusi

  “Thank you.” Jasmine’s voice was just above a whisper.

  “I’m here if you ever want to talk, or just to sit in the silence with you so you don’t have to be so alone.”

  “I appreciate it.” Jasmine forced a smile, hiding her scars with false cheer.

  A peal of laughter erupted from the other room, drawing both of their attention.

  “We better get back in there,” Jasmine said, leading the way.

  After the gifts were opened, they all sat around a long table sharing a festive meal. There was so much food and all made with love. The dessert table was filled with every cookie known to man, several pies, and tins of homemade fudge.

  “I think if I eat another bite, I’ll burst.” TJ patted his stomach and pulled out his phone.

  “Well, you certainly ate your weight in ham,” Bently teased.

  “Hey now, he’s a growing boy. Don’t let this guy fool you.” Tilda pointed towards Bently. “He used to be the same way.”

  Bently shrugged and TJ beamed.

  “Are you all set for classes to start in a few weeks?” Mathew Stone asked TJ.

  “Yes, sir. I got my books and the welcome packet. Bently and Belle took me to tour the campus already so I know where my classes will be.”

  “Good. Make sure you stop by my office to say hi every now and then,” Mathew said.

  “Yes, and you come to us if you need anything.” Tilda smiled.

  Belle’s heart was about to burst. Truly, she could not handle any more happiness.

  “Sure thing, Mrs. and Mr. Stone. I appreciate all the help.” TJ smiled.

  “Oh, call us Gramma and Papa Stone. You’re a part of this family now,” Tilda said.

  “Okay.” TJ’s phone pinged. He tipped the screen before he looked up. “Cam is here to get me. You okay if I go?” he asked Belle.

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  “Text when you’re on your way home,” Bently said, wrapping his arm around her on the plush couch.

  “Who’s Cam?” Mikel asked.

  “My friend’s sister,” TJ said, standing.

  “The girl he likes,” Bently added.

  Mikel elbowed Andre in the gut playfully as he said, “Ahh, best friend’s little sister, huh? Good luck with that, my friend.”

  Andre shoved Mikel. “Yeah, don’t do what this idiot did and keep it a secret from him.”

  “Hey, I was up front about it once I realized I was in deep.” Mikel pulled Remy onto his lap as she giggled.

  Andre shook his head. “After I caught you two together you mean.”

  Mia snuggled in close to him. “Ooh, I haven’t heard this story.”

  “See you all later. Thanks for everything,” TJ said as he shrugged on his coat and grabbed his bag.

  Belle stood to give him a hug. “Be safe.”

  “Always am.” He smiled and left.

  Belle sat again. Bently pulled her against him. She stared into the crackling fire as the holiday lights glittered over the mantle and the giant decorated tree. She was warm and relaxed. Christmas music drifted from a speaker, and for the first time in all her life, she understood what it meant to be truly at peace.

  Bently nuzzled into her neck. His voice was a harsh whisper. “Move in with me.”

  She blinked and turned to face him. His cautious smile tipped the edges of his mouth up.

  “A week ago, you were begging me for a second chance.”

  “I told you I was in this. I want to wake up to you in my bed, and fall asleep next to you every night. I’ve wasted enough time. I know what I want, and that’s you. I want you so deeply imbedded in my life, I don’t know where you stop and I begin.” Bently searched her eyes.

  Her heart raced. Could she do this? Was she ready for such a big step? “What about TJ?”

  “He’s all for it if you are.”

  “You already asked him?” She was well and truly stunned.

  “I figured you two were a package deal. I’ve got the room.”

  She’d been wrong before. Her heart could apparently hold more than she’d thought possible. Was it a risk? Yes. Was she willing to take the plunge?

  “What are you two lovebirds talking about over there?” Mikel asked.

  Bently smirked. “I’m asking her to move in with me.”

  Dre’s smile slipped as his eyes darted between them.

  “What did you say?” Remy asked.

  Bently turned to her. “Well?”

  “Yes.”

  Bently’s grin widened as he pulled her in and crashed his mouth onto hers.

  “Uncle Bently’s kissing Belle!” Lyra exclaimed before they broke apart. The little girl approached her uncle before grasping his face in her tiny hands. “Your spell can be broken now.”

  His brow furrowed. “What spell is that, sweet pea?”

  “You used to be the beast, but now you can be the prince with a happy heart.” Lyra smiled.

  Bently glanced at Belle knowingly as he answered his niece. “You’re right, sweetheart. Belle saved me from myself.”

  “Can we watch the movie now? I love Beauty and the Beast. Are you a real princess, Belle?” Lyra asked in rapid succession.

  Belle laughed. “I’ve never seen it.”

  “What?” Lyra gasped. “Mommy! Did you hear that?”

  “I did, sweet girl. We’ll have to watch it with her sometime.” Remy looked adoringly towards her daughter.

  “Yes. We can have a girls’ night!” Lyra said excitedly.

  “I’ll bring the juice boxes,” Remy said.

  “I’ll bring the wine,” Mia added.

  “And I’ll bring the chocolate.” Jasmine winked.

  “Then I’ll have to bring the ice cream.” Belle tapped Lyra’s nose.

  The little girl’s eyes grew wide. “It will be the bestest girls’ night ever!”

  Belle looked around the room, a warm glow settling within her chest.

  Mikel nudged Andre. “Guess us guys will have to take Phoenix and have a guys’ night, then.”

  “I’ll bring the beer and poker chips.” Bently’s laugh rumbled against her side, sending a shiver through her. This was her life now. She had family and true happiness. Acceptance and love. Finally she had everything she’d been too afraid to hope for. Nothing could take this away from her.

  Chapter 41

  Bently

  January brought a fresh blizzard to the coast, and several feet of snow. Vargas was leading the investigation on who had been after him. But all the leads had dried up, as had the incidents. Bently had thanked his lucky stars that he’d had peace from his likely stalker.

  He’d spent the last few weeks helping Belle move her things over to his place a little bit at a time. Now that most of the snow had cleared from the storm, he would be able to make a trip with his truck to get the big items.

  Knock. Knock.

  Bently looked up from the stack of paperwork on his desk. “Come on in.”

  Andre walked through the door, his brows knit together.

  “Hey, man. What’s up?”

  Andre sat in the chair across from him. “You busy?”

  “I’m always busy.” He chuckled and closed the folder in front of him. “You available Saturday to help me move some of Belle and TJ’s stuff to my house? She can’t get out of her lease until February, but we’re gonna start bringing things over.”

  Andre shifted in his seat. “Don’t you think it’s kinda soon to be moving in with them?”

  Bently furrowed his brow, bewildered. “You asked Mia to marry you only how many short months after meeting her?”

  “I know.” Andre sighed. “But that was different.”

  “How?” Bently asked, hackles rising.

  “How well do you really know them, Bent?” />
  “Why don’t you just say what you gotta say,” Bently snapped.

  “The kid who mugged me and Mia in the alleyway . . .” Andre started.

  What the hell?

  “What about it? I haven’t got any more leads.”

  Andre held up his hands. “I told you the kid looked scared, said he didn’t want to be there. But the other one with the knife threatened to hurt his sister.”

  “What does this have to do with me moving in with Belle?” Bently growled. He was out of patience.

  “TJ is the one who mugged us.”

  The air was sucked out of the room. No. No way. He couldn’t . . . “Are you sure? There’s no—”

  “I’m positive. Remember when you first brought them to Remy’s?” Andre leaned forward.

  “Why didn’t you tell me then?”

  “I tried but Mia stopped me.” He sighed. “TJ and Belle found her that day. When Mia woke up, he apologized and gave her back her mother’s ring. I guess he was forced to commit the crime and didn’t have a choice.”

  “Why did you hold that back? Why didn’t you tell me!”

  “Did you hear her go off on me at the harvest dinner? I know which battles I can win with that woman, and it definitely wasn’t that one. You know how she feels about the authorities,” Andre said.

  The memory of Mia yelling at Andre in Spanish came back to him. All Andre’s concerned looks and scowls directed at Belle and TJ suddenly made sense.

  “But I’m your friend!”

  Andre looked down as if ashamed.

  “Why are you telling me this now?”

  Andre rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t know you were that serious about her. Women come and go in your life—none of them stick. I figured maybe you just needed to get her out of your system and it wouldn’t matter. But now that it’s more serious . . . I just wanted you to know everything.”

  The pieces clicked into place. “The kid held a knife to you? The other one, right? He was young, around TJ’s age? Same height and build?”

  Andre shrugged. “I talked to Mia and she said he was taller and broader, but not much older than TJ. He was White. Light hair.”

  A chill ran down his spine. Hazy pictures became clearer. A flicker of a memory before the metal bat swung and knocked him out. Ice-blue eyes and a somewhat familiar face. He shot up from his desk and grabbed his coat.

  “Where are you going?” Andre stood, holding out his hands.

  “To talk to TJ.”

  ***

  Bently burst through the front door. Belle and TJ both jumped at the table. A cup of coffee spilled between them.

  “Shit!” She ran to grab a paper towel and mopped it up, moving the notepad and pens out of the way. “What’s wrong?”

  Bently slammed the door and stalked to the kitchen. “Did you know?” His voice boomed. If she’d kept this from him, he didn’t know how he would handle it.

  “Know what? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Belle asked.

  Bently searched her face—there was nothing but genuine concern there. He turned a hard gaze on TJ. “You mugged Mia and Andre.”

  TJ looked worriedly between him and Belle.

  Belle’s mouth opened in an “O” and her eyes grew wide as she shook her head. “What? No. TJ would never do such a thing. Are you kidding me right now?” Her voice rose with hurt and anger. “Tell him you didn’t, TJ . . . Tell him!”

  TJ looked down, biting his lip. “He said if I didn’t, he’d come after Belle.”

  Belle gasped.

  Bently didn’t need to look to know her face was painted with horror and disbelief. The urge to run and comfort her grew inside him. Bently tampered his rage and let out a defeated sigh. He forced himself to sit at the table. “Start from the beginning.”

  TJ shifted uncomfortably. “This kid at school was the only one who was nice to me when I first got there. He took an interest. Got a few bullies off my back. He seemed cool at first. He gave me music gift cards sometimes. That’s mostly what we talked about. Then he introduced me to a few of his other friends. They were older. They played pranks on people and it was fun at first. But then they started doing other stuff.”

  Belle’s body trembled as she sat across from them.

  TJ continued, his eyes glued to the table. “They broke into some cars, houses. I didn’t want to do it, but Junior told me that I owed him for dealing with the bullies at school. Said all I had to do was be the lookout. I did it a few times, but I felt so guilty. I told him I was done. But they just laughed at me. He pulled a knife on me and told me that if I didn’t fall in line, he and his friends would come visit Belle. They’d take turns . . .”

  Bently’s fists clenched and he ground his teeth. “Keep going.”

  “That night in the alley, that was the last time. He kept getting bolder. I thought he was gonna kill Dre . . . I didn’t have a choice.” Tears spilled from TJ’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, TJ? I could have helped.” Belle’s voice choked.

  TJ shook his head. “I knew you’d be disappointed in me. I figured I would do whatever it took to protect you, like you did for me. Then Bently showed up and I thought maybe he could keep you safe. I knew I had to go to college, and having him around would be good for you.”

  “What does Junior look like?”

  TJ blinked, turning his gaze to Bently. “Few inches taller than me. Blond hair, blue eyes.”

  “Did you know he was the one that attacked me?” Bently pressed.

  TJ shook his head vehemently. “No. I thought maybe it was him, because he hated cops. Loathed them. He specifically talked about the sheriff. I didn’t think anything of it until I met you. But I was never sure.”

  Could this be the same guy? His gut told him yes.

  “You stopped hanging out with him and he’s just left you alone?” Bently asked.

  “Yes. I haven’t hung out since Mia and Dre. He’s come up to me at school a few times . . . Uh . . . left a dead rat in my locker. Stuff like that. Haven’t seen him since school let out. I just steered clear of him and ignored it.”

  Belle covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut as she shook her head.

  Bently wanted to comfort her, but he was torn in two. TJ had known this whole time who was most likely behind this danger and he hadn’t said anything. The kid was as slow to trust and quick to protect as his sister.

  “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  “I thought the message on the truck was for me. I thought Junior wanted me to pay, not you. I was trying to wait it out. But then you told me about the photo and I realized I’d been wrong . . . but he’d stopped. I figured he moved on after the prank.”

  Silence descended on them as Bently struggled through the warring emotions. “You need to tell me everything you know about this Junior. Where does he live?”

  “I only know where he hangs out. It’s like his clubhouse,” TJ answered.

  Bently shifted his gaze, searching for any sign of dishonesty. “You gotta be honest with me. If there is anything else you know, you have to tell me now.”

  “That’s everything I can think of.”

  “Is his real name Junior?”

  “Uh, I heard a few teachers call him Joseph before,” TJ answered.

  Bently pushed a pen towards him and stood. “Write down the address.”

  TJ nodded and picked up the pen as Belle stood and walked towards him.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked, her voice wavering.

  “I’m going to take care of it.”

  “I’m sorry, Bently. I didn’t know.” She bit her lip.

  He pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. “I know, Angel.”

  “What does this mean?” she asked, fear flashing in her brown eyes.<
br />
  “For us?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Nothing’s changed.”

  She sighed, relief flitting across her features. “What about TJ? Is he going to be in trouble for this?”

  Bently looked between the woman he loved and her brother. “He’s a cooperating witness. If this goes to court, I’ll need him to make a deal with the prosecutor. He was under duress during these crimes, and was acting in fear of his life, and yours. I’ll figure this out. Okay? I’ll keep you both safe.”

  She crumpled into him. He held her, wishing they could solve this mess and be done with it.

  “I love you.” He pulled her chin up to kiss her on the mouth.

  “I love you too.”

  ***

  Bently motioned to Deputy Vargas as he quietly slipped through the sheet of metal hanging open in the run-down factory building. The place had been condemned years ago. The smell of mold and decaying wood was pungent.

  He walked through, his flashlight shining from end to end. Light reflected off the heaped piled of old rusted machinery abandoned throughout the room. At the far end were a set of metal stairs. Bently kept his gun extended as he motioned for Vargas to follow.

  Bently climbed the stairs, careful not to make too much noise. The layout was just as TJ had described. Bently ignored the trickle of sweat down his forehead. His body was on high alert as he navigated his way to the upper room. Supposedly the space was an old office. Bently counted down with his fingers as Vargas got into position.

  “Shattered Cove Police Department, put your hands up!” Bently yelled as he swung the door open. He searched the dim room like he’d been trained, his flashlight and gun aimed where he looked as Vargas covered his six.

  “Clear,” he said, walking in. A dirty mattress lay in one corner with a newer sleeping bag and pillow heaped on top. A cooler sat next to it. Empty snack bags were scattered across the floor. A few folding chairs leaned on the other side of the area, along with an old wooden desk. He swiped his finger over the top. No dust.

  He let out a breath, fogging up the space in the cold dingy room. One of the drawers was left partially open. A glint of something shiny reflected from the beam of his flashlight.